British International Investment partners with Rawbank to enhance financial inclusion for small businesses in DRC

• BII’s $25 million senior loan facility will improve access to finance for SMEs and non-mining corporates in DRC.
• Partnership with Rawbank will catalyse growth in the country’s underdeveloped financial sector.
• Supported by IFC, Proparco, OPEC Fund and eco.business Fund, the financing package totalling $265 million will extend financing to at least 1,500 more SMEs.

4 March, 2026 – British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, has committed $25 million in financing to Rawbank, the largest commercial bank in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The facility will strengthen Rawbank’s ability to increase access to finance for non-mining corporates and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country.

In DRC, local businesses face a shortage of long‑term funding from the financial sector, particularly small businesses and non‑mining corporates that play a vital role in diversifying the economy.

By providing much needed capital to local businesses, BII’s investment is helping address this gap while supporting a financial institution with a strong track record of serving under‑reached sectors.

Rawbank is an experienced lender with growing portfolios in the SME and corporate segments. Our investment will support the bank’s efforts to expand financing in these areas, contributing to improved financial inclusion, job creation and broader private sector development.

The facility also reinforces BII’s commitment to strengthening partnerships in complex markets, working alongside IFC, Proparco, eco.business Fund and the OPEC Fund to unlock greater investment into the DRC’s financial services sector.

UK Minister for Development Baroness Chapman said: “The UK is investing in the DRC’s economic potential – shifting our approach from donor to genuine partner and investor. Our $25m partnership with Rawbank will help entrepreneurs access finance and create jobs. This is what true partnership looks like: backing local solutions and working side by side for peace, growth, and opportunity.”

Chris Chijiutomi, Managing Director and Head of Africa at BII, said: “The DRC is a country with vast economic potential and a financial services sector that is increasingly central to long-term growth.

Our investment with Rawbank reflects BII’s commitment to channelling capital into markets where it can have the greatest catalytic impact and building a more resilient financial ecosystem. This is how sustainable growth is unlocked in challenging but high-potential markets.”

Mustafa Rawji, Chief Executive Officer of Rawbank, said: “This operation first and foremost reflects a strategic allocation of international capital toward a local intermediation platform recognised for its capacity to transform these resources into productive financing.

 It validates our ability to deploy significant volumes responsibly, maintain disciplined risk standards, and deliver measurable economic impact. The objective is clear: to finance more Congolese SMEs, strengthen local production, and support sustainable job creation across the country.”

This marks an important step in BII’s ambition to scale its presence in frontier markets such as the DRC where private investment remains scarce and it is challenging to do business.

BII’s investment has benefitted from the support of the Africa Resilience Investment Accelerator (ARIA) initiative.  ARIA is a collaborative initiative launched by BII and co-funded with two other development finance partners to boost investment in frontier markets in Africa.