Kinshasa, 04 March 2026 – Rawbank, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s leading financial institution, has secured support led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), alongside Proparco, British International Investment, eco.business Fund and the OPEC Fund for International Development, to scale financing for small and medium-sized enterprises, strengthen private sector growth, and support job creation across the country. The financing package totals $265 million.
A strong signal for financial resilience and growth
The transaction, the largest IFC has arranged for a financial institution in the DRC, will enable Rawbank to expand lending to SMEs, strategic industries, and entrepreneurs, thereby strengthening job creation, productivity, and long-term competitiveness. It will also deepen financial inclusion and support the digital and sustainable transformation of the Congolese economy.
· “This operation first and foremost reflects a strategic allocation of international capital toward a local intermediation platform recognized 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,” said Mustafa Rawji, Chief Executive Officer of Rawbank.
· “This financing package is about unlocking opportunity across the DRC," said Mary Porter Peschka, IFC Division Director for Eastern Africa. "Collectively, we will be able to extend financing to at least 1,500 more SMEs over the next four years in strategic sectors, helping them innovate, expand, and create jobs. This is a powerful step toward building a more inclusive, resilient, and competitive economy for the country."
· “Within this partnership, the funding provided by eco business Fund will be channeled exclusively to SMEs in the agriculture sector. We aim to empower local agri-businesses to adopt climate-smart, certified, and biodiversity-friendly approaches. We believe this collaboration will help unlock DRC’s potential for food security and inclusive growth.”, remarked Michael Evers, Chairperson of the eco business Fund Board of Directors
· “This operation reflects Proparco’s long-term commitment to strengthening resilient and inclusive financial systems. By supporting Rawbank, we are scaling up access to finance for Congolese SMEs — particularly those driving local value creation and employment. Strong domestic financial institutions are essential to unlocking sustainable private sector growth in the DRC,” said Mehdi Tanani, Regional Director for Central Africa at Proparco.
· “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”, said Chris Chijiutomi, Managing Director and Head of Africa at BII.
· “This transaction demonstrates the power of partnership in scaling impact,” said Khalid
· Khadduri, Vice President, Private Sector, at the OPEC Fund. “By working alongside IFC and other development partners, we are strengthening Rawbank’s capacity to extend financing to SMEs across the DRC. Expanding access to finance for local businesses is essential to job creation, economic diversification and long-term economic resilience.”
Global partners united for impact
The financing structure comprises a $165 million senior loan facility arranged by IFC, which is contributing $50 million and mobilizing an additional $115 million from its partners: PROPARCO ($50 million), eco.business Fund ($20 million), and the OPEC Fund ($20 million) and and British International Investment (BII) ($25 million).
In addition, IFC and Rawbank are entering into a $100 million risk-sharing agreement. IFC is taking on 50 percent of the exposure ($50 million) in the risk-sharing facility. Supported by the European Commission and the International Development Association (IDA) through the Small Loan Guarantee Program, this facility will support Rawbank to extend credit to more SMEs.
The financing will enable Rawbank to expand SME lending with a focus on sectors such as telecommunications and fast-moving consumer goods. The financing is complemented by IFC advisory services to help Rawbank build climate finance expertise, develop tailored agri-finance solutions, and enhance its support for women entrepreneurs.
In the DRC, as of December 31, 2025, IFC has a $370 million investment portfolio, mainly in the telecommunications and finance sectors. IFC is focused on expanding investments in energy, agriculture, and manufacturing.
About IFC
IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
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About RAWBANK
For 23 years, with total assets of $6.8 billion, Rawbank has been supporting the development of the Congolese economy. As the leading bank in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the past 13 years, Rawbank provides modern, innovative financial products and services to over 500,000 corporate, SME, and individual clients through a network of more than 100 branches across 19 provinces, a robust digital offering including Illicocash, online banking, and over 320 ATMs nationwide. Rawbank’s performance and commitment have been recognized with the African Banker Award for Best Regional Bank in Central Africa in 2022 and 2024, a Moody’s rating of B3, and ISO/IEC 20000 and ISO/IEC 27001 certifications. Its trusted partners include the African Development Bank (AfDB), African Guarantee Fund (AGF), IFC, BADEA, TDB, and Afreximbank. For more information, visit www.rawbank.com
About Proparco
Proparco, a subsidiary of Agence française de développement Group, has been working with the private sector for over 45 years for a more just and sustainable world. With an international network of 25 local offices, Proparco works closely with its partners to build sustainable solutions in response to environmental and social challenges in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America. Proparco benefits from sector-based expertise as well as a wide range of financial solutions tailored to the different stages of business development, notably thanks to its Digital Africa subsidiary, and its Propulse technical assistance offering designed to scale up the impacts and performance of its partners. Proparco's "Acting together for greater impact” Strategy 2023-2027 enables, strengthens and amplifies the different ways in which it works with its partners. For more information, go to: http://www.proparco.fr/en and @Proparco LinkedIn
About British International Investment
British International Investment is the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor. The organisation invests in businesses in developing countries to improve people’s lives and help protect the planet. BII’s work targets the underlying causes of poverty and the climate crisis, helping countries break free from aid dependency for good. Between 2022-2026, at least 30 per cent of BII’s total new commitments by value will be in climate finance. BII is also a founding member of the 2X Challenge which has raised over $33.6 billion to empower women’s economic development. The company has investments in over 1,600 businesses across 66 countries and total net assets of £9.87 billion. For more information, visit: www.bii.co.uk | watch here. Follow British International Investment on LinkedIn, Bluesky and X.
About the OPEC Fund
The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is a globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively. The organization works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The OPEC Fund was established in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people. Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed more than US$32 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than US$240 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and AA+, Outlook Stable by S&P. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all.
About eco business Fund
The eco business Fund supports sustainable business and consumption practices that protect biodiversity, use natural resources responsibly, and address climate change in Latin America, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa. It finances nature-positive investments through local financial institutions, direct lending to companies and producers, and specifically in sub-Saharan Africa, real sector intermediaries. Focus sectors include agriculture, fishery (including aquaculture), forestry, and tourism. Advisory and Capacity Building support is provided via two development facilities linked to the fund’s sub-funds. Initiated by Germany’s KfW Development Bank and Conservation International, and advised by Finance in Motion, the fund benefits from first-loss capital from BMZ, the European Union, and the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The sub-Saharan Africa sub-fund launched in 2020 with BMZ support, while the Latin America and Caribbean sub-fund is backed by several leading development finance institutions and institutional investors. For more information please visit
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