British International Investment (BII), the United Kingdom’s development finance institution and impact investor, has committed $25 million in financing to Rawbank to expand access to finance for non-mining corporates and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The facility is expected to strengthen Rawbank’s capacity to provide long-term funding to businesses operating outside the mining sector, an area widely seen as critical to diversifying the Congolese economy.
Across the DRC, local enterprises—particularly SMEs—continue to face limited access to long-term financing from the financial sector. This financing gap has constrained the growth of businesses that are vital to job creation and economic diversification.
BII aims to help address these challenges while supporting an established financial institution with a strong record of lending to underserved sectors.
Rawbank has built a growing portfolio in both the SME and corporate segments, positioning it as a key financial intermediary in the country. The investment will support the bank’s efforts to scale financing for local enterprises, which in turn is expected to enhance financial inclusion, stimulate job creation, and strengthen private sector development.
The initiative also reinforces BII’s strategy of partnering with global development finance institutions to unlock capital in complex markets. The investment complements ongoing collaborations with organizations such as International Finance Corporation (IFC), Proparco, eco.business Fund, and the OPEC Fund for International Development to expand financing in the DRC’s financial services sector.
Jenny Chapman, the United Kingdom’s Minister for Development, said the investment demonstrates the UK’s evolving engagement with the DRC.
“The UK is investing in the DRC’s economic potential—shifting our approach from donor to genuine partner and investor. Our $25 million 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,” she said.
Chris Chijiutomi, Managing Director and Head of Africa at BII, noted that the investment reflects the institution’s broader strategy of supporting high-potential markets.
“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,” he said.
Mustafa Rawji, Chief Executive Officer of Rawbank, said the financing underscores confidence in the bank’s role as a local financial intermediary.
“This operation reflects a strategic allocation of international capital toward a local intermediation platform recognised for its capacity to transform these resources into productive financing. The objective is clear: to finance more Congolese SMEs, strengthen local production, and support sustainable job creation across the country,” he said.
The investment marks another step in BII’s ambition to scale operations in frontier markets such as the DRC, where private investment remains limited and business environments can be challenging.
Support for the transaction was also provided through the Africa Resilience Investment Accelerator (ARIA), a collaborative initiative launched by BII with other development finance partners to boost investment in frontier markets across Africa.