British International Investment (BII) has announced a new five-year strategy to deploy £9 billion into African economies between 2026 and 2031.
Of this amount, BII will commit close to £5 billion of its own capital, with the balance expected to be mobilised from private investors across Africa and international markets.
The strategy marks a deliberate shift from traditional aid models toward investment-led development.
It places strong emphasis on frontier markets, high-impact sectors, and the mobilisation of private capital to support sustainable and inclusive economic growth across the continent.
Core Elements of the New Strategy
The five-year plan is built around several strategic priorities:
- Frontier Market Focus: At least 25% of new investments will target countries classified by the United Nations as Least Developed Countries (LDCs), addressing some of the continent’s most challenging yet high-potential markets.
- Climate Finance: At least 40% of investments will support climate-related projects, an increase from 30% in the previous strategy. This includes renewable energy, power grid improvements, and initiatives aligned with Mission 300 (the goal of providing electricity access to 300 million people in Africa by 2030).
- Gender Lens: 30% of new investments are expected to meet the criteria of the 2X Challenge, promoting women’s economic participation as founders, employees, and consumers.
- Sector Priorities: Emphasis on financial services, energy, transport and logistics, trade facilitation, digital infrastructure, and sustainable industries.
- Market-Level Interventions: Greater focus on developing entire industries and ecosystems rather than isolated company-level investments.
Africa has been at the heart of BII’s work since our inception. That long track record has given us deep experience of investing through economic cycles and a clear understanding of what businesses need to grow in some of the continent’s most challenging markets. This strategy builds directly on that experience. By sharpening our focus on frontier markets, investing in high-impact sectors and mobilising domestic and international private capital, we are concentrating our efforts where our capital and expertise can make the greatest difference for African economies
Chris Chijiutomi, Managing Director and Head of Africa at BII
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Alignment with UK Government Priorities
UK Minister for Development Jenny Chapman welcomed the strategy, noting that it aligns with the UK government’s broader shift toward long-term investment partnerships and international finance reform.
The plan is expected to leverage BII’s development finance expertise to catalyse significantly more private capital into Africa.
Strategic Implications
This five-year strategy positions BII as a leading catalyst for private capital mobilisation and sustainable development across Africa.
By increasing its focus on frontier markets and climate finance while maintaining a strong gender lens, BII aims to deliver both financial returns and meaningful developmental impact in underserved areas and critical growth sectors.
The approach also reflects a maturing model of development finance, one that moves beyond grant-based aid toward blended and catalytic investment structures that can unlock larger pools of commercial capital.
Future Outlook
British International Investment’s new five-year strategy to deploy £9 billion into African economies between 2026 and 2031 marks a clear shift toward investment-led development.
With a strong emphasis on frontier markets, climate finance, gender inclusion, and private capital mobilisation, the plan reinforces BII’s role as a strategic partner in Africa’s sustainable growth.
This commitment underscores the UK’s long-term confidence in African markets and its determination to support high-impact, scalable solutions across the continent.
For the most current details on BII’s Africa strategy or portfolio, refer to official announcements from British International Investment.
British International Investment’s Overview
British International Investment CEO
The CEO is Nick O’Donohoe.
British International Investment Kenya
BII invests in energy, financial services, agriculture, and digital infrastructure in Kenya, with a portfolio supporting dozens of businesses and jobs.
British International Investment offices
- Headquarters: London
- Africa offices include Nairobi, Lagos, Cairo, and Johannesburg.
- Nairobi office: The Address, Muthangari Drive, off Waiyaki Way.
British International Investment Internship
BII offers an 8–10 week summer internship in investment, impact, or corporate teams, working on live deals and projects.
British International Investment Graduate scheme
The graduate programme runs about two years, including training, rotations across investment and impact teams, and an international placement.
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