What is a development finance institution (DFI)?
Also known as a development finance company (DFC) a development finance institution is a financial institution that provides risk capital for economic development projects on non commercial basis. They are often established and owned by governments or charitable institutions to provide funds for projects that would otherwise not be able to get funds from commercial lenders. Some development banks include socially responsible investing and impact investing criteria into their mandates. Governments often use development banks to form part of their development aid or economic development initiatives.
Development Finance Institutions can include multilateral development banks, national development banks, bilateral development banks, microfinance institutions, community development financial institution and revolving loan funds. These institutions provide a crucial role in providing credit in the form of higher risk loans, equity positions and risk guarantee instruments to private sector investments in developing countries. Development Finance Institutions are typically backed by countries with developed economies.
In 2005, total commitments as loans, equity, guarantees and/or debt Securities of the major regional, multilateral and bilateral Development Finance Institutions totalled US$45 billion, which US$21.3 billion went to support the private sector private projects. Development Finance Institutions often provide finance to the private sector for investments that promote local development projects and to help companies to invest.
Development Finance Institutions include International financial institutions.