EIB Global

Challenge:
Low-income countries are the most vulnerable to physical risks stemming from climate change.  The most-exposed regions include sub-Saharan Africa, particularly the Sahel; South and Southeast Asian economies, particularly those with a high dependence on agriculture and low-lying coastal areas; and small-island nations in the Caribbean and Pacific.

Solution:
In 2021, our climate action and environmental sustainability financing beyond the EU reached €2.7 billion, accounting for 43% of our total financing in these regions. As the EU climate bank, we are committed to devote 50% of our lending to climate action by 2025.

Challenge: 
Women are overrepresented among the world’s unbanked. About 980 million women have no account, 56% of unbanked adults globally.

Solution: 
Sheinvest is an EIB initiative to mobilise €2 billion of investment for better access to finance for African women.

Challenge: 
Small and medium businesses form the backbone of economies across the globe. However, one of the biggest constraints on their growth is the lack of access to finance: 23.7% of sub-Saharan Africa’s firms listed access to finance as their biggest obstacle, which is the highest rate among developing economies.

Solution: 
Supporting small entrepreneurs across Africa is at the heart of the EIB's contribution to the Team Europe Global Response to COVID-19. Our partnership with microfinance institution Kafo Jiginew in Mali, will improve access to finance to 90,000 smallholders to expand their activity.