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| Company type | Government-owned |
|---|---|
| Industry | Finance |
| Founded | 1983 (1983)[1] |
| Headquarters | Johannesburg, South Africa[2] |
Key people | Boitumelo Mosako (CEO)|Dr. Simon S. Brand (Founder)}} |
| Products | Banking |
 R R2.28bn[3] | |
Number of employees | 600[4] |
| Website | www |
TheDevelopment Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) is adevelopment finance institution wholly owned by theGovernment of South Africa. The bank intends to "accelerate sustainable socio-economic development in theSouthern African Development Community (SADC) by driving financial and non-financial investments in the social andeconomic infrastructure sectors".[5]
The Development Bank of Southern Africa is a South African development bank that focuses on promotingeconomic development andgrowth,[6] It aims to improve the quality of life for individuals and facilitateregional integration through investments ininfrastructure and development financing.
The DBSA's mandate emphasizes its role in facilitating developmental infrastructure in South Africa and other parts of Africa. The bank primarily targets theenergy,water,transport andtelecommunications sectors, while also addressinghealth andeducation as secondary areas of focus. The DBSA participates in various stages of the infrastructure developmentvalue chain, including project preparation, funding, implementation, and delivery.
The DBSA aims to support the development of a prosperous and integrated region that is resource-efficient and increasingly independent ofpoverty and dependency. The bank focuses on infrastructure development as a means to improve social and economic conditions. Additionally, it advocates for thesustainable management of limited resources.
Promotingregional integration through infrastructure is a crucial aspect of Africa's growth agenda, and the DBSA supports this objective. The bank participates in initiatives such as theSouth AfricanRenewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP)[7] and the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Priority Action Plan.[8]
Partnerships are crucial for the DBSA, and the bank has formed strategic relationships with both global and regional institutions, including theInternational Development Finance Club (IDFC),[9] SADC's Development Finance Resource Centre (DFRC),[10] the Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI),[11] and theWorld Economic Forum's Sustainable Development Investment Partnership (SDIP). The DBSA manages and implements funds that facilitate the preparation and development of infrastructure projects aimed at regional integration. It handles these responsibilities on behalf of national and international partners. Notable examples include managing SADC's Project Preparation Development Facility (PPDF)[12] and the Infrastructure Investment Programme for South Africa (IIPSA)[13] on behalf of theEuropean Union.
The DBSA operates in alignment with various international, regional, and local policies, accords, and agreements to fulfill its mandate. The bank aligns with theUnited Nations’Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,[14] and is accredited by theGlobal Environment Facility and theGreen Climate Fund. In line with the agreements fromCOP21, the DBSA also supports business innovation and aims to expand the emerginggreen economy.[4]
The DBSA supports the South African government in leveraging skills and capabilities to accelerate the implementation of infrastructure programmes in the key priority sectors of education, health and housing, as well as various municipal infrastructure programmes.[15] DBSA has been collaborating with French DFI, AFD since 1994.[6]
The DBSA provides planning, financing and implementation support tomunicipalities in sectors that include water and sanitation, electricity, roads and houses.
Supported municipal programmes includeTshwaneRapid Transit[16] and financing theDurban University of Technology (DUT) student village.[17]
Economic orhard infrastructure is all infrastructure necessary for the functioning of a modern industrial nation. DBSA aims to address capacity and bottleneck constraints in order to optimise economic growth potential by supporting the following sectors:
Past projects include the !Ka XuConcentrated Solar Power Project.[18]
Social orsoft infrastructure is all the institutions which are required to maintain the economic, health, cultural and social standards of a nation or region. DBSA aims to address backlogs and expedite the delivery of essential social services in support of sustainable living conditions and improved quality of life within communities by supporting planning, financing and implementation support to non-municipal infrastructure projects including:
Past projects include emergency repairs and maintenance in health facilities inLimpopo,[19] Masimong Hostel refurbishmentPublic-private partnership (PPP)[20] and the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery Initiative.[21]
In 2024, DBSA established itsbiodiversity fund with an initial allocation of 50 million rand from the Green Fund, which was initially funded with 1.1 billion rand by the South African government’s environment department. The fund aims to enhance biodiversity, addressing the relatively slow pace of investment in this area compared to climate initiatives. DBSA plans to seek additional funding from entities likethe Global Environment Facility and private investors to expand the fund's scope. This initiative aligns with DBSA's commitment to promotingenvironmental sustainability alongsideeconomic growth through eco-conscious infrastructure projects. Additionally, DBSA issued awhite paper to guide investors on incorporating biodiversity considerations into their financial strategies, underscoring the importance of environmental factors in investment decisions.[22]
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