Development finance institution
Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)
The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) is a South African government-owned development finance institution established in 1983. Its core mandate is to address socioeconomic infrastructure backlogs and promote economic growth in Southern Africa by providing a wide range of financing options for infrastructure projects. As a limited partner, the DBSA invests in funds and co-finances projects to mobilise private capital for sustainable development, with a strategic focus on energy, water, transport, and telecommunications. The bank is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Investment focus
- Sectors
- Energy and powerHealthcareTelecoms and digital infrastructureConsumerSMEsInfrastructure
- Stages and strategies
- GrowthFund investmentsProject finance
- Regions
- Northern Africa, Eastern Africa, Western Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa
Fund commitments
- Pan African Investment Partners II ((PAIP II)
- Convergence Partners Communications Infrastructure Fund
- Vantage Mezzanine Fund II
- The Currency Exchange Fund (TCX) N.V.
- Phatisa African Agriculture Fund
- New Africa Mining Fund II (NAMF II)
- Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund I
- Aureos Africa Health Fund
- African Infrastructure Investment Fund 1
- Infrastructure Climate Resilient Fund (ICRF)
- Airnergize Capital Fund I
- Education Investment Impact Fund of South Africa
- Climate Investor Three South Africa (SA-H2 Fund)
- South Africa Workforce Housing Fund
- Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund I (IAF I)
- Housing Impact Fund South Africa
Selected portfolio and direct investments
- Zimi Charge (Pty) Ltd
Recent investments and transactions
| Date | Transaction | Type | Value | Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun 2026 | Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) invests R50 million in Zimi's electric vehicle ecosystem in South Africa | Venture Capital | $3.1m | South Africa |
Sources
- Partner Researchers, accessed 14 November 2026
- https://www.africaprivateequitynews.com/p/airnergize-capital-reaches-final, www.africaprivateequitynews.com. Accessed 14 November 2026.
- https://climatefundmanagers.com/2026/08/06/scaling-up-green-transition-in-southern-africa-climate-fund-managers-reaches-first-close-of-sa-h2-fund-at-zar-3-billion/, climatefundmanagers.com. Accessed 14 November 2026.
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-07/pan-african-infrastructure-fund-eyes-final-close-at-400-million, www.bloomberg.com. Accessed 14 November 2026.