Overview
We have been active in the Southern Neighbourhood since 1978 to promote its socio-economic development, supporting the public and private sectors, investing in infrastructure, local businesses and creating jobs for young women and men.
Our current role is to support:
- sustainable infrastructure (transport, water and energy)
- climate change mitigation and adaptation
- small and medium-sized companies, micro-enterprises, including female entrepreneurship
We are one of the top lenders in the region that accelerate the green transition, in line with our Climate Bank Roadmap, while contributing towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Our joint efforts with partners on the ground help to tackle challenges in the region more efficiently.
Our activity in 2023
Whether it is a new metro line in Cairo, a state-of-the-art university in Morocco or solar panels on school rooftops in Palestine, EIB Global works to improve the lives of millions of people in the region.
In 2023, the EIB signed over €1,7 billion loans to contribute to a sustainable and inclusive development, in line with the Global Gateway objectives.
Our stories in the region
We support projects that improve lives all over the world. Watch our videos and read our stories on how our work improves the quality of life in the region.
What we offer
We offer a broad range of financial products and advisory services for public and private project to enhance growth and development in the region.
We work on several investment initiatives to maximise our local impact:
EU Trade and Competitiveness Programme in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia
Improving access to finance for SMEs remains one of the key challenges hindering inclusive and long-term growth in the region.
European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD) Guarantee
This guarantee instrument crowds in private investors, where viable business proposals meet social needs and where limited public funds can attract private money.
Mutual Reliance Initiative (MRI)
MRI allows promoters of investment projects in EU partner countries to benefit from a larger project finance capacity.
Neighbourhood Investment Platform (NIP)
NIP addresses critical funding gaps in the EU’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhood.
Risk Capital Facility for the Southern Neighbourhood (RCF)
This facility provides access to equity and debt financing to SMEs in the region.
Urban Projects Finance Initiative (UPFI)
UPFI supports project promoters to prepare and finance urban development projects.
SME Access to Finance Initiative
This initiative aims to enhance access to finance for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs), as well as financial inclusion of underserved segments, such as start-ups or youth- and women-led businesses.
Economic Resilience Initiative (ERI)
ERI creates jobs and economic growth in the region by investing in key infrastructure and in private sector development. It also may help migration flows.
We work with donors to create trust funds and thus provide more in-depth support for local projects through technical assistance, grants and loan guarantees.
City Climate Finance Gap Fund
This fund offers technical and advisory services for climate action projects and supports cities in developing and emerging economies.
Economic Resilience Initiative Fund
This fund supports resilient and inclusive growth in the region.
FEMIP trust fund
This fund facilitates investments and addressing funding gaps in the region.
Financial Inclusion Fund
This fund improves access to finance for small businesses and entrepreneurs in developing countries worldwide.
Green Hydrogen Fund
This trust fund provides strategic advice and capacity building to developing countries to help them prepare for decarbonising the industry sector through green hydrogen.
International Climate Initiative Fund
This fund aims to catalyse investment for ambitious climate change mitigation and adaptation projects in developing and emerging countries.
Water Sector Fund
This fund aims to support the development of water projects in low- and lower-middle income countries.
Luxembourg-EIB Climate Finance Platform
The platform supports investment in international climate finance, focusing on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
We provide equity financing, primarily investing or co-investing along with funds focused on infrastructure, the environment, small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-size corporations.
Our experts provide advisory services and technical assistance to improve access to finance and facilitate investment for:
- public authorities
- financial intermediaries
- microfinance institutions
- final beneficiaries
We also offer expertise and technical assistance to support the design and structuring of low-carbon infrastructure projects in cities.
Our partnerships
We work closely with the European Union and development partners to mobilise more development and climate finance, and to enhance our impact.
We are the European Union’s international development bank. We promote the EU's principles, values and objectives and contribute to stable growth in countries beyond Europe’s borders.
Global Gateway
As part of Team Europe we are supporting Global Gateway, a new European strategy to invest in sustainable, high-quality projects around the world that are good for people and the planet.
Under Global Gateway, EIB Global is tackling some of today’s most pressing challenges, from fighting climate change to accelerating the digital transition. EIB Global is well on track to facilitate at least a third of the €300 billion of investment that Global Gateway aims to mobilise by 2027.
This will help support projects that are focused on digitalisation, tackling climate change, clean energy, healthcare, education, as well as transport.
Team Europe
As part of Team Europe, the EIB has increased its development finance, especially in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Team Europe is a global recovery package that combines resources from the European Union, Member States, and the EIB, and supports the most vulnerable countries and people most at risk around the world.
In line with Team Europe initiatives, our projects in the region are aimed at achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
To tackle challenges in the region, we work with various United Nations agencies and international financial institutions, such as, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the French Agency for Development (AFD), the German Development Bank (KfW) and the World Bank.
Under the Clean Oceans Initiative, we also cooperate with the French Agency for Development (AFD), the German Development Bank (KfW), the Italian Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) and the Spanish promotional bank (ICO).
Our initiatives with KFW and AFD include, among others, the Mutual Reliance Initiative (MRI).
Our projects
We have financed projects that have had a positive impact on the lives of people in the region.
Contact us
Small businesses
For small projects (generally less than € 25m)
Media
General enquiries
Contact the Information Desk for enquiries regarding the financing facilities, activity, organisation and objectives of the EIB.
Contact us
Tel. +352 4379-22000
Frequently asked questions