CRDB Bank has signed three landmark agreements with leading development finance institutions, FinDev Canada, DEG (KfW Group, Germany), and Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) — to drive inclusive finance, climate resilience, and sustainable development across Africa.
The Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed during the CRDB Bank Investors and Partners Forum held alongside the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in Washington D.C., in partnership with Invest Africa. The high-level event attracted top investors, policymakers, and senior government officials from Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Expanding Access to Finance and Sustainability
The new partnerships aim to close persistent financing gaps in East Africa, particularly in MSMEs, climate-smart agriculture, and affordable housing. Under the agreements:
FinDev Canada will provide a USD 60 million sustainability-linked facility to boost financing for MSMEs, with a strong focus on women-owned enterprises and climate-resilient projects.
DEG will unlock a USD 50 million facility to support SME lending, encouraging business expansion, innovation, and job creation in Tanzania.
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Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) will provide a USD 10 million facility to CRDB Bank DRC to address the region’s growing affordable housing deficit.
Speaking during the ceremony, Abdulmajid Nsekela, Group CEO and Managing Director of CRDB Bank, described the partnerships as a major step toward building a financially inclusive and sustainable Africa.
“These partnerships reflect our shared vision of an Africa that is financially inclusive, food secure, and sustainably developed,” Nsekela said. “Finance should be a force for good — unlocking potential, creating jobs, and driving long-term value for communities.”
Financing Dignity and Opportunity
Thierno-Habib Hann, CEO of Shelter Afrique Development Bank, emphasized the importance of affordable housing in driving sustainable growth.
“Our partnership with CRDB Bank is about financing dignity, opportunity, and the infrastructure of a more resilient Africa,” he said. “Every African family deserves access to safe, affordable, and climate-resilient housing.”
Lori Kerr, CEO of FinDev Canada, added that the collaboration represents a shared commitment to long-term impact.
“By deepening our partnership with CRDB Bank, we’re mobilizing capital where it’s needed most — supporting local markets, entrepreneurs, and communities across Sub-Saharan Africa,” she said.
Strengthening Regional Integration
The forum also served as a platform to highlight investment opportunities in Tanzania, Burundi, and the DRC, reaffirming CRDB Bank’s role as a bridge between global capital and local impact.
With a growing presence across East Africa and an expanding reach through its Dubai Representative Office, CRDB Bank continues to position itself as a regional leader in inclusive finance, driving sustainable prosperity and economic transformation across the continent.
