Development Bank of Southern Africa
The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) is a development finance institution wholly owned by the Government of South Africa. The bank intends to "accelerate sustainable socio-economic development in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) by driving financial and non-financial investments in the social and economic infrastructure sectors".[5]
Company type
Government-owned
1983[1]
Johannesburg, South Africa[2]
Boitumelo Mosako (CEO)|Dr. Simon S. Brand (Founder)}}
600[4]
History, mandate and vision[edit]
The Development Bank of Southern Africa is a South African development bank that focuses on promoting economic development and growth,[6] It aims to improve the quality of life for individuals and facilitate regional integration through investments in infrastructure 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 the energy, water, transport and telecommunications sectors, while also addressing health and educationas secondary areas of focus. The DBSA participates in various stages of the infrastructure development value 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 of poverty and dependency. The bank focuses on infrastructure development as a means to improve social and economic conditions. Additionally, it advocates for the sustainable management of limited resources.
Promoting regional 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 the South African Renewable 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 the IInternational Development Finance Club (IDFC),[9] SADC's Development Finance Resource Centre (DFRC),[10] the Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI),[11] and the World 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 the European Union.
The DBSA operates in alignment with various international, regional, and local policies, accords, and agreements to fulfill its mandate. The bank aligns with the United Nations’ Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,[14] and is accredited by the Global Environment Facility and the Green Climate Fund. In line with the agreements from COP21, the DBSA also supports business innovation and aims to expand the emerging green economy.[4]