The road to a brighter future in Africa often begins with an actual road that connects remote communities, a power plant that illuminates homes, a water treatment facility that improves agricultural production, or even a modern office building that supports businesses and advances job creation.

For more than 40 years, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. Government’s development finance institution, has partnered with business to help build this critical infrastructure and address some of the world’s biggest development challenges from poverty to food security to widespread power shortages.

Today, nearly 25 percent of OPIC’s total active portfolio is focused in Sub-Saharan Africa, a significant increase from just 13 percent a decade ago. OPIC’s $3.7 billion in investments in Africa support projects in a range of regions and sectors, from a water desalination plants in Algeria, to a coffee modernization project in Rwanda and a solar power plant in South Africa. OPIC is also playing a key role in President Obama’s Power Africa initiative, and last year surpassed its initial $1.5 billion commitment to the initiative more than a year ahead of schedule.

They agency’s is committed to helping prepare Africa for a future in which more people are living in cities, depending on electricity, accessing financial services and healthcare, and searching for new economic opportunities.

Our model of partnering with the private sector in development is based on the understanding that business can serve as a force for good in the world by channeling the significant resources needed to address many major challenges.

OPIC offers innovative financial and insurance products to help businesses invest in emerging markets. These include medium- to long-term financing through direct loans and loan guaranties to eligible investment projects when conventional institutions are unable to lend. In addition, OPIC’s political risk insurance provides comprehensive, and cost-effective risk-mitigation products to cover losses to tangible assets, investment value, and earnings that result from political perils. In response to the critical shortfall of private equity capital in developing countries, OPIC also provides support for the creation of privately-owned and managed investment funds.

Fostering stability, catalyzing revenues, and creating growth opportunities both at home and abroad is a critical part of OPIC’s mission. We understand that partnerships of shared purpose do more than support investors. They bolster Africa's people and future generations.

To learn more about OPIC, and to learn how OPIC can support your business, visit our Applicant Screener.