EBRD launches its first sub-Saharan Africa investment in Benin

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched its first investment in sub-Saharan Africa. The Bank’s facility in Benin will support the country’s efforts to expand reliable electricity access to underserved communities in the Mono, Couffo and Borgou regions.

The €30 million sovereign loan to Société Béninoise d’Énergie Électrique (SBEE), the national power distribution utility, marks a significant step in strengthening Benin’s national grid, modernising its distribution infrastructure and improving the daily lives of rural communities and vulnerable households, particularly women.

The EBRD’s loan is part of a €173 million programme, with planned co-financing by Agence Française de Développement, the leading partner in this investment, and the European Investment Bank. The financing programme will also receive an investment grant from the European Union’s Africa Investment Platform.

This rural electrification project will enhance energy reliability and connect to the grid 120,000 new households, or 600,000 people, across 750 rural villages and towns, enabling communities to benefit from new social and economic opportunities.

The project involves extending, modernising and increasing the density of the medium- and low-voltage distribution network across the aforementioned regions, paired with modern grid enhancements such as improved fault-detection systems and stronger cybersecurity capabilities for SBEE.

Dasha Dougans, EBRD Head of Benin, said: “I am delighted to sign our first financing in sub-Saharan Africa only a few months after Benin became a recipient country. This transformative investment will help expand access to reliable electricity for thousands of families. It will also strengthen the resilience and sustainability of Benin’s energy infrastructure, which is fundamental to accelerating rural development and unlocking economic potential.”

Benin became an EBRD shareholder in 2024 and a country of operation in July 2025. In Benin, the Bank aims to invest in sustainable critical infrastructure that underpins private-sector development, support the modernisation and efficiency of enterprises, and strengthen the economic governance of institutions.