British International Investment
Founded in 1948, British International Investment is the UK’s development finance institution and the world’s oldest impact investor. It has been investing for impact for over 70 years, forming strong partnerships with thousands of ambitious businesses to create positive social and economic outcomes for the countries in which they operate.
BII is the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor with a mission to help solve the biggest global development challenges by investing patient, flexible capital to support private sector growth and innovation.
BII invests to create more productive, sustainable and inclusive economies in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, enabling people in those countries to build better lives for themselves and their communities.
They aim to invest £10bn over the period 2022-2026 in green infrastructure, technology and other sectors that need our capital the most.
They currently partner with over 1,000 businesses in emerging economies, and we have total assets of £7.5 billion. We work with our investee partners to support them to succeed and grow impactful businesses.
BII are at the heart of the UK Government’s international financing offer to emerging economies. That includes building partnerships with British businesses that operate in developing and emerging economies and who share our aims. They are a key partner to emerging economies that are most vulnerable to the climate emergency.
Over the next five years, at least 30 per cent of their total new commitments will be in climate finance, making them one of the world’s largest such investors in Africa.
ADVISORY COUNCIL NOMINEE
Andrew Palmer
Director of Global Affairs
British International InvestmentAndrew Palmer joined British International Investment in April 2016 and heads its Global Affairs team, leading CDC’s engagement with government and wider stakeholders.
Previously Andrew was Head of External Relations at Development Initiatives (a research organisation with a focus on improving the transparency of financial flows for sustainable development) where he worked the UN Sustainable Development Goals negotiations. Prior to that he worked in Corporate Affairs for Bupa where he focused on the launch of their sustainability strategy.
Andrew has worked in the UK Houses of Parliament as an adviser on international development. He is a member of the Impact Investing Institute’s Public Affairs Panel, the Department of International Trade’s Africa Investors Group and the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council Advisory Council.
