The Regional MSME Investment Fund for Sub-Saharan Africa (REGMIFA) is pleased to announce that OeEB, the Development Bank of Austria, has rolled over its USD 10 million investment in B Shares for an additional seven years. This renewed commitment underscores a shared ambition to deepen access to finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and low-to-middle income households (LMIHs) across Sub-Saharan Africa. By strengthening this partnership, REGMIFA and OeEB reaffirm their dedication to fostering economic growth and job creation in the region.
MSMEs are the backbone of emerging and frontier economies, serving as key drivers of innovation, employment, and local development. Despite their vital role, they continue to face significant barriers to accessing finance, hindering their ability to realize their full potential and contribute to sustainable development. REGMIFA addresses these challenges by supporting partner lending institutions that provide critical funding to MSMEs, thereby unlocking growth opportunities and enabling communities to thrive.
Furthering its commitment to social impact, REGMIFA has launched its Gender Strategy. By supporting partner institutions that tailor financial products for women entrepreneurs and women-led MSMEs, the Fund addresses structural barriers, unequal access to resources, and restrictive socio-economic norms. Recognizing that climate vulnerability, conflict, and exclusion from formal finance further disadvantage women, this strategy advances gender inclusion and equal economic opportunities for women across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Laure Wessemius-Chibrac, Chairwoman of the REGMIFA Board, commented:
“By implementing its gender strategy, REGMIFA contributes to unlocking a powerful driver of sustainable development across Sub-Saharan Africa. Gender-smart investing is a catalyst for economic resilience and inclusive growth.”
The Fund’s gender strategy goes beyond access to capital. Through its Technical Assistance Facility, REGMIFA supports partner institutions in learning about gender positive actions, developing gender action plans, improving sex-disaggregated data collection, and building internal capacity to better serve female clients. This holistic approach ensures that capital is paired with expertise, maximizing long-term impact.
OeEB’s continued partnership plays a key role in enabling this strategy. By maintaining its investment over the next seven years, OeEB provides critical stability to the Fund, allowing REGMIFA to scale its gender lens investing approach even in challenging market environments.
Sabine Gaber, CEO and Member of OeEB’s Executive Board, stated: “We are excited to continue our collaboration with REGMIFA, advancing financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and gender equality across Africa. Together, we are creating jobs, supporting MSMEs, and building a foundation for sustainable and inclusive economic development.“
With this renewed commitment, REGMIFA is well-positioned to grow its impact in the region, support MSMEs and further align its portfolio with global gender finance initiatives and contribute to narrowing the financing gap for women-led businesses across the region.
This milestone reinforces the long-standing partnership between REGMIFA and OeEB, while marking a forward-looking step toward more inclusive and gender-responsive financial ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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About REGMIFA
The REGMIFA Fund was launched in 2010 as a blended finance vehicle attracting public and private investors seeking both impact and financial returns. The Fund invests in financial intermediaries across Sub-Saharan Africa to expand access to finance for micro, small, and medium enterprises and low-income households. A dedicated Technical Assistance Facility complements the Fund’s activities by strengthening investee capacity and developmental outcomes. regmifa.com
About Symbiotics
Symbiotics is the leading market access platform for impact investing, dedicated to private markets in emerging and frontier economies. The group offers investment, asset management and capacity building services. Since 2005, we have originated over 9,100 investments representing more than USD 11.6 billion for 655 companies in 99 countries. We manage an aggregate portfolio of USD 2.5 billion spread across 19 funds and mandates. Our portfolio companies have also benefited from over 170 technical assistance projects worth more than USD 19 million. symbioticsgroup.com
About OeEB
OeEB has been operating as the Development Bank of Austria since 2008, providing long-term financing and technical assistance to private sector projects in developing countries with strong developmental impact. oe-eb.at
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Media Contact:
Samy Derradji, Head of Corporate Communication, Symbiotics
samy.derradji@symbioticsgroup.com
Verena Kastner, Corporate Communications, OeEB
verena.kastner@oe-eb.at
