As traditional official development aid funding declines, many development organizations are taking a closer look at the role of development finance institutions, or DFIs, in helping fill the gap.
DFIs such as British International Investment, or BII, are becoming increasingly important players in the global development finance ecosystem. With a focus on private sector investment in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, BII backs companies across sectors and supports impact themes such as gender equity and climate resilience. But for many implementers and potential partners, the path to engaging with DFIs — particularly through technical assistance — remains unclear.
In a recent conversation with Devex, Simon Meier, director and head of BII Plus, the technical assistance branch of BII, offered a rare look at how the U.K.’s DFI structures its technical assistance, or TA, work, what types of partnerships it supports, and how organizations can position themselves to get involved.