Created in 2007 by the European Commission and European Union Member States, the EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund (EU-AITF) was the first EU “blending instrument” with the objective of promoting infrastructure projects in Sub-Saharan Africa with a regional impact. “Blending” means combining long-term investments from development finance institutions (loans, risk capital, etc) with grant monies to gain financial and qualitative leverage as well as project sustainability. Another objective of Blending is the promotion of cooperation and coordination between European and non-European aid actors.