A new investment between IFC and CRDB PLC announced today will increase access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Tanzania and Burundi, helping strengthen both countries' recovery from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the partnership, IFC is providing a $100 million loan to CRDB Bank Tanzania, half of which will be in local currency, and a $5 million loan to CRDB Bank Burundi to support lending to smaller businesses in both countries, especially to women-owned businesses. Up to 25 percent of the loan in Tanzania will be dedicated to women-owned businesses. The partnership will increase the availability of longer tenor financing, which is not readily available in the market and has been scarce since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The loans are part of IFC's Base of the Pyramid Program, which helps financial services providers deliver funding to small businesses that have been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 induced slowdown. IFC's financing is also supported by the International Development Association's Private Sector Window.
Small businesses are critical to the economies in Tanzania and Burundi. In Tanzania, an estimated 3.2 million micro, small and medium-sized businesses contribute 27 percent of the country's GDP and employ more than 5 million people. However, roughly 81 percent of these businesses lack access to finance. Businesses in Burundi also struggle to access financing.
'This line of credit comes at an opportune time and will boost our support to SMEs while promoting gender diversification across the value chain. At CRDB Bank, we believe that gender equality and women's empowerment are central to development. Women have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, facing economic hardships that directly affect their families and communities' livelihoods. Through this partnership, we will help women-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs recover from the pandemic,' said Abdulmajid Nsekela, CRDB Bank's Group CEO and Managing Director, adding that IFC's financing would support the development of productive sectors of the economy, including agribusiness, health, education, affordable housing, and infrastructure. Other sectors include climate change mitigation and adaptation, SMEs, as well as women-owned small businesses.
'The partnership between IFC and CRDB will support the growth of smaller businesses in countries where their contribution to jobs and economic activity are immense. The financing will also include a special focus on supporting women-owned businesses and advancing gender inclusion, a key part of IFC's strategy in Tanzania and Africa more broadly,' said Sergio Pimenta, IFC Vice President for Africa.
IFC has a long-standing relationship with CRDB Bank. The financing announced today is the fifth facility provided by IFC to CRDB and is part of IFC's growing work in Tanzania to support the growth of small businesses and boost inclusive finance for women-owned businesses.
About IFC
IFC-a member of the World Bank Group-is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2021, IFC committed a record $31.5 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
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About CRDB Bank Plc
CRDB Bank Plc is one of East Africa's leading banks, serving individuals, micro, small & middle businesses and large corporations with a full range of Retail, Treasury, Insurance, Trade Finance, Syndications, Premier Banking, Agriculture and Microfinance services. CRDB Bank is the first bank in Tanzania to be rated amongst the top ten stable and safer to invest African banks by the world's most respected rating agency, Moody's Investors Services. Moody's rated CRDB Bank with a 'B1 stable outlook' which is the highest rating to have been acquired by banks or financial institutions in Sub Saharan Africa. CRDB Bank provides unmatched convenience in Tanzania and Burundi serving more than 3 million customers with a large footprint of 268 branches, over 20,000 CRDB Wakala, 550 ATMs, over 1,800 merchants and a 24/7 Call Centre. For further information: www.crdbbank.co.tzwww.instagram.comifc_org
About the IDA Private Sector Window
As part of the 19th replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank Group is continuing the IDA Private Sector Window (PSW) created under IDA18 to catalyze private sector investment in the poorest and most fragile countries. Recognizing the key role of the private sector in achieving IDA's objectives and the World Bank Group's twin goals, the window provides a source of co-investment funding and guarantees to de-risk private investments supported by IFC and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA). The IDA PSW is an option when there is no commercial solution and the World Bank Group's other tools and approaches are insufficient. For more information, visit: http://ida.worldbank.org/psw
Contacts
For IFC:
Devon Maylie
Phone: +254 11 282 5197
E-mail: dmaylie@ifc.org
For CRDB:
Tully Esther Mwambapa
Phone: +255 769 200 600
E-mail: Tullyesther.Mwambapa@crdbbank.com
CRDB BANK PLC 
