bridging finance empowers rural economies

The Development Bank of Southern Africa is ensuring that under-resourced municipalities are meeting sustainable infrastructure development goals that will stimulate the rural economy.

The lack of electricity in Ntsikeni negatively affected students, teachers and small business owners like Owen Jili, who used to manually pump tyres with a hand pump for more than an hour to earn his living.

When the Umzimkhulu Municipality lacked the funds to supply him with electricity, they approached DBSA for help. As a development finance institution, DBSA has provided bridging finance and implementation support
as well as assistance with technical skills and contract management.

Now educators are better equipped to teach, learners better equipped to learn, Owen is able to serve his customers within minutes and the wheels of local economic growth have begun to turn more rapidly.