CRDB Bank has announced three landmark partnerships with leading global development finance institutions — FinDev Canada, DEG (KfW Group, Germany), and Shelter Afrique Development Bank — marking a major milestone in the Tanzanian bank’s mission to advance inclusive and sustainable finance across Africa.

The Memoranda of Understanding were signed during the CRDB Bank Investors and Partners Forum, held alongside the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C., in partnership with Invest Africa. The high-level gathering brought together investors and senior officials from Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including central bank governors, finance ministers, and ambassadors.

The event highlighted CRDB Bank’s growing regional influence and its ability to attract global development capital. The bank is taking a proactive role in bridging funding gaps in key areas such as climate-smart agriculture, affordable housing, and small-business financing — all sectors that remain underfunded across East Africa.

Under the new agreements, CRDB Bank will access more than USD 120 million in fresh financing to expand its work across these sectors.

Through its partnership with FinDev Canada, the bank has secured a USD 60 million sustainability-linked facility to grow lending for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), with a particular focus on women-led and climate-resilient businesses. A further USD 50 million facility from DEG will support SME sub-loans aimed at boosting innovation and job creation in Tanzania, while a USD 10 million agreement with Shelter Afrique Development Bank will target affordable housing initiatives, beginning with projects in the DRC.

“These partnerships reflect our shared vision of an Africa that is financially inclusive, food secure, and sustainably developed,” said Abdulmajid Nsekela, Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of CRDB Bank. “At CRDB Bank, we believe finance should be a force for good — unlocking potential, creating jobs, and driving long-term value for communities. By joining hands with institutions like FinDev Canada, DEG, and Shelter Afrique, we are accelerating our vision to transform lives and develop economies to their fullest potential. This is more than capital; it is confidence in Africa’s future.”

The partnerships extend beyond funding, focusing on shared advisory support, capacity building, and sustainability benchmarks designed to ensure measurable social and economic impact.

For Shelter Afrique Development Bank, the collaboration marks an opportunity to strengthen affordable housing delivery across the region. “At Shelter Afrique Development Bank, we believe that affordable housing and urban infrastructure are the foundation of inclusive and sustainable economic growth,” said Thierno-Habib Hann, CEO of the bank. “Our partnership with CRDB Bank reflects our shared vision to channel capital toward impact, equity, and regional integration. Together, we are not only financing homes, we are financing dignity, opportunity, and the infrastructure of a more resilient Africa.”

He added that the partnership will initially focus on CRDB’s DRC operations before expanding into Tanzania and Burundi, with Shelter Afrique providing advisory services to strengthen housing finance and reduce risk across the value chain.

Lori Kerr, CEO of FinDev Canada, said: “FinDev Canada’s partnership with CRDB Bank is built on a shared commitment to creating opportunity where it’s needed most. By deepening our collaboration, we’re mobilising capital and investing in the potential of local markets, entrepreneurs, and communities across Sub-Saharan Africa. This MOU is an important step toward strengthening meaningful engagement, co-investment, and long-term impact in critical sectors that support sustainable development and climate action.”

CRDB Bank’s collaboration with DEG will also inject targeted capital into Tanzania’s small-business sector — a vital source of employment and innovation.

The Investors and Partners Forum, where the deals were signed, served as a platform for exploring regional investment opportunities and showcased CRDB Bank’s role as a conduit between international capital and local enterprise.

By leveraging its growing East African presence and Dubai Representative Office, CRDB Bank is positioning itself as a bridge between global investors and African markets. Its latest partnerships signal not just a flow of capital, but a long-term commitment to sustainable, inclusive prosperity across the continent.