Infrastructure
BIO supports the development of digital infrastructure as well as small and innovative distributed renewable energy projects as they are essential for building a truly inclusive system.
In terms of signed commitments in infrastructure, BIO signed 1 infrastructure investment for €12.8 M in information and communication in 2025.
Example - BCS - Bandwidth and Cloud Services
At the end of 2025, BIO signed a $15 M financing agreement—alongside DEG’s $25 M —to support BCS, a fibre‑optic network operator active across seven Sub‑Saharan African markets. The joint facility finances BCS’s large‑scale expansion plan, adding 15,000 km of new fibre across the DRC, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. BIO contributes $3 M to the first tranche and $12 M to the second, enabling the rollout of 6,600 km of backbone fibre and 3,000 km of metro fibre through railroad, submarine, and overhead routes, significantly strengthening regional connectivity.
BCS already had relevant E&S policies and systems to manage some of the key risks related to the project (gender equality, land acquisition and compensation, engagement with local Indigenous communities, etc.). To complement those, BIO worked with the co-investor, DEG Invest, and an external expert E&S consultant to further assess the broader E&S risks and develop an E&S Action Plan (ESAP) to ensure that the financed project is fully compliant with the IFC PS. The ESAP notably covers the development of an E&S Management System tailored to the scale of the project, the establishment of an external grievance mechanism, and a waste and hazardous waste management program.
