About
British International Investment (BII) is the development finance institution of the UK government (FCDO), established in 1948.
Project Focus
Shell Foundation has a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BII to jointly support the just and inclusive energy transition in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Through the MoU, the institutions will provide investment to help address finance barriers that exist for early to mid-stage businesses in sectors aligned with BII’s strategic priorities and Shell Foundation’s charitable objectives.
The MoU complements Shell Foundation’s long-term co-funding partnership with the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO – the sole shareholder of BII), which provides early-stage and high-risk grant funding through the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform, and the Catalysing Agriculture by Scaling Energy Ecosystems (CASEE) programme.
Insights and impact
Latest news and updates
Gender
Micro-Entrepreneurs
East Africa
West Africa
Clean Cooking
Cold Storage
Smart Energy Systems
What gender-responsive financing can unlock for women entrepreneurs
A Gender Results-Based Financing pilot shows how targeted incentives can unlock income growth, resilience, and opportunity for women entrepreneurs.
08th March 2026
FCDO
Fostering Innovation
Smallholder Farmers
East Africa
Post-Harvest Processing
How solar irrigation is transforming the lives of smallholder farmers in Kenya – lessons and the road ahead
Solar-powered irrigation is helping smallholder farmers in Kenya build resilience to climate shocks, improve nutrition, and reduce post-harvest losses.
28th January 2026