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
Fostering Innovation
Micro-Entrepreneurs
India
Clean Cooking
From flame to plug: what India’s micro-food vendors tell us about the commercial future of clean cooking
New research shows how electric cooking is improving productivity, incomes, and working conditions for micro-food vendors across India.
18th March 2026
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