Regions
Select a map region to learn more
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa holds vast potential and requires significant investment to build critical infrastructure, expand access to electricity and technology, and address major challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere plays a critical part in promoting regional stability and security.
Asia
Asia is home to more than half the world’s population and several of the fastest-growing economies globally, yet is in great need of private sector investment to continue and accelerate its upward growth trajectory.
Europe and Central Asia
Private sector investment has helped lay the groundwork for a more prosperous, stable future in Europe and Central Asia since the fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990s.
Sector Priorities
Infrastructure
Investments in critical infrastructure can promote trade and regional connectivity, create jobs, and foster economic growth in developing countries.
Critical infrastructure is central to a country’s prosperity and stability. Yet many countries face significant energy poverty and physical infrastructure gaps due to the substantial capital required for large-scale projects.
Information and Communications Technology
Investments in information and communications technology enhance economic activity and quality of life in the developing world by expanding access to healthcare, education, and food and making business more efficient and secure.
Affordable, reliable, and trusted technology is a powerful engine of prosperity and stability, yet many developing countries face a substantial digital divide due to the high costs of services and devices.
Healthcare
People in developing countries face many barriers to accessing hospitals, doctors, and basic medical services.
Good health is not only fundamental to human wellbeing and happiness but is also critical to economic growth as healthier populations live longer and are more productive.
Financing for Small Businesses and Women Entrepreneurs
Limited access to financial services disproportionately impacts women and rural populations, restricting economic growth in emerging markets.
Many developing countries face a considerable credit gap that prevents women-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs from reaching their full potential.
Agriculture and Food Security
Investments in agriculture are critical to supporting the world’s farmers and bolstering food security.
Agriculture is a vital sector in the economies of many developing countries and is essential to promoting a healthy population as well as supporting the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
Education
Education is one of the most effective tools for increasing opportunity, strengthening communities, and helping families move out of poverty.
Access to education is essential to empowering communities and driving economic growth in developing countries. Yet many financial and cultural barriers still exist that prohibit students’ access to educational opportunities.
Photo Credit: Lekela
Climate
DFC is committed to investing in projects that combat the climate crisis.
DFC seeks to unlock high-quality private investment to support climate adaptation solutions for vulnerable communities, with priority to low and lower-middle income countries.
COVID-19 Response
DFC’s investments across the developing world are helping advance the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 has presented a global health emergency and exposed weaknesses in health systems in the developing world.
Initiatives
2X Women’s Initiative
The world’s largest emerging market isn’t a country or region; it’s the world’s women.
Portfolio for Impact and Innovation
DFC’s PI2 initiative aims to bridge the financing gap for early-stage social enterprises with innovative solutions to challenges facing the developing world.
Blue Dot Network
A world increasingly connected through technology, travel, and trade needs modern infrastructure to create economic opportunity.
Global Health and Prosperity
Resilient health systems are fundamental to global prosperity, stability, and security.