Targets: Proparco supports the development of companies and financial institutions that are active in key development sectors (infrastructure, agriculture, industry, finance, social services…) – both local actors and French companies established in the South or seeking to develop subsidiaries there. Like its European counterparts, Proparco excludes certain production sectors and activities (Proparco’s exclusion list).
Additionality: Proparco’s operations are complementary to the product ranges of local and international commercial banks and avoid any disturbance on the competitive financial market. Its operations focus on sectors where its assistance is most needed and where it has the highest added value, particularly non-financial assistance (advice and support on the E&S and governance aspects, role in project structuring…).
Knock-on effect: Proparco’s financing aims to demonstrate the economic and financial viability of private sector actors in the South in activities and/or regions that are a priori deemed unattractive by investors. In this sense, Proparco’s operations have a significant knock-on effect by attracting and mobilizing other public and private financing for its clients’ projects.
Reliability of client: All financing decisions are based on an in-depth analysis of the various risk factors (financial, legal and technical) related to its client and its project: reliability of accounts, quality of in-house governance, etc. Proparco also assesses the capacity of the companies it finances to withstand and recover from potential shocks (resilience), which is essential to ensuring that its investments are relevant and viable.
Project profitability: The economic viability of companies and projects is an important selectivity criterion. As a lending institution, the return on investment is essential to ensuring the sustainability of Proparco, which does not benefit from public resources, as well as the sustainability of the companies and financial institutions it supports.
Impacts on development: The contribution that the companies it finances make to local development is central to Proparco’s approach to investment. Depending on the type of client, it assesses, for example, the impacts that the activity/project has on maintaining and creating employment, gender issues, environmental practices (reduction of greenhouse gases, use of renewable energies…), social practices (employment conditions, health and safety of workers…) and governance practices, improvement in access to essential goods and services for disadvantaged populations, the public revenue generated, the transfer of technology and know-how…