Which institutions do what?
An institution’s ownership tells you who stands behind it. Its mandate describes the job it is meant to do. A UK-owned institution can have an international remit.
National Financing UK activity or serving UK beneficiaries.
International Financing or beneficiaries overseas.
Primary mandate labels group the directory’s 20 institutions. They describe remit, not actual portfolio allocation or evidence of impact. Institution records reviewed 16 September 2026.
Private-sector development
- British International Investment
Wholly owned
InternationalAfrica, Asia and other eligible developing markets
- International Finance Corporation
Shareholder
InternationalDeveloping and emerging economies
- International
Europe, Central Asia, Mediterranean, Iraq and selected sub-Saharan African countries
- IDB Invest
Shareholder
InternationalLatin America and the Caribbean
Infrastructure & clean energy
- National Wealth Fund
Wholly owned
NationalUnited Kingdom
- Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
Shareholder
InternationalAsia and other eligible member economies
- Private Infrastructure Development Group
Owner-Member
InternationalAfrica and South and Southeast Asia
Business & SME finance
- British Business Bank
Wholly owned
NationalUnited Kingdom
Export finance
- UK Export Finance
Government department
National / InternationalUK exporters and overseas buyers
Housing
- National Housing Bank
Indirectly wholly owned
NationalEngland
Sovereign development finance
- International
Middle-income and creditworthy lower-income countries
- Asian Development Bank
Shareholder
InternationalAsia and the Pacific
- African Development Bank
Shareholder
InternationalAfrica
- Caribbean Development Bank
Shareholder
InternationalCaribbean
- Inter-American Development Bank
Shareholder
InternationalLatin America and the Caribbean
Concessional development finance
- International Development Association
Contributing member
InternationalLow-income and vulnerable countries
- African Development Fund
Contributing member
InternationalLower-income countries in Africa
Investment guarantees
- Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
Shareholder
InternationalDeveloping countries
Student finance administration
- Student Loans Company
Majority owned
NationalUnited Kingdom
Rural development finance
- International Fund for Agricultural Development
Member and contributor
InternationalDeveloping countries worldwide