The New Development Bank (NDB), the multilateral lender established by BRICS nations, has formally opened a new Infrastructure Project Preparation and Co-Financing Facility, creating a fresh pipeline of bankable projects across energy, transport, water, and digital infrastructure — with South Africa positioned as a priority market.
The announcement marks a concrete opportunity for private developers, EPC firms, financiers, and institutional investors to enter NDB-backed projects at an early stage, where risk-adjusted returns and structured funding are most attractive.
What the Facility Offers
The new facility is designed to accelerate the movement of projects from concept to financial close. It provides:
- Project preparation funding (feasibility studies, ESG assessments, transaction structuring)
- Anchor debt financing from the NDB balance sheet
- Co-financing opportunities alongside local and international lenders
- Alignment with sovereign and sub-sovereign guarantees where applicable
Initial project tickets range from USD 100 million to over USD 1 billion, depending on sector and jurisdiction.
Priority Sectors and Geography
The bank has confirmed that early focus areas include:
- Renewable energy and grid infrastructure
- Freight logistics, ports, and rail corridors
- Water treatment, desalination, and bulk supply systems
- Digital infrastructure supporting industrialisation
South Africa, Brazil, India, and the Middle East expansion markets are highlighted as early deployment zones, reflecting strong project pipelines and institutional readiness.
Who Can Participate
This opportunity is open to:
- Infrastructure developers with shovel-ready or near-ready projects
- EPC contractors seeking structured financing partners
- Project sponsors and PPP consortia
- Development funds and long-term institutional investors
- Advisory firms specialising in project preparation and structuring
Importantly, the facility is not a grant programme. It is a commercial pathway into NDB-backed projects with clear execution timelines and return expectations.
Why This Matters for Capital and Execution
For private capital, the significance lies in early alignment with a multilateral balance sheet that reduces political, currency, and execution risk. For governments, it accelerates delivery without relying solely on fiscus funding.
South Africa’s inclusion signals renewed confidence in its project pipeline — particularly in energy and logistics — and opens a direct channel for global capital to partner with local execution capacity.
Next Steps
Interested parties are required to submit project concept notes and consortium profiles through the NDB’s project origination channels. Shortlisted proposals will proceed to structured preparation support and funding negotiations.
For investors and developers seeking scale, this is not a speculative opportunity — it is a live project gateway backed by institutional capital and clear mandates.
