Overview
We have been active in Latin America since 1993 and in the Caribbean since 1978.
Our role in these countries is to support:
- climate change mitigation and adaptation;
- female entrepreneurship;
- support for small and medium-sized companies and micro-enterprises
We support a sustainable post-pandemic recovery that aims at protecting the most vulnerable people, building economic resilience and providing sustainable investments to target the climate and environmental emergency.
Our activity in 2023
In 2023, the EIB provided €969 million of financing for projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, with 68% of funds directly dedicated to Climate Action. These funds contribute to a sustainable and inclusive development in the region, in line with the Global Gateway objectives.
Country overview
Find an overview of our impact by country. Additional country pages will follow.
Our stories in the region
What we offer
We offer a broad range of financial products and advisory services for public and private project to enhance growth and development in the region.
We work on several investment initiatives to maximise our local impact:
Latin American Investment Facility
This facility targets projects that improve infrastructure, increase environmental protection and provide support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Latin American countries.
Caribbean Investment Facility
This facility promotes investment in local infrastructure projects, with a view to supporting economic development and growth, regional integration and poverty reduction in the Caribbean.
DEmand Side Management, Social Infrastructures and Renewable Energy Expansion (DESIREE)
*DESIREE fosters sustainable and inclusive growth while developing business models to provide climate-friendly and energy efficient solutions.
We work with donors to create trust funds and thus provide more in-depth support for local projects through technical assistance, grants and loan guarantees.
City Climate Finance Gap Fund
The fund offers technical and advisory services for climate action projects and supports cities in developing and emerging economies.
Water Sector Fund
This fund aims to support the development of water projects in low- and lower-middle income countries.
Financial Inclusion Fund
The Financial Inclusion Fund aims to improve access to finance for small businesses and entrepreneurs in developing countries worldwide.
Green Hydrogen Fund
This trust fund provides strategic advice and capacity building to developing countries to help them prepare for decarbonising the industry sector through green hydrogen.
International Climate Initiative Fund
This fund aims to catalyse investment for ambitious climate change mitigation and adaptation projects in developing and emerging countries.
Luxembourg-EIB Climate Finance Platform
This is a joint initiative between Luxembourg and the EIB to mobilise and support investment in international climate finance, focusing on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
We provide equity financing, primarily investing or co-investing along with funds focused on infrastructure, the environment, small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-size corporations.
Equity funds in Latin America
We work with investment funds focused on promoting infrastructure, climate action and environmental sustainability in Latin America.
Equity funds in the Caribbean
We work with investment funds focused on promoting infrastructure, climate action and environmental.
Our experts provide advisory services and technical assistance to improve access to finance and facilitate investment for:
- public authorities
- financial intermediaries
- microfinance institutions
- final beneficiaries
We also offer expertise and technical assistance to support the design and structuring of low-carbon infrastructure projects in cities
Our partnerships
We are the European Union’s international development bank. We promote the EU's principles, values and objectives and contribute to stable growth in countries beyond Europe’s borders.
Global Gateway
As part of Team Europe we are supporting Global Gateway, a new European strategy to invest in sustainable, high-quality projects around the world that are good for people and the planet.
Under Global Gateway, EIB Global is tackling some of today’s most pressing challenges, from fighting climate change to accelerating the digital transition. EIB Global is well on track to facilitate at least a third of the €300 billion of investment that Global Gateway aims to mobilise by 2027.
This will help support projects that are focused on digitalisation, tackling climate change, clean energy, healthcare, education, as well as transport.
Team Europe
As part of Team Europe, the EIB has increased its development finance, especially in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Team Europe is a global recovery package that combines resources from the European Union, Member States, and the EIB, and supports the most vulnerable countries and people most at risk around the world.
In line with Team Europe initiatives, our projects in the region are aimed at achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
To tackle challenges in the region, we work with various United Nations agencies and international financial institutions, such as the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), the Development Bank of Latin America, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank.
Under the Clean Oceans Initiative, we also cooperate with the French Agency for Development (AFD), the German Development Bank (KfW), the Italian Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) and the Spanish promotional bank (ICO).
Our initiatives with KFW and AFD include, among others, the Mutual Reliance Initiative (MRI).
Our projects
Contact us
Local authority or large corporate
Contact us at our local offices:
Small businesses
For small projects (generally less than € 25m)
Media
General enquiries
Contact the Information Desk for enquiries regarding the financing facilities, activity, organisation and objectives of the EIB.
Contact us
Tel. +352 4379-22000
Frequently asked questions