OPEC Fund approves US$890 million in new financing to advance sustainable and resilient development

March 24, 2026: The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund), at its 195th Governing Board meeting, approved US$890 million in new financing to support development operations across Africa, Asia, Latin America & the Caribbean, and Europe.

The financing will strengthen infrastructure and transport connectivity, enhance food security and climate resilience and support private sector development. It will also expand access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and scale up climate-focused investments.

OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: "At a time of heightened uncertainty and mounting development pressures, the OPEC Fund is stepping up to deliver reliable, high-impact support. These approvals reflect the continued solidarity of our member countries and our shared commitment to protect hard-won development gains, expand opportunities and help communities move forward under challenging conditions. By investing in resilience and sustainable growth, we aim to make a tangible difference in people's everyday lives."

Approved operations:

Public Sector

Azerbaijan: US$90.4 million loan for the Sumqayit Wastewater Treatment Plant Project to construct a 100,000 m³/day facility. The project will improve sanitation for at least 427,000 people, reduce pollution in the Caspian Sea and enable the reuse of treated water for agriculture.

Botswana: US$170 million loan for the Governance and Economic Resilience Support Program to strengthen fiscal sustainability, enhance transparency and promote private sector-led, inclusive growth. The program will expand access to finance for youth and women-led MSMEs, increasing the number of supported enterprises from about 900 in 2024 to 2,000 in 2026.

Liberia: US$30 million tranche loan for the Salayea-Konia Road Project to rehabilitate 50 km of a key corridor linking Bong County to the Sierra Leone border. The upgrade to all-weather asphalt standard will reduce travel time from 160 to 45 minutes and benefit up to 300,000 people.

Maldives: US$40 million loan for the Multi-Island Harbor Development Project to rehabilitate and climate-proof harbor infrastructure across 14 islands, strengthening connectivity and supporting fisheries and tourism.

Nicaragua: US$31.5 million loan for the Empalme Telica-Malpaisillo-Empalme San Isidro Road Rehabilitation Project to upgrade a 96 km corridor, improving safety and reducing travel time for nearly 120,000 people, primarily small-scale farmers.

Pakistan: US$230 million (three-tranche) loan for Section 3 of the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway (M6) to construct a 64.6 km access-controlled segment, enhancing connectivity, facilitating trade flows to Karachi's ports and supporting industrial and agricultural value chains.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: US$20 million policy-based loan for the Disaster Risk Management Development Policy Program to strengthen climate preparedness, improve land-use standards and enhance fiscal transparency.

Sierra Leone: US$50 million loan and US$200,000 grant for the Rice Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone to develop a climate-smart hub, boost domestic production and support rural livelihoods.

Private Sector

Azerbaijan: US$20 million - the OPEC Fund's first synthetic local currency loan - to support a systemic financial institution and expand MSME lending.

Armenia: US$50 million loan to support a financial institution in expanding trade finance for agribusinesses and MSMEs.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: €10 million loan to a microfinance institution to extend credit to MSMEs, including women-owned businesses.

Jordan: US$30 million Sustainability Murabaha Facility to support SME and climate-focused investments.

Jordan: US$65 million syndicated loan to support a major desalination and water conveyance project, strengthening water security and reducing reliance on groundwater.

Viet Nam: US$50 million loan to support a commercial bank's expansion of MSME and climate finance portfolios.

About the OPEC Fund

The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively. The organization works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The OPEC Fund was established in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people. Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed more than US$32 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than US$240 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and S&P Global Ratings. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all.