Banking & Finance
IFC, StanChart Expand Local Currency Loans in Africa
IFC and Standard Chartered Bank on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, unveiled a $1 billion initiative in Washington, D.C. to boost local currency lending across Africa. The deal aims to shield businesses in 15 African countries from the rising costs of dollar-denominated debt. Kenya, Ghana, and Uganda will be among the first to benefit from the rollout beginning Q3 2025.
IFC and Standard Chartered partner to unlock $1B in local currency lending by 2027, shielding African SMEs from dollar volatility and boosting resilience.
IFC, Standard Chartered Partner on $1B Local Currency Lending Push
In a strategic initiative to shield Africa’s private sector from global currency volatility, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Standard Chartered Bank on May 20, 2025, announced an expanded partnership to scale local currency lending across emerging markets—with a strong focus on Sub-Saharan Africa.
The deal, unveiled in Washington, D.C., aims to unlock over $1 billion in fresh lending capacity by 2027, enabling African businesses to borrow in local currencies such as the Kenyan shilling, Ghanaian cedi, and Nigerian naira. This shift would effectively reduce their exposure to dollar-denominated debt, long seen as a major drag on economic stability.
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“Exchange rate volatility is not just an accounting risk—it’s a real threat to growth in emerging markets,”
— Makhtar Diop, IFC Managing Director
At the center of this effort is IFC’s Local Currency Facility, which provides currency swaps, guarantees, and hedging products tailored to volatile markets. Standard Chartered, a seasoned lender in frontier economies, will co-structure portfolios in local African currencies, helping reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar.
The initiative targets 15 African countries where Standard Chartered operates—including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, and others.
With U.S. interest rates staying elevated and global liquidity tightening, Africa’s dollar exposure is now a serious liability.
According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), over 50% of Africa’s external debt is dollar-denominated. In Kenya, the shilling has depreciated nearly 21% against the greenback since January 2023, hammering importers and inflating capital costs.
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By switching to local currency lending, sectors such as agribusiness, infrastructure, energy, and fintech can budget and grow without foreign exchange risk. The model also encourages the development of deep, liquid capital markets, aligning with:
“We are betting that local currency lending will be the key to unlocking true economic independence for African businesses.”
— Sunil Kaushal, CEO, Africa & Middle East, Standard Chartered
The move signals a structural shift in African finance, away from dependence on dollar cycles and toward financial sovereignty. According to Diop, it also offers resilience during shocks like COVID-19, climate disruptions, and conflict-related market stress.
Explore: Why Africa Needs More Local Currency Loans — Brookings
The partnership carries geopolitical significance, countering global lenders like China and Gulf sovereign funds, which often fund infrastructure projects in foreign currencies.
“Emerging markets need financing that works for them—not financing that subjects them to the whims of external monetary policy,”
— Makhtar Diop, IFC
Financial analysts such as Faith Kibaki, economist at PanAfrican Macro Advisory in Nairobi, argue this is the first major crack in Africa’s overdependence on the dollar.
Internal link: Will local currency finance reshape African banking?
Pilot disbursements under the new facility will begin in Q3 2025, with Kenya, Ghana, and Uganda among the first recipients. If successful, it could become a template for inclusive finance across Africa—enabling SMEs to scale sustainably, based on local fundamentals rather than foreign debt cycles.
Related reading:
Standard Chartered Africa Strategy
IFC Local Currency Products Overview
IFC – International Finance Corporation