Public-private partnerships: Mobilising capital where it matters most

How public-private partnerships are supporting trade, investment and sustainable growth in emerging markets.

11 March 2026

3 mins

Corporate & investment bankingIndustriesPublic sector & development organisations

Public-private partnerships are playing an increasingly important role in mobilising capital for emerging markets. As the scale of investment needed to support growth and development continues to rise, collaboration between governments, development finance institutions and commercial banks is helping unlock new ways to deploy capital more effectively.

By combining complementary strengths – including development institutions’ mandate to deploy impact-focused risk capital and the global networks and financing capabilities of international banks – these partnerships can help channel private investment into markets and sectors where financing can be harder to access.

In practice, collaboration between development finance institutions and commercial banks can take several forms. Blended finance structures, guarantees and risk-sharing arrangements can help mobilise private capital and expand access to finance in more challenging environments. Combined with the reach and on-the-ground capabilities of international banks, these approaches can support trade flows, strengthen supply chains and expand financing for small and medium-sized businesses across emerging economies.

The collaboration between Standard Chartered and British International Investment (BII) provides one example of how this model can work in practice – combining development finance expertise and global banking capabilities to mobilise capital and expand access to finance across emerging markets.

Standard Chartered and BII: mobilising capital where it matters

Standard Chartered’s partnership with British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institutions, spans more than 75 years, focusing on mobilising capital and expanding access to finance across emerging markets.

In the video below, Saif Malik, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered UK, and Maria Smith, Chief Impact Officer, British International Investment, discuss how collaboration between development finance institutions and commercial banks can help mobilise capital, support trade flows and expand access to finance.

Highlights of our partnership include:

• 1948: Standard Chartered supported BII’s first-ever investment (then CDC) in Zambia.
• Since 2013: Risk-sharing partnership supporting USD20 billion in trade across 15+ markets in Africa and Asia.
• 2024: USD350 million risk-sharing participation programme supporting trade finance and working capital across Africa and South Asia.
• 2025: USD100 million trade finance programme supporting private sector growth in Kenya and Tanzania, with a focus on women owned business.

The power of public private partnerships: Pushing boundaries in development finance can unlock new capital for real-world impact

Discover insights from Charles Corbett, Global Head, Public Sector Coverage, Standard Chartered on leveraging the use of risk mitigation frameworks and local currency solutions to enhance debt sustainability and boost trade, investment and economic growth.

Key takeaways include:

• Multilateral Development Banks and Development Finance Institutions are increasingly under pressure to use their capital more efficiently. There is a heightened need for innovation and collaboration across the private sector to mobilise additional capital.
• Risk mitigation frameworks such as guarantees and risk participation agreements, as well as local currency solutions, are emerging as viable long-term solutions.
• Scaling up these collaborative approaches could support and accelerate economic development.