OREANDA-NEWS. April 24, 2015. KfW supports the expansion of renewable energies such as the construction of solar power facilities in Mali. The generated power is used to operate deep wells.

In 2014, KfW Development Bank disbursed its highest ever volume of financing and grants to developing and emerging countries. KfW Development Bank's commitments for projects and programmes in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Southeast Europe rose by EUR 2.1 billion year-on-year to almost EUR 7.4 billion for a total of 357 newly supported projects (2013: EUR 5.3 billion). This represents an increase of around 40%.

In this way, KfW Development Bank is helping the German federal government to achieve its international goals and meet its obligations with regard to alleviating poverty, providing emergency and transitional aid in crisis situations and contributing to climate and environmental protection. The bank provided EUR 4.7 billion, or 64% of its total funds, to finance climate protection projects. Of this amount, EUR 3.3 billion went into the global expansion of renewable energies and improving energy efficiency. Alongside budget funds stemming primarily from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), KfW again made significant use of own capital amounting to EUR 5.4 billion (73%, previous year: 58%) for promotional funds.

Effective aid for refugees

The majority of the new commitments (roughly EUR 4.4 billion) are intended to improve economic infrastructure, particularly in the field of energy production and supply based on renewable energies. Last year, though, KfW also pledged EUR 500 million for peace and security efforts as well as fast-acting intervention measures for 15 million people, especially refugees, from 22 countries. Furthermore, 24 nature conservation areas were financed with a total additional surface area of 62,000 km2 (+50%).

"Promoting global climate and environmental protection and alleviating and preventing crisis situations, particularly in fragile countries, are the main challenges for the coming years. The scope of our projects offers development opportunities for small farmers and refugees, as well as for climate-friendly energy supply in our partner countries," said Dr Norbert Kloppenburg, Member of the KfW Group Executive Board.

In terms of KfW Development Bank's new commitments, EUR 2.2 billion was invested in Asia and Oceania (2013: EUR 1.7 billion), EUR 1.3 billion in North Africa/the Middle East (previous year: EUR 861 million), EUR 1.2 billion in projects and programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa (2013: EUR 1.2 billion), EUR 823 million in Europe/the Caucasus (2013: EUR 721 million) and EUR 1.2 billion in Latin America (2013: EUR 663 million).