U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) approved US$ 881 million in financing and political risk insurance for multiple projects that will advance development around the world. The projects approved will expand access to clean water, bolster marine conservation, and improve the availability of secure telecommunications.

Two of the projects approved also advance DFC’s 2X Women's Initiative, which aims to support investment in projects that are owned by, led by, or empowers women across the developing world and advances the Administration’s Women's Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative.

Projects approved include:

• Improving the availability of secure telecommunications across the Indo-Pacific: A US$ 190 million loan to Nevada-based Trans-Pacific Networks (TPN) will support the world’s longest telecommunications cable. It will directly connect Singapore, Indonesia, and the U.S. and have the capability to serve several markets in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The 5G-enabling digital infrastructure will improve the availability of secure international bandwidth capacity to the Indo-Pacific.
• Expanding access to clean water and sanitation around the world: A US$ 100 million loan to WaterEquity’s Global Access Fund will finance household-level access to clean water and sanitation across Africa, the Indo-Pacific, and Latin America. This project advances the 2X Women’s Initiative to economically empower women, who are disproportionately impacted by poor access to water and sanitation in the developing world.
• Bolstering marine conservation in Kenya and Saint Lucia: US$ 250 million and US$ 100 million in political risk insurance will support “blue bonds” that bolster coastal economies in Kenya and Saint Lucia, respectively. The projects will establish long-term sources of funding for critical marine conservation activities in coordination with The Nature Conservancy.
• Investment in Mexico: DFC’s investment with IEnova—led by a female CEO and CFO—is the largest energy investment under the 2X Women’s Initiative. The US$ 241 million in long-term debt financing will support a portfolio of assets that were developed by IEnova. The project underscores the positive role of private investment in the Mexican energy and power markets when it is allowed to develop.