USTDA and Meridiam Collaborate to Mobilize Finance for Infrastructure

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency and Paris-based Meridiam signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Arlignton, Virginia to mobilize capital for infrastructure investment in sub-Saharan Africa through enhanced cooperation on project preparation. Under the arrangement, USTDA aims to program up to $20 million in project preparation assistance over the next five years to leverage a targeted total investment of $1.5 billion from Meridiam.

“USTDA’s engagement with Meridiam will allow us to leverage each other’s skills, expertise, and resources and achieve our shared goal of high-quality infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “USTDA offers more than 30 years of experience preparing projects that feature the innovation of our private sector. Our beneficial collaboration with Meridiam will help mobilize capital for transformational infrastructure projects that our partners in Africa have identified as their priorities.”

The MOU establishes new mechanisms to bring projects to fruition by enhancing information sharing on promising upcoming opportunities and jointly prioritizing projects where interests align. It will leverage USTDA’s project preparation tools, including feasibility studies, technical assistance and pilot projects, with an emphasis on target industries like energy, transportation, and public infrastructure such as water and hospitals. In doing so, the MOU will broaden USTDA’s portfolio and facilitate expedited investment decisions by Meridiam.

Thierry Déau, Founder and CEO of Meridiam, said: “On behalf of Meridiam, I am particularly proud of this official signing which marks an important step in our collaboration with USTDA in Africa. This unique collaboration paves the way for promising opportunities that will enable us to go even further together in implementing ambitious and innovative sustainable development projects in the continent.”

The MOU with Meridiam is USTDA’s latest collaboration with a sustainability-focused financial institution. In 2023, the Agency signed an MOU with the Investor Leadership Network, a global coalition of institutional investors representing over $10 trillion in assets.