Evaluation of the three first sustainable projects implemented by Banco Regional de Desenvolvimento do Extremo Sul (BRDE), Brazil (CBR1063;CBR1090;CBR1100;CBR1110)

The three successive projects aimed to diversify BRDE’s funding sources, reduce its reliance on BNDES, and strengthen its capacity to finance sustainable, climate-aligned, and socially inclusive projects, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Eventually, the partnership’s goal was to support BRDE’s role as a regional leader in sustainable finance and development.

Each project was built on the previous one: BRDE 1 focused on renewable energy and environmental risk management; BRDE 2 expanded into health, education, and cultural heritage while introducing SDG-based project analysis; and BRDE 3 emphasized gender equality (SDG 5), supporting female entrepreneurship.

The partnership between AFD and BRDE proved to be a strategic and transformative collaboration, enabling BRDE to evolve into a leading regional development bank with a strong sustainability focus. Through three successive projects, the bank diversified its funding sources, implemented robust socio-environmental and climate risk management systems, and aligned its operations with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The combination of long-term credit lines and targeted technical assistance was essential to institutional strengthening, operational modernization, and the expansion of BRDE’s sustainable financing portfolio.