CAF
CAF (Banco de Desarrollo de Am\u00e9rica Latina y el Caribe) is a multilateral development bank providing sovereign and non-sovereign financing, technical cooperation, and thematic bond issuances to governments, state-owned enterprises, and private sector clients across 30+ shareholder countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersBrasília, Brazil
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CAF does
CAF (Banco de Desarrollo de Am\u00e9rica Latina y el Caribe), formerly known as Corporaci\u00f3n Andina de Fomento, is a multilateral development bank founded in 1970 and owned by over 20 shareholder countries across Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain, and Portugal. It provides sovereign and non-sovereign financing, including loans, guarantees, credit lines, and A/B loan structures, alongside technical cooperation and knowledge services, to national governments, sub-national entities, state-owned enterprises, private sector borrowers, and financial institutions across the region. The bank raises capital primarily through international bond issuances \u2014 including green, social, and youth-labeled instruments \u2014 and on-lends at concessional or market rates determined by country risk, project type, and policy alignment.
The bank's product portfolio spans four layers: (1) core financial products covering sovereign and non-sovereign lending, syndicated A/B loans, and guarantees; (2) thematic and knowledge products such as the annual RED (Reporte de Econom\u00eda y Desarrollo) publication in its 20th year, the Scioteca digital research repository, the BiodiverCiudades urban biodiversity network, and the Banco Futuro LAC initiative with UNICEF; (3) capacity-building programs including long-duration diploma courses for public officials; and (4) newer digital initiatives such as the Latam-GPT open-source AI language model (developed with CENIA on Meta's LLaMA), the UNESCO AI Education Observatory, and the DoctorSV telemedicine app in El Salvador. The bank operates through more than 20 country offices anchored by its headquarters in Caracas.
CAF earns revenue primarily through net interest income on its sovereign and non-sovereign loan portfolio, complemented by guarantee fees, commitment fees on undisbursed facilities, and spreads on bond issuance programs. Capital is sourced from AAA-rated access to international capital markets (the May 2026 EUR 1 billion Green Bond achieved EUR 10.4 billion of demand, a 10x oversubscription) and bilateral or multilateral co-financing arrangements with MIGA, the World Bank, IDB, OPEC Fund, and commercial banks. Go-to-market is enterprise and government field sales through direct bilateral engagement, multilateral co-financing, and syndicated structures, with no consumer-facing or self-service channel.
CAF firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CAF
- Legal name
- CAF - Banco de Desarrollo de América Latina
- Website
- https://caf.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- CAF (Banco de Desarrollo de Am\u00e9rica Latina y el Caribe) is a multilateral development bank providing sovereign and non-sovereign financing, technical cooperation, and thematic bond issuances to governments, state-owned enterprises, and private sector clients across 30+ shareholder countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CAF industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Development Banking
- NAICS
- Commercial Banking (52211)
- SIC
- International Affairs (9721), Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- National Development Banks & State Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) (BPADACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Private Sector & Blended Finance Arms (IFC-type) (BPADACAJ), Carbon Markets & Climate Finance (Offsets, Allowances, Carbon Funds) (FSAAALAH), Climate Finance Funds & Green Investment Facilities (BPADACAH)
Keywords
Where CAF is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brasília
- HQ country
- Brazil
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices8 records
Markets served
CAF business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Development Lending: CAF provides loans, guarantees, and credit lines to sovereign governments, sub-national entities, and private sector clients. Revenue is generated through interest income on disbursed loans, commitment fees, and spreads on bond issuances.
- Bond Issuances: CAF raises capital through international bond markets, including green bonds, social bonds, and sustainable instruments, then on-lends to development projects.
- Green and Sustainable Finance: CAF issues thematic bonds (green, blue, children and youth) to finance climate, environmental, and social projects, mobilizing private capital for sustainable development.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
CAF product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CAF is a multilateral development bank providing sovereign and non-sovereign financing (loans, guarantees, credit lines, A/B loans), technical cooperation and capacity-building programs, and knowledge/research services to Latin American and Caribbean shareholder countries. It raises funds through international capital markets (including green, social, blue, and children and youth bonds) and on-lends them to governments, sub-national entities, financial institutions, and private sector borrowers to finance infrastructure, climate action, digital transformation, and social development projects.
Product overview
CAF (Banco de Desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe) operates as a multilateral development bank offering a portfolio of financial products, knowledge services, and technical programs. Core offerings include sovereign and non-sovereign financing, technical cooperation, and knowledge products like the RED (Reporte de Economía y Desarrollo) publication and Scioteca digital repository. Notable technology initiative: Latam-GPT, an open-source AI language model developed with CENIA for Latin American digital sovereignty. Additional programs include capacity-building through diplomados and training courses, innovation labs like the Laboratorio de Inclusión Financiera, the BiodiverCiudades network for sustainable urban development, and the Banco Futuro LAC initiative with UNICEF for youth-focused financing. The institution also supports the UNESCO-CAF AI Education Observatory and DoctorSV telemedicine app in El Salvador.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Fondo para la Recuperación y Reconstrucción de Venezuela: A fund administered by CAF to centralize contributions from governments, international organizations, companies, foundations, and individuals for Venezuela's earthquake response and reconstruction efforts.
- BiodiverCiudades Network
- Reporte de Economía y Desarrollo (RED)
- Banco Futuro LAC
- International Economic Forum Latin America and the Caribbean
Products and services
- Sovereign and Non-Sovereign Financing Long-term development financing for sovereigns and non-sovereign clients across Latin America and the Caribbean, supporting infrastructure, social programs, climate action, and productive sector investments.
- Technical Cooperation Programs Technical assistance and knowledge transfer services supporting public policy development, project preparation, and institutional strengthening for governments and public entities in member countries.
- Green Bond Program Thematic bond issuance program to finance eligible green projects including clean transportation, climate adaptation, sustainable water management, energy efficiency, and biodiversity.
- Children and Youth Bond Social bond instrument financing projects focused on children and youth across Latin America and the Caribbean, aligned with UNICEF's Child-Lens Investing Framework.
- A/B Loan Syndicated Facilities Syndicated loan product in which CAF provides the senior A tranche and mobilizes parallel B loans from commercial banks and development finance institutions, enabling large project finance with private capital mobilization.
- Reporte de Economía y Desarrollo (RED) Annual flagship research publication analyzing economic and development issues in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Scioteca Knowledge Platform Digital knowledge repository hosting CAF's research documents, working papers, reports, and regional studies accessible to public sector officials, academics, and the public.
- Diplomados y Capacitaciones (Capacity Building Programs) Long-duration diploma programs and virtual training courses on financial inclusion, governance, public innovation, and leadership for transformation, targeting public officials, academics, and civil society leaders.
- Laboratorio CAF de Inclusión Financiera Financial inclusion innovation lab developing digital solutions for financial inclusion and education targeted at rural communities and MSMEs in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- BiodiverCiudades Network Network of local governments focused on coordinated action to identify, structure, and finance sustainable urban interventions centered on people and biodiversity.
- Banco Futuro LAC CAF-UNICEF initiative to mobilize financial and technical resources for quality development projects focused on children and youth across Latin America and the Caribbean.
- MSME Credit Access Program with Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth On-lending program through financial intermediaries (banks, non-bank lenders, digital lenders) to expand credit access for MSMEs across Latin America and the Caribbean, with emphasis on women-owned businesses and climate finance.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over USD 2.8 billion invested in digital infrastructure over 6 years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use CAF
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
CAF technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
CAF partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.
- Government of El Salvador and GoogleminorSupport for DoctorSV, an AI-powered telemedicine app in El Salvador's public healthcare system. App launched in 2025 with support from Google and CAF, designed for AI-assisted chronic disease detection and treatment adherence. Second phase announced in 2026.
- Mastercard Center for Inclusive GrowthcorePartnership to expand access to credit for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Latin America and the Caribbean with aspirational target of USD 100 million over four years. CAF will finance banks, non-bank financial institutions, and digital lenders while the Center provides complementary support to strengthen the MSME ecosystem. Special emphasis on women-owned businesses and climate finance with initial priority countries including Colombia, Peru, Panama, Ecuador, Chile, and El Salvador.
- World Economic ForumflagshipCAF became an associate partner of the World Economic Forum, gaining access to WEF's high-level communities and events including the Annual Meeting in Davos. The agreement covers 11 thematic centers addressing global challenges including climate, energy, AI, and cybersecurity. Aims to position Latin America and the Caribbean as a hub for solutions to economic, social, and environmental challenges.
- UNESCOcorePartnership in the Observatory on Artificial Intelligence in Education for Latin America and the Caribbean, launched at ECLAC headquarters in Santiago, Chile. Multi-stakeholder platform designed to help countries integrate AI into education systems with focus on equity, quality, and sustainable development. CAF joins CENIA, Cetic.br/NIC.br, ECLAC, Ceibal Foundation, and other organizations.
- CENIA (Chile's National Center for Artificial Intelligence)coreCAF provided USD 550,000 in funding for Latam-GPT, the first open-source AI language model trained on Latin American data. Model developed by CENIA with support from over 30 institutions across 8 Latin American countries. Built on Meta's LLaMA model using AWS infrastructure. Training data exceeds 8 terabytes covering Spanish, Portuguese, and plans for Indigenous languages.
- MIGA (Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency)coreThree-year agreement to mobilize private capital, manage risks, and promote sustainable development across Latin America and the Caribbean. Focus areas include credit risk management through MIGA guarantees, capital mobilization through joint financial product issuance, and strategic collaboration to scale impactful operations in infrastructure, financial inclusion, urban development, and climate action. Partnership builds on relationship established in 2020.
- Various Latin American Governments and OrganizationsflagshipCAF organized a conference near the Panama Canal gathering over 6,000 Latin American political leaders and business executives to address regional vulnerabilities amid US-China rivalry. Conference focused on regional integration, the Panama Canal as geopolitical flashpoint, and pragmatic approaches to navigate a discretionary global order.
- C40 Cities Climate Leadership GroupcoreStrategic partnership through memorandum of understanding signed at the International Economic Forum 2026 in Panama City to accelerate urban climate finance and project delivery across Latin America and the Caribbean over five years. Collaboration supports cities in preparing, financing, and implementing projects focused on climate adaptation, biodiversity, sustainable urban mobility, and water and sanitation, with over 30 local authorities including mayors from Bogotá, Quito, and Fortaleza participating.
- UNDPcoreJoint launch of the Gender Equality Seal for Public Financial Institutions to promote gender equality and women's financial inclusion in Argentina, Bolivia, and Mexico. Program addresses significant gender gap where only 69% of women have financial accounts compared to 77% of men. Participating institutions include Banco de Desarrollo Productivo (Bolivia), Nacional Financiera (Mexico), and Banco Ciudad de Buenos Aires (Argentina).
- OPEC FundcoreCAF and OPEC Fund strengthening alliances for investments in Latin America and the Caribbean. High-level meeting in Vienna gathering finance ministers and Arab Coordination Group members to identify concrete investment opportunities and strengthen strategic alliances.
- 14 Regional OrganizationsflagshipCAF and 14 regional organizations signed a declaration to accelerate Latin American and Caribbean integration. Declaration aims to deepen commercial, cultural, and logistical integration and promote greater relevance of the region globally.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
CAF competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Asian Development Bank (ADB): The ADB is a large regional multilateral development bank providing sovereign loans, private-sector investment, and technical assistance across Asia-Pacific. Comparable to CAF in product structure (sovereign lending, thematic bonds, A/B loans) and AAA funding model, but serving a different region.
- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD): The EBRD is a multilateral development bank investing in private-sector development and transition across emerging Europe and Central Asia. It shares CAF's emphasis on private-sector mobilization, thematic/green finance, and capital-markets-funded lending.
- African Development Bank (AfDB): The AfDB is a continental multilateral development bank providing sovereign and non-sovereign financing across Africa. It is structurally comparable to CAF in mandate, instrument set, and supranational AAA-rated funding model, though focused on a different geography.
- Islamic Development Bank (IsDB): The IsDB is a multilateral development institution serving 57 member countries across multiple regions, providing Shariah-compliant financing alongside conventional lending. Structurally similar to CAF as a sovereign-owned MDB issuing sukuk/bonds and operating concessional and non-concessional windows.
Direct peers
- OPEC Fund for International Development: The OPEC Fund is a multilateral development finance institution providing concessional loans, grants, and trade finance across more than 100 developing countries. CAF and the OPEC Fund held a high-level Vienna meeting in June 2026 to identify joint investments in LAC, positioning it as a closely collaborating peer development financier.
- International Finance Corporation (IFC): IFC is the private-sector arm of the World Bank Group, providing blended finance, equity, and loans to private companies in emerging markets. Like CAF, IFC structures A/B loans, mobilizes private capital, and develops thematic instruments for emerging markets, making it a direct peer in non-sovereign lending.
- MIGA (Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency): MIGA provides political risk insurance and credit enhancement to investors in emerging markets. In February 2026, MIGA and CAF signed a three-year agreement on capital mobilization through joint guarantees, making it a complementary peer in LAC blended finance and political-risk coverage.
- Inter-American Development Bank (IDB): The IDB is the largest multilateral development bank focused on Latin America and the Caribbean, offering sovereign and non-sovereign financing, guarantees, and technical cooperation. Both institutions serve overlapping shareholder countries with comparable lending, guarantee, and knowledge products, making it the closest direct peer to CAF.
- International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank/IBRD): The World Bank is the largest multilateral development institution providing sovereign loans, policy-based lending, and development knowledge globally. It frequently co-finances with CAF on major LAC infrastructure and climate projects (e.g., Ande electricity financing in Paraguay), making it a strategic co-financing peer.
Regional players
- Fonplata (Fondo Financiero para el Desarrollo de la Cuenca del Plata): Fonplata is a smaller multilateral development bank serving the five river-basin countries of the Plata region (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay). It is a smaller-scale regional peer operating with a similar public-development-financing mandate in part of Latin America.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CAF social profiles
Digital presenceCAF financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CAF leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
CAF subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
CAF funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CAF M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments20 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CAF
What does CAF do?
CAF is a multilateral development bank providing sovereign and non-sovereign financing (loans, guarantees, credit lines, A/B loans), technical cooperation and capacity-building programs, and knowledge/research services to Latin American and Caribbean shareholder countries. It raises funds through international capital markets (including green, social, blue, and children and youth bonds) and on-lends them to governments, sub-national entities, financial institutions, and private sector borrowers to finance infrastructure, climate action, digital transformation, and social development projects.
Is CAF a public or private company?
CAF is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was CAF founded?
CAF was founded in 1970. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is CAF based?
CAF is headquartered in Brasília, Brazil, in the Latin America region.
How does CAF make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Development Lending is the primary driver. The others are bond Issuances and green and Sustainable Finance.
Who are CAF's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), African Development Bank (AfDB) and Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). Direct peers are OPEC Fund for International Development, International Finance Corporation (IFC), MIGA (Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank/IBRD). Fonplata (Fondo Financiero para el Desarrollo de la Cuenca del Plata) is listed as a regional player.
Does CAF have an API?
No public API is recorded for CAF.
What industry is CAF in?
CAF's product category is Development Banking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADACAC, National Development Banks & State Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), with a secondary code of BPADACAJ, Private Sector & Blended Finance Arms (IFC-type). Its NAICS code is 52211 and its SIC code is 9721.