Development finance institution Export Development Fund (EDF) has earned an ‘A’ rating for development impact.
This follows a peer review assessment by the Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI), an organisation that works to strengthen development finance institutions across Africa.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the institution said EDF received the Prudential Standards and Guidelines Rating System (PSGRS) Award after scoring 83 percent in the 2024 PSGRS Rating exercise.
The PSGRS, which was introduced by AADFI in 2020, is a comprehensive framework used to evaluate the performance of development finance institutions (DFIs) across Africa.
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The announcement was made during the AADFI Consultative Dinner & Awards Event held on May 26, 2025 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, as part of celebrations marking AADFI’s 50th Anniversary.
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Speaking after receiving the award, EDF Managing Director Fredrick Chanza described the rating as an indication that the organisation was on the right track in managing the fund and supporting businesses in the country.
“It reflects not only our commitment to operational excellence and good governance, but also our deep focus on delivering real, measurable impact for Malawi’s economy,” Chanza said.
Chanza said the ‘A’ rating is expected to enhance EDF’s credibility and capacity to attract funding and strategic partnerships, enabling it to scale up its support for export-oriented enterprises and projects that drive economic transformation in Malawi.
EDF Public Relations and Marketing Specialist Deliby Nyale Chimbalu said the ‘A’ rating reflected EDF’s strong performance in critical areas such as governance, financial management and operations— pillars essential for the effective delivery of development finance.
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“The fund’s achievement is the result of targeted improvements in its policies and practices, as well as its focus on projects that align with AADFI’s standards,” Chimbalu said
She highlighted that the peer review process involved an evaluation by other development finance institutions, ensuring an objective assessment.
According to Chimbalu, the rating also positions EDF as one of the top-performing institutions among African DFIs, and that the fund plans to build on the success to improve its operations.
