As a development finance institution, EBID puts a premium on poverty reduction to enable Community Member States attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

EBID's poverty reduction strategy consists partly, in laying emphasis on the financing of basic economic infrastructure and projects relating to the social sector, rural development and the environment in accordance with the regional PRSP (Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers) and partly, consists in mobilising the required financial resources from donors in the form of grants, subventions, lines of credit or special funds.

EBID's interventions in favour of Member States is done either in the form of direct funding of projects, or in direct funding through intermediaries such as non governmental organizations (NGOs), associations , micro-finance organizations, local banks etc.