Thank you for sharing this important study supported by our member, MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates). The finding that approximately 60% of African-focused investment vehicles are domiciled outside the continent highlights a critical need for localized financial structures to drive sustainable growth for small and growing businesses (SGBs). We commend Mastercard for launching a fund that mobilizes capital and reduces reliance on external systems👏🏾. Such efforts are vital in fostering a thriving and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. ANDE is actively advancing these efforts through its #localization agenda, which aims to cultivate a supportive, locally owned, and operated ecosystem that equips local actors with the tools, resources, and capacity development necessary to effectively scale #SGBs whilst fostering collaboration among ecosystem players to avoid duplicating efforts. A notable example of this is ANDE’s collaboration with MEDA to organize the 2024 Access to Finance and Impact Investment Forum in Northern Ghana. This initiative created opportunities for women-led agribusinesses to connect with investors, facilitating access to finance. By prioritizing localized solutions, ANDE is enabling SGBs to scale and contribute meaningfully to Africa’s economic sustainability. These themes will take center stage at the upcoming Pan-African Conference in Dakar, Senegal from February 11–13, themed Catalyzing the Future of Inclusive Entrepreneurship in Africa. The conference will explore actionable strategies for strengthening Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, with sessions on innovative financing approaches. A highlight will be Made in Africa, a platform showcasing #SGBs supported by ANDE members and connecting them with local investors. We look forward to collaborating with stakeholders and aligning efforts to build an inclusive, locally empowered entrepreneurial ecosystem for Africa! Em Ekong Awa Alyne Daffe Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs Younelle Bouya
Domiciliation on the African continent is a game-changer for investment vehicles. By creating localized financial structures, the Fund is mobilizing capital, reducing reliance on external systems, and ensuring that resources contribute directly to Africa’s growth and prosperity. According to a study by a team of experts from across Africa and the globe, including Momentus Global, Samawati Capital Partners, and Stafford Law, with support from MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates), approximately 60% of African-focused IVs are currently domiciled outside the continent, as revealed by OryxImpact (2023). This represents a significant opportunity for systemic change. By domiciling IVs within Africa, we can improve the continent’s competitiveness, support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and address critical barriers to affordable finance for entrepreneurs. As Dr. DOROTHY NYAMBI, President and CEO of MEDA, aptly states, “Transforming Africa’s investment landscape one jurisdiction at a time is building one of the most sustainable systems for capital flows into the continent.” #DomiciliationForGrowth #AfricaGrowthFund #InvestInAfrica