Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund’s Post

Insightful study on the transformative potential domiciling investment vehicles in Africa. Key findings: 💡 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Funding Crisis: ·        MSMEs generate 80% of formal jobs in emerging markets ·        Facing a staggering USD 940 billion funding gap ·        Limited capital access hampers growth and employment 🌐 Domiciliation Dynamics: ·        60% of African-focused investment vehicles are currently domiciled OUTSIDE the continent ·        This exodus limits local capital market development ·        Constrains business launch and scale potential 🏆 Mauritius: The ‘Established Domicile for International Capital’ ·        The gold standard for fund domiciliation in Africa ·        Symbolizes stability and reliability ·        Trusted environment for international investors ·        Strong role model for African jurisdictions 🔍 Critical Success Factors for Domiciliation: ·        Robust regulatory frameworks ·        Technical legal expertise ·        Strong banking correspondent relationships ·        Dispute resolution in familiar legal systems (English/American law) 💡 Strategic Insight: Local domiciliation is not just an option—it's a critical enabler for: ·        Accessing local capital pools such as pension funds ·        Connecting with investment opportunities ·        Developing financial expertise ·        Driving economic innovation The Fund Domiciliation Maturity Diagnostic Tool evaluated 13 African jurisdictions, with Mauritius standing out as a premier destination for international capital. Isn’t this a recall that this is our moment to reshape Africa's financial future? #MauritiusIFC #AfricanInvestment #CapitalMarkets #Domiciliation #Structuring #growth #MSMEs Mastercard Foundation

💡Mauritius has been ranked as the only African jurisdiction to achieve the coveted status of an “Established Domicile”, highlighted in the “Study on Africa as a Jurisdiction for Domiciliation of Investment Vehicles”, commissioned by the Mastercard Foundation. 🌍Leveraging a well-defined evaluation framework, the report identifies Mauritius as Africa’s top-performing #financialhub across four categories: Regulatory Framework Oversight & Enforcement, Judiciary Framework, Operational Efficiency, and Enabling Environment. Based on the report, the MIFC outperformed all other jurisdictions in each category, “symbolising stability, reliability, a trusted environment for international investors, and a strong role model for other African jurisdictions” ➡️Read more on: Study on Africa as a Jurisdiction for Domiciliation of Investment Vehicles - Mastercard Foundation #mauritiusfinance #financialservices #africa #fund #internationalfinancialcentre

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? Momentus Global was part of a collaborative to answer this specific question with experts across Africa and the globe, including Samawati Capital Partners and Stafford Law, with support from MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) and in partnership with Mastercard Foundation.   The Domiciliation Study explores 13 African jurisdictions and offers actionable steps to mobilize capital flows and support MSMEs.   📃 Executive Summary now available: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g-CgnfC7 Join the conversation and drive change. Diana Smallridge Shiluba Mawela CA (SA) Dr. DOROTHY NYAMBI Maame Tutua Dadson Njeri Muhia Eugene J Ntananga   #InvestInAfrica #EconomicEmpowerment #DomiciliationForGrowth #Africa #Finance #Innovation

💡 Insights from the International Trade Centre highlight the stark financial access barriers faced by young African entrepreneurs, especially women. Traditional finance paths often fall short, underscoring the necessity for innovative investment approaches. The Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund champions private equity and creative financing to nourish youth-led businesses across the continent. #YouthEntrepreneurship #FinanceInnovation #AfricaGrowthFund

Canada Forum for Impact Investment and Development (CAFIID) members Momentus Global and MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) have released an important new report on fund domiciliation in Africa. Greater local domiciliation can drive greater impact. Details below.

#ForgetAid, #DisruptivePartnerships #WillRedefineDevelopment Our second #TCASnippet. Partnerships that foster collaborative solutions and innovative financing models will empower African economies, build sustainability, and create a transformative impact. #FollowUs to keep abreast of our initiatives. (tradecatalystafrica.com) ----------- Traditional approaches to African development are giving way to innovative partnerships that are redefining how infrastructure is funded and how SME’s access finance. Trade Catalyst Africa (TCA) stands at the forefront of this change, wielding the multiplier effect of partnership as a powerful tool of integrating downstream infrastructure investors. Founded on the vision of propelling African prosperity by introducing innovative financing models, TCA goes beyond mere transactions and champions collaborative solutions to unlock investments in crucial areas like trade finance and trade infrastructure. This partnership-driven approach acts as a catalyst,  de-risking commercial investments, making Africa a more attractive destination for private capital. To achieve SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), TCA does not just mobilise additional financial resources from multiple sources but also promotes the coordinated development of hard and soft infrastructure to increase trade among African countries. This integrated strategy will dismantle traditional barriers to both finance and infrastructure development in Africa. By partnering with development banks and other financial institutions, TCA leverages combined expertise and capital. This creates synergies that unlock resources for SMEs, empowering youth and women-led businesses to thrive. TCA’s focus is on sectors with high export potential, such as cotton, textiles, and garments. This is in addition to funding trade infrastructure like logistics facilities and digital trade corridors to foster economic empowerment on a grand scale. TCA’s impact ripples outwards, transforming entire economies, not than just individual businesses. Sustainability and local ownership are cornerstones of TCA’s partnership strategy.  Duncan Onyango Patrick Obath Sylviah Luseno - MCIPR, MPRSK, PRSK Warrior Awardee Jonah Otieno Anthe Vrijlandt Monica Hangi Elibariki Shammy Ahmed Farah HSC Mathew Maiyo, CFA, FRM, FCCA African Development Bank Group H.E. Erastus Mwencha Patricia Ojangole Sanjay Rughani Dave Beer Joanita Nakimuli Josepha Ndamira Njoki Mungai Erick Sirali Ambassador John Ulanga Maureen Rumadi Image Courtesy: AI

If you’re in the area, you are kindly invited to the launch of the book, 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉 𝑳𝒂𝒘 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒂, taking place on October 30th, 2024, at the Centre for Commercial Law, Global South Law Research Network, University of Aberdeen. As part of the event, we are hosting a roundtable titled "𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚" on that day from 12:30 - 2:00 PM GMT. This roundtable will examine the transformative role fintech and digital markets are playing in reshaping Africa's economic landscape. With the rapid growth of digital financial services across the globe, Africa is emerging as a global leader in fintech innovation. However, to fully harness this potential, we must address key challenges in regulation, cross-border trade, digital inclusion, and market access. The discussion will explore how regional trade agreements like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are setting the stage for a more integrated digital economy. We will also analyze the role of fintech in driving economic development, improving financial access, and fostering innovation within African markets. Our panel includes: Dr. Ify Ogo, PhD - Regional Specialist on the AfCFTA at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Davidson Oturu - General Partner, Nubia Capital and Author of Fintech Law and Practice in Nigeria Dr. Titilayo Adebola, Senior Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen and Director of the Centre for Commercial Law Together, we will explore how fintech is shaping Africa’s digital future, highlighting opportunities for collaboration between key stakeholders—from policymakers to entrepreneurs and investors. Whether you are a legal practitioner, academic, entrepreneur, or simply interested in the evolving fintech space, this event is for you. I look forward to seeing you there! #fintech #digitalmarkets #Africa

MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) , Momentus Global, Stafford Law Attorneys and Samawati Capital Partners, in partnership with the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Collaborative for Frontier Finance, invite you to join us for a lively round table discussion about our study on Africa as a jurisdiction for domiciliation of investment vehicles. The findings from the report being presented offers an evidence-based analysis of the potential and strategic pathways to increasing domiciliation of investment vehicles in African jurisdictions. The objective is to engage in dialogues about how African domiciliation can unlock and diversify local and international capital flows, whilst strengthening the African investment ecosystem to create bottom-up impact, economic growth and employment opportunities for African youth and women. Led by an exceptional and diverse panel of experts, we will be in conversation about the systems-level action and co-ordination required to strengthen institutional capacity – across regulatory bodies, pension funds, Development Finance Institutions, investment vehicles, MSMEs, ecosystem builders and other capital providers – to drive local fund domiciliation and capital mobilisation. PS: There is an in-person and Zoom option for attendance https://bit.ly/4ev8XuA SuperReturn

|| MEDIA HIGHLIGHT|| The Science of Trade conference was recently featured on Newscentral_Africa Newscentral_Africa , where Dr. Inya Lawal, Founder and Convener, highlighted the need for actionable steps to access markets. In her interview, Dr. Inya Lawal discussed how there are many discussions about market access, but this rarely addresses the complexities involved. She spoke about how this event is intended to simplify the process of entering markets within Nigeria, Africa, and internationally. Abiodun Olubitan, Group Head of Women's Banking at Access Bank, shared her insights on women's empowerment. She emphasized that women’s empowerment extends beyond loans and financial support to include critical elements like business development and training, which often hold more weight than financial assistance alone. #Ascendstudiosfoundation #ScienceOfTrade #MarketAccess #WomenEmpowerment #BusinessDevelopment #TrainingOpportunities #AfricaTrade #NigeriaTrade #InternationalMarkets #FinancialInclusion #WomenInBusiness #EconomicEmpowerment

Meet Paul Mbua, the chair for Africa of the #D4DHub private sector advisory group. We spoke with him about the advisory group's inner workings, key focus areas, and the critical role the private sector plays in driving digital transformation across Africa. Through their engagement in the private sector advisory group, enterprises and business associations help the D4D Hub promote a digital transformation that can boost employment opportunities, growth, investment, trade, and innovation. More about the private sector advisory group: 👉 https://buff.ly/3XrRPPK #GlobalGateway #TeamEurope #PrivateSector #DigitalInnovation #SustainableDevelopment #InclusiveGrowth #DigitalTransformation