Investments in Africa
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Investments in Africa

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These are certainly challenging times. And in these challenging times, in Africa, the private sector is doing interesting things.

The nine stories in this second edition of IFC Insights Africa, published for the 2023 Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, showcase the innovative ways African businesses—both large and small—are addressing some of the continent’s most pressing challenges, and improving lives and creating jobs while doing it.

We share stories about a mobile money boom in Madagascar; Africa’s growing capacity for vaccine production; the rise of start-ups in the Sahel; and Kenyan Mary .Wanja Thuo , a successful small business owner who is determined to support other women entrepreneurs.

These stories highlight not only the strong progress being made across multiple sectors and countries, but also the ripe opportunities in Africa that are open to investors and others alike.

At difficult times like these, when the shockwaves of multiple crises are shaking economies worldwide, the private sector is proving its resilience and resourcefulness, delivering the goods and services we all rely on.

In Africa, a dynamic private sector is helping provide infrastructure, health services, digital solutions, and foodstuffs.

With the right support, Africa’s champions can do even more.

Sergio Pimenta

IFC Vice President for Africa


A woman decorating a cake.
Nafissatou Noura, founder of Umm Manal, a catering service in Niamey, received technical support and seed funding from CIPMEN, a start-up incubator in Niger, to grow her business. Photo by: Umm Manal

The Birth of a Start-Up Support System

The Sahel, breeding ground for a wealth of start-ups, is seeing a flood of incubators and accelerators ready to support innovative businesses. Read more I Lire l’article en français


A man walking on a dirt road in Madagascar, surrounded by tall baobab trees.
Photo by: Stock.adobe.com

Madagascar’s Mobile Money Boom

Mobile money is revolutionizing financial services in Africa and increasing financial inclusion for one of the world’s poorest countries. Read more I Lire l’article en français


An illustration of an African woman online learning.

Digital Learning Delivers Results for Women 

Women from emerging markets share how online learning is helping build new skills and open up opportunities for growth. Read more I Lire l’article en français I أقرأ بالعربية


An African girl pushes a wheelbarrow with water jerrycans in it across an arid landscape.
Photo by: Shutterstock

Adapting to Natural Disasters in Africa: What's in it for the Private Sector?

An IFC study outlines the potential for private investment in adaptation to floods and drought in Africa. Read more I Lire l’article en français I Leia o artigo em português


Workers in the Kahone Solar Plant in Senegal.
Workers in the Kahone Solar Plant in Senegal. Photo by: Meridiam

Climate Change in Africa

Across the continent, the private sector is rising to the pressing challenges posed by the global climate crisis. Read more Lire l’article en français


Traffic in Lagos, Nigeria.
Around 1.6 million vehicles crowd Lagos’ streets daily, equivalent to about 222 vehicles for every kilometer. Photo by: SmartEdge.

Lagos is Laying the Foundation for a Greener Future

New initiatives aim to mitigate the effects of climate change in Nigeria's megacity. Read more I Lire l’article en français


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Biovac facilities in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo: Courtesy of Biovac

Africa’s Vaccine Manufacturing: Where the Rubber Hits the Road

Dr. Morena Makhoana , CEO of Biovac in South Africa, talks about the industry’s growth, access to funding, and sustainability. Read more I Lire l’article en français


Birds eye-view of a winding road.
Photo by: Stock.adobe.com

Infrastructure in Africa

An IFC study finds that institutional reform on the continent can attract more private investment in infrastructure. Read more I Lire l’article en français


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Photo by: Fatma Kassim

Elevating Women Small Business Owners in Kenya

Mary .Wanja Thuo , founder and CEO of CityScape Trends Services Limited , talks about her entrepreneurial journey. Read more I Lire l’article en français




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Africa CEO Forum (ACF) is an annual international conference dedicated to the private sector in Africa. Co-hosted by IFC and Jeune Afrique , the conference will attract about 1,800 participants including the continent’s top CEOs, international investors, experts, policy makers, and media. The 2023 event theme is Navigating the Crises – From 300 to 3000: How to Deliver the Next Generation of African Champions. The event will offer concrete and innovative solutions to boost the number of African companies with billion-dollar turnovers despite a backdrop of polycrisis and global uncertainty. The event program can be found here.




IFC INSIGHTS AFRICA EDITORIAL TEAM

Chance Barnett , Brian Beary , Lee-Roy Chetty , Moussoukoro Diop , Jason Hopps , Abdoul Maïga , Devon Maylie , Kristina Nwazota , Bukola Ogunyemi , Isabelle Poupaert , Nataliya Radchenko , Daisy Serem , Gavin Thorpe , Vinit Tyagi , and Chris Vellacott .


Thank you for reading IFC Insights. Share your feedback in the comments or email ifc_insights@ifc.org.


For jobs, visit www.ifc.org/careers

Nadia El-Tawil

Investment Officer at AfricInvest Group

7mo

Lovely to read stories highlighting the strong progress being made across multiple sectors and countries, but also the ripe opportunities in Africa.

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📶 Hermann Djoumessi, MA

Social Media Mngr. | Data Analyst 📈 BIG DATA (Data Viz. / E.T.L) 📊 D.P.O. (CNIL) | A.i. | GenA.i 💻 | Coach | Content 🖋️ | 🔒 BLOCKCHAIN-WEB3.0. 💸 | SEO + SMO: Google Analytics cert. | Tableau | EXCEL l #DEFi 🚀|

1y

#interresting ! 😎

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Al Karaki - "The Climate Change Guy"

Founder and CEO at 4iAfrica - Insight | Innovation | Implementation | Impact. Leading the World's Largest and Most Sustainable Nature Based Climate Action Solution and other Innovative Products and Projects

1y

IFC - Thank you for the invitation.. we are delighted to be a part of the Future. 4iAfrica and its partners are in the midst of connecting hundreds of schools to the internet via satellite here in Africa and part of my role is to provide educators the transition to online/digital learning while digitising the current curriculum and developing a new more inclusive curriculum which embraces critical thinking, aquaponics, enviromental awareness, sustainability. digital based careers and more. We are also leading one of the largest and most sustainable Nature Based Climate Action Solutions in the World which has the proven capability of removing gigatons of CO2 and addressing key issues of food and water insecurity, health, soil/land degradation, poverty and unemployment ... all at the same time! As both the growers and processors of millions of high carbon sequestring plants species into hundreds of enviro friendly products, we sustain ourselves by the selling and distribution of these products and expect to create more than 25+ million jobs in the AgriBusiness and AgriTech sectors which will secure the future of food in Africa and beyond. We welcome partnerships and meaningful collaboration towards this transition. Thank you.

Innocent Abiaka

Executive Vice President at AMI Business & Trade Promotion, Inc. [dbs AMI Consultants]

1y

Many reports on Sub-Saharan Africa countries focus on the negative economic trends, endemic corruption, social conflicts and scammers on the rampage. This report by IFC indicates examples of positive activities that are taking place in the region, albeit at micro levels, but are often overlook.

Xavier chibalonza

Chauffeur automobile chez International Alert

1y

Secteur Automobile Xavier.Vous remercie d'avoir accepté ça demande de participation a cette idée d'investissement en Afrique au nous sommes en RDC

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