Africa Forward Summit: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth

At the “Africa Forward Summit: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth” in Nairobi on 11 and 12 May 2026—attended by the President of the French Republic, the President of the Republic of Kenya, and other African heads of State and Government—the Alliance for Entrepreneurship in Africa (AforE) hosted a TV set conversation with ecosystem leaders on how to accelerate private-sector growth and better support African entrepreneurs. Here is the link

The panel was moderated by June Gashui and featured:

• Ethiopis Tafara (IFC Vice President for Africa and Head of the Alliance Secretariat)
• Benoit Campagne (Head of the Sub-Saharan Africa, Monetary Cooperation and French Development Agency Division, French Treasury)
• Hamza Rkha Chaham (Co-founder and Managing Director, SOWIT)

Speakers outlined the Alliance’s priorities for the next phase: stronger partnerships, improved data and analytics, and upcoming opportunities to mobilize the ecosystem.

Key points from the discussion included:

• Collaboration is Critical: Multi-stakeholder cooperation—including the IFC, bilateral donors like France, technology firms, and financial institutions—is essential to overcoming the challenges faced by African entrepreneurs, especially in scaling agricultural SMEs.
• Addressing Real-World Problems: Entrepreneurs who address structural issues such as food security and youth employment are key drivers of Africa’s development.
• Role of the Alliance and Platforms: Initiatives like the Alliance for Entrepreneurship in Africa (AforE) and AgriConnect are crucial for aggregating finance, advisory, and technical support, helping promising startups like SOWIT scale from pilots to sustainable businesses.
• Bridging the “Missing Middle”: Coordinated financial and advisory support is needed to help SMEs transition from startup to scale, particularly in agriculture where market volatility, infrastructure gaps, and climate risks persist.
• Success Example: SOWIT’s technology-enabled model, supported by ecosystem partnerships, effectively organizes farmers, improves their access to finance and markets, and increases productivity and returns.
• Forward-Looking Call to Action: The panelists urged stakeholders to continue building partnerships, provide long-term support for entrepreneurs, focus on user-centered solutions informed by entrepreneurs’ feedback, and unite to deliver impactful, scalable change.

Key Takeaway: Sustained, long-term impact in Africa’s entrepreneurial and agricultural sectors will require coordinated action among diverse partners, informed by quality data, and driven by the real needs of entrepreneurs and the continent’s development priorities. This key takeaway will be integrated into the approach and operations of the Alliance as it moves forward.