The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution with a mandate to spur sustainable economic development and social progress in the continent, thereby contributing to poverty reduction. The Bank Group achieves this objective by mobilising and allocating resources for investment into the continent, and providing policy advice and technical assistance to support development efforts. The African Development Bank’s authorised capital of around USD 208 billion is subscribed to by 81 member countries made up of 54 African countries and 27 non-African countries.
The EBRD is a multilateral bank that promotes the development of the private sector and entrepreneurial initiative in 38 economies across three continents. The Bank was created in April 1991 and since then its investments reached over €160 billion in more than 6,000 projects across three continents.
The Bank is owned by 71 countries as well as the EU and the EIB. EBRD investments are aimed at making the economies in its regions competitive, inclusive, well-governed, green, resilient and integrated.
EDFI member institutions are focused on the development of private sector enterprises and operate in developing countries and emerging economies. They are mandated by their governments to contribute to the SDGs by creating jobs, boosting growth, fighting poverty and climate change. Although EDFI members have slightly different mandates and strategies, they are guided by a common ambition: “To improve people’s lives – for current and future generations – in countries where the need is the strongest, through the engine of private sector growth.”
The European Investment Bank (“EIB”) Group is the lending arm of the European Union. EIB Global is the EIB Group’s new specialised arm dedicated to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance. EIB Global is designed to foster strong, focused partnership within Team Europe, alongside fellow development finance institutions, and civil society. EIB Global brings the Group closer to local people, companies and institutions through our offices across the world.
The Directorate General of the Treasury is one of the main Directorates General of the French Ministry of the Economy, Finance and the Recovery, in charge of advising the French Government on domestic and international economic, commercial and financial policy.
IFC—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2021, IFC committed a record $31.5 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Proparco is a subsidiary of Agence Française de Développement (AFD) focused on private sector development. It has been promoting sustainable economic, social and environmental development practices for over 40 years.
African Guarantee Fund (AGF) is a specialized guarantee provider whose mission is to facilitate economic development and poverty reduction in Africa. To achieve this, AGF increases access to finance for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) across key economic sectors through an array of guarantee products and capacity development assistance. Since inception, AGF has unlocked more than USD 3.5 billion in SME financing, through partnerships with 200 partner financial institutions across 40 African countries.
AGF is backed by the following shareholders and sponsors: The Government of Denmark through the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), the Government of Spain through the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECID), the African Development Bank (AfDB), French Development Agency (AFD), Nordic Development Fund (NDF), Investment Fund for Developing Countries (IFU), German Development Bank (KfW), French Agency for Private Sector (PROPARCO), West African Development Bank (BOAD), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), USAID’s West Africa Trade & Investment Hub (WATIH), TechnoServe and Mastercard Foundation.
African Guarantee Fund is rated AA- by Fitch Ratings.
AfricInvest is an investment and financial services company that was founded in the early 1990s. Uniquely positioned as one of the most experienced private equity investors on the continent, AfricInvest has dedicated investment teams focused on Africa, and employs more than 100 professionals in eleven offices.
AfricInvest raised US$2 billion across 21 funds, and benefits from strong, long-term support from both local and international investors, including leading development finance institutions in the United States and Europe.
Having co-founded the African Venture Capital Association (AVCA), as well as the Global Private Capital Association (GPCA), and the Euromed Capital Forum, the firm is an active promotor of the private equity industry in the region.
Since the beginning, AfricInvest has invested in more than 200 companies across 35 African countries in a variety of high growth sectors, and maintains a broad network of high-quality executives across Africa, offering extensive expertise in key growth industries, including financial services, agribusiness, consumer/retail, education and healthcare.
Algebra Ventures is a tech-focused venture capital firm that partners with bold and resilient founders building transformative companies in Egypt, and across the African continent. Algebra raised its first $54M fund in 2016 and its second $100M fund in 2022 from a diverse investor base including international DFIs, governmental institutions, corporate investors and family offices.
Among the most experienced venture investors in the Middle East and Africa, Algebra has backed some of the most notable startups in Egypt that have become category leaders in their markets. Algebra Ventures is a multi-stage investor supporting founders from seed stage to Series B. More than just a source of capital, Algebra acts as a comprehensive growth platform for startups, providing strategic guidance, access to co-investors, and talent development. Algebra’s leadership team has invested in over 100 companies in the past 15 years.
The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) was established pursuant to the resolution of the 6th Arab Summit Conference at Algiers, on 28 November 1973. The Bank began operations in March 1975.
BADEA is a financial institution owned by eighteen Arab countries – members of the League of Arab States (LAS) – which signed its Establishing Agreement in 18th February 1974. The Bank is an independent International Institution, enjoying full international legal status and complete autonomy in administrative and financial matters. It is governed by the provisions of its Establishing Agreement and the principles of international law.
The Bank was created for the purpose of strengthening economic, financial and technical cooperation between the Arab and African regions and for the embodiment of Arab-African solidarity on foundations of equality and friendship. To achieve this end, the Bank was given a mandate to:
Blue Like an Orange Sustainable Capital seeks opportunities to lend to companies and projects that deliver both strong risk-adjusted returns and positive social impact in support of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. It focuses primarily on sustainable infrastructure, technology-enabled services, social infrastructure, agriculture, and access to finance. The company strives for sustainable development outcomes to foster inclusive and sustainable growth without a trade-off with respect to market-level rates of financial returns. Blue Like an Orange Sustainable Capital’s Managing Partners are Bertrand Badré, Rashad Kaldany and Emmanuelle Yannakis.
In Africa, Bpifrance provides support to French entrepreneurs wishing to develop their activities via financing (export credit), export insurance and support through its offices in Abidjan, Casablanca, Dakar and Nairobi.
Bpifrance also supports governments in setting up entrepreneurial ecosystems (through technical assistance). It increases business interactions between African, French and European companies and investors through its EuroQuity digital platform. It invests in private equity and venture capital funds for the continent to help African start-ups, SMEs and ETIs grow (through its Averroès Africa funds of funds).
Equity Group Holdings PLC is a non-operating holding company with banking subsidiaries in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo, a Commercial Representative Office in Ethiopia, and non-banking subsidiaries in Kenya that are engaged in providing investment banking and stock-broking, insurance, custodial services, payment services and telecommunication services. Equity Group Holdings PLC is listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange and other regional exchanges with a market capitalization of US$1.02 billion.
Falak Startups is an early-stage VC powered by the Egyptian Ministry of International Cooperation and its venture capital arm, Egypt Ventures. Falak Startups’ mission is to find and empower talented and ambitious seed-stage tech startup founders and help them thrive in the region’s rapidly changing entrepreneurship landscape.
As part of its mission, Falak Startups invests in seed-stage tech startups, provides them with mentorship and support services, and connects them with a vast network of investors, mentors, and corporate partners. The goal is to provide these startups with the necessary resources and guidance to scale their businesses and create a positive impact in the region.
Falak Startups also runs various programs and events to support the growth of the startup ecosystem in Egypt and beyond. These include accelerator programs, training and educational workshops, and networking events.
Through its partnership with the Egyptian Ministry of International Cooperation, Falak Startups aims to not only support local entrepreneurs but also attract foreign investment and support the growth of the Egyptian economy.
FinDev Canada is Canada’s bilateral Development Finance Institution (DFI), supporting development through the private sector. We provide financing, investment, and blended finance solutions, as well as technical assistance and knowledge, to promote sustainable and inclusive growth in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs), in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Paris Agreement commitments. FinDev Canada is a wholly owned subsidiary of Export Development Canada (EDC). Find out more about FinDev Canada at www.findevcanada.ca.
France Invest is a professional organisation bringing together nearly 400 French management companies and some 180 consulting firms. France Invest resolutely promotes their work in supporting unlisted companies and their central role in a vibrant economy. France Invest’s members enable institutional and private investors to support developing businesses or to finance infrastructure that improves the lives of French people.
As a forum for discussion, reflection and the promotion of best practices within the financial ecosystem, France Invest especially supports the initiatives of its members and those of the businesses they assist in favour of job creation and the transition to more sustainable and fairer growth.
Held under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco, GITEX AFRICA is the largest and most influential tech and start-up event on the African continent, taking place in Marrakech. Hosted by Morocco’s Digital Development Agency (ADD), under the authority of the Moroccan Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform.
GITEX AFRICA puts a spotlight on the growing energy, curiosity and demand for digital advancement across Africa. The depth and breadth of the tech and startup showcase, including the much hyped AI in society and business, enables great knowledge sharing and partnership opportunities. Public and private sectors actively collaborate, attracting investors and businesses from across Africa and the world.
GITEX AFRICA is co-located with World Future Health Africa, designed to identify, debate and apply latest innovations and technology to deliver better patient outcomes across Africa.
GITEX AFRICA is organised by KAOUN International, the overseas affiliate of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), organisers of GITEX GLOBAL in Dubai, UAE and GITEX EUROPE in Berlin, Germany.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) invests in rural people, empowering them to increase their food security, improve the nutrition of their families and increase their incomes. We help them build resilience, expand their businesses and take charge of their own development.
IFAD is an international financial institution and specialized United Nations agency based in Rome, the UN’s food and agriculture hub. Since 1978, we have provided US$23.2 billion in grants and low-interest loans.
Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) is a pioneering impact investment group entirely dedicated to financing and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Since its creation in 2002, Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) is dedicated to promoting sustainable and profitable small and medium sized African companies with high local added value.
I&P has developed different approaches combining financing and support to serve this mission and meet the needs of African SMEs, according to their maturity, size and financing requirements. I&P was launched by Patrice Hoppenot in 2002 and managed by Jean-Michel Severino from 2011 to 2021. Jean-Michel Severino previously served as Managing Director of the Agence Française de Développement (2001-2010) and Vice President for Asia at the World Bank (1996-2000). Since 2021, I&P has been co-managed by Sébastien Boyé and Jérémy Hajdenberg, who joined the company in 2002 and 2004, respectively.
The team currently comprises around 180 people, based in France and ten African offices (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Ouganda and Senegal).
The SME Finance Forum (SMEFF) is a network of 300+ members and affiliates with a coverage spanning across 190+ countries. The members are primarily financial services providers such as banks, fintechs, non-bank financial institutions, development finance institutions, credit guarantee companies, and microfinance institutions. The affiliates consist of policy advocacy groups, academia, SME and banking associations, training providers, and non-profit organizations. SME Finance Forum was established in 2012 by the G20 and is managed by the IFC with a core objective to scale financial services for SMEs. As the leading SME finance network globally, the forum steers industry innovations, supports replication of best practices, recognizes global champions, drives thought leadership, convenes influential stakeholders, and fosters global knowledge transfer.
Established in 1985, the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) is an investment-grade African regional development finance group, with the mandate to finance and foster trade, regional economic integration and sustainable development. With an asset base of USD 10 bn, TDB Group has 25 African member states, which alongside non-regional member countries and institutional investors from Africa, Europe and Asia, form TDB’s community of shareholders.
TDB Group counts several subsidiaries and strategic business units including the Trade and Development Bank (TDB), TDB Group Asset Management (TAM), the Trade and Development Fund (TDF), TDB Captive Insurance Company (TCI), the ESATAL fund management company and TDB Academy.
The West African Development Bank (BOAD) is the common development finance institution of the member countries of the West African Monetary Union (WAMU). It was established by an Agreement signed on 14 November 1973, and became operational in 1976. Member countries include Benin, Burkina, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo.
By Treaty of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) signed on 10 January 1994 and entered into force on 1 August 1994, BOAD is a specialized and autonomous institution. It contributes “in full independence to the attainment of the objectives of the WAEMU without prejudice to the objectives assigned to it under the WAMU Treaty”.
BOAD is an international public institution whose purpose, as provided under Article 2 of its Articles of Association, is to promote the balanced development of its member countries and foster economic integration within West Africa by financing priority development projects.
The West African Monetary and Economic Union (also known under the French acronym, UEMOA) was established with the Treaty signed in Dakar on 10 January 1994 by the Heads of State and Government of seven West African countries, using the CFA Franc in common.
UEMOA is represented by a logo that symbolizes growth, union, solidarity and complementarity between the Coastal and Sahel States.