NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 6 – The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and Axian have signed agreements to invest in the Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF), bolstering the continent’s infrastructure financing pool with support from regional and international investors.
The signing, held on the sidelines of the Africa Investment Forum Market Days in Rabat, Morocco, follows the successful $222.5 million first close of the IAF in December 2023. This marks a pivotal step in mobilizing global and domestic capital to bridge Africa’s significant infrastructure gap.
DBSA and Axian’s participation demonstrates confidence in the IAF’s ability to de-risk investments and channel funds into transformative sectors such as energy, digital infrastructure, and transportation.
Boitumelo Mosako, CEO of DBSA, hailed the initiative as a strategic collaboration. “Participation in the IAF allows us to mobilize financial resources, expertise, and networks to address the continent’s infrastructure challenges. It aligns perfectly with our goal to uplift communities through impactful projects,” Mosako said.
Vincent le Guennou, CEO of the IAF, noted that attracting new investors within a year underscores the fund’s credibility and ability to deliver both impact and returns. “The IAF is a transformative vehicle for profitable and impactful infrastructure projects, improving lives across Africa,” he remarked.
The Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund, with its pan-African footprint and expertise, is positioned to attract institutional investors keen on unlocking the continent’s infrastructure potential. Africa50’s 35 shareholders, including 32 African countries, reinforce its mission to catalyze public and private sector investments for sustainable development.
