Building on the successful conclusion of the 17th replenishment of the African Development Fund, which mobilised $11 billion for Africa’s most vulnerable countries, the African Development Bank Group and the Government of the United Kingdom convened global investors in London to accelerate a new phase of private capital mobilisation for Africa’s development. The initiative aims to shift momentum from public funding toward greater engagement of private capital to address the continent’s growing financing needs.
The inaugural Africa Private Capital Mobilisation Day, held on 17 December at Lancaster House, brought together more than 150 senior leaders from private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, insurers, philanthropies, development finance institutions, and export credit agencies. The gathering marked a strategic transition from dialogue to action, signalling stronger alignment between public institutions and private investors.
Hosted by the African Development Bank Group in partnership with key UK government institutions, the event reflected a shared ambition to significantly scale private capital flows into African economies. The collaboration underscored the United Kingdom’s evolving role in supporting sustainable growth across Africa through investment-led approaches rather than traditional aid.
At the opening session, African Development Bank Group President Dr Sidi Ould Tah described the event as a continuation of the ADF-17 process and a decisive step toward closing Africa’s estimated $402 billion annual development financing gap. He highlighted the importance of working with development finance institutions, institutional investors, insurers, and philanthropic partners to advance concrete initiatives under a New African Financial Architecture.
The event aligned with President Ould Tah’s Four Cardinal Points vision, which focuses on unlocking Africa’s capital potential, strengthening financial sovereignty, transforming demographic growth into an economic dividend, and delivering resilient infrastructure and value chains across the continent.
UK Minister for Development Jenny Chapman welcomed the choice of London as host city, recognising the City of London’s role in mobilising global investment for Africa. She emphasised the UK’s shift from a donor-focused approach to an investor-driven role that supports long-term economic growth and reduces reliance on aid.
Discussions during the programme focused on reshaping perceptions of investment risk in Africa, developing innovative financial platforms, and mobilising capital in fragile and frontier markets. New analysis presented during the event showed that long-term lending to African borrowers has historically been less risky than commonly perceived, challenging entrenched risk assumptions.
Sector-focused conversations highlighted healthcare and aviation as critical drivers of economic resilience, productivity, and regional integration. Participants were introduced to initiatives aimed at improving access to affordable medical supplies and transforming Africa’s aviation ecosystem to support trade, tourism, and connectivity.
Alongside the main programme, President Ould Tah convened a closed-door roundtable with senior executives from leading institutional investors to explore the creation of an Africa-focused Private Sector Innovation Lab. The proposed platform would co-develop new financing instruments, partnership models, and risk-sharing solutions tailored to African markets.
The outcomes of the Africa Private Capital Mobilisation Day were captured in the London Communiqué, which outlines commitments by the African Development Bank Group and its partners to scale private capital mobilisation. Further work will focus on defining priority actions and implementation pathways to translate ambition into practical, scalable financing and risk mitigation solutions for Africa.
