When the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, they set an ambitious vision of a world without poverty, hunger, and inequality, built on fairness and care for the environment.
The Business & Sustainable Development Commission estimates that achieving the SDGs by 2030 could unlock $12 trillion in new market opportunities globally, with Africa representing one of the largest growth frontiers.
While governments and civil society play crucial roles in advancing this agenda, the private sector holds unique capabilities to drive meaningful, scalable impact. From creating jobs and fostering innovation to mobilizing capital and influencing global supply chains, businesses are increasingly stepping up as key actors in delivering the SDGs.
Why the Private Sector Matters for the SDGs
In most African economies, the private sector accounts for over 60% of GDP and employs over 80% of the workforce. Its reach, resources, and expertise make it indispensable in bridging the financing and implementation gaps for the SDGs.
Unlike donor aid or government budgets, private sector investment can be sustained through profitable models that align with long-term development outcomes. Private sector businesses can bring:
- Capital mobilization through direct investment and blended finance.
- Innovation capacity to develop new solutions to entrenched challenges.
- Operational efficiency that can scale projects rapidly.
- Influence over supply chains to embed sustainability at every stage.
From CSR to CSI (and Shared Value!)
For decades, corporate social responsibility (CSR) was seen as the main avenue for private sector contribution to development. Today, forward-looking companies are moving beyond CSR into shared value. This means embedding social and environmental goals into their core business and investment strategies, such as the following:
- Energy companies investing in off-grid solar solutions, expanding market reach while enabling access to clean power for rural communities (SDG 7).
- Agribusinesses supporting smallholder farmers with training, inputs, and market access, enhancing supply security while addressing hunger and poverty (SDGs 1 & 2).
- Financial institutions developing inclusive financial products to bring millions of unbanked individuals into the economy (SDG 8).
Companies with strong sustainability practices are increasingly favored by investors, enjoy higher brand loyalty, and are better positioned to adapt to changing regulations and market expectations.
Catalyzing Private Sector Impact Through Partnerships
The scale of the continent’s development needs calls for multi-stakeholder collaboration and deployment of innovative partnership models that include:
- Blended Finance Vehicles: This involves combining concessional capital with commercial funding to invest in high-impact but high-risk sectors.
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Co-developing infrastructure, healthcare, and education solutions.
- Corporate-Startup Collaborations: Leveraging agility and innovation from startups to address last-mile delivery challenges.
This idea of building and strengthening such partnerships between businesses, governments, DFIs, and philanthropic institutions can de-risk investments, create enabling policies, and ensure projects deliver measurable impact.
The 2025 AVPA Conference Conversations – A Call to Business Leaders
At the 2025 AVPA Conference, leaders from the private sector, impact investment, and development finance will share practical case studies of how businesses are driving the SDGs forward. Discussions will showcase actionable strategies for companies seeking to align purpose with profit and to lead Africa’s sustainable growth story by focusing on:
- Designing profitable models that deliver measurable SDG impact.
- Aligning business strategies with national development priorities.
- Leveraging catalytic capital to expand private sector engagement.
- Building cross-sector alliances that unlock scale.
The journey to achieving the SDGs by 2030 is short, but the potential for transformation is immense. For the private sector, the choice is clear: be a bystander in the global development agenda or be at the forefront of shaping Africa’s future.