Harnessing Africa’s Creative Economy: A New Horizon for Impact Investing
In the ever-evolving landscape of impact investing, one sector is emerging with compelling potential—Africa’s Creative Economy. The Creative Economy is defined by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), as being those sectors at the nexus of creativity, knowledge, and technology. It is comprised of diverse sectors including audio-visual media (like film and […]
Hope in adversity: A case for refugee financial inclusion (Last round of review)
No one dreams of displacement, yet unforeseen events can quickly upend lives. Whether it’s the armed conflict in Sudan, the devastating Russia-Ukraine standoff, or the growing incidents of flooding and drought driven by climate change, such crises compel countless people to leave their homes. By 2050, projections suggest that East Africa alone could see as […]
Impact Investment in Healthcare: The Case for Africa and the Underlying Gains
Big transitions, bold solutions, collective power, systematic change. These themes set the stage for the upcoming Impact Forum, a global impact investing event by the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN). Within the African context, however, one must question if we have truly experienced the transformative power of impact investment, especially in crucial sectors like healthcare. […]
Why Future-Proofing Africa Matters: The 2025 AVPA Conference
In November 2025, global leaders in finance, philanthropy, government, and innovation will gather in Nairobi for the 2025 AVPA Conference. These leaders will be united by a single mission: to future-proof Africa. Themed “Future-Proofing Africa: Driving Sustainable Investments and Innovations for Resilient Growth,” this year’s convening is more than a dialogue. It is a strategic […]
Uncomfortable truths about achieving gender equity in Africa’s diverse investment landscape
By Southern Africa Regional Director, AVPA – Matebe Chisiza Last month, the Africa Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA) hosted a landmark conversation on gender-smart investing, one that went beyond the usual talking points. Rather than rehashing the business case for investing in women, the webinar surfaced fresh, and even uncomfortable truths about what’s needed to achieve […]
AVPA Welcomes Precious Wilson Nkandu as Chief Operating Officer
The African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Precious Wilson Nkandu as Chief Operating Officer, bringing nearly two decades of cross-continental leadership experience in strategy, operations, resource mobilisation, and impact investment. Nkandu joins AVPA at a pivotal time as the organisation continues to advance its mission of mobilising capital for […]
Reimagining Impact: Lessons from the 2025 Skoll World Forum
By Sharon Lwane, Communications Manager, AVPA The 2025 Skoll World Forum held from April 1st-4th in Oxford, UK, convened social innovators and change leaders committed to advancing global equity. This year’s theme, “Together We Can Mend What is Broken,” focused on addressing pressing global challenges while highlighting some of the most promising and impactful solutions. […]
Enhancing Africa’s Ability to Future Proof Itself Against Future Shocks
By AVPA CEO Dr. Frank Aswani Africa’s vulnerabilities Over the past five years, Africa has faced three significant crises, each highlighting the continent’s vulnerabilities. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic revealed our limited vaccine production capacity, placing us at the end of the queue for vaccine supplies. The Russia-Ukraine war underscored our heavy reliance on food […]
Powering Up Africa’s Youth – An Army of Global Health and Wealth Creators
“Health is often taken for granted until sickness arrives.” The COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to an unprecedented standstill in March 2020. Schools shut their doors, international travel was halted, curfews were imposed, and countless businesses, including hotels and restaurants, closed. Employees faced layoffs, hospitals brimmed to capacity, and everyone, regardless of location, turned to […]
The State Of Agricultural Financing In Africa
Over 122 million more people have been facing hunger in the world since 2019 due to the pandemic and repeated weather shocks and conflicts, including the war in Ukraine. With a global population of 7.9 billion people, it implies one in every 65 people is facing hunger. This poses a significant threat to achieving SDG […]