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 response to the continent’s most pressing challenges and its most transformative opportunities.
The Urgency Behind the Theme
Africa is at a critical inflection point. The last five years alone have exposed structural vulnerabilities across public health systems, food supply chains, and national economies. From the global COVID-19 pandemic to geopolitical tensions and aid contractions, the continent has experienced significant disruption.
Yet these crises have also surfaced an undeniable truth: Africa cannot afford to wait for external solutions. Building long-term resilience means shifting from aid dependency to self-determined, sustainable growth.
At the heart of this transition is a vast but underutilized resource: over $1.8 trillion in dormant capital held in African pension funds, insurance reserves, and banking systems. Unlocking and redirecting this capital into impact-aligned investments could fuel inclusive development at scale.
A New Vision for Sustainable Investment
The theme for the 2025 AVPA Conference reflects a shift from short-term philanthropic interventions toward strategic, blended finance models that de-risk investment and unlock private capital. This is what makes catalytic capital so critical. By combining grants, concessional debt, and equity, impact investors and philanthropists can crowd in commercial players and scale African-led innovation.
Moreover, the theme recognizes the growing role of technology, particularly AI, in reshaping service delivery across healthcare, finance, agriculture, and education. Africa is already home to groundbreaking ventures like Jumo, Gro Intelligence, and 4G Capital, proving that innovation, when properly financed, can solve systemic problems sustainably.
Why This Matters Now
With the SDG financing gap in Africa exceeding $200 billion annually, traditional models of development funding are no longer sufficient. Future-proofing Africa means reimagining the systems that support social and economic growth from climate-resilient energy infrastructure to inclusive education and healthcare systems.
It also means elevating African voices, scaling homegrown solutions, and deepening collaboration across sectors. Governments, donors, private investors, and civil society must come together not just to build resilience but to co-create pathways for prosperity.
The AVPA 2025 Conference will provide a platform for these conversations, and more importantly, for action. Participants will explore:
- Domestic capital mobilization strategies
- Blended finance and catalytic investment models
- Private sector partnerships for scalable solutions
- Tech for Good, gender-smart investing, and the future of work
- Sector-specific deep dives into health, education, agriculture, and climate finance
Set to take place from 3rd – 5th November 2025 in Nairobi, the 2025 AVPA Conference marks a pivotal moment in Africa’s investment story.
Visit www.avpaconference.africa and explore the full agenda, register, or partner with us. It is time you joined the movement to build a resilient, self-reliant Africa.