Unlocking domestic resources for African infrastructure by leveraging pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, diaspora bonds, and improved revenue collection—highlighting successful models and policy reforms to channel local savings into development.

Addressing early-stage project development challenges to boost bankability by focusing on preparation facilities, feasibility studies, and risk mitigation tools. Highlight successful case studies and insights from institutions like AfDB and AUDA-NEPAD’s SDM to demonstrate how early support leads to financial close.

Integrate climate considerations into infrastructure financing by promoting green bonds, climate funds, and blended finance for sustainable projects. Highlight initiatives likethe GreenClimate Fund and Africa Green Infrastructure Alliance to boost climate-resilient investment, while encouraging policies that embed climate risk and incentivize green development.

Exploring how emerging technologies like AI, fintech, and digital platforms can transform infrastructure financing and development—enhancing project selection, streamlining investment, and improving operational efficiency—while also ensuring digital infrastructure is funded as a foundation for Africa’s digital economy.

Promote regional infrastructure, like power pools, trade corridors, and transnational transport, to unlock economies of scale and boost trade under AfCFTA. Showcase flagship cross-border projects such as the Lobito Corridor, while exploring policy coordination, multinational financing, and structuring tools like PPPs and SPVs to support multi-country investments

The Summit will explore innovative financing and partnerships to drive Africa’s industrialisation and economic diversification, emphasising infrastructure’s role in enabling key sectors and supporting AfCFTA. Discussions will highlight PPPs, regional collaboration, and investment in transport, energy, and digital connectivity as catalysts for trade, competitiveness, and sustainable development. Trade-related infrastructure, such as efficient customs systems, integrated supply chains, digital trade platforms, and modern ports, is essential for seamless cross-border trade. Enhancing these systems reduces costs, eliminates bottlenecks, boosts corridor efficiency, strengthens value chains, and empowers informal small-scale traders.

Africa’s infrastructure financing is increasingly shaped by shifting global geopolitics, with major powers and emerging players offering competing investment initiatives like the EU’s Global Gateway, G7’s PGII, and China’s BRI. While these provide vital capital, African nations must balance external interests with sovereignty and long-term goals. Emphasis is growing on South-South cooperation, regional financial institutions, and resilient financing models to navigate economic volatility and geopolitical complexity.

The Foundation for Africa’s AI and InnovationEconomy: To compete in the global AI and digital economy, Africa must invest in digital infrastructure—broadband, fiber optics, 5G—and ensure data sovereignty through local data centres and cloud services. Strategic financing, including PPPs and venture capital, is essential to close the digital divide, foster AI innovation, and build a resilient, self-sufficient digital future