Africa50, the infrastructure investment platform backed by African governments and the African Development Bank (AfDB), has grown its assets under management to more than $1.4 billion, leveraging fresh capital to expand across energy, digital, and trade-enabling projects.
Speaking at the General Shareholders Meeting in Maputo, Mozambique, AfDB President and Africa50 Chairman Akinwumi Adesina said the platform’s portfolio companies are now worth more than $8 billion, positioning it as a critical vehicle for closing Africa’s estimated $170 billion annual infrastructure financing gap.
“Within eight years, Africa50 has become a leader on infrastructure financing in Africa, demonstrating creativity and innovation that transforms how we approach continental development. From just one staff member when we started, Africa50 now employs 100 exceptional professionals and serves 37 shareholders across 33 countries and four institutions,” Adesina said.
Institutional capital flows into Africa50
The Africa Infrastructure Acceleration Fund has secured $275 million from more than 20 African institutional investors, including sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and insurers. CEO Alain Ebobissé said the commitments mark “the most substantial institutional investor confidence ever in Africa’s infrastructure opportunities.”
“The truth is this: the solutions to Africa’s infrastructure gap are already before us. Africa can and must lead the efforts to close the infrastructure gap in our continent, working with our non-African partners,” Ebobissé said.
Strategic deals in Mozambique and beyond
Africa50 signed two agreements in Mozambique, with Electricidade de Moçambique to develop three transmission lines under an Independent Power Transmission framework, and with the Ministry of Communications and Digital Transformation to build a new data centre in Maputo and upgrade the existing facility.
The platform also announced the first close of $115 million for the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa (AGIA) and a framework agreement with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) Secretariat to finance and develop trade-supporting infrastructure.
The AfDB has committed $1.6 billion to Mozambique over the past decade, accounting for 41% of the total support it has provided to the country since 1977. Projects include $400 million for the $20 billion LNG plant in Cabo Delgado and $34 million for the Mozambique Energy for All Project, which connected more than 45,500 households. Energy sector investments have doubled the national electricity access rate from 30% in 2018 to 60% in 2024.
Leadership transition ahead
Adesina, who steps down as AfDB President and Africa50 Chairman on September 1, 2025, cited the Bank’s capital expansion from $93 billion to $318 billion and $225 billion mobilized through the African Investment Forum as evidence of institutional strengthening.
“To close Africa’s infrastructure gap requires that we build and scale up partnerships, joining our hands around the Baobab tree of infrastructure opportunities. Together we are stronger, and Africa50 represents the strongest platform for unlocking global capital for African development,” he said.
