Africa - Building Bridges https://www.buildingbridges.org Aligning Finance with Sustainability Mon, 08 Jun 2026 07:34:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 Kenyan pension fund delegation visits Switzerland https://www.buildingbridges.org/kenyan-pension-fund-delegation-visits-switzerland/ Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:06:57 +0000 https://www.buildingbridges.org/?p=43453 A high-level delegation comprising board members from Kenya’s leading pension funds visited Europe at the end of May, with stops in the Netherlands, Denmark and Switzerland. The group, made up of Board Chairs, Directors and Board Members, gathered to exchange perspectives on pension fund governance, investment strategies and cross-border collaboration. As part of the Swiss visit, an event was held at IMD in Lausanne, providing a platform for dialogue with European stakeholders. The delegation, organised by Finnet Trust and led by Executive Director Godwin Kibet Simba, engaged in discussions aimed at strengthening partnerships and exploring new investment opportunities. During the Lausanne event, John Tidmarsh, Co-founder and CEO of VAI Capital and Partner at the Mobility Credit Fund, contributed to the programme, presenting the fund and extending an invitation to Building Bridges to participate in the discussion. Boris Le Montagner, Head of Strategic Projects at Building Bridges, who leads the Building […]

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]]> A high-level delegation comprising board members from Kenya’s leading pension funds visited Europe at the end of May, with stops in the Netherlands, Denmark and Switzerland. The group, made up of Board Chairs, Directors and Board Members, gathered to exchange perspectives on pension fund governance, investment strategies and cross-border collaboration.

As part of the Swiss visit, an event was held at IMD in Lausanne, providing a platform for dialogue with European stakeholders. The delegation, organised by Finnet Trust and led by Executive Director Godwin Kibet Simba, engaged in discussions aimed at strengthening partnerships and exploring new investment opportunities.

During the Lausanne event, John Tidmarsh, Co-founder and CEO of VAI Capital and Partner at the Mobility Credit Fund, contributed to the programme, presenting the fund and extending an invitation to Building Bridges to participate in the discussion. Boris Le Montagner, Head of Strategic Projects at Building Bridges, who leads the Building Bridges for Investing in Africa programme, shared perspectives on fostering collaboration between African and European institutional investors. He was joined by Sasha Cisar, representing Nest Sammelstiftung, a Swiss ecological and ethical pension fund from our ecosystem, and Jon Duncan, Sustainable Finance and Green Economy advisor with extensive experience working with African pension funds and Swiss private banking, further reflecting the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement.

Discussions in Lausanne focused on strengthening investment collaboration between Swiss and Kenyan pension funds, highlighting growing interest from African pension funds in European investment opportunities and from European pension funds in opportunities across Africa.

The visit provided a valuable opportunity to deepen dialogue and explore potential avenues for long-term collaboration across regions around knowledge transfer and evolution of the regulation allowing larger allocation to alternative asset classes such as private markets and infrastructure.

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]]> Bridging Local and International Capital for Africa https://www.buildingbridges.org/bridging-local-and-international-capital-for-africa/ Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:25:23 +0000 https://www.buildingbridges.org/?p=41907 Mobilising capital for sustainable investment on the African continent requires new approaches to risk, return, and collaboration across financial ecosystems. Alain Nsiona Defise, Founder of Nsiona Impact Ltd., born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, draws on his African roots and over twenty years of Europe-based experience managing emerging market corporate debt. He shares why local solutions, long-term presence, and collaboration across financial ecosystems are key to unlocking capital for Africa. You recently took part in the delegation to the AVPA Conference in Nairobi. How was the experience, and what stood out to you most? I approached the conference with a very open mind, as it was outside my usual scope and felt like a process of personal discovery. I was extremely glad to join; the experience was incredibly enriching. Participating as part of a delegation made a real difference, both in terms of visibility and the quality of connections […]

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]]> Mobilising capital for sustainable investment on the African continent requires new approaches to risk, return, and collaboration across financial ecosystems. Alain Nsiona Defise, Founder of Nsiona Impact Ltd., born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, draws on his African roots and over twenty years of Europe-based experience managing emerging market corporate debt. He shares why local solutions, long-term presence, and collaboration across financial ecosystems are key to unlocking capital for Africa.

You recently took part in the delegation to the AVPA Conference in Nairobi. How was the experience, and what stood out to you most?

I approached the conference with a very open mind, as it was outside my usual scope and felt like a process of personal discovery. I was extremely glad to join; the experience was incredibly enriching. Participating as part of a delegation made a real difference, both in terms of visibility and the quality of connections formed in a short time, including strong bonds within the group itself. The conference offered a well-balanced mix of panels, debates, side events, and site visits, which helped ground discussions in the local context and added a strong human dimension through shared experiences on the continent. Overall, it was a very complete package of discovery.

What stood out most to me connects closely to my professional background. Working in a field that is currently facing significant headwinds, it was striking to see a growing recognition that Africa will not ODA itself to prosperity. Conversations were notably pragmatic, with a shared understanding that the status quo is no longer sufficient. I was particularly impressed by local initiatives, such as sessions on domestic financial markets and efforts to mobilise local capital through pension funds. These connections extended beyond the conference, leading me to attend and speak at Ghana Digital & Innovation Week shortly after. Finally, the ambition of projects like the Kenyan Energy Compact showcased by the Kenyan Ministry of Energy and UN Kenya, stood out, as did the continuity created through repeated engagement via the Building Bridges platform, from Geneva in October to Nairobi a month later.

What key insights did you take away from this engagement, particularly in relation to investment and impact in Africa?

For me, the key insight is that investment and impact in Africa must be approached from a local perspective. From Europe, it is easy to underestimate the level of activity and dynamism that can be found locally. Rather than trying to replace local efforts, the focus should be on complementing and strengthening what already exists.

This goes beyond simply allocating capital. At Nsiona Impact Ltd., we prioritise working alongside local initiatives and amplifying existing ecosystems, which I believe can bring a lot of success in the future. Practically for me, this means being more present on the continent and actively building bridges. Local actors are not always fully aware of the opportunities available to them internationally, so visibility and connectivity need to work in both directions.

Drawing on more than 20 years of experience analysing emerging markets, I also see many areas where Africa is punching below its weight. A lot of the challenges we face in Africa, such as currency volatility, are not unique to the continent and have also been experienced in other emerging regions where international investors are comfortable investing. Therefore, there is an opportunity for Africa to position itself as a confident and outgoing market, whilst being aware of local challenges.

In your view, what are the main challenges when it comes to effectively channelling capital to Africa?

There are several layers of challenges. Some are objective and well known: currency volatility, political instability, and difficulties around exits. These are all elements that are present on the continent. However, I think there is an extra layer of perceived risk that is often disproportionate. Emerging market investors should be familiar with risk, yet Africa is frequently expected to pay more simply because it is Africa. This is even quantifiable, if you look at corporates in Africa, for single B rated corporates, they tend to pay between 150 and 200 basis points more. I think that is the key challenge is bridging that perception gap at a time where the catalytical and aid financing is on the decline, which means approaches and mindsets need to change.

One important area is the increased presence of the private sector actors in international capital markets, particularly on the debt side. African issuers are underrepresented. Africa to needs to be bolder, including when it comes to larger transactions. We need to engage corporates with a broader and a multi-country presence with a regional footprint, who are beginning to recognize the need to access a particular market.

I think the other need in terms of change, is the divide and internal biases that need to disappear — between Francophone and Anglophone Africa. Very often, the investment world shows bias one way or the other, influenced by the cultural or historical dynamics between the North and the South, and I believe this needs to disappear.

How valuable has your engagement with the Building Bridges Foundation been so far, including your participation in our annual conference?

My engagement with Building Bridges started around summer 2025. It is unbelievable the number, quality and diversity of connections that Building Bridges has facilitated for me, for example with the SDG Impact Finance Initiative, AHL Venture Partners or the Private Infrastructure Development Group. These connections span many areas that are highly relevant to my work, including infrastructure, private debt, and on-the-ground deal sourcing. Much of this was made available very spontaneously, which speaks to the strength of the network.

What I find particularly valuable is the way initial contacts are created and then developed, with the hope that they will lead to something concrete, including transactions. I also appreciate the events you organize, which strike a good balance between interaction within the group, allowing us to get to know one another, and collaborative brainstorming force, so that we are thinking about solutions together rather than just connecting people. The more focused conversations enabled by the Africa Investment Community you’ve put together, are extremely important.  I really value the emphasis on the broader cause and on building meaningful connections. For me, this engagement materializes through both the conference and the delegation, in Geneva event and the one on the continent, as well as the ongoing efforts to foster these connections.

Looking ahead, how would you like to see financial flows into Africa evolve, and what role could the Building Bridges Africa Investment Community play in this?

I think about financial flows into Africa, and in the future, I would like to see a conjunction of international flows and local flows. It is encouraging to see Africa-focused private debt funds emerging, and I’m also glad to see locally based funds developing. When you look at the building of a transaction, it’s great to see both local players and international players joining forces. For me, that represents the ideal future.

Achieving this will require a more developed and ambitious local market that is willing to take risks for local opportunities, as well as visibility and engagement from international players. That for me is a recipe for success, because when you look at credit stories in emerging markets, when you have this good mix of local and international players, you have better stability in the longer term, and you have that upside potential because premiums compress as international investors get reassured with the risk. This reassurance comes from the stability brought by the local investors.

To summarize: it’s not about flows into Africa, it’s flows for Africa.

We Build Bridges Storytelling Series

Building Bridges is more than just an event, it’s a space for meaningful collaboration, fresh perspectives, and lasting connections. Through our storytelling series, we highlight the personal experiences that shape each edition. If you have a story to share about your engagement with Building Bridges, whether it’s a key insight, a memorable moment, or the impact of the bridges built, we’d love to hear from you at community@buildingbridges.org.

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]]> Delegation Strengthens SDG-aligned Investment Bridges for Africa https://www.buildingbridges.org/building-bridges-delegation-strengthens-sdg-aligned-investment-links-in-nairobi/ Wed, 19 Nov 2025 16:56:42 +0000 https://www.buildingbridges.org/?p=41699 On 2 November 2025, a 22-member Building Bridges delegation travelled to Nairobi to engage with leading investors, philanthropists and innovators during the African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA) Conference. The mission underscored a shared conclusion: Africa won’t grant its way to prosperity, needs more African capital investing in Africa and is uniquely positioned to demonstrate how private, public, institutional and philanthropic capital can be deployed effectively to shape a sustainable and inclusive future. Throughout the week, discussions emphasised how innovative finance, catalytic capital and stronger public–private collaboration can unlock investment where financial returns and positive impact align. Kenya’s energy transition provided a clear illustration of this potential. With around 93% renewable electricity and a national ambition for universal access by 2030, the country shows both the scale and the investability of Africa’s transition. In the opening plenary on Day 2, Guillaume Bonnel, SDG Impact Finance Initiative (SIFI) and David Albertani, Catalytic Finance […]

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]]> On 2 November 2025, a 22-member Building Bridges delegation travelled to Nairobi to engage with leading investors, philanthropists and innovators during the African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA) Conference. The mission underscored a shared conclusion: Africa won’t grant its way to prosperity, needs more African capital investing in Africa and is uniquely positioned to demonstrate how private, public, institutional and philanthropic capital can be deployed effectively to shape a sustainable and inclusive future.

Throughout the week, discussions emphasised how innovative finance, catalytic capital and stronger public–private collaboration can unlock investment where financial returns and positive impact align. Kenya’s energy transition provided a clear illustration of this potential. With around 93% renewable electricity and a national ambition for universal access by 2030, the country shows both the scale and the investability of Africa’s transition. In the opening plenary on Day 2, Guillaume Bonnel, SDG Impact Finance Initiative (SIFI) and David Albertani, Catalytic Finance Foundation represented Building Bridges alongside global finance leaders to explore how capital can be redesigned to work for Africa’s future. In another session, Building Bridges’ CEO, Karen Hitschke, brought thoughtful insights to the Catalytic Conversation on private sector engagement in social investment.

We cannot ODA ourselves to glory which means that we need to rethink how to mobilise domestic and private capital. And for that we have to move from grant financing of programmes to mobilising private capital towards impact.

Christian Frutiger

Vice-Director General – Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

Partners highlighted the expanding pipeline of nature-based solutions and the need for robust financial structures to bring private capital to scale. Site visits and ecosystem engagements further demonstrated how African entrepreneurs and investors are shifting the continent’s growth narrative from extraction to creation.

The visit reaffirmed Building Bridges’ role as a neutral platform convening actors across finance and development to deepen collaboration and channel capital where it delivers financial performance alongside positive environmental and social outcomes. The transition is underway and those who engage early will be best positioned for the opportunities ahead. 

Explore key insights in the Delegation Highlights Report here.

View the full programme here. 

Join the Building Bridges Africa Investment Community here. 

Thank you to partners including the African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (AVCA), the African Natural Capital Alliance (ANCA), and the Swiss Development Corporation.

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]]> Building Bridges Delegation Heads to Nairobi to Deepen Investment Connections  https://www.buildingbridges.org/building-bridges-delegation-heads-to-nairobi-to-deepen-investment-connections/ Mon, 20 Oct 2025 18:41:11 +0000 https://www.buildingbridges.org/?p=41411 On 2 November, a delegation from the Building Bridges Africa investment community will travel to Nairobi to strengthen ties between African and European actors working to accelerate sustainable investment across the continent. Coinciding with the 2025 African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA) Conference, the visit forms part of a broader effort of the Building Bridges’ Africa Investment Community to build durable partnerships and unlock opportunities for capital to flow across the continent.   The delegation will engage with key regional players, including the African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AVCA) and the African Natural Capital Alliance (ANCA), and include a field visits to understand first–hand the impact, needs, challenges and opportunities on the African continent. The mission follows on from the 2024 Bridging Africa–Europe SDG Investment Summit, also held in Nairobi, and reflects Building Bridges’ commitment to sustained ecosystem-building in frontier and emerging markets.   The delegation aims to deepen learning about […]

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]]> On 2 November, a delegation from the Building Bridges Africa investment community will travel to Nairobi to strengthen ties between African and European actors working to accelerate sustainable investment across the continent. Coinciding with the 2025 African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA) Conference, the visit forms part of a broader effort of the Building Bridges’ Africa Investment Community to build durable partnerships and unlock opportunities for capital to flow across the continent.  

The delegation will engage with key regional players, including the African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AVCA) and the African Natural Capital Alliance (ANCA), and include a field visits to understand first–hand the impact, needs, challenges and opportunities on the African continent.

The mission follows on from the 2024 Bridging Africa–Europe SDG Investment Summit, also held in Nairobi, and reflects Building Bridges’ commitment to sustained ecosystem-building in frontier and emerging markets.  

The delegation aims to deepen learning about investment opportunities across clean energy, agriculture, digital innovation, health, and nature finance, with a focus on de-risking mechanisms, blended models, and partnerships that align international capital with African innovation. 

Learn more and join the Africa Investment Community  

— 

About the 2025 AVPA Conference 

The AVPA Conference convenes changemakers, policymakers, investors, philanthropists, and development actors dedicated to advancing impactful social investment across Africa. The 2025 AVPA Conference will be held from 3 to 5 November at the Trademark Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme “Driving Sustainable Investments and Innovations for Resilient Growth.”  

Building Bridges is a proud partner of this year’s AVPA Conference, which brings together over 400 stakeholders to unlock catalytic capital for development.  

Learn more about the 2025 AVPA Conference  

Meet the 2025 Investor Delegation

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David Albertani

Chief Executive Officer – Catalytic Finance Foundation
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Pablo Alonso

President – SDG Eurocapital Wealth Management SL
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Guillaume Bonnel

Chief Executive Officer – SDG Impact Finance Initiative (SIFI)
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Anthony Chaillet

General Partner – 3IF Ventures
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Jenni Chamberlain

Founder and CEO – Altree Capital
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Sach Chandaria

Board Member – Chandaria Foundation/ERFIP Foundation
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Alain Nsiona Defise

Founder – Nsiona Impact Ltd
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Valérie Donzel

Programme Manager (SIFEM, PIDG) – State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO
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Olivia Fechner

Regional Manager, Africa & Middle East – Enabling Qapital
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Christian Frutiger

Vice-Director General – Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
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Greg S. Garrett

Executive Director – ATNi (Access to Nutrition initiative)
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Derek George

Deputy Head of Section – Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC
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Jessica Graf

Managing Director and Founder – LeFil / GSSF+
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Karen Hitschke

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Building Bridges Foundation
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Lisa Jean-Mairet

Executive Director – elea
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Firoz Ladak

President – ERFIP Foundation
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Boris Le Montagner

Head of Strategic Projects – Building Bridges Foundation
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Benson Okita-Ouma

Director Hub East Africa – Wyss Academy for Nature
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Tim Radjy

Founder & Managing Partner – AlphaMundi Group (AMG)
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John Tidmarsh

Co-founder and CEO (VAI Capital) – VAI Capital
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Lucas Tschan

Head Advisory – iGravity
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Mario Wilhelm

Managing Partner – Rift Partners

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]]> Unlocking Capital through Collaboration in Africa https://www.buildingbridges.org/unlocking-capital-through-collaboration-in-africa/ Thu, 24 Jul 2025 12:47:06 +0000 https://www.buildingbridges.org/?p=38646 Unlocking the potential of emerging economies remains a significant area of opportunity for private finance however there is a persistent struggle to attract capital where it’s needed most. We met and connected Sandrine Henton of EG Capital, and Vimal Shah, Co-Founder and Chairman of Bidco Group, in Nairobi last year during the Bridging Africa-Europe SDG Investment Summit. Through this article, we invite them to share their story to illustrate how collaboration is unlocking capital for the region: connecting people and capital across sectors, perspectives and borders. Tell us a bit more about your history with Building Bridges and the relationships that have been built since you first connected with us? Vimal: Building Bridges has been instrumental in connecting us with like-minded investors who share our vision for sustainable development in Africa. Also having a shared definition of SUSTAINABILITY helps. The relationships we’ve built through this network have been invaluable in […]

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]]> Unlocking the potential of emerging economies remains a significant area of opportunity for private finance however there is a persistent struggle to attract capital where it’s needed most. We met and connected Sandrine Henton of EG Capital, and Vimal Shah, Co-Founder and Chairman of Bidco Group, in Nairobi last year during the Bridging Africa-Europe SDG Investment Summit. Through this article, we invite them to share their story to illustrate how collaboration is unlocking capital for the region: connecting people and capital across sectors, perspectives and borders.

Tell us a bit more about your history with Building Bridges and the relationships that have been built since you first connected with us?

Vimal: Building Bridges has been instrumental in connecting us with like-minded investors who share our vision for sustainable development in Africa. Also having a shared definition of SUSTAINABILITY helps. The relationships we’ve built through this network have been invaluable in driving forward our initiatives and addressing the continent’s most pressing challenges.

Sandrine: Since first engaging with Building Bridges, we have leveraged their platform to forge and deepen collaborations with Swiss family offices, foundations, and impact-driven organizations, strengthening our ties within the local philanthropy ecosystem.

There’s a lot of talk about capital still moving in sustainable finance, and especially for Africa — What evidence are you both seeing that certain investors are staying the course?

Vimal: What we are witnessing is a profound shift in the investment landscape. Investors who understand the long-term value and impact of sustainable finance are committed to staying the course. The opportunities presented in Africa are amazing in potential.  At Bidco, we’ve seen firsthand how patient capital can drive transformative change. Our partnerships with investors who are dedicated to Africa’s growth have not only sustained but have also inspired new investments. This continued commitment is a testament to the resilience and potential of the African market once there is a confluence of Capital and ground level execution ability.

Sandrine: Since EG Capital’s initial concept was selected as one of the climate adaptation solution, and presented for the launch of Project Drawdown at the International School of Geneva back in 2018 together with Nobel Prize winner Jacques Dubochet, we see that Swiss investors rallied before, and this Swiss-base is holding, primarily thanks to family offices such as Swiss holding Regenerative who have joined the Fund at its anchor closing.

We’re also seeing new Swiss investors, both public and private sector investors, considering joining our fund during 2025, which is focused on 100% gender-lens investing in Food, Health, Education and Climate Adaptation sectors in Africa. A lot of good momentum has happened just over the last few weeks. I’ve just come from the AVCA (African Private Capital Association) Conference in Lagos, Nigeria, leading a panel on Family Fortunes Powering 10x in Africa – and it is incredible how this small, yet tight-knit community that invests in Africa is coming together at this time. Despite the bad news we hear, this community, both LPs and GPs alike, are stepping up.

I was especially thrilled to have one of our existing anchor investors, Fundacion ANESVAD, with us, along with three family offices (new investors) eager to discover what investing in Africa is all about.  Our panel, which included TenGen Family Office, TY Danjuma Family Office, and was moderated by the African Philanthropy Forum, discussed the growing role of family offices as both allocators and direct investors in Africa’s private capital ecosystem.

Everyone agrees collaboration is essential, but what does that actually look like in practice—especially when bridging financial, technical, and local expertise?

Vimal: Collaboration is about leveraging each other’s strengths and expertise to create a greater impact on the ground in Africa as that is where the need is the biggest. At Bidco, we’ve partnered with various stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, and private sector players, to implement projects that address local needs. For instance, our collaboration with local farmers has enabled us to secure sustainable raw materials while empowering the farmers economically and also giving livelihoods for rural farming communities too. Additionally, by working with technology providers, we’ve introduced innovative solutions that improve efficiency and productivity. It’s about creating a synergistic effect where each partner contributes to and benefits from the collective effort.

Sandrine: Building Bridges events are vital for ecosystem connections. At the latest conference I met a UBS Optimus colleague who shared a model he had personally built for measuring investments’ deeper impact—reducing vulnerability and boosting climate-shock resilience. We’ve adopted this tool as our baseline for climate adaptation measurement and tied 50 % of our carried interest to resilience and gender-equity targets. Through this collaboration, EG Capital also joined UNEPFI’s community of practice for climate adaptation-metrics and the Global Alliance for Resilience Investments (GARI), unlocking new investment opportunities. We’re also developing a local-currency facility with support from existing investors and partners.

Another area where collaboration has been strong since joining the discussion convened by the Global Alliance Against Poverty and Hunger and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) at Switzerland House in Davos is in food security and childhood nutrition. We’re piloting compact multigrain and whole-grain systems for sorghum, millet, beans and legumes, reducing reliance on imported wheat and maize. Supported by the Rockefeller Foundation and the Fortified Wholegrain Alliance, this innovation promises scalable school-meal and rural-nutrition solutions.

There is an understanding that local investors remain cautious about private capital, often due to lack of familiarity and under-served capital markets. What have you done differently to build trust and shift the model—and where is it starting to pay off?

Vimal: Building trust with local investors requires a deep understanding of their concerns and priorities. At Bidco, we have focused on creating transparent and mutually beneficial partnerships that are authentic and trust at shareholder level to know that there are going to be issues but we shall be totally united in overcoming them. We engage with investors through regular communication, sharing and being totally safe in discussions, and by showcasing the tangible impact of our projects and what we need to work on to bring global best practices and make them Africa’s NEXT practices. By demonstrating commitment to local development and delivering consistent results, we’ve been able to build confidence and encourage more local participation in private capital markets.

Sandrine: Local businesses have indeed had bad experiences with foreign capital. Foreign investors dominated early markets, often misunderstood the local context, and relied on open-ended equity structures with significant exit risks. Kenyan pension funds especially have avoided private equity markets. We’ve seen short-term investors come in and out without creating value. We’ve taken a different path—focusing on debt products and building long-term partnerships. This is about education, transparency and consistency. And trust has to be built. You feel it in the conversations.

From our perspective at EG Capital, family offices are partners who come not only at the fund level, but are actively engaged as operating partners & strategic long term investors at the asset level too. People like Vimal are strategic. They can unlock far more for the continent. We also discussed how blended finance structures with 1st Loss Junior Equity, and 2nd Loss Guarantees can help mobilize private sector capital, and we are excited to start working together with public sector investors, and DFIs to mobilize financing for climate adaptation and gender equity.

Finally, what would you say to those in finance who are sitting on the sidelines when it comes to adaptation and equity?

Vimal: To those hesitating on the sidelines, I would say this: Africa remains the LAST FRONTIER. Africa will be a big story once people realise the True Size of Africa and the future belongs to those who are bold enough to invest in continual change. Adaptation and equity are not just moral imperatives; they are critical to sustainable growth and resilience. By investing in these areas, you are not only contributing to a better world but also positioning yourself for very long-term success. Seize the opportunity to be part of the solution. Your investments today will shape the world of tomorrow and you will get exponential returns in the long run.

Sandrine: My message to the Building Bridges community is this: Go beyond your own interest or your own initiative. It’s not enough to tick a box or say you’re investing in priority areas. It’s how you do it: dare to broaden your own perspectives. Partner. Collaborate. Try to understand what’s really happening in local contexts. And trust. Trust what’s already working. That’s what delivers the real dividend.

We Build Bridges Storytelling Series

Building Bridges is more than just an event—it’s a space for meaningful collaboration, fresh perspectives, and lasting connections. Through our storytelling series, we highlight the personal experiences that shape each edition. If you have a story to share about your engagement with Building Bridges — whether it’s a key insight, a memorable moment, or the impact of the bridges built—we’d love to hear from you!

Do you have a bridge-building story to share? Click here to submit one for review.

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]]> Building Bridges Africa Investment Community https://www.buildingbridges.org/building-bridges-africa-investment-community/ Tue, 15 Apr 2025 13:00:48 +0000 https://www.buildingbridges.org/?p=35944 Are you interested in advancing sustainable investment opportunities in Africa? We’re building a dedicated Community within the Building Bridges network to bring together individuals and organisations who share this common interest. By joining, you’ll receive occasional updates with relevant news, webinars, and event suggestions—both in Europe and across Africa. We’ll also connect members when relevant opportunities arise and consider members for future investor delegations to key conferences in Africa. If this resonates with you, we invite you to register below so we can learn about your expertise and specific areas of interest. Background Building Bridges with Africa has continued to evolve in many ways, including Action Days events, from Demystifying Risk to SDG Investments in African Markets: Spotlight Ghana & Kenya, organised by the Ground Up Project and the SDG Lab in 2022, Exploring SDG Investment Opportunities in Kenya organised by the Nairobi International Financial Centre and UNDP FC4S in 2023, […]

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]]> Are you interested in advancing sustainable investment opportunities in Africa?

We’re building a dedicated Community within the Building Bridges network to bring together individuals and organisations who share this common interest.

By joining, you’ll receive occasional updates with relevant news, webinars, and event suggestions—both in Europe and across Africa. We’ll also connect members when relevant opportunities arise and consider members for future investor delegations to key conferences in Africa.

If this resonates with you, we invite you to register below so we can learn about your expertise and specific areas of interest.

Sign Up

Background

Building Bridges with Africa has continued to evolve in many ways, including Action Days events, from Demystifying Risk to SDG Investments in African Markets: Spotlight Ghana & Kenya, organised by the Ground Up Project and the SDG Lab in 2022, Exploring SDG Investment Opportunities in Kenya organised by the Nairobi International Financial Centre and UNDP FC4S in 2023, to Bridging SDG Financing for Africa – the time is now! organised by the SDG Partnership Platform, Swiss Government, AlphaMundi and the World Economic Forum and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Building In Africa  organised by Haruma Buntfu in 2024. We also co-hosted an Africa-focused networking breakfast as part of the Building Bridges 2024 side-event programme with SDG Impact Finance Initiative and AlphaMundi.

We have also led two high-level missions to Kenya, the first learning exchange took place in April 2023 where our team traveled to learn more about the impact investing community in Nairobi, and exchange with financial actors who are implementing new innovative services to support the Sustainable Development Goals. The second mission in June 2024 brought leaders together for the Bridging Africa-Europe SDG Investment Summit. Over 3 days, a delegation of private sector leaders from Europe and East Africa united to strengthen bridges for sustainable investment. This inaugural Summit was a collaboration between Building Bridges, the Embassy of Switzerland in Kenya, and the United Nations in Kenya through its SDG Partnership Platform, with support from the Nairobi International Financial Centre and Equity Bank Group. It aimed to forge links and cultivate trust to enable financing and investment pathways among diverse communities, deepening European investors’ and African stakeholders’ understanding of the region’s and the continent’s sustainable investment landscape.

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]]> First Bridging Africa – Europe SDG Investment Summit in Nairobi, Kenya https://www.buildingbridges.org/first-bridging-africa-europe-sdg-investment-summit-in-nairobi-kenya/ Tue, 18 Jun 2024 14:29:37 +0000 https://www.buildingbridges.org/?p=28391 Connecting continents for sustainable investments

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]]> Building Bridges took the lead on bringing together for 3 days in Kenya a delegation from private sector leaders from Europe and East Africa to strengthen bridges for sustainable investment. The first Bridging Africa – Europe SDG Investment Summit took place in Nairobi, from June 3 to 5, 2024. 

Central to the mission of Building Bridges is the creation of a multi-stakeholder platform, dedicated to channeling capital where it can achieve maximum, sustainable impact. “Only by creating the right conditions to facilitate capital flow can we aim to build an economic system aligned with social and environmental sustainability goals,” said Patrick Odier, Chair of the Building Bridges Foundation. “This initiative embodies our collective will to drive meaningful change.”

The 2024 “Bridging Africa – Europe SDG Investment Summit” in Nairobi builds on a mission to Kenya in April 2023, during which the Building Bridges team engaged with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, development partners, and the private sector.

This inaugural Summit was a collaboration between Building Bridges, the Embassy of Switzerland in Kenya, and the United Nations in Kenya through its SDG Partnership Platform, with support from the Nairobi International Financial Centre and Equity Bank Group. It aimed at forging links and cultivating trust to enable financing and investment pathways among diverse communities, deepening European investors’ and African stakeholders’ understanding of the region’s and the continent’s sustainable investment landscape. And it was a success!

Through site visits, startup pitches, networking sessions and active discussions with financial institutions, government ministries, leading change-makers, high-caliber entrepreneurs and innovators, this pivotal initiative established a strong basis for future collaboration and partnerships. The trip provided the European delegation with an in-depth view of Kenya and East Africa’s advanced sustainability ecosystem, and its promising investment opportunities. Simultaneously, Kenyan local private and public sector representatives, along with tech innovators, showcased their ambitious growth strategies aimed at attracting and sustaining both local and foreign investments in East Africa, a region home to 497 million and to one of the continent’s fastest-growing demographics.   

The conversations initiated through this landmark event in Nairobi are a first step into building a proper Africa-Europe bridge and will continue as part of the 5th edition of Building Bridges in Geneva, December 9-12, 2024. Beyond our end of the year flagship event, we will continue building this intercontinental bridge. Stay tuned if you want to join us on this journey or feel free to reach out.

Karen Hitschke, CEO of the Building Bridges Foundation, concludes this 3-day event: “Our objective was to build a strong bridge between our two continents and bring traffic on it. And we succeeded, through a collaborative approach, by connecting and engaging with key local actors, strengthening links and fostering trust among a wide array of communities.”

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