Building Bridges for Investing in Africa
Africa holds some of the world’s most dynamic opportunities for sustainable and impact-driven investment. Yet capital flows into the continent remain below potential. Building Bridges for Investing in Africa seeks to close this gap by shifting perceptions from risk to opportunity, connecting those interested by and ready to invest in Africa’s growth with those shaping it on the ground.
Our activities build trust, visibility and access, turning conversations into partnerships and partnerships into capital flows that deliver financial returns alongside positive social and environmental impact. This programme is an evolution of the relationships developed with multiple actors on the African continent through our various activities since 2023 that have been taking place online, during our flagship event in Geneva and on the African continent.
This is a programme and a community built with and for its members, open, practical and focused on action.
Delegations
Groups convened by Building Bridges to attend major forums, build connections, and showcase investable solutions
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.
This was also an occasion to deepen relationships with other partners and networks through the Swiss Embassy Reception and African Private Market Association (AVCA) connect cocktail, reconnect with the Kenyan Ministry of Energy, UN Kenya and the African Natural Capital Aliance (ANCA) and meet new stakeholders in the margins of the AVPA Conference such as the Innovative Finance Initative and Delta40.
Meet the delegation here.
Read the outcome report here.
Read more on outcomes from the mission here.
View the full programme here.
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.
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 solutions to support the Sustainable Development Goals. This initial learning exchange built the foundations for this Building Bridges for Investing in Africa Programme.
Activities
Meetings organised and supported by Building Bridges and partners to advance the thematic programme
1 October, 2025, this private event was organised during Building Bridges 2025 together with the Government of Kenya, United Nations Kenya, Sustainable Energy for All and EG Capital. This roundtable was the first private sector engagement of the Kenyan Government following the launch of the Kenya Energy Compact the week before during UNGA in New-York. The roundable examined how Kenya’s USD 19.1 billion Energy Compact can serve as a blueprint for aligning government resources with institutional investors, philanthropies, and impact-driven funds.
1 October, 2025, this private session was organised during Building Bridges 2025 together with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), AHL Venture Partners and convened family office principals and investment representatives alongside seasoned practitioners to exchange real world experiences and practical insights in a safe space. By sharing perspectives across diverse experiences, participants explored not only why family offices are engaging in Africa, but how they can do so in ways that are both commercially viable and deeply impactful.
1 October, 2025, these three private sessions were organised by the African Natural Capital Association and UNEP Finance Initiative. They convened philanthropies, family offices, and financial institutions alongside African-led platforms and global partners. These sessions offered a trusted space for practical exchange on deploying investment vehicles, scaling revenue models, and aligning capital flows with nature-positive outcomes.
From Aid to Ownership: Catalytic Capital for Africa’s Nature-Positive Future, hosted by ANCA & NatureFinance.
Africa Rising: Investing in Nature, Powering the Planet, 1 Oct, hosted by ANCA.
Catalysing Scale: Investing in Nature-Positive Ventures with Proven Revenue Models, 1 Oct, hosted by UNEP-FI, GFI, UNDP and BIOFIN.
Africa Investment Community
The Africa Investment Community is for all those interested in advancing sustainable investment opportunities in Africa 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 through dedicated sessions during the year when relevant opportunities arise and consider members for future investor delegations to key conferences in Africa.
24, 25 and 26 February, 2026, three online networking sessions with relevant members of the community were organised around specific topics to foster collaboration and increase capital mobilisation to Africa.
Over 30 members of the Africa Investment Community joined the calls that focused on agri food systems, climate & energy, and nature & carbon markets. The importance of catalytic capital, innovative financing and local currency solutions have been highlighted throughout. Many synergies within and across sectors and geographies were identified and participants have been provided contact details and summary of the discussions to facilitate followups.
1 October, 2025, the Africa Investment Community Breakfast was organised at Building Bridges 2025 to bring together stakeholders from Europe and Africa that all aim at mobilising capital for sustainable development on the African Continent in an unformal networking format.
11 December, 2024, this Africa Investment Community Breakfast was organised during Building Bridges 2024 together with the SDG Impact Finance Initiative and AlphaMundi. It brought together stakeholders from Europe and Africa that all aim at mobilising capital for sustainable development on the African Continent.
Related Action Events
Events from the crowdsourced programme of the Building Bridges Flagship conference
Impact Investing for Systemic Change: Unlocking the Potential of Catalytic Capital
Show moreBlended and Beyond: Finance Innovation for Regenerative Agriculture and Market Infrastructure
Show moreUnlocking Capital Flows: Solving Liquidity Challenges for Impact Investments in Emerging Markets
Show moreRelated Webinars
Experts from our community sharing diverse perspectives on how to turn today’s sustainability challenges into investable opportunities.
