Access via sign-up on the event app or by invitation only. English-French translation available.
Africa’s future rests on two interdependent transitions: a shift toward low-carbon, affordable energy, and the development of a resilient, productive agricultural base. Yet financing these priorities through conventional channels has too often proven inadequate – too slow, too risk-averse, and disconnected from local realities.
To meet the urgency of the moment, Africa’s financial institutions active in these two key sectors must embrace a new approach, merging capital sources and redistributing risk, while also rethinking pricing structures. Patient, blended capital structures have proven effective in mobilizing private investment, while institutional alignment and a clear understanding of Africa’s financial peculiarities have long been identified as key elements to facilitate these projects.
Yet what will it truly take for this new financial architecture to truly take hold across the continent?
Key Points
• Sector-specific risk profiles: How can tools like currency hedging and performance guarantees address the long tenors of energy projects and the seasonal cashflows of agriculture?
• Climate-smart agriculture: How can blended finance unlock resilient agri-value chains — from solar irrigation to cold storage — while ensuring affordable credit for smallholders?
• Differentiated pricing: What tariff models can balance user affordability with investor returns across energy and agricultural markets?