By Abi Mustapha-Maduakor, Chief Executive Officer, AVCA
What a difference a year makes.
Since we gathered in London for last year’s AVCA Sustainable Investing in Africa Summit, the global environment has shifted significantly. Geopolitical tensions have intensified. Trade and supply chains are being reconfigured. Energy and food security have moved higher up national agendas. Development finance is under pressure. And technology, particularly AI, is advancing at extraordinary speed.
For investors, businesses and policymakers alike, we are operating in a world that feels more fragmented, more volatile and less predictable.
Against this backdrop, resilience is no longer simply a desirable characteristic. It is becoming an investment imperative.
That is why the theme of this year’s 5th AVCA Sustainable Investing in Africa Summit “Built to Last: The New Global Reality” feels particularly timely.
The question for investors is increasingly not simply where can we find growth? It is also: what will endure?
Which businesses can withstand shocks, adapt to changing markets and continue to create value? Which sectors are fundamental to the resilience of economies and communities? And how do we invest today to build businesses and economies capable of thriving through whatever comes next?
In this environment, sustainability becomes more, not less, important. At its core, sustainable investing is about the long term: building businesses, infrastructure and economies that can withstand disruption, respond to change and continue creating value.
Africa has a critical role to play in this new global reality.
The continent sits at the intersection of many of the forces reshaping the global economy, from energy security and critical minerals to food systems, digital infrastructure and rapidly expanding consumer markets. The opportunity now is to ensure that Africa does not simply supply what the world needs, but uses this moment to build stronger businesses, deeper value chains and more resilient economies of its own.
Why These Conversations Matter Now
Resilience is reshaping investment decisions. Investors are increasingly asking which businesses can withstand disruption, adapt and continue creating long-term value.
Africa’s strategic importance is growing. Energy, critical minerals, food security and global supply chains are creating new opportunities for Africa to build stronger industries and capture more value locally.
The capital landscape is changing. As traditional sources of development finance come under pressure, mobilising private and domestic capital is more critical than ever.
Sustainability is evolving, not disappearing. The language may be changing, but the imperative to build businesses that endure, adapt and create lasting value has only become stronger.
Technology is accelerating change. AI is transforming businesses and investment models, creating significant opportunities while demanding new infrastructure, skills and approaches to responsible growth.
Why THIS Summit Is Essential
These are complex questions, and no single part of the investment ecosystem can answer them alone.
The Summit brings together institutional investors, fund managers, DFIs, philanthropies, entrepreneurs and business leaders to examine what this new global reality means for investing in Africa and, importantly, what we do about it.
For five years, the AVCA Sustainable Investing in Africa Summit has created a space for candid conversation, new ideas and partnership across the ecosystem. This year, that conversation feels more consequential than ever.
The world has changed. The way we think about sustainable investment must evolve with it.
I hope you will join us in London on 15 October to help shape what comes next and what we build to last.