IFC invests record $11.5bn in Africa
IFC provided record financing to Africa in the fiscal year 2023, helping to accelerate the continent’s energy transition, develop greener manufacturing, increase intra-Africa trade, strengthen smaller businesses, and boost local food production, including in more challenging fragile and conflict-affected regions.
IFC made $11.5 billion in investments between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, across 40 countries, the largest ever annual commitment for the continent. The support includes $1.12 billion in trade financing, $876 million for the continent’s green energy transition, and $1.98 billion to help smaller businesses grow and create jobs. IFC also provided $1.76 billion to boost digital connectivity, with investments in telecom towers, broadband, and mobile internet growth.
As the continent accelerates its climate response and shifts to a net-zero world, IFC increased its financing for climate projects. This included $1.2 billion in financing to support financial institutions to expand their climate and sustainability lending, $1.1 billion to AMEA Power to build Egypt’s largest wind and solar plants, a €242 million financing package for Senegal’s Sococim Industries and a $500 million investment in BUA Cement in northern Nigeria to promote greener, low-carbon cement manufacturing.
To strengthen digital connectivity, IFC and MIGA announced $1.3 billion in equity investments, loans, and guarantees to support Safaricom Ethiopia’s greenfield telecommunications network across Ethiopia. And to empower more small businesses, IFC provided $208 million to partners in 12 countries through the Base of the Pyramid Programme, including on boarding new partners in Cameroon and Madagascar into the programme.
During the financial year, IFC’s Africa Fragility Initiative (AFI) supported 18 advisory projects focused on developing private sector capacity in the most nascent and fragile markets in Africa. IFC and its partners also announced four new projects through the Alliance for Entrepreneurship in Africa to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and help address food insecurity, and increase trade and agricultural productivity and efficiency.
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