By Faridat Salifu
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has announced a $20million equity stake in the Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF).
This fund is dedicated to financing sustainable infrastructure projects across various sectors in Africa.
The Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF) has successfully secured a new investor as the IFC commits to a $20million stake in this financing mechanism initiated by the Africa50 platform.
This 12-year private equity fund aims to mobilize substantial and long-term institutional capital from both African and international institutions.
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Reports say the IAF is poised to make equity and quasi-equity investments, taking majority stakes in infrastructure projects spanning the continent.
With an initial closing of $222.5 million, the fund is focused on financing projects in digital infrastructure, renewable energy and power, transport, logistics, as well as water and sanitation.
Speaking on the significance of the partnership recently, Regional Director (Africa) for Industry, Infrastructure, and Natural Resources at IFC, Sarvesh Suri, emphasized that investing in infrastructure is crucial for Africa’s social and economic development.
Suri highlighted that the collaboration with IAF aims to promote and mobilize essential equity capital for projects that will directly benefit people across Africa, including those prioritizing climate change mitigation.
Suri further noted that the IFC’s investment in the IAF fund is anticipated to catalyze additional private financing by attracting the support of institutional investors, development finance institutions, as well as local and regional banks.
The AIF fund sets a target of mobilizing $500 million for financing sustainable infrastructure projects in Africa, aligning with Africa50’s strategy of expanding partnerships, such as its collaboration with the West African Development Bank (BOAD), to support sustainable infrastructure development in the continent.
