Financing Africa’s Ambition: An Interview with Premier Invest
René Awambeng, Managing Partner, Premier Invest
As the global economic order undergoes seismic realignment—marked by fragmentation, multipolarity, and tighter capital flows—Africa finds itself at a turning point: no longer a passive participant, but a potential architect of its own financial destiny. With traditional development finance under pressure, the imperative is clear: to forge a bold, homegrown model that is innovative, collaborative, and unapologetically African.
Premier Invest is at the forefront of this emerging paradigm. Blending capital with strategy, and theory with on-the-ground delivery, the firm is helping to shape a new generation of investable projects—mobilising local finance, navigating risk, and connecting ambition with execution. At a time when capital has become more cautious—and more political—this kind of ingenuity may prove essential to unlocking Africa’s next era of growth.
To unpack these themes—from the promise of the AfCFTA to the evolving role of private capital—Invest Africa Insights sat down with René Awambeng, Founder and Managing Partner of Premier Invest. The result is a timely and candid conversation on the future of African finance—and what it will take to build resilience, relevance, and true agency in a shifting global landscape.
We’re speaking at a time when the global financial architecture is undergoing seismic shifts — from multipolarity to fragmentation. How do you see Africa’s position evolving in this landscape, and what kind of agency does the continent now have that it lacked in previous cycles of global change?
René Awambeng:
Africa stands at a pivotal crossroads. For the first time in modern history, the continent is not merely reacting to global financial shifts - it is actively shaping them. Multipolarity presents both a challenge and an opportunity. As Western capital becomes more selective and politicised, Africa can strategically engage with emerging blocs in the Gulf, Asia, and Latin America to diversify its partnerships.
However, true agency will only come when African nations speak with a collective voice, align on strategic priorities, and build robust regional capital markets that reduce dependency on external financing cycles. The Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a cornerstone in that journey - but it must be backed by coordinated financial infrastructure and policy coherence.
Amid tightening global liquidity and geopolitical realignment, what can African economies do to safeguard capital flows and investor confidence without compromising domestic growth goals?
René Awambeng:
Investor confidence thrives on predictability, transparency, and political stability. Governments must focus on strengthening regulatory frameworks, improving creditworthiness through sound fiscal management, and prioritising good governance over short-term populism.. Equally important is building project pipelines that are investment-ready – supported by local development banks and risk mitigation instruments.
This is where Premier Invest is most active: creating structures that blend public sector stability with private sector innovation, ensuring that capital inflows are aligned with national development priorities.
In today’s market, it’s not just about attracting capital – it’s about being a trusted steward of it.
Many argue that the traditional financial toolkit — concessional loans, project finance, DFIs — hasn’t kept pace with Africa’s ambitions or complexity. What role do you see for private capital, blended structures, or alternative models in closing this gap? And how is Premier Invest engaging in this space?
René Awambeng:
There is a growing consensus that traditional financial instruments - concessional loans, DFIs, and standard project finance - are no longer adequate to meet the scale and complexity of Africa’s development needs. What’s required is a more agile and innovative ecosystem that combines concessional funds, risk capital, and local institutional investment.
At Premier Invest, we are pioneering blended finance structures that go beyond capital deployment. We provide end-to-end project development support and deploy a diverse set of financial instruments tailored to specific risk profiles and development stages, including:
Grants: Non-repayable funds to catalyse early-stage activities
Market-shaping mechanisms: Tools to correct for market failures and unlock private sector participation
Risk-sharing instruments: Structures that de-risk investments by absorbing potential losses
Debt: Traditional funding with defined repayment terms
Equity: Ownership stakes to align incentives and long-term value creation
Through our Deal Room platform, we also connect credible African projects with global capital, creating opportunities for scale and replication.
The future of financing in Africa is not about one-size-fits-all models; it’s about fit-for-purpose, African-led innovation in capital structuring that delivers both returns and resilience.