By 2030, it is estimated that climate change could lead to a 20% decline in agricultural productivity in Africa, exacerbating existing issues such as gender inequality and child malnutrition, among others. This session will look into the appetite for investment in infrastructure, innovation and sustainable farming practices and what more can be done to tackle the issue. 

Africa faces its own set of challengesin the move away from fossil fuels, caught in a balancing act between prioritising strategies for clean energy and leveraging its natural resources including oil and gas. Join us as speakers unpack how business as usual in 2024 will shift to accommodate the sweeping changes needed to accommodate the continent’s future energy requirements.

Africa boasts abundant renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal, offering vast potential for clean energy generation. Despite the many challenges in Africa’s renewables sector, the potential cannot be understated. Join us as our experts assess what stakeholders need to collaborate and develop supportive policies, improve access to finance, build technical capacity, and promote innovation in renewable energy technologies and business models.

Africa’s energy mix has been relatively constant for the last 30 years and despite successful renewable energy projects, the overall scale of renewables in Africa remains small. Join us as our speakers delve into innovative strategies and collaborative approaches to mitigate investment risks in renewable energy projects across the continent.  

As the trend of rapid urbanisation accelerates across the African continent, demand for real estate to serve diverse needs ranging from housing, commercial and retail, infrastructure and hospitality is on the rise. Join us as our speakers explore short and long-term opportunities in terms of financing, risk management and best practice to deliver seamless projects across the continent.

The African continent is experiencing an upsurge in industrial activity across various sectors like processed food and automobile manufacturing. In partnership with ARISE IIP, we are hosting a breakfast roundtable to explore Africa's opportunity to become a major player in global manufacturing exports.

Africa is widely regarded for its agility and rapid adoption of fintech as a key driver of both scale and access to bolster economic growth. However, the perception of volatility and uncertainty often overshadows the wealth of opportunity in the sector. This session will explore strategies to address challenges in regard to cross border payments, repatriation challenges, reliability, access and scale.

The global economy finds itself at a crossroads as we face a polycrisis. Each crisis can exacerbate others, creating a feedback loop that makes addressing any single issue more difficult. Join us a experts discuss how Africa can weather this complex set of challenges, given the already existing issues faced on the continent can give rise to a number of opportunities.

In this session, our speakers will discuss practical strategies and best practices to leverage Islamic finance for sustainable growth and financial inclusion. Join us as we explore the transformative potential of Islamic finance in Africa's economic landscape.

Together with Casablanca Finance City, Africa Finance Corporation, McKinsey and Capital Club Dubai, we invite you to explore Morocco’s transformative impact and it’s role in unlocking business opportunities in Africa. 

Investment in the African data centre market is on the rise, with major players like Equinix, Amazon Web Services, and NTT Global Data Centers making significant investments. But insufficient infrastructure investment has long stymied development across the continent. Join us as our experts assess how the financing gap can be plugged, and how national grids can be strenghtened to support the growing demand, among other important topics.

In this webinar, our experts will explore the vast potential, uncover practical applications, and discuss the future trajectory of these technologies in reshaping the economic landscape of the African continent. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into the transformative power of blockchain and DeFi for sustainable growth and financial empowerment in Africa.

The investment landscape in Lusophone countries is encouraging, with international investors increasingly showing a willingness to support pivotal projects. This growing confidence within the investment community bodes well for the energy transition and overall economic development in these strategic markets.

2023 was a big year for UAE-Africa commercial ties, highlighted perhaps most notably by Abu Dhabi’s promise to pour $4.5 billion into clean energy projects across the continent at the inaugural Africa Climate Summit. In this session, speakers will forecast UAE-Africa investment trends in 2024 and beyond.

In 2024, Africa is set to be the second-fastest growing major region, with most countries experiencing accelerated economic growth compared to 2023. East Africa, led by Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda, is poised to be at the forefront, contributing to Africa's real GDP increase from 2.6% in 2023 to 3.2%.

For North Africa, a more robust growth trajectory is anticipated in 2023–24, averaging 4.5 percent. This resurgence is underpinned by a strong recovery in both Libya and Morocco, along with the consolidation of gains in other countries.

Southern Africa’s overall outlook for 2024 remains cautiously optimistic, with growth expected to rebound to 4%. This growth is set to be broad-based, with top performers for the fiscal year likely to include Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Zambia.

The economic dynamics and political landscape in the context of Africa’s Francophone markets for the 2024 fiscal year paint a complex picture. While there are pockets of economic resilience, the region faces notable challenges related to political stability and the long-term economic sustainability. Addressing these challenges will be crucial for fostering a more stable and prosperous future.

Nigeria remains the most populous country on the continent, emphasising the continued need to diversify its economy and maximise renewable energy strategies, and while growth in West Africa slowed to 3.6% in 2022 from 4.4% in 2021, it is projected to pick up in the medium term, reaching 4.1% in 2023 and accelerating to 4.3% in 2024.

Invest Africa invites our members to join us for our annual end-of-year reception as we bring our member network together for a relaxed and festive evening. We hope to see you there. 

In partnership with Mauritius Commercial Bank, we are hosting a COP28 Networking Reception on the sidelines of the main conference. Join our network of Africa-focused investors and companies for casual drinks and dialogue as we approach the end of a blockbuster year for climate action in Africa.

Africa’s health security depends on collaborative, innovative partnerships between governments and industry. Our panellists will address the key challenges, risks and opportunities in the sector and ways to encourage investment in healthcare and also accelerate these partnerships from ideation to action.

In this session, speakers will discuss how to drive inclusive connectivity across the continent, address infrastructure challenges, and outline strategies for bolstering cybersecurity awareness and digital proficiency across diverse populations.

We are approaching a decisive moment for international efforts to tackle the climate crisis – the greatest challenge of our times. In partnershipo with DLA Piper, we will be hosting a panel session to discuss bold new ideas to develop pathways to transforming energy systems across the continent.