This inaugural AVPA study, The Landscape for Social Investments in Africa, maps the diverse field of social investment across East, West and Southern Africa. In each of these regions, hundreds of institutions are deploying capital to achieve ambitious social and environmental goals.
Social investors include foundations, corporates, family offices, high net worth individuals, sustainability-aligned fund managers, development finance institutions, bilateral and multilateral donors, governments, diaspora, and faith-based organisations.
This report maps these providers of social capital, their investment strategies, and opportunities for collaboration amongst the various investors. Much more innovation and collaboration amongst social investors is needed if African countries are to close the enormous Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) financing gap.
The study was commissioned by AVPA with support from the United States African Development Foundation (USADF), Social Capital Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and an anonymous donor.
Social Investment in Africa Social investment is an umbrella term that encompasses the diverse range of capital providers working to achieve social and/or environmental impact in Africa. AVPA promotes collaboration amongst social investors across the “Continuum of Capital” to maximise the impact and sustainability of social capital flows.
Continuum of Social Capital
Key Findings
Overview of Key Social Investors in SSA
Capital deployed by various social investors
Social Investors
The research identified over 820 social investors active in East, West, and Southern Africa.
Regional Trends
Demand
Enabling Environment