The path to sustainable economic development in West Africa requires innovative financing approaches and strategic partnerships. The recently concluded 2nd West Africa Deal Summit 2024 and 7th Annual Convening on Impact Investing brought these critical conversations to the forefront, offering actionable insights for stakeholders across the investment ecosystem.

Bridging the $331 Billion Capital Gap
Held on November 12-13, 2024, at the Civic Centre in Lagos, this landmark event convened policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, and development practitioners from across the region. The summit addressed one of West Africa’s most pressing challenges: the $331 billion capital gap that continues to constrain SME growth, job creation, and sustainable development.

Hosted by Impact Investors Foundation and Impact Investing Ghana, in collaboration with Impact Investing Taskforces from Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire, the summit featured 32 interactive sessions exploring impact investing, sustainable financing, cross-border collaboration, gender-responsive procurement, and climate adaptation initiatives.

Key Challenges and Opportunities
The discussions revealed several persistent challenges facing the region:

Limited access to long-term financing for impact-driven enterprises
Regulatory and policy barriers that impede cross-border investment flows
Inadequate frameworks for impact measurement and reporting
However, the summit also highlighted emerging opportunities:

Growing investor interest in sovereign and corporate SDG bonds
Potential mobilisation of pension funds for impact investments
Development of innovative financing models tailored to local contexts
Charting a Path Forward
The summit produced eight key recommendations to accelerate the flow of catalytic capital in West Africa:

Develop cohesive national and regional frameworks to support catalytic capital flows
Strengthen public-private partnerships to mobilize both domestic and international capital
Enhance capacity-building initiatives for SMEs and impact-driven enterprises
Establish platforms for transparent impact measurement and reporting
Promote gender-responsive procurement and support for women-led enterprises
Encourage innovative financing structures to de-risk investments
Expand access to climate adaptation financing
Foster innovation in investment structures to attract diverse funding sources
Download the Full Report
The comprehensive summit report provides detailed insights, case studies, and action plans that emerged from this important gathering. Whether you’re an investor seeking opportunities, a policymaker shaping enabling environments, or an entrepreneur navigating the funding landscape, this report offers valuable guidance for advancing impact investing in West Africa.

[Download the 2024 West Africa Deal Summit Report Now]

This summit was organised in partnership with leading regional organisations and impact investors committed to driving positive change across West Africa.