The AIIG, a regional collaboration of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (GSG), will serve as a platform for collaboration, learning, and advocacy, to foster a thriving impact investing ecosystem in Africa. It brings together African National Advisory Boards (NABs) for Impact Investing and task forces who have been working over the years to build a stronger ecosystem for impact investing in their countries across the continent.  

 Speaking at the launch, Elias Masilela, Chair of DNA Economics and Impact Investing South Africa, said "The AIIG is an active and vibrant community of actors working on the ground with policy makers, investors, entrepreneurs, and civil society to drive capital to where it can have the most impact, while delivering financial returns. We recognise that traditional philanthropy and aid alone are not enough to address the development challenges facing Africa." 

Cliff Prior, who chairs the GSG and was present at the launch, added "This is an outstanding new collaboration of shared learning to drive real impact. Brilliant work – and as said by the leaders: by Africa, for Africa, in open collaboration with the rest of the world." 

Etemore Glover, CEO of the Impact Investors' Foundation/Nigerian NAB for Impact Investing explained that the aim is to leverage impact investing as a tool for sustainable development, capable of attracting private capital to fund a wide range of inclusive businesses, social enterprises, and impact-driven initiatives that contribute to the economic, social and environmental well-being of Africa's people. 

The AIIG will focus on five key areas: 

1. Building awareness and understanding of impact investing through research and knowledge shared among stakeholders in Africa, including policy makers, investors, entrepreneurs, and civil society, leveraging the success of individual countries to drive change across the region. 
2. Developing a pipeline of investment-ready opportunities in key sectors that have the potential to create significant impact, such as agriculture, energy, health, education, and financial services. 
3. Mobilising various sources of capital, including institutional investors, foundations, family offices, and high net worth individuals, to invest in impact-focused investments across Africa, and thereby significantly increase financing for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to achieve the SDGs. 
4. Supporting the creation of enabling policies and regulatory frameworks that enable impact investing to thrive in Africa, by engaging with governments, multilateral institutions and other stakeholders. 
5. Accelerating the development of the impact investing ecosystem across Africa by supporting the establishment of new National Advisory Boards for impact investing in countries that do not have one and collaborating regionally to drive efficiency and impact.  

"We have accomplished so much together already," said Glover. "Aside from hosting this amazing summit and the West Africa Deal Summit earlier this year in Accra, we've launched the Dealsource Africa program to connect businesses with investors and transaction advisors and funds with limited partners, with deal rooms happening last week virtually and in person today and tomorrow here at the Summit. We also started the Catalytic Capital Africa campaign to mobilise $3 billion to unlock financing for SMEs and build local financing ecosystems. Together we can do so much more!" 

 Omar Elfakharany, Impact investment Specialist at the United Nations Development Programme, based in Cairo, said "We are issuing a call to action, inviting stakeholders across the continent to join and support the AIIG. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a movement that seeks to build a better future for Africa's people, by leveraging the power of private capital for public good." 

 For further information visit www.africaimpactinvest.org