The African Private Capital Association (AVCA) has officially selected Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, as the host city for its 2027 Annual Conference and Venture Capital Summit. This decision underscores the growing confidence investors have in West Africa’s economic trajectory. The announcement was made at the conclusion of AVCA’s 22nd conference held in Nairobi, Kenya, where over 800 global and regional investors, policymakers, and corporate leaders gathered to evaluate Africa’s investment outlook amid changing global economic conditions.
Conference Theme and Discussions
Themed ‘Break the Mould: Reshaping the Future of African Private Capital’, the discussions centered on how private capital can foster resilience, deepen financial markets, and unlock liquidity through increased exits. Delegates emphasized a more proactive role for investors in shaping Africa’s financial architecture, especially as global capital reallocates in response to geopolitical and macroeconomic pressures.
Key Highlights
A standout moment was a fireside chat featuring James Mwangi, Group Managing Director and CEO of Equity Group Holdings. Alongside AfricInvest’s Ann Wyman, Mwangi highlighted private equity as a catalyst behind Equity Bank’s rapid expansion, which enabled it to capture about 60 per cent of Kenya’s bank accounts within a decade. He described disciplined capital deployment and long-term investment as essential for building scalable, high-impact financial institutions.
In a panel on fundraising, speakers including representatives from British International Investment and the Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund noted a shift toward alternative funding sources and more sophisticated fund structuring to meet investor expectations in a constrained liquidity environment. Industry leaders called for a move from deal-by-deal transactions to ecosystem-based investing, with a stronger emphasis on execution speed and operational scalability.
Structural Shifts and New Committees
AVCA also signaled structural shifts within the industry with the launch of a Private Credit Committee, reflecting the rapid growth of private debt as an asset class in emerging markets. The committee will be co-chaired by Joe Mate of British International Investment and Zain Latif of TLG Capital, alongside members from leading investment firms and institutions.
New Appointments
The association further announced new appointments to its board and key committees, including Adefolarin Ogunsanya of Development Partners International, Fatoumata Ba of Janngo Capital, and Laurent Demy of Amethis. These appointments aim to strengthen governance and drive industry standards. AVCA Chief Executive Officer Abi Mustapha-Maduakor stated that the new leadership reflects the expertise required to sustain momentum in Africa’s private capital markets, while acknowledging outgoing members for advancing regulatory frameworks and investor coordination.
