Africa impact summit ends with K5bn SME fund

By MUBITA KATETE

THE fourth Africa Impact Summit (AIS) 2026 has concluded in Lusaka with major financial commitments aimed at transforming Africa’s investment landscape, including a landmark K5 billion fund for small businesses and the announcement of Burkina Faso as host of the 2027 summit.

Held at Ciela Resort, the summit brought together more than 300 delegates from across Africa and beyond, with policymakers, investors and development partners focusing on unlocking domestic capital and accelerating sustainable economic transformation across the continent.

During the opening session, Special Assistant to the President Jito Kayumba and Bank of Zambia (BoZ) Deputy Governor-Operations Francis Chipimo stressed the urgent need for African countries to strengthen inclusive financial systems and mobilise domestic capital to support enterprise growth.

A major highlight of the summit was the launch of the K5 billion Small Business Growth Initiative (SBGI), a partnership between National Advisory Board for Impact Investment Zambia and the BoZ aimed at providing affordable and patient capital to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Summit organisers said the initiative would serve as a model for regulators across Africa seeking to expand financing opportunities for local businesses.

“Africa does not lack capital it lacks the systems needed to connect institutional wealth such as pension and insurance funds to productive small and medium enterprises,” delegates emphasized during discussions on domestic capital mobility.

The summit also saw the unveiling of the Zambia Impact Policy Roadmap, expected to guide long-term legislative reforms and strengthen the country’s impact investment ecosystem.

In another major development, the National Pension Scheme Authority together with British International Investment and Swedfund detailed a US$80 million GIP Zambia Fund, targeting the so-called “missing middle” by providing flexible long-term capital to growing enterprises.

Participants said impact investing in Africa was moving beyond theory into practical implementation, with growing emphasis on measuring impact as a core part of investment decision-making.

“Impact measurement is no longer simply a reporting exercise, it has now become a central tool guiding investment decisions and shaping sustainable development outcomes,” discussions at the summit highlighted.

The summit reached its climax with the 2026 Africa Impact Investment Awards, recognizing outstanding institutions and individuals driving innovation and sustainable finance across the continent.