NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

The Capital Imperative: Turning Intent into Action

Now in its fourth year, the AVCA Sustainable Investing in Africa Summit serves as a focused forum for critical dialogue on the evolving role of private capital in sustainable development across the continent. The gathering explores best practices for investing with a sustainability lens, emerging trends and risks, and innovative, homegrown solutions for long-term growth.

Guided by the theme The Capital Imperative: Turning Intent into Action, this year’s Summit reaffirms AVCA’s commitment to bridging the gap between bold ambitions and tangible outcomes, creating space for honest dialogue, collaboration, and forward-looking solutions. This year’s thoughtfully curated agenda highlights Africa’s most pressing challenges and transformative opportunities, showcasing real stories of innovation and resilience. From climate action, gender equity, and sustainable food systems, to rethinking ESG and impact measurement, unlocking blended finance, and harnessing frontier technologies like AI — the discussions are designed to inspire bold action and lasting change.

Join us and discover how private capital is delivering impact beyond financial returns, shaping a more equitable, resilient and sustainable future for the continent.

The AVCA Sustainable Investing in Africa Summit is CPD-accredited and offers 6 CPD points to attending delegates.

The African Business Angel Network (ABAN) is a pan African non-profit association founded to support the development of early stage investor networks across the continent and to get many more (early stage) investors excited about the opportunities in Africa.

ABAN seeks to promote a culture of Angel investing across Africa. There are networks emerging across the continent, but there is yet a conversation in place that connects them. There is a sincere need to collect/develop best practices and to make this knowledge available. To create a resource and contact point for promoting new networks and/or supporting other stakeholders looking to get involved in building the ecosystem. Also to engage private sector investors and to offer some guidance on investing into African borne innovations. In turn, ABAN seeks to further build the industry and improve the climate for startup entrepreneurs.

ABAN began as a consortium of independent investor networks including the Lagos Angels Network (LAN), Cameroon Angel Network (CAN), Ghana Angel Network (GAIN), Venture Capital for Africa (VC4Africa), Silicon Cape and supported by the European Business Angel Network (EBAN), the LIONS Africa Partnership and DEMO Africa. In the interest to connect these African networks, support new investors and new networks, to maximize their impact and to connect African investors to their global counterparts, the need was established to form a pan-African association of angel investor networks and other early stage investors: ABAN.

Connected by Purpose: Advancing Entrepreneurship Education through Global Collaboration
GEEM 2025 will explore how entrepreneurship education can shape future-ready learners, drive social innovation, and build resilient communities. This global gathering emphasizes the importance of aligning educational efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and leveraging cross-sector collaboration for lasting impact.

Explore the full schedule of GEEM 2025, taking place from October 21 to 23, 2025. This page outlines each day’s key events—including workshops, keynote sessions, academic presentations, panel discussions, and networking activities. Stay informed and plan your participation in this dynamic global gathering dedicated to advancing entrepreneurship education through collaboration, innovation, and impact.

Scaling carbon markets for Africa’s sustainable growth amid a shifting global landscape
Carbon Markets Africa Summit (CMAS) is the leading platform dedicated to catalysing high-integrity carbon markets across Africa. By connecting supply and demand, the summit brings together project developers, policymakers, investors, and standards bodies to build a credible, investable carbon pipeline grounded in African readiness.

CMAS will explore how Africa can leverage its vast natural resources for sustainable development while navigating geopolitical shifts and emerging carbon policies.

“Carbon Markets Africa Summit: Not just another carbon event”

• Africa’s marketplace for carbon credit supply and demand

• Focused on high-integrity, MRV-ready solutions

• Grounded in African policy, finance, and climate priorities

• Shaped by expert guidance from AfDB, VCMI, Verra, and more

• Timed to influence global climate finance and Article 6 agendas

Africa stands at a pivotal juncture. Amid shifting global power dynamics and uncertainty about the impact of America’s changed relationship with the world, the continent’s economic and political transformation continues against the background of a young, fast-growing population. As traditional alliances evolve and new partnerships emerge, Africa’s role in global decision-making is expanding, too — from G20 leadership to rethinking development finance and trade. The continent is not only seeking a greater voice but also reshaping the conversation.

Taking place across two in-person days, the FT Africa Summit 2025 gathers a cross-sector audience of policymakers, investors, business leaders and development strategists to discuss the continent’s future direction. The programme will examine strategies for long-term resilience and competitiveness, from rethinking international aid and financing models to scaling digital infrastructure, renewable energy, and regional trade.

Now in its 12th year, the FT’s Africa Summit is the established forum for crucial dialogues on turning Africa’s challenges into economic, social and business opportunities.

The AI for Development and Impact Conference examines how the practical applications of artificial intelligence can be utilized to advance development goals and tackle global challenges. The event brings together experts, practitioners, and policymakers to examine AI-driven solutions that strengthen humanitarian response, advance sustainable development goals, and improve public service delivery in low-resource and crisis-affected settings.

Call for Proposals: Conference on AI for International Development and Impact (AI4D)
We are excited to announce a call for proposals for the AI for Development Conference and Impact (AI4D) in Barcelona on October 21st and 22nd. The one-day event at Barcelona’s Norrsken Social Impact Tech Hub will convene a diverse group of partners from the tech, international development, humanitarian and social impact sectors. The day will center on the exploration of AI’s practical applications for impact focusing on potential future advances and followed by a rooftop reception.