The investment takes the fund to its fourth close at approximately $330 million, with backing from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and more than 20 African institutional investors.

The Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund invests in infrastructure platforms and projects spanning power and energy, water and sanitation, transport and logistics, and digital and social infrastructure.

Managed by Africa50, the pan-African infrastructure investment platform established by African governments and the African Development Bank, the fund aims to increase institutional investment in infrastructure assets while supporting projects that can generate long-term economic returns. It has a target size of $500 million.

Africa continues to face one of the world’s largest infrastructure financing gaps, a challenge that limits industrial growth, regional trade, energy access, and private sector expansion.

According to the African Development Bank, the continent requires tens of billions of dollars in additional infrastructure investment each year, making greater participation from institutional investors increasingly important to complement constrained public budgets.

Commenting on the investment, Leslie Maasdorp, Chief Executive Officer of British International Investment, said the partnership is intended to channel more capital into projects that strengthen African economies.

“Africa’s infrastructure financing gap remains one of the biggest barriers to sustainable growth and development across the continent. Our investment in the Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund reflects our commitment to mobilize more capital into the infrastructure Africa needs to support businesses, create jobs and improve lives.”

The latest commitment also expands the pool of African and international investors supporting the fund, reflecting growing confidence in infrastructure as an investable asset class across the continent.

Africa50 was created to accelerate project development and financing while helping governments attract more private investment into commercially viable infrastructure.

The platform has developed a portfolio of projects across transport, energy, digital infrastructure, and urban development in multiple African markets.

Alain Ebobissé, Chief Executive Officer of Africa50, said attracting long-term institutional capital is essential to narrowing Africa’s infrastructure deficit.

“Delivering infrastructure at the speed and scale the continent requires depends on mobilizing long-term private and institutional capital through strong partnerships.”

“BII’s commitment to the Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund reflects our shared ambition to scale infrastructure investment, strengthen project delivery and accelerate sustainable economic development across Africa.”