As aid budgets tighten and fiscal space narrows, African countries face a central question: how can they mobilize domestic capital at scale to finance long-term economic transformation?
Research shows that African countries hold more than $4 trillion in domestic capital—including in domestic savings in commercial banking assets; institutional capital from pensions, insurance, and sovereign wealth funds; and central bank reserves. Yet these resources often remain on the sidelines due to regulatory constraints, macroeconomic volatility, weak pipelines, and institutional gaps. At the same time, development finance institutions are under pressure to do more with limited balance sheets.
This discussion brings together leaders at the center of African finance and reform. They will examine what it takes to move from rhetoric about “mobilizing private capital” to building domestic financial systems capable of funding structural transformation. What reforms unlock pension and insurance capital? What role should multilateral development banks play—catalyst or substitute? And what political and regulatory barriers must be confronted?
At a pivotal moment during the Spring Meetings, this session asks whether Africa can finance more of its own future—and what it will actually take to get there.
Speakers
Samaila Zubairu, CEO, African Finance Corporation
Tidjane Thiam, former CEO, Prudential and Credit Suisse
Greg Guyett, First Vice President and Head of Client Services Group, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
Additional Speaker TBC
Moderator
Yemi Osinbajo, former Vice President, Nigeria and Co-Chair, Future of Development Cooperation Coalition
