Summary
The AfIDA Catapult Accelerator Programme is a platform for developers of energy and infrastructure projects across Africa, aimed at creating a positive experience in scaling successful energy and infrastructure projects, with ever-improving risk-reward for all stakeholders. The programme was launched in September 2022 by the Africa Infrastructure Development Association (AfIDA), an association of project developers, financiers and advisers that seeks to scale-up high-quality, private sector led investment activities in Africa.
The objective of this programme is to create the basis for better project development outcomes, such as a higher success rate and faster development, in an effort to address the persistent investment gap.
Participating developers benefit from access to:
● Capital providers, including project development capital, construction debt and equity
● Mentorship and access to the advisory and procurement eco-support
● Peer-to-peer learning and bespoke training
● Advocacy support for dialogue between public-private sector stakeholders (including host countries and DFIs) for more effective enabling environment in terms of regulatory mechanisms and financial instruments
As part of the programme, AfIDA organises pitching sessions at major energy and climate events. Since the launch of the programme, seven pitch sessions have been held in CapeTown, Kigali, Amsterdam and virtually, where twenty-three project developers from fifteen countries have pitched projects totalling $16.7 billion. These projects cover clean energy, telecoms, transport, water, irrigation, digital-ICT-telecoms, SEZs and new-cities. Several of these projects are currently in active financial close, covering critical development phases and construction equity. Interestingly, the non-energy infrastructure projects have significantly larger clean energy requirements embedded in them, than the pure energy projects. All developers are invited to seek support through to financial close, including an opportunity to participate in future pitch sessions.
AfIDA has now also started a practical training programme on Project Development and Finance, training over 350 executives from both the public and private sector, in courses held in Cairo, Accra, Abidjan and Lagos.
