Lusophone Compact Showcases Private Investment Drive at CPLP Summit in Bissau

The Lusophone Compact Secretariat, an initiative spearheaded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) with the Governments of Portugal and Brazil, took center stage last week during the 15th Summit and Economic Forum of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) held in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau from July 15 to 18. The summit served as a vital platform to highlight the Compact’s expanding role in catalyzing private investment and fostering sustainable economic growth across Portuguese-speaking African nations.

The Lusophone Compact operates as a dynamic framework to de-risk private investment in six African CPLP members: Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Equatorial Guinea. By aligning donor expertise with local development priorities, the initiative aims to accelerate the pace of economic diversification and inclusive growth through strategic public-private partnerships.

A Vision for Sustainable Economic Transformation

The CPLP—a bloc representing over 300 million Portuguese speakers across four continents and boasting a collective GDP of $2.3 trillion as of 2024—has increasingly prioritized economic integration and development as core aspects of its agenda. The Lusophone Compact is tailored to complement this vision, with a strong emphasis on:

• Supporting inclusive private sector growth

• Mobilizing blended finance and technical assistance

• Promoting economic resilience and regional integration

• Aligning projects with CPLP and national development strategies

At the summit, Lusophone Compact officials engaged in high-level policy dialogues, focusing on food security, technological advancement, and environmental sustainability—key thematic pillars under Guinea-Bissau’s rotating CPLP presidency. These discussions underscored the urgent need for scalable investment solutions and multi-stakeholder collaboration across Lusophone Africa.

Unveiling Financing Tools and Mobilizing Resources

During the forum, the Lusophone Compact team presented its comprehensive suite of financial instruments, eligibility criteria, and technical assistance services to regional leaders, investors, and development partners. These tools are designed to unlock private capital by mitigating investment risks, improving bankability, and addressing critical infrastructure gaps.

In addition, the Secretariat participated in targeted sessions with national governments to align Compact interventions with specific country strategies. Guinea-Bissau, the summit’s host nation, reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging private sector growth and expressed keen interest in integrating Compact-backed support into its national development framework.

Neima Ferreira, Coordinator of the Lusophone Compact at the AfDB, emphasized the Compact’s relevance at this critical juncture:

“The 15th CPLP Summit presented a unique opportunity to reinforce the strategic priorities of the Lusophone Compact, particularly in areas of food security, technology, and sustainability. With the right tools, partnerships, and vision, Portuguese-speaking countries can lead a new era of investment-driven development.”

Cabeólica: A Model for Green Growth

Among the Compact’s most celebrated achievements is the Cabeólica Project in Cabo Verde—West Africa’s pioneering large-scale wind energy initiative. A product of public-private collaboration, co-financed by the African Development Bank and the European Investment Bank, the project generates over 20% of the nation’s electricity from clean energy sources.

Cabeólica has drastically reduced Cabo Verde’s reliance on fossil fuels, avoiding thousands of tons of CO₂ emissions annually. The project has also generated over 150 direct jobs, establishing itself as a benchmark for climate-smart infrastructure and sustainable financing in small island developing states.

A Roadmap to Regional Prosperity

As the CPLP continues its journey toward deeper economic integration, the Lusophone Compact emerges as a critical engine for transforming shared linguistic and cultural ties into tangible economic partnerships. The Compact’s emphasis on regional collaboration, private sector dynamism, and green finance aligns with global development goals and responds directly to the needs of CPLP’s African member states.

By anchoring private capital and technical assistance to the development priorities of Lusophone nations, the Compact is helping lay the groundwork for resilient, inclusive, and sustainable economies—where Portuguese-speaking communities can thrive in the 21st century.