AFC Drives $50B GDP Growth, 7M Jobs, and Green Transition Across Africa

The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), a leading pan-African infrastructure solutions provider, has unveiled its latest Development Impact Report, offering a sweeping, data-rich review of how AFC’s investments are reshaping the continent’s economic and social landscape. This year’s report highlights a record of transformative outcomes: AFC-backed projects have so far contributed over US$50 billion to Africa’s GDP and supported the creation of 7 million jobs in 36 countries.

The 2025 report, grounded in over 250,000 validated data points and outcomes from 166 projects, demonstrates AFC’s growing role in powering Africa’s energy transition, industrialization, digital inclusion, and regional integration. The organization’s development model, built on its “Theory of Change,” focuses on tangible impact—driving growth, job creation, and sustainability at unprecedented scale.

Powering Africa’s Green Energy Revolution

AFC’s leadership in clean energy stands out, with its backing of Infinity Power—now the continent’s largest and fastest-growing renewable energy platform. Infinity Power currently delivers 1.4GW of clean electricity, with ambitions to reach 3GW by 2030. This platform, expanded further by the acquisition of Lekela Power, represents a major step towards a greener, energy-secure Africa.

Significant AFC-backed energy milestones include:

• Red Sea Power Project (Djibouti): Setting the country on the path to becoming the first African nation powered entirely by renewable energy.

• Infinity Power/Lekela Acquisition: Bringing large-scale wind and solar to Egypt, Senegal, and South Africa.

• Annual Avoidance of 8.8 Million Tons of CO₂: Underscoring AFC’s real, measurable impact on emissions reduction.

Infrastructure for Integration and Industrial Growth

The report details AFC’s major achievements in building physical and digital infrastructure critical for Africa’s long-term prosperity:

• Lobito Rail Corridor: Connecting Angola, DRC, and Zambia, this rail project cuts export timelines for minerals from 45 to 7 days, slashes 300,000 tons of CO₂ emissions per year, and opens new trade routes vital for the global energy transition.

• Takoradi Port Exit (Ghana): AFC’s disciplined approach crowds in private capital as projects mature—preserving impact and freeing up funds for new ventures.

• Kamoa-Kakula Copper Mine (DRC): Recognized as the world’s lowest-emission copper mine, this project alone contributes 6% to DRC’s GDP, demonstrating the power of strategic investment in responsible mining.

Digital Inclusion and Gender Equity

AFC has been at the forefront of driving digital transformation and social inclusion:

• Connecting 100 Million to Broadband: Investments in MTN, Airtel, and other providers have made digital access possible for millions.

• M-KOPA Pay-As-You-Go Platform: Enabled 1.7 million first-time mobile internet users, making digital and financial inclusion a reality for underserved communities.

• Empowering Women: On Gabon’s ARISE Industrial Platform, 42% of the workforce is female, with AFC projects breaking barriers in manufacturing, services, and energy.

Mobilising Capital and Building Resilience

AFC’s report reveals that it has mobilized US$14 billion in capital, successfully bridging public-private partnerships and leveraging its expertise to attract further investment once projects are commercially viable. This blended finance approach helps accelerate the continent’s most urgent development priorities while delivering high-yield, sustainable returns.

Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of AFC, emphasized,

“This report is a record of the tangible, large-scale impact we’ve always aimed for—driven by disciplined capital, strategic partnerships, and a focus on outcomes that matter… AFC’s investments are transforming challenges into opportunities and unlocking Africa’s potential at scale.”

Impact Benchmarked Against Global Standards

All AFC data and methodologies are aligned with international frameworks such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), GIIN IRIS+, and the Joint Impact Model (JIM), ensuring transparency, comparability, and accountability in reporting.

Scaling Up: A Call for Collaboration

As global demand for sustainable, high-yield investments accelerates, AFC’s report closes with a rallying call to governments, investors, and development institutions: Collaborate to scale proven, high-impact models that drive structural transformation, build climate resilience, and foster inclusive growth.

With its disciplined development model and commitment to tangible outcomes, AFC is not just financing Africa’s future—it is building it, one transformative project at a time.