Industry collaboration to support SMEs through the FSD Africa Private Debt Programme
FSD Africa has signed co-operation agreements with AVCA, EAVCA, SAVCA and PEVCA to coincide with the launch of the Africa Private Equity and Private Debt Programme. The programme is a new initiative to support the development of private capital markets in Africa as a complement to public capital markets. It will work to improve the long-term financing options available for businesses across key sectors in Africa’s economy, including healthcare, climate and agriculture.
Access to long-term finance has continued to be a challenge for small and medium-sized businesses across the continent. The economic impact of COVID-19 has only exacerbated the strain on Africa’s formal public markets aiming to provide long-term finance options to businesses desperately in need of capital. This alongside increased risk averseness by lending institutions has left few options for SMEs to access long term financing, in many cases resulting in business closures and job losses.
Through the Africa Private Equity and Private Debt Programme, FSD Africa aims to leverage various tools including grants, technical assistance, advocacy and investment capital to support the growth of private capital markets. The partnership aims to support growth in a way that is uniquely African in character, tailored to the local context and delivering long term financing options for SMEs.
FSD Africa, AVCA, EAVCA, SAVCA and PEVCA will work with policymakers, regulators, industry associations, institutional investors and other market operators to encourage and advocate for changes that promote increased flow of institutional capital into private capital markets. Through the programme, FSD Africa and its partners will seek to create a knowledge-sharing environment by working with regulators to put in place regulatory provisions and/or incentives, build capacity and understanding of relevant market stakeholders.
Mark Napier, CEO at FSD Africa, said:
“Supporting the development of private equity and private debt markets in Africa will provide a boost to small and medium-sized businesses and local economies. We believe this will be greatly welcomed in the short term, ensuring that more jobs are saved, but it will also provide long-term benefits and improve access to capital. Globally, there has been a secular shift towards private capital markets and it is appropriate that, as part of our response to COVID-19, we pay enough attention to the development of private markets, allowing for more local capital to be channelled into essential sectors including health, agriculture and climate.”
AVCA’s Chief Executive Officer, Abi Mustapha-Maduakor, said:
In addition to facilitating greater inflow of private investment to the continent, advocacy is at the centre of our work at AVCA. This collaboration with FSD Africa is timely, and I look forward to working with our colleagues at EAVCA, SAVCA and PEVCA to support investors, businesses and governments in their efforts to strengthen Africa’s economy over the coming years.
Evans Osano, Director, Capital Markets at FSD Africa, said:
“By encouraging long-term investment capital to Africa’s private sector, real impact can be delivered, including creating and sustaining jobs, and increasing access to services like healthcare. We urge local investors, regulators, and other relevant individuals to come forward to be a part of this programme and look forward to working with them on this exciting next step.”
