Africa House: Unlocking Institutional Investment for Africa’s Future
In an ESG News exclusive interview with Africa House Co-Founder Mamadou Toure at the World Economic Forum (WEF), highlighted Africa’s Strategic vision for economic development. The interview was conducted at Africa House WEF by Matt Bird and Edited by the ESG News editorial team.
At the heart of Africa’s economic development conversation at the World Economic Forum, Africa House stood out as an emerging force, not just as an amplifier of African voices but as a catalyst for action. Co-founder Mamadou Toure articulated a compelling vision for the Africa House platform, one that brings together the brightest minds and influencers from Africa and beyond to shape the narrative of the continent’s role on the world stage. More than a space for discussion, Africa House is quickly becoming movement that seeks to unlock the full potential of Africa’s youth and economic future.
As Toure explains, Africa House serves as both an amplification and an action platform. It highlights Africa’s immense potential while also offering concrete solutions to the challenges the continent faces. A key component of this vision is the newly launched 50 by 35 initiative, a commitment to mobilize $50 billion in sustainable investment for Africa’s youth by 2035. The initiative calls on global institutional investors, including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and private equity firms, to recognize Africa as a compelling opportunity for long-term, risk-adjusted returns.
With Africa’s population projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, the continent’s young workforce presents an opportunity for sustainable development and economic expansion. However, unlocking this potential requires significant investment in infrastructure, education, and entrepreneurship. The 50 by 35 Initiative is designed to create an investment ecosystem that mitigates risk through blended finance, public-private partnerships, and ESG-aligned capital deployment.
For institutional investors looking to diversify portfolios and align with impact-driven strategies, Africa represents immense untapped potential says Toure. The Africa House aims to de-risk investments by fostering collaboration between governments, private sector leaders, and financial institutions, ensuring that capital deployment translates into tangible progress. From renewable energy and digital infrastructure to agribusiness and financial inclusion, Africa’s growth trajectory aligns with key global investment trends.
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“At Africa House, we are dedicated to unlocking $50 billion in investments by 2035 through the 50 by 35 Initiative. This bold vision, in collaboration with our partners, is driving the creation of a world-class, future-ready global African workforce—empowering industries, entrepreneurs, and innovators to lead Africa’s transformation on the global stage.”
— Shanthi Annan, Executive Director, Africa House
Platforms such as Africa House and investment initiatives like “50 by 35” ($50 billion by 2035) are creating new entry points for institutional investors to participate in Africa’s evolving growth trajectory—offering prospects for competitive returns while supporting sustainable and inclusive development across the continent.
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Matt Bird is the Founder, CEO, and Editor-in-Chief of ESG News. He brings 25 years of experience in corporate strategy, media, fintech, and communications, including 15 years specializing in news and journalism. Matt was recognized by the United Nations as #3 of the “Top 10 Most Influential Media Executives for Impact” in 2015 during the launch of the UN SDGs.
He has advised the Sustainable Stock Exchange initiative (SSEI), UNCTAD, and the UN, and hosts event coverage at the World Economic Forum, ADFW, Climate Week NYC, EU Parliament, COP, the Vatican, NASDAQ, NYSE, and more. Matt is a founding board member of the Humanity 2.0 Foundation, a Vatican-based NGO focused on identifying and removing impediments to human flourishing.
He previously rang the NASDAQ Closing Bell in honor of his partnership with NASDAQ OMX to launch the world’s first retail investor targeting and newswire monitoring platform with the NASDAQ Financial Services Group. Matt launched ESG News in 2021, leading coverage of more than 10,000 news stories as of 2026—and truly loves what he does.
