Nairobi, Kenya – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today launched the UNDP Africa Investment Insights Report, Third Edition – Climate Opportunities at the Africa Impact Summit 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya.   

The UNDP Africa Investment Insights Report provides an overview of private sector opportunities with economic, social and environmental potential for sustainable development progress across Africa. The report offers SDGs investment data and trends across the continent, and describes financing opportunities, making the case for public support for impactful investments. It is published by the UNDP Africa Sustainable Finance Hub (ASFH) and is based on data from the SDGs Investor Maps, UNDP’s market intelligence tool on investments for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This third edition of the Report emphasizes climate-related investment opportunities utilizing market intelligence from 16 African SDGs Investor Maps. Released in partnership with UNDP’s Climate Promise, it provides avenues for the private sector to support African countries Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, drawing on UNDP’s climate expertise and its global Climate Promise 2025.   

The report shows that climate action is a critical opportunity for the private sector: more than half of the SDGs investment opportunities identified in the African SDGs Investor Maps contribute to climate action and support NDCs. Most climate opportunities for the private sector are adaptation interventions, followed by mitigation and dual benefits.   

“Through the UNDP Africa Investment Insights Report, we turn Africa’s climate challenges into investment opportunities for the private sector, as per the continent’s own ambition captured in national NDCs,” said Maxwell Gomera, Director of the UNDP Africa Sustainable Finance Hub. “The report is based on a multitude of proven business models, which can have significant financial performance – while creating strong impact across many SDGs. As UNDP, we call on investors to play their role in realising opportunities for positive climate action.”  

During a panel discussion at the report launch, investor and ecosystem representatives shared success stories of impact-led investments in sustainability and the climate. Speakers from UNDP, Impact Investing Kenya, AlphaMundi and FSD Africa Investment discussed best practices around SDGs and NDC investment activities, especially how investors can crowd-in additional private financing through risk-bearing capital and innovative financing instruments. The discussion also highlighted the importance of investors and enterprises measuring and managing their impact to have credibility on the private sector’s SDGs contributions.   

“The UNDP report is a clear signal to Africa’s investing community to do more to support the continent’s sustainable development progress, utilizing the private sector’s capacities and resources,” said Rosemary Amondi, East Africa Regional Director at ANDE and Chair of the Host Steering Committee. “As an ecosystem, we require such market intelligence to establish a baseline on our respective responsibilities and the potential impact-led economies have. We thank UNDP for this resource and their collaboration in the Africa Impact Summit”. 

Organized by the Africa Impact Investing Group, which is comprised of Impact Investing National Advisory Boards and country task forces in collaboration with the Global Steering Group on Impact Investing-GSG Impact, the Africa Impact Summit is the leading forum for impact investing thought leadership, networking and deal making in Africa. UNDP is proud to serve as a Knowledge Partner at the Africa Impact Summit 2024. It convened over 400 delegates from Africa and beyond under the theme “Accelerating Action for the Africa We Want through Impact Investing”.  

For More Information  

For a comprehensive exploration of the SDGs Investor Map market intelligence, visit the SDGs Investor Platform: https://sdginvestorplatform.undp.org/market-intelligence.   

About UNDP  

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow @UNDP.  

The Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH) brings together UNDP’s financial expertise to harness public and private capital for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – supporting governments, investors and businesses in reaching climate, social impact and sustainability targets. Its work drives systemic change towards a sustainable financial architecture that benefits people and the planet. Find out more about its integrated services that ensure all finance is sustainable at sdgfinance.undp.org or follow at @UNDP_SDGFinance.   

The UNDP Africa Sustainable Finance Hub (ASFH) harnesses the potential of sustainable finance solutions for countries, governments and the private sector to realizse Africa’s development objectives.  

UNDP’s Climate Promise is the largest global offer of support for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, covering over 120 countries and territories, and representing 80 percent of all developing countries globally. Learn more at climatepromise.undp.org or follow at @UNDPClimate.  

About the Africa Impact Investing Group   

The Africa Impact Investing Group is an active and vibrant community of actors working on the ground with policy makers, investors, entrepreneurs, and civil society to drive capital to where it can have the most impact, while delivering financing returns. This approach is part of an approach known as impact investing. It brings together African National Advisory Boards (NABs) for Impact Investing and task forces to build a stronger ecosystem for Impact Investing across the continent. supports activities, education and research that help accelerate the development of a coherent impact investing industry. For more information, please visit https://africaimpactinvest.org