Small and growing businesses are the backbone of economies in frontier markets across Africa. They create jobs, strengthen local supply chains and spark innovation. Despite their critical role, these businesses face a $330 billion funding gap – this can hold back entrepreneurship and slow economic development. 
 
A new Foundations of Growth publication from the Africa Resilience Investment Accelerator (ARIA) explores how locally managed SME investment funds can help close this gap, and the ways development finance institutions (DFIs) and impact investors can work with them. 
 
Join us on Thursday 13 November, as we dig deeper into some of the findings of the report. You'll hear from the report's authors - Investisseurs et Partenaires (I&P) and the Collaborative for Frontier Finance (CFF) - as well as representatives from FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, and ARIA.

This event took place on 13 November 2025. You can watch a recording of the webinar here.

The session will spotlight concrete financing opportunities in agriculture in Benin and Togo. We will discuss opportunities across inputs, production, processing, packaging and logistics ahead of the Benin–Togo investor visit that ARIA is hosting at the end of November 2025.

Ahead of the release of ARIA’s Guinea private sector mapping, this 90-minute webinar will feature a panel discussion with senior representatives from APIP-Guinée, EY, Swedfund, and Gola Capital (I&P).

Together, we will explore how Guinea can accelerate private sector growth, focusing on the role of public–private collaboration, the opportunities emerging from government’s Simandou 2040 vision, and the financing needs of the Guinean private sector.

Speakers

Oliano Diana Kouyaté
Managing Director - APIP Guinea

Mme Kouyaté has led the Agence de Promotion des Investissements Privés (APIP-Guinée) since 2022, after serving as Deputy Director General from 2019. With over 20 years of experience in project and team management across health, economics and investment promotion, she has driven major initiatives to boost Guinea’s private sector. Under her leadership, APIP organized the 3rd Guinea Investment Forum in 2024, mobilizing USD 60 million in financing for private projects and accelerating business formalization with over 17,000 new companies created in 2024.

Kitanha Touré
Regional Director, West Africa – Swedfund

Mme Touré leads Swedfund’s activities in West Africa, focusing on financial inclusion, food systems, climate and infrastructure. With more than 20 years in impact finance and investment banking, she has advised corporates, SMEs, and institutional investors across Africa. Before joining Swedfund, she was a Director at First Capital S.A. and previously worked at Ivanhoé Cambridge (CDPQ) in Canada on investment strategy and portfolio management.

Mouctar Bah
Managing Director - Gola Capital (I&P)

Mr. Bah is the founder and CEO of MBM Capital and co-founder of Gola Capital, an impact fund launched with Investisseurs & Partenaires. A pioneer in alternative financing solutions in Guinea, he has developed tools ranging from real estate securitization to SME-focused funds and private equity platforms. His work spans fund structuring, innovative financing instruments, and partnerships with DFIs (Proparco, GIZ/BMZ, ADA-SSNUP) and local financial institutions to strengthen SMEs and integrate them into regional and international value chains.

Ousmane Diawara
Partner - EY

Mr. Diawara is a Partner at EY, specializing in infrastructure project finance and private sector development across Africa. He has supported both public and private clients in structuring and implementing projects in telecoms, transport, and energy, with a strong focus on the green transition. He is active in EY’s global Mining & Metals community, advising on supply security for critical minerals. His work aims to deliver projects that foster economic growth, territorial cohesion, and sustainable development.