Africa Finance Corporation, the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, has published its annual Development Impact Report.
The report presents a comprehensive, data-driven account of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)’s cumulative development outcomes across the continent.
The report reveals that projects backed by the AFC have added over USD50 billion to GDP and supported the creation of 7 million jobs across 36 countries.
The report also highlights the establishment of the continent’s largest and fastest-growing renewable energy platform, Infinity Power, now delivering 1.4 Gigawatts of clean electricity, and on track to reach 3 Gigawatts by 2030.
This clearly indicates the AFC’s leadership in Africa’s energy transition.
“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,” said Samaila Zubairu, the President and Executive Officer of Africa Finance Corporation.
“From clean energy to industrial ecosystems and regional rail links, AFC’s investments are transforming challenges into opportunities and unlocking Africa’s potential at scale.”
The report tracks outcomes across 166 projects, drawing from over 250,000 data points validated by a rigorous methodology.
AFC’s development model, grounded in its Theory of Change, prioritises four pillars: industrialization, energy transition, regional integration and digital inclusion.
Further key cumulative metrics include, USD 14 billion in capital mobilised; 4.1 million homes connected to electricity and 8.8 million tons of CO₂ emissions avoided annually.
The report also details broad social outcomes, including inclusive employment across gender and age, among significant community-level impacts.
For example, AFC investments in Gabon’s ARISE Industrial Platform resulted in 42 percent female workforce participation.
Women are employed across manufacturing, services and off-grid energy sectors, advancing gender equity in traditionally male-dominated industries.
Digital inclusion initiatives like M-KOPA, a pay-as-you-go mobile and solar energy finance platform, empowered 1.7 million first-time mobile internet users, while investments in providers like MTN and Airtel have connected over 100 million people to mobile and broadband services.
Africa Finance Corporation’s model links strategic project development with exit discipline, crowding in private capital once projects are commercially viable.
The report highlights notable investment outcomes, including Infinity Power and Lekela acquisition, which is now Africa’s largest renewable platform, with large-scale wind and solar operations spanning Egypt, Senegal, and South Africa.
The Red Sea Power project – setting Djibouti on course to become the first African nation powered entirely by renewable energy
Lobito Rail Corridor – linking Angola, DR Congo and Zambia to shorten export timelines from 45 to 7 days, cut 300,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually, and unlock trade routes for minerals critical to the global energy transition,
The Takoradi Port exit in Ghana is a demonstration of transition to private capital and preserving impact and redeploying funds.
Kamoa-Kakula – the world’s lowest-emission copper mine, contributing 6 percent to DR Congo’s GDP
All data is aligned with international benchmarks, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), GIIN IRIS+ and the Joint Impact Model (JIM)
As global demand grows for sustainable, high‑yield investments, AFC’s blended finance model offers a replicable approach to accelerating Africa’s infrastructure development.
The report concludes with a call to partners – governments, investors, and development institutions – to collaborate in scaling proven models that drive structural transformation, climate resilience, and inclusive growth.