Unlocking Capital. Enabling Impact. Powering Africa’s Sustainable Future.
We bridge the gap between global capital and transformative African projects by delivering investment-ready, ESG-aligned, and de-risked opportunities that drive inclusive development, climate resilience, and long-term economic growth.
Africa is at the forefront of a global shift toward sustainable, inclusive development and the financial landscape is evolving to match. There is a growing emphasis on development and impact finance, with global institutions channeling more capital into ESG-aligned investments, climate adaptation, and mitigation initiatives across the continent. At the same time, infrastructure projects in Africa are under increasing pressure to meet rigorous international ESG standards such as the IFC Performance Standards, Equator Principles, and emerging regulations like the EUDR and SBTi.
Despite this influx of capital, many Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) face a common constraint: a shortage of de-risked, investment-ready projects that meet both technical and impact thresholds. Tshutsumetso’s market insights explore these trends and the opportunities they present helping investors, developers, and policymakers stay ahead in an increasingly impact-driven environment.
Bridging the Divide Between Capital and Bankable Projects
Early-stage project risk
DFIs and commercial investors often hesitate to engage with projects in their early stages due to higher risks.
Local context understanding
Many international investors lack a deep understanding of the African regulatory and local context, making it difficult to implement sustainable projects.
Capacity building
Local governments and developers often lack the capacity to bring projects up to the necessary standards for financing.
Business model innovation
There is a need for innovative, African-context-specific business models that align with the socio-economic and regulatory realities of the region.
Leveraging finance
Need to understand financial market requirements for projects to be deemed bankable in order to unlock access to finance
(Shamba Centre Technical Note, 2023) – This report underscores the pivotal role that Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) play in early-stage, high-risk projects. Often acting as the only financiers willing to take on senior debt in such ventures, DFIs fill a critical funding gap when commercial lenders remain hesitant, thereby enabling high-impact projects to move forward.
(Sustainability, June 2025), Analysts highlight that South Africa's regulatory frameworks are not one-size-fits-all and must be tailored to local conditions. Emphasising the challenges investors face when navigating voluntary vs. mandatory regulations and underscores the necessity of deep local context understanding for successful sustainable project execution
Based on empirical case studies, South Africa (ResearchGate, 2020–2021)
A study of South African executives reveals that business model innovation is shaped by local socio-economic conditions, regulatory frameworks, and industry-specific drivers. It highlights how adapting value propositions, revenue streams, and key partnerships to local realities enhances organizational resilience and competitiveness—demonstrating the importance of African-centered business model design for sustainable growth.