Africa50, BRVM Forge Alliance to Unlock Infrastructure Capital in West Africa ―MarketForces Africa
Africa50, the pan-African infrastructure investment platform, has entered into a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM) to accelerate the development of innovative financing mechanisms for infrastructure projects across the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), according to MarketForces Africa.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlines a joint effort to harness the power of regional capital markets to drive long-term infrastructure investment.
Under this strategic collaboration, Africa50 and the BRVM aim to introduce infrastructure-dedicated project bonds and related financial tools, while these instruments will be channeled through the BRVM — the regional stock exchange serving eight WAEMU member states: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo.
The initiative also seeks to mobilize institutional and private capital from within the region, including pension funds, insurance companies, and other long-term investors.
The partnership marks a significant step toward deepening the role of domestic financial markets in Africa’s infrastructure agenda, as well as offers infrastructure developers broader access to capital and enhances the bankability of projects by establishing predictable and investable financial frameworks.
Speaking on the alliance, Africa50 Chief Executive Officer, Alain Ebobissé emphasized the importance of African-led innovation: “Solving Africa’s infrastructure deficit requires more than funding — it demands ingenuity, robust institutions, and regional ownership. Our partnership with the BRVM is a bold move to localize infrastructure finance by tapping into domestic capital pools, reinforcing our commitment to scalable, impactful, and market-based solutions.”
Resonating this vision, BRVM Director General Dr. Edoh Kossi Amenounvé underscored the role of capital markets in the continent’s development trajectory: “African capital markets must now take center stage in driving infrastructure transformation. With Africa50, we are aligning financial innovation with development priorities — deploying project bonds and similar instruments to close the infrastructure gap and deliver value for both investors and communities.”
The MoU was formalized on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum, where Africa50 also engaged with strategic partners to advance its broader vision of infrastructure development through domestic market mobilization and institutional investment.
The African Manufacturers through this MOU stand to benefit from lower operating costs; Improved roads, power, and water infrastructure that will reduce input and logistics costs for factories and SMEs; New business opportunities; Infrastructure buildout that will drive demand for locally made construction materials, cables, pipes, machinery, etc; Stronger regional trade; Enhanced transport and border infrastructure support regional supply chains under AfCFTA; Access to new financing tools; Project bonds that may pave the way for manufacturers to tap capital markets and diversify funding; Boost to industrial zones; Better infrastructure that attracts FDI and strengthens the viability of industrial parks and SEZs.