A delegation from the African Development Bank (AfDB) attended the 9th Annual Conference of the African Venture Capital Association (AVCA), held between 22 and 26 April, and advised participants not to view Africa as a continent with the same risk profile.

The AfDB delegation was led by Line Picard, chief private equity officer in the AfDB's private sector department. At a panel on regional perspectives on regional development, moderated by the AfDB, Ms Picard stressed to participants that they should differentiate the dynamics and risks in Africa at the regional and even country level. It was important to eradicate the perception of a unified risk profile for the entire continent.

Also, the AfDB took an active role in a follow-on training program designed to increase the private equity literacy of African institutional investors on panels and in open forums. A number of the fund managers in which the AfDB has invested in attended the conference. They included Tuninvest, AFIG, ECP, Aureos, Agrivie, 8 miles, AAF, Cauris II, Vantage, Helios II and ACRF.

The conference brought together private equity fund management companies--based in Africa and abroad--as well as DFIs, institutional investors, financial advisory companies, other private equity investors and some companies seeking to raise private equity for their enterprises.

As a major investor in private equity across the continent, the AfDB was able show its support to the industry for its ability to deliver investment across the continent while contributing to job creation and local economic growth through investment in local enterprises.

AVCA is a not-for-profit entity founded to promote, develop and stimulate private equity and venture capital in Africa. It is committed to promoting high ethical standards of business conduct and professional competence in the private equity and venture capital industries.

AVCA's mandate is fourfold; it seeks to provide research on the PE industry specific to Africa, networking within the industry, advocacy to enhance the enabling environment for private equity, and training to increase understanding of private equity as a viable asset class in African markets.

Contacts

Zach Bloomfield