Roberto Lazzaro

It was an honour to represent #BFInternational at the #AfricanDevelopmentBank ADF-17 2nd Replenishment Meeting held in #Abidjan, a key platform for dialogue on sustainable development and investment strategies in #Africa. In my intervention, I had the opportunity to reflect on the structural challenges and the concrete opportunities that define the investment landscape across the continent. I firmly believe that the role of the private sector today goes far beyond capital deployment. It requires the ability to contribute to the design and implementation of integrated systems — agricultural, industrial, social — that are capable of generating long-term value and local resilience. At #BFInternational we are committed to public-private partnerships with local governments that align social development goals with the aim of reducing dependence on food being imported. Our approach focuses on building agro-industrial ecosystems, enhancing local capacities, and strengthening value chains — not through isolated actions, but through coordinated, scalable strategies with a humanitarian side to it.

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Proud to share that the African Development Bank Group has committed €15 million to Mediterrania Capital IV — a strong endorsement of our shared vision for inclusive and sustainable growth across Africa. Our partnership with the AfDB is fully aligned with their development priorities: expanding access to quality education, healthcare and essential services, strengthening financial inclusion, and supporting well-governed companies that create jobs and long-term value for Africa. This renewed commitment reflects the confidence in Mediterrania Capital Partners ability to deliver both impact and performance across the continent. Together, we continue building a more inclusive, integrated and prosperous Africa. #afdb #privateequity #responsibleinvestments #africa #esg #AfdB #impactinvesting

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#TOP TECH & DIGITAL ECONOMY FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES (MAY – JUNE 2026) The second quarter of 2026 is prioritizing AI-driven infrastructure, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), and Climate-Positive Tech. 📢 1. Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator (Cohort 6) 🌐Sector: FinTech & Digital Payments / Pan-Africa 💰 Amount: Commercial Partnerships + Mentorship + Equity Investment Access 📅 Deadline: 17 May 2026 🔗 Application: https://lnkd.in/dUdQftpE 📢 2. ARIN Community Grant Program 2026 🌐Sector: Internet Infrastructure, IPv6, & Security Tech / Global 💰Amount: Up to $20,000 (Implementation Grant) 📅 Deadline: 14 June 2026 🔗Application: https://lnkd.in/dq_Ftcwj 📢 3. FCI4Africa Open Call 1 (Digital Food Systems) 🌐 Sector: AgriTech R&D, Data Generation, & Digital Services / Africa 💰 Amount: Up to €50,000 (Equity-free Grant) 📅 Deadline: 30 June 2026 🔗Application: https://lnkd.in/g45NJSym 📢 4. Agri-Business Facility (ABF) Matching Grant 🌐 Sector: AgriTech & Value Chain Transformation / Sub-Saharan Africa 💰 Amount: $100,000 – $1,000,000 (Matching Grant) 📅 Deadline: 31 May 2026 🔗 Application: https://lnkd.in/d_Q-HiWM 📢 5. iF Social Impact Prize 2026 🌐 Sector: SDG Tech Innovation (HealthTech, GreenTech, EdTech) / Global 💰 Amount: Share of €100,000 (Direct Grant) 📅Deadline: 20 May 2026 🔗 Application: https://lnkd.in/drv8dS_u 📢 6. Green RISE West Africa Fellowship 2026 🌐 Sector: GreenTech & Circular Economy / West Africa 💰 Amount: Scaling Support + Global Investor Matchmaking 📅 Deadline: 11 May 2026 🔗Application: https://lnkd.in/dTk7-2r6 📢 7. Digital Energy Challenge for Startups 2026 🌐 Sector: GreenTech, Digital Energy & Smart Grids / Africa 💰Amount: Up to €150,000 (Grant + Technical Assistance) 📅 Deadline: 17 June 2026 🔗 Application: https://lnkd.in/dFEGkx83 📢8. UNESCO International Fund for Cultural Diversity 🌐Sector: Digital Creative Industries & Tech-Enabled Arts / Developing Countries 💰Amount: Up to $100,000 (Project Grant) 📅 Deadline: 14 June 2026 🔗 Application: https://lnkd.in/d4Q228R8 📢 9. AFRISE Challenge 2026 🌐 Sector: AgriTech, HealthTech & Fintech / West Africa💰 Amount: Up to $600,000 (Tech Credits & Seed Investment Access) 📅 Deadline: 15 May 2026 🔗Application: https://lnkd.in/dYgYsmcM 👉 Like, Repost & Follow Philip Adaagonsa for elite funding intelligence and investor-ready business strategy.

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Pleased to have advised RMBV on its MAD 850 million investment in Africa Feed & Food alongside Proparco. A compelling transaction in a strategic sector, combining strong fundamentals with significant growth potential. Thank you to RMBV and Africa Feed & Food shareholders and management for the trust and the quality of the discussions throughout the process.

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🌍 Africa is rising on the global innovation map! According to WIPO’s Global Innovation Index 2025, 10 Sub-Saharan African economies improved their rankings. From Mauritius leading in venture capital to Nigeria topping unicorn growth — Africa’s innovation story is one of resilience and momentum. 👉 Full article here: Read on Medium #IPAfricaInsight #AfricaInnovation #WIPO #Entrepreneurship #IntellectualProperty

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“Market fragmentation is one of the biggest challenges startups in Africa face today.” — Afridigest Most African markets are sub-scale, fragmented, and not yet positioned to birth billion-dollar companies on their own. Dare Okoudjou’s call for multi-market strategies and regulatory passporting isn’t just valid. It’s urgent. But here’s what we’re not talking about enough: What does it take to architect continental capital infrastructure that can actually serve these multi-market plays? Because founders can’t build billion-dollar companies if capital, compliance, and consumer systems aren’t being built in tandem. Integration matters. Interoperability, designed with intention, is what unlocks scale. Fragmentation isn’t just a hurdle. It’s a signal. A design brief. It shows us exactly where the old systems fail and where new ones must be constructed. True scale in Africa won’t come from market access alone. It will come from capital architecture that understands regional nuance, invites innovation, and is sovereign rather than borrowed. Afridigest and Dare Okoudjou are right: “Most markets in Africa are sub-scale. So winners will need to be multi-market to get to something that is sizeable and matters in the long run.” But the deeper question isn’t how do we scale across borders. It’s how do we build structures that don’t wait for scale. They generate it. That’s the work I’m in. Pre-structured EkoPods. Green bond-backed SPVs. Localized, legitimate capital stacks for a post-global Africa. If you’re building the next infrastructure play—not just the next product—let’s talk.

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AfDB Approves €6.5M Investment in Saviu II to Support Francophone Tech Startups The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a €6.5 million investment in the Saviu II venture capital fund, reinforcing its commitment to fostering innovation-driven growth across Africa. The investment is designed to support technology startups during their seed phase and first institutional fundraising round, with a primary focus on French-speaking countries in Central and West Africa....

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From Addis Ababa last year which was a great success, looking forward to Tangier this year! The Pan African Youth Union, in partnership with the UN Economic Commission for Africa, is organising it’s 3rd annual edition of the High Level Continental Youth Symposium on the margins of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (COM2026), to be held in Tangier, Kingdom of Morocco and Hosted by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, under Her Excellency M. Nadia FETTAH. The Conference will focus on key issues and goals as it is the main economic policy meeting for Africa, in the United Nations’ system, where Ministers, Policy Makers, Financiers, Central Banks, Field Experts and Civil Society Organisations gather to jointly develop an outlook for African finance and planning frameworks. The PYU Continental Youth Symposium under the theme : “African Youth at the Frontier of Technologies, Innovation, Sovereignty and Jobs in the Digital Age” will further expand the works by focusing on processes that would directly help young Africans (the bulk of African Population) take advantage of the latest technologies, thus gaining valuable advantages and shortcuts in education, professional insertion and entrepreneurship. One of the subjects that I have been promoting the most in our work is African innovation, entrepreneurship, and reasonable investment opportunities by african investors, are the only viable solutions for a sustainable Africa. Growth and development, especially socioeconomic, are the cornerstone of peace and security and essential to be able to get out of dependency on foreign nations. Follow Pan African Youth Union for updates, and join us in Tangier by applying on the links below. Places are limited. Pan African Youth Union Ministère de l’Economie et des Finances United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

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Fintech Investment Opportunity – Kinshasa, DRC 🇨🇩 Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is one of Africa’s fastest-growing mega cities, with an estimated 17.8 million people. The city represents a massive opportunity for financial technology (Fintech) innovation and investment. With a young population, rapid smartphone adoption, and a growing digital economy, Kinshasa is becoming a major hub for mobile payments, digital banking, and financial services in Central Africa. Why Invest in Fintech in Kinshasa? 📱 Rapid growth of mobile phone users 💳 Large unbanked population needing digital financial services 📈 Expanding digital economy and e-commerce sector 🌍 Strategic gateway to Central African markets 🚀 Huge potential for innovation in mobile banking and digital payments Key Investment Opportunities Mobile payment platforms Digital banking solutions Microfinance and digital lending Blockchain and digital identity systems Fintech infrastructure and payment gateways SME digital finance platforms Market Potential Kinshasa’s 17.8 million residents represent one of the largest untapped fintech markets in Africa, offering investors the chance to help build the future of digital finance in the region. 🤝 We welcome international investors, fintech companies, venture capital firms, and technology partners to participate in developing the digital financial ecosystem in Kinshasa. Invest in Fintech. Power the Digital Economy of Africa. 🌍💻💰 If you want, I can also help you create 5 more powerful investment images for Kinshasa, such as: Kinshasa Real Estate Mega City Investment Kinshasa Metro / Transport Project Kinshasa Tech Hub & Innovation City Kinshasa Smart City Project Kinshasa Industrial Manufacturing Zone

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Africa is not a “future opportunity.” It is the growth engine of the 21st century. At Calcalist’s Forecasts Conference, I shared a clear message: Africa must be a strategic priority for investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurs- and Israel cannot afford to remain on the sidelines. With Africa’s economy projected to surpass $3 trillion as early as 2026, a rapidly growing young population, and landmark infrastructure initiatives like the Lobito Corridor already attracting billions in global investment, the continent is shaping the future of global growth. I also announced the launch of a $1B international investment platform, established together with Angola’s Sovereign Wealth Fund. The platform is focused on developing cities, industry, and agriculture along the Lobito Corridor, serving 40 million people and redefining regional development. The call to action is clear: a long-term vision and strategy, and meaningful partnerships will determine who leads, and who is left behind. 🔗 Read the full article on C-Tech https://lnkd.in/eYJ-ehHR

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The African Catalyst Newsletter - Welcome to Issue 2026-03 of 'The African Catalyst Weekly Newsletter', our weekly source for the latest news on African infrastructure, finance, and development. The following is the latest news on Infrastructure, Finance, and Development in Africa: 📍Nigeria: Economic Lessons From the Coastal Road and Fourth Mainland Bridge 📍Kenya: National Assembly Passes National Infrastructure Fund Bill, Paving Way for Sh5tn Development Push 📍Togo: Togo Advances Plans for New Industrial Zone in Agbélouvé 📍What To Watch For In Construction This Year Want to learn more? Click the link below to read the full issue: https://lnkd.in/e-xXfngz Enjoy the read! #TACNewsletters #Africa #Infrastructure #Finance #Development #InfrastructureDevelopment #InfrastructureFinance #InfrastructureProjects #SustainableInfrastructure

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Discipline + innovation: Ghana & Luxembourg mobilize €4B+ and revive their bond markets. Two approaches, one goal: restore investor confidence and unlock massive capital. Ghana – discipline & resilience • 2023: market freeze after default • 2025: full payment on restructured bonds (~$910M paid) • 2026: market reopened, inflation under control, confidence restored A strategic pause can rebuild credibility and regain investor trust. Luxembourg – innovation & capital mobilization • Defence Bond for individuals: €150M subscribed in <24h • Next institutional bond: >€1B, 10–20 year maturity, targeting pension funds & insurers • 2025: €2.5B raised via 10-year bond at 2.9%, strong institutional demand Transparency & accessibility drive maximum investor participation Why institutional bonds matter ? They allow professional investors (pension funds, banks, insurers) to fund large amounts with regular payments and long maturities, boosting issuer credibility while financing infrastructure and strategic projects with lower volatility than public markets. What it means for companies: • Ghana: more bank liquidity → lower loan rates, higher investor confidence, better funding for infrastructure & energy. For instance, a mid-sized energy company in Accra can now secure a corporate loan at lower rates. • Luxembourg: access to long-term capital, lower borrowing costs, easier participation in government-backed projects.As an example, a Luxembourg construction firm can issue a 10-year corporate bond to fund expansion or infrastructure. 💡 Key takeaways for CFOs & decision-makers 1. Investor confidence drives the market. 2. Post-crisis discipline turns risk into opportunity. 3. Innovation + accessibility mobilize all types of capital. 4. Transparent communication accelerates recovery and builds trust. Innovation + Accessibility + Transparency = massive capital mobilization, even in mature markets. In volatile regions like the Middle East, or markets affected by geopolitical tensions, how would you revive a fragile sovereign bond market and attract investors? #SovereignFinance #BondMarket #DebtManagement #Investment #FinancialInnovation #Ghana #Luxembourg #CFO #Banking #DecisionMakers #SovereignCredit #CEMAC #UEMOA #Fincemac

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Saint Kitts Citizenship Program: 30 Reforms in 30 Days We discuss how the Saint Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) has undergone a rapid transformation, achieving 30 significant reforms in just 30 days after becoming a statutory authority. Under the leadership of Chairman Calvin St. Juste, the CIU has enhanced transparency, accountability, and strategic clarity, including refunding Russian applicants affected by sanctions and implementing rigorous due diligence measures to uphold the program's integrity. These swift actions aim to restore global trust and position Saint Kitts and Nevis as a leader in the investment migration industry. #SaintKitts #CitizenshipByInvestment #ImmigrationNews #InvestmentMigration #ImmigrationNews #ImmiNews #PorticoAndBridge #traffordbusuttil

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🤝 STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT Globance × EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce We are proud to announce a strategic partnership between Globance and the EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce, aimed at strengthening cross-border collaboration between Europe and Africa. Through this partnership, we will jointly support: • Startup growth and global scaling • Investment readiness and deal flow facilitation • Cross-border innovation and market access • Enterprise and ecosystem collaboration This collaboration marks an important step toward building a connected, data-driven, and opportunity-focused ecosystem linking Europe, Africa, and global markets. Empowering startups. Connecting ecosystems. Enabling global growth. GLOBANCE AI-Powered Startup & Investment Intelligence Platform

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My involvement with the African startup ecosystem dates back to around 2020, including delivering JICA-supported acceleration programs and working on cross-border initiatives with founders and local partners. There has been a long-standing narrative that “Africa is the next big market.” But after decades of hearing this, the framing itself has become too broad to be useful. In reality, the continent is highly fragmented, and a few key markets tend to dominate both capital flows and startup activity. Typically, the “big four” markets are: Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa & Egypt. Each plays a different role: Nigeria for scale, Kenya for ecosystem maturity, South Africa for infrastructure and capital markets. What is becoming increasingly clear, however, is that Egypt is starting to occupy a somewhat different position. Not just as a domestic market, but as a connector between GCC, Africa, and Europe with startups and capital beginning to converge in a more structured way. There is an upcoming event in Tokyo that explores this from a practical perspective: SHOWCASE AFRICA -Egypt Edition 2026- https://lnkd.in/dzBmu94v It brings together VCs, Egyptian startups, and Japanese corporate case studies (including Sharp), offering a grounded view of what is actually happening on the ground. From my experience, there is often a significant gap between how the market is discussed and what is actually executable. This is one of the few opportunities to look at Egypt not as a narrative, but as a real operating environment. If you are exploring MENA/Africa opportunities, it may be worth a closer look! #Africa #Egypt #Startups #VentureCapital #CrossBorder

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Very excited to be co-organising this webinar for Canada Forum for Impact Investment and Development (CAFIID) with Jean Kabese and the Africa Resilience Investment Accelerator (ARIA) team. Frontier markets, particularly countries affected by conflict, have always been central to my work and at the heart of my impact investment journey. This session will explore how impact investors have navigated the operating environment of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a focus on what has been effective in practice and how those insights may translate to comparable contexts. We will also be launching a case study on the great work that FINCA RD CONGO team is doing to achieve groundbreaking financial inclusion results in the DRC. Register below and mark your calendars! https://lnkd.in/dkPvJnw8 The webinar will be bilingual with live French interpretation with kind support from Fondation Paul Gérin-Lajoie Lindsay Wallace Claire Nyambori - Diphoorn Patrick Hergt Carolyn Burns Melek De-Wint Kristina Kuznetsova Sumaiya N Sajjad Marie-Pierre Nogarède

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#​UbuntuMetals: Revolutionizing Artisanal Mining with #ESG ,AI and Inclusive Ownership. ​ ​At #UbuntuMetals, we are rolling out a pivotal growth acceleration program designed to transform small and artisanal mines into modern, equitable, and inclusive mining companies. Our unique model ensures local miners become shareholders, partnering directly with international investors (from the US and globally). ​We are just 5 days away from launching our on-site support program! ​Follow our Ubuntu Metals Page to witness the rapid, coordinated progress of our projects. This inspiring video highlights our cooperative partners in Lomela, Sankuru (Grand Kasaï), who demonstrated incredible ingenuity by building a #Gold dredge using locally sourced materials. Pure genius! ​Our next critical step is conducting a full diagnostic to implement world-class ESG and ISO standards, ensuring responsible, sustainable growth and maximum social impact. ​We are actively seeking strategic partners and investors who share our vision for ethical and prosperous mining. ​Watch the video to see the potential on the ground! #ResponsibleInvestment #SustainableMining #DRC #ImpactInvesting #Finance #ESG #CriticalMinerals #UbuntuMetals #InclusiveGrowth #InvestmentOpportunity

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