“The question is not what the world is doing to Africa. The question is why Africa is still unable to fully defend its own interests despite its enormous strategic advantages.
We need to come together and do something about it. There is a lot we know, there is a lot we talk about, but we need to do a lot more.”
— H.E. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, at the opening of the 2026 @africaceoforum.
#ACF2026
At the 2026 #AfricaCEOForum, Rwanda Development Board CEO Jean-Guy Afrika said the development Africa seeks cannot be achieved with governments and the private sector working separately. He said the global economy is changing rapidly, with more selective capital, costly financing and technology transforming every sector. (📷: @WB_Rwanda/X)
🌍 For decades, Africa has been described in the language of expectation. Frontier market. Emerging opportunity. The continent of tomorrow. @Diop_IFC, Managing Director of @IFC_org, came to Kigali to retire that vocabulary for good.
Speaking at the Africa CEO Forum Annual Summit, the head of the World Bank Group's private sector arm framed the conversation in unambiguous terms:
"Africa is not a frontier market waiting to be discovered. This is the defining growth story of the 21st century."
💡 Coming from the institution that has deployed record volumes of private capital into African markets over the past three years, the statement carries weight. IFC's own playbook tells the story: deeper investments in African banks to unlock credit-to-GDP ratios, sustained backing for renewables and grid infrastructure, and a strategic push to mobilise long-term capital into the megaprojects that will shape the continent's next industrial cycle. Africa is no longer a destination for exploratory capital. It is where the decisive bets of the century are being placed.
🔑 That shift in framing matters for everyone gathered in Kigali. It signals to African corporates that the era of pitching potential is closing, replaced by an era of delivering scale. It tells global investors that the question is no longer whether to enter the market, but how fast they can move before the consolidation locks in. And it confirms what Africa's most ambitious operators have understood for some time: the continent is not waiting to be found. It is building, and it is open for business.
📍 ACF 2026, Kigali, 14–15 May 2026, co-hosted by IFC and Jeune Afrique Media Group, hosted by the Rwanda Development Board.
👉 Discover the full programme: https://t.co/mesSKFmLId
#ACF2026 #AfricaCEOForum
Become a World Bank Group pioneer.
The @WorldBankGroup Pioneers Internship Program opens for applications January 19 – February 17, 2026!
🔗 Learn more about the program, including schedule for live information sessions here: https://t.co/1TV1LJhhrA
Gold medals aren’t won alone. Neither are development wins.
Partnerships, trust, and teamwork make the difference.
Hear how teamwork moves the needle on the #DevelopmentPodcast: https://t.co/LoDSJdRs4T
Become a World Bank Group Pioneer.
𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐧 𝟏𝟗 – 𝐅𝐞𝐛 𝟏𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.
Join a live info session to learn how to apply and ask questions:
• Jan 27, 8 AM ET – https://t.co/DXvcXcc0g7
• Feb 4, 9 PM ET – https://t.co/kgqzfotWc9
Start your journey: https://t.co/fbREbid8tr
Connectivity gets people online.
Computing powers innovation.
Context makes technology relevant.
Competency gives people the skills to thrive.
Together, these “4Cs” form the backbone of Africa’s digital transformation
Learn more👉https://t.co/bqjhCxFk8H
⚡ IFC IS HIRING! ⚡️ Are you looking for a career with impact – one where your skills and passion can contribute to meaningful change? Visit https://t.co/9a48EDmqyM to explore opportunities across our global offices. #CareersWithImpact#IFCCareers#JobAlert
🇰🇪 @Ellysavatia designed an app that translates speech into sign language using AI-powered 3D avatars.
He was awarded £50,000 (Ksh8.6m) by the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering for winning its prestigious Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation
🇪🇬@IFC_org hosted top Egyptian journalists in Cairo ahead of #AFIS2025. Discussions with IFC leaders highlighted a record investment year, plans to channel over $2B into #Egypt’s financial sector, and the country’s growing role in Africa’s financial integration.
#IFCinAfrica
I believe that leveraging #SouthSouth and Triangular Cooperation is essential for tackling global challenges. Through #SouthSouth cooperation, @IFC_org is supporting meaningful projects across Africa that are building capacity and resilience.
#SouthSouthDay#IFCinAfrica
Young people are key to building better economies. This #YouthDay, catch our Instagram takeover featuring bold young leaders sharing their vision for inclusive opportunities. Follow & get inspired! https://t.co/62WwWjaTRH #IFCYouthTakeover
More than 133M people are employed in the ocean economy – a number that could grow to 184M by 2050. Want to see how @IFC_org’s blue finance is supporting this vital source of job creation? https://t.co/td2MqzJkUt #WorldOceansDay#IFCBlueFinance
Ahead of #AfricaDay, @IFC_org celebrates the continent’s journey—where clean energy, modern infrastructure, and innovative SMEs are driving economic growth.
With $14.2B invested in Africa in FY24, IFC is proud to be part of Africa's story.
👉 https://t.co/wlWIgv50Qg
#IFCinAfrica
What a glorious setting above Cidade Velha, overlooking the ocean, for a great conversation with Djo Da Silva—producer of many African musical talents, including the legendary Cesária Évora! Stay tuned for the Creative Development podcast with @IFC_org on how music can boost African economies.
🚧 Women still face barriers to #leadership—bias, career breaks, and underestimating their own qualifications.
In IFC #AudioStories, @MPPeschka shares insights on how institutions like IFC can create real change. https://t.co/IFaZq4pB6G #IWD2025
A great start to my visit to #Nairobi: meeting with @IFC_org's dynamic team in East Africa. 🌟These energetic professionals are supporting positive change and development in #Africa. #EastAfrica#IFCImpact
Ravi de revenir à #Djibouti 🇩🇯 pour réitérer le soutien d’@IFC_fr aux objectifs de développement du pays, visant à promouvoir une croissance inclusive et durable, soutenue par un secteur privé fort et dynamique, créer des emplois et renforcer la résilience.