Women entrepreneurs in developing economies lack access to finance and are legally disadvantaged, including through restrictions on owning or managing property. Recent estimates suggest that women entrepreneurs face a $1.5 trillion financing deficit. The transformation of African economies relies on removing the financial, institutional and social barriers for women to fully participate. In Sub-Saharan Africa 29 percent of businesses are women-owned, but they face chronic underinvestment. For instance, in Nigeria 41 percent of women are entrepreneurs but they only receive 2 percent of traditional financing.  

AIF makes equity and quasi-equity investments in high-growth small and medium businesses in Ghana, Lesotho, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. As the first private equity fund manager in Africa prioritizing growth-stage companies with gender diversified management teams, AIF is breaking new ground in gender-lens investing. 

AIF will impact the lives of women and communities in Sub-Saharan Africa by creating jobs, improving value chains and advancing diversified management teams. The fund will advance the model for gender-lens investing in the region.  

• Provide 10–15 women-led businesses with hands-on support and capital to expand
• Bring over 75 women into leadership positions at portfolio companies
• Enable investees to attract $170 million in follow-on capital

SEDF’s investment advances Open Society’s work in Africa by supporting women and youth to access capital.