British International Investment (BII) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Africa50 to strengthen collaboration and mobilise more investment into infrastructure across Africa.

Announced at the Infra for Africa Forum 2026 in Tanzania, the partnership establishes a framework for cooperation on infrastructure financing and development, including co-financing, co-investment and capital mobilisation.

The agreement comes as African countries continue to face a significant infrastructure financing gap, with investment needs spanning power, transport, water and digital infrastructure.

As an initial step under the partnership, BII has committed $20 million to the Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund, managed by Africa Infrastructure Investment Partners, a subsidiary of Africa50. The fund invests in infrastructure projects and platforms across power and energy, water and sanitation, transport and logistics, and digital and social infrastructure.

BII’s commitment brings the fund to a fourth close of approximately $330 million, alongside the African Development Bank, International Finance Corporation and more than 20 African institutional investors.

Leslie Maasdorp, CEO of BII, said the partnership and fund investment reflected the institution’s commitment to mobilising capital into infrastructure needed to support businesses, create jobs and improve living standards.

“Africa's infrastructure financing gap remains one of the biggest barriers to sustainable growth and development across the continent,” Maasdorp said. “By combining our expertise, networks and capital, we can help unlock greater investment into critical sectors while strengthening the pipeline of infrastructure opportunities that will drive long-term economic development.”

Africa50 CEO Alain Ebobissé said public capital alone would not be sufficient to meet the continent’s infrastructure requirements.

“Africa’s infrastructure needs cannot be met by public capital alone,” Ebobissé said. “Delivering infrastructure at the speed and scale the continent requires depends on mobilising long-term private and institutional capital through strong partnerships.”

He added that BII’s commitment to the Infrastructure Acceleration Fund demonstrated the organisations’ shared objective of scaling infrastructure investment and strengthening project delivery.

The partnership supports BII’s strategy of mobilising additional capital into African infrastructure through co-financing opportunities and the development of a stronger pipeline of bankable projects.

For Africa50, the agreement adds to its role in developing, investing in and mobilising capital for infrastructure projects across the continent.