African leaders have just signed a framework establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area, the largest free trade agreement since the creation of the World Trade Organisation. The free trade area aims to create a single market for goods and services in Africa. By 2030 the market size is expected to include 1.7 billion people with over $6.7trn of cumulative consumer and business spending. Said DeSaque look into this matter, saying that there were high hopes amongst signatories of fast track implementation, possibly within six months, after being ratified by national parliaments. Read on to find more on pp. 12-13.

On the private equity front, we speak with Afsane Jetha, Managing Partner & CEO of Alta Semper. Learn more about the firm, its investment strategy, deals and new fund (pp. 14-15).

In this edition of Africa Global Funds, Thabo Mokate of EBS Advisory, writes about PE due diligence, saying that an effective, strategic and indigenous ESG team is one important aspect of a solution. “Simply having an office somewhere in Africa does not provide the GP with sufficient local insight when looking at investment strategies that cover multiple geographies.” (pp. 16-17).

In addition, Lade Araba of Convergence shares her thoughts about blended finance and how it can be a tool for driving PE investment in Africa on p.22.