New White Paper: Mobilizing the Diaspora through Private Equity

I&P is proud to announce the publication of the white paper “Mobilizing the Diaspora through Private Equity,” in collaboration with IFAD and Ciwara Capital. This document highlights the key stages and lessons learned from the creation of an investment company founded by the African diaspora to support SMEs on the continent, leading to the launch of Ciwara Capital.

Through practical recommendations and inspiring perspectives, this white paper offers a valuable roadmap for anyone seeking to leverage resources for African development.

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What topics are explored in this white paper?

This white paper delves into a unique experience carried out between 2020 and 2024: the creation of Ciwara Capital, an investment company initiated and funded by the African diaspora to finance high-impact small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa.

The document outlines the key stages of the project, the challenges encountered, the best practices identified, and recommendations for replicating this initiative in other contexts.

"I&P is proud to have supported many diaspora entrepreneurs in developing their businesses and projects on the continent. It was therefore natural and inspiring to work with IFAD and members of the diaspora to mobilize their savings and skills to benefit SMEs. This led to the extraordinary achievement of Ciwara Capital, supported by remarkable and innovative individuals." – Mamadou Ndao, Investment Director, I&P

Who is it for?

The white paper is particularly aimed at:

⇒ Members of the diaspora interested in investing in their countries of origin while generating social impact. It provides guidance on how to organize, prepare, and find the right partners to create investment solutions for Africa.

⇒ Donors looking to support inclusive and innovative projects. It highlights the positioning and approach needed to engage with the private sector and the diaspora in a sustainable private equity project.

⇒ Professional investors seeking to include the diaspora in their strategy. It showcases methods for mobilizing diaspora investors to generate additional resources for financing African SMEs

Why should you read it?

This white paper provides concrete answers to a critical question: how can we mobilize the diaspora for sustainable impact? It presents a practical case study, demonstrating how diaspora members, investors, and donors can join forces to support entrepreneurship and development in Africa.

The white paper aims to encourage replication of this model to scale up diaspora investments, including in other geographic regions.

About the authors

This white paper is the result of a collaboration between I&P, IFAD, and Ciwara Capital, with the support of Effectus.

Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) is an impact investment group that has been financing and supporting African small and medium-sized enterprises for over 20 years.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and the only multilateral development organization dedicated to transforming rural economies and food systems. IFAD funded the Ciwara Capital pilot project. Learn more: https://ffremittances.org/programme/eu-mali/

Ciwara Capital is an investment company initiated by the African diaspora. It supports high-impact start-ups and SMEs in Africa that bring innovations to the continent. It has already made three investments, including the Malian fund Zira Capital. Learn more: https://ciwara-capital.com/

Effectus is a consulting company that work with private companies and public organisations based in France and abroad.

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