Africa’s Green Economy Summit 2026 targets global investment for sustainable growth

Africa’s Green Economy Summit (AGES) 2026 is set to play a pivotal role in unlocking global capital for Africa’s sustainable development, with Sanlam Investments returning as headline sponsor for the third consecutive year. The summit will be held in Cape Town from 24 to 27 February 2026.

Over four days, AGES will focus on accelerating Africa’s transition to a just, inclusive, and investable green economy by directly linking international investors with African projects capable of transforming communities, industries, and ecosystems. The summit positions itself as a bridge between global capital and African opportunity, showcasing investment-ready projects across renewable energy, green transport, water and waste management, sustainable agriculture, green buildings, the blue economy, and climate technology.

Now in its fourth year, AGES has to date presented more than 90 investment-ready initiatives valued at over US$8.7 billion. These projects range from early-stage entrepreneurial ventures to large-scale national infrastructure developments, underscoring the commercial viability of Africa’s green economy alongside its environmental and social promise.

Carl Roothman, CEO of the Sanlam Investment Group, said the firm’s approach to investment goes beyond financial performance alone. “Performance matters – and so does its impact on people and planet. Our intention is to deliver competitive, risk-adjusted returns and measurable social outcomes, investing in our collective future. Through platforms like AGES, we drive our purpose of backing businesses that create and retain jobs, scale renewable energy, and fund critical infrastructure in Africa,” he said.

AGES 2026 will again cover the full breadth of the green and blue economy, featuring more than 40 investment-ready projects across two dedicated pitch stages. Its investor-led format enables participants to engage through investor roundtables, deal rooms, and curated matchmaking with development finance institutions, venture capital firms, banks, and asset managers. Nature and biodiversity finance will also feature prominently, reflecting growing interest in biodiversity credits and nature-based investment models.

“Africa stands at the frontier of sustainable growth and opportunity,” Roothman said. “From renewable energy to the blue economy and circular industries, the continent is leading a new era of sustainable growth; one defined by innovation, inclusion and long-term value creation.

“We recognise that meaningful change requires collective action through strategic partnerships, which is why we are supporting AGES for the third year. Every investment, every solution we implement, creates lasting returns for ecosystems, communities, and investors. Now is our moment to invest in the future we need.”

Outcomes from AGES 2026 are expected to strengthen Africa’s pipeline of green economy projects, helping translate commitments made in Cape Town into long-term investment flows and measurable impact across the continent.