For the first time, some of Africa’s most influential infrastructure financiers, investors, and industry leaders are set to convene in Nairobi to chart a new course for the continent’s industrial development. The inaugural Africa We Build Summit, hosted by the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) in partnership with the Government of Kenya, will run from 23 to 24 April 2026, with a clear purpose: to convert Africa’s long-standing infrastructure ambitions into job-creating, economy-shaping realities.
Held under the theme “Infrastructure as the Engine of Industrialisation,” the Summit seeks to catalyse bankable projects, unlock regional integration, and mobilise domestic pools of capital for large-scale industrial investments.
A shift toward integrated infrastructure
Unlike traditional forums that focus on isolated projects, the Africa We Build Summit will spotlight interconnected systems designed to power regional growth. Discussions will explore:
- Regional corridors and expanded rail and port networks
- Cross-border energy systems and resilient power infrastructure
- Strategic minerals and value-addition industries
- National financing vehicles, including Kenya’s National Infrastructure Fund
Kenya’s President, Dr William Samoei Ruto, is expected to deliver the keynote address, underlining political commitment to regional integration and continent-wide industrial transformation.
AFC President and CEO, Samaila Zubairu, framed the moment as an opportunity to unlock Africa’s trapped capital. “Africa is not capital-poor; it is capital-trapped,” he said. “The challenge now is to channel that capital into infrastructure and industry at scale—transforming resources into productivity, jobs, and long-term prosperity.”
A continental benchmark: State of Africa’s Infrastructure Report 2026
A central feature of the Summit will be the launch of the State of Africa’s Infrastructure Report 2026, billed as the most comprehensive assessment of Africa’s investment landscape. The report maps capital flows, identifies key investment gaps, and outlines priority project pipelines—offering investors and policymakers the data needed to make informed decisions aligned with the Africa We Build agenda.
East Africa in the spotlight
East Africa, widely regarded as one of the continent’s most dynamic economic blocs, will play a prominent role in the Summit’s discussions. Key focus areas include:
- The Northern Corridor, linking the Port of Mombasa with Uganda, Rwanda, eastern DRC, and South Sudan
- Supporting routes connecting ports to inland economies
- Road and rail projects aligned with the East African Railway Master Plan
- Integrating energy systems and minerals to drive industrial processing rather than raw extraction
Building connected economic ecosystems
Rather than serving as another high-level dialogue forum, the organisers aim to establish the Summit as a delivery-driven platform—one that connects capital, policy frameworks, and technically sound projects. The goal is to build integrated economic ecosystems where infrastructure underpins energy supply, logistics, processing industries, and access to markets.
With Africa’s industrial future at stake, the gathering in Nairobi marks a critical step in shaping the systems that will determine the continent’s long-term economic resilience and competitiveness.
