2026

Africa Impact Dialogue

NAIROBI, KENYA

JANUARY 28-30 2026

Building for Africa’s Future: Advancing Impact, Innovation & Climate Investment

Over the past five years, Forum for Impact has quickly grown from a regional dialogue to over a thousand impact-focused investors, family offices, philanthropists, and leaders in finance from Europe, US, Canada, Asia, and the Caribbean. We host private, invite-only dialogues annually around the world to create “coalitions of the willing” among investors, philanthropists, family offices, and institutions to commit capital across a range of impacts. We focus on taking action in impact finance, not just talking about it.

For 2026, we will be hosting our global dialogues in Nairobi Kenya, Abu Dhabi UAE, Nassau Bahamas, Toronto Canada, Shanghai China, and Vancouver Canada, for a new generation of impact investors, philanthropists and family offices who share our commitment to building a better world through impact investment and philanthropy.

About Forum for Impact

Forum for Impact (FFI) is a collaboration among leaders in impact and sustainable investment. We create private, invite-only dialogues to assemble global leaders to share their knowledge, stories, and journeys to inspire other investors to create positive impact in the world.

FFI represents many of the world’s leading family office principals, investors, philanthropists and private business owners; brought together to promote the growing need to invest in solutions seeking to generate positive social and environmental impact alongside financial return.

Our mission is to engage the unengaged in impact finance, and to bring new impacts and opportunities for impact to our global financial community. Our events are focused mobilizing capital and action, not just talking about it.

Relationship-building is a priority at all of our dialogues. Our events offer a private environment where our guests have ample opportunity to meet easily with one another, informally and in unhurried style. All FFI’s guests are known personally to us and are drawn from our networks in the USA, Canada, Latin America, Asia, and Europe.

Agenda

Wednesday January 28

6:00 pm

VIP Dinner at Villa Rosa Kempinski

Thursday January 29

8:30 am

Breakfast & Networking at Villa Rosa Kempinski

9:15 am

Welcome Address

9:45 am

Dialogue 1: Unlocking Africa’s Climate Investment Potential

With the advancement of Article 6.2, Africa is leading a new era in climate and carbon finance. The continent’s growing participation in high-integrity carbon markets—supported by fresh innovations in debt facilities, climate bonds, and blended finance—unlocks vast opportunities for sustainable investment and green job creation. Learn from leaders in carbon finance from across the world on how Africa is once again at the vanguard of climate finance – and what needs to happen to be successful.

11:00 am

Dialogue 2: Women at the Heart of Africa’s Sustainable Finance Movement

African women are key drivers of the continent’s impact finance transformation. As entrepreneurs, community leaders, and stewards of natural resources, women are pioneering ESG and climate solutions that benefit both people and planet. Exciting new funding initiatives like gender bonds, women-led impact funds, and targeted debt facilities—are closing historic gaps and unlocking billions in sustainable investment. Hear from a panel of women leaders in finance on how the continent has an unprecedented opportunity for elevating women in finance

12:15 pm

Lunch

1:30 pm

Dialogue 3: Building Africa’s Sustainable Future: Infrastructure for Impact

Africa is experiencing a wave of major investments in solar, wind, hydropower, and innovative off-grid solutions, revolutionizing energy access for over 600 million people lacking reliable electricity. Falling technology costs and new financial models — including pay-as-you-go solar kits and mini-grids — are expanding electricity into remote areas, creating jobs and advancing economic inclusion.

2:45 pm

Break

3:00 pm

Dialogue 4: Accelerating Impact: Financial Inclusion and Digital Transformation in Africa

Africa has become a global leader in digital banking and fintech innovation, driving financial inclusion for millions who were previously unbanked. Mobile money platforms, AI-powered lending, and integrated apps are making finance accessible to rural communities, entrepreneurs, and marginalized groups. These technologies unlock new pathways for impact investment by expanding access to credit, insurance, savings, and payment services while supporting women and SMEs

4:15 pm

Dialogue 5: The Economics of the Wild: From Philanthropy to Investable Conservation in Africa

This panel will explore how conservation in Africa can evolve from being predominantly philanthropy-driven to becoming an integrated asset class that blends grants, catalytic capital, and commercial investment. Featuring National Geographic Explorers and Great Plains Conservation founders Dereck and Beverly Joubert, the session will unpack real-world models where wildlife protection, community livelihoods, carbon markets, and tourism economics are aligned to generate both financial returns and resilient ecosystems. Speakers will delve into how tools such as conservation-linked debt, biodiversity credits, nature-based carbon projects, and revenue-sharing models with local communities can de-risk investment while addressing social issues like employment, education, and human–wildlife coexistence. The dialogue will invite investors, philanthropists, and policymakers to consider conservation landscapes not as charitable line items, but as living natural infrastructure that underpins climate resilience, inclusive growth, and long-term value creation across the continent.

6:30pm

Drinks and Dinner

Friday January 30

Regional Initiatives & Investment Catalysts
Capital Club, 4-7 Floor, Imperial Court
Westlands Road, Nairobi, Kenya

9:00 am

Breakfast & Project Networking

9:30 am

Lens Day 1: From Intent to Outcomes: Making Impact Real in Africa

This panel will explore how Africa can move beyond well-meaning commitments to tangible social, economic, and climate outcomes on the ground. Speakers will examine how proven methodologies—such as robust impact measurement frameworks, blended finance structures, and outcome-based financing—can turn capital allocations into verifiable results for communities, ecosystems, and local enterprises. The discussion will highlight practical examples of using digital tools, data platforms, and frontier technologies to track impact in real time, ensure accountability, and de-risk investments. By centering Africa-rooted solutions and partnerships with local institutions, the session will surface actionable pathways for investors, philanthropists, and innovators to co-create “impact-first” deals that are scalable, transparent, and deeply aligned with African priorities.

10:00 am

Project Spotlights

Curated sessions featuring transformative projects and startups in Energy Transition, Blue Economy, Carbon Finance, and Innovation, each presented by founders or key sponsors.

12:00pm

Catalysts in Focus” Panel

Reflections from family offices, investors, and institutional partners on selecting and supporting impactful regional ventures.

1:00pm

Lunch & Opportunity Matchmaking

Focused tables for deep-dive discussion between project leads and investment partners.

2:00pm

Peer-Led Roundtables:

Building Coalitions for Scale

3:30pm

Farewell Networking

Format: Each initiative has a dedicated timeslot for an elevated, interactive presentation, followed by investor Q&A.

Driving Measurable Impact

Forum for Impact’s dialogue series is supported by our global network of sponsors and partners from both the public and private sectors.

We welcome Global Partners who participate in all of our dialogues, as well as Regional Partners for each dialogue, including bespoke dialogues for discrete investor networks. FFI prioritizes tangible outcomes from its dialogues, actively engaging our community both within and beyond these discussions. Our Impact Lenses guide our support for specific impacts, projects, and investments arising from the dialogues, enabling our community to achieve measurable progress and advance the conversation year after year

Our 2025 Impact Lenses include our Sustainable Oceans Initiative, DAFs for Impact, Impact for Indigenous Peoples, and Empowering Women in Finance

Nairobi Event Locations (Jan 28–30)

Host Hotel + Main Venue (Jan 28–29)

Villa Rosa Kempinski Nairobi

Special FFI Rate: When booking, mention you are attending with Forum for Impact (FFI) and request the FFI / Kempinski partner rate (50% off).

Reservations (Email): reservations.nairobi@kempinski.com

Phone: +254 703 049 000

Address: Villa Rosa Kempinski Nairobi, Chiromo Road, Nairobi, 00800, Kenya

Website: https://www.kempinski.com/en/hotel-villa-rosa

Schedule at Kempinski:

Jan 28: VIP Dinner (Kempinski)
Jan 29: Dialogue (Kempinski)

Dialogue Venue (Jan 30)

Capital Club (Nairobi)

Address: Capital Club, 4–7 Floor, Imperial Court, Westlands Road, Nairobi, Kenya

P.O. Box: 66432–00800

Phone: +254 709 038 000

Email: member.services@capitalclubea.com

Website: https://capitalclubea.com/

Schedule at Capital Club:

Jan 30: Dialogue (Capital Club

Capital_Club_DECOR-15-1-scaled-e1621506877180

“For our international guests, please make sure you consult the Kenya e-visa requirements: https://etakenya.go.ke/ “

Speakers

Shruti Chandrasekhar

Head of Investments, Africa Region

International Finance Corporation (IFC)

Nairobi

Shruti Chandrasekhar is an experienced VC and private equity investor focused on scaling high-impact businesses across emerging markets. She has led and managed portfolios spanning early-stage ventures to growth equity, often serving as an active board member to support founders with strategic guidance. Her background blends rigorous financial analysis with a deep commitment to development outcomes and inclusive growth. Shruti frequently engages with global platforms and ecosystems that are building capital flows into under-served markets.

Winnie Ibukayo Mwangi

Managing Director, Africa

FINCA

Nairobi

Winnie Ibukayo Mwangi is a venture capital investment professional with over 12 years' experience in commercial VC, impact investing, and M&A across Sub-Saharan Africa. She has led transactions in sectors including logistics, renewable energy, healthcare, FMCG, and fund investments, typically in the USD 2–15 million range. Winnie has held multiple board roles, contributing to strategy and finance committees and helping portfolio companies achieve strong revenue growth. She brings a deep understanding of the African entrepreneurial ecosystem and excels at originating, structuring, and stewarding high-impact investments.

Reshma Shah

Lead Climate Markets

Nairobi

Reshma Shah (FCA) is a senior finance leader and Chief Financial Officer with a strong track record across multiple companies and sectors. She combines deep technical finance and accounting expertise with strategic advisory skills to support business transformation and growth. Reshma is known for building high-performing teams, robust governance, and data-driven decision-making in complex environments. She also brings extensive experience working with boards and investors to align financial strategy with long-term value creation.

Dereck Joubert

National Geographic Filmmaker

Great Plains Conservation Foundation

Nairobi

Dereck Joubert is a South African-born filmmaker, author, and conservationist known for award-winning wildlife documentaries produced with National Geographic. Over several decades, he and his partner Beverly have created dozens of films and books spotlighting big cats, elephants, and other threatened species, earning multiple Emmy Awards and global recognition. Dereck is also co-founder of initiatives such as the Big Cats Initiative and Rhinos Without Borders, which work to halt species decline and relocate rhinos from high-poaching areas to safer habitats. His conservation leadership, field research, and storytelling have positioned him as a leading voice in protecting Africa's wildlife and ecosystems.

Beverly Joubert

National Geographic Filmmaker

Great Plains Conservation Foundation

Nairobi

Beverly Joubert is a South African-born filmmaker, photographer, and conservationist who has dedicated her life to documenting Africa's wildlife alongside her husband Dereck. Together they have produced award-winning films and photography for National Geographic, earning multiple Emmy Awards. Beverly's work focuses on big cats and elephants, combining stunning visual storytelling with conservation advocacy. She co-founded initiatives like the Big Cats Initiative and Rhinos Without Borders to protect endangered species and their habitats across Africa.

Tara Sabre-Collier

Senior Director, Impact Investments

Chemonics

London, UK

Tara Sabre Collier is a global strategist, impact investor, and sustainable finance advisor working with governments, DFIs, and funds. She serves as Director of Impact Investing and Sustainable Finance at Chemonics International and chairs the investment committee at ShEquity, deploying gender-lens capital to women-led startups in Africa. Tara has previously held leadership roles at Shell Foundation and EY, advancing gender-smart and inclusive investment strategies across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. She is also a sought-after speaker and ecosystem builder focused on equitable capital flows to underrepresented founders.

Corinna Hornwall

Lead, Impact & ESG

Lightrock

Nairobi

Corinna Hornwall is an Impact and ESG professional with extensive experience in sustainable finance and climate investment across emerging markets. Currently serving as an Impact and ESG Manager at Lightrock, she previously led impact initiatives at Mirova (formerly SunFunder), focusing on energy access and climate mitigation in Africa and Asia. Corinna’s background includes managing ESG transactions at Swedfund International and consulting on climate change at PwC. She holds an MPhil in International Development from the University of Cambridge and a BSc in Economics from the University of Bath, combining rigorous academic insight with practical expertise in driving environmental and social value.

Cameron Hall

Head of Growth and Global Partnerships

Bechtel

London, UK

Cameron Hall is a social impact professional with extensive project delivery experience in complex contexts. His background includes various leadership roles implementing community development, humanitarian support, and economic empowerment programmes in locations such as South Sudan, Liberia, Haiti, and Lebanon. In his current role with Bechtel’s impact-focused social enterprise, Cameron supports the delivery of sustainable, enduring, and effective community infrastructure projects through deliberate collaboration between private, public, and civil society stakeholders. He brings a blend of frontline leadership, organisational development, and mission-driven focus to his work in social impact.

Payel Farasat

Chief of Global Growth

FINCA

San Francisco, USA

Payel Farasat is a Global Growth Chief and impact investor with over 20 years' experience in diversified asset management, capital raising, and financial stewardship. She serves as Chief Growth Advisor at FINCA International and FINCA Ventures, championing investments that expand access and opportunity for underserved communities globally. Previously, Payel held CIO and investment leadership roles overseeing multi-billion-dollar portfolios and leading an IPO through BurTech Acquisitions Corp. She is also a board-level advisor and blended finance architect, designing structures that align profit with measurable social and environmental impact.

Catrine Shroff

CEO

Mwangaza Light & Green Churches Kenya

Nairobi

Catrine Shroff is the Chief Executive Officer of Mwangaza Light, a social enterprise dedicated to expanding energy access and empowering women in Kenya. Under her leadership, the organization focuses on affordable, sustainable lighting solutions that enable households and small businesses to thrive. Catrine brings a strong commitment to social entrepreneurship and gender equity, building models that combine commercial viability with community impact. Her work centers on creating inclusive energy ecosystems that improve livelihoods in underserved regions.

Prashant Trivedi

Founder & Executive Chairman

Multi-Act Group

Prashant K. Trivedi, CFA, is the Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Multi-Act Group. Multi-Act has grown from a family office focused on independent research and investments into an institutional investment platform serving family offices and institutional investors worldwide. Prashant is an early investor in Great Plains Conservation in Kenya and Zimbabwe, on the Africa Council of The Nature Conservancy, and on the Advisory Board of the Wildlife Conservation Trust as a result of his passion for supporting Conservation initiatives.

Sylvie Mahieu-Sorensen

Head of Private Sector Operations - East Africa

African Development Bank Group

Nairobi

Sylvie Mahieu-Sorensen is a senior development finance professional at the African Development Bank, leading client engagement and transaction origination across East Africa. She structures long-term financing for energy, transport, industrial, and urban infrastructure, focusing on innovative solutions that enhance bankability, efficiency, and sustainable, low-carbon development. A frequent speaker on blended finance and DFIs’ role in Africa, she drives private-sector-led infrastructure investment.

Ladé A. Araba

Senior Development Finance Executive & Board Member

African Risk Capacity (ARC) Ltd

Africa

Ladé Araba is a senior development finance executive and board member with over 22 years of experience across Africa and globally. She previously led Financial Services at the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP), overseeing a US$40 million Trade Credit Guarantee Program. She serves as a Non-Executive Director at African Risk Capacity (ARC) Ltd, where she chairs the Finance and Investment Committee, and is a Board Director of MPower Ventures. Ladé sits on the Investment Committee of the Mastercard Foundation’s Fund for Resilience and Prosperity and is Co-Founder and President of the Visiola Foundation. Her prior roles include senior leadership positions at AlphaMundi Foundation, Convergence Blended Finance, the African Development Bank, UNDP, UNECA, FAO, and QED Group LLC. She holds an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management and a dual BBA in MIS and International Business from the University of Oklahoma.

Ngu H. Morcho

Impact Infrastructure Executive & Entrepreneur

Vitellaria Connect

Africa

Ngu H. Morcho works at the intersection of impact infrastructure, market innovation, impact, and institutional capital, designing and delivering solutions across Africa and other emerging markets. His work focuses on building scalable and sustainable platforms that translate climate, health, and development priorities into investable, measurable outcomes. Ngu partners with public corporations, governments, donors, and impact investors to manage complexity, de-risk early-stage initiatives, and accelerate delivery. His approach emphasizes disciplined experimentation, blended finance, and systems-level thinking to achieve sustainable, long-term impact.

Sandrine Henton

Chief Executive Officer

EG Capital

Nairobi

Sandrine Henton is the Chief Executive Officer of EG Capital, where she leads investments across growth equity, private credit, and special situations in East Africa. With deep experience in private equity, principal investing, and portfolio stewardship, she has supported businesses through scale, operational transformation, and value creation. Sandrine is known for her disciplined investment approach, strong governance focus, and commitment to building resilient African enterprises. She brings a global perspective combined with hands-on regional expertise to advancing sustainable and inclusive growth.

Jonathan Bertfield

CEO

Lean Startup Co

San Francisco, USA

Jonathan Bertfield works at the intersection of organizational change, innovation, and product development, applying Lean, Agile, and Design Thinking methodologies. His writing and practice focus on helping teams "change the way we change," building systems that support continuous learning and iterative improvement. Bert often partners with organizations that need to accelerate innovation while managing complexity and risk. He emphasizes practical experimentation, feedback loops, and human-centered design as core levers for sustainable transformation.

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Michael Meehan

Co-founder Forum for impact

With over 25 years’ experience in impact and sustainable finance, Michael is an investor, thought leader, and senior advisor to public and private sector organizations around the world and serves on various boards for funds in the EU, UK, US, Canada and Asia. He founded Forum for Impact in 2020 in Europe as a way to bring family offices together to collaborate on impact investment and philanthropy.

Michael serves on the board of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), a global think tank for impact in over 30 countries, and is the former Chairman of the UK Sustainable Investment & Finance Association, a consortium of leading institutional investors with AUM of over £11 trillion. Michael is also the former CEO of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the largest sustainability standard in the world, based in Amsterdam.

As a pioneer in climate finance, he has also served on the board of trustees of Global Canopy, former CEO of Carbonetworks, vice-chair of the Natural Capital Coalition, and CEO of Canoe Carbon, an asset manager in climate finance based in Canada. Michael is also an adjunct professor at the University of Victoria, Canada where he serves as the faculty lead for Sustainable Finance.

Throughout his career, Michael has worked with the White House, the UN, the World Economic Forum, and many other organizations in his mission to improve the state of the world through impact.