By Ayomide Otitoju
Sanlam Investments has confirmed its third consecutive sponsorship of the Africa’s Green Economy Summit (AGES), scheduled for February 2026, reaffirming its commitment to driving sustainable finance and innovation across Africa’s renewable energy, water security, waste reduction, and climate resilience sectors.
Since its launch in 2023, AGES has evolved into a premier platform linking global investors with Africa’s green projects. To date, the summit has showcased over 90 investment-ready initiatives worth more than US$8.7 billion, ranging from entrepreneurial start-ups to national infrastructure developments — accelerating the continent’s transition to an inclusive green economy.
“Africa stands at the frontline of climate change and on the frontier of opportunity,” said Carl Roothman, CEO of Sanlam Investments. “From renewable energy to the blue economy and circular industries, the continent is leading a new era of sustainable growth defined by innovation, inclusion, and long-term value creation.”
Roothman highlighted that Sanlam’s continued partnership with AGES underscores its belief in collective action for impact. “Every investment and every solution we implement creates lasting returns for ecosystems, communities, and investors. Now is our moment to invest in the future we need,” he said.
He added that Sanlam’s investment philosophy of holistic return reflects the firm’s goal of achieving measurable financial gains alongside social and environmental impact. “We have consistent evidence that investing for impact yields outperforming returns — financial, social, and environmental. Doing good is good investing.”
Emmanuelle Nicholls, Project Lead for AGES, commended Sanlam Investments for its ongoing support, noting that the partnership has helped position the summit as “an unmatched platform for changemakers, investors, and entrepreneurs shaping Africa’s sustainable future.”
The 2026 edition will again spotlight opportunities across the green and blue economy — including energy, transport, water, agriculture, waste management, green buildings, and clean technology. The programme will feature pitch stages, investor roundtables, deal rooms, and matchmaking sessions with development finance institutions, venture capital funds, banks, and asset managers.
Nicholls added that nature and biodiversity finance will take centre stage, exploring the growth of markets for biodiversity credits and nature-based investments. “Each edition of the summit strengthens its impact,” she said. “Every year, we reinforce the urgency of closing Africa’s climate finance gap and taking actionable steps toward sustainable development.”
