Africa’s big pools of money rarely reach local startups. A free AfDB programme aims to change that. Applications close on 13 November 2026.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is taking applications for a programme that teaches African institutions how to invest in venture capital (VC) funds. It will train 80 capital providers to assess a fund, size a first investment and defend the case at an investment committee. Taking part is free. The programme runs online from December 2026 to February 2027.
The bank’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab runs the programme. I&P Ecosystems delivers it. It is part of the Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy and of Boost Africa, a link-up between the AfDB and the European Investment Bank. Boost Africa funds high-potential startups and helps startup ecosystems grow.
The gap is easy to see. Many African institutions hold large assets, but most of the money sits in government debt and listed markets. Many of their rules allow VC, yet few have made a first investment. Fund managers who need long-term local money often have to raise it abroad.
The programme names six barriers. Few teams have checked a venture fund or sized a first deal. Venture rarely fits current approval steps and risk limits. Many institutions have room to invest but get little guidance. Ten-year lock-ups clash with short reporting cycles. Access to fund managers and good deals is limited. And few peers exist to share notes with.
The course has eight two-hour webinars led by practitioners, followed by a two-day bootcamp. Topics include VC basics, deal terms, fund strategy, checks on a fund, fees and how to size a first ticket. The bootcamp uses real African fund cases and mock investment committees. Participants are grouped by type. A pension fund, a corporate venture arm and a family office each work through the rules that apply to them.
All participants join a community of more than 50 local and global capital providers. Some will have their place at the next LP Peer Group meeting paid for.
Who can apply: pension funds, insurers, sovereign wealth funds, banks, corporates and their venture arms, family offices, foundations, local development finance institutions and asset managers. You must be based in Africa, invest in Africa, and either invest in VC already or be working towards a first deal. Send decision-makers, such as chief investment officers, heads of investment, committee members and portfolio managers. You must attend all eight webinars and the bootcamp, and fill in surveys before and after. More than one person per institution can apply. Priority goes to need and decision role. Women and people under 35 are strongly encouraged to apply.
Applications close on 13 November 2026. Picks will be named on 20 November, followed by a two-week needs check. Apply through the online form. Send questions to info.lpfellowship@ietp.com.
Why it matters: Startups need local money that can stay for years. Pension funds, insurers and banks hold the biggest pools, but many have never backed a fund. Training the people who decide could open a new source of capital for African funds and the founders they back.
What to watch next: the 13 November deadline, the list of selected institutions on 20 November, and how many make a first VC commitment after the programme ends in February 2027.
Sources: African Development Bank and I&P Ecosystems programme call, as reported by African-Startups; I&P, AfDB Fellowship for Emerging Fund Managers.
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