Africagrowth Institute

What Africagrowth Institute does

Africagrowth Institute (AGI) is a privately held South African research and training organization founded in 2004 and headquartered in Bellville, Cape Town. Its core function is to deliver Africa-focused capacity building in development finance through a portfolio of interconnected offerings: a Master's in Development Finance Program delivered in partnership with a network of African and European universities (UCT, Stellenbosch, Strathmore, University of Namibia, GIMPA, KCA, Reading, Manchester); peer-reviewed academic publishing via the African Finance Journal (produced with Thomson Reuters' ScholarOne Manuscripts platform and the African Finance Association), the Review of Development Finance, the Development Finance Agenda, and the Africagrowth Agenda magazine; and an annual Global Development Finance Conference.

Its research and data products include the South African SMME Business Confidence Index (funded by the Industrial Development Corporation and WK Kellogg Foundation), a SMME database, and an Indices Unit, complemented by consulting services covering trade, investment, financial risk management, corporate governance, monitoring and evaluation, and African capital markets. A dedicated Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Statistics Unit has been established, though public detail on its capabilities is limited. The institute also runs the CDFA professional qualification and membership in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Development Finance, supports PhD students across Africa, and has historically operated the Xstrata-sponsored Graduate Development Program for unemployed black graduates.

Revenue mechanics are not publicly disclosed. The institute appears to be funded through a mix of university-channeled tuition, donor and sponsor grants (IDC, WK Kellogg Foundation, Xstrata SA), journal subscriptions, conference registration, CDFA membership fees, and consulting engagements. Customer segments span unemployed graduates seeking employment pathways, SMMEs as indirect beneficiaries of business confidence research, and institutional clients including universities, government agencies and donor organizations. No public pricing, headcount, or audited financial disclosures are available, and the company is not listed on any exchange.

Name

Africagrowth Institute

Legal name

Africagrowth Institute

Website

https://africagrowth.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Africagrowth Institute is a Cape Town-based research and training organization founded in 2004 that delivers Africa-focused capacity building in development finance through degree programs, academic journals, business confidence indices, consulting, and the CDFA professional qualification, in partnership with universities, donors and government agencies across Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Development Finance Education and Research

NAICS

Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Economic & Macroeconomic Research (BPAHALAD), SME & Entrepreneurship Development (Trade-Linked) (BPADAMAE), Strategy, Consulting & General Management Institutes (EDAHAHAI)

Keywords

• Development finance training
• Economic research consulting
• Academic finance journal
• Small business confidence indices
• Graduate development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Africagrowth Institute (AGI) is a Cape Town-based research and training organization that provides capacity building, training, and research services focused on economic growth and development finance in Africa. It delivers a Master's in Development Finance program through partnerships with African and European universities, publishes the African Finance Journal and Africagrowth Agenda, produces SMME Business Confidence Indices, and offers consulting services in trade, investment, financial risk management, corporate governance, and African capital markets.

Product overview

Africagrowth Institute is a research and training organization headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, focused on economic growth and development across Africa. The institute operates a portfolio of interconnected products and services: the Master's in Development Finance Program (delivered in partnership with African and European universities) serves as the flagship academic offering, while the African Finance Journal and its Annual Conference provide research publication and dissemination platforms. The South African SMME Business Confidence Indices deliver quarterly economic research on small business sentiment. The institute also offers professional qualifications (CDFA), training seminars, consulting services, and operates a Big Data/AI/Statistics Unit. The Xstrata Graduate Development Program addresses youth unemployment through skills development. These offerings are unified by the institute's mission to build economic capacity across Africa through education, research, and institutional partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Africagrowth Agenda: Magazine published by the Institute focusing on Africa growth opportunities
• African Finance Journal
• Africagrowth Indices Unit
• Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Statistics Unit

Products and services

• Master's in Development Finance Program A unique master's degree program in development finance delivered in partnership with African universities (University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Strathmore, Namibia, GIMPA, KCA) and European universities (Reading, Manchester), providing advanced education in development finance to professionals across Africa.
• African Finance Journal Peer-reviewed academic journal focused on African finance research, published in partnership with the African Finance Association and managed through Thomson Reuters' ScholarOne Manuscripts platform for submission, peer review, and tracking.
• Annual African Finance Journal Conference Annual conference that brings together researchers, academics, and practitioners in African finance and development finance to disseminate research and build professional networks.
• South African SMME Business Confidence Indices Quarterly business confidence indices tracking sentiment and performance of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa, funded by the Industrial Development Corporation and WK Kellogg Foundation.
• Training and Capacity Building Services Professional training, seminars, and workshops in development finance delivered to institutional clients including universities, government agencies, and corporate partners, with focus on Africa-centered capacity building.
• Research and Consulting Services Consulting and research services covering trade and investment in Africa, investment climate, financial risk management, corporate governance, monitoring and evaluation, and African capital markets, delivered to institutional clients.
• CDFA Professional Qualification and Membership Professional qualification (Chartered Development Finance Analyst) and membership program offered through the Chartered Institute of Development Finance for development finance professionals.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Thomson ReuterscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2018Partnership with Thomson Reuters to improve the quality of the African Finance Journal. Thomson Reuters provides ScholarOne Manuscripts, a web-based system supporting manuscript submission, peer review and tracking.
• African Finance AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership with African Finance Association to support the publication of the African Finance Journal, with Thomson Reuters providing technology support.
• Xstrata SAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Partnership with Xstrata SA to sponsor a Graduate Development Program for unemployed black graduates in South Africa. The three-year program equips graduates with skills and knowledge for real-life job environments.
• University of Cape TowncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership for delivering the Master's degree in Development Finance program.
• University of StellenboschcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership for delivering the Master's degree in Development Finance program.
• Strathmore UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership for delivering the Master's degree in Development Finance program.
• University of NamibiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership for delivering the Master's degree in Development Finance program.
• GIMPA (Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership for delivering the Master's degree in Development Finance program.
• KCA UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership for delivering the Master's degree in Development Finance program.
• University of ReadingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean university partnership for delivering the Master's degree in Development Finance program.
• University of ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean university partnership for delivering the Master's degree in Development Finance program.
• Chartered Institute of Development FinancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated professional institute for development finance professionals, providing CDFA professional qualifications and membership.

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• African Finance Association: Academic and professional association promoting African finance research and the African Finance Journal. Direct comparator because it shares AGI's journal publication role and African finance research mandate.
• Chartered Institute of Development Finance: Affiliated professional body that grants the CDFA qualification administered alongside AGI's training programs. Direct peer because both institutions issue credentials and professional development in development finance.
• Centre for Development Finance, University of Stellenbosch: University-based research and postgraduate center focused on development finance in Africa. Direct peer because it is a named AGI partner university and competes in the same Master's and research domain.

Broad incumbents

• African Economic Research Consortium (AERC): Pan-African economic research network based in Nairobi producing macroeconomic and policy research across the continent. Comparable because it conducts Africa-focused economic research, training, and capacity building, but at significantly larger scale than AGI.
• South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA): Established Johannesburg-based policy and research institute covering African economic and political affairs. Comparable because it publishes research, hosts convening events, and operates in the same South African thought-leadership space.
• Overseas Development Institute (ODI): London-based global development think tank producing research and policy advice on international development and finance. Comparable because it operates in development finance research, training, and consulting, but at much larger global scale.
• African Development Bank (AfDB): Continental development finance institution funding African infrastructure and economic development. Comparable as the dominant institutional player in African development finance, against which AGI's training and research offerings are positioned.
• Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA): South African state-owned development finance institution funding infrastructure and SMME development. Comparable because it is a major funder and policy actor in South African development finance, intersecting with AGI's SMME indices and consulting agenda.

Emerging players

• Tony Elumelu Foundation: Pan-African entrepreneurship and SME development organization running training and funding programs. Comparable because it overlaps with AGI's SMME development and graduate entrepreneurship work, though it is more entrepreneur-facing and donor-funded.

Regional players

• Africa Investor (Ai): Africa-focused investment advisory and media business covering African capital markets and institutional investment. Comparable because it operates in African capital markets research and convening, complementary to AGI's consulting and indices work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/africagrowth
• Facebookfacebook.com/AfricagrowthInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/africagrowth-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Africagrowth Institute