Nairobi — The African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI) marked its silver jubilee at its 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Nairobi 30 June to 3 July, amid renewed political support and new commitments to deepen Africa’s risk-sharing architecture. The meetings were held under the banner “Empowering Africa: Risk Managed, Growth Unlocked” and culminated in a call by Kenyan President William Ruto for the continent to strengthen its financial institutions and finance development on its own terms.
President Ruto told African countries at a gala dinner at State House, marking the 25th anniversary of ATIDI, that they should not wait for global reform but build their own capacity now. He supported the New African Financial Architecture for Development (NAFAD), an initiative launched by African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr Sidi Ould Tah in April 2026 that aims to coordinate African multilateral institutions to reduce borrowing costs, unlock domestic capital and strengthen risk sharing mechanisms across the continent.
“Africa is not capital-starved. “Africa lacks institutions that can transform risk, mobilise savings and channel them into productive investments,” President Ruto said, pointing out that the continent has nearly USD4 trillion in long-term domestic savings in pension funds, insurance assets and central bank reserves. “While the annual African financing gap is over USD400 billion, much of that capital is still invested overseas,” he said.
At the core of NAFAD is the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI), which includes the AfDB, Afreximbank, the African Finance Cooperation, ATIDI, and others. Kenya has offered to host the AAMFI Secretariat in Nairobi, a move President Ruto said will strengthen continental cooperation. He also announced plans – subject to national processes – to increase Kenya’s shareholding in ATIDI from USD25 million to USD65 million and presented ATIDI with a title deed for land to construct a permanent headquarters.
President Ruto underlined the strategic role of ATIDI within the alliance and called for a collective effort to restructure the insurer to USD2 billion, arguing that improvements to the continent’s guarantee architecture could free huge private capital. He launched the Nairobi Capital Compact on African Economic Sovereignty anchored on five commitments: to progressively recapitalise ATIDI, strengthen AAMFI, mobilise domestic capital, expand guarantee and risk sharing capacity, and build globally competitive African multilateral institutions.
The AGM was used by ATIDI management to celebrate the institution’s role in Africa’s private investment flows and to remind members of its importance. Reflecting on the organisation’s 25-year record, CEO Manuel Moses said: “We have 25 years of designing African-centric risk mitigation instruments and have catalysed more than USD93 billion in private investment across the continent. Moses stressed that ATIDI’s Preferred Creditor Status (PCS) – the expectation that member states would give ATIDI obligations preference even in times of financial distress – was key to investor confidence and the business model of the organisation.
ATIDI reports strong 2025 results at AGM Total exposure increased to USD9.2 billion from USD8.9 billion in 2024 Profit for the year increased 20% to USD71.4 million Total assets increased 20% to USD1.06 billion Total equity increased 12% to USD883 million The organisation has expanded its membership from seven founding members to 24 African countries, 13 institutional members and one non-African member state and has consistently maintained an investment-grade rating from major global credit agencies.
“The most important task for Africa is to build investor confidence,” said Board Chair Professor Kelly Mua Kingsly. “Capital is the engine of development. Confidence is the fuel,” he said, adding that ATIDI does more than mitigate risk – it builds the confidence to attract private finance.
The Leaders’ Panel at the AGM focused on how Africa can build a more resilient, self-sustaining development finance ecosystem amid changing global capital flows, growing debt pressures, and increasing needs for infrastructure and industrial investment. Dr Sidi Ould Tah of the AfDB reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to strengthen African institutions, and announced a five-fold increase in the bank’s participation in ATIDI’s capital, saying the AfDB will become ATIDI’s largest institutional shareholder. Dr Tah said the bank would also mobilise partners to help non-member countries join ATIDI.
“The problem is not one of lack of capital or opportunity but of a persistent mispricing of African risk,” said Dr Tah, describing NAFAD as a means to unlock domestic and international resources while reinforcing financial sovereignty. Kenya’s Deputy President Professor Kithure Kindiki has also urged greater private-sector participation, pointing out that public budgets alone will not deliver Africa’s development ambitions.
The second day of the AGM was devoted to investment promotion, with macroeconomic briefings and project proposals from Cameroon and Kenya in renewables, water, agriculture and transport. A series of curated Business-to-Business and Business-to-Government sessions was designed to connect investors, private enterprises and public sector stakeholders as ATIDI and partners work to turn political promises into bankable projects and catalytic investments for the continent.
