AFRICA – The Standard Chartered SDG Investment Map reveals a USD197 billion opportunity for private-sector investors in five high-growth markets in Africa to help achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Five African countries are included in the study: Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia.
The study which highlights opportunities for investors to contribute to three infrastructure-focused goals between now and 2030 noted that, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure across emerging markets offered the greatest opportunity to investors.
Providing universal digital access represents the greatest investment opportunity for the private sector by 2030 (USD74.5 billion), followed by universal access to power (USD65.8 billion), transport infrastructure (USD46.4 billion) and access to clean water and sanitation (USD10.3 billion)
Driven by its large and growing population, Nigeria also offers the greatest overall opportunity across the SDG indicators measured (a total of USD114.2 billion), followed by Kenya (USD40 billion)
Zambia and Kenya present a big opportunity to make an impact on SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): With an average of 43 per cent and 56 per cent of the population respectively currently lacking access to clean water and sanitation, there is a USD0.7 billion and USD2.3 billion private-sector investment opportunity to help close the gap by 2030
Uganda presents a meaningful opportunity to make an impact on SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): with just 22 per cent of the population that have access to electricity, there is a USD6.1 billion private-sector investment opportunity to help achieve universal access by 2030
The greatest investment opportunity in Ghana is in achieving and maintaining universal access to electricity (a key SDG 7 indicator), representing a USD7.8 billion private-sector opportunity
Across all the world’s emerging markets, Oportunity2030 identifies a USD10 trillion opportunity for private sector investors.
This represents around 40 per cent of the total funding required to meet specific indicators within the three SDGs – allowing for population growth as well as maintaining current access – with public funds expected to provide the bulk of the investment.
Sunil Kaushal, Regional CEO, Africa & Middle East, Standard Chartered, said: “The UN Sustainable Development Goals are amongst the most ambitious projects humanity has ever attempted.”
“Opportunity2030 provides a map of these opportunities, revealing the sectors and markets where investors can best contribute to the SDGs whilst achieving sustainable returns.”
The Standard Chartered SDG Investment Map is a macroeconomic study that draws on global data sources and indicative private-sector participation rates to provide companies, institutional investors and other stakeholders with an overview of where their investments could have the greatest impact.
It spans 15 of the world’s fastest-growing economies and estimates the potential private-sector investment opportunity to contribute to three of the most investment-ready UN SDGs (6,7 and 9).
