The Senegalese capital is hosting the 2nd edition of the West Africa Sustainable Finance & Investment Forum (WASFIF 2025) on October 30, the West African Forum on Sustainable Finance and Investment, this year under the theme: “Green finance, a financing instrument for the economies of the Union”. Organized by the Financial Markets Authority of the West African Monetary Union (AMF-UMOA), this event brings together public decision-makers, institutional investors, private sector actors and technical partners around a common goal: to accelerate the transition towards sustainable and inclusive finance within the Union.
This edition aims to build on the achievements of the previous one, deepen reflections and above all transform commitments into concrete actions in favor of a more resilient, environmentally friendly and socially responsible economy.
Discussions focus on several key themes: promoting sustainable finance and responsible investments, presenting projects with strong economic and social impact, as well as strengthening regional cooperation to finance ecological and inclusive transition.
“The first edition identified the main obstacles, outlined possible solutions and mobilized stakeholders around a common agenda. This second edition aims to go further: to turn ideas into actions, intentions into management and ambitions into concrete results,” said El Hadji Moustaphe A. Doumbia, member of the AMF-UMOA College, representing the institution’s president.
According to data from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African continent is at the heart of the global climate crisis: nine of the ten most vulnerable countries in the world are in Africa. Yet, only $20 billion is invested annually in adaptation, while actual needs exceed $277 billion.
In the face of this climate emergency and growing financing needs, Cheikh Diba, Senegalese Minister of Finance and Budget, called for increased mobilization of regional resources. “It is imperative for states to mobilize innovative, viable and sustainable financing. The regional financial market is a strategic lever to involve banks and effectively finance the economies of the Union,” he said.
The minister also emphasized the central role of states in the dynamics of sustainable finance. “The role of governments is crucial on several levels. They must assert their sovereign presence in the regional financial market, create a benchmark curve and generate a ripple effect benefiting the private sector.”
In summary, WASFIF 2025 serves as a regional reference platform to build an African green finance capable of supporting the sustainable development ambitions of the Union and strengthening its resilience in the face of climate and economic challenges.
The two-day proceedings will conclude with a set of conclusions synthesizing the lessons learned from the discussions and outlining the next steps in collective action.
