Actis: Investment, Infrastructure, and Africa’s Growth Engine

Actis, a global private equity firm focused exclusively on emerging markets, especially Africa and Asia. Also known as Actis Capital, it doesn’t just fund companies—it builds the backbone of growing economies. You won’t find Actis in your local bank, but you’ll see its impact in the power lines lighting up rural towns, the warehouses keeping supply chains moving, and the affordable housing rising in cities like Cape Town and Lagos.

Actis doesn’t chase quick returns. It invests in things that last: solar farms in Kenya, logistics hubs in Nigeria, and water treatment plants in South Africa. These aren’t charity projects. They’re commercial ventures built to scale, with clear profit paths and real social impact. That’s why governments and development agencies often team up with them. When Actis puts money into a project, it’s not just writing a check—it’s bringing in management, tech, and long-term planning. For example, their work in energy has helped bring electricity to over 15 million people across Africa since 2004. That’s more than the population of Cape Town and Johannesburg combined.

Actis connects directly to the kind of infrastructure news you’ll find here. You’ll see their influence in stories about SASSA’s digital upgrades, new power plants in Limpopo, or logistics hubs changing how goods move across borders. Their investments don’t make headlines every day, but they’re the quiet engine behind economic shifts you read about—like South Africa’s business confidence rebounding after election uncertainty. When companies like Actis commit billions to African infrastructure, it signals confidence. And that confidence trickles down to local businesses, contractors, and workers.

Actis isn’t the only player, but it’s one of the few with deep roots in Africa and a track record that’s lasted two decades. They work with local partners, hire African talent, and focus on sectors that matter most: energy, infrastructure, and consumer services. Their projects don’t just create jobs—they build skills, improve access, and open markets. If you’re wondering why some African cities are growing faster than others, or why certain regions are getting new roads and grids while others aren’t, the answer often starts with who’s investing—and Actis is one of the names that keeps showing up.

Below, you’ll find articles that tie into Actis’s work: from energy policy shifts to housing developments and supply chain changes across the continent. These aren’t random stories. They’re pieces of the same puzzle—one that Actis has been helping to assemble for years.