Frank Aswani, CEO of AVPA: ‘Africa is the perfect sandbox for us to really get innovative’

Frank Aswani, CEO of the African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA), is adamant: Africa needs to solve its own problems with African money – and it can. 

The continent is not lacking social innovators, in particular talented young leaders who are determined to tackle issues that they have experienced and feel are unacceptable. But there is a lack of resources: in the wake of global aid cuts and facing an under-resourced public sector, the solution requires mobilising local private capital towards impact, Aswani says. 

Africa’s innovative problem-solving mindset, driven by its young people, is its biggest asset, he argues. What used to be seen as “embarrassing problems” 15 to 20 years ago are now seen as impact opportunities that are also “exciting investment opportunities” – one example is mobile money: what started as a solution to financial exclusion is now a massive market on the continent.

If you're a true impact player in the world, and you're not in Africa, you're missing something really exciting

“[These opportunities] are exciting in the sense that they really stress-test our ability to innovate around human productivity, and how we do something for the greater good of people and planet,” Aswani says. “So I look across Africa, and I think: ‘this is the perfect sandbox for us to really get innovative’.”

He adds: “If you’re a true impact player in the world, and you’re not in Africa, you're missing something really exciting. This is where your innovation will also have a significant impact on human life.”

• Read more: Opinion: Too high-risk, too low-return? Why impact investors should rethink their attitudes to Africa

Once the captain of Nairobi’s student rugby team the “Mean Machines”, Aswani went from qualifying as a vet to working in the pharmaceutical industry for over a decade. This took him to several countries across the world, including the UK. There, away from home, he realised how passionate he was for Africa: “It took me to leave the continent to realise actually, I really love and I’m proud to be African,” he says. 

“From then on, I made the decision that whatever role I was going to take going forward, it had to be a Pan-African role that impacts the continent at large – so that became my mission and purpose from that point on.” 

On the podcast, Aswani talks about:

• His vision for impact investing in Africa and the continent’s value as an innovation lab for the global impact movement
• How he is inspired by young social innovation leaders across the continent
• How sports, music and family help him balance the demands of being an impact CEO 

AVPA is a network of impact investors committed to increasing capital flows towards social investment in Africa. It is holding its annual conference on 3-5 November 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya, expecting 400 delegates from more than 30 countries. More information and tickets can be found here.