Proparco, the French development finance institution, has deepened its partnership with Africa-focused private equity firm Helios Investment Partners, led by Nigerian businessman Temitope Lawani, through a major investment in the Helios Climate Fund.
The $250 million fund aims to accelerate Africa’s low-carbon transition, targeting renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and green mobility projects.
Helios fund drives Africa’s green transition
With backing from global development institutions and private investors, the initiative addresses the continent’s critical climate finance gap, mobilizing private capital where public funds cover only 10% of needs. Proparco’s commitment reinforces its sustainable development priorities and supports measurable impact across clean energy, innovation, and climate action.
The Helios Climate Fund, recently completing its second closing with total commitments of around $250 million, combines resources from major development finance institutions, including the European Investment Bank, FMO, British International Investment, and Swedfund, with private sector partners like InfraCo and Standard Bank.
Proparco strengthens private capital mobilization
The fund targets both minority and majority investments ranging from $20 million to $50 million, focusing on companies advancing green growth and decarbonization across Africa.
Proparco’s investment complements its broader strategic alignment with Helios, following a $20 million commitment in 2024 to Helios Sports & Entertainment Group. Françoise Lombard, CEO of Proparco, said the initiative “mobilizes private capital for Africa’s climate transition, where needs are immense and opportunities for transformation equally significant.”
Focus on renewable energy investments
Helios Investment Partners’ pan-African model has already deployed over $2.5 billion across 39 companies in 35 countries, consistently delivering competitive returns while generating measurable impact.
By investing in the Helios Climate Fund, Proparco advances several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 7 (Clean Energy), SDG 8 (Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry & Innovation), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Advancing Africa’s sustainable development goals
This partnership signals a broader trend in Africa: combining private equity scale with impact-driven objectives. By mobilizing private capital efficiently, the Helios Climate Fund aims to reshape the continent’s energy and economic landscape while providing strong financial returns.
