About Us

Africa RISE is a regional technical assistance facility which supports inclusive and sustainable growth, job creation and decent work in Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean region. The Facility promotes macro-economic policy and regulatory reform to create a business environment that encourages investment.

What we do

We work to enhance the capacity of both government and the private sector, and promote inclusive public-private dialogue, leading to better economic and social development. The support under the Facility is demand-driven, bringing expertise from Europe and Africa to provide research, advisory services, training, long- and short-term technical assistance, and studies. We support requests from a broad range of stakeholders for technical assistance aligned to the EU partnership with Africa on sustainable investments and jobs.

Our presence

Africa RISE covers 25 countries: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Discover our projects

Africa has the potential to become a major global economic force if the necessary framework conditions are in place. However, in many countries, poverty, unemployment and insecurity persist. A transition from the informal to the formal economy is essential to achieving inclusive development and to realising decent jobs that protect labour rights. Structural economic problems, inefficient service provision, inadequate infrastructure and a lack of competitiveness, businesses that are unable to access high-quality financial services and attract bankable investments are some of the issues that require innovative, sustainable and inclusive remedies.

  •  Macro-level support for policy initiatives, public-private dialogue and regulatory reform to create a favourable operating environment for the private sector;
  •  Meso-level support, to address market failures, enhance value chains and increase competitiveness; and
  • Micro-level support, working directly with businesses.

Examples of areas of support include:

  • Promoting and strengthening inclusive public-private dialogue, private sector engagement and social dialogue;
  • Strengthening the capacity of regional bodies and national administrations to design and implement legal, regulatory, administrative and institutional reforms;
  • Contributing to market system development activities, analysing national/regional value chains and supporting their development;
  • Strengthening the capacity and productivity of MSMEs;
  • Promoting women and young innovative entrepreneurship;
  • Identifying skills and sectors for high quality job generation;
  • Informing strategies to support informal and formal firms in their growth process by supporting increased access to finance;
  • Promoting participation in local, national, regional and global markets;
  • Increasing use of digital resources. All of these activities can contribute towards the ultimate goal of creating decent jobs.

Adam Smith Europe (ASE), part of the Adam Smith International group of companies, a world leader in business enabling environment and investment climate reform services. ASE brings expertise in the market systems development approach used by bilateral donors such as FCDO (ex-DFID) and SDC.

Imani Development, a specialised provider of trade and private sector development services in Eastern and Southern Africa, with several offices in the region.

International Economics Consulting, a specialised provider of trade advisory and economic development services in the Indian Ocean region and across Eastern and Southern Africa, as well as Asia and the Pacific.

Landell Mills is one of the world’s leading international development consulting firms. We have been in business for 40 years and are active in all continents. Our mission is to assist our clients to participate actively in the global economy whilst protecting their fragile environments and vulnerable communities in the process. We work with private and public sector clients on assignments lasting from a few days to several years. Our work is usually financed by international development agencies.