Investment adviser Appian and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have announced a $1 billion partnership to expand investments in significant mineral and mining-related projects across emerging markets. The initiative begins with IFC’s $100 million commitment to invest across the energy transition metals value chain through equity, credit, and royalty structures. The collaboration builds on a 10-year relationship between Appian and IFC, which has previously supported rare earth and gold projects in Africa.
Countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania are expected to benefit from these partnerships. The DRC aims to unlock an estimated $24 trillion in untapped mineral resources, and Zambia aims to produce 3 million tonnes of copper by 2031. Malawi and Tanzania are exploring the potential of graphite and rare earths, which are critical to global supply chains for batteries and renewable energy technologies.
Appia’s partnership with IFC is part of a broader wave of new financing initiatives across Africa aimed at boosting production and local beneficiation of critical minerals. In October 2025, the Public Investment Corporation launched a R1.35 billion fund to support early stage mining ventures in South Africa and across the continent. Half of this funding will go to South Africa, with the remainder targeted to high-potential markets such as Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Malawi and Madagascar.
Similarly, African Finance Corporation (AFC) has expanded its mining investment capacity through partnerships with global financial institutions. In 2025, AFC signed a $100 million 10-year term loan with FinDev Canada, a $1.5 billion syndicated loan with investors in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe, and a $255 million sustainability loan backed by UAE investors. These deals show that African financial institutions are increasingly leveraging international capital to de-risk mining projects and attract long-term investors.
Investment in targeted projects is also accelerating regional mineral trade. The African Development Bank, the Southern African Development Bank and AFC are jointly funding the Lobito Corridor, a regional network linking the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola and Zambia to global markets. This infrastructure will not only improve logistics but also strengthen Africa’s competitiveness as a supplier of critical minerals in the global market.
Taken together, these initiatives reflect a strategic shift. African markets are increasingly offering structured, low-risk opportunities to global investors, while international players are actively seeking secure supply chains for energy transition metals. Through the concerted efforts of domestic and international financial institutions, the continent is poised to strengthen its role in the global mining and energy transition ecosystem and usher in a new era of multi-billion investment.
