There will be a renewed focus on mobilising fresh investments and partnerships to support sustainable development across Africa during the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS).

The organisers of this year’s edition are eyeing agreements worth more than $500 million.

The projection was disclosed by the stakeholders who outlined plans for the summit scheduled to take place from July 22 to 24 at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos.

Convened by Sterling One Foundation in collaboration with the United Nations in Nigeria and other partners, the summit is expected to bring together more than 2,000 participants from over 50 countries, including government officials, development finance institutions, investors, entrepreneurs, philanthropists and civil society leaders.

Speaking on the event, Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation, Olapeju Ibekwe, said the summit had evolved into a platform for translating development conversations into practical outcomes.

According to her, ASIS has facilitated commitments and investments exceeding $1 billion since its inception, demonstrating the growing interest in African-led solutions to development challenges.

She said this year’s gathering would place greater emphasis on attracting catalytic capital and strengthening partnerships capable of delivering measurable impact in key sectors.

“The future of Africa will be defined by the quality of the sustainable partnerships we build today,” Ibekwe said.

She noted that the summit would provide opportunities for investors, policymakers and innovators to engage around solutions that promote inclusive growth.

With the theme, ‘Financing for Development: Building Resilience and Transforming Emerging Economies,’ the summit comes at a time when many African countries are seeking innovative financing models to address challenges linked to climate change, food security, healthcare, education and youth unemployment.

United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, described partnerships as a critical driver of development across the continent.

He said governments, development partners, the private sector and civil society must work together to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals and build resilient economies capable of withstanding future shocks.

For many development stakeholders, the significance of ASIS lies in its focus on implementation. Beyond policy discussions, the platform is increasingly being positioned as a marketplace for ideas, investments and partnerships aimed at solving real challenges facing communities across Africa.

Abubakar Suleiman, Board Member of Sterling One Foundation, said the value of the summit would ultimately be measured by the commitments and outcomes generated after participants leave the venue.

According to him, sustained collaboration remains essential to achieving long-term development goals and unlocking opportunities across the continent.

This year’s summit will spotlight investment opportunities in education, healthcare, climate resilience, food systems, women’s empowerment, youth development, the creative economy and sustainable finance.

Organisers say the objective is to connect capital with scalable solutions capable of creating jobs, improving livelihoods and strengthening economic resilience.

As preparations gather momentum ahead of the July event, expectations are growing that the summit will provide a platform for forging partnerships that support Africa’s ambition for inclusive and sustainable development.

Since its launch in 2022, ASIS has become one of the continent’s leading forums for advancing collaboration between governments, investors, development institutions and social innovators, with a focus on delivering practical solutions to Africa’s development priorities.