Background information

Africa's prospects: Opportunity knocks

With world markets in turmoil, an unexpected and overlooked continent may benefit from its very isolation. learn more..

Africa pioneers in private equity initiative

Two pioneers of fund management in Africa have gathered investors from the US and the Gulf to back the first private equity venture focusing on African countries emerging from conflict. learn more..

World bank considers Africa 'super-fund'

Sovereign wealth funds could provide capital for an African super-fund to channel investment to the continent's emerging markets, under a plan being considered by the World Bank's private-sector lending arm. learn more..

Buy-out fund reflects take-off in Africa

The rapid growth of private equity in Africa will be underlined on Tuesday as Kingdom Zephyr announces it has raised $325m for its latest pan-African buy-out fund with backing from Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the Saudi billionaire. learn more..

Putting welfare before profitability

Italy is the home of small companies, so it is only natural that some of the best work on small- and medium-sized enterprises in Europe is being done on the peninsula. learn more..

What Microloans Miss

Making loans and fighting poverty are normally two of the least glamorous pursuits around, but put the two together and you have an economic innovation that has become not just popular but downright chic. learn more..

Advance of sub-Saharan Africa's prosperity

The focus on high-profile conflicts in Africa, such as the ongoing election in Zimbabwe and recent events in Kenya, misses many positive developments in the continent. learn more..

GroFin sets sights on continent's 'missing middle' with $150m fund

GroFin, an African investment group, is set to launch a $150m fund that aims to plug a financing gap aimed at entrepreneurs who have been bypassed by a surge in investment on the continent. learn more..

Investors boost the 'missing middle'

The idea of helping medium-sized businesses in the developing world is attracting wealthy backers, writes Kathryn Tully. learn more..