Transform Health Fund Surpasses $100 Million Target Final Close to Improve Access to Quality Healthcare in Africa

published on 10 October 2024
Multi-country Africa
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Proparco - THF (2)
AfricInvest and The Health Finance Coalition (HFC) announced the final close of the pan-African Transform Health Fund (THF), an innovative blended-finance fund that aims to bolster healthcare systems in Africa by scaling proven and innovative healthcare models in Africa.

Under the management of AfricInvest, a leading pan-African investment platform active across private equity, venture capital and private debt, in collaboration with the Health Finance Coalition, a group of leading global health donors, development financial institutions and technical partners aiming to scale blended finance solutions for the healthcare sector, the Transform Health Fund (THF) exceeded its initial target, raising $111 million, through investments from commercial, public and private philanthropic organisations.

In addition to Proparco, notable fund investors include Royal Philips, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Swedfund, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Merck & Co., Inc., known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, FSD Africa Investments, Grand Challenges Canada (with funding from Global Affairs Canada), the Global Health Investment Corporation (GHIC), Ceniarth, the family office of Diane Isenberg, UBS Optimus Foundation, Skoll Foundation, Chemonics International, Anesvad Foundation, Netri Foundation, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Impact is at the core of the THF’s investment strategy, by financing projects that improve access to quality healthcare. The successful closing allows THF to expand its investment into the transformation of locally led health supply chains, innovative care delivery, and digital solutions in Africa, providing debt and mezzanine financing to scale proven high-impact health enterprises serving vulnerable communities while offering risk-adjusted returns to investors.

The Transform Health Fund has already committed $20m in financing to:

  • Africa Healthcare Network (AHN), the largest dialysis chain across Sub-Saharan Africa, delivering high-quality, life-saving dialysis and preventative care treatment at affordable cost.
  • Lapaire Glasses, a network of more than 60 optical shops, providing affordable and accessible eye care products and services across six countries in West and East Africa.
  • Insta Products, a producer of ready-to-use therapeutic food for millions of malnourished children and mothers across sub-Saharan Africa, supplying its accredited products through international NGOs.

The Transform Health Fund, publicly highlighted in December 2022 at the U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington, D.C., was established to address Africa’s massive health financing and capacity gaps. While Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 14 percent of the global population and 20 percent of the global disease burden, just 1.6 percent of annual impact investments target the healthcare sector in Africa.

Financing companies in Africa’s health sector through innovative financing models such as the Transform Health Fund is critical to address Africa’s health financing and capacity gaps,” said Ziad Oueslati, Founding Partner, AfricInvest. “By teaming up with private sector leaders, the Transform Health Fund has become a proven model for scaling locally led healthcare solutions across the continent.”

The Transform Health Fund demonstrates that health enterprises serving the most vulnerable communities are in fact investible,” said Martin Edlund, CEO, Malaria No More and Executive Director of the Health Finance Coalition. “The context of static donor funding for health and unsustainable debt for African countries makes private investment in high-impact healthcare more important than ever.

Françoise Lombard, CEO of Proparco said: “Proparco is delighted to take part in the final close of the pan-African Transform Health Fund (THF) managed by AfricInvest. In a full alignment with Proparco’s strategy, this innovative blended-finance debt fund aiming to support small and medium companies in health will help to bolster healthcare systems in sub-Saharan Africa while reducing inequalities by improving financial and geographical accessibility to quality infrastructures and products.”