DCG’s Executive Director for Project Financing, Loyiso Jiya
* South African banks are well positioned to drive growth across the continent — but must adopt more innovative, risk-sharing, and partnership-based approaches to fully leverage Africa’s emerging markets
* Africa’s economies are entering a new growth phase underpinned by infrastructure expansion, green industrialisation, digital transformation, and the implementation of the AfCFTA—DCG Executive Director, Loyiso Jiya
By Duncan Mlanjira
The Don Consultancy Group (DCG) has called on South Africa’s financial institutions to play a more proactive and strategic role in Africa’s economic transformation.
In a press statement from Johannesburg on the regional investment prospects, DCG Executive Director for Project Financing, Loyiso Jiya said South African banks are well positioned to drive growth across the continent — “but must adopt more innovative, risk-sharing, and partnership-based approaches to fully leverage Africa’s emerging markets”.
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Jiya noted that Africa’s economies are entering a new growth phase underpinned by infrastructure expansion, green industrialisation, digital transformation, and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“These developments present unprecedented opportunities for South African banks to finance large-scale projects, support trade finance, and build regional financial integration,” he says. “South Africa’s banking sector remains among the most sophisticated and well-capitalised on the continent.
“However, to unlock Africa’s full potential, our banks must look beyond traditional markets and actively participate in project financing, infrastructure development, and cross-border investment platforms that are shaping the continent’s future,” says Jiya.
The consultancy firm, DCG, provides a range of services including economic analysis, strategy, and public sector financial management for South Africa, Malawi and the whole of SADC Region in various fields, including economic analysis, strategy, and public sector financial management.
Thus Jiya emphases that the most promising opportunities lie in energy infrastructure, agro-industrial value chains, transport and logistics corridors, and digital infrastructure.
Yet, he warns that banks must evolve from risk-averse, short-term lending models toward longer-term developmental financing aligned with regional growth priorities.
“Africa’s financing needs to exceed what public resources can deliver,” Jiya explains. “This is where South African financial institutions can become continental leaders — by mobilizing blended finance, co-investments, and public-private partnerships that support sustainable, inclusive development.”
He further highlights that collaboration between banks, development finance institutions (DFIs), and private investors is critical to mitigating risk and scaling up project financing across borders.
Jiya further suggests that South African banks should strengthen their presence in regional markets, develop local partnerships, and leverage digital platforms to improve financial accessibility and inclusion.
“To compete effectively in Africa’s new economic landscape, banks must think regionally, finance responsibly, and innovate boldly. The key is not just lending — but leading — in Africa’s development agenda.”
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The Don Consultancy Group thus recommends that South African banks should:
1. Align lending strategies with Africa’s infrastructure and industrialisation priorities under the AfCFTA;
2. Develop blended finance instruments in partnership with DFIs to de-risk projects;
3. Invest in regional expansion and localized project assessment teams;
4. Support digital transformation and green finance initiatives for sustainable growth; and
5. Strengthen trade finance facilities to enable African SMEs to participate in intra-African trade.
“South African banks have both the experience and capital depth to become Africa’s financial champions. The time has come to shift from passive presence to active participation in Africa’s growth story,” concludes Jiya.
The DCG, which includes Chief Economist, Chifipa Mhango as director of economic research & strategy, frequently offers its expertise on the economic situations in both countries — offering solutions in areas like corporate finance, tax strategy, risk management, and business strategy.
Chifipa Mhango
Chief Economist Mhango has offered various analyses in support of government of Malawi economic recovery, including proposing a performance management system for the Malawi Congress Party MCP-led administration since 2020.
Some of their areas of its expertise include:
* Economic research and strategy — economic analysis, policy formulation, and implementation;
* Water supply and sanitation — planning, designing, and managing water systems, sewage collection, and solid waste management;
* Engineering consultancy — structural engineering, transport planning, and infrastructure development; and
* Environmental management — environmental impact assessments, sustainability, and conservation, among others.
The call on South Africa’s financial institutions to play a more proactive and strategic role in Africa’s economic transformation, is being practiced by Standard Bank Malawi Plc, a franchise of South Africa — under the Growth Conversations.
Launched in July 2024, the Growth Conversations is interactive platform, which draws business captains and key policy to discuss Malawi’s economic future as well as explore innovative solutions and to emphasise the power of collaboration.
Standard Bank Malawi is one of the country’s key players in the financial service sector and at the launch of the Growth Conversations in Lilongwe, Chief Executive Phillip Madinga said navigating today’s global challenges requires committed and purpose-driven leadership and foresight.
Madinga had highlighted that Growth Conversations, whose inaugural theme was; ‘Towards Economic Recovery and Growth-Embracing Sustainability’, “is a new dialogue platform created to provide a wider platform for discourse, sharing ideas and insights that speak into Malawi’s economic growth”.
Through the forum, Standard Bank is in line with contributing to the realisation of the MW2063 national vision and present as a guest of honour, was former Director General and founding member of the National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr Thomas Munthali, who applauded the initiative and urged all players in the sector to consider expanding areas of doing business if they too, are to grow.
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