Diaspora capital could transform Africa’s fintech sector if trust barriers are removed, says Hazvi Chimbetete
Africa could unlock billions of dollars in long-term investment for women-led fintech businesses if governments and private institutions build stronger systems of trust, governance and investment infrastructure for the diaspora, financial services professional has said.
Speaking during a women in technology panel at the in Accra, Ms Chimbetete Financial Services
Professional & Career Coach, Kura For Young People CIC argued that African diaspora remittances remain heavily consumption-driven because investment pathways are poorly structured.
“There isn’t any infrastructure for investment opportunities for the diaspora,” she said.
According to her, although Africans abroad continue to send billions of dollars home annually for healthcare, education and family support, many are increasingly seeking structured investment opportunities capable of generating long-term economic impact.
“We really want to start investing back home. This is where we were born,” she said.
Ms Chimbetete, who has lived in the diaspora for 25 years, noted that conversations around governance, trust and de-risking dominated discussions throughout the summit, underscoring the importance of institutional credibility in attracting diaspora investment.
“My de-risking is going to be very particular,” she explained, noting that diaspora investors often require stronger safeguards and clearer investment frameworks than local investors.
She criticised the limited visibility given to African women succeeding in fintech and business leadership, arguing that negative narratives about Africa continue to overshadow innovation success stories.
“We don’t make enough noise about success stories. We just hear the negativity of what Africa is doing,” she said.
Ms Chimbetete proposed the creation of investment products specifically tailored for diaspora investors, including blended remittance-investment models capable of directing part of personal remittances into socially impactful investment funds.
“If I were to remit $1,000 and 20 percent of that goes into an investment fund that has an inclusive focus, why would I not do that?” she asked.
She further argued that even redirecting a small share of Africa’s annual remittance inflows into structured investments could significantly transform the continent’s development trajectory.
“If we were to take only 20 percent into investment, you can see where Africa would be as a global frontier,” she said.
Addressing the broader financing gap facing women-led businesses, Ms Chimbetete said Africa needs both stronger female-led venture capital funds and better positioning for women-owned firms to access global capital markets.
“It’s not that the talent is not there,” she said. “We don’t have the policies and structures in place to support them.”
