Most of Africa’s economy operates in the shadows—at least on paper. An estimated 85% of workers are active in the informal sector, conducting business beyond official systems, often through cash-based, trust-driven transactions.
For global investors, this lack of formal data has long signaled risk. But beneath that perception lies a different reality: a vast, resilient, and dynamic economic engine. The question is no longer whether Africa’s informal economy matters—but whether it can be transformed into a viable investment frontier.
