National & Sub-National Infrastructure Financing

Local Intelligence.
Global Capital.

De-risking Sub-Saharan African infrastructure for foreign corporations, export credit agencies and sub-national governments through deep institutional networks.

$4.2B+
Facilitated
33+
Years Experience
4
Core Markets
100%
Compliance Rate
Active Coverage Markets

Four Markets.
Deep Presence.

AEM operates with institutional-grade intelligence across Sub-Saharan Africa's most active infrastructure investment corridors.

🇳🇬
Nigeria
West Africa Anchor
Largest SSA economy. Most active World Bank & AfDB pipeline. AEM's primary operations hub in Abuja & Lagos.
Live Projects
🇿🇲
Zambia
Southern Africa
Active World Bank portfolio. Mining-linked infrastructure demand. Strong sovereign guarantee framework for EDC/ECA financing.
Live Projects
🇬🇭
Ghana
West Africa
Stable political environment. Active UKEF & US Ex-Im programs. Strong entry point for European and North American EPCs.
Live Projects
🇹🇿
Tanzania
East Africa
Fastest-growing SSA infrastructure pipeline. AfDB particularly active. Strategic gateway for East African corridor investment.
Live Projects
Free Intelligence

We Monitor
So You Don't

Most foreign companies discover World Bank SSA opportunities at procurement stage — when it's already too late to position effectively. AEM alerts you at concept stage, months or years before tenders open.

Pipeline monitoring from Concept Note stage
World Bank, AfDB, IFC, EDC, UKEF — all public portals, monitored automatically, weekly.
Sovereign risk & economic indicators
Fitch, S&P, Moody's ratings, GDP growth, inflation, FDI trends — all in one dashboard.
Weekly personalised alerts — free, always
Matched to your sector and geography. You only pay when AEM works for you.
AEM PIPELINE MONITOR
Live Feed
Lagos Smart Grid Expansion Phase II
Nigeria · Energy · AfDB
$240M
Open Tender
Lusaka Water Treatment Upgrade
Zambia · Water & Sanitation · World Bank
$85M
Preparation
Accra–Tema Highway Corridor
Ghana · Transport · World Bank
$180M
Concept Stage
Dar es Salaam Port Digitalization
Tanzania · Transport · World Bank
$110M
Open Tender
Kano State Rural Road Rehabilitation
Nigeria · Transport · World Bank
$120M
Concept Stage
What We Do

You Pay Only
When We Work.

Everything on the dashboard is free. These are the services you engage AEM for — each priced on the project.

Market Entry Guidance
Strategic roadmap for entering a specific SSA market — regulations, political landscape, institutional relationships and risk positioning.
  • Country risk & regulatory briefing
  • Institutional stakeholder mapping
  • Sector-specific entry strategy
Fixed fee per engagement
Local Partner Matching
Identify, vet and introduce credible local JV partners aligned to your project's technical, compliance and execution requirements.
  • Track record verification
  • Technical capacity assessment
  • Formal JV introduction
Fixed introduction fee per match
Government & PIU Access
Arrange direct meetings with ministry officials, state governments, and World Bank Project Implementation Unit teams.
  • Ministry & PIU meeting facilitation
  • Sub-national government access
  • Stakeholder relationship management
Fixed fee per facilitated meeting
Procurement Documentation
Prepare, review and manage bid documents to IDA/IBRD compliance standards — ESF alignment, technical proposals, STEP portal submissions.
  • PAD compliance review
  • ESF & safeguards alignment
  • STEP portal monitoring & submission
Project-based fee
Local Market Representation
Boots on the ground — site visits, stakeholder management, local activity oversight and ongoing in-country representation during project execution.
  • Site visit & due diligence
  • Local stakeholder management
  • Ongoing in-country oversight
Monthly retainer
Funding Facilitation
Structure EDC, UKEF, Ex-Im or Afreximbank buyer financing for SSA government projects. AEM identifies the uptaker, structures the sovereign guarantee and manages the ECA relationship.
  • Sovereign guarantee structuring
  • ECA application management
  • Financial close & commission
Success fee at financial close
Paid Intelligence Product
The AEM Project
Dossier.

The free dashboard tells you a project exists. The Dossier tells you whether you can win it — and exactly how to approach it. Delivered within 48 hours of purchase.

$500
— $1,500 per project

Priced by project complexity and deal value

  • AEM's candid pursue / monitor / pass recommendation
  • PIU contact map — who the real decision-makers are
  • Credible local partner landscape for this project type
  • Procurement timeline forecast & compliance complexity
AEM-DOS-2026-0047
Confidential
Project
Lusaka Water Treatment Upgrade
Funder
World Bank IDA
Est. Value
USD 85 Million
Stage
Project Preparation
EOI Est. Opening
Q3 2026
PIU Contact
██████ ███████
Dossier clients only
AEM Recommendation
PURSUE ✓
Compliance Complexity
Moderate — manageable with AEM support
ECA Financing

Funding Facilitation.
Without the Queue.

AEM identifies SSA state governments with project needs, matches them with foreign contractors, and structures the sovereign-guaranteed ECA financing — bypassing the 2–3 year World Bank cycle where viable.

Export Development Canada
Buyer financing for SSA governments purchasing Canadian goods and services. Up to $25M through financial partner, direct loans above. Sovereign guarantee required.
Canada
UK Export Finance
Buyer credit guarantees for UK companies exporting to SSA. Supports infrastructure, energy and transport projects with long-term government buyer financing.
United Kingdom
US Export-Import Bank
Sub-Saharan Africa mandate. Guarantees covering 100% of financed amount. Supports sovereign and sub-sovereign borrowers. Up to 18-year repayment on qualifying projects.
United States
For Governments & Agencies

Does Your State or Agency Have a Project That Needs Funding?

AEM works with SSA governments to structure ECA financing — EDC, UKEF and US Ex-Im. We match your project to the right foreign contractor, arrange the sovereign guarantee and manage the process to financial close.

Begin the Conversation

Ready When You Are.

All discussions are confidential. We assess every opportunity individually and only engage where AEM adds genuine value.

AEM Intelligence Hub

Live Project Pipeline

Nigeria · Zambia · Ghana · Tanzania — Updated weekly from World Bank, AfDB and IFI sources

WB Project Cycle: ● Concept Note ● Preparation ● Appraisal ● Board Approval ● Open Tender ● Implementation AEM alerts clients from stage 1 — before competitors know the project exists
Intelligence-Led Advisory Services

What AEM
Does For You.

The dashboard and pipeline alerts are always free. These services are where AEM earns — and you only engage when there is a specific project to pursue.

Market Entry Guidance
A strategic roadmap for entering Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana or Tanzania as an infrastructure investor or contractor. We cover regulations, institutional relationships, political risk and sector-specific positioning — drawing on 33+ years of on-the-ground experience.
  • Country regulatory & risk briefing
  • Institutional stakeholder map
  • Sector entry strategy document
  • Recommended local relationship priorities
Local Partner Matching
A credible local JV partner is often the difference between a compliant bid and a disqualified one. AEM identifies, vets and formally introduces construction and engineering firms with proven execution track records across our four markets.
  • Longlist of credible local firms
  • Track record & capacity verification
  • Compliance standing check
  • Formal introduction and first meeting
Government & PIU Access
Direct meetings with the people who matter. AEM facilitates introductions to ministry officials, sub-national government decision-makers and World Bank Project Implementation Unit teams — the relationships most foreign firms spend years trying to build.
  • Ministry-level meeting facilitation
  • State & sub-national government access
  • World Bank PIU team introductions
  • Follow-up stakeholder management
Procurement Documentation
World Bank and AfDB procurement demands precise, compliant documentation. AEM prepares and reviews technical proposals, EOI submissions and bid documents — ensuring alignment with IDA/IBRD standards, ESF requirements and the project's PAD.
  • PAD compliance review & gap analysis
  • ESF & environmental safeguards alignment
  • STEP portal registration & monitoring
  • Technical proposal preparation support
Local Market Representation
For foreign companies that need a permanent, trusted presence in-country without establishing a local entity. AEM acts as your local desk — attending meetings, managing stakeholder relationships and reporting back on project progress.
  • In-country site visits and due diligence
  • Ongoing stakeholder management
  • Local activity oversight & reporting
  • Monthly performance briefings
Funding Facilitation
AEM identifies SSA state governments with viable infrastructure projects, assesses ECA financing suitability, and structures the deal — including the sovereign guarantee from the host country national government. Only pursued when the rates and risk profile are right.
  • EDC, UKEF and US Ex-Im structuring
  • Sovereign guarantee facilitation
  • SSA government project origination
  • Full ECA application management
Independent Advisory

Decades of Trust.
Unmatched Intelligence.

Access Emerging Markets is an independent institutional advisory firm specialising in Sub-Saharan African infrastructure deal facilitation. We are not a contractor. We are not an investor. We are the intelligence desk that makes both succeed.

Our Mission
To close the intelligence gap between global capital and Sub-Saharan African infrastructure. We believe the continent's infrastructure crisis is not a funding problem — it's a navigation problem. AEM solves the navigation.
Our Approach
Free intelligence builds relationships. Paid services build revenue. We invest in your awareness of opportunities before asking for anything in return. When you need us to work, we work — on a project basis, always aligned to your outcome.
Our Coverage
We operate with institutional-grade presence across four core markets: Nigeria (West Africa anchor), Zambia (Southern Africa), Ghana (West Africa) and Tanzania (East Africa). These represent the continent's three most active infrastructure investment corridors.
Our Credentials
33+ years of executive experience across marketing, sales and business development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Deep institutional relationships with World Bank Project Implementation Units, AfDB teams, national ministries and sub-national governments across 12+ SSA countries.
Fully Independent. No Conflict of Interest.
AEM does not execute infrastructure projects. We do not compete for the same contracts as our clients. We do not take equity stakes in the deals we facilitate. Our only interest is your bid compliance, local partner quality and successful project close — because that is when our commission is earned. This independence is our most valuable asset.
Confidential Consultation

Begin the
Discussion.

For foreign companies, ECAs and investors looking to pursue infrastructure opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa. All discussions are strictly confidential.

🏛
Are you a government agency or state ministry?
This form is for foreign companies. Governments should use the Funding Portal instead.
Tell us about your enquiry

Fill in the short form below. We will review it and send you a Google Meet link within one business day.

About You
Your Project or Enquiry

We respond within one business day with a Google Meet link. No cost, no obligation.

✓ Enquiry received

Thank you. We have received your brief and will send you a Google Meet link within one business day.

All discussions are confidential. AEM only engages where we can add genuine value.

What to Expect
01
We review your brief within one business day
02
You receive a Google Meet link with a proposed time
03
30–60 minute discovery call — no obligation, no cost
04
AEM proposes specific engagement terms if there is a fit
05
All discussions governed by strict confidentiality
Prefer to Email Directly?
contact@accessemergingmarkets.com
+234 905 551 1088
Abuja, Nigeria · Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Or Book Directly

Use our Google Calendar to pick a time that works for you. A Google Meet link is generated automatically.

📅 Open Booking Calendar

Google Meet link generated automatically on booking

For SSA Governments & Agencies

Does Your Project
Need Funding?

AEM connects Sub-Saharan African state governments, municipalities and federal agencies with Export Credit Agency financing — structured around a sovereign guarantee from your national government. If your project has a clear scope and your country qualifies, AEM can structure the deal.

$25M+
Per project via ECA partners
3 ECAs
EDC · UKEF · US Ex-Im
4
SSA markets covered
85%
Max ECA contract cover
How It Works

ECA Financing —
The Simple Version.

Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) are government-backed finance institutions that fund foreign governments to purchase goods and services from companies in their home country. No World Bank queue. No 3-year approval cycle.

How a typical ECA-funded infrastructure deal flows
01
Your Agency
Identifies project need & registers with AEM
→
02
AEM Structures
Assesses ECA suitability, matches foreign contractor, prepares sovereign guarantee request
→
03
National Govt
Provides sovereign guarantee backing sub-national entity's repayment
04
ECA Approves
EDC, UKEF or Ex-Im reviews deal — country risk, ESG, project viability
05
Loan Disbursed
Your agency receives funding. Contractor gets paid upfront. Project starts.
06
Repayment
Structured over 7–18 years. Your government repays the ECA directly.

Available ECA Partners

EDC
Export Development Canada
Loan Size Up to $25M (partner)
$25M+ direct
Contract Cover Up to 85%
Repayment Medium to long-term
Requirement Canadian goods/services
Guarantee Sovereign required
ESG Required Yes — assessed by EDC
Best suited for: infrastructure, energy, transport, water projects procuring Canadian equipment, engineering or construction services.
EDC Official Programme
UKEF
UK Export Finance
Loan Size No minimum — large scale preferred
Contract Cover Up to 85%
Repayment Up to 18 years (energy)
Requirement UK goods/services content
Guarantee Sovereign required
ESG Required Yes — OECD standards
Best suited for: energy (especially renewables), transport, digital infrastructure. Strong SSA track record including Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya.
UKEF Official Site
US Ex-Im
Export-Import Bank of the United States
Loan Size No upper limit
Guarantee Cover 100% of financed amount
Repayment Up to 18 years (water/power)
Requirement US goods/services content
Borrower Types Sovereign + sub-sovereign
SSA Mandate Dedicated Africa program
Best suited for: power generation, water, agriculture, digital infrastructure. Has an active Sub-Saharan Africa mandate with $13.5B deployed since 2010.
Ex-Im Africa Programme

Is Your Project Eligible?

Strong candidates
✓Project value above $10M USD
✓Clear project scope — roads, water, energy, ports, housing infrastructure
✓National government willing to provide sovereign guarantee
✓State, municipal or federal agency as borrower
✓Country not under active sanctions (Russia, North Korea, Syria excluded)
✓Open to engaging a foreign contractor from Canada, UK or USA
Not suitable for ECA funding
✗Projects under $5M — too small for ECA transaction costs
✗Purely domestic procurement with no foreign component
✗Countries with insufficient sovereign guarantee capacity
✗Projects already locked to a specific contractor
✗ESG risk too high — environmental or social red flags
Not sure? Submit your project anyway. AEM will assess eligibility and advise on the best financing route — including World Bank or AfDB alternatives if ECA doesn't fit.

What AEM Does For Your Agency

Navigating ECA financing is complex. AEM manages the entire process on your behalf — from initial assessment to financial close.

Assessment
We review your project for ECA eligibility — scope, value, guarantee capacity, ESG profile — and recommend the right ECA partner.
Contractor Matching
We identify and introduce a credible foreign contractor from the relevant ECA country — Canadian for EDC, British for UKEF, American for Ex-Im.
Sovereign Guarantee
We advise your national government on structuring and issuing the sovereign guarantee — the critical step that unlocks the ECA loan.
ECA Submission
We prepare and manage the complete ECA application package — project documentation, financial information, ESG assessment, contract structure.
Local Oversight
AEM provides boots-on-ground oversight throughout execution — site visits, stakeholder management, progress reporting to the ECA and your agency.
AEM's Fee
AEM earns a success fee at financial close — a percentage of the funded amount. No upfront cost to your agency for the initial assessment and matching.
Register Your Project

Submit Your Project
for AEM Assessment.

Complete the form below. AEM will review your project within 3 business days and respond with an eligibility assessment and recommended next steps. There is no cost for the initial assessment.

Agency / Organisation Details
Project Details
What happens next: AEM reviews your submission within 3 business days. We assess ECA eligibility, identify potential contractor matches and advise on the best financing route. If there is a fit, we schedule a Google Meet to discuss in detail. No cost for the assessment.