A United States initiative to improve trade and investment with Africa has struggled to find its footing after an anemic start. But with its mission in the political spotlight, Prosper Africa is hiring staff, expanding outreach to businesses, and spreading the word about what it has to offer.
The initiative, which still isn’t widely known, aims to better coordinate 17 U.S. government departments to make it easier for American companies and investors to do business deals on the continent. Prosper Africa has helped close 800 deals worth more than $18 billion since 2021 in places like Uganda, Ghana, and Nigeria.
But some African and investment experts are skeptical about the initiative and say that confusion about its mission, a lack of funding, and sometimes a wrong focus have constrained its success.