Old Mutual Group Chief Executive Officer, Arthur Oginga, has been appointed to serve on the Africa Natural Capital Alliance (ANCA) Governing Council, joining a select group of continental leaders driving the agenda for nature-positive investment and sustainable growth across Africa.
The appointment positions Mr. Oginga at the centre of a growing movement to integrate Africa’s natural wealth — including its forests, wetlands, and biodiversity — into financial and economic decision-making. It also reinforces Old Mutual’s role as one of Africa’s leading institutions advancing climate-smart finance and sustainable development.
“I am honoured to join the ANCA Governing Council at such a pivotal time for Africa,” said Mr. Oginga. “By aligning capital flows with nature-positive outcomes, we can help restore ecosystems, strengthen climate resilience, and unlock sustainable livelihoods for millions across the continent. I look forward to working with my fellow Council members to translate our ambitions into measurable impact.”
Championing Nature-Positive Finance
The Africa Natural Capital Alliance (ANCA) was established in 2022 by FSD Africa to ensure an African voice on the global nature agenda. Its mission is to mobilise capital toward investments that restore and protect the continent’s ecosystems while supporting inclusive economic growth.
The inaugural ANCA Governing Council brings together leaders from finance, policy, and conservation who share a vision for building an economy that values nature as a critical asset. Among the members are Nedbank CEO Jason Quinn, Equity Bank Group CEO Dr. James Mwangi, CIFOR-ICRAF CEO Dr. Eliane Ubalijoro, IPBES Chairman Dr. David Obura, and African Wildlife Foundation CEO Kaddu Sebunya.
Their inclusion marks a significant step for ANCA, which now counts over 130 institutional members managing more than GBP 1 trillion in collective assets, as it works to embed nature-related risk and opportunity assessment into Africa’s financial sector.
Old Mutual’s Sustainability Commitment
Under Mr. Oginga’s leadership, Old Mutual has placed sustainability and climate resilience at the core of its strategic agenda. The Group has invested heavily in green finance, sustainable insurance solutions, and climate-aligned investment products.
Old Mutual’s participation in ANCA aligns with its broader ambition to integrate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles across its operations, helping clients and investors transition to a low-carbon, inclusive future.
According to Mr. Oginga, Old Mutual is expanding its investment footprint in climate-resilient projects, strategic underwriting, and risk pricing to address the twin challenges of environmental degradation and economic inequality.
“Our participation in initiatives such as ANCA reflects our belief that sustainable finance is not a niche—it is the foundation for Africa’s long-term prosperity,” he added.
Advancing the Natural Capital Agenda
ANCA’s work comes at a time when Africa’s natural capital faces growing pressures from deforestation, land degradation, and biodiversity loss. Yet the continent’s natural resources — estimated to account for 30% of the world’s mineral reserves, 8% of global biodiversity, and 20% of global forest area — remain underleveraged in economic planning and investment.
By mobilising the financial sector, ANCA aims to unlock this potential through policies and projects that value and protect natural assets. The alliance advocates for integrating natural capital accounting into financial reporting, building capacity for green investments, and promoting climate resilience through private and public partnerships.
Building a Coalition for Impact
The appointment of the new Governing Council underscores ANCA’s evolution from a thought leadership platform into an implementation-driven coalition. Its leaders are tasked with steering the alliance’s priorities, which include expanding access to green finance, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and mobilising private sector capital for nature-positive projects.
The Council will be officially unveiled at the upcoming ANCA Summit 2025, to be held from 7–9 October, bringing together policymakers, financiers, and conservation experts to chart the next phase of Africa’s nature-based economy.
FSD Africa, ANCA’s founding partner, noted that empowering African voices in global sustainability discussions is critical to ensuring that the continent’s unique environmental and developmental realities are reflected in international frameworks and financing models.
A Shared Vision for Africa’s Sustainable Future
Mr. Oginga’s appointment signals both recognition and responsibility — recognition of Old Mutual’s leadership in sustainable finance, and responsibility to help shape the future of nature-based economies on the continent.
Through initiatives like ANCA, Africa is steadily positioning itself not only as a beneficiary of global climate finance, but as a leader in designing locally relevant, high-impact sustainability solutions.
