Manufacturing Africa (MA) is a UK government (FCDO) funded programme that aims to contribute to Africa’s economic transformation by attracting £1.2 billion of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into African manufacturing and create 90,000 jobs in the sector by 2026. As of July 2025, we have already helped companies close £2 billion of FDI investments and create 100,000+ jobs.

We focus our support on manufacturing businesses operating in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal and Tanzania, and have previously provided support to Uganda.

OUR
MISSION
STATEMENT

MA provides manufacturing companies and investors with fully funded transaction advisory services to fast-track investments, and it delivers technical assistance to help transform subsectors such as electric vehicles, pharmaceuticals, and novel foods or overcome challenges in the enabling environment.

An Unprecedented Opportunity

By 2050, Africa’s population is projected to double. To accommodate this expanding, young labour force, an estimated 18 million new jobs must be created each year. A competitive manufacturing sector is crucial for unlocking this potential and establishing Africa’s strategic role in the global economy.

Manufacturing Africa was established to confront this challenge directly, driving the sustainable and inclusive transformation that will define the continent’s future.

Years of Service

African Countries Presence

Consortium Partners

Team Members

OUR TEAM

Our work is driven by a diverse team of experienced professionals who are passionate about making a lasting impact in Africa. What sets us apart and enables us to achieve landmark success has been a blend of extensive expertise across the private, public, and development sectors. Our central and in-country specialists collaborate to turn opportunities into reality.

Central MA Team
Country Teams

Central MA Team

Thomas Pascoe

Team Leader

Thomas Pascoe works for McKinsey & Co leading the Manufacturing Africa programme. He is accountable to the FCDO for the programme’s strategic direction and delivery against its logframe targets, as well as leading the delivery team in its day-to-day activities.

He has been in this role since September 2024. Prior to joining McKinsey, Thomas was Director of Economic Growth and Infrastructure and Director of Major Projects and Operations at a two global consulting and engineering firms where he led a number of infrastructure and economic development projects in emerging markets across the Balkans and Africa.

In his earlier career Thomas was a chartered insurer underwriting political risk at a Lloyd’s of London syndicate as well as a finance journalist at a British broadsheet. He is a graduate of Oxford University and has lived in Africa for more than a decade. He is currently based in Nairobi.

David Meredith

Programme Director

Sohasini Sudtharalingam

Project Director

Kartik Jayaram

Technical Assistance Lead

Harald Poeltner

Transaction Facilitation Lead

Sandeep Khapre

Regional TF Advisor

Ed Burbidge

Transaction Facilitation Technical Lead

Faheem Chowdhury

Portfolio Lead

Faheem Chowdhury is a corporate finance and development advisor with 20 years of experience driving investments, strategy, public-private partnerships, and economic transformation across Africa and the UK.

He is responsible for leading transactions helping successfully close over 50 private deals with a total deal value exceeding $1 billion in Africa, catalyzing FDI and job creation across seven countries.

A graduate of the University of Bath and University of Surrey, he blends financial acumen with a deep commitment to inclusive growth and purpose-driven leadership

Emma Sauvanet

ESG Manager

Emma coordinates ESG mainstreaming activities on the Manufacturing Africa programme, working closely with technical Climate & Environment (C&E) and Gender, Economic, Social Inclusion (GESI) experts to support delivery of ESG activities across our deal portfolio.

Emma is an Associate Director at BDO in the UK, and has more than 10 years’ experience working on donor funded assignments.

Linda Onzere

Programme Manager

Kevin Maina

Impact and Results Lead

Kevin leads the impact and results function for the Manufacturing Africa programme, where he is responsible for tracking and reporting achievements against the programme’s results framework. An economist with over ten years of experience in monitoring, evaluation, and impact measurement, he has supported early-stage enterprises and established companies across Sub-Saharan Africa in sectors including agribusiness, renewable energy and climate adaptation technologies, and financial inclusion.

He has led monitoring and results measurement for programmes funded by FCDO, Mastercard Foundation, SIDA, and others, and worked with organisations such as KPMG Advisory Services, Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund, and Acumen East Africa. He is dedicated to using data-driven insights to demonstrate results, inform decision-making, and drive positive social and environmental outcomes.

Zoja Vizinger

Monitoring & Evaluation Analyst

Zoja is part of the Monitoring & Evaluation team for Manufacturing Africa, supporting in capturing and reporting on MA’s impact. She brings relevant experience from her previous role as M&E analyst on FCDO-funded programme in Kosovo, supporting fair and accountable public service recruitment.

Prior to working in international development sector, she worked as a research intern at University of Exeter and communications intern in an education charity. She holds a BA in History and International Relations from University of Exeter.

Linda Okondo

Communications Lead

Linda manages the communication function for the Manufacturing Africa programme.

A strategic public affairs expert with over 15 years of experience boosting brand visibility and engagement across Africa, Linda is adept at aligning communication with business goals through integrated media strategies.

She is dedicated to purposeful, business-oriented communication and has achieved success through roles with the Embassy of Japan in Kenya, Coca-Cola West Africa, and other international organisations.

Adrian Mill

Climate and Environment Lead

Winner of the 2024 ‘Environmental Professional of the Year’ award from the Society of the Environment, Adrian possesses 25 years of experience in the ESG and sustainability sector, managing compliance for internationally-significant projects across Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

Adrian is based in Dakar, Senegal and is Managing Director of ESS (Environmental and Social Sustainability), a leading implementation-focused ESG and sustainability advisory services firm servicing Africa and emerging markets with more than 50 staff across Africa and Central Asia.

Michelle Wanjiru

Climate & Environment Manager

Michelle leads the Climate & Environment workstream for Manufacturing Africa, embedding sustainability strategies across six countries and leveraging nearly a decade of experience to use ESG as a driver of investment, risk reduction, and long-term growth.

With a Master’s in Sustainable Development, she has designed over 25 ESG support packages aligned with global standards and delivered investor-facing work such as ESG due diligence for InfraCo Africa’s solar irrigation and e-mobility projects seeking $30M in capital. Her broader experience includes developing a Sustainability Report for the African Development Bank, managing Salesforce France’s CSR programme impacting 11,000 people in Kenya, and serving as a Board Advisor to Sisters in Climate, where she champions gender-responsive climate solutions and women’s leadership in sustainability.

Tom Fox-Chapman

Learning & Knowledge Management Lead

Tom leads the Learning agenda for Manufacturing Africa, this includes overseeing how impact is measured and evidence is used to inform real-time decision-making and future investment strategies.

Tom has over a decade of experience designing and implementing impact strategies for impact investors, donors, and businesses. He has successfully led complex, multi-million-dollar programs across sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on climate-smart solutions, results-based financing, and food systems.

Kunal Shikotra

Deals Portfolio Management

Deals Portfolio Management across the MA programme. Brings over 20 years of expertise in strategic financial advisory and corporate leadership working in the UK, Middle East and East Africa. His deep industry knowledge spans mergers & acquisitions, business valuation, due diligence, and complex fund-raising initiatives.

A trusted advisor to boards and executives, Kunal leverages his extensive experience in portfolio management and trust structuring to deliver tailored solutions that drive growth and mitigate risk.

Fadzayi Musanhu

Investor Relations Lead

Fadzayi leads our Investor Engagement Strategy and supports Manufacturing Africa transactions through to financial close. With over 20 years of experience in Africa-focused corporate finance, she has a strong track record of mobilizing both private and development capital across the continent. Fadzayi leverages her extensive relationships to create and advance investment opportunities that deliver value to both Investors and Beneficiaries