What changed
African pension institutions are pushing to turn reform plans into practical action to expand pension coverage. The Public Service Superannuation Fund’s next Pan-African Pensions Conference, scheduled for Mombasa next month, will focus on governance, technology and AI, long-term investment, cooperation across African markets and retirement outcomes.
The shift follows the inaugural 2025 conference, which drew 343 delegates from 11 countries and produced resolutions on governance, investment diversification, digitalisation and sustainability.
Why it matters
The sums involved are substantial. African pension funds hold an estimated US$455 billion in assets, but much of that money remains in traditional investments while pension coverage is still limited across many markets.
That creates a practical tension: pension institutions need to protect members’ savings, yet they also control one of the continent’s largest pools of long-term domestic capital. Better rules could help direct more of that capital toward long-term assets without turning retirement savings into a gamble.
PSSF chairman Hussein Dado said the priority is to create frameworks that deploy pension capital responsibly while supporting sustainable development. Chief executive Jonah Aiyabei said the Mombasa meeting would put more weight on implementation and measurable progress.
The important test will be whether the conference produces specific commitments, targets and accountable institutions. Without those, “implementation” remains a promise. With them, pension reform could begin moving from conference resolutions into the systems that determine who can retire with financial security.
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