The 2025 IRFA Annual Conference in August was a resounding success. Under the theme “Building Resilience: Leading Change for a Lasting and Positive Impact,” it brought together more than a thousand delegates from across Africa – trustees, regulators, fund managers, academics and practitioners – to reflect, exchange and chart a path forward in a period of intense change.
As we look back on that milestone gathering, it is timely to explore not only what was achieved, but how IRFA intends to translate momentum into action across Africa, anchored in South Africa’s evolving retirement landscape.
A conference that cemented IRFA’s continental role
From the outset, the conference intended to deliver more than sessions. It was a platform for shared purpose fostering collaboration across borders and equipping stakeholders with tools for resilience in the face of shifting member expectations, technological disruption and regulatory transformation.
Programmes covered three core pillars:
- Investing for economic and social impact, with case studies from Ghana, South Africa and other jurisdictions showing how retirement capital can support infrastructure and community development.
- Operational resilience, focusing on risk, business continuity, member communication and adapting to regulatory change.
- Institutional collaboration and governance, emphasising shared learning between African jurisdictions, policy alignment and strengthened governance across fund boards.
Speakers also tackled the implementation of the two-pot retirement system – sharing early lessons, administrative challenges, member behaviour and investment implications.
IRFA’s strategic impact: From ideas to implementation
It is one thing to convene ideas; it is another to convert them into sustained impact. IRFA’s contribution rests on several interlocking strands:
1. Policy advocacy and regulatory collaboration
IRFA continues to represent industry interests to regulators, governments and oversight bodies – in South Africa and increasingly across Africa. Through submissions, consultations and alignment dialogues, IRFA helps ensure that reforms are shaped by practice.
In South Africa, IRFA played a pivotal role in preparing the industry for the two-pot system, liaising with regulators and helping members anticipate the transition.
2. Strengthening governance and trustee capability
If confidence is to endure, boards and trustees must be equipped to act decisively and transparently. IRFA’s continuous education programmes reinforce good practice – promoting ethical decision making, member communication and risk oversight.
The IRFA aims to deepen southern-to-northern peer mentorship: seasoned South African trustees supporting counterparts in other African nations, and vice versa, in governance challenges unique to local contexts.
3. Facilitating cross-jurisdiction learning and innovation
The 2025 conference programme intentionally included comparative case studies – from Ghana’s infrastructure fund to UK auto-enrolment models – so that fund managers and trustees could reflect on what might translate locally.
Post-conference, the work continues: IRFA will host regional forums and webinars to allow deeper dives in country groups, enabling adaptation of ideas rather than mere adoption.
4. Recognising excellence and spreading role models
Through IRFA’s Best Practices Awards, excellence is showcased and encouraged.
South Africa as both anchor and launchpad
South Africa remains a core laboratory for IRFA’s ambitions. The country’s regulatory evolution, the two-pot system’s rollout and strong institutional infrastructure provide fertile ground for experimentation and learning. IRFA is committed to monitoring outcomes in this space and ensuring lessons are documented and adapted for others.
Moreover, with its advanced capital markets and innovative capacity, South Africa can incubate ESG, infrastructure and blended finance applications that, with adaptation, can scale regionally. IRFA will help broker those pipelines by connecting funds, governments and project sponsors across borders.
Vision: IRFA’s next frontier of impact
As we build on the success of the 2025 conference, IRFA’s ambition must deepen. Our focus will sharpen on:
Impact metrics beyond returns:
- Introducing standardised metrics to measure social, environmental and inclusion outcomes in retirement funds.
- Micropensions and informal sector inclusion: Working with national authorities, fintechs and community institutions to scale retirement access in gig economies and informal sectors.
- Green and just transition investing: Helping funds channel capital toward climate resilience, sustainable infrastructure and just energy projects.
- Pan-African institutional partnerships: Strengthening cooperation with pension associations in East, West, Central Africa – and with multilateral institutions.
- Leadership development across Africa: Fostering a pipeline of diverse trustees and industry leaders who can lead with purpose in their home jurisdictions.
From conference to collective momentum
The 2025 conference was a catalyst. The ideas and connections generated must now be translated into sustained programs across national boundaries.
IRFA stands ready to lead and to partner. But real impact will depend on action by funds, regulators, trustees and members in every country. Let’s commit to turning the promise of resilience into tangible progress – so that the retirement systems of Africa not only endure, but uplift.