Reflections on IRFA’s Participation at the Africa Pension Funds and Retirement Summit, Casablanca 2025
As the President of the Institute of Retirement Funds Africa (IRFA), I am proud to share our continued commitment to contributing meaningfully to the development of Africa’s retirement sector. This past May, I had the honour of representing IRFA at the 6th Annual Africa Pension Funds and Retirement Summit, held in Casablanca, Morocco, alongside our Vice President Amanda Khoza, who co-directed the programme.
The summit brought together pension and retirement professionals from across the continent to exchange insights, explore innovations, and forge stronger regional partnerships. It was a privilege to participate in a panel discussion focused on retirement fund governance—an area that remains foundational to delivering better retirement outcomes for all.
A vision rooted in collaboration
Our involvement in the summit was more than symbolic—it was a direct reflection of IRFA’s strategic vision to engage beyond South Africa’s borders and be a true African voice in retirement policy, governance, and education. Over the past few years, our Management Board has been clear in its desire to extend IRFA’s relevance across the continent, and the Casablanca summit provided an ideal platform to take that vision forward.
To support this ambition, IRFA has established a dedicated Africa Committee with the following objectives:
We believe that cooperation, not isolation, will shape the next era of retirement innovation in Africa.
Laying the foundations for long term change
What stood out to me most during the summit was the shared recognition among delegates of the urgent need to address key challenges: sustainability of pension systems, inclusion of informal workers, governance capacity, and cross-border consistency. The conversations we had were not only insightful – they were inspiring and action-oriented.
At IRFA, we are particularly focused on how retirement provision can contribute to broader socio-economic upliftment, including education, women’s empowerment, elder care, and poverty alleviation. Our Africa Committee has already begun work on forging partnerships that address these areas, and our participation in the Casablanca summit will help accelerate this momentum.
The road ahead
The work of retirement reform, advocacy and knowledge exchange does not end at national borders. As a leading industry body, IRFA has a responsibility to act as a conduit for good governance and progressive thinking across Africa.
I firmly believe that our engagement in continental initiatives such as this summit will help deliver better outcomes for millions of members and pensioners across Africa. It is an opportunity not just to share—but to learn, collaborate, and build a stronger, more inclusive future together.
Together, we can forge a retirement landscape that is more just, more stable, and more empowering for generations to come.
These initiatives are in addition to the ongoing work undertaken by the various sub-committees, staffed by subject matter experts and volunteers:
- The Legal and Technical Committee: Composed of experts in the retirement fund industry, this committee aligns with the IRFA Board’s objective of being the voice for all stakeholders and progressing the retirement fund sector. They engage in negotiations with regulators, comment on legislation and tax matters, and aim to identify and solve industry problems while raising awareness.
- The Transformation and Sustainability Committee: Focused on increasing the inclusion of all stakeholders to match the country’s demographics, this committee aims to drive and support diverse solutions that enhance the industry’s value proposition and promote sustainability practices and outcomes.
- The Retirement Funds Audit Committee: Collaborates on retirement fund audits and provides input on legislative changes, striving to be thought leaders, policy drivers, and champions of best practices.
- The Investment Practices Committee: Drives matters related to investment practices, advocating for policy changes to improve outcomes and providing decision-makers with tools for informed decisions.
- The African Membership and Collaboration Committee: Aimed at leading expansion efforts across Africa, enhancing pension outcomes, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders.
Fowler notes that the year will see a significant focus on membership growth, engagement, best practices and research. She concludes “With a clear vision and ambitious strategic plan, IRFA is poised to lead the transformation of the retirement sector in Africa. Through strategic goals, impactful initiatives, and unwavering dedication, IRFA is not just a representative body but a catalyst for change, fostering a prosperous future for all.”