About us
Team Members
The team at Southern Arc Capital combines over 30 years of experience in diverse areas such as geology, due diligence, policy, economics, finance, interpreting, legal consulting, mining, and environmental science.
Campbell Arthur
Managing Partner
Muhire Jean
Chief Investment Officer
Mary Adoi
Chief Operating Officer
Yves Uwayo
Chief Partnerships and Strategic Officer
Market Opportunity.
Africa presents a $1.3 trillion opportunity across AfCFTA aligned sectors including mining, agro-processing, infrastructure, and climate resilient agriculture. The continent holds 30% of the world’s known mineral reserves, 60% of its arable land, and is home to the world’s youngest and growing workforce.
De-risked Entry and Social License: Investors pay a premium for reduced political and operational risk. Our embedded community equity and governance frameworks enhance project legitimacy, fostering smoother regulatory and local stakeholder engagement.
First-Mover Advantage in High-Growth Sectors: With critical mineral demand projected to increase by 400–600% by 2040 (IEA, 2021) and Africa’s agricultural potential growing, early participants capture outsized returns in a rapidly evolving market.
Market Opportunity.
Alignment with ESG & SDG Compliance
Global capital increasingly mandates strict ESG adherence. Our model’s grant funded ESG capacity building and local workforce development meet these demands, unlocking access to dedicated ESG investment funds.
Geopolitical Supply Chain Security
As countries diversify away from single-source dependencies, supply chain resilience commands higher valuations. Facilitating local beneficiation and diverse co-investors increases attractiveness to global buyers and downstream manufacturers.
Development Partner Backing
Co-funding from international development agencies subsidizes upfront costs for infrastructure and training, improving financial metrics and shortening investor payback periods.
Critical Minerals Viability
Demand for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, rare earths, and nickel is projected to increase by 400–600% by 2040 (IEA, 2021).
Customer Segments.
Our value proposition directly addresses major market failures and unmet needs:
01
Investors seek high return from their critical minerals and agri-assets but require de-risked frameworks to justify entry.
02
Global firms need a social license to operate and support with navigating complex African landscapes.
03
Development partners are shifting towards blended finance models that reward inclusive community centred investments.
04
Governments want long-term development and tax revenues without extractive models
that bypass local economies.
Why Now?
Food security and climate-smart agriculture are now central to national security agendas across the G20.
Supply chain diversification is being fast tracked by geopolitical realignments, sanctions, and energy security concerns.
01
02
03
04
05
Global demand for critical minerals is set to surge dramatically by 2040, driven by clean energy and technology needs. Africa holds vast untapped reserves, making it a key potential
supplier
Africa’s industrialisation and green transition present first-mover advantages for investors with the right governance model.
Development partners (e.g. DFAT, USAID, JICA) are now financing Common User Facilities, ESG enforcement, and skills transfer, creating a blended finance opportunity.
VRIO Analysis.
V
R
I
O
Valuable
De-risks African investments through:
- ESG compliance thanks to development financing
- Diaspora governance
- International partnerships and networks
- Deep understanding of local mining regulations, market dynamics, and cultural nuances enables brokers to facilitate transactions effectively.
Rare
- Our dual fluency in African and Australian contexts
- Credible legal and diplomatic networks.
- Good understanding of Chinese economy and governance.
- Some sort of exclusive access to projects: license, certification or lease?
Imitable
- The model is hard to replicate due to unique networks in Africa and Australia (government more than private sector for now)
- Diaspora insights and leadership
- Previous relationships with DFIs and governments.
Organised
- Structuring deals with diaspora governance, ESG compliance, and co investment mechanisms indicating.
- A skilled workforce with expertise in mining, law, economics, and logistics.
SWOT Analysis
S
W
O
T
Strengths
- Multiple languages spoken (including English, French, Swahili, Spanish)
- Experience in mining, manufacturing and international development
Weaknesses
- All members are still quite young and may be considered inexperienced
Opportunities
- Global disruptions due to both military and trade war mean that there is a desire to reorient global supply chains
- Saudi and UAE FDI has been increasing - high profits and small population means they are eager to invest
Threats
- For investment into value-added industries in Africa - can it compete with Chinese prices and technology?
- Both the seller and the buyer of the deal we are facilitating may be looking to cut us out, so they can keep more value for themselves
- Chinese financing has been decreasing since the “Small and Beautiful” change
