Frequently Asked Questions | PASP

Question 1

What is PASP?

Accepted Answer

PASP — the Pan-African Scaling Platform — is a structured business expansion and investment facilitation platform that enables companies to enter and scale across African markets through verified local partnerships, governed joint ventures, and institutional-grade transaction architecture. PASP is not a consulting firm, a fund, or a marketplace. It is an operating platform that provides the infrastructure, partnerships, and governance frameworks that make large-scale African market expansion viable for companies and investable for institutional capital.

Question 2

Who is PASP designed for?

Accepted Answer

PASP serves four primary participant types: (1) Companies seeking to expand into African markets from outside the continent (Global-to-Africa); (2) African companies seeking to expand into other African markets (Africa-to-Africa); (3) African companies seeking to access global markets (Africa-to-Global); and (4) Institutional investors — including DFIs, family offices, private equity funds, and impact investors — seeking verified, structured exposure to African market expansion transactions. Strategic partners, including professional services firms, sector specialists, and development organisations, also participate in the platform ecosystem.

Question 3

How does PASP differ from a traditional market entry consultancy?

Accepted Answer

A consultancy advises. PASP executes. The distinction is fundamental. PASP does not provide market entry reports or strategic recommendations — it provides the operational infrastructure, verified local partnerships, governed JV structures, and transaction facilitation that enable companies to actually enter and scale in African markets. PASP participates in the outcomes of the transactions it facilitates, which aligns its incentives with those of the companies and investors it serves in a way that a fee-for-service advisory relationship does not.

Question 4

In which African markets does PASP operate?

Accepted Answer

PASP's Country Operating Partner network currently covers over 40 of Africa's 54 nations, spanning all five major regional blocs — East Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa, North Africa, and Central Africa. The platform continues to expand its COP network across the remaining markets. Specific market coverage can be confirmed through the platform's expansion inquiry process.

Question 5

Is PASP a registered entity?

Accepted Answer

Yes. PASP operates through registered legal entities across its operating jurisdictions. Specific entity and registration details are provided to verified platform participants as part of the onboarding process. Institutional investors and companies at the due diligence stage of the expansion process receive full corporate documentation.

Question 6

What are the three expansion pathways PASP supports?

Accepted Answer

PASP supports three structured expansion pathways: (1) Global-to-Africa — for international companies entering African markets for the first time or scaling existing African operations; (2) Africa-to-Africa — for African companies seeking to expand into other African markets, leveraging AfCFTA and PASP's continent-wide COP network; and (3) Africa-to-Global — for African companies seeking to access international markets in Europe, North America, Asia, or the Middle East. Each pathway has a distinct process, partnership structure, and transaction architecture tailored to its specific requirements.

Question 7

What does the expansion process look like end-to-end?

Accepted Answer

PASP's expansion process follows six phases: (1) Application & Initial Assessment — the company submits an expansion application and undergoes a preliminary fit assessment; (2) PABERI Verification — the company is assessed against PASP's nine-dimension verification framework; (3) Market Matching — PASP identifies and proposes verified COP partners in the target markets; (4) JV Structuring — the 50/50 joint venture agreement is negotiated and executed; (5) Market Entry & Ramp-Up — the JV commences operations with PASP platform support; and (6) Scale & Optimisation — the JV scales operations, with PASP providing ongoing governance and investor facilitation support. The full process typically takes 6–18 months depending on market complexity and company readiness.

Question 8

What types of companies are eligible to expand through PASP?

Accepted Answer

PASP works with companies that have a proven business model, demonstrated operational capability, and genuine readiness to commit to a structured African market expansion. There is no minimum revenue threshold, but companies must be able to demonstrate financial sustainability, governance quality, and the management capacity to support a multi-market expansion programme. PASP's PABERI verification process assesses eligibility across nine dimensions — companies that do not meet the threshold in one or more dimensions may be directed to PASP's readiness development programme before proceeding to market matching.

Question 9

How long does it take to enter a new African market through PASP?

Accepted Answer

The timeline from application to first revenue varies by market and company readiness, but PASP's structured process is designed to compress the timeline significantly compared to unassisted market entry. Companies that complete PABERI verification and are matched with a COP in a single market typically achieve first revenue within 9–12 months of application. Multi-market expansions take longer but benefit from parallel processing across markets once the initial JV structure is established.

Question 10

Does PASP support sector-specific expansion?

Accepted Answer

Yes. PASP has deep sector expertise across eight priority sectors: Financial Services & Fintech, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Technology & Digital Infrastructure, Agriculture & Food Systems, Energy & Clean Technology, Education & Human Capital, Consumer Goods & Retail, and Manufacturing & Industrial. COP qualification includes sector-specific capability assessment, ensuring that companies are matched with local partners who have relevant sector experience and relationships.

Question 11

What is a Country Operating Partner (COP)?

Accepted Answer

A Country Operating Partner is a verified, PASP-qualified local entity that serves as the in-country operational partner for PASP-facilitated expansion transactions. COPs are established businesses or institutions with deep local market knowledge, regulatory relationships, operational infrastructure, and the governance quality required to participate in institutional-grade joint ventures. Each COP has been assessed through PASP's COP qualification process and has entered into a PASP COP Agreement governing their rights, responsibilities, and participation terms.

Question 12

What is the 50/50 JV model and why does PASP use it?

Accepted Answer

PASP's standard joint venture structure allocates equal ownership — 50% to the expanding company and 50% to the local COP — in the in-country operating entity. This structure is used because it creates genuine alignment of incentives: the COP has a real stake in the success of the joint venture, not merely a service fee relationship. It also provides the expanding company with governance rights that protect its interests while respecting the COP's market knowledge and relationships. PASP's JV governance framework includes structured decision-making protocols that prevent deadlock while preserving both parties' rights.

Question 13

How are COPs selected and matched to expanding companies?

Accepted Answer

COP matching is based on a multi-factor assessment that considers sector alignment, geographic coverage, operational capability, governance quality, financial strength, and strategic fit with the expanding company's profile and objectives. PASP maintains a continuously updated COP database and conducts active matching analysis as part of the market matching phase of the expansion process. In some cases, PASP may identify multiple potential COP candidates and facilitate a structured selection process with the expanding company.

Question 14

How do I apply to become a PASP Country Operating Partner?

Accepted Answer

Organisations interested in becoming a PASP COP can submit an application through the platform's COP application process. Applicants are assessed against PASP's COP qualification standard across six dimensions: institutional standing, sector capability, governance quality, financial strength, local market credibility, and strategic alignment with PASP's expansion mandate. Successful applicants enter into a PASP COP Agreement and are onboarded into the platform's COP network. The application and qualification process typically takes 3–6 months.

Question 15

What governance framework applies to PASP joint ventures?

Accepted Answer

PASP JVs operate under a structured governance framework that distinguishes between three categories of decisions: operational decisions (managed by the local COP within agreed parameters), strategic decisions (requiring joint approval by both JV parties), and reserved matters (requiring supermajority approval or PASP platform oversight). The framework includes standard provisions for board composition, financial reporting, audit requirements, dispute resolution, and exit mechanisms. All JV governance documents are reviewed and approved by PASP before execution.

Question 16

What is PABERI?

Accepted Answer

PABERI is PASP's proprietary verification framework — a nine-dimension assessment model that evaluates a company's readiness for structured African market expansion. The nine dimensions are: Business Model Viability, Financial Readiness, Operational Capability, Regulatory Compliance, Governance Quality, Market Opportunity, Management Team, ESG & Sustainability, and Expansion Readiness. Companies that meet the PABERI threshold across all nine dimensions receive PASP Verified status, which signals to investors and COPs that the company meets PASP's standard for platform participation.

Question 17

Is PABERI verification mandatory for all platform participants?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All companies seeking to expand through PASP must complete PABERI verification before proceeding to market matching and JV structuring. The verification requirement applies equally to Global-to-Africa, Africa-to-Africa, and Africa-to-Global expansion candidates. COPs are assessed through a parallel qualification process that applies the relevant dimensions of the PABERI framework to local partner assessment.

Question 18

How long does PABERI verification take?

Accepted Answer

The PABERI verification process typically takes 6–12 weeks from the submission of a complete verification application. The timeline depends on the completeness of the documentation provided, the complexity of the company's business model and governance structure, and the responsiveness of the company's management team during the assessment process. PASP's verification team works closely with applicants to ensure the process is as efficient as possible.

Question 19

What happens if a company does not meet the PABERI threshold?

Accepted Answer

Companies that do not meet the PABERI threshold in one or more dimensions receive a detailed assessment report identifying the specific gaps and recommended remediation steps. PASP offers a readiness development programme for companies that are close to the threshold and committed to addressing the identified gaps. Companies that complete the readiness programme and address the identified gaps can reapply for PABERI verification. There is no limit on the number of reapplications.

Question 20

Does PASP Verified status expire?

Accepted Answer

PASP Verified status is subject to periodic review — typically annually for active platform participants and every two years for companies in the pre-transaction pipeline. The review process assesses whether the company continues to meet the PABERI threshold across all nine dimensions. Companies that experience material changes in their business, governance, or financial position are required to notify PASP and may be subject to an interim review.

Question 21

How does PASP facilitate investment in African market expansion transactions?

Accepted Answer

PASP facilitates investment through four primary structures: (1) Direct JV Equity — investors take a direct equity position in one or more PASP-facilitated JVs; (2) Platform Co-Investment — investors co-invest alongside PASP in a portfolio of JVs across multiple markets and sectors; (3) Structured Debt — investors provide debt financing to PASP JVs through structured instruments including senior debt, mezzanine, and convertible notes; and (4) Fund Participation — investors participate in PASP-managed investment vehicles that hold diversified portfolios of JV equity and debt positions.

Question 22

What is the minimum investment threshold for PASP transactions?

Accepted Answer

Minimum investment thresholds vary by transaction type and structure. Direct JV equity investments typically have a minimum of $1 million per transaction. Platform co-investment and fund participation structures have higher minimums, typically in the range of $5–25 million, reflecting the institutional nature of these vehicles. Specific minimums are confirmed during the investor onboarding process. PASP works with a range of institutional investor types — including DFIs, family offices, impact funds, and private equity — and structures transactions to meet the requirements of each investor category.

Question 23

How does PASP address currency risk for investors?

Accepted Answer

PASP's transaction architecture incorporates specific structural mechanisms to manage currency risk, including multi-currency JV agreements that allow for flexible revenue allocation between local and hard currencies, phased capital deployment that reduces upfront hard currency commitment, local revenue reinvestment provisions that build local currency assets as a natural hedge, and performance-linked repatriation schedules. PASP does not seek to eliminate local currency exposure — which would undermine commercial alignment — but structures transactions to manage currency risk within acceptable parameters for institutional investors.

Question 24

What due diligence information is available to investors?

Accepted Answer

Investors in PASP-facilitated transactions have access to the full PABERI verification report for the expanding company, the COP qualification assessment for the local partner, the JV governance framework and constitutional documents, financial projections and market analysis prepared by PASP, and ongoing portfolio reporting once the JV is operational. PASP's PABERI verification provides a standardised due diligence baseline that investors can rely on, reducing the time and cost of investor-side due diligence without replacing it.

Question 25

What returns can investors expect from PASP-facilitated transactions?

Accepted Answer

PASP does not publish target return figures, as returns vary significantly by transaction type, market, sector, and investment structure. Investors are provided with transaction-specific financial projections and market analysis as part of the investment documentation package. PASP's track record and portfolio performance data are available to qualified investors under NDA as part of the investor onboarding process.

Question 26

What types of strategic partners does PASP work with?

Accepted Answer

PASP works with four primary categories of strategic partners: (1) Professional Services Partners — law firms, accounting firms, and advisory practices that provide specialist services to PASP platform participants; (2) Sector Partners — industry associations, sector specialists, and technology providers with deep expertise in PASP's priority sectors; (3) Development Partners — DFIs, development organisations, and foundations aligned with PASP's Pan-African development mandate; and (4) Capital Partners — financial institutions, fund managers, and investment platforms that co-invest in or distribute PASP-facilitated transactions.

Question 27

How does PASP engage with development finance institutions (DFIs)?

Accepted Answer

DFIs are a critical part of PASP's capital ecosystem. PASP structures transactions to align with DFI investment mandates — including additionality requirements, development impact criteria, and ESG standards — and works with DFIs at both the transaction level (as co-investors in specific JVs) and the platform level (as anchor investors in PASP investment vehicles). PASP's PABERI framework's ESG & Sustainability dimension is specifically designed to produce the impact measurement data that DFIs require for investment approval and portfolio reporting.

Question 28

How do I explore a strategic partnership with PASP?

Accepted Answer

Organisations interested in exploring a strategic partnership with PASP are invited to submit an inquiry through the platform's strategic partner inquiry process. PASP evaluates partnership proposals based on strategic alignment, complementary capability, and the potential to create value for platform participants. Initial conversations are typically structured as a 60-minute discovery call with a member of PASP's partnership team, followed by a more detailed proposal process for partnerships that meet the initial alignment criteria.

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