The African continent, characterized by a profound cultural heterogeneity and intricate social structures, harbors a largely underexploited endogenous asset with the potential to complement traditional development finance in the pursuit of its developmental objectives: the so-called social capital systems. While traditional development finance typically focuses on external aid, foreign direct investment, domestic tax revenues, and more recently, capital markets, a strategic leveraging of existing social networks and community-based organizations presents a powerful, often overlooked, avenue for private investment mobilization. By recognizing and strategically supporting these systems, African nations can foster more sustainable, inclusive and locally driven development.