Corporate Council on Africa News Updates

(Posted 24th February 2022)

CCA MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Google report shows demand for African developers remains high
Engineering News
The Africa Developer Ecosystem Report 2021′ complied by Internet services multinational Google shows that, despite the global economic challenges and those associated with the pandemic, demand for African developers reached a record high in 2021…. Read more>>

South Africa halves Covid vaccination dose intervals
Financial Express
The South African Department of Health has announced changes to its vaccination program that includes halving of the waiting period between the first and second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. This waiting period will now be 21 instead of 42 days…. Read more>> 
U.S.-AFRICA RELATIONS
What could a non-China-centric US Africa policy look like?
African Arguments
If speeches by senior politicians are a reliable indicator, then the US’ approach to Africa has undergone a significant shift since Joe Biden took office in January 2021…. Read more>>

AGRIBUSINESS
Bangladesh considers contract farming in Africa, opens new chapter in labour migrationThe Federal
The idea is simple: Bangladesh will take over thousands of square kilometers of land, mostly fallow, in African countries, move its hardworking farm labour to these areas and cultivate them…. Read more>>

Deepening Gulf engagement with sub-Saharan Africa
Brookings
Over the past two decades, the engagement of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries with Africa has been shaping largely by a narrow set of economic and security interests among Gulf states rather than a long-term commitment to deep cooperation with Africa…. Read more>>

ENERGY
What South Sudan could gain from Ethiopia’s mega-dam project? 
City Review
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Sunday inaugurated the electricity production from the country’s mega-dam on the Blue Nile River amidst past uproar…. Read more>>

HEALTH
Africa and the EU seal a “renewed partnership” in Brussels
Africa News
The EU and the African Union sealed a “renewed partnership” in Brussels on Friday, including the launch of a €150 billion European investment strategy and increased aid to produce vaccines against Covid in Africa…. Read more>>

INFRASTRUCTURE
Figure of the week: Developing digital infrastructure in response to COVID-19 in AfricaBrookings
In fact, according to the World Bank, many governments in sub-Saharan Africa enacted digital infrastructure policy measures aimed at boosting technological adoption during the pandemic…. Read more>>

Effective implementation of PPPs is critical to address infrastructure deficit in Africa
Engineering News
The African Union (AU) has noted the clear impact of infrastructure deficits on African competitiveness, recognizing this as “a continental problem that requires a continental solution”…. Read more>> 

Ethiopia’s Abiy tells banking sector to get ready for foreign competitors
Reuters
Ethiopia plans to open up its banking industry to foreign competition as soon as parliament passes policies permitting it, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said, flagging reforms of one of the last major sectors of the economy still to be liberalized…. Read more>> 


ICT
Jambo raises $7.5M from Coinbase, Alameda Research to build “web3 super app” of Africa
TechCrunch
Jambo, a Congo-based startup building Africa’s web3 user acquisition portal through “learn, play, earn” and democratizing access to crypto-based income-generation opportunities, has raised $7.5 million in seed funding…. Read more>>

Led by Kenya-based entrepreneurs Tesh Mbaabu and Mesongo Sibuti, MarketForce closes the largest Series A round of its kind in East and Central Africa
Business Insider Africa
MarketForce, the Nairobi-headquartered B2B platform for retail distribution of consumer goods and digital financial services in Africa, has announced the closing of a $40 million Series A round, the largest Series A round of its kind in East and Central Africa. The raise comes seven months after the startup concluded its pre-Series A round… Read more>>


TOURISM
South African Tourism launches ‘More & More’ campaign
Travel Daily
Reigniting its travel recovery efforts in India, South African Tourism has launched its ‘More & More’ campaign. Localized for Indian audiences, this campaign aims to highlight the variety and diversity of experiences that South Africa has to offer, ranging from over 3,000 adventure activities to exciting culinary experiences and more, across its 9 provinces…. Read more>>