Corporate Council on Africa News Updates

(Posted 10th August 2022)

U.S.-AFRICA RELATIONS
Blinken unveils four-pronged US strategy for Africa 
The Africa Report
Speaking at the University of Pretoria on Monday 8 August, America’s top diplomat sought to cast the United States as the continent’s partner of choice, especially compared to China and Russia… Read more>>

Vital Partners, Shared Priorities: The Biden Administration’s Sub-Saharan Africa Strategy
US Department of State
“Thank you so much. Good afternoon, everyone. It’s wonderful to be here, wonderful to be at this extraordinary university. To Professor Maharaj, to the entire leadership of the University of Pretoria, thank you for hosting us today on this magnificent campus…” Read more>>

Fact Sheet: U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa
The White House
Sub-Saharan Africa plays a critical role in advancing global priorities to the benefit of Africans and Americans. It has one of the world’s fastest growing populations, the largest free trade areas, the most diverse ecosystems, and one of the largest regional voting groups in the United Nations (UN)… Read more>>

AGRIBUSINESS
Burkina Town Blockaded By Jihadists Warns of Famine
Barrons
Inhabitants of a town in northern Burkina Faso whose road access has been cut off by jihadists say that food supplies are running out, an account backed by the medical charity MSF… Read more>>

Urgent action is needed to improve Africa’s food systems
African Business
From 5-9 September, African and global business leaders will meet in Kigali, Rwanda, for the Africa Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), the continent’s most influential tethering around Africa’s largest economic sector – agriculture and food systems… Read more>>

ENERGY
$100-Billion in Investments Up for Grabs for SA’s Green Energy Startups
IT News Africa
South Africa’s clean energy startups and entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to pitch to a room full of international and local investors with the potential to fund investment opportunities at the Green Energy Africa Summit on 5 October 2022.. Read more>>

Egypt not facing energy shortage, has sufficient reserves to meet needs
Egypt Today
The Egyptian Ministry of Electricity has affirmed that Egypt does not face any shortage in energy and has sufficient reserves to meet energy needs… Read more>>

HEALTH
GIZ partners Ghana Health Service to improve COVID-19 vaccination uptake
The Washington Post
As part of the collaboration, the agency is supporting the GHS with over £2 million for the exercise. The GHS-GIZ national COVID-19 risk communication and vaccination sensitization campaign initiative was launched in Accra yesterday… Read more>>

Healthy life expectancy in Africa rises by almost ten years
World Health Organization
Health life expectancy in the African region has increased on average by 10 years per person between 2000 and 2019, a World Health Organization (WHO) assessment reports. This rise is greater than in any other region of the world during the same period… Read more>>



INFRASTRUCTURE
Mobile Telco Infrastructure Position Côte d’lvoire as Key FinTech Hub for Francophone Africa
Pymnts
Home to a string of popular FinTech unicorns and pan-African payment giants like Flutterwave, Interswitch and OPay, Nigeria’s tech startups often steal the headlines… Read more>>

InfraCo Africa Invests $43M to Launch New Climate-Focused Infrastructure Fund
CleanTechnica
InfraCo Africa, the African development arm of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), has announced a $43 million anchor investment into the Climate, Energy Access and Resilience (CLEAR) fund… Read more>>

Nigeria Secures $1.5bn Loan From US to Boost Solar Power Infrastructure
This Day
Nigeria has secured a $1.5 billion loan from the US-EXIM Bank to boost solar power infrastructure in 10 different locations in the country… Read more>>


ICT
Zambian Kwacha Surges as IMF Deal and Debt Relief Draw Closer
The Bloomberg
Zambia’s currency advanced to its strongest level since September after official creditors agreed to provide financing assurances the nation needs to secure final approval from the International Monetary Fund for a $1.3 billion bailout… Read more>>


TOURISM
The US embassy in Kenya is cautioning against travel to one presidential candidate’s hometown
Quartz
The US embassy in Nairobi has issued a travel advisory cautioning citizens against traveling to the western lake-side city of Kisumu, the hometown of presidential aspirant Raila Odinga… Read more>>