Corporate Council on Africa’s latest news

The U.S. Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Launch a Call for Concept Proposals for Blended Finance for the Energy Transition Program 
U.S. Department of State 
The Department of State, in partnership with USAID, has launched the Blended Finance for the Energy Transition (BFET) program by issuing an initial request for concept proposals for private sector-led blended finance structures. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions while addressing growing energy demand in emerging markets and developing economies will require massive investment (the International Energy Agency estimates over $2 trillion annually by 2030).  In this context, unlocking capital from institutional investors will be key to achieving the scale of finance necessary to fund the energy transition… Read more>>

20 takeaways for Sub-Saharan Africa from the IMF and World  Bank Spring Meetings 2023 as continent faces funding squeeze and projected economic slowdown
Today News Africa 
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has published its regional economic outlook for sub-Saharan Africa, which predicts the region’s growth will decelerate to 2.6% from 3.9% last year. External market access has been curtailed, overseas development assistance is trending downward, and the region has seen a recent reduction in other investments… Read more>>

AGRIBUSINESS

West Africa and Sahel: Food insecurity, malnutrition, set to reach 10-year high 
UN News 
For the first time in the Sahel, 45,000 people are at risk of experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger, or one step away from famine, they said  The majority, 42,000, are in Burkina Faso and Mali, where violent unrest in some areas has hampered the delivery of humanitarian aid… Read more>>

A stark warning about West and Central Africa’s food crisis 
Axios 
A record high number of Africans are facing severe food insecurity this year, and humanitarian organizations leading hunger alleviation efforts aren’t prepared to meet the need, a senior staffer at the United Nations World Food Program told Axios… Read more>>

ENERGY

Green hydrogen economy in South Africa growing from small projects 
Creamer Media’s Mining Weekly 
While South Africa and the world are in the nascent stages of using sustainably produced, or green, hydrogen as an energy carrier, there are many projects across the emerging value chain highlighting opportunities for role-players at local and international level… Read more>>

Accelerating financing for green hydrogen projects in Africa 
Climate Champions  
Two hundred representatives from African governments, renewable energy and green hydrogen project developers, development finance institutions (DFIs), bilateral partners, and civil society convened in Nouakchott, Mauritania on 13-14 April at the Africa Green Hydrogen Finance Accelerator Forum…. Read more>>

Services for the design and operation of the climate portal
Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency
The Luxembourg Agency for development Cooperation (LuxDev) launches a Call for expressions of interest for the acquisition of services for the design and operation of the climate portal on behalf of programme CVE/401 receiving financial support from the governments of the Republic of Cabo Verde and the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg… Read more>>

HEALTH

WHO Calls for Protection of Health Workers and Patients, Unrestricted Access to Healthcare in Sudan Amid Ongoing Conflict 
Today News Africa 
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for the protection of health workers and patients in Sudan, as fighting continues in various parts of the country. WHO urged all parties involved in the conflict to respect the neutrality of health care and provide unrestricted access to health facilities for those affected by the hostilities… Read more>>

INFRASTRUCTURE

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio Turns Sod for the Construction of Gendema Bridge in Simbaru and Wandor Chiefdoms to Replace 50 Years of Ferry Crossing Point 
Zawya
His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has commissioned the start of work and turned the sod for the construction of the Garwama, Gendema Bridge, which connects Simbaru and Wandor Chiefdoms in the Kenema District, east of the country… Read more>>

Zimbabwe bets on Lithium to boost mining sector and economy 
Business Insider Africa 
Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has set a revenue target of $10 billion for the country’s lithium industry, calling it the “new oil.” Speaking in a WhatsApp group for Glen View South, Mnangagwa stated that income generated from lithium value addition and beneficiation will likely surpass foreign currency realized through tobacco and gold combined… Read more>>

Tanzania signs $667mln deals for rare earth and graphite projects 
Zawya
Tanzania on Monday, 17 April, signed agreements worth $667m with three Australian companies to mine rare earth minerals and graphite, part of the president’s drive to fast-track negotiations on long-pending mining and energy projects… Read more>>

ICT

Kenya’s ICT bodies to deploy fibre optic cable in remote counties 
Zawya
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and the ICT Authority (ICTA) are planning to roll out 100,000 kilometres of last-mile fibre optic cable in the country’s 19 remote counties to increase affordable access to broadband internet… Read more>>

Beyond Silicon Valley: How Africa tech giants are leading the way 
Tech Cabal 
How can Africa shape its own future in the era of digital transformation? This is the question that drives Sentech Africa Tech Week, a four-day event that showcases the innovation happening on the continent and the opportunities available in the fourth industrial revolution (4IR)… Read more>>

Tender Announcement For The Contracting of International Consultancy 
Multisectoral Economic Regulatory Agency
Tender announcement for the contracting of international consultancy services with pre-qualification no. 01/ARME/2023, for the review and update of the study on the definition and analysis of relevant markets for electronic communications products and services in Cape Verde, the assessment of significant market power and the identification of specific obligations applicable to companies in the sector… Read more>>