(Posted 31st October 2024)
CCA MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Fixing Africa’s Governance Crisis Must Come First
Project Syndicate
African countries’ biggest development challenge is that they are poorly governed. To ensure that the continent’s governments can secure borders, raise revenue through taxation, and provide social services, independent universities like the African School of Governance must train top graduates for public-policy leadership positions….Read More>>
U.S.-AFRICA RELATIONS
Kamala Harris builds Africa team to upgrade approach to continent
SEMAFOR
The Kamala Harris campaign has assembled a 25-strong team to devise a comprehensive US-Africa policy if she wins the White House next month. The team, which includes diplomats, ex-government officials, development finance experts, and diaspora leaders among others, is overseen by former US attorney general Eric Holder, a close Harris campaign adviser….Read More>>>
Africa: Kamala Harris Should Pursue Africa Priorities if She Becomes President
AllAfrica
While Africa remains a relatively low priority for Washington, the Biden Administration acknowledged Africa’s growing importance and the need for African leaders to be at the table where significant global decisions are being made. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed this when he rolled out the administration’s new Africa strategy, saying Africa “is a major geopolitical force…that will shape our shared future”….Read More>>>
In 30-minute Phone Call, Tinubu, Biden Seek to Deepen Partnership in US, Nigeria Relations
This Day
The Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu and his United States counterpart, Joe Biden, yesterday had a 30-minute phone call, with the latter calling for deeper US-Nigeria relations. Briefing newsmen on the issue at the State House, Abuja, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, stressed that the two leaders also discussed the issue of the permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council, and Biden once again assured that the United States was committed to seeing Africa having two permanent seats…. Read More>>
ENERGY
AfDB helps shape East Africa energy highway connectivity
EnergyCentral
The electricity highway between Ethiopia and Kenya, officially opened in 2023 after more than 10 years of planning and construction, is redefining energy connectivity in East Africa. It is more than a piece of infrastructure, it is an economic and environmental entity, connecting not just power grids but nations and populations….Read More>>
African Development Bank: Ninth Africa Energy Market Place (AEMP) Held in Dar es Salaam Ahead of Key Africa Heads of State
Fintech Finance
Further to an April 2024 pledge by the Presidents of the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and the World Bank to bring electricity access to 300 million people in Africa by 2030, the Tanzanian port city of Dar es Salaam has been selected to host an Africa Heads of State Energy Summit on 28 January 2025….Read More>>
Zambia: African Development Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa approves $8 million for development of 25 MW Solar Plant
African Development Bank
The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors has approved an $8 million concessional loan to support the construction of a 25MW Solar Photovoltaic power plant in Zambia. The financing for the Ilute Plant will be sourced from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), a multi-donor Special Fund managed by the Bank. Ilute is expected to advance Zambia’s sustainable development and help the country unlock its renewable energy potential….Read More>>
Blended finance expands medical oxygen production in East Africa
Devex
A new initiative aims to expand medical oxygen production and supply in East Africa by strengthening local manufacturers’ capacity and using a mix of financing instruments. Medical oxygen is a lifesaver for a range of illnesses and conditions, such as pneumonia and hypoxemia — oxygen deficiency in the blood. But it’s not widely accessible in low-resource settings. One estimate finds nearly 25 million deaths annually are due to lack of oxygen access….Read More>>
Safeguarding Africa’s health: update on actions in response to recent Ebola outbreaks
AfricanUnion
Following the recent outbreak of Ebola cases reported in Uganda, The African Union (AU) is collaborating with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uganda to mobilise support to ensure adequate response and implementation of prevention and control measures, including deployment of senior experts from the AU’s Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)….Read More>>
INFRASTRUCTURE
African Development Bank President calls for bold, innovative and practical solutions to tackle poverty in Africa
African Development Bank
Climate change, global financial shocks and growing food insecurity are threatening Africa, the world’s fastest-growing continent and hampering achievement of global development goals. To tackle these challenges and speed up the continent’s efforts to achieve these goals, the president of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina on Thursday called for bold reforms from development partners…. Read More>>
Top 10 African countries with the most improved infrastructure
Business Insider Africa
For Africa, the need for adequate infrastructure, secure energy, efficient transport, reliable communication systems, resilient sanitation, and affordable housing, is particularly apparent. The African Development Bank (AfDB) estimates that the continent requires between $130 and $170 billion annually to meet its infrastructure demands. However, the financing gap remains wide, with an annual shortfall of up to $100 billion….Read More>>
AGRIBUSINESS
Multibillion-dollar fund aims to fill Africa’s agribusiness financing gap
Devex
The doors of the FASA fund have finally opened — and now, the world’s newest “fund of funds” is ready to invest. FASA stands for Financing for Agricultural SMEs in Africa, with SMEs referring to small and medium-sized enterprises. It is financed by the United States, Norway, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and the Small Foundation, a Dublin-based philanthropy….Read More>>
Ghana’s Agri-sector sees boost as Oyster Agribusiness secures US$2million funding
Vanguard
A Ghana-based agri-tech company, Oyster Agribusiness has secured a US$2 million funding to expand Africa’s food base. This is also as the funding will help it deepen impact on small holder farmers across Ghana. The funding was raised through the support of Root Capital, RDF Ghana, and Sahel Capital Social Enterprise Fund for Agriculture in Africa, SEFAA FUND. The fundraising process was led by a leading Business Development Service provider, Pangea Africa Limited, specializing in climate-smart agriculture….Read More>>
ICT
South Africa’s engineering industry needs to do better on gender equity
London School of Economics and Political Science
Despite some beneficial government programmes, engineering is still dominated by patriarchal practices that are holding back the industry and the women who are working in it, writes Zaira Solomons. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) have historically been associated with white men. Recently, in South Africa, black men have also entered the field. However, more needs to be done to welcome in women, especially those from non-white backgrounds….Read More>>
How a UNESCO project is helping break gender barriers through education in Uganda
UNESCO
Meet Akongo Dorcas Janet, a 52-year-old educator from Northern Uganda, and a lecturer at the National Instructors’ College Abilonino (NICA). At NICA, Dorcas serves as a lecturer and Dean of Students, promoting gender inclusivity and practical training opportunities. Her journey exemplifies resilience and dedication, highlighting the transformative impact of UNESCO’s Better Education for Africa’s Rise (BEAR) II project on education and communities through technical and vocational education and training…. Read More>>
FINANCE
Africa Investment Forum welcomes BADEA as new partner ahead of the December Market Days in Rabat
African Development Bank
The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) has joined the Africa Investment Forum(link is external) as a founding partner, marking a new phase in the Forum’s expansion and influence as a catalyst for mega investments into the continent. The official announcement came during a breakfast meeting of heads of the Africa Investment Forum Founding Partner institutions, convened by the African Development Bank in Washington, DC on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank’s annual meetings….Read More>>
Africa’s Fight against Illicit Financial Flows and renewed calls to Return Stolen Assets
AfricanUnion
The fight against corruption has contributed significantly to the on-going transformation of economies across the continent and reinforces the determination towards achieving inclusive and sustainable development as envisaged in Africa’s Agenda 2063.
These strides in the fight against corruption have been supported by legal and policy frameworks such as the African Union’s Convention on Preventing and Combatting Corruption (AUCPCC)…. Read More>>
