The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the world's top cobalt producer and the second-largest producer of copper. Both minerals are essential for energy transition. However, concerns remain about how much profit the country effectively makes from its mineral reserves. Kamoto Mine (KCC), a firm owned by Glencore, is at the center of a dispute with the tax authorities of the Democratic Republic...

Following Gabon's example, the "debt-for-nature" approach is becoming more popular in Africa, particularly among nations with heavy debt burdens and rich biodiversity. If the IUCN's initiative succeeds, it would mark the first time African countries work together to negotiate a collective debt swap aimed at protecting their shared ecosystem. Five African nations are preparing to launch what...

The program, launched by Heva Fund and Next Narrative Africa, aims to provide up to $5 million for each African television or film project. It seeks to support the continent's underfunded creative industry and position this sector as a promising investment opportunity. Heva Fund, an investment and advisory group focused on creative industries, partnered with Next Narrative Africa, an...

The Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI), the largest and first sector-wide public-private partnership in the cocoa industry, has released its latest annual report. In 2023, CFI made significant strides in traceability systems, forest conservation and climate adaptation as detailed in the newly published report. Despite a challenging year marked by erratic weather patterns, an increase in pests and...

In Africa, technical and vocational education faces many challenges, especially for young people and women. Among these challenges are the mismatch between training and jobs, along with a rapidly growing population. The 15th Ordinary Session of the Conference of Ministers in Charge of Employment and Vocational Training for the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) concluded on...

In the face of global economic uncertainties and rising financing needs, the WAEMU states continue to turn to the regional public securities market to support their projects. These regular issuances help ensure the liquidity needed for budget management while offering investors returns generally above 7%. The eight countries in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) are once again...

With significant mining, agricultural, and tourism potential, the Sud-Comoé region contributes over $1.7 billion to Côte d'Ivoire's GDP. From September 27 to 29, authorities gathered various partners in Aboisso to boost regional private investments. The "Invest In Sud-Comoé" forum, which ended on September 29, resulted in more than $1.8 billion in investment pledges for Côte...

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a $25 million loan to Seychelles to implement the first phase of the Economic Resilience and Green Recovery Support Programme aimed at economic governance management across the archipelago. The operation, the first in a series of programmes scheduled for 2024, 2025 and 2026, will support efforts by the Seychelles...

Smart city initiatives can stimulate local economies by attracting investments and creating jobs. Improved infrastructures and services can enhance the quality of life, making cities more appealing to businesses and residents alike. Vodacom Business announced on september 26th a collaboration with South Africa local governments, aimed at deploying smart city solutions across the country. This...

New GSMA report highlights importance of standard-power 6 GHz mobile networks for global digital economies as mobile data growth rises High capacity 6 GHz spectrum must be licensed to mobile operators at sufficient, standard power levels to enable the full range of mobile use cases, indoors and outdoors, and provide maximum benefit for global digital economies. 70 per cent of mobile use is...