Representatives of the African Development Bank and the United Nations Refugee Agency have conducted a joint visit to Central African Republic to explore the potential of joint initiatives for durable solutions to sustain the returns of refugees and internally displaced people. The UNHCR team, led by Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations together with Director of the Transition...

Expanding financial access for Liberia’s artisanal and small-scale mining sub-sector is feasible through formalization and de-risking measures, according to a recent study published by the African Development Bank and the Liberian government. According to the report, potential solutions to support the livelihoods of small-scale miners include setting up enabling regulatory and institutional...

This is the institution's first loan for sustainable investments in the African building materials sector. Several commercial banks participated in the operation and will provide additional resources in local currency. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced Monday, a €242 million (about $256.6 million) loan to Sococim Industries, the Senegalese subsidiary of French...

Personal data protection has become a major strategic issue in Africa, which is undergoing accelerated digital transformation. On the continent, few countries  have a data protection authority and Angola is one of them. The Angolan Data Protection Agency (APD) recently announced a $150,000 fine slammed on Africell Angola over the violation of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA)....

The Malian economy is facing several challenges aggravated by sanctions from regional institutions and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine crisis. To boost its resilience the government is multiplying initiatives. The Malian economy has been more resilient in 2022, with positive outlooks for the coming years, Finance Minister Alousseni Sanou (photo) said last Thursday...

This credit facility will strengthen the partnership between Proparco and FMO and their long-standing client, NMB Bank, which plans to increase its lending to the private sector and women-owned businesses. NMB Bank Tanzania, one of the largest banks in Tanzania, will receive a $125 million syndicated loan from Proparco and Dutch development finance bank FMO. Of the total amount, Proparco...

Last October, telecom operator Celtiis entered the Beninese telecom market, which was controlled by MTN Benin and Moov Africa Benin. To establish itself in this market, the newcomer is basing its strategy on technological innovations.  Mobile operator Celtiis, a subsidiary of state firm Société béninoise d'infrastructures numériques (SBIN), is preparing to deploy fifth-generation (5G)...

Côte d'Ivoire wants to reduce its dependence on foreign countries for its supply of animal proteins. To this end, it is multiplying initiatives to strengthen the livestock, fishing, and aquaculture sectors.  Côte d'Ivoire plans to mobilize more than $1.6 billion to finance its National Policy for the Development of Livestock, Fisheries, and Aquaculture (Ponadepa 2022-2026), the...

A law effective since 2008 requires foreign companies operating in the Kenyan ICT sector to sell at least 20% of their capital to local investors. Airtel Kenya has been exempted from this rule since 2013 but, things are about to change.  Airtel Networks Kenya Ltd is considering an IPO on the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) by March 2024. According to Segun Ogunsanya (pictured), CEO of Airtel...

The leading pharmaceutical company Laprophan is set to receive an investment of approximately $71.9 million for a minority stake in its capital. The transaction led by Mediterrania Capital Partners is subject to the usual regulatory approvals. For the first time since its creation some 70 years ago, family-owned pharmaceutical company Laprophan will open its capital to foreign investors....