VFS Global (www.VFSglobal.com) becomes the service provider for all UK Visa and Citizenship Application Centres overseas – operating across 142 countries; estimated to manage 3.8million applicants every year, VFS Global is now opening UK application centres in 84 new countries during 2024; new contract will also see significant investment in technology to improve the customer experience, accessibility and security; the UK contract is the sixth global contract won by VFS Global […]

Rwandan President Kagame and European Commission President von der Leyen witness agreement; Rwanda first country in Africa to partner with EIB (www.EIB.org) to unlock critical raw materials investment; New cooperation will strengthen cooperation to identify investment opportunities, scale up investment in critical raw material supply chain and increase recycling. Rwanda and the European Investment Bank (EIB) today signed a Joint Declaration enabling a strategic alliance to enhance investment in critical […]

The MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) (MeltWater.org), an Africa-wide pitch competition for early-stage technology startups, is proud to announce the top 5 Regional Winners who will compete for the grand prize of $50,000 in equity. These startups have emerged victorious after rigorous pitch sessions, beating out 40 competing startups from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa. The finalists represent diverse sectors, including fintech, health tech, e-commerce, and edtech. Meet the […]

The Africa Early Stage Investor Summit 2023, concluded with resounding success, bringing together 350+ investors, founders, and industry leaders from across the continent. The two-day summit, organized jointly by VC4A (www.VC4A.com)&African Business Angel Network (ABAN), serves as the pivotal platform for robust discussions, networking and collaboration, propelling the African early-stage investment landscape forward. “AESIS connects the early stage (angel) investor networks with VCs, mapping a path for founders’ fundraising journeys. […]

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) on Monday, 4 December 2023 approved a USD 7 million Trade Finance Transaction Guarantee facility for NBS bank in Malawi to support small businesses. This facility will provide 100% guarantee to international confirming banks (CBs) for the non-payment risk taken on NBS’s trade finance transactions conducted on behalf SMEs, local corporates, and women-led businesses in Malawi. It will enable […]

History of the "Solar Grandmothers" initiative During the India-Africa Forum held in New Delhi in April 2008, an agreement was reached between the Government of India and the African Union (AU) Commission on pan-African projects for the establishment of regional Barefoot College Training Center in Africa. This was followed by solar energy training for rural women from Burkina Faso in India with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the […]

The African Development Bank-managed Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) (www.AfDB.org/SEFA) has approved a $9.72 million grant to scale up the Africa Hydropower Modernisation Programme (AHMP), a one-stop shop that overhauls African hydropower systems to enhance their reliability and flexibility. With this new funding, AHMP will expand the modernisation of a pipeline of 12 private-sector-led projects in 8 countries selected through a competitive process. The physical works and preparation activities will […]

The President of Kenya, William Ruto, alongside President George Weah of Liberia and former President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, have emerged the winners of the 12th African Leadership Magazine (ALM) Persons of the Year Awards 2023 (https://www.AfricanLeadershipMagazine.co.uk/), following the 2-step selection process which included a call for nominations and an online voting poll that closed at midnight (CAT) on Thursday, 14 December 2023. The trio secured victories in the African […]

The African Development Bank (http://www.AfDB.org) on Thursday charged the first cohort of graduates from its Public Finance Management Academy for Africa (PFMA) to serve as standard-bearers for embedding accountability across Africa. Kevin Urama, the Bank’s Chief Economist and Vice President made the charge at a milestone graduation ceremony in Abuja for 51 public officials from 26 countries. He called on African countries to come together to mobilise and effectively manage […]