Author: The Exchange

The strategy focuses on transforming food security systems in a holistic way—from soil to shelf—targeting the most vulnerable countries. AU Plan envisages turning agriculture into a catalyst for prosperity, sustainability, and resilience across the continent. Blueprint is supported by the newly signed Kampala Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), which is a goal under African Union Agenda 2063 plan. In yet another push to realize food security for the continent’s 1.4 billion population, the African Union (AU) has officially launched the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan 2026–2035, committing to a set of goals to boost…

In 2024, seven out of eight member states of Eastern Africa’s IGAD were staring down an alarming food crisis. This threat has triggered a rallying cry to reimagine and rebuild food systems across Eastern and Southern Africa. The food crisis is fed by a dangerous cocktail of climate shocks, land degradation, erratic rainfall, and inefficiencies in food supply chains. In 2024, seven out of eight member states of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) were staring down an alarming food crisis. According to an update from the World Bank, over 62.9 million people—or one in every four of the region’s…

Collaboration marks a step towards leveraging stablecoins and blockchain infrastructure to boost Onafriq’s payment network. Companies say by integrating USDC, they seek to simplify financial transactions for institutions and individuals, reduce costs, and strengthen trust. Currently, over 80% of intra-African payments are routed through correspondent banks outside the continent and settled in foreign currencies. Payments company Onafriq has joined hands with Circle, stablecoin market leader and issuer of USDC, in a deal aimed at transforming cross-border payments and digital financial services across Africa. In a statement, the two firms noted that their collaboration marks a significant step towards compliantly leveraging…

For Africa, the answer to “how many registered voters in the United States” is more than a number. It influences the course of global partnerships, including US and Africa trade ties. At the ballot, the US electorate influence trade agreements, security partnerships, the flow of aid, and direction on climate action. From frozen foreign aid to bilateral trade deals, every ballot cast by one of roughly 168M registered voters in the US holds the power to shape the future. “How many registered voters in the United States?” This is the question that routinely spikes in online searches ahead of presidential…

Afreximbank is set to equip traders with vital tools to navigate both tariff and non-tariff barriers in AfCFTA. In a June 30 to July 2, 2025, forum in Abuja, the lender will coach both prospective and existing exporters on emerging intra-Africa trade issues. So far, limited understanding of AFCFTA’s technical and operational aspects has barred many firms from leveraging the bloc’s benefits. Lender Afreximbank is rolling out a bespoke training, targeting traders across Africa with key insights on how to leverage on the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the world’s largest trading bloc by member…

In a stinging critique, Doanh Chau, President of Vietnam Gas says Kenya and Africa is not short on talent or resources—it is suffering from a chronic failure in leadership, vision, and execution. He says Kenya and Africa’s woes stem from unreliable electricity to misplaced infrastructure priorities and a governance culture geared more toward optics than results. Doanh Chau: “Leaders talk big, but systems don’t move,”. For Chau, African leaders should stop performing for the next donor visit or global conference and start building strong institutions that work for their people. A hard look at Kenya, and Africa by extension In…

Africa’s future remains uncertain as economies weather chronic funding shortfalls, persistent trade disruptions, and a sharp rise in debt burdens. Faced with these challenges, however, investing in smart infrastructure, and supply chains that power intra-African trade could be among the most transformative plans of the decade. Enhancing tax revenue through digitalisation, widening the tax base, and administrative efficiency could also help economies to thrive. At a time when the global economic order is being reshaped by cascading crises—from pandemics and climate change to geopolitical conflicts and mounting debt—Africa’s future remains uncertain. During African Consultative Group meeting with IMF Managing Director…

African coffee entrepreneurs are turning the Gulf region into the next big destination for the continent’s bean exports. With its deep-rooted coffee culture and growing appetite for specialty and ethically sourced brews, the Gulf is turning into a premium destination for African exports. Amid fluctuating Arabica prices, Gulf buyers are beginning to turn their attention to high-quality Robusta—and African producers are ready to deliver. In January 2025, the World of Coffee Dubai trade show once again underscored the United Arab Emirates’ emergence as a serious player in global coffee trade—and Africa was at the center of this evolution. The event…

Kenya’s hospitality industry stands at an inflection point. It has the wind in its sails—growing demand, strategic geography, and rising investor confidence. However, headwinds persist: policy inefficiencies, infrastructure gaps, visa challenges, and market saturation in some urban segments pose a big threat. Still, with a coordinated effort between the public and private sectors, Kenya is poised to redefine luxury travel in Africa. Kenya’s luxury hospitality industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation. Buoyed by a 35 per cent surge in international visitor arrivals, an expanding middle class, and a stable macroeconomic environment, the East African country is fast emerging as a…

Kenya has secured seven investment deals valued at over $823 million, ranging from smart transport to agriculture and textile manufacturing from China firms. In tourism, China’s Hunan Conference Exhibition Group and Huatian Hotel Management Company will invest $23 million to establish a footprint in Nairobi. Anhui Jiubao Electronic Technology Co. Ltd, will commit $50M in the set p of a smart traffic component manufacturing plant. As relations with the U.S. sour, Chinese companies are diversifying risk and building parallel economic partnerships. As tensions between Washington and Beijing intensify, the East is rewriting its foreign investment playbook. At the center of…