Author: The Exchange

Despite its $6.2Trn natural wealth, Africa remains “green rich but cash poor.” Projections show that had carbon sequestration alone been accounted for, Africa’s nominal GDP in 2022 could have increased by $66.1Bn. In Europe, carbon prices can reach as high as $200 per tonne, yet the same credits are traded for as little as $3 to $10 per tonne in Africa. At the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, African leaders are pushing for a fair valuation of the continent’s natural riches—spanning vast forests, carbon sequestration capabilities, and ecosystem services. They call on authorities to factor them…

Mozambique political unrest has caused losses of nearly $390 million, or 2.2 per cent of the gross domestic product. According to S&P Global Ratings, this situation has escalated the already high risks that the government will meet its domestic debt obligations. The ongoing post-election unrest continues unabated, and any currency devaluation is likely to exacerbate inflation and risk further destabilization. Mozambique Political Unrest Since last month’s disputed elections, deadly protests have rocked Mozambique’s economy. According to S&P Global Ratings, this situation has escalated the already high risks that the government will meet its domestic debt obligations. The company lowered its…

Meg Whitman, the US envoy to Kenya, has resigned with one year left in her term. Whitman became the second female American ambassador to Kenya. Despite her accomplishments in economic diplomacy, Ambassador Whitman faced sustained criticism of her stance on sensitive issues such as corruption, police brutality, and extrajudicial killings. Meg Whitman, the US envoy to Kenya, has tendered her resignation with one year left in her term amid criticisms over her handling of human rights issues in the country. This resignation comes a week after Donald Trump returned to the White House and also comes on the back of…

DeFi market is experiencing a surge in Total Value Locked (TVL), and hit nearly $97 billion in Q1 this year. Built on blockchain, DeFi bypasses traditional financial systems, allowing peer-to-peer transactions via “smart contracts.” At the AIM Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi—DeFi will be a key topic for global policymakers, regulators, and investors keen on the “Future of Finance”. The rapid growth of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is signaling a shift in the global finance ecosystem. Expected to grow at an annual rate of 46 per cent from 2023 to 2030, the DeFi market is experiencing a surge in Total Value…

Waste Management in Uganda is beset with the same challenges that most developing countries face. Tree Adoption Uganda (TAU) is a youth-based non-governmental organization that operates as a non-profit. WasteAid expanded its reach into Uganda earlier this year, launching programs to support a more robust circular economy and address the country’s growing waste problem. Waste Management Challenges in Uganda Waste Management in Uganda is beset with the same challenges that most developing countries face. Rapid urbanisation, a growing population, and limited resources have overexerted legacy waste disposal systems. Urban waste collection in Uganda is 600,000 tons, of which 40 percent…

As COP29 starts in Baku, Azerbaijan, African nations are set to drive the climate agenda, focusing on climate finance and redefining economic metrics to recognize the continent’s green assets. Africa’s ‘green wealth’ push seeks to quantify Africa’s contributions to global environmental health, valuing its vast carbon sinks, natural resources, and ecosystems. This initiative, led by the AfDB in an alliance with the Republic of Congo and Kenya, could reshape Africa’s economic standing. The annual United Nations climate conference, COP29, opens with a strong emphasis on climate finance, especially for developing nations that bear a disproportionate burden of climate change impacts.…

Across the Atlantic, Africans also have a vested interest in the outcome of the US election. The latest polls show that the current vice president and Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, has a slight, one-point lead, with Republican and former president Donald Trump a close second. The election outcome will have a number of implications for African economies, given that the US is one of the main trading partners. On Tuesday, November 5, Americans will vote to elect the 47th president of the United States of America. The latest polls show that the current vice president and Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, has a…

South Africa’s budget update has revealed that public finances face a mounting strain.  The tax revenue for the current fiscal year is projected to be $1.27 billion. President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed to transform the country into a giant construction site. South Africa’s Budget Reveals Strain to Public Finances South Africa’s latest budget update has revealed that public finances are facing mounting strain, emphasizing the urgency for the newly formed coalition government to attract additional investment into the region’s largest economy. The medium-term budget policy statement presented by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on Wednesday indicates that the fiscal deficit is…

Sudan has stepped forward, increasing its pledge to $3 million in the African Development Fund. Sudan’s pledge aligns it with other African nations, which have each committed to raise at least $1 million to the fund by 2025. With backing from The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Ghana, Africa’s commitment to funding its key projects is strengthening. African nations are coming together to secure a $25 billion replenishment for the African Development Fund (ADF), an ambitious target that signals a continent-wide push toward self-driven financing for projects. In the latest update, Sudan has stepped forward, increasing its pledge to $3…

Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) and the Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM) will tap Green, Sustainability-linked, and Social (GSSS) bonds to finance housing. Green bonds will fund eco-friendly housing projects while social bonds will finance projects that prioritize affordability and accessibility. At the same time, sustainability-linked bonds will support both objectives, ensuring a comprehensive strategy for tackling the current housing crisis. Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) has taken a new step toward addressing affordable housing needs in Africa through a partnership with the Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM), the regional stock exchange for the West African Economic and…