Author: James Wambua

• To stay within the 1.5°C target, cutting emissions by 42 per cent by 2030 and 57 per cent by 2035 must remain a priority for all nations.
• This level of reduction requires more than just promises on paper; it demands immediate, impactful action on a global scale.
• The call to limit global warming to 1.5°C is growing more urgent.

As climate scientists and world leaders sound the alarm, the call to limit global warming to 1.5°C is increasingly urgent. According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in its 2024 Emissions Gap Report, the window for action is closing fast.

For the world to stay within the 1.5°C target established in the Paris Agreement, nations must slash greenhouse gas emissions by 42 per cent by 2030 and 57 per cent by 2035. This level of reduction requires more than just promises on paper; it demands immediate, impactful action on a …

• PickAlbatros operates a portfolio of 4-star and 5-star hotels located in key tourist destinations in Egypt.
• Vantage Capital’s exit highlights the resilience and growth of Egypt’s hospitality sector amid challenging global conditions.
• Egypt’s hospitality sector is a key pillar of the country’s economy, attracting 15 million international tourists annually.

Vantage Capital, Africa’s mezzanine debt fund manager, has announced the successful full exit of its investment in PickAlbatros Hotels, a leading hotel owner and operator based in Egypt.

PickAlbatros operates a portfolio of 4-star and 5-star hotels located in key tourist destinations along Egypt’s Red Sea coast, including Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Sahl Hasheesh, and Marsa Allam.

These resorts are popular for their luxurious beachfront access, fitness clubs, water parks, and swimming pools, making them major attractions for international tourists, particularly from Europe.

The investment exit marks a milestone for both Vantage Capital and the PickAlbatros group, highlighting the resilience and …

• Founded in 2022, Madica provides investment funding of up to $200,000.
• Nigeria-based Earthbond simplifies access to clean, affordable energy for African SMEs.
• Earthbond will gain from executive coaching opportunities, and access to Madica’s global network of investors for follow-on funding.

Madica, an investment program tailored for pre-seed stage startups in Africa, is channeling funding in Earthbond, a climate tech startup unlocking affordable, reliable solar energy for Nigerian SMEs.

Following the investment, Earthbond will participate in investment program which includes 18 months of dedicated mentorship support.

“We are excited to be investing in this exceptional startup as it tackles some of today’s biggest climate challenges. We won’t be able to continue the advancements of the African tech ecosystem without addressing power, and we are impressed by the team at Earthbond, their vision, and the technology that provides an affordable and eco-friendly solution. Earthbond has tremendous potential to drive an equitable clean …

• Mukuru has launched a new mobile wallet in Malawi to enhance international transfers and boost financial access, particularly for underserved and unbanked communities.
• The Mukuru Wallet features two pockets, Nyanja and Moyo, designed for domestic and international money transfers, with added benefits like no cash-out fees and interest on savings, promoting financial inclusion.
• The wallet is part of Mukuru’s digital transformation strategy, empowering Malawians to participate in the digital economy and modernizing financial services across the country.

Mukuru, a financial services platform popular for its world-class fintech solutions, has made a strategic leap in Malawi by launching its innovative mobile wallet, the Mukuru Wallet. This marks a significant milestone in the company’s mission to enhance financial access and streamline international transfers, particularly for underserved communities.

By offering a secure, efficient, and accessible way to manage funds, the wallet is poised to transform Malawi’s financial landscape.

Expanding financial access through innovation

• The pair have entered into their second, three-year agreement to scale and replicate successful Foreign Direct Investment partnership models.
• Agreement will set up mechanism to measure progress and results as well as joint marketing initiatives to strengthen cooperation and explore new investment opportunities.
• Both parties will carry out joint marketing efforts, training, and seminars to strengthen cooperation and explore new investment opportunities in Africa.

MIGA, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, has teamed up with African Trade and Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI), an insurance services provider, to accelerate the flow of foreign direct investments across Africa. As a key branch of the World Bank Group, MIGA specializes in offering guarantees, and this partnership aims to boost investor confidence throughout the continent.

The pair’s three-year partnership will be the second agreement between them aimed at maximizing development impact across economies in Africa, a continent that is grappling with a myriad of …

• The AIM Congress 2025, scheduled for April 7-9 in Abu Dhabi, will gather global startup entrepreneurs, investors, and regulators under the theme “Connecting Visionaries and Building Futures.”
• The event aims to provide startups with insights, strategies, and opportunities to leverage the latest technologies and trends in the evolving digital ecosystem.
• Participants will collaborate on fostering innovation, forming cross-border partnerships, and driving growth towards building future unicorns.

For startup entrepreneurs globally, the primary dream is to see their idea evolve into one thing: unicorn. To achieve this feat, however, one has to invest a fortune in time, strategy, networks, tech to name but a few, and navigate the world of financing with military precision.

At the upcoming AIM Congress 2025, startup entrepreneurs across the world will be converging in Abu Dhabi in a meeting themed “Connecting Visionaries and Building Futures: Insights and Strategies for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Visionary Startups & …

• It is challenging to maximise AI’s benefits for children’s education and growth, while also ensuring their privacy, healthy development, and emotional well-being.
• From privacy concerns and the danger of over-trust to the spread of misinformation and possible psychological effects, AI challenges are many.
• Information collected from AI chatbots, when used for malicious purposes, can enable powerful manipulative tactics to spread misinformation, and polarisation.

Across Africa and the world, artificial intelligence is powering one of the most defining revolution in the history of mankind. In just under two years, Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Microsoft’s Copilot are increasingly assuming a central role in the lives of individuals, organisations and governments. AI-powered platforms are rapidly becoming a significant part of our daily lives.

For instance, with tech giants Meta integrating AI chatbots into popular social media communications platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, the technology is more …

• Kenya solidifies its position as East Africa’s tourism hub, with Nairobi chosen to host the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit for 2025, 2026, and 2027.
• The summit, which draws hundreds of innovators, government leaders, and tourism experts, will boost Kenya’s post-COVID tourism recovery.
• Organized by TEAMS Africa, the event underscores Nairobi’s growing prominence on the global tourism stage following a successful edition in Namibia.

Kenya, East Africa’s travel and tourism industry hub, has yet again cemented its position in the hospitality sector after the capital Nairobi was picked to host the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge (AYTIS) for the years 2025, 2026, and 2027.

This feat further reinforces Kenya as a tourism destination of choice as the industry continues to register growth post the Covid-19 economic fallout.

AYTIS is a platform that is fashioned to promote and uplift innovative investors within the dynamic tourism industry in …

• The International Property Show (IPS) contributes to achieving the goals of Dubai’s Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033.
• Currently, Dubai’s property industry is experiencing growth powered by a rising population and business.
• Dubai has long been recognized as a trailblazer in modern property investment in the region.

Players in the real estate industry from across the world will be converging in Dubai next year in a showcase that is poised to strengthen the Gulf city’s leadership in fostering collaboration among private sector investors.

In an expo scheduled between April 14 and 16, Dubai is gearing up to host the 21^st edition of the International Property Show (IPS) at the World Trade Centre. This event aligns with the recently announced Dubai’s Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033, which aims to strengthen Dubai’s global leadership in this vital industry.

In addition to an expansive expo, IPS 2025 is set to feature conferences sessions, …

• The trio’s collaboration focuses on a joint response that will help countries better prepare and respond to public health threats.
• Trio says their alliance will leverage each other’s expertise to help countries strengthen pandemic preparedness and enhance resilience during pandemics.
• According to the WHO, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for new sources of financing to bolster health systems.

The leaders of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group (WBG), and the World Health Organization (WHO) have agreed on a broad-based cooperation to boost the world’s pandemic preparedness.

In a statement to the press, the three global institutions said this cooperation will allow a scaling up of support to countries to prevent, detect, and respond to the next global health crisis.

“The stepped-up collaboration with the World Bank Group and the World Health Organization will help our institutions complement and leverage each other’s expertise to help our members …