Author: James Wambua

As climate tech gains momentum globally, off-grid solar provider d.light projects that over 500,000 customers will benefit from its loyalty program by December 2024. Under the deal, customers who make regular payments on their PayGo products will redeemed for discounts on future purchases and power tokens. One of the most notable innovations in the climate tech sector is the pay-as-you-go (PayGo) model, where customers pay for products in installments. In a first in Africa, d.light, a global provider of solar-powered household products and affordable finance for low-income households, has launched a new customer loyalty program, targeting approximately 500,000 clients across…

This funds will support an estimated 235,000 households in Malawi’s Lower Shire and Southern regions. The ongoing El Niño phenomenon in Malawi is one of the worst on record that has wreaked havoc on families. By September 2024, a total of $62M in disaster risk insurance payouts will go to countries affected by El Niño in Southern Africa. In the face of a roiling climate crisis, drought-hit families in Malawi have received a lifeline in the form of a $11.2 million insurance payout. This critical support, facilitated by the African Risk Capacity (ARC) Group and the African Development Bank (AfDB),…

The strong performance of key subsidiaries in Rwanda, DRC, and Kenya largely drove growth in customer deposits. Equity South Sudan emerged as a standout performer, posting a 48% jump in revenue. Collectively, the subsidiaries accounted for 55% of the group’s revenue and 58% of pre-provision operating profits. In the six months to June 2024, regional lender Equity Group posted strong results amid a tough macroeconomic environment marked by high interest rates and currency woes. An analysis of the Group’s performance shows that subsidiaries spread in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, and South Sudan played a pivotal role…

Africa CDC has announced an ambitious alliance with vaccine maker Bavarian Nordic to secure 10 million doses of the mpox vaccine by the end of 2025. Vaccine maker Bavarian Nordic says it can supply up to 2 million doses by the end of 2024. Mpox outbreak has been particularly severe, prompting Africa CDC to declare it a PHECS on August 13, 2024. In response to the escalating threat of mpox across the Africa, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has announced an ambitious plan to secure 10 million doses of the mpox vaccine by the end…

Pepea’s investment will provide Kenya-based Gaea Foods with the working capital necessary to meet growing demand from both new and existing customers. This, in turn, will enable the company to source from a larger number of smallholder farmers, further strengthening the local agricultural economy. Launched in 2023, Pepea Fund was created to provide funding for early-stage companies. Gaea Foods, a Nairobi-based potato processing company, has become the first-ever investment of Pepea, an impact fund from Oxfam Novib managed by Goodwell Investments, marking a historic milestone for the fund This move not only highlights the potential of Gaea Foods in the…

A key aspect of the ShafDB and CPF Group alliance is the setup of a Housing Solutions Fund for Kenya. By co-financing projects and providing capital raising and technical support, this Fund aims to catalyze the development of affordable housing across Kenya. The ShafDB and CPF Group alliance exemplifies the potential of Public Private Partnerships to drive meaningful change in the housing sector. Kenya’s housing crisis has long been a pressing issue, with millions of citizens lacking access to decent and affordable housing. However, a new development seeks to address this challenge, following a partnership between two key players in…

Suspected mpox cases across the continent have surged past 17,000—a sharp increase from 7,146 cases in 2022 and 14,957 cases in 2023. The disease has rapidly spread from the epicentre, DRC to at least 13 African countries, including nations previously unaffected such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Already, Africa CDC has entered into an alliance to provide over 215,000 doses of the MVA-BN® vaccine—the only Mpox vaccine approved by the FDA and EMA. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared the ongoing Mpox outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS). This…

New report identifies 24 leading Africa-focused supply chain innovators who are at the forefront of this transformation. These innovators have partnered with over 100 manufacturers and 75 public health institutions, reaching more than 50,000 providers and directly delivering health products to approximately nine million consumers. Collectively, these supply chain leaders have generated nearly $200 million in annual revenues. A new wave of innovation is powering health product access in Africa, reshaping how medical products are accessed across the continent. Despite the formidable challenges posed by economic pressures and declining investments in technology, a select group of innovators is rising to…

Though encouraging that the number of female CEOs has risen from 230 (9.6%) in 2023 to 310 (11.1%) in 2024, these numbers show a tech segment that is still heavily dominated by men. Interestingly, smaller ecosystems such as Zambia, Rwanda, and Senegal are outperforming traditional hotspots like South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, and Kenya in terms of female leadership. Between January 2022 and June 2024, startups with female co-founders raised $747M, representing just 11.9% of the total, while those led by female CEOs secured only $289M. The African tech ecosystem, renowned for its dynamic growth and innovative potential, is transforming. Yet,…

In July, South Africa’s private sector posted the quickest fall in output and new orders since March Official statistics show that the country’s inflation was at a near four-year low. Business confidence was however at the highest levels since February 2022. As South Africa stepped into the second half of 2024, the country’s economy continued to face challenges, with the private sector contracting for the second month in a row. The latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) report from S&P Global paints a complex picture—while the contraction deepened in July, there are also signs of optimism that could signal a brighter…