Author: James Wambua

• Clean Air Flagship was launched to save lives and slow climate change by boosting cooperation and reducing pollutant emissions.
• UNEP and CCAC’s Used Heavy Duty Vehicles and the Environment report provides a roadmap to reducing the sector’s emissions through standardizing, monitoring, and greening strategies
• The launch of a significant cost of inaction study supports the economic case to act on short-lived climate pollutants to limit hazardous global warming and climate disasters.

Government Ministers and partners of the UNEP-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) have this week put in place a raft of integrated climate and clean air initiatives designed to combat the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.

At the CCAC’s annual Climate & Clean Air Ministerial Meeting, which took place in Nairobi, Kenya, this week ahead of the sixth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6), countries and partners launched a Clean Air …

• Statistics show that Lake Chad has shrunk in area by some 92 per cent in recent decades.
• This fast-shrinking waterbody, partly due to the worsening effects of climate change, is putting roughly 50 million people at risk.
• AfDB is championing a strategy to restore the lake’s ecosystem to counter the tide of loss and destruction of livelihoods.

Once considered the sixth-largest inland water bair jordan 1 element deuce vaughn jersey adidas yeezy boost 350 turtle dove smith and soul durex intense vibrations ring custom youth nfl jersey smith and soul decathlon bmx adidas yeezy boost 350 turtle dove custom kings jersey kansas city chiefs crocs college football jerseys jordan max aura 4 fsu football jersey inflatable kayak ody on earth for livelihood, Lake Chad Basin has shrunk in area by some 92 per cent in recent decades. The shrinking of the waterbody, partly due to the worsening effects of …

• d.light and Chapel Hill Denham have closed $7.4 million in securitized financing to fund off-grid solar expansion in Nigeria
• The financing by Chapel Hill Denham’s Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund aims to scale up d.light’s low-cost pay-go offering of affordable, solar-powered products targeted at low-income households.
• This transaction signifies a pivotal stride in sustainable infrastructure investment in Nigeria, says Bolaji Balogun, CEO of Chapel Hill Denham.

d.light, a global provider of household products and affordable finance for low-income households, and Chapel Hill Denham, Nigeria-based alternatives asset manager, have sac à dos eastpak jordan proto max 720 yeezy boost 350 v2 hyperspace yeezy shoes under 1000 inflatable kayak sit top kayak custom kings jersey nike air max 90 futura sac à dos eastpak deuce vaughn jersey nike air max 90 futura 8 ft kayak kansas city chiefs crocs nike air jordan 1 elevate low kansas city chiefs crocs announced closing a …

• Startups seeking to scale across Africa face a unique set of communication challenges.
• While culture, infrastructure woes, and regulations pose significant challenges, innovation offers opportunities to overcome these hurdles.
• Players in the industry such as Beem are developing effective enterprise communication products that firms can tap into to scale their operations across Africa.

Africa is emerging as a hotspot for entrepreneurial activity, with startups acrborsa prima classe jock strap deuce vaughn jersey latex hood air jordan 1 low flyease air jordan 1 low flyease uberlube luxury lubricant 8 ft kayak oregon football jerseys inflatable kayak yeezy shoes under 1000 nike air jordan 1 elevate low custom sublimated hockey jerseys 8 ft kayak decathlon bmx oss various industries in different economies scaling up. However, as these startups expand across economies, they are encountering a unique set of communication challenges that often jeopardize their success.

From navigating the maze of cultural …

• Africa continues to grapple with food insecurity exacerbated by climate change and inadequate access to financing for both startups and food producers alike.
• In response, innovators and bold entrepreneurs are going digital, devising modern solutions to enhance food production.
• At the Africa Tech Summit in Nairobi, agri-innovation startups Homemade by Dropp, Koolboks, Samalife, BWS, Hello Tractor, Seabex and ReNile shared their entrepreneurial journey and reasons why they need financing to create value for farmers and consumers.

A number of startups with a focus on digital agricultural innovation in Africa are seeking fresh financing to scale and accelerate their growth across the continent, which is currently under pressure to feed a rising population.

These startups are eyeing opportunities in climate smart agriculture in Africa, the new frontier for business expansion globally.

Currently, agriculture remains the continent’s largest industry and employer. The industry is, however, facing significant challenges across the value chain, …

• The energy crisis in South Africa has significantly impacted the nation’s economic growth, potentially reducing it by up to 3.2 percentage points in 2022.
• President Cyril Ramaphosa declares that the end of load shedding in South Africa is “finally within reach.”
• This president’s assertion is a ray of hope for millions of citizens who have endured the disruptive effects of load shedding for far too long.

South Africa has long grappled with the scourge of load shedding, a term that has become synonymous with power cuts and energy instability.

However, this week, President Cyril Ramaphosa during his 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA) sparked optimism across the continent’s most advanced economy, suggesting that an end to frequent load shedding may finally be within reach.

President Ramaphosa’s Optimistic Proclamation

During his SONA in Cape Town, President Ramaphosa expressed confidence that South Africa is on the brink of overcoming its …

• Japan’s Toyota Tsusho Corporation will invest $5 million (KES800 million) in the Kenya Thika Vehicle Manufacturing initiative.
• A total of $93.7 million (KES 15 billion) will go towards the Meru Wind Farm Energy project, while $49.9 million (KES8 billion) will be invested in the Isiolo Solar Energy initiative.
• Japan is also readying $468.5 million (KES75 billion) for Kenya’s Menengai Geothermal Plant, as the Asian country promotes clean energy solutions.

In a move poised to reshape Kenya’s industrial landscape, Kenya and Japan have jointly announced plans to invest an estimated $617.2 million in East Africa’s largest economy, with a focus on bolstering key sectors of vehicle manufacturing and renewable energy.

This investment initiative marks a pivotal moment in the bilateral relations between Kenya and Japan, promising to unlock new opportunities for economic growth, employment for the youth, and sustainable development.

The cornerstone of this investment endeavor was laid this week with …

• According to authorities, tapping into DRC’s mineral wealth will yield significant returns for investors and contribute to the Congolese population’s socio-economic advancement.
• This strategic approach resonates with President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi’s agenda to foster job creation and entrepreneurial opportunities.
• Canadian mining giant Ivanhoe Mines is cited as an example of a “modern investor” doing business in DRC.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is embarking on a bold mission to harness its untapped mineral wealth, valued at $24 trillion, by courting “modern investors” to drive its mining-powered development plan.

At the forefront of this initiative is Mr. Miguel Kashal Katemb, the Director General of the Regulatory Authority for Subcontracting in the Private Sector (ARSP), who articulated the nation’s aspirations at the 30th annual Mining Indaba in Cape Town, South Africa.

In his address to the audience of investors, Mr Katemb underscored the DRC’s openness to all investors while emphasising the …

• Landlocked Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso lack direct access to the sea, presenting unique challenges in their future economic relationships.
• Nigeria’s imports from Niger have been on the rise, reaching $33.4 million in 2022 from $25.7 million in 2021.
• Mali witnessed a substantial surge in exports to Nigeria, posting 246% increase to $17.4 million in 2022.

In a seemingly synchronized turn of events, the West African nations of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have declared their exit from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas).

This move announced in a joint statement on Sunday by the junta leaders of the three landlocked Sahel nations, cited their “sovereign decision” to sever ties with Ecowas without delay.

The decision by Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to withdraw from the Ecowas raises concerns about potential lost opportunities in trade with Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa, as well as with other countries …

• Experts project that Côte d’Ivoire seeks to sell its Eurobond and around 8.50 per cent to 8.75 per cent for a ticket size of between US$1 billion to US$1.25 billion.
• Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire have been key players, with the values of their Eurobond issuances typically ranging from $200 million to $1 billion.
• The annual value of Eurobonds issued by West African governments witnessed a remarkable surge, increasing from $200 million in 2007 to $2.25 billion in 2014.

As the markets open in the new year, all eyes turn to Côte d’Ivoire, which has announced a plan to lead the continent in issuing a Eurobond—the first in Africa after a nearly two-year break.

Positioned on the verge of economic resurgence in 2024, Côte d’Ivoire is poised to become the first sub-Saharan African nation to issue a Eurobond as the global financial markets ease following a period of high …