Author: James Wambua

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has unveiled a $40 million funding plan to support multiple African companies for new messenger RNA vaccine development. This initiative addresses the challenge faced by millions of African people who were among the last to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

The Gates Foundation asserts this initiative will leverage over 20 years of collaborating with vaccine makers in poor countries. Further, it will harness recent scientific breakthroughs to develop cost-effective, high-quality health tools with a global reach.

Kenya will host the second Canada-Africa Business Conference early next year, bringing together investors from the two regions to explore key investment opportunities. Some of the target industries that the 19-20 February 2024 conference will focus on are medical care, infrastructure, energy, financing for Canada-Africa projects, and FinTech.
The two-day meeting in Nairobi’s Muthaiga Country Club follows the two regions’ first-ever program at Botswana’s Gaborone International Convention Centre in 2019.
In partnership with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), the Canada-Africa Business Conference will bring together key players who will also visit select locations.

Guinness Nigeria, a subsidiary of Diageo, will cease importing and distributing Diageo’s global brands, such as Johnnie Walker, starting April 2024 in a strategic shift that the firm says will help cushion itself from persistent forex hits. Instead, Johnnie Walker owner Diageo will establish a new subsidiary to import and distribute its range of spirits in the West and Central African markets after ending its seven-year-old contract with Guinness Nigeria.

In Africa, American Tower cut the emissions intensity per tower by 21% compared to their 2019 baseline due to rising use of solar. American Tower has invested over $350 million in energy reduction initiatives in Africa since 2018. Founded in 1995, American Tower is one of the largest, publicly held global real estate investment trusts. The American Tower Corporation, a big player in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), reduced its direct greenhouse gas emissions (scope 1) by 11 per cent last year, mainly by using more solar energy. In Africa, the corporation cut the emissions intensity per tower by 21…

Gabon, one of Africa’s most prolific oil and gas markets, has substantial offshore oil reserves that remain largely untapped, ranking it sixth in African oil production. The newly established Government of Transition has embarked on a concerted campaign to actively attract oil Exploration and Production (E&P) companies with the requisite capabilities to harness these valuable resources.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has thrown its weight behind a call by the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group urging African nations to stop borrowing loans primarily secured by their natural resources.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva met with Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the President of the AfDB Group, in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire. This meeting marked the first time an IMF head visited the Bank headquarters since its establishment in 1964.

Kenya police will lead a global force to Haiti, a country where violent gangs control 80% of the capital Port-au-Prince. At the UN Security Council, the US-backed resolution got 13 votes in favour, while China and Russia opted for abstention. Critics of the Kenyan-led mission have raised concerns about the track record of police forces in Kenya. Kenya has warmly embraced the United Nations Security Council resolution designating it to lead an international contingent of armed police to combat Haitian gangs. President William Ruto, in a speech delivered shortly after the resolution’s adoption, expressed his strong support, characterizing it as…

Last week, President Salva Kiir of South Sudan stepped into Moscow to meet his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin. Their talks echoed the promise of an expanding relationship. However, an air of curiosity tinged the talks as the pair discussed energy, trade, and the ever-hot subject of security. In a secluded meeting that held the weight of geopolitics, Kiir and Putin’s dialogue not only spanned the customary diplomatic matters but also ventured into the depths of political and security concerns within South Sudan.

Initially, Beem Africa was introduced as a bulk SMS services company. However, over the decade, it has silently evolved to become the driving force behind text messages from some of the most prominent brands. Companies like Toyota, Pizza Hut, Access Bank Tanzania, SPENN, CRBD Bank, among others, have harnessed the power of Beem Africa to connect with their audience in a more personal and effective way.

Chido Mpemba is the youngest senior official in the African Union and advocates for young Africans to have a prominent role on the global stage. Deniece Laurent-Mantey, a Special Advisor at the US State Department, cites African innovation, culture, talent, and creativity in addressing global challenges. Areej Noor aims to bridge the gap between African and diaspora women filmmakers and the international market. At the just-ending United Nations General Assembly, the Unstoppable Africa Summit showcased a group of exceptional young African women who are reshaping the narrative of Africa’s global influence. These three remarkable individuals represent the forefront of a…