• AfDB’s “green shares” plan is poised to unlock financing for high-impact wind and solar power plants in Djibouti and Egypt and energy storage systems in Cabo Verde.
• AFC expected to leverage green equity to mobilise debt funding from capital markets for on-lending to sub-projects in economies.
• Financing is poised to create at least 1,600 full-time work opportunities by 2031.

The AfDB has set aside a $30 million equity investment in Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) aimed at implementing innovative “green shares”, an initiative that is structured to raise more resources for climate action projects in African economies.

According to the Pan-African lender, “green shares” are financial instruments that are expected to unlock critical financing for high-impact projects, including wind and solar power plants in Djibouti and Egypt and energy storage systems in Cabo Verde.

In the financing model, AFC is expected to leverage the green equity and mobilise debt …

• Will U.S. policies empower Africa’s sustainable development, or will they prioritize American interests at the expense of local communities and ecosystems in the next four years?
• Africa’s vast mineral wealth makes the continent a focal point for global economic and strategic competition.
• By encouraging African nations to process and refine their minerals domestically, the U.S. can help Africa can create jobs and enhance economic benefits.

Africa’s natural resources hold a key position in shaping the future of the global mining and energy industry. From critical minerals essential for modern technology to immense energy reserves, the continent is both an opportunity and a battleground for international players.

As Donald Trump assumes a second term as President of the United States in 2025, questions abound regarding his administration’s approach to Africa’s resource wealth. Will U.S. policies empower Africa’s sustainable development, or will they prioritize American interests at the expense of local communities …

• As President-elect Donald Trump, a man who once referred to Africa as ‘shithole countries,’ assumes office, the question remains: Can the U.S. move beyond gestures and deliver on its promises to Africa?
• Under Democratic leadership, U.S. policy toward Africa has typically focused on programs aimed at long-term development, governance, and economic opportunities.
• So far, however, decisively countering China’s growing economic presence in Africa has remained elusive, whether under Trump, Biden, or even Obama, a man who has Kenyan roots.

Africa has long been a continent of paradoxes for U.S. foreign policy, celebrated for its potential but too often neglected when it comes to sustained engagement. President-Elect Donald Trump’s first presidency brought this ambivalence to a head, marked by his infamous dismissal of African nations as “shithole countries.” Now, with Joe Biden having finally visited Angola at the tail-end of his term, many are left wondering whether U.S.-Africa relations are being …

• Six African nations ranked among the top 10 globally for money laundering and terrorism financing risk by the 2023 Basel AML Index.
• Another 11 African countries are grey-listed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), including Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa.
• The overall economic ramifications of these crimes are staggering, from lost FDI to widespread inequality.

Money laundering, corruption, and terrorism financing are no longer hidden threats—they are destructive forces ravaging Africa’s economies.

With six African nations ranked among the top 10 globally for money laundering and terrorism financing risk by the 2023 Basel AML Index, the scope of the problem is frightening. Add to this the 11 African countries grey-listed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), including Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa, and the stakes become even more urgent. Mineral-rich South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo stick out like a sore thumb on this dirty list.…

• The Lobito railway project is central to Biden’s inaugural visit to Africa.
• President Biden seeks to enhance United States influence through the establishment of an additional rail connection to Zambia.
• A primary reason for the investment is to secure access to Africa’s abundant mineral resources.

Lobito Railway Central to Biden’s Africa Visit

President Biden, undertaking the inaugural visit to Africa by a sitting U.S. president in nearly a decade, considers the trip as an opportunity to mitigate Chinese influence in the continent and gain access to essential minerals that are vital for transitioning the global economy away from carbon-based fuels.

Central to this initiative is the 1,100-mile Lobito railway, which historically facilitated the transportation of uranium from the Congo for the Manhattan Project. A $866 million upgrade is being implemented, with the objective of facilitating the transportation of minerals, including copper and cobalt, from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of …

• With Acumen’s boost, d.light will speed up operations in Uganda, where about 2M people will access electricity for the first time.
• By selling customer receivables to Brighter Life by d.light (BLd) upfront, d.light subsidiaries now have immediate cash flow, enabling them to scale at speed.
• This funding model not only supports financial sustainability but also mitigates currency risks by conducting transactions in local currencies.

For solar-power equipment provider d.light, the journey to lighting homes across East Africa with reliable green energy is fast gaining momentum.

In the latest move, d.light has received a $5 million investment from Acumen’s Hardest-to-Reach (H2R) initiative. This funding is poised to enhance d.light’s presence in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

Acumen’s investment in d.light’s multi-country receivables financing facility, Brighter Life by d.light (BLd), aims to expand energy access for underserved communities in East Africa, creating a huge impact on millions of lives.

Acumen’s H2R is a …