• It is not easy to create a common currency since it needs the creation of a central monetary system for several nations
• The AU and ECOWAS should reconsider their approach—a common physical currency—and move their attention to building a common digital currency, as the EU is doing
• With the establishment of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which allows for the simple conversion of numerous African currencies, some progress—or maybe too little—has been achieved
• When turned into digital money, Africa’s weak currencies have little chance against stablecoins backed by the US dollar

It is not easy to create a common currency and it would need the creation of a central monetary system for several nations.

This is a regime that, given the diverse economic demands of countries, may be judged undesirable for some member states. Africa’s desire for economic and monetary integration dates back many years.

African Union

• Degan Ali, has been advocating for a movement dubbed “decolonizing aid”, which seeks to decenter the voices of Western decision-makers and shift more power to nonwhite and local leaders in the global south.
• Ali said they were going to try and turn the US$5 million Scott grant and other funds they get in the next few years and grow Adeso into a US$30 million to US$50 million endowment in the next ten years
• Adeso is also planning to launch a new online platform, a website called Kuja Link, that will allow organizations worldwide to create connections with philanthropists

For the last decade, donors and funders worldwide have capitalized on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and nonprofits to issue humanitarian aid in Africa at the grassroots level.

One such donor is billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.

Scott issues a US$5 million grant to Adeso

MacKenzie issued a US$5 million grant to Adeso, …

• Through its app, Zenda allows parents to pay fees directly to schools, all while streamlining collections by enabling schools to accept and manage online payments
• Parents do not necessarily need to provide bank deposit slips as proof of payment because all transactions on Zenda happen in real-time
• Zenda’s users have increased 20 fold, with the app reaching over US$100 million in annual contracted payment volumes by the close of last year

UAE- based startup Zenda is now eyeing Africa as its next frontier market for growth. 

The company which is looking to change how parents pay school fees and the way in which educational institutions manage the collection of fees is looking to expand its reach to Africa. 

Formerly known as nexopay, the firm plans to penetrate the African market through Egypt in the coming months as the firm embarks on a growth drive accelerated by a US$9.4 million seed …

• There is a huge need for business owners, policymakers, and African leaders, in general, to capitalise on the investment in more research, higher education and science
• Academic institutions need to build skills and knowledge of young professionals in areas of research, innovation, science and technology in order to benefit from the natural resources and improve the livelihoods of East Africans
• Africa has the strongest growing scientific production currently at 38.6 per cent since the start of 2012 with the number of authors subsequently growing at a slightly higher rate of 43 per cent over the same period

The Academic Public-Private Partnership Forum (APPPF) has called for more funding to be availed to Africa’s researchers and innovators. This will largely drive up the continent’s sustainable economic development.

According to data by statista.com, despite Africa comprising 12.5 per cent of the global population, the continent still only accounts for less than 1 …

The legal tender title of bitcoin in the country implies the acceptance of cryptocurrencies as a legal means of payment in any transaction through specific rules and regulations. This means that no vendor, trader or organisation can deny service payment through bitcoin as illegal.

This move comes after several countries in the continent have restricted trading in bitcoin, and most of them are lukewarm about the market.

The legalisation of bitcoin in the first African country will transform the country’s infrastructure and facilitate the blockchain technology and web3 applications to thrive. With legalising cryptocurrencies, the Central African Republic is moving towards a new path of technological development and economic performance. This dynamic field is popular among investors worldwide and ever-present as full-fledged assets in the portfolios of the world’s largest financial players such as Microsoft, Meta and Amazon.…

• Over the years, Morocco has been riding on its strategic position on Europe’s edge to build its success on low-cost production of low-cost goods, including textiles and food, through trade pacts with the European Union
• Automotive was among the first industries to establish itself in Morocco and has become one of its success stories. 
• Morocco’s aerospace exports, according to official estimates, increased by 21.9 per cent last year to $1.6 billion after plunging by over 30% in 2020 as a result of the global aircraft industry crisis prompted by the Covid-19 epidemic.

Over the years, Morocco has been riding on its strategic position on Europe’s edge to build its success on low-cost production of low-cost goods, including textiles and food, through trade pacts with the European Union. 

However, the emphasis has shifted to higher-value, higher-tech industries such as the automotive industry, aerospace, and pharmaceuticals, with Moroccan firms collaborating with foreign …