Browsing: Green Bonds

• Zimbabwe is experiencing crippling power outages characterized by black-outs that can extend to as much as 19 hours a day.
• The electricity shortage is now common place with South Africa recently announcing Stage 6 power cuts.
• The debt capital markets, specifically the issuance of green bonds is a possible solution to rolling black-outs.

Zimbabwe is in the middle of a power crisis that can be attributed to the low water levels at the country’s Kariba Dam which has in times past been used to supplement the country’s power needs. Power outages are a part of every day living in the country.

However, the latest power crisis seems to be more intense threatening to scupper economic growth. Businesses and citizens have had to adjust to erratic power supply schedules. It is now commonplace for people to wake up at midnight to iron their clothes and use their electric appliances as this …

• Importance of Green Finance in Africa
• The role of Green Bonds to drive infrastructure development in Africa
• Why Green Bonds are good for countries such as Kenya and Nigeria

Africa’s renewables sector is now beginning to take off, as green bonds are creating an opportunity for Africa to generate more of the finance it needs for renewable energy projects itself. Despite this, Africa is still dependent on non-African investors to purchase a significant portion of the bonds that are currently available.

In recent weeks, we have heard about the emergence of Green Bonds in Africa. Kenya has issued its first Green Bond in 2019 and Nigeria has also recently gotten on board. We will take a look at these new green finance instruments and their potential impact on African countries. In the meantime, we’ll also discuss the importance of green finance in Africa and the role that Green Bonds …

Thirty-eight emerging market economies, including five countries in Africa, have initiated key banking reforms to drive development and fight climate change, according to the second Global Progress Report of the IFC-facilitated Sustainable Banking Network (SBN).

The SBN Global Progress Report shows that regulators and banking associations in countries in Africa are adopting national sustainable finance policies and voluntary principles as well as advancing green bond markets and innovative green lending policies.

“African countries will be among the hardest hit by climate change and Africa already faces daunting challenges around job creation and inequality,” said Kevin Njiraini, IFC’s Regional Director, Southern Africa & Nigeria. “Advancing sustainable finance is critical to help the region build competitive and resilient financial services that support inclusive economic development.”

In addition to providing practical resources for countries undertaking sustainable finance reforms, the report also highlights the knowledge shared by SBN members – a hallmark approach of …