Category: Key developments

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a €23 billion investment commitment for Africa during the Africa Forward Franco-African Business Forum in Nairobi, as France seeks to deepen economic ties with the continent through a renewed partnership model centered on investment and trade.

Israel has launched a mobile climate research laboratory in Kenya to strengthen climate monitoring and improve access to scientific data across Africa, where experts say a shortage of reliable ground-based measurements continues to weaken climate planning and policy decisions.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, has teamed up with Standard Chartered to introduce a $300 million risk-sharing facility aimed at improving access to supply chain finance across Africa.

Africa faces a $100 billion annual agriculture financing gap, limiting productivity, increasing food imports, and exposing structural weaknesses across the continent’s food systems.

British International Investment (BII), the UK government’s development finance institution, has announced a new five-year plan to channel £9 billion into African economies, with a strong push to attract private investors and expand activity in underserved markets.

The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has formalized plans to open its first regional office in Nairobi following the signing of a Host Country Agreement with the Government of Kenya, marking a new phase in infrastructure financing and industrial development across East Africa.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised its economic outlook for Africa, warning that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is undermining growth prospects across the continent and adding fresh pressure on already fragile economies.

Google has unveiled the 10th cohort of its Google for Startups Accelerator Africa, selecting 15 startups from a highly competitive pool of close to 2,600 applicants.

Launch Africa Ventures has been named investment advisor for the first phase of the Botswana Tech Fund, a new venture vehicle that plans to support technology and tech-enabled businesses across Southern Africa.