diplomacy&development

Impact investment pioneer announces partnership and plan to bring green infrastructure projects to local African communities. The United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) is pleased to announce the signing of a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the leading global impact investment firm Pegasus Capital Advisors and its Subnational Climate Fund at the Local Climate Action Summit held at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The MoU signing, which took place on December 2nd, marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between UCLG Africa and Pegasus Capital Advisors and reinforces their mutual commitment to advancing sustainable development across Africa. The Local Climate Action Summit saw the convergence of key decision-makers, experts, and stakeholders from around the world who gathered to address pressing global challenges related to climate change and sustainable urban development. The partnership betw

La Banque de développement de l'Afrique australe (DBSA) et Cités et Gouvernements Locaux Unis d'Afrique (CGLU Afrique) ont annoncé la signature d'un mémorandum d'entente qui marque une étape importante dans leurs efforts de collaboration pour soutenir le développement urbain durable du continent africain. Lors d'une cérémonie qui s'est tenue le 10 décembre 2023 au pavillon de CGLU Afrique à la COP28, la Directrice Générale de DBSA, Mme Boitumelo Mosako et le Secrétaire Général de CGLU Afrique, M. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, ont formalisé leur engagement à créer l'Agence Territoriale Afrique pour le Commerce et l'Investissement (ATIA). Il s'agit d'un Fonds Commun de Créances (FCC) dédié au financement de projets qui amélioreront la résilience, l'infrastructure et le bien-être général des villes africaines. Ce partenariat stratégique vise à relever les défis en constante évolution auxquels sont confrontées les zones urbaines et à catalyser la cro

The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that marks a significant milestone in their collaborative efforts to support sustainable urban development across the African continent. In a ceremony held on 10 December 2023 at the COP28 UCLG Africa Pavilion, DBSA Chief Executive Officer, Ms Boitumelo Mosako and UCLG Africa Secretary General, Mr Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, formalised their commitment to establishing the African Territorial Trade and Investment Agency (ATIA). This is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) dedicated to financing projects that will enhance the resilience, infrastructure, and overall well-being of African cities. This strategic partnership aims to address the evolving challenges faced by urban areas and to catalyse economic growth and social development. ATIA will serve as a dedicated financial entity designed to mobilise resources for crit

This is a significant milestone as it is the first ever sustainability-linked loan to a sub-Saharan African financial institution. A syndicate of European Development Finance Institutions (EDFIs) led by Proparco, and including Norfund, DEG, FMO and EFP, has announced a US$200 million Sustainability-Linked Loan to support Ecobank Group’s ( www.Ecobank.com ) Sustainability and Climate strategy. This is a significant milestone as it is the first ever sustainability-linked loan to a sub-Saharan African financial institution. The facility is linked to two major climate commitments including Climate Disclosures and the definition of a Climate Strategy. The facility also includes a Climate Action Plan. Proparco, in partnership with the German consulting firm IPC, will provide long-term advisory support to Ecobank Transnational Incorporated’s teams to achieve these ambitious targets. Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) is the Lomé based parent company of the Ecobank Group, which oversees

AFC and CDP join forces, signing a EUR50 million loan facility to fuel Africa's sustainable future through renewable power, energy efficiency, and climate-resilient infrastructure projects The 10-year facility will enable AFC to accelerate its efforts in addressing Africa's infrastructure deficit while financing projects that contribute to mitigating climate change. Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) ( www.AfricaFC.org ), the leading infrastructure solutions provider on the continent, and Italian development finance institution Cassa Depositi e Prestiti SpA (CDP) ( www.CDP.it ) have signed a EUR50 million loan facility agreement on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai. The financing will play a crucial role in supporting AFC’s investments in renewable power, energy efficient projects and climate-resilient infrastructure. The 10-year facility will enable AFC to accelerate its efforts in addressing Africa's infrastructure deficit while financing projects that contribute to mitigatin

Quentyn Taylor, Director of Information Security, Canon Europe It’s no longer enough to just print and sell a product. In the modern print landscape, businesses in Africa need to think about creative solutions to meet customers’ needs, while maintaining cyber hygiene with a 360 -degree approach. With Africa’s print industry projected to reach a staggering value of US$235.3 million by the end of 2031, the digital disruption has continued to introduce new security challenges. Security is becoming a priority for many businesses, but the speed at which the cybersecurity landscape is evolving and the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks means a detailed understanding of where some of the biggest risks are coming from is limited amongst many CISOs and IT managers. By 2025, the cost of cybercrime for businesses is predicted to reach $10.5 trillion, up from $8 trillion in 2023. Despite this trend, many businesses are overlooking and neglecting high-risk areas such as print security, inadv

Le développement d'un système alimentaire africain durable est une question vitale qui doit être traitée de toute urgence. L'agriculture africaine subit déjà les répercussions du changement climatique, les petits exploitants étant les plus touchés. On estime que les petites exploitations de moins de deux hectares produisent plus de la moitié des calories générées par l'alimentation dans le monde. La majorité de ces exploitations n'ont qu'un accès limité, voire inexistant, à des intrants coûteux tels que les machines, les outils, les semences et les engrais, et dépendent essentiellement des précipitations pour l'irrigation. En raison de ce faisceau de contraintes, les petits exploitants agricoles sont plus sensibles aux phénomènes météorologiques violents tels que les sécheresses prolongées et à la variabilité climatique induite par le changement climatique. L'adaptation agricole est urgence absolue. Le rapport mondial 2022 sur les crises alimentaires, mis à