Major International Business Headlines Brief ::: 01 August 2025
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Major International Business Headlines Brief ::: 01 August 2025
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ü Rwanda Allocates Over 8% of Its Budget to Fighting Climate Change
ü Nigeria: Tinubu's CNG Initiative Solution to Nigeria's Energy Crisis - Expert
ü African Leaders Urge Nuclear Energy Adoption to Drive Growth
ü Ethiopia: African Single Electricity Market Program Gains Momentum
ü African Nations Urged To Form 'Strong Coalitions' To Bridge Funding Gap for Development
ü Rwanda: Kagame Meets New AfDB Boss
ü Rwanda: Fuel-Powered Construction, Farming Machinery to Undergo Emission Testing
ü Nigeria: Niger State Drags Govt to Supreme Court Over 13% Derivation
ü Africa: Fields, Funds, and Digital - How Women Are Driving Africa's Economic Future
ü Nigeria: No, Nigeria's Central Bank Has Not Extended Recapitalisation Deadline for Bureau De Change Operators to December 2025
ü West Africa: Sahel Countries Navigate Uncertainty Following Split From Ecowas Bloc
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Rwanda Allocates Over 8% of Its Budget to Fighting Climate Change
The Government has allocated over 8% of its 2025/26 fiscal year budget to environmental protection and combating climate change , according to Fred Sabiti, National Technical Advisor on Environment and Climate Change Mainstreaming at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN).
ALSO READ: Rwanda Faces $7 Billion Funding Gap to Implement Climate Action Plan
The cabinet recently approved the government's planned expenditure of over Rwf7 trillion for the 2025/26 fiscal year, which commenced on July 1.
Sabiti revealed the allocated share of the climate change fight to the national budget during a workshop on promoting climate finance and environmental stewardship held at the parliamentary precinct on July 31.
The workshop aimed to empower Members of Parliament by enhancing their knowledge and leadership in climate action and environmental stewardship, and by providing key information on climate finance and investment opportunities available in the country.
"The budget allocated to environmental protection and fighting climate change was 0.4% before 2009. This increased to 2.5% in 2013, 4.9% in 2021, and 8% in 2025. This amounts to over Rwf600 billion in this year's budget," Sabiti explained.
ALSO READ: 10 ways Rwanda is spending on climate adaptation in new budget
He said the budget was increased to help the country continue to cope with flooding, and to build climate-resilient agriculture and infrastructure, among other priorities.
"The government needs a substantial budget to rehabilitate damaged infrastructure," he noted.
In 2024/25, the Ministry of Environment alone secured Rwf154.4 billion in the fiscal budget.
According to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), 43 percent of the Ministry of Environment's budget was allocated to climate change adaptation efforts during the previous year.
Adaptation encompasses a wide range of measures aimed at reducing vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.
Mitigation-related interventions received 20 percent, while the remaining 37 percent was directed towards interventions that fall under both categories.
Overall, budget allocations for climate change-related interventions are expected to increase in nominal terms over the medium term, rising from Rwf579.8 billion in 2024/25 to Rwf631.2 billion in 2025/26, and Rwf667.4 billion in 2026/27.
According to Sabiti, Rwanda continues to secure international financing.
"Last year Rwanda secured $319 million to combat climate change," he noted.
Rwanda is facing a financing gap of Rwf6.5 billion to implement a 10-year climate action plan up to 2030.
The country's climate action plan comprises 557 specific projects.
Agriculture takes 55 % of total funding in order to be able to adapt to climate change.
Read the original article on New Times.
Nigeria: Tinubu's CNG Initiative Solution to Nigeria's Energy Crisis - Expert
Abuja — Critical stakeholders in the energy sector have commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's push for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), describing it as a strategic solution to Nigeria's energy challenges.
The initiative, aimed at promoting cleaner and more affordable energy, was hailed as a potential game-changer for the country's energy landscape.
The remarks were made at a summit on Energy Efficiency and Conservation for Global Warming Mitigation, organised by the Royal Embassy of Thailand and the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA).
The event, held in Abuja, brought together TICA alumni, energy experts, and international partners to discuss sustainable energy solutions.
Speaking at the summit, Engr. Solomon Oseagah, Managing Director of Excella U Energy Limited, emphasised the transformative potential of CNG.
"CNG may not be fully embraced by Nigerians yet, but it has the potential to resolve many of the energy issues we're grappling with," he said.
Oseagah noted that CNG offers a cleaner, more affordable, and efficient alternative to petrol and diesel, and he urged a shift in public mindset towards renewable energy and innovation.
He also praised President Tinubu's leadership, calling for a culture of sustainability to drive real progress in Nigeria's energy sector.
"The President's initiative on CNG is a step in the right direction," he stated.
Oseagah further highlighted the importance of international collaboration in tackling energy and climate challenges.
He expressed gratitude to TICA and the Royal Embassy of Thailand for their support, particularly in training professionals like himself.
"TICA has given us the tools and confidence to lead the change in our own countries. I'm grateful to be part of a global community of professionals passionate about sustainable energy," he said.
Oseagah reaffirmed his commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency.
"The energy challenges we face are global, but so are the solutions. Together, we're building a better, greener future," he said.
Reflecting on his participation in the 2023 TICA programme, Oseagah described it as a transformative experience that connected him to a global network of energy leaders.
He urged fellow alumni to continue fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing, stating, "Our success stories here in Nigeria will reflect the impact of TICA's investment in us."
The summit also highlighted the importance of involving young professionals and students in discussions about renewable energy and energy conservation.
Other speakers emphasised the vital role of the next generation in shaping Nigeria's energy future.
Thailand's Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Somchai Powcharoen, highlighted TICA's ongoing efforts to train individuals from both the government and private sectors.
He revealed that Thailand continues to offer postgraduate scholarships and training opportunities in key areas such as the sustainable economy, agriculture, health, and the digital economy.
The event served as a platform for knowledge-sharing and collaboration, reinforcing the importance of international partnerships in addressing Nigeria's energy and environmental challenges.
Read the original article on Vanguard.
African Leaders Urge Nuclear Energy Adoption to Drive Growth
Addis Ababa — Participants of African delegates at the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NEISA 2025) underway in the Rwandan capital of Kigali called for the accelerated adoption of nuclear energy to meet the continent's rising energy demand, support industrialization, and drive sustainable development.
As the continent's population is expected to exceed 3 billion in the next four decades, leaders stressed the importance of clean, reliable and scalable energy, particularly nuclear power.
"The future of the African energy landscape will continue to be driven by increasing energy demand and population growth," said Rwandan Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente during the opening ceremony.
The Prime Minister stressed the significance of uniting African nations in adopting renewable and environmentally friendly energy sources.
He underscored their potential to fast-track development milestones while preserving the environment.
Ngirente noted that 600 million Africans currently lack access to electricity. He highlighted nuclear energy as a key sustainable and non-polluting resource that can play a transformative role in boosting energy access and addressing climate challenges.
The Prime Minister called on African leaders to seize the opportunities offered by nuclear technologies, emphasizing the importance of establishing frameworks that can accelerate growth and foster inclusive development across the continent.
Running through Tuesday, the summit seeks to elevate nuclear energy as a key pillar of Africa's sustainable development.
NEISA 2025 is organized in collaboration with key international institutions, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Nuclear Energy Agency, World Nuclear Association, and leading regional financial institutions.
This summit brought together policymakers, energy leaders, and nuclear experts from over 40 countries to discuss developing small modular nuclear power plants (SMRs/MMRs).
These cutting-edge facilities aim to drive energy self-sufficiency, expand access to clean electricity, combat climate change, and further industrial growth across the continent.
Read the original article on ENA.
Ethiopia: African Single Electricity Market Program Gains Momentum
Addis Ababa — The African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM), a continental energy trading program that aims to interconnect all 55 African Union (AU) members through an efficient and affordable electricity market, is well in progress, AU officials remarked.
The remarks were made at the High-Level Technical Meeting on AfSEM and the African Continental Power System Master Plan on Monday at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.
Speaking at the event, Kamugisha Kazaura, director of infrastructure and energy at the AU Commission, said the institutional and operational foundation has been laid for a unified African electricity market, which delivers clean, reliable and affordable power to every corner of the continent.
"Activities are progressing well to define a common path forward to address critical technical and regulatory gaps and explore continental strategies for renewable energy deployment, trading, and manufacturing," Kazaura said.
Noting that more than 600 million Africans are still without access to electricity, Kazaura called for urgent and sustainable action to meet Africa's rapidly growing energy demand through the full implementation of the AfSEM.
Principal program officer at the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for African Development, Simbini Tichakunda said Africa is standing on the brink of an energy revolution that promises to transform the continent's economic future.
"The dream of AfSEM is coming to life. The 400 KV seamless power integration between Kenya and Tanzania, linking the grids of Kenya and Tanzania and synchronizing them with those of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a major step forward," Tichakunda noted.
He said the Eastern African Power Pool will be connected to the Southern African Power Pool by 2027.
The two day high-level technical meeting aims to operationalize AfSEM and CMP, ensuring alignment of strategic, technical, regulatory, and financial elements to achieve the African Union's energy transition goals.
Key stakeholders are participating at the conference to drive policy harmonization, mobilize investments, and define implementation roadmaps. The meeting will update Member States on progress and seek political support for the energy transition.
Read the original article on ENA.
African Nations Urged To Form 'Strong Coalitions' To Bridge Funding Gap for Development
Monrovia — As global financial aid continues to decline, experts warn of the increasing risks posed to low-income countries and urge regional stakeholders to look inward to fund much-needed development.
Speaking at the African Transformation online briefing on Tuesday, the Manager of Resources and Partnerships at the African Development Fund (ADF), Valerie Dabady, said the changing environment significantly affects the ADF's ability to mobilize resources during its 17th replenishment cycle.
The ADF is the concessional financing arm of the African Development Bank, which provides grants and low-interest loans to the poorest and "vulnerable countries", mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. The fund looks to donors, which include European nations and the U.S., every three years to replenish resources for development projects.
The organizers of Tuesday's briefing, the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) and its partners, said they aim to spark conversations about the challenges to Africa's development in the current environment and encourage "stronger coalitions".
During the briefing, Dabady focused on the need for African financial institutions to forge partnerships, saying the ADF wants to encourage existing partners to increase their support. She said countries in the region should look inward and leverage their "own sources of funds".
The ADF also announced that it is working on forging new ties with Golf Nations to fill the resource gap.
Earlier this year, AfDB's outgoing President Akinwumi Adesina said the bank was seeking to raise the U.S. $25 billion during this replenishment campaign, an ambitious target from the 16th cycle's U.S.$ 9 billion.
However, "even meeting ADF 16 cycle targets would represent a major victory", according to the Center for Global Development (CGD). This the center wrote in a paper which outlined the fundraising challenges facing the ADF, "potentially by significant amounts".
>From investments in infrastructure, agriculture, health, and education to non-project operations like technical assistance, the ADF is seen as a lifeline.
Zambia, for instance, has been "hopping" into ADF resources since 2018, against the backdrop of economic challenges, according to Joseph Chanda, Zambia's Assistant Director for Regional Management, who also spoke at Tuesday's briefing.
Chanda said ADF's financing has supported national and cross-border transports, as well as energy infrastructure. He said resources have also gone to livestock management and irrigation support projects.
For Chanda, the ADF must continue to fill this resource gap.
Rwanda: Kagame Meets New AfDB Boss
President Paul Kagame on Thursday, July 31, met with Sidi Ould Tah, the newly elected President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, at Village Urugwiro.
Their discussions focused on the strong collaboration between Rwanda and the Bank, and the future of this partnership as Tah prepares to officially take office in September, according to the Office of the President.
ALSO READ: Kagame receives outgoing AfDB president Akinwumi Adesina
Tah, a Mauritanian economist, was elected as the next AfDB President on May 29 during the Bank's annual meetings held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Tah, who succeeds Nigerian economist Akinwumi Adesina, will assume office in September.
This afternoon at Urugwiro Village, President Kagame met with Dr. @sidiouldtah, President-elect of the @AfDB_Group. Their discussion focused on the strong collaboration between Rwanda and the Bank, and the future of this partnership as Dr. Tah prepares to officially take office... pic.twitter.com/IlzNYUNONw-- Presidency | Rwanda (@UrugwiroVillage) July 31, 2025
The AfDB is a longtime economic partner of Rwanda.
Most recently, on July 14, the Bank approved €260.76 million (approximately Rwf435 billion) to support Rwanda's electricity infrastructure and clean energy access under the Rwanda Energy Sector Result-Based Financing (RBF II) programme.
ALSO READ: Rwanda secures over Rwf430 billion to scale up energy access
The funding package includes €173.84 million from AfDB and an additional €86.92 million (about Rwf145 billion) from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
In June, the Bank also approved a $500,000 grant to fund a feasibility study for the first phase of a proposed cable car transport system in Kigali, aimed at enhancing urban mobility.
Over the years, AfDB has played a key role in Rwanda's development, partnering with the government on projects that have transformed the agriculture sector, improved food security, and promoted sustainable infrastructure.
Read the original article on New Times.
Rwanda: Fuel-Powered Construction, Farming Machinery to Undergo Emission Testing
Fuel-powered machinery used in construction and agriculture is among vehicles that will undergo newly introduced carbon emissions testing, which is expected to start on August 18, according to Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA).
REMA Director General Juliet Kabera said this on July 30, in Kigali, while speaking to reporters about the new clean air campaign that the government has embarked on.
ALSO READ: Govt approves emission testing fees for non-electric vehicles
The campaign targets, among others, emissions testing for all non-electric vehicles, from motorcycles and hybrid cars to machinery used in construction and farming.
"As long as you own an engine and you're burning fuel, you are definitely releasing emissions," Kabera said, clarifying that the new testing is not only for cars and other forms of transport powered by fuel.
"So, the testing will be about making sure that the emissions you release are meeting the standards," she said, responding to why even off-road vehicles will also be tested.
ALSO READ: Air quality: Rwanda to start testing motorcycle emissions, enhance compliance
A cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, July 30, approved a new ministerial order establishing emission testing fees for all non-electric vehicles, including motorbikes. The move is part of efforts to improve air quality, enforce national emission standards, and protect public health, it indicated.
According to REMA, the emission testing will be done at the Traffic Police centres for vehicle mechanical inspections. Testing equipment is being installed at these centres, officials said.
Kabera said the clean air campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of clean air, pointing out that polluted air directly impacts our health, especially for vulnerable groups like children under five and the elderly.
She cited Ministry of Health data showing respiratory diseases as the leading cause of visits to healthcare facilities, a trend she said has correlation with the polluted air, especially in urban areas due to vehicle emissions, and in rural areas due to the use of biomass for cooking.
Kabera stated that the government had been monitoring air quality since 2017, which she daid continues to deteriorate due to population growth, increasing vehicle ownership, and lifestyle changes - whereby more people prefer motor transport to cleaner options.
"The campaign is here to say let's take care of our vehicles, let's do servicing timely and let's make sure that we do the testing," she said.
Read the original article on New Times.
Nigeria: Niger State Drags Govt to Supreme Court Over 13% Derivation
Abuja — Niger State Government has taken the Federal Government to the Supreme Court to challenge its omission as a beneficiary of the 13 per cent derivation.
The state, in the originating summons it filed through its team of lawyers led by Mr. Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, listed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice as the sole defendant in the case.
The plaintiff, among other things, urged the apex court to determine whether Niger State does not qualify to be classified among the states that produce natural resources and therefore is entitled to 13 percent derivation within the meaning of 162(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Africa: Fields, Funds, and Digital - How Women Are Driving Africa's Economic Future
>From agricultural lands to technology startups, African women are not only building, but they are endlessly reinventing the economy. Even when women are said to be the backbone of the family and the foundation of a nation, they are almost never credited for their victories.
As we mark Pan-African Women's Day 2025 on July 31, we celebrate the power, resilience, and leadership of African women who are shaping the continent's future. Women in Africa are not only taking a seat in the economy, but are actively participating in its transformation from a farm field to a tech hub. Despite significant progress, critical barriers such as limited access to education, financial resources, equal opportunities, and inadequate learning environments still hold back many women and girls from reaching their full potential.
African women are increasingly emerging as leaders in agriculture, pioneers in digital innovation, and champions of financial inclusion, driven by several targeted initiatives and broader structural changes across the continent.
"Agriculture, digital public infrastructure (DPI), and financial inclusion aren't just development priorities, when aligned, they unlock transformative economic opportunity across Africa, especially for women," said Natalie Africa, Interim Director of Economic Opportunity at the Gates Foundation.
Africa, a leader in the field of women's economic empowerment, in a conversation with allAfrica's Melody Chironda, shared how women are increasingly becoming agricultural leaders, pioneers in digital innovation, and champions of financial inclusion. She said that agriculture remains the continent's largest employer, particularly in rural areas where women make up 66% of the workforce. However, many face systemic barriers and gender norms that limit their access to resources like land, credit, and markets, preventing them from growing their incomes or scaling their impact.
"National systems like digital IDs, mobile payments, and interoperable data platforms make it possible for women to have identification that enables them to access credit, government services, and agricultural inputs directly and securely," she said.
However, integrating DPI, like digital IDs and mobile payments, with inclusive financial tools can help dismantle these barriers, allowing women to access credit, services, and markets more directly and securely. She said that connecting these systems doesn't just increase access, it shifts power, enabling women to move from economic participants to leaders.
Women move from being participants in the economy to becoming leaders within it.
The Gates Foundation's Interim Director of Economic Opportunity cites a Kenyan program supported by the Gates Foundation as an example of how digital public infrastructure, financial inclusion, and agricultural support intersect to drive a measurable impact. The initiative provides women farmers with digital extension services through mobile platforms, offering tailored advice on planting, harvesting, and climate adaptation, which boosts their yields and income.
"In 2024, a microfinance initiative was launched with support from the European Union, the European Investment Bank, the Gates Foundation, and KCB Bank Kenya, with a bold goal: to direct at least 80% of its financing to women. By lowering interest rates, adapting digital services to women's needs, and removing barriers like lack of collateral or credit history, the program is directly addressing the structural exclusions women face in accessing finance," she said.
She said such initiatives show how integrated solutions, rooted in digital access, sector knowledge, and financial inclusion, can unlock women's full economic potential.
Women in agriculture are often viewed as beneficiaries rather than leaders
Women in agriculture are frequently perceived more as beneficiaries of aid and interventions rather than as leaders who shape agricultural policy and practice. This perception is deeply rooted in cultural norms and traditional gender roles that often limit women's participation in decision-making and access to resources like land, financing, and education.
"African women have always demonstrated agency and leadership, whether in the household, in the community, or at the sovereign level... just look at the history of African women as warriors and queens. However, colonialism and development narratives have often stripped women of their leadership role, which has exacerbated poverty and poor development outcomes," she said.
She said that the Gates Foundation is "very intentional about positioning women as agents of transformation, not just recipients of support." This approach, she said, is part of the Foundation's gender transformative strategy, which aims to elevate women as leaders, innovators, and decision-makers throughout the agricultural value chain. "This is what we call a gender transformative approach," said Africa.
Supplied
Josephine Kimonyi, farmer, with her cattle in Makueni County, Kenya, on November 13, 2022.
In Nigeria, for example, the Foundation is working with women's producer cooperatives in rice and cassava value chains.
"These cooperatives receive business and digital training, access to markets, and are integrated into local agricultural policies," said Africa. "Women have always formed and led these groups. They are used to coming together to find solutions. By leveraging these groups and enabling them to have better access to information and finance, they can go even further in influencing decisions and increasing their incomes and standing in the community."
Africa said that women across the continent are already driving innovation and building resilient systems - what's missing is the visibility. "Their stories just haven't been told loudly enough," she said.
She also gave examples such as Dr. Clare Mukankusi in Uganda, who is developing climate-resilient bean varieties to boost nutrition and income for women farmers, and Josephine Kimonyi in Kenya, who returned to her family's land, doubled milk production with improved breeds, and turned that income into education for her five children, reinvesting in poultry and growing her farm into a thriving business. "These women, scientists, farmers, and entrepreneurs are leading agricultural transformation in real time," she said. "Our job is to recognize them, invest in them, and ensure that systems work for them."
It is critical that women have access to agricultural finance and services through digital public infrastructure (DPI), which includes mobile money systems and digital IDs.
"It's essential," she said. "Without a digital ID, a woman farmer might be invisible to formal systems, unable to open a bank account, register her farm, or receive subsidies. She said that without a digital ID, many women farmers are excluded from formal systems and opportunities, such as opening bank accounts or accessing subsidies. The Gates Foundation, she said, is focused on building an inclusive DPI that is designed for women and other more excluded groups.
Africa said that DPI acts as "the connective tissue of the digital economy that enables people to prove who they are, receive money, and securely share information, and when thoughtfully designed, it expands participation, reduces service delivery costs, and creates fairer, more dynamic markets."
She said that in Tanzania, as an example, the Foundation has supported efforts to digitize agricultural input subsidy programs. "Women receive their entitlements directly through mobile platforms. This reduces leakage, increases transparency, and strengthens women's agency in how they invest those funds," said the interim head of Economic Opportunity at the Gates Foundation.
Financial inclusion acts as a catalyst for a larger economic ecosystem by boosting productivity, fostering entrepreneurship, enhancing social equity, and supporting sustainable economic growth beyond just the agricultural sector.
Africa said that financial inclusion is a gateway to broader economic empowerment. "Try and imagine any business or economy thriving without access to capital. It just wouldn't be possible," she said.
She said that when women have access to financial tools like savings, credit, and insurance, they are empowered to take productive risks, such as investing in quality seeds or hiring labor. They can also better manage through tough seasons, maintaining household stability and building long-term resilience. In sub-Saharan Africa, where women make up nearly half of the agricultural workforce but face a $42 billion financing gap, access to finance can be transformative.
Drawing on experiences from Uganda, she said that women who save collectively are more likely to invest in their farms, educate their children, and participate actively in household decision-making. When women gain control over financial tools, their economic influence expands beyond agriculture. They're more likely to start small businesses, contribute to local markets, and invest in healthcare and education.
Digital tools play a transformative role in reshaping rural food systems by enhancing productivity, efficiency, transparency, and connectivity across the entire food value chain. These tools enable farmers to optimize resource use, improve crop yields, and reduce losses. Digital platforms also connect farmers to wider markets and reliable information, lowering transaction costs and expanding economic opportunities, especially for smallholders in rural areas.
Africa said that digital tools are fundamentally transforming rural food systems across Africa, making them not just more efficient, but more inclusive and resilient. "For smallholder farmers, many of them women, digital access can mean the difference between reacting to climate shocks and planning for them," she said.
She said that tools like mobile apps and SMS platforms help farmers to receive timely information, such as weather forecasts, input prices, agronomic advice, and market trends, enabling them to make faster, more informed decisions. In Ethiopia, the Gates Foundation has backed the Agricultural Transformation Agency's 8028 Farmer Hotline, a free mobile platform offering agronomic advice in local languages, which has helped millions of farmers improve planting and harvesting decisions.
Supplied
Josephine Kimonyi, farmer, with her cattle in Makueni County, Kenya, on November 13, 2022.
"We have also supported efforts to digitize the input subsidy system, allowing farmers, particularly women, to access e-vouchers for seeds and fertilizers directly, reducing their reliance on informal brokers. These kinds of tools help women negotiate from a position of strength, make timely decisions, and increase their income, key markers of growing economic agency," she said.
The strongest solutions are those developed by Africans, for Africans.
Africa said that local organizations understand context, culture, and what drives behavior change. She said that's why the Gates Foundation prioritizes working with national governments, local NGOs, women's associations, and agribusinesses to drive lasting change.
"We believe the strongest solutions are those developed by Africans, for Africans. The real engine of progress lies in Africa's own resources, government leadership, private-sector investment, and local innovation. As African institutions expand their capacity, we're committed to amplifying those efforts. Through every partnership, our goal is to nurture self-reliance and elevate local solutions, not just to solve challenges at home, but to shape global thinking on sustainable development."
The Gates Foundation supports a partnership with a local fintech company delivering microloans and agricultural training via mobile platforms in Senegal. "Their local presence ensures trust and usability, two things global solutions often lack," she said. "Scale happens when local systems own and adapt innovation."
She said that they look beyond participation to ownership and decision-making. Are women deciding how to use credit? Are they controlling income from their harvest? Are they influencing local policies?
In Rwanda, she said, the Foundation supported a digital land registration project that ensures women's names are on land titles, legally securing their right to farm and invest. When women gain secure assets and digital footprints, their bargaining power and economic agency grow. She said that economic agency also means enabling women to pursue their ambitions beyond agriculture, be it starting a business, entering the workforce, or advocating for change. And when this is done in a manner that lifts up the entire household and community, men also see the benefit and buy into such initiatives.
Closing the gaps
While digital systems hold transformative potential for agricultural inclusion, overcoming infrastructural, economic, educational, content-related, and governance challenges through coordinated, context-sensitive and sustainable approaches is critical to fully realize these benefits for rural farmers and the wider economic ecosystem. Africa is making progress in digital innovation, but fundamental infrastructure gaps still threaten to keep its benefits out of reach for millions.
"The digital divide carries real risks, especially for women," she said. "Globally, 1.4 billion adults remain excluded from formal financial services, and 54% of them are women. Without intentional design, digital systems can reinforce these gaps, limiting women's access to credit, markets, and opportunity."
Africa said that without intentional design, digital systems can actually reinforce inequality.
"Women face persistent barriers: less access to mobile phones, limited digital literacy, and lower trust in tech-driven platforms. If unaddressed, digital systems can deepen exclusion," she said. That's why the Gates Foundation focuses on a gender-intentional approach from mobile interfaces in local languages to agent networks that reach last-mile users.
She urged governments and development partners to place women at the center of their strategies, especially in agriculture and digital innovation.
"Start with women. When systems are designed for those most excluded, everyone benefits."
"Start with women, because when systems are designed for those most excluded, everyone benefits," she said. "That means designing for the real barriers women face: unpaid care burdens, limited mobility, restricted access to capital, and deeply entrenched social norms. It means investing in infrastructure, digital, financial, and social, that connects rather than isolates. And above all, it means trusting and elevating local systems and voices that know what works."
She said that the Gates Foundation is committed to catalytic partnerships that unlock women's economic power as a driving force for inclusive growth. "Because when women gain agency, income, and opportunity, the ripple effects lift families, strengthen communities, and power entire economies," said Africa.
Nigeria: No, Nigeria's Central Bank Has Not Extended Recapitalisation Deadline for Bureau De Change Operators to December 2025
No, Nigeria's central bank has not extended recapitalisation deadline for bureau de change operators to December 2025
IN SHORT: Despite many claims on social media to the contrary, the country's banking regulator has not extended the deadline for operators to reapply for a new licence. The deadline was 3 June 2025.
Posts on social media continue to circulate the claim that Nigeria's central bank has extended the deadline for bureau de change (BDC) operators to apply for a new licence under updated rules.
"BREAKING: CBN Extends Recapitalization of BDC Operators, See New Deadline," reads a Facebook post from 11 June 2025.
In May 2024, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) issued new operational guidelines instructing the operators to reapply for licences.
This followed the regulator raising the required operating capital, with a tier-1 licence requiring N2 billion (about US$1.3 million). This category can operate countrywide.
Those seeking a tier-2 licence, which allows operations within a single state, require a capital base of N500 million.
Before the reforms, the minimum capital requirement for obtaining a BDC licence in the country was 35 million naira.
The central bank then set a deadline of November 2024 for the operators to meet the new minimum capital requirements for their licence category.
However, later that month, Aminu Gwadebe, the president of the Association of Bureaux De Change of Nigeria, said the CBN had extended the deadline by six months to 3 June 2025.
The claim that the deadline has again been extended again, this time to 31 December, continues to circulate on Facebook.
But is this official? We checked.
CBN has not extended the deadline
We searched the CBN's official social media accounts for an extension notice but found nothing.
In June, acting spokesperson Hakama Sidi Ali issued a media statement saying the information was false and misleading, and that it should be disregarded.
According to Ali, 3 June remained the deadline. Since then, there have been reports of concern about the disproportionate geographical nature of those who have managed to meet this deadline.
Claiming that the CBN's recapitalisation deadline has been extended when it has not could result in regulatory violations, financial losses, market instability and a loss of public and investor confidence.
This claim also appears here, here, here and here.
Read the original story, with links and other resources.
Africa Check is a non-partisan organisation which promotes accuracy in public debate and in the media. Twitter @AfricaCheck and www.africacheck.org
West Africa: Sahel Countries Navigate Uncertainty Following Split From Ecowas Bloc
Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso face the task of untangling themselves from West Africa's main regional bloc, Ecowas, after officially cutting ties this week. The six-month window to reverse their withdrawal expired on Tuesday. With no sign of a return, both sides must work out what the split means for trade, travel and security.
When the three military-led states announced their withdrawal in January, Ecowas said their member benefits would continue until the terms of departure were finalised. The bloc called it an act of "regional solidarity".
So far, the split has had little visible impact on daily life in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. But many practical issues still need to be resolved.
Malian, Nigerien and Burkinabè officials have been formally dismissed from Ecowas and must leave their posts by 30 September.
Passports and identity cards issued under Ecowas rules remain valid. Free movement and the right to settle still apply. Goods and services continue to move without customs duties. But all of these arrangements are now subject to change.
Three Sahel nations exit West African bloc as regional politics shift
'Consultations'
In May, a first round of consultations brought together the foreign ministers of the three countries and ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray.
Both sides said they had discussed "political, diplomatic, administrative and institutional, legal, security and development" issues.
Cooperation on counter-terrorism was also mentioned.
At the end of the meeting, Ecowas and the AES bloc adopted a joint summary outlining next steps for talks.
"The challenge is to protect the people, trade, and what remains of Ecowas," Malian political analyst Baba Dakono, executive secretary of the Citizen Observatory on Governance and Security (OCGS) in Bamako, told RFI's Service Afrique.
He said the goal is to avoid undoing decades of regional progress, especially on free movement and trade.
"This withdrawal is a political decision. Now the aim is to ensure that its impact isn't too severe - whether on the population or on trade between states - so that these exchanges can continue without being dragged back to the level of the 1970s, before Ecowas existed," Dakono said.
He said the process would take time. All three countries are landlocked, and each is dealing with complex political and security challenges. Protecting civilians must be a priority, he added, along with safeguarding what remains of regional cooperation.
Negotiations are supposed to move to a technical level. But since May, no formal meetings have taken place.
"That doesn't mean nothing is happening," a senior official from Ecowas told RFI, without providing further details.
Mali's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to lead talks for the AES. It did not respond to RFI's requests for comment.
West African group Ecowas turns 50 amid struggle to stay united
Internal reforms
Dakono said the withdrawal also puts pressure on Ecowas itself.
"There's the issue of internal reform, of democratic transitions, and of course security - especially the spread of jihadist threats toward the coastal countries," he said.
He said these challenges must be addressed alongside the break with the AES.
The AES countries have said that Ecowas nationals will be allowed to enter their shared territory without a visa. But visa-free access in the other direction has yet to be agreed.
Other rules on the right to settle, do business or trade goods across borders also need to be reviewed.
Ecowas funds and implements a number of programmes in the three countries. These too may now be at risk.
Debt repayments are also on the table. All three states have loans from the Ecowas Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), and repayment terms will need to be renegotiated.
Ecowas has said it wants to avoid punishing the people of the Sahel. But it also wants to make clear that quitting the bloc comes with consequences. A deal seen as too soft could reduce the incentive to remain and lead others to follow.
The bloc itself is undergoing internal reform.
So the political, financial and legal disentangling may take years.
Wagner replaced in Mali by Africa Corps, another Russian military group
Growing insecurity
Security in the region has also shifted.
France once played a major role in supporting West African states, but that chapter is now ending. Paris has handed over control of its last military base in the region.
French troops have now left Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Russia is becoming their main strategic partner.
In Mali, Wagner has been replaced by another Russian military group, Africa Corps.
Over the past three years, France has scaled back its military operations in its former colonies, under pressure from local leaders. For years, it had led efforts to fight jihadist groups and armed criminal networks across the Sahel.
But more than a decade of insurgency has displaced millions, destroyed economies and pushed violence further south toward the coast.
The past two months have seen a sharp rise in jihadist attacks - one of the deadliest periods in recent Sahel history.
(with Reuters)
Read or Listen to this story on the RFI website.
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