To help strengthen broadband infrastructure and improve online access to digital services for individuals and businesses in more than 12 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, IFC has invested in a new fund by Convergence Partners Africa, an investment management firm focused on the technology, media and telecom sectors in Africa.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital technologies and the demand for digital infrastructure which are helping connect businesses with customers and...

The Bank of Tanzania (BOT) has issued an approval in principle to Cellulant Corporation to operate as a Payment Solution Service Provider in Tanzania having satisfied all the necessary requirements.

Payment Solution Service Providers make up the underlying e-Payment infrastructure in Tanzania. Banks, Online Merchants, payment processors, merchants, state governments, and consumers connect to PSSPs to meet their digital payment needs. This approval makes Cellulant one of the top...

Credit information and decision analytics provider Creditinfo Group has launched a scorecard solution in Kenya tailored for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). 

Through its unique approach to data and algorithms, this scorecard will help financial institutions improve their credit assessment and facilitate financing to the SME market, which has typically been less able to access finance. Creditinfo, recognizing the importance of SME risk assessment across the world is aiming to roll out a global solution to address this...

The surging demand for digital connectivity during the COVID-19 pandemic has led IFC's commitments  to  the telecoms, media and technology (TMT) sector in emerging markets to exceed $1 billion for the first time in one fiscal year. Almost three-quarters of these commitments, made in fiscal year ending June 2021, were in Africa.

While pandemic-induced lockdowns brought significant economic activity to a halt, digital infrastructure demonstrated its critical role in allowing communities to remain resilient...

Ethiopian Airlines Group, has unveiled the upgraded chat-bot for domestic and international flight uses. The Ethiopian chat-bot, dubbed “Lucy” is equipped with various self-service features that will enable passengers to easily process their travel needs.

Passengers can simply use their mobile to book, pay, check-in, check flight status, get information on free and excess baggage and Live Chat through the chat-bot. The chatbot is available in both Amharic and English languages with...

Convergence Partners, a private equity investor focused on the technology sector across sub-Saharan Africa, has announced the successful first close of its third fund, the Convergence Partners Digital Infrastructure Fund (CPDIF) at US$120 million.

The fund is targeting a final size of US$250 million. Now with more than US$400m of capital under management, Convergence Partners remains the largest private equity investor dedicated to digital infrastructure in Africa...

Nigerian-based AfriGlobal Insurance Brokers launched AfriCover247, a round-the-clock digital insurance transaction platform that will assist businesses, individuals and technology providers access and redistribute insurance products with ease.

AfriCover247 is a digital insurance platform that enables 24- hour, seven days a week insurance transactions including claims management from start to finish including seamless payment of claims. Casmir Azubuike, the Managing Director...

Ajua has signed an agreement with Facebook to automate commercial interactions and customer support for businesses through WhatsApp. This partnership is one of two in Africa of companies that are directly partnered and integrated with Facebook.

Facebook is currently facilitating the growth of entire economies in Africa through WhatsApp. There has been an upsurge of businesses on the continent taking advantage of the platform to sell goods and provide services. This has...

Adrian Kenya, an engineering company that provides technology and infrastructure solutions with operations in Telecommunications, ICT and Energy sectors yesterday held a groundbreaking ceremony to officially launch the Fibre Infrastructure Relocation project along the Nairobi – Mau Summit Road.

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Jerome Ochieng, PS - State Department of ICT & Innovation, Mr. Lyford Murithi Deputy Director ICT, Mr. Timothy Were Deputy Director ICT and Mr. Benard W. Njoroge Adrian Kenya’s MD and Founder...

Mastercard announced it will enhance its card program for cryptocurrency wallets and exchanges, making it simpler for partners to convert cryptocurrency to traditional fiat currency.

Working with Evolve Bank & Trust and Paxos Trust Company, the leading blockchain infrastructure and regulated stablecoin issuance platform, and Circle, a global financial technology firm and the principal operator of the USD Coin (USDC), a dollar digital currency or stablecoin, Mastercard and its...

With digital transformation a top priority on the corporate agenda as companies identify new ways to grow their business, cyber attackers and opportunist cybercriminals remain very active.

And although Africa is not necessarily considered a focus area for the more sophisticated types of cybercriminal activity such as targeted attacks or advanced persistent threats (APTs), the continent is certainly not immune to these or other types of cyber risks, warn Kaspersky researchers. When looking at...

Pan-African banking group, Ecobank Group, in partnership with Microsoft, LinkedIn, GitHub and Ecobank Academy is set to provide training to equip Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) across sub-Saharan Africa. This training will provide SMEs digital skills and knowledge to succeed in today’s digital world.

SMEs have been significantly impacted by the COVID19 pandemic with its attendant lockdowns and disruptions to supply chains, plummeting sales, lost revenue and operational challenges. In response to feedback from the customers...

Africa’s population is rapidly expanding. In fact, forecasters predict that the continent’s population will nearly triple by 2050. This could pose threats or opportunities, depending on how governments and private entities respond.

With an average age of 18 years, Africa’s population is dominated by the youth - unlike on continents like Europe, where the majority of the population is in their 40s. As a young and multiplying people, the opportunities should be endless, but how do we make sure citizens thrive and go on...

Are African enterprises at risk of extinction, just as millions of natural species face extinction due to the impact of climate change?

Businesses and countries across the continent are attempting to rebuild following the devastating economic impact of the pandemic. It is perhaps an opportune time to take stock of whether we are rebuilding in a way that will ensure our sustainability in the long term, both economically and...

Virtually every week brings news of yet another high-profile cybersecurity attack on citizens, companies or governments. Over the last year, large parts of our world moved online. This unprecedented, large-scale digital migration has also made us ever more exposed to cybersecurity risks.

Our security stance has fundamentally changed as the pandemic accelerated the transition of applications. Disruption brought about by the crisis is an opportunity to embed...

The African fintech space is growing fast. Fintech startups are now diversifying to offer a wide range of complementary services.

After introducing is digital payments platform Tingg in Zambia last week, Kenyan-based fintech startup Cellulant this week also received approval from Bank of Tanzania to Become a Payment Solution Service Provider. This approval makes Cellulant one of the top Payment Solution Service Providers (PSSP) in Tanzania endorsed by the BOT to provide digital...