Sanlam, the largest non-banking financial services company in Africa, and Allianz, one of the world’s leading insurers and asset managers with a century of history in Africa, have agreed to combine their current and future operations across Africa to create the largest Pan-African non-banking financial services entity on the continent.

This combination means that customers across Africa will benefit from the expertise and financial strength of two respected and well-known brands. The joint venture will house the business units of both Sanlam and Allianz in the African...

Seeking innovative ways to generate agribusiness opportunities for young African entrepreneurs, Heifer International has announced that it is investing $1 million in the tractor booking platform, Hello Tractor, to provide loans for tractor purchases—loans that can be repaid from revenues earned by leasing them to local farmers.

The program, “Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) Tractor Financing for Increased Agricultural Productivity in Nigeria,” already has enabled tractor purchases in the states of Nasarrawa, Abuja and Enugu. These purchases could make tractors accessible...

Entravision a global advertising, media and ad-tech solutions company, has announced its expansion into Kenya. This expansion provides Entravision, through its Africa-based digital business unit, Entravision 365 Digital, a presence in East Africa, as it looks to expand its breadth of digital solutions, media representations and creative services to new emerging markets.

With the expansion into Kenya, the Company also welcomes Maggie Ndirangu as its newly appointed Managing Director of Kenya Operations. Ms. Ndirangu has regional expertise and extensive knowledge of the digital landscape across Africa....

Africa50, the pan-African infrastructure investment platform and its partners, announced the refinancing of the non-recourse project debt for the six Scatec solar power plants in Egypt totalling 380 MW megawatts in which Africa50 is a strategic investor, through the issuance of a 19-year $334.5 million non-recourse green project bond.

The refinancing will provide increased leverage, extended tenor, and reduced interest costs, creating value both for the shareholders of the infrastructure and the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), the state-owned utility...

Fintech startup Power Financial Wellness has joined forces with insurtech firm Turaco to offer affordable health insurance products to its customers. Falling under Power’s “Protect” product pillar, these insurance products with flexible premium payments target gig and salaried workers across the region.

As digitization continues to transform the way people transact, borrow, save, and insure, Power says it seeks to simplify the process and empower workers across Africa by providing a holistic financial wellness solution for companies and their...

Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, announced the appointment of Vicente Chiralt as vice president of marketing for the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa). Vicente has been promoted to this position after four years with the company.

He was previously senior director of the field and channel marketing teams for the region, leading the successful execution of demand generation, channel development and brand awareness programs. In his new role, Vicente will lead...

Adenia Partners, a private equity firm investing in Africa, has partnered with Proparco, the private sector financing arm of Agence Française de Développement Group (AFD Group), to buy Overseas Catering Services (OCS), a leading corporate catering and related services provider in Africa and the Middle East. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

OCS was established in 2009 by François Bonnot and René Lancien, founder of Ansamble Group, a leading caterer in France. OCS offers corporate catering services under the brand “Ansamble” to more than 180 clients across five...

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is investing up to US$ 100 million in a certified green bond issuance of US$ 334.5 million, backed by six solar power plants owned by Scatec ASA.

The Bank is also providing a US$ 30 million Credit Enhancement Facility (CEF) for participating institutional investors. Certified under the Climate Bonds Standard, this bond is the first private green project bond issuance in Egypt and the southern and eastern Mediterranean region...

FirstRand Bank, one of South Arica’s major lenders, listed two sustainability bonds on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). The bonds will finance and refinance borrowers looking to invest in green buildings and affordable housing projects.

The two bonds, which have a total value of R2 billion, are part of a long-term programme to raise R72 billion for FirstRand’s sustainability projects. The bonds are listed on the JSE’s Sustainability Segment, where they are trading under JSE...

he Nigerian Exchange (NGX), announced the launch of West Africa’s first Exchange Traded Derivatives (ETD) Market with Equity Index Futures Contracts. This is consistent with the Exchange’s commitment to develop the Nigerian capital market by providing a market that thrives on innovation and responds to the needs of stakeholders in accessing and using capital.

The launch of NGX ETD Market saw the listing of two Equity Index Futures Contracts, NGX 30 Index Futures and NGX Pension Index Futures, with more securities to be added in the future. To promote clearing efficiency, stability, and...

Wintershall Dea announced it has entered into a sale and purchase agreement to acquire Edison’s 11.25% participating interest in the Reggane Nord natural gas project in Algeria. After the transaction is closed, the consortium Groupement Reggane Nord (GRN), operator of the project, will comprise Sonatrach (40%), Wintershall Dea (30.75%) and Repsol (29.25%).

Algeria has significant energy potential. The country is the third largest exporter of gas to Europe, after Russia and Norway; and is the largest natural gas producer in Africa. Algeria is a prime candidate for an enhanced energy...

Social impact investor Oikocredit is providing long- term project financing to Weziza Benin, an off-grid distributed energy enterprise, to connect 40,000 people in rural Benin to solar electricity.

With Oikocredit's support, Weziza Benin will provide 21 rural communities with clean, affordable and reliable electricity generated through renewable energy systems designed as solar photovoltaic-powered mini-grids. The project is also supported by funding from the Millennium Challenge...

Consumer education will play a central role in addressing emerging security challenges. During the launch of the Kaa Chonjo! (Be Alert!) card, mobile and online safety awareness campaign, Kenyan players in the financial, payments and retail sectors highlighted the importance of continuing to empower the public with information on fraud prevention.

In his remarks, Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) CEO Dr. Habil Olaka noted that emerging financial security threats are increasingly targeting mobile and internet banking channels due to the enhanced use of digital payments precipitated by...

Unicaf is an online and blended learning higher education platform that is dedicated to making higher education of international standard accessible, by offering scholarship opportunities to professionals and young school leavers.

What are scholarship opportunities?

A scholarship could be defined as financial aid that relieves the burden of tuition fees and living costs that students and families have to pay to secure a place in secondary and tertiary education. Considering the rising costs of student expenses and debts, we could nowadays describe education...

The Africa Trade Expo (TATE) presents direct access to African buyers whose main aim is to source the latest products, establish partnerships, and conclude import/export deals. TATE is an ongoing virtual trade show for African businesses to network, collaborate, and enter into partnerships with international manufacturers and exporters. Present your new opportunities, network, build relationships and grow your business in African markets...

Future Foods is a virtual meeting place for importers, F&B managers, retail category buyers, owner-operators, agents, and distributors from across Africa’s diverse and booming market to come to conferences, to network, meet exhibitors, source products, new ingredients, retail shelf-ready products, and the latest processing, packaging, and logistics solutions. Future Foods connects attendees exhibitors across the...

Jeannette Karemera is the CEO of Inuma Technology, a company in Rwanda that build new generations of products that are unique, smart, and radically helpful.

Tell us more about Inuma Technology Ltd, starting from its inception

Truth to  be told, you will be surprised to hear that Inuma Technology Ltd is a faith-based enterprise, My cofounder Dr. David NDAYISHIMIYE and I, have known each other for the last 14 years, we shared faith, friendship, and later we said what if we build a venture to make money, and change this...

Yo Uganda Limited is a fintech company that is revolutionizing the payment landscape in East Africa. The Managing Director Gerald Begumisa discusses the firm’s model, partnership and plans to redefine the payments space in Africa.

You recently received the Payment System Operator License from Bank of Uganda. Tell us more about that and what it portends for You- Uganda?

The fintech space, or generally speaking, digital financial services have experienced tremendous growth in the last few years in Uganda.  Thinking back from 2009 when the first mobile money service was introduced, there have been...

Since January, I have been approached by investors and projects owners alike who are looking to get projects funded or deals flowing. At the same time, I have been trying to estimate using available data the gap between infrastructure and energy funding.

The figure we have been using is $250 billion a year between now and 2025. Given that the African population is set to double between now and 2050, we can expect that figure to be in the trillions unless the continent finds a way to successfully develop and fund energy projects to universally...

Financial institutions such as banks, insurance companies and others have all adapted to the Information Technology era, and providing their financial services online. With the various apps they develop to do so, we are able to easily and quickly access our accounts using our phones and other devices. It’s pretty convenient, isn’t it?

Along with such convenience however, comes various types of cyber threats. These include identity theft and fraud, which are constantly on the rise. Because of this, we must remain vigilant when using our mobile banking apps or any other...

As we have seen over time, when one sectors hits a low point, another is seen hitting high notes. Such is the situation as we’ve seen it lately. With transportation and gas prices still soaring at a level no one is comfortable with, the manufacturing and banking sector are giving shining performances.

Cadbury Nigeria has shown a PAT growth of over 500%. West Africa serving company, Nigeria Breweries gained in share price value and manufacturing giant, Dangote Cement raised the largest corporate bond issuance in the Nigerian capital...

Data privacy and security have always been a huge concern across different countries in Africa. To address these concerns, numerous countries in the region have been developing and implementing laws to protect and secure the personal information of their citizens.

This week, lawyers across Africa commented on the continent’s urgent need for data privacy and security laws. This week, African startups were also in the news. South African fintech firm Hello Pay launched a new high-end...