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Building a Better AgTech Funding Model in Africa: Three Key Challenges Behind the Ecosystem’s Loss of Momentum
Startups operating at the nexus of climate and agriculture in Africa have attracted over $1 billion in venture funding over the past decade. But as David Saunders and Ludovica Fioravanti at Briter and Harsha Vishnumolakala at CPI explain, despite the important role this funding can play in supporting innovative African AgTech startups, it has fallen to around $200 million a year — less than half the $500 million raised in 2022. They explore the risks this decline presents to the continent's AgTech ecosystem, and share three key priorities for building a better funding model in Africa and other emerging markets.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Investing, Technology
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South Africa Agri-Tech Startup Nile Raises $11.3 Million to Help More Farmers Trade, Transact Digitally
South African agri-tech startup Nile has raised ZAR200 million (US$11.3 million) in funding to accelerate its growth across Southern Africa.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Scaling E-Mobility in Africa: How Ethiopia is Pioneering the Transition to Green Transportation — And How Battery Swapping Can Help
Several African governments have acknowledged the role e-mobility will need to play in the continent’s transition to green transportation, and according to Yuma Sasaki at Dodai, Ethiopia is leading the way in this transition. But he highlights some key obstacles to greater electric vehicle uptake in Ethiopia and other African countries: unreliable electricity access and limited battery charging infrastructure in rural areas. He explores these issues and explains how solutions like battery swapping can help address them.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology, Transportation
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Union Investment Cuts TotalEnergies Stake Over East African Project Allegations
The TotalEnergies spokesperson cited the company's June 2024 response to a previous JFI report that, after investigating, "the highlighted concerns do not appear to be related to the Kingfisher project operations".
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- human rights, solar, wind
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Analysis: Is Digital Sovereignty Good for Digital Development or Is It Damaging Digital Protectionism?
Wayan Vota says, "As we continue to build digital infrastructure across the globe, let’s ensure we’re creating systems that empower rather than control, that connect rather than isolate, and that protect rather than surveil."
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Global
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Research: Nigerian and Kenyan Farmers Can Be First Step to Making Rural Mini Grids More Profitable and Affordable
"This article draws from research conducted under the ‘Sustainability, Inclusiveness and Governance of Mini grids in Africa’ (SIGMA) project, funded by a Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) research grant (ES/T006684/1)."
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Viewpoint: Curbing Plastic Pollution: The Renewable Energy Sector’s Unexplored Opportunity
At first glance, the renewable energy sector and plastic pollution seem to occupy separate spheres. Yet, plastics are deeply woven into the fabric of renewable energy infrastructure.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology, WASH
- Region
- Global
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dLocal to Acquire Aza Finance
dLocal's growth has been significantly propelled by its strong presence in the Middle East and Africa, regions characterised by high cryptocurrency adoption.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Global
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