NextBillion - A WDI Publication

Report: Cleaner Cooking Could Save 4.7 Million Lives in Africa by 2040, IEA Says

African homes switching to biogas could prevent 4.7 million premature deaths between now and 2040, according to a report published by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Source

RFI (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Energy, Health Care

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

clean cooking, climate health, public health

AfDB, Partners Launch $264 Million Infrastructure Project in Southern Nigeria

The five-year plan includes rehabilitating 248 km of roads, restoring two erosion sites, and implementing solid waste management through public-private partnerships.

Source

Daba (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Investing

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

development finance, infrastructure, Islamic finance, partnerships, public health, public-private partnerships, urban development, waste, women entrepreneurs

Cybersecurity Strategies Are Making Rural Communities Less Safe

Research consistently shows that rural communities face heightened cybersecurity risks due to limited access to resources, technology infrastructure, and cybersecurity professionals, yet our response has been to double down on individual behavioral change.

Source

ICTWorks (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

cybersecurity, global development, research

IFC, BOAD and BII Invest in West Africa’s First Multi-Country Securitization to Boost MSME Financing

Proceeds from the XOF52 billion ($90.4 million) bond will help NSIA Banque Benin expand its MSME loan portfolio across Benin, Senegal, and Togo.

Source

International Finance Corporation (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Investing

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

business development, development finance, impact bonds, MSMEs

Ecobank Group and Google Cloud Announce Partnership to Accelerate Financial Inclusion and Innovation Across Africa

Google Cloud technologies aims to strengthen Ecobank’s platform for enhanced digital banking, small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) support, and economic development on the continent.

Source

Ecobank (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Finance, Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

artificial intelligence, digital finance, digital inclusion, financial inclusion, fintech, remittances

Press Release: Goodwell and Alitheia invest in Hinckley E-Waste Recycling Ltd.

Goodwell and Alitheia invested in Hinckley through uMunthu II, a fund providing smart equity to early growth stage companies throughout Africa.

Source

Goodwell (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Investing, WASH

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

impact investing, recycling, waste

Wave Raises $137 Million in Debt to Expand Mobile Money Services Across Africa

Wave's mobile-first approach, centred on low fees, has helped bring millions of previously unbanked individuals into the formal financial system.

Source

TechCabal (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Finance

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

development finance, financial inclusion, global development, mobile finance, startups

Adidas Expansion Bets on Nigeria’s Affluent Class

The arrival of the new Adidas store is emblematic of the potential foreign firms see in affluent Nigerians.

Source

Semafor (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

business development, corporations