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Despite ongoing regional and global headwinds, Africa continues to demonstrate impressive resilience and maintains its status as a global growth frontier. This is the headline finding of the 2026 Africa Macroeconomic Performance and Outlook (MEO) report, released by the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) on Monday 30 March 2026 at the Bank Group headquarters in Abidjan. The report underscores that Africa outpaced the global average in 2025 as real GDP surged to 4.2 percent, up from 3.1 per cent in 2024, comfortably eclipsing the 3.1 per cent world average. A key finding in the report is the "broad-based" surge, with growth exceeding 5 per cent in 22 African countries, and topping 7 per cent in six, bolstered by easing inflationary pressures, improved macroeconomic management and favourable agricultural conditions. Other highlights include: Africa's real GDP growth is projected to stabilise at 4.3 percent in 2026 and grow further to 4.5 percent in 2027. 12 of the 20 fastest-growing economies in the world in 2025 were African. In 2025, East Africa maintained its lead as the continent’s fastest-growing region (posting 6.4 percent GDP growth), with its expansion driven by the surge in growth performances of 9.8 per cent in Ethiopia, 7.5 per cent in Rwanda, and 6.4 per cent in Uganda. Africa’s GDP per capita growth rose from 0.9% in 2023 to 1.1% in 2024 and 1.9% in 2025, but still remains too low to propel rapid poverty reduction. Inflation is declining, with average inflation estimated at 13.6 percent in 2025, down from 21.8 percent in 2024; further reductions are projected for 2026 and 2027. Foreign direct investment rebounded sharply in 2024, rising by more than 75% to reach $97 billion. Remittance flows rebounded strongly in 2024, rising by more than 14 percent to $104.6 billion—offsetting the 6 percent decline recorded in 2023 and making remittances the largest single source of external non-debt financing, surpassing foreign portfolio investment. In his high-level remarks at the launch, the President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr Sidi Ould Tah, underscored that the continent faces an "important moment when the world is changing, not always in favour of the African continent." Citing a difficult landscape of increasing geopolitical fragmentation, trade tensions, and declining global development finance flows, Dr Ould Tah positioned the Bank Group's Four Cardinal Points agenda as a vital strategic shield, explaining that "each one speaks directly to the challenges this Macro Economic Outlook report has identified and quantified." In light of recent developments in the Middle East, Dr Ould Tah noted that the 2026 MEO analysis and projections "were prepared before the current crisis" began. He added that the Bank Group and partners, including the United Nations Development Programme are currently assessing the potential consequences of the crisis on the continent. In his detailed presentation, the Bank Group Chief Economist and Vice President for Economic Governance and Knowledge Management, Prof Kevin Urama, expressed optimism that the current crisis would have a limited impact on Africa's macroeconomic landscape in 2026. "Africa has held strong in previous shocks, and has the capacity to bounce back after, provided we do not panic and we instead apply the right policy levers," he said. "In our estimates, if the crisis lasts beyond three months, it might cause a dip of 0.2 percentage point in Africa's economic growth rate in 2026." An expert-led panel followed the presentation and explored the report's findings and policy recommendations aimed at sustaining growth, strengthening financial systems, and mobilising development finance at scale. Panellists included Souleymane Diarrassouba, the Minister of Planning and Development of Côte d'Ivoire; Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Minister of Finance and Development Planning of Liberia; Prof Mthuli Ncube, Minister of Finance of Zimbabwe; Dr Retselisitsoe Matlanyane, Minister of Finance and Development Planning of Lesotho; and Mrs Aminata Toure, the International Monetary Fund Resident Representative for Côte d'Ivoire. The panelists emphasised the importance of sustaining reforms linked to domestic resource mobilisation, including deepening local equity and fixed-income markets, and scaling digitalisation efforts to improve the efficiency of tax collection. They also shared success stories from ongoing reforms in their respective countries. A consensus emerged that Africa's experiences with shocks can position the continent to draw on valuable lessons to weather current and future challenges. The African Development Bank Group publishes the Macroeconomic Report biannually to complement its annual Africa Economic Outlook. Dr Ould Tah described the series as a demonstration of "the Bank's commitment to provide our member countries, our partners and our investors with the most rigorous, timely and actionable analysis."

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Triple win for African rugby on the global stage

The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) (www.AWIEForum.org) hosted a spectacular celebration of African women’s excellence at the2025 AWIEF Awards, held on Friday evening at the Cape Town South Africa. The glittering gala honoured women entrepreneurs and leaders driving innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth across the continent. Eight exceptional winners were announced, each representing the transformative power of women-led initiatives in Africa. Since its inception in 2016, the AWIEF Awards have been a beacon of recognition and inspiration for women in business and leadership. Beyond celebrating success, the Awards aim to empower the next generation of innovators and changemakers, fostering a vibrant pan-African community of collaboration and impact. This year’s winners and finalists came from across Africa, showcasing diverse industries including technology, agriculture, energy, creative arts, and social entrepreneurship — united by a shared vision of advancing Africa’s growth through innovation. The Awards followed the two-day AWIEF2025 Conference, which attracted over 500 delegates from 50+ countries for engaging discussions, exhibition, masterclasses, and networking sessions. The event concluded with the highly anticipated awards gala dinner, marking a fitting finale to two days of knowledge sharing and inspiration. 2025 AWIEF Awards Winners Young Entrepreneur Award Norah Kimathi – Zerobionic, Kenya Empowerment Award Mampho Sotshongaye – Golden Rewards 1981, South Africa Energy Entrepreneur Award Nidal Tafah – MIRRIAH, Morocco Creative Industry Award Soraya da Piedade – Soraya da Piedade LDA, Angola Social Entrepreneur Award Farana Boodhram – MiDesk Global, South Africa Agri Entrepreneur Award (Sponsored by OCP Africa) Linda Davis – Giraffe Bioenergy, Kenya Tech Entrepreneur Award Maryanne Gichanga – AgriTech Analytics, Kenya Lifetime Achievement Award Audrey Joe-Ezigbo – CEO, Falcon Corporation, Nigeria Voices of the Winners For Soraya da Piedade, founder of Soraya da Piedade LDA and winner of the Creative Industry Award, the recognition marks a defining moment in her journey as a designer and entrepreneur. “I’m deeply honoured and grateful to AWIEF for creating platforms like this, where we celebrate women’s creativity and leadership,” said Soraya. “This award reminds me that when we create from a place of passion and purpose, we not only build brands but also inspire others to dream bigger.” From Kenya, Linda Davis, founder and CEO of Giraffe Bioenergy and winner of the Agri Entrepreneur Award, described the moment as “surreal.” “It’s my first time winning an award like this, and I am beyond excited,” said Davis. “AWIEF has given women like me a powerful space to share our work, connect with others, and be recognized for driving change in our communities. This win belongs to every woman farmer and entrepreneur working to build a sustainable Africa.” About the 2025 AWIEF Awards Finalists This year’s finalists included inspiring women from across Africa — from tech innovators in Botswana and Uganda to social impact leaders in Somalia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe — highlighting the depth and diversity of women’s entrepreneurial excellence on the continent.

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Winners of 2025 Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) Awards...

Control Risks’ 10th Africa Risk-Reward Index

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Control Risks’ 10th Africa Risk-Reward Index

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Long range, premium comfort, and five-star safety—the CHANGAN DEEPAL S05 delivers a high-tech electric driving experience. Cutting-edge EV technology that brings together global design, engineering, and manufacturing. Changan UK (www.GlobalChangan.com) has launched the all-electric CHANGAN DEEPAL S05, a compact C-SUV blending premium design, intelligent technology, and everyday practicality. “The CHANGAN DEEPAL S05 is designed for people who want an electric SUV that fits effortlessly into everyday life,” Nic Thomas, Managing Director of Changan UK, said, “It delivers reassuring performance, thoughtful comfort, and technology that simply works—all without the premium price tag. “ The CHANGAN DEEPAL S05: Range, Comfort, Safety Powered by a 68.8kWh LFP battery, the CHANGAN DEEPAL S05 delivers WLTP ranges of up to 303 miles (RWD) and 278 miles (AWD). Inside, the aircraft-inspired cockpit features vegan leather heated and ventilated front seats, including a full-recline zero gravity passenger seat. A 15.4-inch rotating touchscreen, AR-HUD, 14-speaker audio system, and wireless smartphone connectivity complete the high-tech cabin. Safety is central to the CHANGAN DEEPAL S05, earning it a five-star Euro NCAP rating. It comes standard with 17 intelligent driver assistance systems, enabling L2 autonomous driving through a network of cameras, radars, and ultrasonic sensors—including a 540-degree surround-view camera system. More Than a Model: How the CHANGAN DEEPAL S05 Embodies a Global Vision Changan is now present in 16 European markets, with launches in Italy, Spain, and Poland coming soon. The UK anchors this footprint as a strategic hub for local development. Leading this momentum is the CHANGAN DEEPAL S05, a model built on a truly global foundation. Designed at Changan Design Center Europe in Turin and calibrated at the Changan UK R&D Centre in Birmingham, it has been meticulously tuned for local roads. For the UK market, the CHANGAN DEEPAL S05 is produced at Changan Rayong Factory in Thailand—established in 2023 as a dedicated hub for global right-hand drive markets. With approximately 60% local sourcing, the facility ensures consistent quality, testing, and supply, while its strategic location enables worldwide logistics. More than a new model, the S05 stands as a testament to Changan's global ambitions—integrating design, engineering, and production across continents to deliver a truly international electric vehicle.

The CHANGAN DEEPAL S05 Arrives in the United Kingdom—Engineered Globally, Tuned...

April 20, 2026

Smartphone For All (www.SmartphoneForAll.ai), a business committed to digital inclusion, has won the 2025 Pinnacle Awards (Telecoms and Wireless Category) Digital Inclusion & Accessibility Champion and the 2026 Merit Award (Telecoms and Wireless) Digital Divide. The Pinnacle Awards is a reputable global program honoring innovation and excellence across industries. According to Katie Lang, Executive Director of the Pinnacle Awards, “The Telecom and Wireless Sector continue to set the pace for innovation, connecting people and businesses worldwide. We are proud to recognize the organizations that exemplify ingenuity, reliability and impact in one of the most dynamic industries on the planet”. In the same vein, Marie Zander, Executive Director of Merit Awards states that “this year’s winners reflect excellence across the ecosystem—demonstrating the technologies and strategies that are shaping the future of communications”. Smartphone For All had earlier in the year 2025 unveiled an ambitious campaign to bridge Africa’s digital divide by providing affordable, high-quality smartphones and connectivity and AI at the edge to consumers who are excluded from the digital world across the continent. Established on the belief that exclusion from the digital ecosystem locks people out of opportunities and lifestyle enhancements. Smartphone For All aims that every individual—regardless of income, geography, or background- can fully participate in the digital economy and the evolving AI transformation. According to Mr. Babatunde Osho, Founder/CEO of Smartphone For All, “The digital divide is not just a technology gap—it’s an opportunity gap. When someone does not have access to a smartphone, they are cut off from education, jobs, healthcare, financial services, and even their own voice. Our mission is to close that gap, one device at a time and build Africa’s largest digital inclusion platform. We are glad that the Pinnacle and Telecom & Wireless Awards have recognized what we are doing to improve digital inclusion and accessibility in Africa” Smartphone For All partners with MNOs to provide smartphones to 2G/3G subscribers who cannot afford 4G smartphone across Africa. The initiative was launched with MTN in South Africa in May 2025 for an initial period of one year with a smartphone device at ZAR 99 or $5. The plan is targeting about 1.2m devices. The vision of Smartphone for All is to take the offering to other African countries like Cote D’Ivoire, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and other markets. Apart from the benefits for the subscribers, there are obvious MNO benefits of better spectrum utilization with 4G+ networks over legacy 2G/3G networks. For regulators and government, the benefits include productivity enhancements and digital inclusion among citizens. According to a report from the Economist Intelligence Unit, 10% growth in broadband connectivity results in 1.4% growth in GDP in low- and middle-income countries and 1.2% growth in high income countries. African countries like South Africa are actively incentivizing this growth through policies like a ban on new 2G/3G device activations starting from December 31, 2024, and a complete shutdown by December 31, 2027. The government has also reduced taxes on certain classes of smartphones to drive adoption. According to Jeff Miller, Director at Smartphone for all, ‘Smartphone For All is not just a business, it is a movement powering Africa into the next phase of development. Digital access is the foundation of inclusion in commerce, wellbeing and civic engagement. The pathway to growth for Africa is to bring more Africans into the digital ecosystem spanning financial, educational, public health, trade and other streams of innovation.’

Smartphone For All wins the Pinnacle Awards (Platinum) and Merit Awards...

April 19, 2026

Canon Europe (www.Canon-Europe.com), in partnership with Visa pour l’Image, announces two grants to support long-term documentary projects both in the photography and filmmaking space. Championing the very best in storytelling, the 26th Canon Female Photojournalist Grant celebrates an outstanding photographer in recognition of her contribution to photojournalism, whilst the 7th Canon Video Grant acknowledges those wanting to magnify a social, cultural or economic issue in documentary form. The grants are open to individuals worldwide. Canon Female Photojournalist Grant For the 26th year in a row, Canon and Visa pour l’Image will award an €8,000 grant to a female photojournalist pursuing a long-term documentary project. The grant is designed to either support the completion of an existing project or facilitate the making of a new one. Entries will be judged by a jury of renowned industry experts. In 2025, French photojournalist Marion Péhée was awarded for her long-term project documenting young adults in Ukraine. Former grantees (https://apo-opa.co/41JgwcU) include Anastasia Taylor-Lind, Natalya Saprunova and Acacia Johnson. Canon Video Grant Alongside this, Canon together with Visa pour l’Image are seeking documentary filmmakers for the 7th Canon Video Grant. In 2025, Shiho Fukada, photojournalist and filmmaker, was awarded for her project ‘Echoes of Little Tokyo’, focusing on a fifth-generation funeral home serving Los Angeles' Japanese-American community. The grant winner will receive €8,000, along with a loan of video kit including a Canon video camera and two lenses to make a short documentary of approximately eight minutes in length. Both grants form part of a long-standing partnership between Visa pour l’Image and Canon, celebrating its 37th anniversary this year. The winning projects of 2025 (Marion Péhée and Shiho Fukada's projects) will be presented at this year’s Visa pour l’Image festival in Perpignan, France. How to apply Canon Female Photojournalist Grant: Application window: 18 March – 19 May 2026 Granted to professional photojournalists actively working in the field Worldwide submissions accepted Entry is free Apply here: https://apo-opa.co/4tfKRf4 Canon Video Grant: Application window: 25 March – 27 May 2026 Granted to professional documentary filmmakers actively working in the field Worldwide submissions accepted Entry is free Apply here: https://VisaPourlImage.com

Canon’s Female Photojournalist Grant and Video Grant Now Accepting Applications

April 18, 2026

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