Category: Africa

Source: APO

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Brooke Bibeault, CEO of copper-focused exploration and development company Makor Resources, has been confirmed as a speaker at African Mining Week (AMW) 2026, taking place October 14–16 in Cape Town. The event brings together global mining investors, developers and policymakers to discuss opportunities shaping Africa’s next generation of critical minerals projects.

Bibeault will participate in a panel discussion on Accelerating the Formalization of Artisanal Miners, where industry stakeholders will explore pathways to integrate artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) into formal mining value chains while improving productivity, environmental standards and community development outcomes.

The discussion aligns with Makor Resources’ approach in Zambia, where the company is supporting ASMntegration through its MineHive program. The initiative provides funding and technical support to ASM operators, strengthening local participation in the copper sector while creating structured pathways into formal supply chains.

Alongside its ASM-focused initiatives, Makor Resources is advancing a district-scale copper exploration strategy across Zambia, supporting the country’s long-term ambition to significantly increase annual copper output. The company is progressing the Muli Copper Project in Central Zambia, while also advancing exploration at the Kangili Copper Project in the Mkushi District.

In early 2026, Makor Resources announced plans to invest up to $3 million by the end of the year to enhance geological understanding across its asset portfolio. The program includes integrated geophysical surveys, remote sensing and systematic sampling campaigns designed to support target definition and resource delineation. These activities form part of a broader investment framework estimated at between $20 million and $30 million over the medium term.

With global copper demand projected to rise significantly in the coming decades, attention is increasingly turning to new supply sources. At AMW 2026, Bibeault is expected to outline how Makor Resources’ Zambia portfolio is positioned to contribute to both national economic development and the broader global energy transition through expanded copper supply. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Source: APO

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Renew Capital (http://RenewCapital.com/) has selected 15 companies from more than 500 applicants across 48 African countries to advance through its inaugural Renew Venture Lab: EmFi Series.

The size and breadth of the applicant pool point to a larger shift underway across Africa: some of the continent’s most promising embedded finance opportunities may come not from traditional fintechs, but from tech companies already serving small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Africa’s SMEs are the main creators of jobs, yet they face an estimated $330B annual credit gap. However, Africa is rapidly becoming a global center for technology innovation and currently boasts the world’s largest mobile money market. Meanwhile, SMEs are becoming more tech-enabled as smartphone adoption across sub-Saharan Africa is projected to rise from 54% in 2024 to 81% by 2030 and data costs plummet.

These trends open new opportunities to embed financial products in mobile applications to reach the world’s most capital-constrained private sectors, unlocking growth and job creation. As Africa’s startup ecosystems grow, technology companies powering digital payments, organizing smart distribution, optimizing logistics, improving healthcare, and digitizing agriculture value chains have the potential to reach millions of SMEs that banks are not serving and use their customer data to underwrite financial products.

All 500+ applicants were invited to exclusive expert sessions with founders from some of Africa’s fastest-growing companies and gained advice from some of the world’s leading embedded finance and Web3 companies. Forty-seven companies were selected for a pitch competition and given a startup package valued at more than $250,000. From this group, 15 were selected to advance to deeper technical training and investment consideration. The 15 companies represented Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.

Matthew Davis, Co-CEO of Renew Capital, said: “The next generation of Africa’s small business banks won’t be banks. They’ll be startups that already understand how SMEs operate, have their data and have earned their trust. These 15 companies are building from that advantage. That’s why we’re paying attention.”

THE TOP 15 COMPANIES

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Renew Capital.

Media Contact:
Nihal Grii
ngrii@renewcapital.com
+212 641 665 577

About Renew Capital:
Renew Capital is a pan-Africa investment firm with a presence in 13 countries. We back the bold founders using technology to pursue Africa’s greatest opportunities.

With more than a decade of investing on the continent, Renew Capital is among the most active investors building Africa’s thriving private sector. Learn more at http://RenewCapital.com/

Source: APO

VUKA Group’s (www.WeAreVUKA.com) Mining Review Africa is pleased to announce that Mining Elites in Africa 2027 nominations are now officially open, inviting the mining industry to recognise the companies, projects and individuals driving excellence across Africa’s mining and minerals value chain. 

The 2027 theme, “Mining Beyond Tomorrow”, reflects the industry’s evolution beyond resource extraction towards a future built on sustainability, innovation, and responsible growth. It highlights the sector’s commitment to creating lasting environmental, social, and economic value while delivering meaningful benefits for communities, industry, and future generations. 

Mining Elites in Africa 2027 is an annual publication that honours and shines a spotlight on exceptional achievements across a diverse range of categories, celebrating those setting new benchmarks for leadership, innovation, operational excellence and environmental stewardship. 

Moreover, these nominations provide an opportunity for industry professionals to publicly recognise the people, companies, and projects making a measurable contribution to advancing sustainable mining across the continent. 

If you know an inspiring leader, a pioneering project or an organisation transforming the industry, this is the time to ensure their achievements receive the recognition they deserve. 

Submit your nomination using the following links: 

Mining Elites in Africa 2027 nomination categories 

• Leaders: https://apo-opa.co/4f8x58C 

• Emerging Leaders: https://apo-opa.co/4pfsmGP 

• Future of Mining: https://apo-opa.co/4p8NOgu 

• ESG: https://apo-opa.co/4gu4Rrg

• Projects: https://apo-opa.co/3R5ae5F 

Alternatively, you can visit Mining Review Africa’s website on www.MiningReview.com. Then click on the Mining Elites tab and complete your nomination online. 

Nominations close on 15 September 2026. 

Partner with Mining Elites in Africa 2027 

The Mining Elites in Africa Yearbook is more than an annual publication. It is a respected industry platform that celebrates excellence, showcases innovation and documents the trends shaping the future of African mining. 

Sponsorship offers organisations a unique opportunity to align their brand with one of the industry’s most recognised platforms for excellence while demonstrating their commitment to innovation, sustainability and responsible mining. 

A range of sponsorship packages are available, providing valuable brand exposure before, during and after publication. 

For more information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Rochelle Botha at Rochelle.Botha@wearevuka.com 

As sponsorship opportunities are limited, interested organisations are encouraged to secure their participation early. Don’t miss the opportunity to put your brand in the spotlight and keep it visible throughout the year. 

Confirmed 2027 Sponsor 

Lead Sponsor 

GoldOre 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

Media Contact: 
Gerard Peter: Editor-in-Chief 
Mining Review Africa 
VUKA Group 
Email: gerard.peter@wearevuka.com 
Phone: +27 (0) 81 813 7580 

Rochelle Botha: Business Development Manager  
Mining Review Africa  
VUKA Group 
Email: Rochelle.Botha@wearevuka.com 

About Mining Elites in Africa publication:
Mining Elites in Africa proudly recognises and honours individuals and organisations that are driving meaningful change across the continent’s mining sector. In 2027, we celebrate leaders, innovators and industry pioneers whose contributions are advancing operational excellence, sustainability, safety, community development and economic growth. 

By highlighting those who are making a tangible difference, Mining Elites in Africa showcases the achievements that are shaping the future of mining while inspiring the next generation of industry leaders to create lasting value for Africa and its people. 

About Vuka Group:
VUKA Group is a leading platform for convening Africa’s green economy, investment, and climate transition communities through high-level summits, industry forums, and strategic convenings, including the Carbon Markets Africa Summit. 

Source: APO

In The Gambia, a visit to the clinic for HIV services is no longer just one step in a long process: clients now experience bespoke, integrated delivery of care. At the heart of this shift is differentiated service delivery, led by the Ministry of Health with support from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Around 30% of people in The Gambia who test HIV-positive do not start treatment immediately, often because services are too far, fragmented or difficult to navigate when they are needed most. Differentiated service delivery aims to remove these barriers and tailor services to meet the needs of individual health clients.

In The Gambia, around 25 000 people are living with HIV and more than two-thirds know their status. Among people diagnosed, around 70% are on antiretroviral treatment and almost 55% have achieved viral suppression.

Historically, HIV prevention and treatment in The Gambia was focused on prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. Now, to expand testing and treatment services to more people living with HIV, services are integrated into 77 health facilities as broader entry points into care.

To expand quality of care, the Ministry of Health, in partnership with WHO and UNAIDS, conducted a three-day training for 60 health workers and lay counsellors on differentiated service delivery in May 2026.  The training focused on the service delivery model, community delivery of HIV treatment, adherence support, viral load monitoring and stigma reduction.

This has helped health facilities offer more flexible, client-centred services, including improved counselling, multi-month dispensing of HIV treatment and better use of patient data. The changes have enabled tailored care, fewer missed appointments and stronger continuity of treatment. Clinics are less congested, with smoother patient flow and reduced waiting times, creating a more supportive environment that encourages health-seeking behaviour. Flexible service hours, including weekends and extended clinics, also help clients remain in care without disrupting daily life.

“What used to require separate visits have now been integrated into routine services,” says Omar Dampha, officer in charge at Brufut Health Centre in Kombo North, West Coast Region of The Gambia. “This has made care more discreet, more convenient and easier to navigate.” He adds that clients no longer need additional trips just for treatment, reducing transport costs and helping those living far away to remain in care. “So far, we have recorded no treatment defaulters among enrolled clients,” he says.

At the health centre, differentiated service delivery was introduced in October 2025. By May 2026, 15 clients had been enrolled under the model.

According to senior nursing officer at Brufut Health Centre, Binta Jallow, the change is reflected in service delivery: “Now care is organized so that clients receive counselling and treatment on one visit,” she says, noting that this has made the process smoother and reduced repeated visits for both clients and health workers.

Health care officer at the health centre, Rohey Sarr, sees the change in how clients experience these services: “When clients feel their privacy is respected and they are treated with dignity, they are more willing to return and continue treatment,” she explains.

Between October 2025 and March 2026, more than 1000 people in The Gambia started HIV treatment through this approach. Of these, 85% were initiating treatment for the first time and the rest were mothers enrolled through PMTCT services.

“When HIV services are designed around the needs of people rather than the needs of the system, barriers to care begin to disappear,” says Dr Nathan Bakyaita, WHO Representative in The Gambia. “Differentiated service delivery is helping clients access treatment with greater dignity, convenience and continuity, ultimately improving their quality of life.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – The Gambia.

Source: APO

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• AI investment is accelerating faster than governments can govern it in the public interest.
• Governments are investing in AI skills while leaving workers’ rights behind.
• Governments are still failing to prevent misuse and unacceptable uses of AI, like surveillance.

Second edition of the Global Index on Responsible AI compares 135 countries and finds that laws, strategies and global commitments are spreading faster than the institutions, enforcement tools and transparency mechanisms needed to protect human rights.

A new study from the Global Center on AI Governance (www.GlobalCenter.AI/) warns that the global AI governance race is leaving many regions behind, even as artificial intelligence becomes embedded in public services, workplaces, education, healthcare, policing, finance and everyday life.

By “leaving many regions behind,” the report refers to a widening gap between countries that are turning responsible AI commitments into enforceable rules and those still relying mainly on non-binding principles, strategies and voluntary frameworks. That divide matters because, without institutions, oversight bodies, transparency requirements and redress mechanisms, many governments remain poorly equipped to protect people as AI systems shape access to public services, jobs, education, healthcare, policing, finance and other areas of everyday life.

In this scenario, the second edition of the Global Index on Responsible AI (GIRAI) (http://www.Global-index.AI/) finds that responsible AI governance is expanding, but unevenly and too slowly for the pace of AI development and diffusion. While more countries are adopting AI strategies, laws and policy commitments, many still lack the institutional capacity, enforcement tools, public accountability and transparency mechanisms required to protect human rights as AI systems spread.

Built by the Global Center on AI Governance with a network of 135 regional experts, GIRAI compares national approaches across 135 countries and five human-rights-linked dimensions: AI Use in Public Service Delivery, Ethics and Sustainability, Inclusion and Diversity, Labour and Skills, and Trust and Safety. The data used for the report covers the period 1 Nov 2023 – 30 Sept 2025.

The Index exposes a widening AI governance divide between countries with enforceable rules and countries relying mainly on non-binding principles, voluntary frameworks and early-stage capacity-building efforts.

The findings are especially relevant as governments move to regulate private AI while often failing to disclose, monitor or oversee their own use of algorithmic systems. The Index finds that the weakest-performing area is AI use in public service delivery, where automated systems can affect access to welfare, healthcare, education, housing, policing, migration and other essential services.

“Responsible AI cannot be secured through principles alone. The second edition of GIRAI shows a persistent gap between responsible AI as a commitment and responsible AI as a capability,” said Rachel Adams, founder and CEO at the Global Center on AI Governance. “As AI becomes a structural force in public life, governments need enforceable obligations, independent oversight, public disclosure, monitoring systems and accessible routes for redress.”

Key findings

The report identifies a global responsible AI landscape that is more active than before, but still fragmented, under-enforced and insufficiently grounded in public accountability. Among the main findings:

1. AI is accelerating faster than governments can govern it in the public interest

Diffusion of AI is expanding, with 53% of the global population having used generative AI tools. Yet average GIRAI scores remain low, at roughly 35 out of 100, and evidence of implementation exists in only 55% of cases where frameworks are active, falling to 45% in Global South countries.

2. Responsible AI governance is expanding in Global South countries, but binding protections remain scarce

Since the 1st Edition, Global South countries substantially broadened the responsible AI content of their national frameworks. On average, the number of GIRAI topics covered rose from 2.5 to 4.7, an 88% increase. In Global North countries, the number rose from 8.2 to 11.1, a 35% increase. Global South countries account for 203 of the 306 new country cases of indicators covered by frameworks identified since the 1st Edition. Despite this progress, most of the growth is in soft law: 78% of responsible AI framework cases in these countries are non-binding, compared with 42% in Global North countries.

3. AI safety is being governed as a technical problem, while human harms remain under-addressed

AI safety and security is one of the fastest-growing areas of governance, but much of it focuses on technical safeguards. Meanwhile, the Index found credible evidence of government misuse of AI in 35 of 135 countries, and only 49 countries (36%) have frameworks addressing AI-facilitated misinformation and violence.

4. Governments are regulating AI transparency but not disclosing their own use of AI

Transparency and Explainability is the strongest-performing indicator, with 58% of countries having some form of framework. Yet implementation lags behind the existence of frameworks. For government use of AI, Public Disclosure of Government Algorithmic Systems is the weakest-performing indicator, with only 18% of countries requiring disclosure of government AI systems.

5. Gender is increasingly recognised in AI governance, but protection from gendered harms remains weak

Gender equality is gaining visibility, with 29 new countries addressing gender and AI since the 1st Edition, but only 24 of 55 countries with gender-related frameworks show evidence of implementation. Protection from gendered AI harms remains limited.

6. Future generations are being prepared for the AI economy but not protected from AI-related harms

AI Literacy is one of the strongest-performing indicators, with 71 countries (53%) having some framework in place and 106 countries showing evidence of some activity in this area. By contrast, only 55 countries (41%) have frameworks addressing Children’s Rights in AI, and only 27 of them show evidence of implementation.

7. AI’s environmental footprint remains a blind spot in responsible AI governance

Only 27% of countries have frameworks addressing AI’s environmental effects, and 83% of those frameworks are non-binding. Very few governments require disclosure of AI’s energy use, water use, or environmental impact, contributing to making the environmental impact of AI a global blind spot.

8. Governments recognise the need for local-language AI but do not require developers to deliver it

Governments are investing in local-language technologies and cultural inclusion, with 52 countries (39%) showing government-led initiatives. Only 47 countries (35%) have frameworks addressing Cultural and Linguistic Diversity, and few require developers to use diverse datasets or adapt systems to local contexts.

9. Governments are investing in AI skills but neglecting workers’ rights

Labour protection frameworks exist in only 39 countries (29%), compared with 72 countries (53%) with frameworks on reskilling and upskilling. Few countries address workers’ rights to organise and collectively bargain in response to AI-driven workplace change.

10. Global AI governance is fragmenting before a shared floor of protection has been established

Average GIRAI scores range from 55 in Global North countries to 27 in Global South countries. Available evidence shows that 164 of 215 recent AI-related frameworks are non-binding, and multi-stakeholder consultations appear only 31 times in the global implementation record. Only 73 of 135 countries (54%) have adopted a national AI policy or equivalent framework, and just 36 countries (27%) have operational mechanisms for participation of civil society organisations (CSOs) in AI governance. Without a shared rights-based floor, interoperability risks serving markets before it protects people.

What GIRAI measures

The Global Index on Responsible AI is a research and advocacy initiative designed to measure countries’ commitments, capacities and progress toward rights-respecting responsible AI. It is developed by the Global Center on AI Governance, a South Africa-based think tank that works as a global hub for research and evidence-led action on inclusive and equitable AI governance.

This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada and the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office under the AI4Development funding programme. Some further funds were used for the project from the Government of Canada, and from the International Development Bank of Latin America.

The Global Center’s mission is to reduce global inequalities exacerbated by AI and to help build a world where AI technologies and governance reflect all of humanity. A central part of its work is bringing voices that are often marginalised into global AI governance debates, especially from regions and communities underrepresented in policy conversations.

GIRAI is intended to move the global AI governance debate from aspiration to evidence. It ranks countries but it also helps policymakers identify where stronger laws, institutions, resources and implementation mechanisms are needed; helps civil society actors see where governments have made commitments and where they can be held to account; and helps international organisations, funders and researchers understand where capacity gaps are most urgent.

Africa: Growing momentum, but implementation remains the greatest challenge

Africa continues to expand its responsible AI governance landscape, but the Global Index on Responsible AI finds that implementation and enforceability remain significant barriers. The region records the world’s lowest average GIRAI score (22 out of 100), 13 points below the global average, reflecting persistent gaps between policy ambition and practical action.

Out of the 39 African countries surveyed, only 6 score above the global average: Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, Ghana, Benin and Morocco, with North Africa emerging as the continent’s strongest-performing subregion overall.

The continent’s biggest gap lies between commitments and action. Key topics related to the Ethics and Sustainability of AI have the widest policy coverage, yet only 20.45% of the existing policy frameworks are implemented. In contrast, Policy frameworks addressing Labour and Skills challenges in the context of AI record the strongest implementation rate at 65.52%, making it the only dimension in Africa to exceed the global implementation average.

Most of Africa’s governance frameworks also remain non-binding, Just 21% of the continents’ 170 documented cases of policy areas covered by frameworks throughout the 39 countries are legally enforceable, with the majority taking the form of strategies, guidance or draft policies.

The Index also finds that civil society efforts are largely focused on building awareness, strengthening capacity and fostering collaboration, while fewer initiatives concentrate on accountability and oversight. At the same time, documented cases of unacceptable-risk AI in Kenya, Ghana and Uganda highlight the urgent need to strengthen governance as AI adoption accelerates across the continent.

Ranking

World Top 10

1. Norway
2. Italy
3. Ireland
4. France
5. Netherlands
6. Germany
7. United Kingdom
8. Slovenia
9. Latvia
10. Estonia
11. Brazil
12. Spain
13. Greece
14. Chile
15. Bulgaria

Regional Top 5

How the Index was built

The index was built by translating major global AI governance commitments, including the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI and the OECD AI Principles, into measurable, comparable indicators that can be tracked over time.

These indicators assess the three core pillars of the GIRAI: AI Policy, covering laws, regulations, policies and their implementation; Civil Society Engagement; and Enabling Conditions. The indicators are grouped across five dimensions: AI Use in Public Service Delivery, Ethics and Sustainability, Inclusion and Diversity, Labour and Skills, and Trust and Safety.

The measurement framework was validated with civil society organisations working on human rights in digital environments. Once the framework was finalised, the research team hired 135 local experts, one in each country covered by the Index, to collect evidence for all primary indicators. That process produced more than 68,000 data points, which were then analysed to identify global and regional trends grounded in local evidence.

The second edition introduces a stronger distinction between the existence of AI governance frameworks and their implementation in practice. It assesses not only whether countries have adopted laws, policies, strategies or guidelines, but whether those commitments are being operationalised through institutions, oversight mechanisms, programmes, standards, monitoring systems, budgets, consultations and other concrete actions.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Global Center on AI Governance.

Additional resources:

• Download the second edition of the Global Index on Responsible AI.

• Access country-level data and methodology at global-index.ai.

• Learn more about the Global Center on AI Governance and its work on inclusive and equitable AI governance.

• Contact us to get in touch with your local researcher.

About the Global Center on AI Governance:
The Global Center on AI Governance is a South Africa-based think tank that works as a global hub for research and evidence-led action on inclusive and equitable AI governance. Its mission is to reduce global inequalities exacerbated by AI and to help build a world where AI technologies and governance reflect all of humanity.

Through research, advocacy and global collaboration, the Center works to ensure that communities historically marginalised in global technology governance are included in the decisions shaping AI futures.

www.Globalcenter.AI

Source: APO

As Africa faces one of the defining moments in its development journey, global leaders, policymakers, investors, philanthropists, development institutions, corporate executives and innovators will gather in Lagos for the 2026 Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS), a landmark convening focused on unlocking the partnerships and financing needed to accelerate sustainable development across the continent.

Scheduled to take place from 22–24 July 2026 at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos, this year’s summit is themed “Financing for Development: Building Resilience and Transforming Emerging Economies.” The convening will provide a high-level platform for shaping practical solutions to Africa’s most pressing development priorities through investment, collaboration and innovation.

Co-convened by the Sterling One Foundation alongside the United Nations in Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the Africa Social Impact Summit has, since its inception, grown into one of Africa’s leading platforms for advancing market-led solutions to sustainable development challenges. The summit brings together decision-makers from government, business, development finance institutions, philanthropy, civil society and the innovation ecosystem to move beyond dialogue towards measurable action.

Africa’s development trajectory presents both immense opportunities and urgent challenges. By 2050, the continent is projected to be home to more than 2.5 billion people, including the world’s largest youth population. At the same time, shifting global capital flows, climate pressures, food insecurity and infrastructure gaps continue to demand innovative approaches to financing development and strengthening economic resilience.

Against this backdrop, ASIS 2026 will focus on mobilising catalytic capital, fostering strategic partnerships and creating scalable solutions capable of driving inclusive growth across emerging economies.

Speaking ahead of the summit, Mohamed Malick Fall, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, underscored the importance of collective action in advancing Africa’s development priorities.

“Africa’s greatest opportunity lies in the strength of its partnerships. The Africa Social Impact Summit continues to provide a unique platform where governments, the private sector, development partners and civil society come together to mobilise the investments, innovation and collaboration needed to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Together, we can build resilient economies that leave no one behind.”

Highlighting the importance of sustained collaboration across sectors, Abubakar Suleiman, Board Member, Sterling One Foundation, said the summit has evolved into more than an annual convening.

“What we are building through ASIS is not just a convening, but a long-term platform for action. The conversations we are having today must translate into real commitments, measurable outcomes and partnerships that outlive the summit itself. That is how we move from intention to impact across the continent.”

Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, also emphasised the importance of platforms that strengthen collaboration between governments, investors and development partners.

“Nigeria welcomes platforms like the Africa Social Impact Summit that bring together global capital, innovation and policy dialogue. Strengthening collaboration between government, investors and development partners is critical to accelerating economic growth, improving livelihoods and advancing sustainable development across the continent.”

For the organisers, the summit represents a deliberate effort to create a platform where ideas, investment and leadership converge to deliver lasting impact.

Speaking on the significance of this year’s edition, Olapeju Ibekwe, Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation, noted that the summit has already demonstrated the power of partnerships to unlock transformative outcomes across Africa.

“The Africa Social Impact Summit platform has already unlocked over $1 billion across sectors, and this needs to be scaled significantly. The future of Africa will be defined by the quality of the sustainable partnerships we build today. The Africa Social Impact Summit is a platform that brings together African leaders, local and international investors, innovative ideas and catalytic capital to address some of the continent’s most pressing challenges while unlocking opportunities for inclusive and sustainable growth. We are excited to unveil an edition that is bigger, more collaborative and more action-oriented than ever before. We expect deals of over $500 million to be signed this year.”

The 2026 edition will prioritise investment and partnerships across sectors that are central to Africa’s long-term prosperity, including education, healthcare, climate resilience, food systems, gender equality and women’s empowerment, youth development, the creative economy and sustainable finance.

Through keynote addresses, ministerial dialogues, investor roundtables, policy discussions, innovation showcases and strategic partnership announcements, participants will explore practical pathways for financing development while accelerating implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

The summit is expected to attract more than 2,000 delegates from over 50 countries, including heads of government, multilateral organisations, development finance institutions, global investors, corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, innovators and civil society organisations. The gathering will provide opportunities to forge new partnerships, unlock investment opportunities and scale solutions capable of delivering measurable social and economic impact across Africa.

As momentum builds towards July, the Africa Social Impact Summit 2026 continues to position itself as a catalyst for transformative action, bringing together the leadership, capital and partnerships required to build resilient economies and shape Africa’s sustainable future.

Registration for the summit is now open. Leaders, investors, innovators, development partners and organisations interested in participating can register by visiting www.TheImpactSummit.org.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Sterling One Foundation.

About Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS):
The Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS), co-convened by the Sterling One Foundation and the United Nations in Nigeria, is a premier platform dedicated to accelerating sustainable development across Africa through innovation, financing and cross-sector partnerships. Since its launch in 2022, ASIS has convened leaders from government, business, philanthropy, development institutions and civil society to co-create actionable solutions that advance the Sustainable Development Goals and Africa’s long-term development agenda.

Source: APO

Burkina Faso is set to take a major step towards overcoming one of the world’s largest electricity access gaps after Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) reached financial close on funding for what will become the country’s biggest power plant.

In a country of 24 million, where only one in five people currently has access to electricity, AFC has successfully disbursed the first US$60 million tranche of a US$300 million corporate loan facility supporting development of the 119MW thermal power plant by Aksa Enerji Üretim A.Ş., Türkiye’s largest publicly listed power generation company.

The project is expected to transform Burkina Faso’s electricity system. The West African country currently imports approximately 60% of its power supply, leaving homes, businesses and industry vulnerable to supply disruptions and elevated energy costs, constraining industrialisation and economic growth. Once operational in 2027, the facility will reduce dependence on imported electricity by more than 50% while significantly strengthening domestic generation capacity. By delivering more reliable, lower-cost baseload power, the project is expected to improve energy security, attract private investment and create a stronger foundation for long-term economic growth.

The transaction marks AFC’s first investment in Burkina Faso, reinforcing the Corporation’s commitment to finance transformational infrastructure across every region of Africa. Expanding reliable electricity access remains central to AFC’s mission of accelerating industrialisation, strengthening economic resilience and unlocking sustainable growth.

The financing builds on AFC’s US$150 million corporate loan facility to Aksa Enerji in 2025, which supported the company’s utility-scale gas-to-power projects in Senegal and Ghana, including a 255MW brand new combined-cycle gas power plant in Senegal designed to use domestic natural gas and deliver more reliable and lower-emission baseload power. The successful execution of these projects established Aksa as a trusted partner in delivering large-scale energy infrastructure across Africa, providing the foundation for this expanded collaboration.

The financing underscores AFC’s strategy of partnering with experienced private-sector developers capable of delivering critical energy infrastructure at scale in markets where electricity shortages remain a major constraint on growth.

Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of AFC, said: “Africa’s path to industrialisation and global competitiveness by 2050 depends on the infrastructure decisions we make today. Reliable electricity is fundamental to economic transformation. Without dependable power, countries cannot industrialise, businesses cannot grow and communities cannot realise their full economic potential. Aksa shares our commitment to delivering the reliable energy infrastructure needed to power Africa’s industrial growth and long-term transformation.”

Cemil Kazanci, Chairman of Aksa Energy commented, “Burkina Faso represents an important milestone in our long-term commitment to Africa. Together with AFC, we are delivering critical energy infrastructure that will strengthen energy security, support economic development and improve the reliability of electricity supply for millions.”

The investment further advances AFC’s broader strategy of strengthening national energy systems and enabling industrialisation through partnerships with experienced private-sector developers delivering transformational infrastructure across Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).