Category: Africa

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Building Hope and Opportunity: Spotlight Initiative 2.0 is Empowering Women and Girls Across Rural Liberia

Source: APO


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In communities across Maryland, Grand Gedeh, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, and Bong Counties, a quiet transformation is taking place.

For many women and girls, generations of poverty, harmful traditional practices, limited educational opportunities, and gender inequality have shaped the course of their lives. Survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), women and girls affected by female genital mutilation (FGM), women living with disabilities, female-headed households, and out-of-school girls often face multiple layers of exclusion and economic hardship.

Today, through the Spotlight Initiative 2.0, supported by the European Union and UN Women Liberia and implemented by the HOPE Consortium—including HOPE Liberia, HeForShe Liberia, and the Disabled Children Female Empowerment Network—new pathways towards dignity, inclusion, and economic independence are emerging.

The Spotlight Initiative 2.0 began not with training sessions or financial support, but with conversations. Project teams travelled to towns and villages across the five counties, meeting with chief elders, traditional leaders, local government officials, women, youth, and community members in palava huts, town halls, and local offices.

Together, communities discussed their challenges, aspirations, and the opportunities they believed could create lasting change. Through these dialogues, local leaders and residents helped shape the beneficiary identification process and informed the design of future interventions.

Following the consultations, the project identified vulnerable women and girls across the five Spotlight counties. Beneficiaries are being connected to skills development programmes, entrepreneurship training, financial literacy education, Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), and other income-generating opportunities.

Community members expressed strong interest in practical livelihood skills such as soap making, hairdressing, catering, agriculture, tailoring, and small business management—activities that can help families build sustainable sources of income.

Early Results, Lasting Impact

Although the initiative is still in its early stages, encouraging signs of change are already visible.

Across the five Spotlight counties, more than 1,100 women and girls have been identified and connected to support networks and empowerment opportunities.

Project partners report increased participation of women and young people in community meetings and project activities, while enrolment in livelihood and entrepreneurship programmes continues to grow.

Perhaps even more importantly, conversations that were once considered difficult or taboo are beginning to take place openly.

Issues such as SGBV, FGM, early marriage, women’s rights, and economic empowerment are increasingly being discussed among traditional leaders, government officials, youth representatives, and women themselves.

A Future Reimagined

In Grand Gedeh County, Beatrice Toe, a mother of five from Billibo, sees the initiative as an opportunity to create a better future for her family.

“This project has given me hope that I can better support my children and improve our future,” Beatrice says. “The training and support are opening new opportunities for my family.”

For Beatrice, access to skills development and savings groups represents more than a development programme—it is a chance to build financial independence, keep her children in school, and create lasting stability for her household.

Looking Ahead

Even with this progress, significant challenges remain. Deeply rooted social norms take time to change, and women living with disabilities and those experiencing extreme poverty continue to face barriers to full participation.

Yet the foundation for lasting transformation is being laid. As Spotlight Initiative 2.0 expands livelihood support, skills development, mentorship, and community engagement activities, more women and girls will have opportunities to strengthen their economic independence and participate fully in community life.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.

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Africa Launches the First Pan-African Pact for Insurance Inclusion

Source: APO

Faced with a major paradox representing nearly 19% of the world’s population while accounting for less than 1% of global insurance premiums African insurance stakeholders are mobilizing.

From July 6 to 8, 2026, the Federation of African National Insurance Companies (FANAF) will organize the General Assembly on Insurance for All at the Sofitel Hotel in Cotonou, Benin, a major pan-African gathering dedicated to inclusive insurance.

The event will bring together nearly 400 African decision-makers from governments, regulatory and supervisory authorities, insurance and reinsurance companies, financial institutions, development banks, technical and financial partners, as well as professional organizations from across the continent.

The ambition is clear: to foster a shared vision and concrete commitments aimed at accelerating access to insurance for African populations while strengthening the sector’s contribution to the continent’s economic and social development priorities.

The discussions will culminate in the adoption of the Pan-African Pact for Insurance Inclusion and a 2026–2030 Strategic Action Plan, designed to structure collective action around an ambitious objective: contributing to the doubling of insurance penetration across the FANAF region by 2040.

An Economic, Social and Development Imperative

Within the CIMA zone, insurance penetration remains below 1% of GDP, compared to more than 6% globally.

As a result, millions of households, farmers, entrepreneurs, SMEs and informal sector actors remain deprived of essential protection mechanisms against health, climate, economic and social risks.

For FANAF, this reality now constitutes a major development challenge.

“Africa cannot build sustainable growth without strengthening protection mechanisms for its populations, businesses and investments. The Cotonou General Assembly must mark the starting point of a new continental ambition for African insurance and its role in the continent’s economic transformation,” said Mamadou Koné, President of FANAF.

Beyond Insurance: A Driver of Continental Transformation

For FANAF, insurance is no longer merely a risk coverage mechanism. It is also a strategic lever for economic resilience, savings mobilization, investment security, SME financing, support for climate transitions and the strengthening of financial inclusion.

Through this General Assembly, FANAF seeks to reposition insurance as a key stakeholder in Africa’s economic, social and financial transformation.

A Pact to Accelerate Action

The conclusions of the General Assembly will lead to the adoption of the Pan-African Pact for Insurance Inclusion, a reference framework intended to mobilize governments, regulators, market players, financial institutions and development partners around shared objectives.

The Pact will be accompanied by a 2026–2030 Strategic Action Plan defining priority intervention areas, coordination mechanisms and monitoring arrangements for the commitments undertaken.

A broad mobilization of public, private and financial partners will support its implementation in order to translate commitments into tangible results for African populations and economies.

Cotonou 2026: Building a Shared Vision

Beyond the insurance sector, the General Assembly aims to create an unprecedented platform for dialogue between governments, regulators, investors, financial institutions, technical partners and market actors in order to identify the levers needed to accelerate insurance inclusion across the continent.

Holding this event in Benin reflects the country’s broader economic and financial transformation momentum and illustrates the collective determination of African stakeholders to develop solutions tailored to the continent’s realities.

Through this initiative, FANAF intends to make Cotonou 2026 a defining moment for the future of African insurance and the starting point of a lasting continental mobilization in favor of insurance inclusion.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Fédération des Sociétés d’Assurances de Droit National Africaines (FANAF).

Media Contact:
François KOUELI
francois@globalmindconsulting.com
+221 77 200 20 49

About FANAF:
The Federation of African National Insurance Companies (FANAF) is the leading pan-African organization for the insurance sector. It brings together insurance and reinsurance companies operating across the continent and works to promote a high-performing, inclusive and sustainable insurance market serving African populations and economies.

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Flat6Labs and International Finance Corporation (IFC) Launch StartAlgeria, a Capacity-Building Program Designed to Empower the Organizations Progressing Algeria’s Startup Ecosystem

Source: APO


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Flat6Labs (www.Flat6Labs.com) and IFC in collaboration with the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Startups and Micro-Enterprises are launching StartAlgeria, a capacity-building program that puts Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) at the forefront of Algeria’s ecosystem future. The program is designed to equip Algerian ESOs reinforcing pre-seed and seed-stage startups with the expertise, frameworks, and networks needed to contribute to a stronger, more competitive entrepreneurship ecosystem in Algeria and expand into global markets.

StartAlgeria comes at a key moment for Algeria’s entrepreneurship landscape, shifting the focus toward improving how the ESOs operate by providing them with international best practices adapted to each organization’s needs, a community-driven approach that focuses on peer learning, and facilitating connections with investors, policymakers, and key stakeholders.

StartAlgeria will pilot a first cohort focusing on incubators in the capital, Algiers. Following a call for application, the selected ESOs will go through a structured program comprising workshops and masterclasses covering key areas such as startup selection, program design and delivery, and investment readiness. In addition to the core program, participating ESOs will benefit from 6months of post-program mentorship, focusing on areas such as fundraising strategy, partnership development, financial sustainability, and program improvement. This sustained engagement’s goal is to provide a lasting impact in how Algerian ESOs operate and what they’re able to offer the startups they champion.

Yehia Houry, CEO of Flat6Labs, shares “Algeria’s startup ecosystem is demonstrating remarkable potential and a rapidly growing level of maturity, driven by an ambitious new generation of founders, increasing institutional support, and a strong national commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship. The opportunity today lies in further empowering entrepreneurship support organizations to match this momentum by strengthening their ability to identify and nurture high-potential startups, deliver impactful and results-driven programs, and create stronger connections between entrepreneurs and sources of capital. With the right support structures in place, Algeria is well positioned to become one of the leading innovation hubs in the region.”

“Algeria’s entrepreneurial community is among the most dynamic and vibrant in the region, and the potential is not just real, it is ready to scale. Through StartAlgeria, we are committed to ensuring that the organizations standing behind founders are equipped with the tools, frameworks, and expertise to take them from early ideas to investment-ready ventures. This program is a direct expression of IFC’s long-term confidence in Algeria’s private sector and in the ecosystem’s capacity to produce the next generation of high-impact companies.” underscored Cemile Hacibeyoglu Ceren, WBG Resident Representative in Algeria.

“The launch of StartAlgeria marks an important step in reinforcing Algeria’s startup support ecosystem. By strengthening the capabilities of Entrepreneur Support Organizations, we are investing in the long-term growth, resilience, and international competitiveness of Algerian startups. This initiative reflects our shared ambition to build a dynamic innovation-driven economy and create new opportunities for entrepreneurs across the country,” said H.E Mr. Noureddine Ouadah, Minister of Knowledge Economy, Startups and Micro-Enterprises.

This IFC program is implemented in partnership with the Government of the Netherlands.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Flat6Labs.

About IFC:
IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In the fiscal year 2022, IFC committed a record $32.8 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises. For more information, visit www.IFC.org

About Flat6Labs:
Flat6Labs is the Middle East and Africa’s leading entrepreneurial ecosystem platform with operations across 15 countries. Supporting entrepreneurs across different stages, Flat6Labs collaborates with leading partners to run renowned startup programs, strengthen entrepreneurship within emerging markets, and offer expert advisory services to startups, ESOs, corporates, and governments.

Since its launch in 2011 in Cairo, Flat6Labs has supported more than 10,000 founders in the Africa, Levant, and the GCC regions through tailored programs and extensive support services, partnering with global stakeholders.

Deeply committed to inclusivity and opportunity, Flat6Labs actively supports underserved entrepreneurs, with a vast track record supporting women and forcibly displaced individuals, who are creating real impact in vulnerable communities. To date, Flat6Labs-backed startups have generated over 90,000 jobs, with hundreds of entrepreneurs advancing local economies and with an increasing number leading efforts toward a more sustainable future. Flat6Labs is part of the F6 Group, working alongside F6 Ventures, a leading venture capital firm dedicated to early-stage seed investments.

For more information, please visit: www.Flat6Labs.com

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South Africa, let’s make history – Let’s plant 10 million trees on Heritage Day as part of President Ramaphosa’s one billion trees programme

Source: Government of South Africa

South Africa, let’s make history – Let’s plant 10 million trees on Heritage Day as part of President Ramaphosa’s one billion trees programme

By Bernice Swarts

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on government to work with all South Africans to plant one billion trees over the coming years. In support of the President’s vision, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has launched an ambitious campaign to plant 10 million trees in a single day on Heritage Day, 24 September 2026.

The Presidential One Billion Trees Programme seeks to mobilise all sectors of society – government, business, labour, civil society, faith-based organisations, traditional leaders, diplomatic missions, youth formations and communities – to plant trees as part of our collective response to climate change.

This programme is a call to action for every South African. It is about protecting our environment, improving our communities and safeguarding the future for generations to come. On 24 September 2026, I call on all South Africans across the country to unite in an effort to plant ten million trees in a single day.

Trees will be planted in safe spaces across all nine provinces, including schools, clinics, hospitals, colleges, police stations, churches, parks and residential areas. We also encourage households to plant trees in their own yards. Every tree planted will contribute towards a greener, healthier and more climate-resilient South Africa.

I therefore make a clarion call to all South Africans – including all spheres of government, organised business, organised labour and civil society – to join us in this national campaign and help make history by planting ten million trees on Heritage Day.

I recently launched the Presidential One Billion Trees Programme under the theme: “My Tree, My Oxygen. Plant Yours Today.” This programme is not merely about planting trees. It is about confronting the realities of climate change and taking meaningful action.

The science is clear: climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is a lived reality affecting communities across the globe and here at home. South Africa has experienced devastating floods, droughts, veld fires and heatwaves. Lives have been lost, livelihoods disrupted and infrastructure damaged. Standing by is no longer an option. We must act urgently, decisively and collectively.

Our ambitious target to plant ten million trees in a single day builds on the success of the 2025 One Million Trees Campaign. On Heritage Day last year, South Africans planted more than 1.3 million trees in a single day, surpassing the target of one million trees. Importantly, this achievement came at no cost to government, as citizens, businesses and organisations donated and planted the trees themselves.

The success of the 2025 campaign demonstrated the power of collective action and the willingness of South Africans to contribute to environmental protection and climate action. We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed their time, resources and commitment to making that campaign a success.

For the 2026 Ten Million Trees Campaign, we will adopt a similar approach. Government funds will not be used to purchase trees. Instead, we will rely on donations and partnerships from individuals, communities, businesses and organisations across the country.

The Presidential One Billion Trees Programme is also about creating economic opportunities, particularly for young people, women and persons with disabilities. Greening initiatives support nursery owners, landscapers, environmental workers and emerging entrepreneurs, while creating jobs for the people. It must also be stressed that the creation of jobs remains an important pillar of the Government of National Unity (GNU).   

I must also stress that our plan to plant ten million trees on Heritage Day, 24 September 2026 is not a public relations exercise. It is a national movement that is already gaining momentum. Over recent months, we have distributed tens of thousands of trees to traditional leaders and communities through our outreach programmes, community imbizos, school engagements and greening initiatives.

However, to reach our target of ten million trees, we need every South African to play their part. Whether you plant a tree in your yard, donate a tree through our departmental digital pledge platform, mobilise your workplace or encourage your community to participate, you are contributing to a lasting legacy.

If you are a business, sponsor trees. If you are an educator, encourage learners to participate. If you are a community leader, mobilise your neighbourhood. No contribution is too small.

The Presidential One Billion Trees Programme forms part of government’s broader National Greening Programme, which focuses on creating sustainable and resilient settlements through tree planting, ecosystem restoration and climate change mitigation.

Recent years have shown us the devastating impact of extreme weather events. We have witnessed severe flooding in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces. We have seen the destruction caused by floods in the Kruger National Park and surrounding communities, with tragic loss of life and significant economic damage. Our thoughts remain with all affected families and communities.

These events serve as a reminder that climate change affects every aspect of our lives. While we cannot control nature, we can take meaningful action to reduce our environmental impact and strengthen our resilience. 

Greening our country is not only about environmental protection; it is also an economic necessity. Research has consistently shown that well-greened neighbourhoods often experience increased property values and improved quality of life. This can strengthen municipal revenue bases and support improved service delivery.

Municipal participation in the planting of trees will also help identify projects that contribute to climate change mitigation, including the rehabilitation of degraded areas and the transformation of neglected spaces into safe community parks and recreational areas. 

Greening is also closely linked to spatial justice. Historically disadvantaged communities often bear the greatest burden of pollution, environmental degradation and inadequate green infrastructure. By expanding tree planting and greening initiatives, we contribute to creating healthier, safer and more equitable communities.

To ensure the success and sustainability of the Presidential One Billion Trees Programme, we are finalising a comprehensive implementation plan that includes the following interventions:

• Strengthening partnerships with academic, research and professional organisations, including the Institute of Environment and Recreation Management (IERM), to ensure that tree-planting initiatives are guided by scientific evidence.

• Integrating small and emerging nurseries into the programme to stimulate local economic development in rural and peri-urban communities.

• Expanding partnerships through Memoranda of Understanding with the Departments of Basic Education and Human Settlements to promote tree planting in schools and human settlements, particularly in low-income housing developments.

• Promoting commemorative and remembrance tree planting as a meaningful way for South Africans to honour important milestones and events.

• Supporting stakeholders involved in the rehabilitation of degraded land and ecosystems.

I therefore call on all South Africans to make history on Heritage Day, 24 September 2026, by participating in our effort to plant ten million trees. Let us leave behind a greener, healthier and more sustainable South Africa for future generations. Let us plant ten million trees in a single day under the theme: “My Tree, My Oxygen. Plant Yours Today.” 

Together, we can grow a legacy that will benefit our country for generations to come.

*Bernice Swarts is the Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

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L’Afrique lance le Premier Pacte Panafricain pour l’inclusion Assurantielle

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Face à un paradoxe majeur, près de 19 % de la population mondiale mais moins de 1 % des primes d’assurance émises dans le monde, les acteurs africains de l’assurance se mobilisent.

Du 6 au 8 juillet 2026, la Fédération des Sociétés d’Assurances de Droit National Africaines (FANAF) organisera au Sofitel de Cotonou (Bénin) les États Généraux de l’Assurance pour Tous, une rencontre panafricaine majeure consacrée à l’assurance inclusive.

Cette rencontre réunira près de 400 décideurs africains issus des pouvoirs publics, des organismes de régulation et de supervision, des sociétés d’assurance et de réassurance, des institutions financières, des banques de développement, des partenaires techniques et financiers ainsi que des organisations professionnelles du continent.

L’ambition est claire : faire émerger une vision commune et des engagements concrets afin d’accélérer l’accès à l’assurance pour les populations africaines et renforcer la contribution du secteur aux priorités de développement économique et social du continent.

Les travaux déboucheront sur l’adoption du Pacte panafricain pour l’inclusion assurantielle ainsi que d’un plan d’action stratégique 2026-2030, destiné à structurer l’action collective autour d’un objectif ambitieux : contribuer au doublement du taux de pénétration de l’assurance dans l’espace FANAF à l’horizon 2040.

Une urgence économique, sociale et de développement

Dans l’espace CIMA, le taux de pénétration de l’assurance demeure inférieur à 1 % du PIB, contre plus de 6 % au niveau mondial.

Cette situation prive encore des millions de ménages, d’agriculteurs, d’entrepreneurs, de PME et d’acteurs du secteur informel de mécanismes essentiels de protection face aux risques sanitaires, climatiques, économiques ou sociaux.

Pour la FANAF, cette réalité constitue désormais un enjeu majeur de développement.

« L’Afrique ne pourra bâtir une croissance durable sans renforcer les mécanismes de protection de ses populations, de ses entreprises et de ses investissements. Les États Généraux de Cotonou doivent marquer le point de départ d’une nouvelle ambition continentale pour l’assurance africaine et son rôle dans la transformation économique du continent », déclare Mamadou Koné, Président de la FANAF.

Au-delà de l’assurance, un enjeu de transformation du continent

Pour la FANAF, l’assurance ne constitue plus uniquement un mécanisme de couverture des risques. Elle représente également un levier stratégique de résilience économique, de mobilisation de l’épargne, de sécurisation des investissements, de financement des PME, d’accompagnement des transitions climatiques et de renforcement de l’inclusion financière.

À travers ces États Généraux, la FANAF entend contribuer à repositionner l’assurance comme un acteur à part entière des transformations économiques, sociales et financières de l’Afrique.

Un Pacte pour accélérer l’action

Les conclusions des États Généraux donneront lieu à l’adoption du Pacte panafricain pour l’inclusion assurantielle, document de référence destiné à mobiliser gouvernements, régulateurs, acteurs du marché, institutions financières et partenaires au développement autour d’objectifs communs.

Le Pacte sera assorti d’un plan d’action stratégique 2026-2030 définissant les priorités d’intervention, les mécanismes de coordination ainsi que les modalités de suivi des engagements retenus.

Une dynamique de mobilisation des partenaires publics, privés et financiers accompagnera sa mise en œuvre afin de transformer les engagements en résultats concrets au bénéfice des populations et des économies africaines.

Cotonou 2026 : un rendez-vous pour construire une vision commune

Au-delà du secteur de l’assurance, les États Généraux ambitionnent de créer un cadre inédit de dialogue entre pouvoirs publics, régulateurs, investisseurs, institutions financières, partenaires techniques et acteurs du marché afin d’identifier les leviers permettant d’accélérer l’inclusion assurantielle sur le continent.

La tenue de cette rencontre au Bénin s’inscrit dans une dynamique plus large de transformation économique et financière portée par le pays et illustre la volonté collective des acteurs africains de construire des solutions adaptées aux réalités du continent.

À travers cette initiative, la FANAF entend faire de Cotonou 2026 un moment fondateur pour l’avenir de l’assurance africaine et le point de départ d’une mobilisation continentale durable en faveur de l’inclusion assurantielle.

Distribué par APO Group pour Fédération des Sociétés d’Assurances de Droit National Africaines (FANAF).

Contact presse :
François KOUELI
francois@globalmindconsulting.com
+221 77 200 20 49

À propos de la FANAF :
La Fédération des Sociétés d’Assurances de Droit National Africaines (FANAF) est l’organisation panafricaine de référence du secteur de l’assurance. Elle fédère les sociétés d’assurance et de réassurance opérant sur le continent et œuvre au développement d’un marché assurantiel performant, inclusif et durable, au service des populations et des économies africaines.

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Flat6Labs et International Finance Corporation (IFC) lancent StartAlgeria, un programme conçu pour soutenir les structures d’accompagnement qui développent l’écosystème des startups en Algérie

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


Flat6Labs (www.Flat6Labs.com) et l’IFC, en collaboration avec le Ministère de l’Économie de la connaissance, des start-ups et des micro-entreprises, lancent StartAlgeria, un programme qui met les structures d’accompagnement au cœur du développement de l’écosystème algérien. L’initiative a pour but de donner aux structures d’accompagnement qui soutiennent les startups en phase d’amorçage et de pré-amorçage les expertises, cadres méthodologiques et réseaux nécessaires pour renforcer durablement l’écosystème entrepreneurial algérien et pour mieux accompagner leur expansion vers les marchés internationaux

StartAlgeria intervient à un moment charnière pour le développement de l’entrepreneuriat en Algérie. Le programme place l’amélioration des pratiques des structures d’accompagnement au cœur de sa démarche, en leur offrant de bonnes pratiques internationales adaptées aux besoins spécifiques de chaque structure, une approche fondée sur l’apprentissage entre pairs, ainsi qu’un accès facilité aux investisseurs, aux décideurs publics et aux acteurs clés de l’écosystème.

Une première cohorte sera lancée à Alger, en mettant l’accent sur les incubateurs de la capitale. À l’issue d’un appel à candidatures, les structures d’accompagnement sélectionnées suivront un programme composé d’ateliers et de masterclasses sur des thématiques clés telles que la sélection des startups, la conception et la mise en œuvre de programmes, et la préparation à l’investissement. Au-delà du programme principal, les structures participantes bénéficieront de 6 mois de mentorat post-programme axés sur la stratégie de levée de fonds, le développement de partenariats, la viabilité financière et l’amélioration de leurs programmes. Cet accompagnement vise à produire un impact durable sur la manière dont les structures d’accompagnement algériennes opèrent et sur la qualité des services qu’elles peuvent offrir aux startups qu’elles soutiennent.

Yehia Houry, CEO de Flat6Labs, déclare: « L’écosystème des startups algérien affiche un potentiel remarquable et une maturité en constante progression, porté par une nouvelle génération ambitieuse de fondateurs, un soutien institutionnel renforcé et un engagement national fort en faveur de l’innovation et de l’entrepreneuriat. Aujourd’hui, l’enjeu est de renforcer les capacités des structures d’accompagnement afin de tirer pleinement parti de cette dynamique : améliorer leur capacité à identifier et accompagner les startups à fort potentiel, concevoir des programmes à fort impact et créer des passerelles plus solides entre entrepreneurs et sources de financement. Avec des structures de soutien adaptées, l’Algérie a tous les atouts pour s’imposer comme l’un des principaux pôles d’innovation de la région.»

« La communauté entrepreneuriale algérienne compte parmi les plus dynamiques de la région ,et son potentiel est non seulement réel, mais prêt à se concrétiser. À travers StartAlgeria, nous nous engageons à ce que les structures d’accompagnement qui soutiennent les fondateurs disposent des ressources, des cadres méthodologiques et de l’expertise nécessaires pour les accompagner depuis les premières idées jusqu’aux entreprises prêtes à lever des fonds. Ce programme traduit concrètement la confiance à long terme de l’IFC dans le secteur privé algérien et dans la capacité de l’écosystème à faire émerger la prochaine génération d’entreprises à fort impact », a souligné Cemile Hacibeyoglu Ceren, représentante résidente du Groupe de la Banque mondiale en Algérie.

«Le lancement de StartAlgeria marque une étape importante pour l’écosystème de soutien aux startups en Algérie. En renforçant les capacités des structures d’accompagnement des entrepreneurs, nous investissons dans la croissance à long terme, la résilience et la compétitivité internationale des startups algériennes. Cette initiative reflète notre ambition commune de bâtir une économie fondée sur l’innovation et de créer de nouvelles opportunités pour les entrepreneurs à travers le pays», a déclaré S.E. M. Noureddine Ouadah, Ministre de l’Économie de la connaissance, des Start-ups et des Micro-entreprises.

Ce programme de l’IFC est mis en œuvre en partenariat avec le gouvernement des Pays-Bas.

Distribué par APO Group pour Flat6Labs.

À propos de l’IFC :
L’IFC, membre du groupe de la Banque mondiale, est la principale institution internationale de développement axée sur le secteur privé dans les marchés émergents. Présente dans plus de 100 pays, elle mobilise ses capitaux, son expertise et son influence pour ouvrir des marchés et créer des opportunités dans les pays en développement. En 2022, l’IFC a engagé un montant record de 32,8 milliards de dollars auprès d’entreprises privées et d’institutions financières dans ces pays, en misant sur le secteur privé pour réduire l’extrême pauvreté et favoriser une prospérité partagée, dans un contexte de crises mondiales croissantes.

Pour plus d’informations : www.IFC.org

À propos de Flat6Labs :
Flat6Labs est l’une des principales plateformes dédiées à l’entrepreneuriat au Moyen-Orient et en Afrique, avec une présence dans 15 pays. Elle accompagne les entrepreneurs à chaque étape de leur parcours, en s’associant à des acteurs de référence pour déployer des programmes d’accélération reconnus, renforcer la culture entrepreneuriale sur les marchés émergents et proposer des services de conseil aux startups, aux structures d’appui, aux grandes entreprises et aux gouvernements.

Depuis son lancement en 2011 au Caire, Flat6Labs a accompagné plus de 10 000 fondateurs en Afrique, au Levant et dans les pays du CCG, à travers des programmes conçus pour chaque contexte et un accompagnement de terrain concret, mené avec des partenaires de premier plan.

L’inclusion est au cœur de son action. Flat6Labs soutient activement les entrepreneurs issus de milieux défavorisés et dispose d’une solide expérience dans l’accompagnement des femmes et des personnes déplacées de force, avec un impact tangible sur les communautés vulnérables. À ce jour, les startups accompagnées ont créé plus de 90 000 emplois. Des centaines d’entrepreneurs contribuent ainsi à dynamiser les économies locales, et ils sont de plus en plus nombreux à porter des initiatives tournées vers un avenir plus durable.

Flat6Labs fait partie de F6 Group et travaille aux côtés de F6 Ventures, société de capital-risque spécialisée dans les investissements d’amorçage.

Pour plus d’informations : www.Flat6Labs.com

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Kenya’s Parliament urged to pass landmark bill to address discrimination against widows

Source: APO

To mark International Widows’ Day, Come Together Widows and Orphans Organization (CTWOO) (http://apo-opa.co/4g1aeOu) and Equality Now (http://apo-opa.co/4fVM73z) (www.EqualityNow.org) are urging MPs in Kenya to pass the Widowed Persons Protection Bill, 2026, before the current parliamentary session ends later this year. Turning this comprehensive Bill into law would provide all widowed persons with long overdue legal protections against the widespread discrimination they, particularly women, routinely face, including disinheritance, confiscation of property, and harmful cultural practices such as widow inheritance and widow cleansing.

The Bill was submitted to Parliament on 12 May 2026 as a Private Member’s Bill sponsored by Hon. Otiende Amollo, MP for Rarieda Constituency, whose commitment to advancing widows’ rights is informed by the discrimination his own mother faced after being widowed.

The Bill was developed and drafted with input from CTWOO and Equality Now, and would transform widowhood from a condition of vulnerability into one of protected status. It aims to ensure widowed persons do not lose their rights, security, dignity, or standing in society.

Kenya’s widows urgently need stronger legal protection

CTWOO provides case support, counselling, and legal education to widows and orphans across Kenya. In May 2026 alone, CTWOO recorded 139 cases, demonstrating the scale of the problem and the lack of effective state channels to address the challenges widows face.

Dr Dianah Kamande, HSC, Executive Director of CTWOO, founded the organisation after experiencing discrimination, dispossession, and blame following the death of her abusive husband.

Drawing on her own experience and years of supporting widows, Dr Kamande saw how legal rights are often inaccessible in practice and undermined by custom, community pressure, and unequal family power dynamics. With little or no say over decisions affecting their lives, widows are routinely subjected to systemic rights violations that are enabled by a fragmented legal framework which leaves critical protection gaps.

Following the death of a spouse, widows are often forced from their homes by family and community members, unlawfully stripped of their possessions, deprived of livelihoods, and denied custody of their children. The resulting dispossession can lead to homelessness, destitution, dependency, and disruption to children’s education.

Widowed persons can face intimidation involving threats, isolation, blame for a spouse’s death, and accusations of witchcraft that are used to justify seizing property. Cyberbullying and fraudulent schemes are emerging and growing problems.

Many communities still subject widows to harmful mourning rites, which may include scarification, coerced fasting, denial of medical care, forced shaving of hair, or being prevented from bathing. Widow cleansing or widow inheritance entails a bereaved wife being pressured into ritual “purification” through forced sexual intercourse, often with a relative, which she is required to undergo before she can continue her life or remarry.

Dr. Kamande explains, “Every week, women come to CTWOO after losing their husbands and then their home, their dignity, sometimes even their children. Kenya’s Widowed Persons Protection Bill draws a clear line between cultural practices that strengthen communities and those causing harm. Culture is not static. It can evolve in ways that acknowledge tradition while ensuring widows are afforded the same dignity, equality, and protection under the law as everyone else.”

The Widowed Persons Protection Bill would strengthen legal protections in Kenya

Equality Now’s report, Gender Inequality in Family Laws in Africa: An Overview of Key Trends in Select Countries (https://apo-opa.co/3QCt9ob), highlights how overlapping and contradictory civil, customary, and religious laws undermine women’s rights across the continent.

Kenya is no exception. Protections for widows are scattered across succession, family, and criminal law. While the Constitution guarantees equality and property rights, the Law of Succession Act, 1981, has provisions that disadvantage widows, including differential treatment in the distribution of agricultural land and the removal of a widow’s right to inherit her late husband’s property if she remarries.

In polygamous marriages, the law groups each wife and her children into a single “unit” for dividing the family estate, giving a widow only a proportion equal to one of her children.

The Bill unites legal protections, creating a single dedicated framework of rights covering equality, dignity, property and inheritance, custody, health, privacy, and digital safety.

The Bill would criminalise coercive mourning rites, widow inheritance, forced marriage, and forced removal of children. It would be a criminal offence to unlawfully seize a widowed person’s property or evict them from the matrimonial home after a spouse dies.

Harassment, falsely accusing a widowed person of causing the death of a spouse, or branding them a witch, would be unlawful, and to address online harassment and inheritance fraud, their right to digital safety would be guaranteed.

The Law of Succession Act would be amended so that widows would be entitled to keep their inheritance if they remarry, and widows in polygamous marriages would inherit in their own right, rather than having their share treated as part of a household unit with their children.

A Widowed Persons Protection Board would be established to coordinate the law’s implementation and improve access to support. The Board would advise on policy reform, investigate rights violations, promote public education, facilitate access to legal aid and counselling, and ensure widows’ rights are reflected in national and county planning.

Data on widowhood is often fragmented and insufficiently disaggregated, making it difficult to design effective responses. The Bill would create a framework for data collection, research, and reporting, with widowed persons recognised as a distinct policy group.

In collaboration with civil society and relevant stakeholders, county governments would set up and maintain emergency shelters for widowed persons made homeless. Counties would be required to allocate adequate resources and establish and support legal aid and justice centres.

Aligning Kenya’s law with the Maputo Protocol and CEDAW

Kenya has ratified the Maputo Protocol (http://apo-opa.co/3QHoUYu), the only regional human rights treaty with a dedicated article on widows’ rights. Article 20 requires African states to protect widows from inhuman or degrading treatment, safeguard their property, and preserve their inheritance rights if they remarry.

As part of the Africa Family Law Network (https://apo-opa.co/4gA3MOn), CTWOO and Equality Now have collaborated with fellow member FIDA-Kenya to ensure the Bill aligns with the Maputo Protocol and the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Importantly, the Bill translates Kenya’s commitments into practical, enforceable protections, closing longstanding gaps so widowed persons can fully benefit from the rights guaranteed under national, regional, and international law.

Deborah Nyokabi (https://apo-opa.co/3Qvv3qT), a human rights lawyer with Equality Now, explains, “If enacted, Kenya’s Widowed Persons Protection Bill, 2026, would set a precedent as the first dedicated widowed persons’ rights law in Africa. By addressing legal, social, and economic harms together, it would provide a blueprint for reform in other African countries, where widows face similar discrimination, abuse, and inadequate legal safeguards.

“Kenyan lawmakers can transform commitments under the Maputo Protocol and CEDAW into meaningful protections for widows. Passing the Bill is an opportunity to show that discrimination, dispossession, and harmful practices are not inevitable consequences of widowhood, but rights violations that must be prevented and punished.”

Dr Kamande concludes, “Widowed women are not just survivors; we are leaders, advocates, and agents of change. We have spoken out, organised, documented abuses, and helped develop solutions. We urge MPs to match our efforts by passing the Widowed Persons Protection Bill, 2026, before the current legislative session ends.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Equality Now.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Equality Now:
Tara Carey
tcarey@equalitynow.org
WhatsApp + 44 7971556340

Come Together Widows and Orphans Organization (CTWOO):
George Ekokwa
george@cometogewoo.org
Whatsapp + 254 743 707 046

Social Media:
Equality Now:
Bluesky: equalitynow.bsky.social (http://apo-opa.co/4xICPyl)
Facebook: @equalitynoworg (http://apo-opa.co/4xFwILf)
Instagram: @equalitynoworg (http://apo-opa.co/4oGa1SS)
LinkedIn: Equality Now (http://apo-opa.co/4p2qSQh)

Come Together Widows and Orphans Organization (CTWOO):
Twitter @Cometogether_Wi

About Equality Now:
Equality Now is a worldwide human rights organisation dedicated to securing the legal and systemic change needed to end discrimination against all women and girls. Since its inception in 1992, it has played a role in reforming 120 discriminatory laws globally, positively impacting the lives of hundreds of millions of women and girls, their communities and nations, both now and for generations to come.

Working with partners at national, regional and global levels, Equality Now draws on deep legal expertise and a diverse range of social, political and cultural perspectives to continue to lead the way in steering, shaping and driving the change needed to achieve enduring gender equality, to the benefit of all.

For more details, go to www.EqualityNow.org

About Come Together Widows and Orphans Organization (CTWOO):
CTWOO is a registered non-profit organisation in Kenya, recognised by the NGO Coordination Board in January 2019, having begun as a community-based organisation in October 2013. CTWOO champions the protection of human rights and dignity of widows and their children, in alignment with CEDAW and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. CTWOO is a member of the Global Campaign for Equality in Family Law and an affiliate member of the Africa Family Law Network.

For more details, go to www.ComeTogeWOO.org. 

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Une main-d’œuvre africaine du secteur énergétique axée sur les données : la clé pour ouvrir la voie à l’exploration future

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


L’avenir énergétique de l’Afrique ne sera pas seulement façonné par les ressources souterraines, mais aussi par la capacité de sa main-d’œuvre à interpréter, gérer et exploiter des ensembles de données de plus en plus complexes. Alors que les cibles d’exploration deviennent techniquement plus difficiles à atteindre et que les investisseurs exigent davantage de certitudes, les entreprises énergétiques de tout le continent se tournent vers l’intelligence artificielle, l’analyse avancée et les plateformes numériques pour améliorer leur prise de décision. La constitution d’une main-d’œuvre axée sur les données, capable de tirer parti de ces technologies, apparaît comme une priorité stratégique, permettant aux opérateurs de réduire les risques liés à l’exploration, d’optimiser la production et d’accélérer le développement des projets.

Alors que l’innovation numérique devient de plus en plus essentielle pour rationaliser les opérations d’exploration et de production, l’African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 de cette année – qui se tiendra au Cap du 12 au 16 octobre – mettra en lumière l’impact de ces évolutions sur la compétitivité régionale. Ces avancées à l’échelle du secteur occuperont le devant de la scène lors de « Renegade Intel », le principal volet de l’événement consacré à l’IA et aux centres de données.

Pour le secteur de l’exploration en Afrique, la numérisation devient une condition sine qua non de la réussite. Alors que les opérateurs se tournent vers des zones d’exploration pionnières, des gisements plus profonds et des contextes géologiques plus complexes, la capacité à traiter et à interpréter de grands volumes de données sismiques, souterraines et opérationnelles est essentielle. Cependant, la technologie à elle seule ne suffit pas. L’intensification des activités d’exploration nécessitera une main-d’œuvre dotée de compétences numériques avancées, capable d’appliquer les connaissances issues de l’IA à la modélisation géologique, à l’évaluation des prospects et au développement des ressources.

Dans le secteur de l’exploration, le BHP Xplore Bootcamp – conçu pour accélérer l’exploration minière à un stade précoce – a été lancé en Afrique du Sud le 3 février. Ce programme intensif offre aux jeunes explorateurs des subventions de 500 000 dollars et l’accès à des analyses de données exclusives, ciblant spécifiquement les gisements de cuivre et de zinc plus profonds de la province du Cap-Nord grâce à une modélisation minérale avancée.

Pour renforcer encore l’efficacité en amont, l’entreprise technologique mondiale SLB a inauguré son Africa Performance Center à Luanda, en Angola, fin 2025. Ce centre fournit aux opérateurs régionaux des jumeaux numériques haute fidélité et des flux de travail basés sur l’IA pour la récupération assistée du pétrole. Ces outils permettent aux entreprises d’analyser d’énormes ensembles de données, prolongeant ainsi la durée de vie des gisements matures en Angola et en Algérie.

L’IA est de plus en plus adoptée dans les systèmes de gestion de l’énergie à travers l’Afrique. À la pointe de la gestion moderne des réseaux électriques, Eskom, le service public sud-africain, a annoncé le 3 mars qu’il exploitait l’IA pour construire un réseau électrique « auto-réparateur ». Ce projet ambitieux vise à utiliser l’analyse prédictive pour minimiser les coupures de courant et optimiser l’intégration des sources d’énergie renouvelables sur l’ensemble de son réseau national de transport d’électricité. Cette annonce a été suivie de la signature d’un accord entre Eskom, l’université de Pretoria et l’Institut national sud-africain de développement énergétique, visant à exploiter le potentiel de l’IA pour relever les défis énergétiques majeurs à l’échelle du pays.

Des initiatives similaires voient le jour au Nigeria. Dans le cadre d’une mesure historique en faveur de la transparence réglementaire, la Commission nigériane de régulation du secteur pétrolier en amont (NUPRC) a lancé un programme de numérisation de 60 jours début 2026. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, directeur général de la NUPRC, a annoncé cette initiative à la suite d’une visite de Musa Sarkin Adar, secrétaire exécutif de l’Initiative pour la transparence des industries extractives au Nigeria (ITIE), s’engageant à éliminer les traces papier afin d’accélérer les procédures et de renforcer l’application des redevances.

Pour maintenir cette dynamique, il est nécessaire de disposer de viviers de talents solides et de partenariats universitaires. La réforme de la main-d’œuvre est essentielle pour combler le déficit technique, car les institutions africaines doivent évoluer pour devenir des pôles d’innovation dynamiques. Investir dans le développement des compétences locales garantit que la transition numérique reste menée par l’Afrique, créant ainsi des emplois à forte valeur ajoutée pour la population jeune et croissante du continent.

« Pour concrétiser le potentiel économique de l’Afrique, nous devons donner les moyens d’agir à ceux qui rendent la croissance possible : nos PME, nos femmes entrepreneurs et nos jeunes », déclare NJ Ayuk, président exécutif de l’African Energy Chamber. « Tirer parti de la numérisation n’est plus une option, mais une nécessité pour garantir que l’Afrique reste compétitive à l’échelle mondiale. »

En fin de compte, la numérisation et le développement des compétences constituent les deux moteurs qui propulsent l’Afrique vers une ère d’abondance énergétique. En formant une main-d’œuvre maîtrisant les technologies et en adoptant des outils d’analyse de pointe, le continent peut réduire les risques liés aux projets et attirer des capitaux à long terme. Ces avancées cruciales constitueront la pierre angulaire des discussions du volet « Renegade Intel » lors de l’AEW 2026, qui se tiendra en octobre prochain.

Distribué par APO Group pour African Energy Chamber.

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A força de trabalho do setor energético africano, centrada nos dados, é a chave para desbloquear a exploração futura

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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O futuro energético de África será moldado não só pelos recursos que se encontram no subsolo, mas também pela capacidade da sua força de trabalho para interpretar, gerir e agir com base em conjuntos de dados cada vez mais complexos. À medida que os alvos de exploração se tornam tecnicamente mais desafiantes e os investidores exigem maior certeza, as empresas do setor energético em todo o continente estão a recorrer à inteligência artificial, à análise avançada e às plataformas digitais para melhorar a tomada de decisões. A criação de uma força de trabalho centrada nos dados, capaz de tirar partido destas tecnologias, está a emergir como uma prioridade estratégica, permitindo às operadoras reduzir o risco de exploração, otimizar a produção e acelerar o desenvolvimento de projetos.

À medida que a inovação digital se torna cada vez mais crucial para a racionalização das operações nas áreas da exploração e produção, a African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 deste ano — que decorrerá na Cidade do Cabo de 12 a 16 de outubro — deverá destacar o impacto destas mudanças na competitividade regional. Estes avanços a nível de todo o setor assumirão um papel central durante o «Renegade Intel», a principal vertente do evento dedicada à IA e aos centros de dados.

Para o setor de exploração africano, a digitalização está a tornar-se um pré-requisito para o sucesso. À medida que as operadoras procuram áreas de fronteira, reservatórios mais profundos e formações geológicas mais complexas, a capacidade de processar e interpretar grandes volumes de dados sísmicos, subterrâneos e operacionais é fundamental. No entanto, a tecnologia por si só não é suficiente. A expansão das atividades de exploração exigirá uma força de trabalho dotada de competências digitais avançadas, capaz de aplicar conhecimentos baseados em IA à modelação geológica, à avaliação de prospetos e ao desenvolvimento de recursos.

No setor da exploração, o BHP Xplore Bootcamp — concebido para acelerar a exploração mineral em fase inicial — foi lançado na África do Sul a 3 de fevereiro. O programa intensivo oferece a exploradores juniores subsídios no valor de 500 000 dólares e acesso a análises de dados exclusivas, visando especificamente sistemas mais profundos de cobre e zinco na província do Cabo Setentrional através de modelação mineral avançada.

Para aumentar ainda mais a eficiência a montante, a empresa global de tecnologia SLB inaugurou o seu Africa Performance Center em Luanda, Angola, no final de 2025. As instalações fornecem às operadoras regionais gémeos digitais de alta fidelidade e fluxos de trabalho baseados em IA para a recuperação avançada de petróleo. Estas ferramentas permitem às empresas analisar conjuntos de dados massivos, prolongando a vida útil de campos maduros em Angola e na Argélia.

A IA está a ser cada vez mais adotada nos sistemas de gestão de energia de África. Liderando a mudança na gestão moderna da rede elétrica, a empresa estatal sul-africana Eskom anunciou, a 3 de março, que está a utilizar a IA para construir uma rede elétrica com capacidade de autorrecuperação. Este projeto ambicioso visa utilizar a análise preditiva para minimizar as falhas de energia e otimizar a integração de fontes de energia renováveis em toda a sua rede nacional de transmissão. Seguiu-se a assinatura de um acordo entre a Eskom, a Universidade de Pretória e o Instituto Nacional de Desenvolvimento Energético da África do Sul, com o objetivo de aproveitar o poder da IA para enfrentar desafios energéticos críticos em todo o país.

Medidas semelhantes estão a ser tomadas na Nigéria. Numa iniciativa histórica em prol da transparência regulatória, a Comissão Reguladora do Setor Upstream do Petróleo da Nigéria (NUPRC) lançou um programa de digitalização de 60 dias no início de 2026. O Diretor Executivo da NUPRC, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, anunciou a iniciativa na sequência de uma visita do Secretário Executivo da Iniciativa de Transparência das Indústrias Extrativas da Nigéria, Musa Sarkin Adar, comprometendo-se a eliminar a burocracia em papel para aumentar a rapidez e a aplicação das royalties.

Manter este impulso requer canais sólidos de recrutamento de talentos e parcerias com universidades. A reforma da força de trabalho é essencial para colmatar a lacuna técnica, uma vez que as instituições africanas têm de evoluir para se tornarem centros de inovação dinâmicos. Investir no desenvolvimento de competências locais garante que a transição digital continue a ser liderada por África, criando empregos de elevado valor para a crescente população jovem do continente.

«Transformar o potencial económico de África em realidade exige que capacitemos aqueles que tornam o crescimento possível — as nossas PME, as nossas mulheres empresárias e os nossos jovens», afirma NJ Ayuk, presidente executivo da Câmara Africana de Energia. «Aproveitar a digitalização já não é uma opção, mas sim uma necessidade para garantir que África se mantenha competitiva a nível global. ”

Em última análise, a digitalização e o desenvolvimento de competências são os dois motores que impulsionam África rumo a uma era de abundância energética. Ao promover uma força de trabalho com competências tecnológicas e ao adotar análises de ponta, o continente pode reduzir os riscos dos projetos e atrair capital a longo prazo. Estes avanços cruciais deverão constituir a pedra angular dos debates na sessão «Renegade Intel» da AEW 2026, em outubro deste ano.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para African Energy Chamber.

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Africa’s Data-First Energy Workforce is the Key to Unlocking Future Exploration

Source: APO


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Africa’s energy future will be shaped not only by the resources beneath the ground, but by the ability of its workforce to interpret, manage and act on increasingly complex datasets. As exploration targets become more technically challenging and investors demand greater certainty, energy companies across the continent are turning to artificial intelligence, advanced analytics and digital platforms to improve decision-making. Building a data-first workforce capable of leveraging these technologies is emerging as a strategic priority, enabling operators to reduce exploration risk, optimize production and accelerate project development.

As digital innovation becomes increasingly critical to streamlining operations across exploration and production, this year’s African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 – taking place in Cape Town from October 12–16 – is set to highlight how these shifts impact regional competitiveness. These industry-wide advancements are set to take center stage during Renegade Intel, the event’s premier track dedicated to AI and data centers.

For Africa’s exploration sector, digitalization is becoming a prerequisite for success. As operators pursue frontier acreage, deeper reservoirs and more complex geological plays, the ability to process and interpret large volumes of seismic, subsurface and operational data is critical. However, technology alone is not enough. Scaling exploration activity will require a workforce equipped with advanced digital skills, capable of applying AI-driven insights to geological modeling, prospect evaluation and resource development.

In the exploration sector, the BHP Xplore Bootcamp – designed to fast-track early-stage mineral exploration – launched in South Africa on February 3. The intensive program provides junior explorers with $500,000 grants and access to proprietary data analytics, specifically targeting deeper copper and zinc systems in the Northern Cape province through advance mineral modeling.

Further boosting upstream efficiency, global technology company SLB inaugurated its Africa Performance Center in Luanda, Angola in late 2025. The facility provides regional operators with high-fidelity digital twins and AI-driven workflows for enhanced oil recovery. These tools allow companies to analyze massive datasets, extending the life of mature fields in Angola and Algeria.

AI is increasingly being adopted across Africa’s energy management systems. Leading the charge in modern grid management, South Africa’s state utility Eskom announced on March 3 that it is leveraging AI to build a self-healing power grid. This ambitious project aims to utilize predictive analytics to minimize outages and optimize integration of renewable energy sources across its national transmission network. This was followed by the signing of an agreement between Eskom, the University of Pretoria and the South African National Energy Development Institute, aimed at harnessing the power of AI to address critical energy challenges across the country.

Similar moves are taking place in Nigeria. In a landmark move for regulatory transparency, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) launched a 60-day digitalization program in early 2026. NUPRC Commission Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan announced the initiative following a visit from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative’s Executive Secretary Musa Sarkin Adar, pledging to eliminate paper trails to enhance speed and royalty enforcement.

Sustaining this momentum requires robust talent pipelines and university partnerships. Workforce reform is essential to bridge the technical gap, as African institutions must evolve into dynamic innovation hubs. Investing in local skills development ensures that the digital transition remains Africa-led, creating high-value jobs for the continent’s growing youth population.

“Transforming Africa’s economic potential into reality requires that we empower those who make growth possible – our SMEs, our women entrepreneurs and our youth,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. “Harnessing digitalization is no longer an option but a necessity to ensure Africa remains globally competitive.”

Ultimately, digitalization and skills development are the dual engines driving Africa toward an era of energy abundance. By fostering a tech-savvy workforce and adopting cutting-edge analytics, the continent can de-risk projects and attract long-term capital. These critical advancements are set to form the cornerstone of discussions at the Renegade Intel track at AEW 2026 this October. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.