MIL-OSI – Page 359 – MIL Africa Engine

October 16, 2025

African languages for AI: the project that’s gathering a huge new dataset

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Vukosi Marivate, Chair of Data Science, Professor of Computer Science, Director AfriDSAI, University of Pretoria

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Siri or Google Assistant are developed by the global north and trained in English, Chinese or European languages. In comparison, African languages are largely missing from the internet.

A team of African computer scientists, linguists, language specialists and others have been working on precisely this problem for two years already. The African Next Voices project, primarily funded by the Gates Foundation (with other funding from Meta) and involving a network of African universities and organisations, recently released what’s thought to be the largest dataset of African languages for AI so far. We asked them about their project, with sites in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.

Why is language so important to AI?

Language is how we interact, ask for help, and hold meaning in community. We use it to organise complex thoughts and share ideas. It’s the medium we use to tell an AI what we want – and to judge whether it understood us.

We are seeing an upsurge of applications that rely on AI, from education to health to agriculture. These models are trained from large volumes of (mostly) linguistic (language) data. These are called large language models or LLMs but are found in only a few of the world’s languages.

Languages also carry culture, values and local wisdom. If AI doesn’t speak our languages, it can’t reliably understand our intent, and we can’t trust or verify its answers. In short: without language, AI can’t communicate with us – and we can’t communicate with it. Building AI in our languages is therefore the only way for AI to work for people.

If we limit whose language gets modelled, we risk missing out on the majority of human cultures, history and knowledge.

Why are African languages missing and what are the consequences for AI?

The development of language is intertwined with the histories of people. Many of those who experienced colonialism and empire have seen their own languages being marginalised and not developed to the same extent as colonial languages. African languages are not as often recorded, including on the internet.

So there isn’t enough high-quality, digitised text and speech to train and evaluate robust AI models. That scarcity is the result of decades of policy choices that privilege colonial languages in schools, media and government.

Language data is just one of the things that’s missing. Do we have dictionaries, terminologies, glossaries? Basic tools are few and many other issues raise the cost of building datasets. These include African language keyboards, fonts, spell-checkers, tokenisers (which break text into smaller pieces so a language model can understand it), orthographic variation (differences in how words are spelled across regions), tone marking and rich dialect diversity.

The result is AI that performs poorly and sometimes unsafely: mistranslations, poor transcription, and systems that barely understand African languages.

In practice this denies many Africans access – in their own languages – to global news, educational materials, healthcare information, and the productivity gains AI can deliver.

When a language isn’t in the data, its speakers aren’t in the product, and AI cannot be safe, useful or fair for them. They end up missing the necessary language technology tools that could support service delivery. This marginalises millions of people and increases the technology divide.

What is your project doing about it – and how?

Our main objective is to collect speech data for automatic speech recognition (ASR). ASR is an important tool for languages that are largely spoken. This technology converts spoken language into written text.

The bigger ambition of our project is to explore how data for ASR is collected and how much of it is needed to create ASR tools. We aim to share our experiences across different geographic regions.

The data we collect is diverse by design: spontaneous and read speech; in various domains – everyday conversations, healthcare, financial inclusion and agriculture. We are collecting data from people of diverse ages, gender and educational backgrounds.

Every recording is collected with informed consent, fair compensation and clear data-rights terms. We transcribe with language-specific guidelines and a large range of other technical checks.

In Kenya, through Maseno Centre for Applied AI, we are collecting voice data for five languages. We’re capturing the three main language groups Nilotic (Dholuo, Maasai and Kalenjin) as well as Cushitic (Somali) and Bantu (Kikuyu).

Through Data Science Nigeria, we are collecting speech in five widely spoken languages – Bambara, Hausa, Igbo, Nigerian Pidgin and Yoruba. The dataset aims to accurately reflect authentic language use within these communities.

In South Africa, working through the Data Science for Social Impact lab and its collaborators, we have been recording seven South African languages. The aim is to reflect the country’s rich linguistic diversity: isiZulu, isiXhosa, Sesotho, Sepedi, Setswana, isiNdebele and Tshivenda.

Importantly, this work does not happen in isolation. We are building on the momentum and ideas from the Masakhane Research Foundation network, Lelapa AI, Mozilla Common Voice, EqualyzAI, and many other organisations and individuals who have been pioneering African language models, data and tooling.

Each project strengthens the others, and together they form a growing ecosystem committed to making African languages visible and usable in the age of AI.

How can this be put to use?

The data and models will be useful for captioning local-language media; voice assistants for agriculture and health; call-centre and support in the languages. The data will also be archived for cultural preservation.

Larger, balanced, publicly available African language datasets will allow us to connect text and speech resources. Models will not just be experimental, but useful in chatbots, education tools and local service delivery. The opportunity is there to go beyond datasets into ecosystems of tools (spell-checkers, dictionaries, translation systems, summarisation engines) that make African languages a living presence in digital spaces.

In short, we are pairing ethically collected, high-quality speech at scale with models. The aim is for people to be able to speak naturally, be understood accurately, and access AI in the languages they live their lives in.

What happens next for the project?

This project only collected voice data for certain languages. What of the remaining languages? What of other tools like machine translation or grammar checkers?

We will continue to work on multiple languages, ensuring that we build data and models that reflect how Africans use their languages. We prioritise building smaller language models that are both energy efficient and accurate for the African context.

The challenge now is integration: making these pieces work together so that African languages are not just represented in isolated demos, but in real-world platforms.

One of the lessons from this project, and others like it, is that collecting data is only step one. What matters is making sure that the data is benchmarked, reusable, and linked to communities of practice. For us, the “next” is to ensure that the ASR benchmarks we build can connect with other ongoing African efforts.

We also need to ensure sustainability: that students, researchers, and innovators have continued access to compute (computer resources and processing power), training materials and licensing frameworks (Like NOODL or Esethu). The long-term vision is to enable choice: so that a farmer, a teacher, or a local business can use AI in isiZulu, Hausa, or Kikuyu, not just in English or French.

If we succeed, built-in AI in African languages won’t just be catching up. It will be setting new standards for inclusive, responsible AI worldwide.

– African languages for AI: the project that’s gathering a huge new dataset
– https://theconversation.com/african-languages-for-ai-the-project-thats-gathering-a-huge-new-dataset-266371

October 16, 2025

African Development Bank Approves $500 Million Strategy to Drive Inclusive Growth and Economic Resilience in Sierra Leone

Source: APO

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has approved a new Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for Sierra Leone for 2025–2030, committing approximately $500 million over the next five years to foster sustainable economic growth, strengthen resilience to fragility, and promote inclusive development.

The strategy is built around two key priorities: developing sustainable infrastructure to enhance private sector competitiveness and supporting agricultural value-chain development to boost job creation and food security. These focus areas directly target Sierra Leone’s core development challenges, notably infrastructure gaps, limited private sector value addition, and high vulnerability to climate change.

With an estimated $2.1 billion in total financing, including co-financing from development partners, the CSP aligns with the government’s National Development Plan (2021–2025) and Vision 2030, which aim to position Sierra Leone as a middle-income economy.

Flagship infrastructure initiatives will focus on expanding renewable energy generation, increasing electricity access from 41% in 2024 to 60% by 2030—alongside upgrading climate-resilient road networks and improving water and sanitation systems to provide an additional 1.2 million people with access to safe drinking water.

The agricultural component prioritizes agro-industrial transformation, aiming to reduce food import dependency, currently at 70% for staple crops like rice, while creating over 500,000 jobs, particularly for women and youth, through support for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Sierra Leone’s economy has demonstrated resilience with real GDP growth averaging 6.7% from 2020-2024, driven by the agriculture and services sectors. The new strategy builds on this momentum and leverages the Bank’s existing portfolio of 10 ongoing projects worth $150 million, which have already improved road connectivity and energy access.

“This strategy represents a bold step toward building a resilient and inclusive economy in Sierra Leone. By investing in sustainable infrastructure and agriculture, we are empowering communities, creating jobs, and supporting Sierra Leone’s vision for transformative growth,” said Halima Hashi, Country Manager, Sierra Leone

Programmes such as the Bank’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) will provide targeted financing and training to women-led agribusinesses, while digital tools will enhance supply chain efficiency and market access throughout the agricultural sector.

The CSP aligns with Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the Bank’s Ten Year Strategy. The strategy also supports Sierra Leone’s commitments under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by enhancing trade infrastructure and agricultural exports.

The strategy incorporates cross-cutting themes including climate change mitigation, gender equality, and youth empowerment. It aims to reduce Sierra Leone’s carbon footprint through renewable energy projects and promote climate-smart agriculture to mitigate impacts from floods and droughts that have increasingly affected the country.

Implementation commences immediately with close coordination between the government, private sector, and civil society to maximize impact and ensure alignment with national priorities. Environmental and social safeguards will ensure compliance with national regulations, including Sierra Leone’s 2022 Environmental Protection Act.

The strategy addresses structural drivers of fragility through targeted investments in infrastructure and agricultural value chains, with monitoring systems designed to track progress toward measurable development outcomes and gender-inclusive results.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Media Contact:
Natalie Nkembuh
Communication and External Relations Department
media@afdb.org

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October 16, 2025

Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento aprova estratégia de 500 milhões de dólares para impulsionar o crescimento inclusivo e a resiliência económica na Serra Leoa

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

O Conselho de Administração do Grupo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento (www.AfDB.org) aprovou um novo Documento de Estratégia Nacional (CSP) para a Serra Leoa para 2025-2030, comprometendo-se a investir aproximadamente 500 milhões de dólares nos próximos cinco anos para fomentar o crescimento económico sustentável, fortalecer a resiliência à fragilidade e promover o desenvolvimento inclusivo.

A estratégia baseia-se em duas prioridades principais: desenvolver infraestruturas sustentáveis para aumentar a competitividade do setor privado e apoiar o desenvolvimento da cadeia de valor agrícola para impulsionar a criação de emprego e a segurança alimentar. Estas áreas de foco visam diretamente os principais desafios de desenvolvimento da Serra Leoa – nomeadamente as lacunas nas infraestruturas, a limitada adição de valor por parte do setor privado e a elevada vulnerabilidade às alterações climáticas.

Com um financiamento total estimado em 2,1 mil milhões de dólares, incluindo cofinanciamento de parceiros de desenvolvimento, o CSP está alinhado com o Plano Nacional de Desenvolvimento (2021-2025) e a Visão 2030 do governo, que visam posicionar a Serra Leoa como um país de rendimento médio até 2030.

As principais iniciativas de infraestruturas centrar-se-ão na expansão da produção de energia renovável – aumentando o acesso à eletricidade, de 41% em 2024, para 60% até 2030 –, juntamente com a modernização de redes rodoviárias resistentes às alterações climáticas e a melhoria dos sistemas de água e saneamento, para proporcionar acesso a água potável a mais 1,2 milhões de pessoas.

A componente agrícola dá prioridade à transformação agroindustrial, com o objetivo de reduzir a dependência da importação de alimentos, atualmente em 70% para culturas básicas como o arroz, ao mesmo tempo que cria mais de 500 mil empregos, particularmente para mulheres e jovens, através do apoio a pequenas e médias empresas.

A economia da Serra Leoa tem demonstrado resiliência, com um crescimento real do PIB de 6,7%, em média, entre 2020 e 2024, impulsionado pelos setores da agricultura e dos serviços. A nova estratégia aproveita este impulso e alavanca a carteira existente do Banco de 10 projetos em curso no valor de 150 milhões de dólares, que já melhoraram a conectividade rodoviária e o acesso à energia.

“Esta estratégia representa um passo ousado para a construção de uma economia resiliente e inclusiva na Serra Leoa. Ao investir em infraestruturas sustentáveis e na agricultura, estamos a capacitar as comunidades, a criar empregos e a apoiar a visão da Serra Leoa para um crescimento transformador”, afirmou Halima Hashi, Diretora Nacional da Serra Leoa.

Programas como a Ação Financeira Afirmativa para as Mulheres em África (AFAWA) do Banco proporcionarão financiamento e formação específicos a empresas agrícolas lideradas por mulheres, enquanto as ferramentas digitais aumentarão a eficiência da cadeia de abastecimento e o acesso ao mercado em todo o setor agrícola.

O CSP está alinhado com o Plano Nacional de Desenvolvimento a Médio Prazo da Serra Leoa, a Agenda 2063 da União Africana e a Estratégia Decenal do Banco. A estratégia também apoia os compromissos da Serra Leoa no âmbito da Zona de Comércio Livre Continental Africana (AfCFTA), melhorando as infraestruturas comerciais e as exportações agrícolas.

A estratégia incorpora temas transversais, incluindo a mitigação das alterações climáticas, a igualdade de género e o empoderamento dos jovens. Tem como objetivo reduzir a pegada de carbono da Serra Leoa através de projetos de energia renovável e promover uma agricultura inteligente do ponto de vista climático para mitigar os impactos das inundações e secas que têm afetado cada vez mais o país.

A implementação começa imediatamente, com uma estreita coordenação entre o governo, o setor privado e a sociedade civil, para maximizar o impacto e garantir o alinhamento com as prioridades nacionais. As salvaguardas ambientais e sociais garantirão o cumprimento das regulamentações nacionais, incluindo a Lei de Proteção Ambiental de 2022 da Serra Leoa.

A estratégia aborda os fatores estruturais de fragilidade por meio de investimentos direcionados para infraestruturas e cadeias de valor agrícolas, com sistemas de monitorização projetados para acompanhar o progresso em direção a resultados de desenvolvimento mensuráveis e resultados inclusivos em termos de género.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Contato para os media:
Natalie Nkembuh
Departamento de Comunicação e Relações Externas
media@afdb.org

Sobre o Grupo do Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento:
O Grupo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento é a principal instituição financeira de desenvolvimento em África. Inclui três entidades distintas: o Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento (AfDB), o Fundo Africano de Desenvolvimento (ADF) e o Fundo Fiduciário da Nigéria (NTF). Presente no terreno em 41 países africanos, com uma representação externa no Japão, o Banco contribui para o desenvolvimento económico e o progresso social dos seus 54 Estados-membros. Mais informações em www.AfDB.org/pt

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October 16, 2025

Sierra Leone : la Banque africaine de développement approuve une stratégie de 500 millions de dollars pour stimuler la croissance inclusive et la résilience économique

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Le Conseil d’administration du Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement (www.AfDB.org) a approuvé un nouveau Document de stratégie pays (DSP) pour la Sierra Leone pour 2025-2030, engageant environ 500 millions de dollars sur la période pour favoriser une croissance économique durable, renforcer la résilience à la fragilité et promouvoir un développement inclusif.

La stratégie de l’institution s’articule autour de deux grandes priorités : développer des infrastructures durables pour renforcer la compétitivité du secteur privé ; et soutenir le développement de la chaîne de valeur agricole pour stimuler la création d’emplois et la sécurité alimentaire. Ces domaines d’intervention ciblent directement les principaux défis de développement de la Sierra Leone, notamment le déficit d’infrastructures, la faible valeur ajoutée du secteur privé et la forte vulnérabilité au changement climatique.

Avec un financement total estimé à 2,1 milliards de dollars, incluant les cofinancements des partenaires du développement, le DSP s’aligne sur le Plan national de développement (2021-2025) et la Vision 2030 du gouvernement, qui visent à positionner la Sierra Leone comme une économie à revenu intermédiaire.

Les initiatives phares en matière d’infrastructures se concentreront sur l’expansion de la production d’énergie renouvelable, l’augmentation de l’accès à l’électricité de 41 % en 2024 à 60 % d’ici à 2030, tout en modernisant les réseaux routiers résilients au climat et en améliorant les systèmes d’eau et d’assainissement afin de fournir un accès à l’eau potable à 1,2 million de personnes supplémentaires.

Le volet agricole accorde la priorité à la transformation agro-industrielle, visant à réduire la dépendance aux importations de denrées alimentaires, actuellement de 70 % pour les cultures de base, comme le riz, tout en créant plus de 500 000 emplois, en particulier pour les femmes et les jeunes, grâce à un soutien aux petites et moyennes entreprises.

L’économie de la Sierra Leone a fait preuve de résilience avec une croissance du PIB réel de 6,7 % en moyenne entre 2020 et 2024, tirée par l’agriculture et les services. La nouvelle stratégie s’appuie sur cette dynamique et tire parti du portefeuille existant du Groupe de la Banque, composé de dix projets en cours d’une valeur de 150 millions de dollars, qui ont déjà amélioré la connectivité routière et l’accès à l’énergie dans le pays.

« Cette stratégie représente une avancée audacieuse vers la construction d’une économie résiliente et inclusive en Sierra Leone », a déclaré Halima Hashi, cheffe du bureau pays du Groupe de la Banque pour la Sierra Leone. Avant de préciser : « En investissant dans des infrastructures et une agriculture durables, nous autonomisons les communautés, créons des emplois et soutenons la vision de la Sierra Leone pour une croissance transformatrice. »

Des programmes du Groupe de la Banque, comme AFAWA (« Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa »), fourniront des financements et des formations ciblés aux entreprises agro-industrielles détenues ou dirigées par des femmes, tandis que les outils numériques amélioreront l’efficacité de la chaîne d’approvisionnement et l’accès au marché dans l’ensemble du secteur agricole.

Le DSP s’aligne sur le Plan national de développement à moyen terme de la Sierra Leone et l’Agenda 2063 de l’Union africaine, ainsi que sur la Stratégie décennale du Groupe de la Banque. La stratégie soutient également les engagements de la Sierra Leone dans le cadre de la Zone de libre-échange continentale africaine (ZLECAf) en renforçant les infrastructures commerciales et les exportations agricoles.

La stratégie intègre des thèmes transversaux, tels que l’atténuation du changement climatique, l’égalité des sexes et l’autonomisation des jeunes. Elle vise à réduire l’empreinte carbone de la Sierra Leone grâce à des projets d’énergie renouvelable et à promouvoir une agriculture climato-intelligente afin d’atténuer les effets des inondations et des sécheresses qui affectent de plus en plus le pays.

La mise en œuvre du DSP débute immédiatement avec une étroite coordination entre le gouvernement, le secteur privé et la société civile pour maximiser l’impact et veiller à l’alignement sur les priorités nationales. Les sauvegardes environnementales et sociales assureront la conformité avec les réglementations nationales, notamment la loi de 2022 de la Sierra Leone sur la protection de l’environnement.

La stratégie s’attaque aux facteurs structurels de fragilité grâce à des investissements ciblés dans les infrastructures et les chaînes de valeur agricoles, avec des systèmes de suivi conçus pour suivre les progrès menant à des résultats mesurables en matière de développement et à des résultats inclusifs pour le genre.

Distribué par APO Group pour African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Contact médias :
Natalie Nkembuh
Département de la communication et des relations extérieures
media@afdb.org

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October 16, 2025

Le Groupe de coordination arabe (GCA) célèbre 50 ans de soutien continu au développement durable mondial

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Le Groupe de coordination arabe a célébré son jubilé d’or, marquant cinq décennies de contributions au soutien du développement durable. L’événement, organisé à Washington D.C. le 15 octobre 2025, a constitué une occasion de passer en revue les réalisations, d’échanger des visions et de tracer de nouvelles perspectives pour l’avenir.

L’événement a été ponctué par des discussions de haut niveau, des présentations de qualité et des courts-métrages, présentant une vision commune d’un monde plus durable et prospère, guidée par les valeurs fondamentales du Groupe et son engagement résolu envers le partenariat mondial.

Placée sous le thème : «Le Groupe de coordination arabe à son 50e anniversaire : Unis dans la coopération et l’action pour un avenir durable», la cérémonie a mis en avant le parcours remarquable du Groupe ainsi que ses ambitions à ouvrir de nouveaux horizons pour la coopération conjointe.

À cette occasion, Son Excellence Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, président du groupe de la banque islamique de développement, a déclaré au nom du Groupe de coordination arabe: « Ce 50e anniversaire est plus qu’un jalon ; c’est un tournant. Alors que l’architecture du développement mondial évolue, le monde appelle les institutions de développement à être plus grandes, meilleures et plus audacieuses. Le Groupe de coordination arabe répond à cet appel. Nous forgeons une vision partagée pour guider notre action collective pour les décennies à venir »

La célébration a également souligné l’importance de la collaboration entre les institutions membres confirmant le rôle de la GCA en tant que partenaire fiable dans la réalisation des objectives du développement durable. Les principales priorités futures incluent la résilience climatique, la transformation numérique, le renforcement de la croissance inclusive et l’investissement dans le capital humain.

Deux tables rondes ont été organisées en collaboration avec le Groupe de coordination arabe lors de la célébration. La première table ronde a été organisée en coopération avec le Partenariat mondial pour l’éducation et le Groupe de la banque islamique de développement. Lors de cette session, la deuxième phase de l’initiative financement intelligent pour l’éducation a été lancée, dans le cadre de la table ronde de haut niveau sur cette initiative.

La deuxième table ronde a été organisée en coopération avec la Banque interaméricaine de développement. C’était un événement de haut niveau qui a réuni les ministres des finances des pays d’Amérique latine et des Caraïbes, sous le titre : Table ronde de haut niveau : Renforcement des partenariats entre les Pays du Golfe et l’Amérique latine.

A l’aube d’un nouveau chapitre, le GCA renouvelle son engagement à continuer de bâtir un monde plus durable et résilient pour tous.

Distribué par APO Group pour Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB Group).

A propos du Groupe de coordination arabe :
Le Groupe de coordination arabe est une alliance stratégique offrant une réponse concertée au financement du développement. Depuis sa création en 1975, le Groupe a joué un rôle central dans l’accompagnement des économies et des sociétés vers un avenir meilleur, avec plus de 13.000 projets de développement financés dans plus de 160. Son action vise à autonomiser les pays en développement et à générer un impact positif durable.

Le Groupe est composé de 10 institutions nationales, régionales et internationales : le Fonds d’Abou Dhabi pour le Développement, la Banque arabe pour le développement économique en Afrique, le Fonds arabe pour le développement économique et social, le Programme du Golfe arabe pour le développement, le Fonds monétaire arabe, la Banque islamique de développement, le Fonds koweïtien pour le développement économique arabe, le Fonds de l’OPEP pour le développement international, le Fonds qatarien pour le développement, et le Fonds saoudien pour le développement.

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October 16, 2025

Arab Coordination Group (ACG) Celebrates 50 Years of Driving Global Sustainable Development

Source: APO

The Arab Coordination Group (ACG) has celebrated its golden jubilee marking five decades of highly impactful work in supporting sustainable development around the world.

The event, held on 15 October 2025, in Washington, D.C., was a chance to look back on the ACG’s achievements and lasting impact while also sharing its vision for the future—one focused on inclusive growth and global cooperation.

Organized under the theme “ACG at 50: United in Collaboration, Transforming Development for a Sustainable Future”, the celebration honored ACG’s legacy and opened the door to new opportunities for working together.

On behalf of ACG members, H.E. Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank Group, said: “This 50^th anniversary is more than a milestone; it is a turning point. As the global development architecture evolves, the world is calling on development institutions to be bigger, better, and bolder. The Arab Coordination Group is answering that call. We are forging a shared vision to guide our collective action for decades ahead”

The celebration also highlighted the importance of collaboration among member institutions and showed ACG’s role as a reliable partner in development. Key future priorities include climate resilience, digital transformation, inclusive growth, and investing in people.

Two roundtables were held in collaboration with the Arab Coordination Group (ACG) during the celebration. The first roundtable was held in cooperation with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), featuring the GPE–IsDB High-Level Roundtable on the Smart Financing for Education Initiative (SmartEd), marking the launch of Phase II of the initiative. The second roundtable organized in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) which was a high-level event with Ministers of Finance from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), held under the theme: High-Level Roundtable: Strengthening Gulf–LAC Partnerships.

As it begins its next chapter, the ACG remains committed to working together to create a more sustainable and resilient world for all.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB Group).

About the Arab Coordination Group (ACG):
The Arab Coordination Group (ACG) is a strategic alliance that provides a coordinated response to development finance. Since its establishment in 1975, the ACG has been instrumental in developing economies and communities for a better future, providing more than 13,000 development loans to over 160 countries around the globe. The ACG works across the globe to support developing nations and create a lasting, positive impact.

The Arab Coordination Group (ACG) is considered one of the most important and effective development partnerships at the international level. The group actively works to adopt the best global practices in sustainable development work. It also aims to align the efforts of these institutions to achieve convergence and harmonization in the policies governing their financing operations.

The Group comprises 10 national, Arab regional, and international institutions, including the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the Arab Gulf Programme for Development, the Arab Monetary Fund, the Islamic Development Bank, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the OPEC Fund for International Development, the Qatar Fund for Development and the Saudi Fund for Development.

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October 16, 2025

United Nations Peacekeeping Chief briefs stakeholders on impact of United Nations (UN)-wide financial crisis on United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) operations

Source: APO

Touching down in Juba, the Under-Secretary-General for United Nations Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, is on a whirlwind visit to conflict-affected South Sudan to urge progress in the peace process and to strengthen understanding of the impact of the UN-wide financial crisis on peacekeeping missions.

Immediately on arrival, Mr. Lacroix headed into a series of meetings with the country’s political leaders, briefing them on the impact of the financial crisis, caused by delays and shortfalls in cash contributions to peacekeeping by Member States, on the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

“South Sudan is a fragile country. It is a country that is impacted massively by the conflict in neighbouring Sudan, by climate change, and the drastic reduction of humanitarian assistance,” said Mr. Lacroix.

“The country is really at a crossroads. There is a need for international support, but we need to work together to make progress on the political front and to make the best possible case, so that Member States will be convinced that it is in the collective interests of the South Sudanese people, the region, and global security, to continue providing assistance.”

In response to the fiscal crisis, UNMISS is required to reduce its spending by 15% which means downsizing its presence and reducing activities across the country.

“UNMISS has a very important mandate and has been with us since we earned our peace under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and it has impacted many institutions, including the security sector and law sectors,” said the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Martin Lomuro.

“We will wait for the plan that UNMISS will come up with and we will have a high-level team that will discuss and make an input into the plan so that the process is smooth with no negative impact.”

“I’m very confident that despite all the challenges we are facing, we will be able to overcome them through the strong coordination and cooperation with the authorities of South Sudan,” responded Mr. Lacroix.

The cost-saving measures come at a time when the political, security and humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating. Political tensions and violence between forces aligned with the main parties to the peace deal are rising. Intercommunal conflict continues to have a catastrophic impact and almost eight million people are facing crisis-level food insecurity.

Despite the challenges, the United Nations is committed to staying and delivering for the people of South Sudan.

“We are committed to keeping working with those we serve to support and protect them,” said Mr. Lacroix.

“At the same time, there will be a negative impact because we are forced to implement the savings. We will try to minimize this impact, but we also need the advocacy of the civil society in South Sudan to support continued delivery of adequate resources to UNMISS and humanitarian partners.”

To find shared solutions to the challenges ahead and ensure a smooth downsizing process, the mission will continue engaging intensively with all partners, including the Government of South Sudan and affected communities, to de-escalate tensions, end political violence, and build a better future for the world’s newest nation.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

October 16, 2025

Sanlam Investments Renews Sponsorship of Africa’s Green Economy Summit 2026

Source: APO

Sanlam Investments (www.SanlamInvestments.com) has confirmed its third sponsorship of Africa’s Green Economy Summit (AGES), taking place in February 2026, reaffirming its commitment to financing Africa’s sustainable future through innovation in renewable energy, water security, waste reduction, ocean and climate finance.

Since its inception in 2023, AGES has become a key platform for connecting global capital with African green projects. To date, the summit has showcased more than 90 investment-ready initiatives valued at over US$8.7 billion, spanning entrepreneurial start-ups to national-scale infrastructure projects. The event bridges the gap between investors and project owners, accelerating Africa’s transition to a just and inclusive green economy.

“Africa stands at the frontline of climate change, and on the frontier of opportunity,” said Carl Roothman, CEO of Sanlam Investments. “From renewable energy to the blue economy and circular industries, the continent is leading a new era of sustainable growth; one defined by innovation, inclusion, and long-term value creation.

“We recognise that meaningful change requires collective action through strategic partnerships, which is why we are supporting Africa’s Green Economy Summit for the third year. Every investment, every solution we implement, creates lasting returns for ecosystems, communities and investors. Now is our moment to invest in the future we need.”

Roothman added that Sanlam’s investment philosophy of ‘holistic return’ reflects the company’s goal to pair measurable financial returns with regenerative impact for people and the planet. “We have consistent evidence that investing for impact yields outperforming returns – financial, social and environmental. Doing good is good investing.”

Emmanuelle Nicholls, Project Lead for the event said: “Thanks to the vision and leadership of partners like Sanlam Investments, Africa’s Green Economy Summit has become an unmatched platform for changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs shaping a sustainable future for Africa.

She added that the 2026 Summit will once again explore the full scope of the green and blue economy – from energy, transport, water and agriculture to waste management, green buildings and clean technology.

“This year’s programme will feature dedicated pitch stages, investor roundtables, deal rooms and curated matchmaking with DFIs, venture capital funds, banks and asset managers. Nature and biodiversity finance will also take centre stage, highlighting the emerging markets for biodiversity credits and nature-based finance.”

Nicholls emphasised that each edition of the summit strengthens its impact: “Every year, we reinforce the urgency of addressing Africa’s climate finance gap and taking actionable steps toward sustainable development.”

AGES takes please at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town from 24-27 February. Register via the AGES website (https://apo-opa.co/4nNVNOF).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

About Sanlam Investments:
Sanlam Investments is one of South Africa’s largest black-owned asset management firms, managing assets of over R1.5 billion. The company’s purpose extends beyond wealth creation — it is dedicated to investing in the long-term sustainability of people, planet and profit to drive measurable impact.

About Africa’s Green Economy Summit (AGES):
Africa’s Green Economy Summit is part of the green economy portfolio of VUKA Group, which has over 20 years of experience serving Africa’s business community. The summit connects global investors with African green projects to drive inclusive, sustainable growth across the continent.

VUKA Group:
Africa’s Green Economy Summit is part of the green economy portfolio of VUKA Group (https://WeAreVUKA.com/), which has more than 20 years’ experience in serving the business community across Africa.

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October 16, 2025

Le président de la Banque africaine de développement, Sidi Ould Tah, s’engage à approfondir la coopération avec une circonscription clé

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Le président du Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement (www.AfDB.org), Sidi Ould Tah, a rencontré mardi à Washington, les ministres des Finances de la Gambie, du Ghana, du Liberia, de la Sierra Leone et du Soudan – cinq pays qui font partie de la même circonscription au sein du Conseil d’administration de la Banque. Il réaffirmé le partenariat de la Banque avec cette circonscription et s’est engagé à approfondir la coopération en matière de transformation économique et de résilience.

Les discussions, tenues en marge des Assemblées annuelles 2025 de la Banque mondiale et du Fonds monétaire international à Washington, DC, aux États-Unis, ont porté sur les défis économiques, les vulnérabilités liées à la dette et les priorités de développement de la région, ainsi que sur la 17e reconstitution à venir des ressources du Fonds africain de développement (FAD-17).

Les ministres, qui sont également gouverneurs au Conseil d’administration de la Banque, ont félicité M. Ould Tah pour sa récente élection à la présidence de l’institution. Ils ont salué son bilan de leadership, notamment ses réalisations lorsqu’il était président de la Banque arabe pour le développement économique en Afrique (BADEA).

Le ministre ghanéen Cassiel Ato Forson a salué son «leader idéal pour porter le Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement vers de nouveaux sommets » et a approuvé les efforts de l’institution visant à lier la transformation agricole à la nouvelle architecture financière africaine et à l’agenda d’industrialisation verte.

Réaffirmant leur engagement envers le Fonds africain de développement, les cinq pays se sont engagés à soutenir rapidement la reconstitution des ressources du FAD-17, qui aura lieu à Londres à la mi-décembre.

Dans un signal fort de confiance envers la gouvernance et l’orientation stratégique de la Banque, le ministre ghanéen a déclaré que son pays accélérerait le paiement de sa souscription et co-organiserait une session de mobilisation de ressources pour le FAD-17 avec le Royaume-Uni.] Le ministre gambien Seedy Keita a annoncé l’intention de son pays de contribuer au FAD-17, ses homologues libérien, Augustine Ngafuan, et sierra-léonais, Sheku Bangura, se sont engagés à prévoir des allocations budgétaires pour la reconstitution des ressources du Fonds.

Les cinq gouverneurs ont également exprimé leur ferme soutien aux priorités stratégiques de la Banque en matière d’industrialisation, d’accès à l’énergie et de croissance du secteur privé. La Sierra Leone a souligné le potentiel transformateur de Mission 300 – une initiative conjointe du Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement et du Groupe de la Banque mondiale visant à étendre l’accès à l’énergie à 300 millions d’Africains supplémentaires d’ici 2030 – pour accélérer les chaînes de valeur régionales et la création d’emplois.

Le ministre soudanais Gibril Ibrahim a exprimé sa gratitude pour le soutien continu de la Banque pendant cette période de transition et a demandé une assistance renforcée pour la reconstruction post-conflit dans les domaines de l’énergie, de l’agriculture et de l’éducation.

Renforcer la viabilité de la dette et construire la résilience

En outre, les ministres ont exprimé leurs préoccupations concernant les vulnérabilités croissantes liées à la dette en Afrique, exhortant la Banque à intensifier son soutien aux initiatives de restructuration de la dette, de viabilité et de mobilisation des ressources intérieures. Ils ont également exprimé la nécessité vitale de prendre en compte les priorités transversales dans le cadre du FAD-17 — notamment la fragilité, la résilience et l’emploi des jeunes.

Le président Ould Tah a réaffirmé que relever ces défis était au centre de sa vision d’une nouvelle architecture financière africaine afin de renforcer la voix de l’Afrique dans la finance mondiale et canaliser davantage de financements concessionnels et mixtes vers les pays en crise ou qui en sortent.

Il a remercié les ministres pour la confiance placée en lui, réitérant que la Banque continuerait à travailler en étroite collaboration avec chaque pays pour faire avancer les priorités communes. Il a souligné que leurs engagements envers le FAD-17 témoignaient d’une confiance croissante dans la vision et la gouvernance de l’institution.

Distribué par APO Group pour African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Contact médias :
Département de la communication et des relations extérieures
media@afdb.org

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October 16, 2025

Presidente do Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento promete aprofundar cooperação com principais constituintes

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

O presidente do Grupo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento (www.AfDB.org), Sidi Ould Tah, reuniu-se esta semana com os ministros das Finanças da Gâmbia, Gana, Libéria, Serra Leoa e Sudão, reafirmando a parceria do Banco com estes países e prometendo aprofundar a cooperação para a transformação económica e resiliência.

As conversações, realizadas à margem dos Encontros Anuais do Banco Mundial e do Fundo Monetário Internacional de 2025 em Washington, DC, nos EUA, centraram-se nos desafios económicos, nas vulnerabilidades da dívida e nas prioridades de desenvolvimento da região, bem como na próxima 17.ª reposição do Fundo Africano de Desenvolvimento (ADF-17).

Os ministros, que também são governadores do Conselho do Banco, felicitaram Ould Tah pela sua recente eleição como presidente do Banco e elogiaram o seu historial de liderança, incluindo as conquistas como presidente do Banco Árabe para o Desenvolvimento Económico em África (BADEA).

O ministro do Gana, Cassiel Ato Forson, elogiou Ould Tah como “o líder certo para levar o Grupo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento ao próximo nível” e apoiou os esforços do Grupo Banco para ligar a transformação agrícola à nova arquitetura financeira de África e à agenda de industrialização verde.

Os cinco países também reafirmaram o seu compromisso com o Fundo Africano de Desenvolvimento (FAD) e prometeram apoio antecipado para a reposição do ADF-17, que terá lugar em Londres, em meados de dezembro.

Num forte sinal de confiança na governação e direção estratégica do Banco, o ministro ganês afirmou que o seu país irá acelerar o pagamento da sua subscrição e organizar uma sessão de compromissos do ADF-17 em conjunto com o Reino Unido. O ministro da Gâmbia, Seedy Keita, anunciou a intenção do seu país de contribuir para o ADF-17, enquanto o ministro da Libéria, Augustine Ngafuan, e o ministro da Serra Leoa, Sheku Bangura, se comprometeram a alocar fundos para a reposição nos seus respetivos orçamentos nacionais.

Os cinco governadores também expressaram forte apoio às prioridades estratégicas do Banco em matéria de industrialização, acesso à energia e crescimento do setor privado. A Serra Leoa salientou o potencial transformador da Missão 300 – uma iniciativa conjunta com o Banco Mundial para alargar o acesso à energia a mais 300 milhões de africanos até 2030 – para acelerar as cadeias de valor regionais e a criação de emprego.

O ministro sudanês, Gibril Ibrahim, expressou o seu apreço pelo apoio contínuo do Banco durante este período de transição e solicitou uma assistência reforçada para a recuperação pós-conflito nos domínios da energia, agricultura e educação.

Abordar a sustentabilidade da dívida e construir resiliência

Além disso, os ministros manifestaram a sua preocupação com o aumento das vulnerabilidades da dívida em toda a África, instando o Banco a intensificar o seu apoio às reestruturações de dívida, à sustentabilidade e às iniciativas que visam mobilizar recursos internos. Sublinharam também a necessidade vital de abordar as prioridades transversais no âmbito do ADF-17 – incluindo a fragilidade, a resiliência e o emprego dos jovens.

O Presidente Ould Tah reafirmou que enfrentar esses desafios é fundamental para a sua visão de uma Nova Arquitetura Financeira Africana – que aumenta a voz de África nas finanças globais e canaliza mais financiamento concessionais e mistos para países em crise ou a sair de uma crise.

Agradeceu aos ministros pela confiança depositada nele e reiterou que o Banco continuará a trabalhar em estreita colaboração com cada país para promover prioridades comuns, observando que os compromissos com o ADF-17 assumidos pelos países mostravam a crescente confiança na visão e na governação do Banco.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Contacto para os media:
Departamento de Comunicação e Relações Externas
media@afdb.org

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