MIL Africa Engine

Source: APO – Report:

Dr Akinwumi Adesina says his passion to mobilize global capital for Africa’s development will continue way beyond his presidency of the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org), which ends on 1^st September 2025.

In a keynote speech titled “Tilting Global Capital for Unlocking Investment Opportunities in Africa”, delivered at the Standard Chartered Africa Summit on July 31, in Lagos, Adesina said, “Together, let us tilt global capital to unlock Africa’s assets. As I step into a new future, you can be sure this will be my focus! For I will always have Africa in my heart and in my sight.”

The Standard Chartered Africa Summit, with the theme, “Africa to the Globe: Innovation, Resilience, and Growth”, brought together corporate leaders, policymakers, investors and other stakeholders. Attendees included Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote; Nigeria’s Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; Hakeem Belo-Osagie, Chairman, FSDH Group and Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School; and award-winning author, Chimamanda Adichie.

Adesina kicked off by alluding to his signature optimism about Africa’s prospects. “When I was approached to consider delivering the keynote speech, I did not hesitate. How can someone known as ‘Africa’s Optimist in Chief’ not accept to speak on Africa!”, he said.

Highlighting the African Development Bank’s focus on bold financial innovation in the last decade, Adesina declared, “The African Development Bank is not just waiting for more capital, we are innovating to do more with the capital we have. Through our balance sheet optimization initiatives, we are stretching every dollar of risk capital further. Our ambition is threefold: free up capital, crowd in investors and amplify development impact.”

He outlined several ambitious and innovative financing solutions pioneered by the African Development Bank, supported by its AAA rating which it has maintained over the last decade:

• Over $102 billion in low-cost financing to Africa since 2015
• Capital raise from $93 billion in 2015 to $318 billion in 2024, the highest in the Bank’s sixty-year history
• Spearheading, in partnership with the Inter-American Development, the rechanneling of the IMF’s Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) to multilateral development banks—a move that will of the rechanneled SDRs as hybrid capital, which can be leveraged by 4-8 times.
• The Africa Investment Forum, launched by the Bank in collaboration with strategic partners, has mobilized over $225 billion in investment interest across infrastructure, energy, agribusiness, manufacturing and other critical sectors, since 2018
• The biggest social bond issuance by multilateral development banks, amounting to $14 billion in the past eight years.
• $10 billion of long-term global benchmark bonds issued in 2025 alone to finance projects across Africa
• The first-ever synthetic securitization of a non-sovereign portfolio by a multilateral development bank, involving the transfer of mezzanine risk of a $1 billion portfolio of private sector loans.
• The first-ever private sector hybrid capital transaction by a multilateral development bank, valued at $750 million—with over 275 investors participating with a book order of $5.1 billion, making it the largest ever book order achieved by the African Development Bank.
• A Room to Run Sovereign offering that created an estimated $2 billion in new sovereign lending headroom
• 16 partial credit and partial risk guarantees valued at close to $3 billion, mobilizing $ 5 billion for the continent
• A $250 million partial credit guarantee that allowed Egypt to raise the first ever Panda Bond by an African country on the Chinese capital market, valued at $500 million.

Adesina praised Standard Chartered Bank’s successful partnership with the African Development Bank’s successful partnership, which notably delivered a partial credit guarantee for Côte d’Ivoire in 2023 — a deal that won ‘Sovereign Syndicated Loan Deal of the Year’ at the 2025 Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Africa Awards in Cape Town, South Africa, in April.

“The Standard Chartered Bank participated as the sole lender in the 2023 Cote d’Ivoire’s sustainable loan partial credit guarantee transaction. The African Development Bank was able to unlock €533 million from the Standard Chartered Bank in support of the country’s financing needs.”

He also congratulated Standard Chartered on being named Best Transaction Bank at the Asset Triple A Treasurise Awards in Hong Kong. “Your record breaking 127 accolades reflects an exceptionally strong track record of excellence in banking and finance, globally.”

Adesina urged global financial institutions to partner more strategically with the African Development Bank and other multilateral development banks, to scale up capital flows to Africa.

He called for greater use of risk mitigation and credit enhancement instruments, mainstreaming of best practices in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), and increased collaboration to scale up local currency financing solutions.

Adesina’s delegation included the Bank Group’s Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization Solomon Quaynor, and the Director General of the Nigeria Country Department, Dr. Abdul Kamara.

The African Development Bank’s current active portfolio in Nigeria is the largest in the Bank, valued at $5.1 billion and comprising 52 operations, equally distributed between the public and private sectors, with 26 projects each. National operations account for 84% of the portfolio, while multinational operations constitute the balance of 16%.

The Bank Group is set to establish a Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank in Nigeria, as part of a pan-African portfolio designed to create and finance entrepreneurship opportunities for young Africans.

The Bank is also rolling out Phase 1 of its Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones across 8 States, including the Federal Capital Territory. Construction has already begun in four States of Kaduna, Cross River, Oyo and Ogun. Phase 2, which will cover the remaining 28 States, is scheduled to take off from September 2025.

– on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Photo (https://apo-opa.co/4fnC7O3)

Media Contact:
Tolu Ogunlesi
Communication and External Relations
African Development Bank
Email: media@afdb.org

Source: APO – Report:

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In a collection of heartfelt letters written by children from River Nile, Red Sea and Gedarif, they are calling for peace and a chance to learn again in Sudan which is facing one of the world’s worst education emergencies with 17 million children out of school. Hundreds of school buildings have been damaged or destroyed since the beginning of the war in Sudan in April 2023, with over 3,200 schools (17% of all schools) being used as shelters.

After more than two years of brutal conflict in Sudan, children are speaking out about their hopes to return to school and rebuild their futures to become doctors, police officers and teachers, Save the Children said.

In a collection of heartfelt letters written by children from River Nile, Red Sea and Gedarif, they are calling for peace and a chance to learn again in Sudan which is facing one of the world’s worst education emergencies with 17 million children out of school. Hundreds of school buildings have been damaged or destroyed since the beginning of the war in Sudan in April 2023, with over 3,200 schools (17% of all schools) being used as shelters.

The children, many displaced and out of school for over two years, shared their dreams of becoming doctors, teachers, and other professionals, despite the ongoing crisis, with drawings illustrating their dreams accompanying their letters that will be shared with children outside Sudan.

“I used to love going to school because I enjoy writing and reading. But after the conflict, we had to flee our home and became refugees. Now, we are living in a school building. I really hope we can go back home one day and return to our school,” said Mona*, 12, from Gedarif. 

“Our country was beautiful before the conflict, it was filled with happiness and kindness. I used to go to school to read and write, and then the conflict happened, and the schools were damaged,” said Samreen, from White Nile. 

“I hope that all children can go to school. Every child should have the chance to read and write, in every part of Sudan and in every state,” said Sarah*, 12, from Gedarif.

The United Nations warns that Sudan may become the worst education emergency in the world following nearly two-and-a-half years of conflict that has left more than 30 million people – more than half of Sudan’s population – requiring humanitarian assistance, including an estimated 16 million children.

About 90% of school-aged children, nearly 19 million, now lack formal education, with one million children dropping out in 2023 alone, according to UNICEF. High school students have not been able to take their exams since 2023, leaving two cohorts who have finished their high school education without certification.

Schools across Sudan are being used as makeshift shelters for displaced families, leaving students without safe spaces to learn. At the same time, a lack of pay, resources, and security has led to high teacher turnover and the disruption of vital school exams for more than one million students.

Mohamad Abdiladif, Country Director for Save the Children in Sudan, said:  

“This is not just a crisis of education but it’s a crisis of hope. These letters show us what’s at stake: the future of an entire generation. The world must act now to support Sudan’s children.

“Millions of children continue to face disruptions to their education, with their schools being destroyed by bombs, used to shelter displaced families, or left behind when children are forced to flee.

“We need immediate international support to fund education in emergencies, protect schools from attacks and military use, and ensure safe, quality learning for every child in Sudan.”

Save the Children is calling for the international community to take urgent political action to address this crisis. This conflict demands more than just humanitarian aid – it demands a political solution. There must be concerted action at national, regional and international levels to pressure all parties to the conflict to end the fighting and implement a locally led comprehensive peace process.

Save the Children is currently supporting 400 schools across Sudan and so far, we have supporting over 45,000 children through formal education and about 37,000 children through non-formal education. Save the Children has worked in Sudan since 1983 and is currently supporting children and their families across Sudan providing health, nutrition, education, child protection and food security and livelihoods support. Save the Children is also supporting refugees from Sudan in Egypt and South Sudan.

– on behalf of Save the Children.

Source: APO – Report:

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Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has suspended all operational activities in Yei River and Morobo counties in Central Equatoria State, South Sudan, for a minimum of six weeks following the abduction of an MSF staff member. The abduction occurred just four days after the abduction of a staff member from the Ministry of Health from an MSF ambulance on the same road and location. Our colleague was released some hours later.

The incident occurred during an evacuation of MSF staff from Morobo to Yei, in southern South Sudan, amid deteriorating security conditions. The four-vehicle convoy was stopped by armed gunmen. They ordered the MSF staff member, who was serving as the team leader of the convoy, out of the vehicle and pulled him into the thickets, while allowing the other vehicles and staff to proceed to Yei.

“We are outraged by this targeted attack. Attacks on humanitarian workers serving the most vulnerable members of the society must stop,” says Dr Ferdinand Atte, MSF head of mission in South Sudan. “While we are deeply committed to providing care to those in need, we cannot keep our staff working in an unsafe environment.”

These abductions are part of a disturbing trend of targeted violence on healthcare and aid workers in Morobo and Yei counties. In just three months, several incidents of violence targeting aid workers and healthcare facilities have been reported in Morobo, including forceful abductions, arson, violent looting of hospitals, and damage to medical infrastructure. Seven of these incidents involved the abduction of aid workers. 

“We demand accountability and concrete guarantees from the authorities and all parties involved in the conflict, including armed groups in Morobo and Yei River counties,” says Dr Atte. “It is crucial to ensure safe and unobstructed access to populations in need, and to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including healthcare workers, patients, and medical facilities, before we can consider resuming our activities.”

The residents of Yei River and Morobo counties live in remote and hard-to-reach areas, frequently cut off from essential services due to limited infrastructure and armed conflict. As a result, they rely heavily on humanitarian organisations like MSF for essential services. 

This marks the second time MSF has been compelled to reduce our provision of medical services in the area in less than three months. In May, we were forced to reduce activities due to escalating insecurity in the area. We also suspended all activities in camps for internally displaced people due to the relentless violence in Morobo county.

Today, we have had to take the difficult decision to suspend all activities in both counties, until further notice, adding to the growing number of projects and health facilities we have had to close this year as a result of attacks.

“MSF is one of the few medical organisations providing support to various healthcare facilities in this area,” says Dr Atte. “When such attacks occur, it is the local people who suffer the most, as it severely undermines their access to essential healthcare.”  

In Yei River and Morobo counties, MSF provides general healthcare services by supporting four Ministry of Health facilities, offering outpatient consultations, routine vaccinations, and maternal and child healthcare. MSF also conducts mobile clinics and supports community-based healthcare through the Boma Health Initiative programme in the area. Between January and June 2025, our teams conducted 14,500 outpatient consultations, 1,192 antenatal consultations, and assisted in 438 births in this area.

Since the start of the year, MSF has witnessed a worrying increase in attacks targeting healthcare workers and facilities in South Sudan:

·    In January, two clearly marked MSF boats travelling from Nasir to Ulang in Upper Nile state came under attack when unidentified gunmen opened fire, forcing the MSF staff aboard to jump into the river and swim to safety in a nearby village. One staff member sustained an injury while escaping the attack and had to receive medical treatment. 

·    On 14 April, MSF’s hospital in Ulang was violently looted by armed men in broad daylight, destroying property and threatening patients and staff. This attack led to the full closure of all hospital and outreach activities. Ulang hospital was the only functioning hospital in the county, and these events have led to devastating consequences for the population, leaving more than 150,000 people without access to life-saving medical care. 

·    On 3 May, the MSF hospital in Old Fangak, Jonglei state, was bombed by two gunship helicopters, destroying the pharmacy and vital medical resources, rendering provision of medical care in the facility impossible. The helicopters also fired on the community, killing at least seven people and injuring 27. A total of four MSF staff were among the wounded.

– on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).

Source: APO – Report:

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The second annual meeting of the Coordinating Unit for Animal Production and Health (CUFAPH) under the FAO Subregional Office for Southern Africa (SFS) was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, bringing together 30 national animal health experts from across Southern Africa, regional organizations, and FAO technical staff.

CUFAPH is a multidisciplinary platform established in 2020 to promote technical cooperation, knowledge exchange, and harmonized approaches to animal health and production across SADC Member States. It brings together key actors to align national efforts with regional priorities, build veterinary capacity, and facilitate cross-border collaboration in line with the One Health approach.

Livestock development is vital to the livelihoods and food security of over 100 million people in the SADC region, where livestock farming sustains 42 percent of the population, contributes up to 40 percent of agricultural GDP and offers a key pathway out of poverty, especially for smallholder farmers.

Officially opening the workshop, Dr. Patrice Talla, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa, commended CUFAPH for its work in tackling the challenge of transboundary animal diseases and promoting sustainable livestock development.

“Through CUFAPH, we are working to transform livestock systems so they contribute not only to economic growth but also to healthier people, animals, and ecosystems, reflecting the spirit of One Health. This work supports FAO’s aspiration of Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life for all, leaving no one behind,” Dr. Talla said.

The FAO Representative in South Africa, Dr Babagana Ahmadu, welcomed participants and underscored the importance of regional collaboration. “We are keen and continue to work closely with our neighbours to improve veterinary services and address transboundary animal diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease, to safeguard livelihoods and ensure food security for all,” he said.

Taking Stock and Setting Priorities

The CUFAPH 2nd Annual Workshop provided an important platform to review progress, share experiences, and set priorities for the year ahead. Discussions placed particular emphasis on Adaptive Resource Mobilization (RM), aimed at sharpening CUFAPH’s capacity to design high-quality, fundable proposals to help countries navigate the shrinking donor landscape and increasing competition for resources.

CUFAPH thematic groups including Livestock Production, One Health, Laboratory, Disease Control, Emergency and Resilience (DiCER) and the Virtual Learning Centre reported on their achievements and agreed on key outcomes to strengthen regional animal production and health coordination.

Reflecting on the year’s progress, Dr Berhanu Bedane, CUFAPH Team Lead, said “In the past year, CUFAPH has made tangible contributions to regional animal production and health coordination, from supporting countries to develop national One Health strategies to expanding online training for veterinarians and technicians. This meeting was an opportunity to build on that momentum and ensure that our work translates into meaningful impact for farmers, animal health workers, and communities.”

A key highlight of the workshop was the impact of the EU-funded STOSAR II Project, which is supporting animal health activities in the region and contributing to the operationalization of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy.

Looking Ahead: Strategic Recommendations

Following deliberations, CUFAPH members agreed on a set of strategic recommendations and action points to guide future interventions in the SADC region:

• The establishment of a Laboratory Thematic Working Group by identifying members and drafting terms of reference and work plan for the group.
• Enhanced capacity building through identifying priority topics for both virtual and in-person training to enhance technical skills across the region.
• Strengthen communications and visibility through the development of a robust communications plan, supported by content contributions from project leads and members, to showcase CUFAPH’s work and impact.
• Advance resource mobilization efforts by preparing and pitching concept notes at a strategic level, allowing integration across thematic areas.
• Rebrand the Virtual Learning Centre to increase its appeal and uptake, positioning it as a cost-effective tool for continuous learning.
• Institutionalize disease intelligence and digital tools by promoting the use of Livestock Information Management Systems (LIMS) and e-certification to improve efficiency and traceability in animal health services.

The meeting concluded with team-building activities designed to strengthen collaboration and ensure smooth coordination across the region. These efforts will help CUFAPH maintain impactful animal health and production interventions, contributing to sustainable and resilient livelihoods in Southern Africa.

– on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.

Source: APO – Report:

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As conflict intensifies between rival militaries in Sudan, the UN humanitarian wing (OCHA) expressed alarm on Monday over mounting civilian casualties and worsening humanitarian conditions across the country.

It has now been 842 days since conflict between troops from the military government and their former allies-turned-rivals in the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted in Sudan, turning the country into the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.  

Heavy fighting continues in North Darfur State, with multiple civilian casualties reported in recent days – most notably during clashes in the state capital, El Fasher, on 1 and 2 August – following earlier violence between armed groups near the Abu Shouk camp for displaced people, which currently hosts 25,000 residents.

Starvation threat

One year after famine was confirmed in Zamzam camp on the outskirts of El Fasher, the city remains under siege, with no food aid deliveries entering by road, leaving residents of the regional capital increasingly facing starvation.  

Prices of food items such as sorghum and wheat are more than four times higher than elsewhere in the country, while many families are unable to afford even the most basic items.  

“Limited cash assistance continues, but it is nowhere near enough to meet rising needs,” said Deputy UN Spokesperson Farhan Haq on Monday during the daily briefing in New York.  

Cholera menace continues

Meanwhile, cholera continues to spread across Darfur, with nearly 1,200 cases reported – around 300 of them children – in the locality of Tawila since late June.  

In South Darfur, health authorities have reported more than 1,100 suspected cases and 64 deaths since late May, as “shortages of medical supplies, clean water and sanitation services are severely hampering the humanitarian response,” said Mr. Haq.  

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warns that the lives of more than 640,000 under-fives are at heightened risk of violence, disease and hunger in the region.

Compounded crisis

In Blue Nile State, floods in Ed Damazine displaced more than 100 people and destroyed at least 200 tents at Al-Karama camp on 1 August, further compounding the challenges facing people who fled their homes due to conflict.  

Meanwhile, in Khartoum State, the presence of deadly landmines in multiple locations adds a dangerous new layer to the threats already faced daily by civilians.  

As OCHA’s Director of Operations, Edem Wosornu, visits Sudan this week to assess the humanitarian situation, the agency has called for sustained and expanded humanitarian access along with greater international support for the most vulnerable. 

– on behalf of UN News.