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President Ruto, Samaila Zubairu and Africa’s Top Chief Executive Officer’s (CEO) to Headline The Africa Debate in London

Invest Africa (www.InvestAfrica.com) is pleased to announce Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) as Headline Partner for the 11th edition of The Africa Debate, taking place on Wednesday, 2 July 2025 at the Guildhall, in the heart of the City of London.

This year’s theme — “Harnessing Natural Capital for Growth” — seeks to interrogate how Africa can transform the scale and structure of investment around its most enduring assets: from its critical minerals and fertile land to its human ingenuity and demographic dynamism.

Now firmly established as the UK’s premier forum for Africa-focused investment dialogue, The Africa Debate will convene over 700 senior decision-makers from across government, finance, and industry for a full day of high-level exchanges. Through keynote addresses, ministerial dialogues, and curated sector debates, the programme will explore how to turn extractive advantage into structural transformation — mobilising green industrialisation, digital infrastructure, intra-African trade, and new financial instruments to drive inclusive, climate-smart growth.

This year’s speaker line-up reflects the extraordinary breadth of voices shaping Africa’s next chapter, from heads of state to the stewards of global capital. Highlights include: H.E. William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya; H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia; Board Chair, TradeMark Africa; H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General, African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat; Benedict Oramah, President, Afreximbank; Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO, Africa Finance Corporation; Abebe Aemro Selassie, Director, African Department, International Monetary Fund; Solomon Quaynor, Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure & Industrialisation, African Development Bank; Strive Masiyiwa, Founder & Chair, Econet Wireless; Duncan Wanblad, CEO, Anglo American; Wale Tinubu, CEO, Oando Plc; Monique Gieskes, CEO, PHC; Marie-Chantal Kaninda, President, Glencore DRC; and more. The full programme is now available to view here (http://apo-opa.co/4ljJqbx), with detailed sessions on value chain transformation, blended finance, regional infrastructure, and Africa’s positioning in a multipolar global economy.

Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of Africa Finance Corporation, commented: “Natural capital is only as valuable as the systems that refine, protect, and elevate it. At AFC, we believe that infrastructure is the bridge between Africa’s resource richness and the continent’s ability to rapidly industrialise and take its rightful place on the global stage. Our partnership with Invest Africa and The Africa Debate underscores the need for thoughtful, long-term capital — deployed strategically — to unlock the continent’s full economic potential. We are proud to support a platform that challenges assumptions and catalyses bold, bankable solutions.”

Chantelé Carrington, CEO of Invest Africa, added: “Africa’s path to prosperity must be built not on extraction, but on transformation. This year’s theme compels us to ask harder questions about how we steward the continent’s assets — human, natural, and institutional — in a world shaped by climate change, technological disruption, and shifting geopolitical priorities. With AFC’s visionary leadership, we are honoured to convene a dialogue that is ambitious in scope, rigorous in thought, and focused on meaningful outcomes.”

Confirmed Sponsors of The Africa Debate Include: Africa Finance Corporation (Headline Partner), Absa Group, Afreximbank, FirstBank UK Limited, Invest KZN, Standard Chartered, Standard Bank Group, Plantations et Huileries du Congo, Lagos Free Zone (Tolaram), Octopus Energy, ServiceNow, Stellar Developments, Spiro, Safaricom, Premier Invest, Remittances Hub, S-RM, DLA Piper, and London Stock Exchange Group.

To register as a delegate for The Africa Debate, please visit: https://apo-opa.co/4efWGM0. Places are limited and advance registration is essential.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Invest Africa.

For more information or media enquiries, please contact:
Pippa van Breda
Marketing & Communications Manager
Invest Africa
T: +44 2037 305 035
E: pippa.vanbreda@investafrica.com

About The Africa Debate:
The Africa Debate is London’s premier investment forum dedicated to shaping the future of African trade, investment, and economic transformation. Now in its 11th year, the event serves as a critical platform for global businesses, investors, policymakers, and thought leaders to engage in high-level discussions on Africa’s evolving role in the global economy.

About Invest Africa:
Invest Africa is a leading pan-African business platform that promotes trade and investment across the continent. With a 60-year heritage and a network of over 400 global members, Invest Africa provides trusted intelligence, strategic connections, and high-level convenings to support business success across African markets.

About Africa Finance Corporation:
Africa Finance Corporation is Africa’s leading multilateral finance institution, focused on bridging the continent’s infrastructure gap through innovative, commercially viable, and sustainable investments.

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President Ramaphosa conducts oversight visit to Steve Biko Hospital

Source: President of South Africa –

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 24 June 2025, conduct an oversight visit to Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI) Facility, a one-stop-shop medical imaging facility dedicated to Cancer and TB drug development and imaging-based clinical research, housed at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria. 

This is a world class facility that showcases a successful partnership between Department of Health, Department of Science and Innovation, and the University of Pretoria with significant support from the private sector.

President Ramaphosa will also visit cardias cathetherisation laboratory, which is part of the radiology department. The visit will highlight South Africa’s commitment to scientific innovation, equitable access to healthcare, and integrated infrastructure investment.

President will be accompanied by Ministers and Deputy Ministers including Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi; Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi; and Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko. 

Details of the visit are as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 24 June 2025 
Time: 10h00
Venue: Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Corner Steve Biko Road and Malan Street, Pretoria

Due to space limitations, the visit will be restricted to the Government Communications and Information System (GCIS), which will disseminate the materials to all media post the visit.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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Which African countries are flourishing? Scientists have a new way of measuring well-being

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Victor Counted, Associate Professor of Psychology, Regent University

What does it mean to live a good life? Psychologists and social scientists have been focusing on a new idea called flourishing – a sense of well-being that goes beyond just happiness or success. It’s about your whole life being good, including how you interact with other people and your community. So then, how do Africans fare when it comes to flourishing?

Victor Counted is a psychological scientist whose research across 40 African countries offers a data-rich rethinking of flourishing on the continent. His findings challenge the dominant narrative that Africa is “lagging behind” in development by showing a more nuanced picture of what it means to live a good life. We asked him more.

What is flourishing?

Flourishing is more than economic growth or individual happiness. It’s a multidimensional state of being that reflects how people feel about their lives and how well their lives are actually going. So it also measures people’s values within their community.

The idea of well-being often carries a Eurocentric emphasis on the individual – personal satisfaction, autonomy, achievement. Flourishing accounts for how whole a person is in relation to their environment.

It includes the social, spiritual and ecological contexts in which one lives. So, it’s not just about how one feels, but how one lives – fully, meaningfully and in a satisfying relationship with the world around us.

What’s the Global Flourishing Study?

The Global Flourishing Study tries to measure global patterns of human flourishing. It’s an ongoing five-year longitudinal study in over 200,000 participants across 22 countries.

I was one of the team of global scholars brought together to examine the trends on what it means to live well across cultures and life circumstances.

Read more: What makes people flourish? A new survey of more than 200,000 people across 22 countries looks for global patterns and local differences

The study identifies six key dimensions of flourishing:

  • Happiness and life satisfaction
  • Mental and physical health
  • Meaning and purpose
  • Character and virtue
  • Close social relationships
  • Financial and material stability

Participants rate how they’re doing in each of these areas on a scale from 0 to 10. Further questions capture experiences related to trust, loneliness, hope, resilience, and other related well-being variables.

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Of the 22 nations, five were African: Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Egypt.

While these countries didn’t top the global rankings (Indonesia and Mexico did), Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt all reported relatively high flourishing scores, especially when well-being was considered apart from financial status.

Courtesy Victor Counted

Nigeria, for example, ranked 5th globally in flourishing scores that excluded financial indicators – ahead of many wealthier nations. Nigerians indicated strengths in social relationships, character and virtues (like forgiveness or helping others). But potential areas of growth included financial well-being, housing, ethnic discrimination and education.

Overall, this suggests that while material resources matter, they’re not the only thing that determines well-being. Kenya ranked 7th, Egypt 10th, Tanzania 11th and South Africa 13th. Each showed unique strengths in areas like meaning, social connection or mental health.

You did a separate study on flourishing in Africa. What did you find?

In a 2024 study we analysed data from the Gallup World Poll (2020–2022) to explore 38 indicators of well-being across 40 African countries.

This study offered a more detailed and culture-sensitive picture of how Africans experience and prioritise flourishing. The dimensions explored were derived from both local and universal sources, allowing for regionally relevant insights.

We found that African populations often score high in meaning, character and social relationships – despite economic hardship. This offers an important corrective to western assumptions about well-being.

Some of our key findings were:

● There is significant diversity between and within African countries. Mauritius consistently ranked highest in life evaluations (overall satisfaction with their lives), while countries like Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe scored lowest.

● East African countries such as Rwanda and Ethiopia showed strong performance in social well-being indicators (like feeling respected or learning new things daily) even when economic indicators were low.

● Countries in West Africa, such as Senegal and Ghana, scored high in emotional well-being, with many people reporting positive daily emotions like enjoyment and laughter.

● Southern African nations, despite challenges like income inequality, displayed resilience through strong community ties and cultural practices rooted in the philosophy of ubuntu.

The results reinforced that flourishing in Africa cannot only be reduced to gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (a measure of the average economic output per person in a country) – nor to western norms of success.

What can African countries focus on to flourish?

In my view, the path to greater flourishing lies in embracing local knowledge and investing in culturally relevant development priorities. Instead of following western pathways – centred on individual advancement – Africa can model alternative flourishing pathways that reflect what matters most to African people.

1. Prioritise local knowledge systems

African ideas about a connected society – like ubuntu (southern Africa), ujamaa (east Africa), teranga or wazobia (west Africa), and al-musawat wal tarahum (north Africa) teach people to care for each other and live in peace. These values help people live meaningful lives and can inform leadership and legislation.

2. Redefine development metrics

Western development models focus on individual achievement, economic output and material consumption. GDP per capita fails to capture the everyday realities and aspirations of African communities. We should also measure things like how happy people are, how hopeful they feel about the future, how strong and resilient their communities are, and how clean, safe and dignifying their living environments are.

This is not a new idea – for years development scholars have called for a shift away from narrow economic indicators toward a focus on human dignity, agency, and the real opportunities people have to pursue the lives they value. What’s new is the growing availability of data and the momentum to take these alternative metrics seriously in shaping national policies and priorities.

3. Invest in education for character development

Quality education is essential to unlocking the continent’s potential to flourish. But Africa needs more than just academic skills and workforce readiness – it needs a strategy for intentional development of values and habits that shape how a person thinks, feels, and acts with integrity.

Part of the problem lies in how the humanities – fields like history, literature, philosophy, and religious studies – are often undervalued or underfunded in education systems. But it is precisely these disciplines that nurture moral imagination, critical reflection, and civic responsibility. We need educational models that form not just workers, but whole persons – people who can think ethically, act responsibly, and lead with character in their communities.

Read more: What makes a person seem wise? Global study finds that cultures do differ – but not as much as you’d think

What does Africa offer the world in terms of flourishing?

Africa is not waiting to be saved. Across the continent, people are building communities of care, cultivating joy amid hardship, and passing on values of unity, faith, and compassion. This is what development looks like when rooted in human dignity.

Africa flourishing goals offer an alternative vision for development – one that starts with what Africa already has, not what it lacks. These are locally emic aspirations for well-being. They are shaped by Africa’s indigenous knowledge systems, cultural values, and religious/spiritual traditions. Pursuing these goals means prioritising wholeness over wealth, community over consumption, and resilience over rescue.

The continent has so much to offer the world: wisdom, strong community values, and ways of staying resilient and living fully even in hard times. But many of these local insights are missing in the global science of well-being.

– Which African countries are flourishing? Scientists have a new way of measuring well-being
– https://theconversation.com/which-african-countries-are-flourishing-scientists-have-a-new-way-of-measuring-well-being-257458

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SIU strikes on former Lotteries Commission official

Source: South Africa News Agency

Monday, June 23, 2025

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has obtained a court order preventing former National Lotteries Commission (NLC) senior manager, Sanele Dlamini, from accessing his pension benefits until the finalisation of a civil case against him.

The civil case relates to the alleged illegal disbursement of some R6 million in NLC funds signed off by Dlamini to the Motheo Sports and Entertainment Foundation.

“The SIU’s investigation revealed that an NLC-funded project – a sports complex – was never initiated, and supporting documents, including progress reports and financial statements, were falsified. 

“Mr Dlamini, who facilitated the irregular disbursement of R3 million to the Motheo Sports and Entertainment Foundation, co-signed the fraudulent progress report without verifying the site or documentation, enabling the unlawful payout,” the SIU said in a statement.

The corruption busting unit explained that it turned to the courts for a freezing order to “limit the risk of a hollow judgment if funds were released, noting concerns that Mr. Dlamini may lack sufficient assets to satisfy future claims”.

“The interdict bars Mr. Dlamini from accessing his pension benefits until the SIU’s main case, a civil recovery action tied to the misallocation of R6 million in NLC grant funds, is concluded. 

“The fourth respondent, Liberty’s Corporate Selection Umbrella Retirement Fund, has been directed to assess and disclose the value of Dlamini’s pension within 60 days. This preservation is intended to ensure that funds remain available for potential recovery should the SIU succeed in its claim,” the statement read. – SAnews.gov.za

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Correctional Services cracks down on contraband at Tshwane facility

Source: South Africa News Agency

Monday, June 23, 2025

An unannounced raid at the Odi Correctional Centre has led to the discovery of a myriad of contraband material, including cellphones, drugs and WiFi routers.

This is according to Correctional Services National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale who spoke to the media following the late-night raid.

“We are here to restore order. We are here to restore the security protocols that are supposed to prevail here. So far, we have found 30 cellphones, cellphone accessories [and] three routers. 

“We found…slopes that are loaded with nyaope, mandrax tablets, crystal meth, dagga and we found offenders that are…buying from the kiosk and reselling to offenders.

“Others actually barter their items for food. It’s a problem for us because…if an offender doesn’t have enough food because they are exchanging their food for substances, it disturbs their ability to attend rehabilitation programs,” he said.

The Commissioner explained that the correctional centre was targeted following a tipoff.

“The second reason is that it is a small centre that is in a township and most instances, those centres are hubs of [the] selling of illegal substances. 

“The third reason is that we also wanted to identify offenders that, given their classification, we might have to change their classification from low and medium to high risk given the contraband that we found in their possession,” Thobakgale added.
At least two offenders have been identified for relocation in this regard.

“There are officials that are [also] going through disciplinary processes. Even here, there are two officials that have been suspended.  That is the work that management has been doing but we have identified that we need to come in and strengthen their hand in dealing with contraband and in ensuring that the centre is free from illegal substances and objects,” Thobakgale explained. – SAnews.gov.za

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Call to treat municipalities like businesses to attract skilled staff

Source: South Africa News Agency

Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, has called for a differentiated approach to tackling the challenges facing municipalities. 

This includes improving funding, providing better remuneration for councillors, and attracting skilled staff to rural areas.

“We need to adopt a style where our municipalities will be run like businesses. But to do so, we need to take a bold and new approach on structuring funding and remuneration of councillors, because if our councillors are paid peanuts, they will spend most of their time on other jobs and only pay lip service as councillors,” Hlabisa said on Monday. 

The Minister was speaking at a high-level dialogue with political parties in South Africa as part of the ongoing review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government. 

Hlabisa said the remuneration of councillors, municipal managers, and Section 56 employees should be a topic for discussion.

“If you want to attract them to deep rural municipalities, there should be a discussion that, to attract competent engineers, competent accountants and competent municipal managers from big cities to deep rural municipalities, the remuneration must compensate those people so that they can go and serve our rural municipalities.” 

Government officials and relevant stakeholders should engage with honesty while reviewing the White Paper and come up with recommendations on these important issues.

In April, Hlabisa officially published a discussion document on the Review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government. 

This document, published under Notice No. 6118 (Gazette: 52498), initiated a national discussion aimed at producing a revised White Paper on Local Government by March 2026.

The launch of the review process involved over 300 delegates from various sectors, with political parties having until 30 June 2025 to submit their contributions.

The review process aims to inspire fresh thinking, facilitate honest reflection, and promote decisive action toward establishing a local government system that effectively serves the people of South Africa.

The gathering stressed the need for political parties to engage in shaping the future of municipalities. 

The Minister took the time to highlight the poor performance of many municipalities, citing audit outcomes, financial mismanagement, and distressed municipalities. 

“We also know that the public holds the opinion that the majority of municipalities are not doing well. There are indeed municipalities that are doing well, even if it may not be said, excellent. 

“Unfortunately, these few well-performing municipalities are overshadowed by the majority that are not doing well. Year after year, the audit outcomes show that few municipalities get a clean bill.”

The Minister acknowledged the essential role of political parties and expressed eagerness for their contributions and involvement.

“We can improve the White Paper on Local Government. Local government is where policies become services, promises become infrastructure, and governance becomes tangible. 

“Local government is at the coalface of service delivery and the closest to the people; it is the sphere that must be strengthened in terms of human resources, capacitated in terms of capabilities, and be made financially resourced to focus on maximum service delivery.”

In addition, he stated that the involvement of traditional and Khoi-San leaders in local government must be engaged to ensure their maximum participation and contribution in advancing democracy and service delivery. – SAnews.gov.za

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Intense cold front to hit SA midweek 

Source: South Africa News Agency

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned that an intense cold front is expected to make landfall on Wednesday over the south-western parts of South Africa, bringing a significant shift in weather conditions across the region.

“The cold front is expected to be accompanied by heavy rainfall with a risk of localised flooding over the western parts of the Western Cape, especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas on Wednesday into Thursday [25-26 June 2025],” Head of Disaster Risk Reduction at the SAWS, Rudzani Malala, said on Monday.

The public has been cautioned that wet and slippery roads may result in dangerous driving conditions. 

“Motorists should exercise caution and adhere to safety measures. Strong and gusty winds over the interior may cause localised damage to structures and uproot trees. Cold to very cold conditions can be expected, along with possible snowfall over the western mountain ranges of the Western Cape, spreading into the south-western interior of the Northern Cape.

“Strong and gusty winds over the interior may cause localised damage to structures and uproot trees. Cold to very cold conditions can be expected, along with possible snowfall over the western mountain ranges of the Western Cape, spreading into the south-western interior of the Northern Cape,” Malala explained.

READ | Western Cape prepares for severe cold, wet weather

The maritime forecast includes gale-force winds and very rough seas, with wave heights between 5.5 metres to 7.5 metres, along the coastlines of the Northern Cape and Western Cape.

These conditions will lead to disruptions to fishing and port operations, an increased risk of vessels capsizing, accidents at sea, and hazardous shoreline conditions. 

Coastal residents and beachgoers are urged to exercise caution.

“As the system progresses eastwards, it will affect the Eastern Cape, which is already vulnerable to weather-related impacts. The key concern here is strong, damaging winds that are expected across most parts of the province on Thursday, 26 June 2025.

“Furthermore, interior winds are expected to pick up and spread over the remainder of eastern provinces on Thursday and Friday, 26 and 27 June 2025, with daytime temperatures dropping to the cold category,” he said.

READ | Cold front in the Eastern Cape brings strong winds

Call to heed weather reports

The weather service called on communities to follow daily weather reports and heed severe weather warnings.

“This means following weather reports on radio, television, newspapers, social media, websites and staying attuned to what disaster management authorities have to say. This needs to be in each person’s daily routine. It is that important – a matter of life and death,” Malala said.

Additionally, the South African Weather Service will continue to monitor any further developments relating to the weather systems and will issue subsequent updates as required. 

Furthermore, intermediate updates may be followed on X (@SAWeatherServic), Facebook (South African Weather Service) or other SAWS supported social media platforms.

“Impact Based Weather Warnings, if any, will continue to be issued via the system I have just elaborated on. As I have said, we need to work more closely with stakeholders to ensure to it that we save lives and property.

“Dissemination efforts aside, the South African Weather Service will continue with its elaborate public education and awareness programme, which includes own initiative mass events and piggybacking on other governmental events to equip vulnerable communities with information that could save lives and property.

“We will also carry on with our quarterly community radio programme targeted at vulnerable communities, partnering with disaster management authorities, municipal emergency services, and humanitarian bodies such as Red Cross International for an impactful collaboration,” he said. –SAnews.gov.za

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With farm co-ops, Senegal improves its agri-food value chains

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

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Agricultural cooperatives let farmers pool their resources so they can get better prices for their produce and access more markets, including international ones.

In Senegal, nearly one-third of mango and onion producers belong to one of 29 new or modernized cooperatives established by the PACAO programme. These cooperatives have forged  new links among farmers, businesses that process foods, and exporters who can sell those goods abroad.

Improving these value chains boosts food security, stimulate economic growth, and create sustainable jobs.

‘Before forming our cooperative, we each worked on our own, with no coordination,’ said Cheikh Mbacké Mboup. He’s an agricultural engineer by training with 42 years of experience in farming. ‘This prevented us from pooling our resources and negotiating better prices. We were scattered, and that limited our ability to produce and sell effectively.’ 

He’s currently serving as the chairman of the Fruit, Vegetable, and Livestock Producers’ Cooperative, known by its French acronym  (COOPROFEL). Based about 70 kilometres from the capital Dakar, in Keur Mbir Ndao, the cooperative now has 635 members.

Created in 2007, COOPROFEL overhauled its organizational structure and operations in 2021, with support from the International Trade Centre (ITC) though the Programme of Assitance for Competitiveness in West Africa – Senegal Component (PACAO-Senegal).

It’s one of 29 cooperatives that worked with the programme, bringing together nearly 70,000 producer-members who work with mangoes and onions. These cooperatives alone account for 31% of national onion production and 29% of mango production.

COOPROFEL, which operates in the mango and onion value chains, faced many challenges before teaming up with PACAO-Senegal.

Better organization in value chains

With the programme’s support, COOPROFEL members received training on good agricultural practices, marketing, leadership, communication, organizational management, and financial management. These trainings were complemented by the development of a financial and accounting procedures manual, allowing for better traceability of operations.

Organization is essential to the competitiveness of value chains and improves producers’ access to markets and inputs. Marianne Diattara has been a producer for over 25 years, and is now deputy general treasurer of COOPROFEL.

‘Now, the market is much more accessible. Recently, we took part in major trade fairs organized in Dakar,’ she said.

‘Today, our mangoes are exported to countries like Belgium, Spain, France, the Netherlands, and Morocco. As for onions, the cooperative has helped us better organize our production and sell at higher prices. We now have more stable incomes,’ said Amadou Thiam, Vice President of COOPROFEL.

A business partner of COOPROFEL, Mamadou Ndiaye, Sales Manager at TropicaSem, confirms this success. ‘We’ve been working with COOPROFEL since 2023. Last year, we sold them over 78 tons of seeds. The cooperative is one of our best clients.”

The cooperatives can steer their produces through the value chain so the mangoes and onions can be turned into new products. Those processed goods fetch higher prices than the fresh fruit, creating jobs and growing incomes.

Mangoes are sold fresh but also as purée, jam, smoothies, flour, vinegar, and more. Processed onion products are also found in supermarket shelves across Senegal and in weekly markets.

These products go through several stages: the farmer who harvests them, the cooperative that aggregates and sells them, the factory that processes them, and the distributor who places them on shelves or exports them. By organizing agricultural cooperatives, PACAO-Senegal strengthens a vital link in this chain and facilitates market access for cooperative members.

But the value chain is not just about products. It’s also about people, like Cheikh Mbacké Mboup, Marianne Diattara and Amadou Thiam. It’s about the farmers that PACAO-Sénégal has supported, whose incomes have risen thanks to better organization. It’s about their business partners – customers and suppliers – whose operations have expanded. And it’s about the consumer, who has access to quality local products. 

By structuring value chains, PACAO-Sénégal creates a virtuous circle by promoting agricultural cooperative societies. 

– on behalf of International Trade Centre.

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New Study Shows the Coca-Cola System has an Economic Impact of $10.4 Billion Across its Value Chain in Africa, Supporting More Than 1 Million Jobs

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

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  • Across 54 African markets, The Coca-Cola Company and its authorized bottlers, collectively known as the Coca-Cola system, contributed $10.4 billion in economic activity across its value chain in 2024.

  • The Coca-Cola system and its value chain supported more than 1 million jobs in retail, agriculture, manufacturing, transport and services in Africa.

  • The Coca-Cola system purchased $4.3 billion from suppliers in Africa in 2024, representing 83% of the system’s total procurement on the continent.

The Coca-Cola Company (www.Coca-ColaCompany.com) today announced the results of a comprehensive, Africa-wide socio-economic impact study during the 2025 U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Luanda, Angola.

The study shows that the Coca-Cola system, made up of The Coca-Cola Company and its authorized bottlers, working with a wide network of suppliers, manufacturers, service providers and customers, contributed $10.4 billion in value-added economic activity across its value chain in Africa in 2024.

The Coca-Cola system supported more than 1 million jobs across its value chain on the continent in sectors like retail, agriculture, manufacturing, transport and services. This included 36,800 direct Coca-Cola system jobs, plus 987,000 indirect jobs that are supported across the value chain, meaning the system collectively supported 27 additional jobs for every job it directly creates.

The study, conducted by global consultancy Steward Redqueen, shows that the system invested $4.3 billion in the African economy in 2024 through the purchase of goods and services from local suppliers, representing 83% of its total procurement.

“Our long-standing presence in Africa, working with locally owned bottlers and suppliers, allows us to drive more sustainable growth and contribute to the continent’s development,” said Luisa Ortega, president of the Africa operating unit of The Coca-Cola Company. “Our unique operating model allows us to make a lasting impact in local communities.”

The company’s portfolio in Africa includes a wide range of brands in several beverage categories. Ingredients and packaging used by the Coca-Cola system in Africa are mostly locally sourced, supplied, produced, manufactured and distributed.

“The Coca-Cola Company’s commitment to Africa remains steadfast,” Ortega said. “The Coca-Cola system has announced investments of nearly $1.2 billion on the continent over the next five years, and we are hopeful that stable and predictable policy environments will enable more investments in the months and years ahead. Additionally, the Coca-Cola system will invest nearly $25 million by 2030 to help address critical water-related challenges in local communities in 20 African markets.”

This study highlights the Coca-Cola system’s role in Africa’s long-term growth and driving more sustainable development across the continent. The approach adopted by Steward Redqueen integrates client-provided operational data with trusted third-party economic sources and industry benchmarks. More than just measuring direct contributions, the analysis uncovers economic interlinkages, showing how the Coca-Cola system drives production, generates income, and supports employment across a spectrum of industries and geographies.

Teodora Nenova, Managing Partner at Steward Redqueen added: “Our impact assessment reveals the wide-reaching economic footprint of the Coca-Cola system across Africa. The findings highlight the scale of the Coca-Cola system’s local presence and its ongoing contribution to economic opportunity and livelihoods across the continent.”

– on behalf of Coca-Cola.

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About The Coca-Cola Company:
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. Our company’s purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. We sell multiple billion-dollar brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Our portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta. Our water, sports, coffee and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Fuze Tea, Gold Peak and Ayataka. Our juice, value-added dairy and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife and AdeS. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We seek to positively impact people’s lives, communities and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices and carbon emissions reductions across our value chain. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.Coca-ColaCompany.com.

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How a volunteer group grew into a Ugandan tech leader

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

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Ten years ago, the ICT Association of Uganda (ICTAU) was a small, volunteer-run organization with limited capacity. It had one staff member, a working board, and little visibility among decision-makers. Uganda’s tech sector was expanding, but ICTAU lacked the structure and support needed to keep up.

With stronger governance and support from the NTF V FastTrackTech project in Uganda, ICTAU is now shaping policy, supporting start-ups, and building a more inclusive digital economy.

A decade ago, coordination among tech companies was weak. Many worked in isolation, unaware of the benefits of joining a larger network. Governance was also a challenge. Without a professional secretariat or strong leadership, the association could not consistently deliver value to its members.

Gideon Nkurunungi, who joined ICTAU in 2022 and became CEO the next year, says that early on, the association had little influence. ‘We didn’t have proper systems in place. Most members weren’t active. We weren’t running events or engaging in policy discussions. There was potential, but no structure to realise it.’

Strategic support sparks change

That started to change when ICTAU partnered with the International Trade Centre’s Netherlands Trust Fund V (NTF V) FastTrackTech project.

One of the first areas of support was internal governance. The board expanded to include more diverse expertise, and the organization established a permanent secretariat. This included the creation of the CEO role, which brought in professional leadership for the first time.

NTF V FastTrackTech also helped ICTAU develop programmes focused on start-up support, export readiness, and certification. Members received training in agile and lean start-up methods, connected with international buyers, and exhibited at global events.

Inclusion was another key focus. NTF V FastTrackTech encouraged ICTAU to increase support for women-led and youth-led businesses. This led to the formation of a Women in Tech chapter and more women joining the board.

New spaces for dialogue and networking

The changes quickly produced results. ICTAU launched the National ICT Summit and the CIO breakfast series, both of which created new spaces for dialogue and networking. Members could now meet face to face, showcase products, and exchange ideas. These events also increased the association’s profile with government, donors, and international partners.

ICTAU also began engaging more actively in policy. It hosted roundtables, consulted on draft legislations, and crafted reports on sector trends and challenges. Members had new ways to make their voices heard.

Membership growth followed. The association has grown from around 100 members at the start of the NTF V partnership to over 300 today. These include students, startups, non-governmental organizations, professionals, and larger companies.

‘Members are more involved now. They attend events, ask questions, and share experiences. We’ve become a proper community, not just a database,’ says Nkurunungi.

’Having structure and a clear direction lets us serve more people and deliver better results,’ says Nkurunungi. ‘The work we’re doing now lays the foundation for the next ten years.’

Plans for mentorship

Uganda is one of East Africa’s fastest-growing economies, with a rising wave of fintech, foodtech, software and data startups. Start-ups play a key role in driving economic growth, creating high-value jobs and advancing national development.

Building on the FastTrackTech foundation, ICTAU is planning a series of new initiatives. A startup chapter is being developed to offer more targeted support to early-stage companies. A mentorship programme is also in the pipeline, linking local entrepreneurs with experienced mentors from other regions.

The association will continue its work on policy engagement and certification, aiming to keep members aligned with global standards. Regular events and published insights will remain key features of ICTAU’s work.

‘We’re not treating FastTrackTech as a one-off project,’ says Nkurunungi. ‘It has shaped the way we work, and we’re keeping that approach.’

About the project

The Netherlands Trust Fund V (NTF) (July 2021 – June 2025) is based on a partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands and the International Trade Centre. The programme supports MSMEs in the digital technologies and agribusiness sectors. Its ambition is two-fold: to contribute to an inclusive and sustainable transformation of food systems, partially through digital solutions, and drive the internationalization of tech start-ups and export of IT&BPO companies in selected Sub-Saharan African countries.

– on behalf of International Trade Centre.