As Gen Z’s cultural influence and spending power rise, brands that fail to align actions with values risk being quietly muted, warns Penquin, a leading South African brand agency. In 2026, Gen Z favors brands demonstrating authenticity, transparency, and long-term commitment to social and environmental causes over flashy campaigns or performative activism. Nicole Glover, Executive Creative Director – Digital at Penquin, emphasizes that “story-doing” and ethical consistency, not storytelling or influencer collaborations, drive trust and loyalty among younger audiences. Data shows 68% of Gen Z in emerging markets switch brands over inauthenticity, while 73% of South African youth support brands taking risk-bearing stands on social issues. Brands that embed values into their operations, practice accountability, and prioritize radical transparency will succeed in capturing Gen Z advocacy.
How Strategic Domains Accelerate Expansion into Three High-Potential Markets
Strategic domain names can accelerate international market entry by building trust, visibility, and geographic relevance from day one. This article explores how Belgium.cc, IsraelBusiness.com, and Lesotho.biz create powerful digital gateways into a mature European hub, a global innovation economy, and an emerging African growth market—demonstrating why the right domain is critical for global expansion.
Kenya’s Research-to-Commercialization Programme helps universities mobilize $4.68M and create over 400 Jobs
Kenya’s Research-to-Commercialization (R2C) Programme has mobilized $4.68 million in investment, strengthened innovation systems across 25 universities, and supported more than 400 jobs—76% held by women—demonstrating how institutional reform, leadership alignment, and stronger technology transfer offices can transform research into market-ready ventures. Implemented by Viktoria Ventures under the UK-funded RISA initiative and led by the Kenya National Innovation Agency, the programme offers a scalable model for innovation-driven economic growth in Kenya and across Africa.
Africa Is Not One Country: Why the Travel Industry Is Failing the Continent
Africa’s tourism potential remains constrained by a persistent global misconception that treats the continent as a single destination rather than 54 distinct countries. Speaking at the 2026 Skift Travel Megatrends event, Air France-KLM’s Wilson Tauro argues that weak differentiation, concentrated tourist flows, and limited promotion beyond flagship destinations continue to suppress visitor numbers. With only about 5% of global tourists travelling to Africa despite its cultural, geographic, and experiential diversity, stronger collaboration between governments, airlines, and the private sector is essential to unlock sustainable growth and reposition Africa on the global travel map.
2026 Outlook for Africa – Uncertainty is the New Certainty
The 2026 outlook for Africa highlights resilience amid global uncertainty. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) continues to outperform global growth, with forecasts of 4.3% in 2026, led by fast-growing economies like Guinea, Ethiopia, and Rwanda. Major African economies, including Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, and Kenya, are projected to grow above 3%, while South Africa lags at 1.4%. Geopolitical and geoeconomic risks—including tariffs, state-based conflicts, military interventions, and foreign influence from the US, China, Russia, and Gulf countries—pose challenges for African nations. Despite these risks, Africa’s economic reform potential, natural resource leverage, and intra-African trade through AfCFTA offer opportunities for sustainable growth. 2026 will test African resilience, but strategic policies can transform uncertainty into growth.
ESET Threat Report H2 2025: Phishing and Social Engineering Pose Biggest Cybersecurity Risks for South African Organisations
ESET’s H2 2025 Threat Report reveals that phishing and social engineering remain the most significant cybersecurity risks for South African organisations, accounting for 45.7% of detected threats—well above the African average. The report also highlights the rapid evolution of AI-driven scams, deepfake-enabled fraud, NFC payment attacks, and growing global ransomware activity, underscoring the urgent need for stronger cyber resilience and advanced threat detection across South Africa’s digital economy.
Founders in Focus spotlights André de Wet and the real economics of building tech for emerging markets
Founders in Focus: Unstoppable Entrepreneurs & Their Game Plans highlights André de Wet’s journey from early failure to building scalable digital commerce solutions for emerging markets through Flood’s SuperApp-as-a-Service model. The book emphasizes practical entrepreneurship, infrastructure challenges, and sustainable growth across Africa and other developing regions, offering insight into how technology, distribution, and execution can transform informal retail into inclusive digital ecosystems.
Is AU willing to become the institution Africa needs
This analysis explores growing public frustration with the African Union’s effectiveness in delivering continental unity, security, and economic integration. It examines criticism surrounding the AU’s limited progress on a single currency, unified military, and open borders, while arguing that urgent institutional reform, accountability, and political courage are essential if the AU is to remain relevant and meet Africa’s evolving geopolitical and development needs.
AI and the Reinvention of African Agriculture: A New Growth Frontier for Emerging Economies
As climate risk, food insecurity, and supply-chain disruptions reshape global investment priorities, artificial intelligence is emerging as a catalyst for the reinvention of African agriculture. This article explores how AI-driven precision farming, climate forecasting, supply-chain optimisation, and alternative data models are transforming Sub-Saharan Africa’s agricultural sector into a more predictable, investable growth industry. By reducing volatility, improving productivity, and unlocking access to finance, AI is repositioning agriculture as a strategic pillar for food security, rural income growth, and long-term economic development across emerging African economies.
The blockchain frameworks set to enhance fintech development in 2026
As digital capital markets mature, blockchain frameworks are becoming the backbone of fintech innovation in 2026. With over half a billion users globally and widespread adoption by financial institutions, blockchain is reshaping payments, settlements, smart contracts, and decentralized finance. This article explores the leading blockchain frameworks driving fintech development—Corda, EOSIO, Hyperledger Fabric, Ethereum, and XRP Ledger—highlighting their real-world use cases, scalability, regulatory readiness, and impact on banks, fintechs, and digital asset platforms. Industry insights from D24 Fintech CTO Osama Bari outline how choosing the right framework will be critical for fintechs seeking efficiency, security, and long-term growth in an increasingly competitive blockchain ecosystem.