Africa’s digital transformation depends on reliable, low-carbon energy infrastructure. As demand for connectivity, AI, fintech, e-health and digital services grows, renewable energy solutions are essential to support resilient telecom networks, expand inclusion and accelerate sustainable economic growth across the continent.
South Africa has too many ways to pay and not enough ways for consumers to understand them. Will these make Cards extinct?
South Africa’s payments landscape is evolving rapidly, with digital wallets, PayShap, QR codes, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), and instant bank transfers expanding consumer choice. However, widespread adoption remains constrained by limited consumer education, trust, and operational complexity for merchants. This article explores why payment cards continue to dominate despite the rise of alternative payment methods and explains what the industry must do to drive meaningful digital payment adoption.
School farms boost food security in Kenya’s drylands
School farms are improving food security, nutrition and education in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands by combining climate-smart agriculture with school feeding programmes. A pilot initiative led by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) and partners is increasing school enrolment, diversifying children’s diets and creating new income opportunities for women farmers. The project demonstrates how regenerative agriculture and community partnerships can strengthen resilience to climate change while supporting sustainable food systems across Kenya’s drylands.
Africa Didn’t Cause This Energy Crisis. But It Often Pays the Highest Price
Africa continues to face the harshest consequences of global energy disruptions despite playing little role in causing them. In this opinion piece, Ben Ouattara, Head of Africa at Puma Energy, examines how higher fuel import costs, shipping disruptions, inflation and supply chain pressures are impacting African economies. He argues that strengthening energy resilience through diversified supply, strategic infrastructure, flexible policies and regional cooperation is essential to protecting economic growth from future global energy shocks.
The risk of AI tunnel vision in IT efficiency
The risk of AI tunnel vision in IT efficiency explores why focusing solely on AI’s energy consumption overlooks the much larger challenge of improving efficiency across the entire IT estate. As data centre power demand rises in South Africa, organisations must adopt an end-to-end approach that optimises infrastructure, cooling, software, workloads, and data management. The article argues that sustainable IT efficiency is achieved by designing energy efficiency into every layer of traditional and AI infrastructure, enabling greater resilience, lower costs, and scalable digital transformation.
EMERGE Launches Career Acceleration Platform to Advance Africa’s Young Professional Talent
EMERGE, powered by TheBoardroom Africa, has launched a career acceleration platform that connects young African professionals with leadership development, mentorship, skills training, networking, and employer opportunities. Supported by the Mastercard Foundation, the platform aims to strengthen Africa’s talent pipeline by helping professionals build sustainable careers while enabling employers to develop and access better-prepared future leaders.
Three Lessons from NAMPO About the Business of Farming in Africa
NAMPO Harvest Day highlighted three major trends shaping African agriculture: rising competition among suppliers, growing cross-border integration, and the impact of foreign currency challenges on farming businesses. Ray Van Rooyen of Absa Africa Regions explores how technology, finance, trade, and efficiency will define the future of farming across the continent.
Rixos Hotels Egypt Expands Red Sea Portfolio with Rixos Premium Magawish Bay View in Hurghada
Rixos Hotels Egypt has expanded its Red Sea portfolio with the opening of Rixos Premium Magawish Bay View in Hurghada. The five-star luxury resort features 442 rooms, suites and private villas, nine swimming pools, international dining venues, wellness facilities, and the brand’s signature Ultra-Premium All-Inclusive experience, strengthening Hurghada’s position as a leading luxury tourism destination in Egypt.
Africa trains its elites the artisanal way. It’s time to move to industrial-scale leadership
Africa’s Agenda 2063 requires far more than ambition—it demands a new approach to developing leadership at scale. In this opinion piece, Dr. Nizar Chaari argues that Africa must move beyond small, founder-driven leadership programs and build scalable, evidence-based systems rooted in African realities. Examining competency-based training, psychometric assessment, and Ubuntu, he explores how the continent can create the thousands of leaders needed to achieve long-term economic and social transformation.
The Risk Problem with Investors Treating African Energy as One Market
Africa’s energy sector offers major investment opportunities, but treating the continent as a single market can lead to costly mistakes. This analysis explains why investors need jurisdiction-specific risk management, highlighting how regulatory frameworks, currency volatility, infrastructure constraints, and political conditions differ across African countries. It explores practical strategies for managing long-term energy investment risks and financing renewable energy projects.