“Finance with Purpose: Unlocking Homes for South African Women” explores the transformative power of finance in bridging the gender wealth gap in South Africa, with a focus on homeownership. The article highlights the challenges women face in accessing housing due to unequal pay, limited collateral, and cultural norms, compounded by a national housing backlog. Alex Area, a Development Finance Specialist at the African Development Bank, outlines how sustainability-linked loans (SLLs) and gender-focused bonds are opening new doors for women to secure property, build wealth, and strengthen their financial independence. By tying financing to measurable social outcomes, these financial innovations not only tackle housing inequalities but also promote inclusive growth. The piece argues that gender-responsive finance, supported by institutional frameworks and rigorous monitoring, is essential to ensuring sustainable, long-term impact in closing the gender wealth gap.
Category: Featured
Driving Africa’s Digital Future: Insights from Tamu Dutuma, Absa’s Head of Strategy & Transformation
Tamu Dutuma, Head of Strategy & Transformation at Absa Regional Operations, shares insights on unlocking SME growth in Africa through technology, cross-border trade, digital payments, and ecosystem collaboration. He highlights the transformative role of fintech, partnerships, and early-stage startup engagement in shaping Africa’s digital economy.
Africa needs to leverage Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage to enhance resilience of its cities
Africa, though contributing minimally to global emissions, bears disproportionate climate impacts, with its rapidly urbanizing cities being the most vulnerable. Heatwaves, floods, droughts, and cyclones threaten infrastructure, livelihoods, and sustainable development. The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), established at COP27, offers a critical opportunity to strengthen Africa’s urban resilience. By financing disaster-ready infrastructure, empowering informal settlements, and supporting capacity-building, the Fund could transform African cities into sustainable, inclusive hubs capable of withstanding climate shocks while advancing socio-economic development.
Powering the future: Unlocking Africa’s renewable energy potential
Africa holds vast renewable energy resources, yet over half a billion people on the continent still lack electricity access. This article by Izaak Coetzee, Head of Strategic Insights & Analytics at Absa Group, outlines the strategic actions required to bridge Africa’s energy gap—ranging from modernising infrastructure and regulatory reform to unlocking blended finance solutions. With coordinated investment and policy, Africa can emerge as a global leader in the clean energy transition.
Building the Future We Imagine: Why Culture, Not Charity, Will Skill Africa’s Youth
On World Youth Skills Day 2025, Kayode Adebayo explores why Africa must look inward to build a future driven by youth and culture—not charity. With over 60% of its population under 25, Africa stands at a unique crossroads. This article argues that true transformation will come not from imported models, but from empowering the continent’s creative economy. Spotlighting the work of Arts Connect Africa (ACA) and Ckrowd, Adebayo outlines how training, infrastructure, and cultural policy must align to unlock Africa’s next generation of creative leaders.
Lessons learned in building a pan-African impact sourcing model
This article by Lizelle Strydom, Managing Director of CareerBox Africa, explores key lessons in building a pan-African impact sourcing model to address youth unemployment. Drawing on experiences from South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, and Ghana, the piece outlines how workplace readiness training, soft skills development, and inclusive hiring are transforming lives and empowering the next generation across the continent.
Why Impact Investing Must Reshape M&A Strategy in Africa’s Energy Landscape
As Africa experiences a transformative energy transition, traditional M&A strategies focused solely on financial returns fall short in addressing social and environmental challenges. This article argues that impact investing must reshape merger and acquisition approaches in Africa’s energy sector by integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria into valuation and deal-making. Through case studies from Angola and Namibia, it demonstrates how embedding impact metrics into financial models can enhance value creation, support sustainable development, and align investments with local sovereignty and community needs.
Trapped by tech? Avoid the CRM that costs more than money
Many South African companies find themselves trapped in a digital quicksand due to poorly executed CRM implementations that lead to costly, underperforming systems. Eldon Bothma and Hayley Blane from Braintree discuss the risks of choosing complex, feature-heavy CRM solutions without aligning them with business needs, leading to frustration and lost growth opportunities. Instead of focusing solely on technology, businesses should consider a strategic approach that prioritizes long-term scalability, clear objectives, and a phased implementation. By doing so, companies can unlock the true value of CRM systems, drive growth, and better position themselves for future advancements like AI and automation.
Repositioning an African Child from Labour to Leadership in Global Energy, Banking & Investment Markets
This thought leadership article by Kovimariva Samuel Mungunda calls for a fundamental shift in how Africa prepares its youth—from labourers to leaders in global energy, banking, and investment sectors. Through real-world examples like the Namibia-Botswana oil refinery initiative, it advocates for youth inclusion, mentorship, and Pan-African collaboration to build a future-ready workforce and reclaim Africa’s role in shaping global markets.
Tapping into Africa’s Refugees: Economic Opportunity Hiding In Plain Sight
This article by Reeta Roy, President and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation, highlights the untapped economic potential of Africa’s 45 million forcibly displaced people, including refugees. Drawing on inspiring examples such as Mesfin Getahun in Kenya’s Kakuma settlement, Roy argues that refugees are not just aid recipients, but dynamic entrepreneurs and contributors to local economies. In response, the Mastercard Foundation is committing $300 million in partnership with UNHCR to expand education, skills training, and dignified work opportunities for refugees across Africa, especially youth and women. The article calls for collaborative, long-term investment from governments, development funders, and the private sector to transform refugee settlements into engines of inclusive economic growth.