investments Archives - Page 5 of 9

24May

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News, Startups, Uganda News

Crasner Ventures backs ‘worker-first’ social network Umwuga for its second investment

London, UK, May 2021: Crasner Ventures, the early-stage venture capital investor that supports businesses led by female founders and entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, announces its investment in Umwuga Ltd, an emerging markets-focused social network that connects workers and employers. Umwuga is Crasner Ventures’ second portfolio company. Umwuga is revolutionising the recruitment industry in emerging markets, by enabling workers to connect and communicate on their own terms, showcase their abilities, experience and personality and engage and negotiate directly with prospective employers. The platform opens up employment opportunities to those often excluded by a recruitment industry and social networks designed predominately for white-collar workers. It also helps employers by giving...

11May

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Events, Startups

The Legatum Center for Development & Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA) launches the inaugural Legatum Foundry Fellowship for entrepreneurs in Africa

Fellowship applications open on May 3, 2021 for entrepreneurs working and living in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal. The Legatum Center for Development & Entrepreneurship at MIT has launched the Foundry Fellowship, a first-of-its-kind leadership program for accomplished entrepreneurs who are considering their role in shaping the future of the African innovation ecosystems in which they work and live. At an inflection point in their entrepreneurial journeys, Fellows will learn from MIT faculty, connect with investors, and expand their network of peer innovators. The Fellowship is open to entrepreneurs working and living in Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, and Senegal. Building on the MIT ethos of Mens et Manus (Mind and Hand), the Foundry is ...

10May

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Main

New report outlines shifting patterns of infrastructure funding in Africa

Baker McKenzie’s latest report - New Dynamics: Shifting Patterns in Africa’s Infrastructure Funding - shows the state of the African infrastructure market, and how the major global players’ approach infrastructure lending on the continent is changing. While the IJ Global data shows a decline in the value of infrastructure lending, it is expected that as economies recover, new types of financing will be unlocked. The data The report’s data shows that multilateral and bilateral lending into Africa has declined - with investment levels falling successively in 2019 and 2020 compared to peak levels seen after the financial crisis. In 2019, bilateral and multilateral lending into Africa amounted to USD 55 billion, which drops to USD 31 billion in 2020. Over the last six years, the decline is sig...

20Apr

By NJ AyukNo Comments

Energy, Green Energy, Tanzania News, Uganda News

Greenpeace and Western Anti Africa Energy Groups Take the Wrong Approach to East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) in Uganda and Tanzania

By NJ Ayuk, Executive President of the African Energy Chamber. If someone were to put me on the spot and ask me to name an environmentalist group, I’d probably blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, Greenpeace. There are obvious reasons for this: Greenpeace has been around for more than 50 years, and it has done a masterful job of bringing environmental concerns to the world’s attention and keeping them there. The group has a strong track record when it comes to advocacy and awareness, and it has a global reach. It’s truly one of the most visible non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the world. And that’s why I see it as significant that Greenpeace’s African division has come out swinging for a major new oil pipeline slated for construction in Uganda and Tanzania. Let me explai...

13Apr

By African Energy ChamberNo Comments

Energy, Mozambique News, Senegal News, Tanzania News, Uganda News

African Energy Developments Demand Sustained Investment with new projects in Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, and Senegal

A recent uptick in direct investment activities in Africa’s energy sector sheds light on the role of sustained investor interest in catalyzing socio-economic growth. In the past twelve months, the African energy sector has seen several encouraging developments – in the form of both Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and strategic partnerships – that have advanced the sustainable development of its natural resources. In fact, despite a global downturn in investment in 2020, FDI flows to developing economies accounted for 72% of global FDI, the highest share to date. Given the magnitude of Africa’s oil and gas reserves – not to mention its abundant renewable resource wealth – the continent remains a highly attractive market for inbound investment, which is vital for its growth. Take Ugan...

13Apr

By Ibrahim MoshoodNo Comments

Nigeria News, Startups

The SEC’s Circular On The Trading Of Foreign Securities By Investment Platforms In Nigeria

By Ibrahim Moshood, Associate, Centurion Law Group The apex regulator of securities in Nigeria, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has issued a circular, with respect to technology investment platforms providing the Nigerian public with access to foreign securities. The circular dated 8 April 2021, issues a strong warning to these investment platforms and Capital Market Operators (“CMOs”) in partnership with them to provide brokerage services. Both categories of players in the financial space were warned to desist from providing the Nigerian public, with access to foreign securities. This is pivoted on the grounds that these securities are neither registered with the SEC nor listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (“NSE”). From 2018, technology start-ups have pioneered major disr...

31Mar

By CSEA AFRICA - CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF THE ECONOMIES OF AFRICANo Comments

Energy

Improving energy efficiency and interconnectivity in Africa through regional economic integration

Adedeji Adeniran Chukwuka Onyekwena Sone Osakwe CSEA AFRICA - CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF THE ECONOMIES OF AFRICA March 2021 Affordable and efficient energy supply is essential for enhanced welfare and better development outcomes. However, African states suffer from huge deficits in energy generation and distribution, resulting in unreliable power networks, frequent power outages and expensive tariffs. In a bid to improve efficiencies through interconnectivity and reduce energy development challenges at the national level, sub-regional power pooling initiatives have become increasingly popular in Africa. The idea behind creating power pools is to encourage cooperation among countries, through linking excess capacity in one country where power is produced more economically, with excess dem...

22Mar

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech

The Rise Fund to invest $200 million in Airtel Africa’s mobile money business, at $2.65 billion valuation

Airtel Africa to explore potential listing of mobile money business within four years. Airtel Africa, a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, with a presence in 14 countries across Africa, announced on 18th March the signing of an agreement under which The Rise Fund, the global impact investing platform of leading alternative investment firm TPG, will invest $200 million in Airtel Mobile Commerce BV (“AMC BV”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Airtel Africa plc (the “Transaction”). AMC BV is currently the holding company for several of Airtel Africa’s mobile money operations; and is now intended to own and operate the mobile money businesses across all of Airtel Africa’s fourteen operating countries. The Transaction values Airtel Africa’s mobile money business at $...

AVEVA Accelerates Commitment to Invest in People and Sustainability

1Mar

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Tech

AVEVA Accelerates Commitment to Invest in People and Sustainability

ESG is Highlighted as Important Focus Area for Industrial Software Leader AVEVA, a global leader in engineering and industrial software, has announced at the end of February three key senior hires to lead employee experience, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing (DI&W) and Sustainability. These roles will help accelerate AVEVA’s heightened focus to further its values of integrity, collaboration, innovation, and sustainable business outcomes throughout the organization. New Chief People Officer’s Remit is Extended Beyond Human Resources Tasked with leading AVEVA’s group-wide CSR initiative, Action for Good, along with driving its people strategy and improving the global employee experience, Caoimhe Keogan joined AVEVA in January 2021 as Chief People...

The top 5 reasons why investing in Ireland makes sense for African businesses

24Feb

By Daireann GibsonNo Comments

Business, Main, South Africa News

The top 5 reasons why investing in Ireland makes sense for African businesses

By Daireann Gibson, Managing Partner at Gibson & Associates Solicitors Ireland is becoming an increasingly popular destination for individuals from across Africa who are looking to move abroad. South Africa in particular has seen 3,000 immigrants choose Ireland as their new home, and for investors in particular, Ireland provides a wealth of opportunities. The relationship between Ireland and the continent of Africa has long presented a lot of potential with regard to business. Plans are currently in action to increase the value of a two-way trade deal between Ireland and Africa, which is projected to be worth at least €5 billion by 2025. Trade in goods and services between Ireland and Africa increased by 29% between 2010 and 2017, from €3.4 billion to €4.4 billion. In addition, Irish e...