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World Bank Approves New Project to Power Tunisia’s Energy Transformation
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The World Bank and the Government of Tunisia have concluded a financing agreement to support Tunisia's energy sector modernization agenda through the Tunisia Energy Reliability, Efficiency, and Governance Improvement Program (TEREG). This five-year program of US$430 million— including US$30 million in concessional financing — aims to support the Government of Tunisia to deliver a sustainable, reliable, and affordable electricity supply by accelerating renewable energy deployment, strengthening the performance of the national electricity utility (STEG), and enhancing overall sector governance.
Aligned with the Government's updated Energy Transition Strategy, TEREG aims to strengthen STEG's operational and financial performance, attract private investment, and lower the carbon intensity of power generation, all while ensuring reliable electricity access for households and businesses. It supports ambitious reforms to accelerate renewable energy deployment, enhance energy efficiency, and modernize the electricity sector.
“By fostering renewable energy development, TEREG will strengthen Tunisia's position in clean energy, creating economic opportunities and ensuring long-term energy security,” said Alexandre Arrobbio, World Bank Country Manager for Tunisia. “This project reflects our strong partnership with Tunisia and supports its sustainable development goals. It builds on our long-standing engagement in Tunisia's energy sector and complements ongoing initiatives like the Tunisia-Italy Electricity Integration Project (ELMED), the Energy Sector Improvement Project, and advisory services from the International Finance Corporation and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, aligning with Tunisia's Country Partnership Framework and its commitments under the Paris Agreement.”
The TEREG program is expected to support Tunisia in achieving its goals to mobilize US$2.8 billion in private investment to add 2.8 gigawatts of new solar and wind capacity by 2028, and create over 30,000 jobs, primarily during the construction phase of renewable projects. It will also help reduce electricity supply costs by 23 percent, improve STEG's cost recovery from 60 to 80 percent, and reduce subsidies by TND 2.045 billion.
“This is the first project to benefit from the World Bank's Framework for Financial Incentives, receiving rewards for its size and long-term benefits in recognition of its impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Amira Klibi, Senior Energy Specialist at the World Bank and Task Team Leader for the project. “The program's reforms—such as reducing technical and commercial losses and increasing the share of renewables—are expected to deliver lasting improvements in the operational and financial performance of the sector, making electricity more affordable and reliable for households and businesses across Tunisia.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.Call for Entries Issued for the 2026 Middle East & North Africa Stevie® Awards
The Stevie® Awards (https://www.StevieAwards.com), organizer of the world's premier business awards programs, has issued a call for entries for the 2026 (seventh annual) Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, sponsored by the RAK Chamber of Commerce & Industry (http://www.RAKChamber.ae/). Entry kits and complete details on the competition are available at https://MENA.StevieAwards.com.
The Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards are the region's only awards program to recognize innovation in the workplace in all its forms. The awards are open to all organizations within 18 nations in the MENA region: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
All individuals and organizations - public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small - may submit any number of nominations to any number of the categories.
There are no entry fees in this awards program. Organizations may submit as many nominations as they would like, without cost. Instead, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners can choose to pay a “winners fee” for each successful nomination to maintain their Stevie winner status.
Nominations may be submitted online through two entry deadlines. Winning nominations submitted through the first deadline, 3 December 2025, will have reduced winners' fees. 21 January 2026, is the second and final entry deadline.
Winners of the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Awards in the competition will be announced on 16 April 2026, and celebrated during a gala event at the InterContinental Hotel in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 14 May 2026.
New for the 2026 Competition
The 2026 competition introduces several new and expanded category groups, including AI Innovation Awards (https://apo-opa.co/3JQW8RP) recognizing the achievements of individuals and organizations in Artificial Intelligence, and Public Sector Innovators (https://apo-opa.co/3LwT2mC), , honoring innovation and excellence in government and public service. Other category groups with new award categories include Sustainability, Technology, Customer Service, Marketing, and Human Resources.
Nominations citing innovative achievements will be accepted and judged in both Arabic and English, in more than 150 categories across the following category groups:
• AI Innovation (https://apo-opa.co/3JQW8RP)
• Apps & Websites (https://apo-opa.co/4oKt4dS)
• Achievements (https://apo-opa.co/497sWQV)
• Annual Reports & Other Publications (https://apo-opa.co/4hSzGo1)
• Company/Organization (https://apo-opa.co/49ecmPw)
• Corporate Communications & Public Relations (https://apo-opa.co/3LC9WQI)
• Customer Service (https://apo-opa.co/47PNScG)
• Human Resources (https://apo-opa.co/4oCh2Dw)
• Individual Professionals (https://apo-opa.co/49IaP4b)
• Live & Virtual Events (https://apo-opa.co/43WFUNT)
• Management (https://apo-opa.co/3Lw7Z8t)
• Marketing (https://apo-opa.co/4owmwPX)
• New Products & Services (https://apo-opa.co/4oKt4uo)
• Public Sector Innovators (https://apo-opa.co/3LwT2mC)
• Social Media (https://apo-opa.co/4hXgCVM)
• Sustainability (https://apo-opa.co/43ner7Z)
• Technology (https://apo-opa.co/49KWCU4)
• Videos (https://apo-opa.co/3JMPZGr)
• Thought Leadership (https://apo-opa.co/4hT50CY)
New Website and Entry System
For the 2026 Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards program, a new website and entry system have been introduced to make participation easier and more efficient than ever before. Entrants can now use a single account to access the entry system for all nine Stevie Awards programs, submit and manage nominations seamlessly, and enter directly from any device. The platform supports over 30 languages with automatic translation for judging and offers multiple convenient payment options, ensuring a smooth and accessible experience for participants across the region.
Winners of the 2025 edition with multiple Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Awards include Abdulla Almazrouei Advocates & Legal Consultants, Abu Dhabi Customs, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), ADNOC Logistics & Services, Alef Education, Barns (Saudi Arabia), DAMAC Properties, Deloitte & Touche (M.E.), DHL Express (across multiple MENA locations), Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, Emirates Health Services, Etihad Aviation Group, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Ministry of Finance (Saudi Arabia), Ooredoo Group (Qatar), Petromin Express (Saudi Arabia), Public Works Authority – Ashghal (Qatar), QNB Türkiye, RAK Police, Royal Commission for Jubail & Yanbu, Saudi Aramco, Sharjah Economic Development Department, Silal (Abu Dhabi), STC (Saudi Telecom Company), Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Turkcell, VUMI Global, Yalla Group (UAE), and ZIGMA8 | 360º Creative Communications, among others.
The 2026 competition will be judged by more than 150 professionals around the world. Those who wish to apply to participate on one of the juries may do so at https://apo-opa.co/445vdsn
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards.Contact:
May Hassan
May@StevieAwards.com
About the Stevie® Awards:
Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, and the Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 nominations each year from organizations in more than 70 nations and territories. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at https://www.StevieAwards.com.
At Chad’s fragile Sudan border, United Nations (UN) and partners redouble connectivity drive for refugees and hosts
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UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and ITU, the UN agency for digital technologies, are expanding efforts with partners in Chad and other refugee-hosting countries to ensure that millions of forcibly displaced people and local communities are connected by 2030.
Wrapping up a two-day joint visit to Chad on Friday, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, President of the GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation John Giusti and UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner Kelly T. Clements saw first-hand how connectivity is transforming the lives of vulnerable communities. Across the country, Sudanese refugees and Chadians are using digital tools to access education, financial services and health care – taking steps toward greater stability and self-reliance.
While in Chad, the partners sought to cement the regulatory and infrastructure framework to expand the Connectivity for Refugees (CfR) initiative. Launched in 2023 during the Global Refugee Forum as a pledge to mobilize resources so all major refugee hosting areas have available and affordable connectivity by 2030, it has evolved into a private-public partnership active in countries including Chad, Ethiopia, Uganda, Mauritania, Egypt, and Rwanda. Each programme is tailored to local needs, mapping communities most in need to expand connectivity.
"In Chad, we witnessed first-hand how connectivity can restore dignity and hope for displaced people and host communities," said ITU's Bogdan-Martin. “The Connectivity for Refugees initiative opens doors to digital opportunity in places where connection to the Internet is a lifeline, not a luxury. Now more than ever, we must act and extend that lifeline so that no one is left behind.”
“Too many people view refugees as passive victims, but we saw in Chad their drive to connect, to learn and enhance their lives and future prospects," said UNHCR's Clements. “Our goal is ambitious – connecting 20 million forcibly displaced people and their hosts by 2030. We've shifted gears and are starting to deliver results which will help create resilient, inclusive communities. But we need to keep pushing.”
Chad is home to around 1.5 million refugees, mainly Sudanese. Its government is committed to digital inclusion through its development plan, Tchad Connexion 2030, which integrates refugee needs into the broader digital infrastructure. Local mobile operators Airtel Chad and Moov have made infrastructure upgrades to help connect the isolated east of the country. Emergency.LU, a public-private partnership funded by Luxembourg enabling high-performance satellite connectivity, is being deployed across several locations in Chad. Four connected centres are being established in Djabal, Farchana, Idrimi and Oure Cassoni settlements, serving as learning hubs for Sudanese refugees and host communities alike.
UNHCR is calling on partners across sectors to help scale up this work to meet the urgent needs of millions. This includes expanding infrastructure and lifting regulatory barriers to individual access for displaced people. To achieve this, Connectivity for Refugees is seeking at least $20 million in core support, with at least $200 million in direct investment and contributions.
Driving global efforts to bridge the digital divide, ITU works with telecom regulators and industry leaders to develop innovative digital solutions for underserved regions. Its Partner2Connect Digital Coalition has mobilized commitments from over 70 governments, companies and other organizations to unlock connectivity solutions for refugees, while its Disaster Connectivity Map provides critical data to guide interventions in crisis-stricken regions like Chad.
The GSMA is a founding member of the Connectivity for Refugees Initiative, serving as a bridge between mobile network operators and humanitarian organizations. GSMA's Giusti added: “Connectivity is often the first thing people ask for when crossing a border seeking safety. This unique partnership with UNHCR and ITU allows the GSMA to broker scalable and sustainable connectivity solutions to support forcibly displaced people and the communities that host them around the world.”
UNHCR is also deepening its engagement with development actors like the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC), seeking to allocate portions of large-scale digital infrastructure projects to refugee-hosting areas.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).Refugee camps set to be uninhabitable by 2050 as extreme weather worsens
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At least 117 million people have been displaced by war, violence and persecution, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Monday, while highlighting how much their plight is tied to the growing climate crisis.
“Whether it is floods sweeping South Sudan and Brazil, record-breaking heat in Kenya and Pakistan, or water shortages in Chad and Ethiopia, extreme weather is pushing already fragile communities to the brink,” the UN agency said.
Over the past decade, weather-related disasters accounted for 250 million internal displacements, the equivalent of around 70,000 every day, or two displacements every three seconds. Returns to Syria and Afghanistan this year have contributed to lower global displacement than in 2024.
Frontline struggle
In a new report, UNHCR also pointed out that three in four of all those who've been uprooted now live in countries where frontline communities face “high-to-extreme” exposure to climate-related hazards.
“Extreme weather is putting people's safety at greater risk; it is disrupting access to essential services, destroying homes and livelihoods and forcing families – many who have already fled violence – to flee once more,” said Filippo Grandi, the outgoing UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
“These are people who have already endured immense loss, and now they face the same hardships and devastation again. They are among the hardest hit by severe droughts, deadly floods and record-breaking heatwaves, yet they have the fewest resources to recover.”
Protection system strung out
Around the world, basic survival systems for refugees are already under strain, UNHCR warned.
In parts of flood-affected Chad, for instance, newly arrived refugees fleeing the war in neighbouring Sudan receive fewer than 10 litres of water a day, which is far below emergency standards.
Evidence also indicates that by 2050, the hottest refugee camps could face nearly 200 days of extreme heat stress per year, with serious risks to health and survival.
“Many of these locations are likely to become uninhabitable due to the deadly combination of extreme heat and high humidity,” the UN refugee agency maintained.
African land degradation threat
It noted that 1.2 million refugees returned home in early 2025 but half of this number arrived in “climate-vulnerable” areas. Meanwhile, UNHCR also noted that a full 75 per cent of land across the continent of Africa is deteriorating and that more than one in two refugee settlements are located in “high stress” areas.
“This is shrinking access to food, water and income,” the UN agency insisted, driving recruitment to armed groups in parts of the Sahel, fuelling conflict and repeated displacement.
Despite rising needs, funding shortfalls and what UNHCR calls “a deeply inequitable climate finance system” have left millions unprotected. Today, conflict-affected countries that host refugees receive only one quarter of the climate finance they need, while the vast majority of global climate funding never reaches displaced communities or their hosts.
“Funding cuts are severely limiting our ability to protect refugees and displaced families from the effects of extreme weather,” Mr. Grandi said, speaking on the opening day of the UN COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil.
“If we want stability, we must invest where people are most at risk,” the UNHCR chief added. “To prevent further displacement, climate financing needs to reach the communities already living on the edge. They cannot be left alone. This COP must deliver real action, not empty promises.”
Key UNHCR report findings:
• Three in every four refugees or people displaced by conflict are currently living in countries facing high-to-extreme exposure to climate-related hazards.
• 1.2 million refugees returned home in early 2025, half to climate-vulnerable areas.
• 75 per cent of land in Africa is deteriorating, with over half of refugee settlements in high-stress areas.
• Nearly all current refugee settlements will face an unprecedented rise in hazardous heat. By 2050, the hottest fifteen refugee camps in the world – located in Gambia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Senegal and Mali – are projected to face nearly 200 days or more of hazardous heat stress per year.
• By 2040, the number of countries facing extreme climate hazards could rise from three to 65.
• Since April 2023, nearly 1.3 million people fleeing the conflict in Sudan have sought refuge in South Sudan and Chad, two countries among the least equipped to cope with the growing climate emergency.
Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA) Announces Strategic Investment in Spiro to Accelerate Africa’s Electric Mobility Transition
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The Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), the development equity impact investment arm of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), has announced a $75 million investment in Spiro, the leading electric two-wheel assembler in Africa with the fastest growing battery swapping infrastructure. This investment is fully aligned with Afreximbank's broader automotive strategy, to develop integrated manufacturing ecosystems by fostering strategic partnerships across the entire value chain, from technology providers to local industrial champions.
The investment comes at a pivotal moment, benefiting from pro-electric vehicle policies across key African markets that are creating an enabling environment for clean mobility adoption. Against this backdrop, Spiro is uniquely positioned to scale rapidly, leveraging its proven business model and expanding battery swapping infrastructure to become a key driver of Africa's transition to a cleaner, more efficient mobility future.
Dr. George Elombi, President of Afreximbank and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank and FEDA commented: “
“I am delighted that the partnership between FEDA and Spiro has now been consummated. With this partnership, the Bank is laying the groundwork for a new era of intra-African trade and industrialisation by stimulating local vehicle manufacturing, strengthening regional integration, and enhancing trade flows. Importantly, it fosters skills and technology transfer as well as creates employment opportunities and reduces the continent's reliance on imported second-hand vehicles.”
Gagan Gupta, Founder of Spiro said: “We are proud to welcome FEDA as a strategic investor as we accelerate the growth of Spiro's mission to transform mobility, energy storage, and distribution across Africa. Spiro's rapid expansion into new markets reflects the continent's strong appetite for clean, affordable, and efficient transportation. As we expand our battery swapping infrastructure and integrate renewable energy sources into our energy mix, we are positioned to unlock substantial upside in Spiro's energy distribution.”
Marlene Ngoyi, CEO of FEDA noted: “Spiro's success to date is a clear demonstration of the strength and scalability of its business model. The company's rapid growth and strong market adoption underscore the significant demand for affordable, sustainable mobility solutions across Africa. With its integrated approach, Spiro has built a platform that is both commercially viable and socially impactful.”
Professor Benedict Oramah, Fromer President of Afreximbank commented: “I am delighted that the partnership between FEDA and Spiro has now been consummated. With this partnership, the Bank is laying the groundwork for a new era of Intra-African trade and industrialisation by stimulating local vehicle manufacturing, strengthening regional integration, and enhancing trade flows. Importantly, it fosters skills and technology transfer as well as creates employment opportunities and reduces the continent's reliance on imported second-hand vehicles.”.”
Founded in 2022, Spiro operates Africa's most extensive and fastest growing battery-swapping network, with more than 60,000 electric motorcycles and 1,200 swapping stations. The company has built a model that is designed to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuel-based transport while enhancing energy efficiency, lowering urban emissions, and expanding affordable access to mobility for millions of Africans
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com
About FEDA:
The Fund for Export Development in Africa (“FEDA”) is the impact investment subsidiary of Afreximbank (www.Afreximbank.com), set up to provide equity, quasi-equity, and debt capital to finance the multi-billion-dollar funding gap (particularly in equity) needed to transform the Trade sector in Africa. FEDA pursues a multi-sector investment strategy along the intra-African trade, value-added export development, and manufacturing value chain which includes financial services, technology, consumer and retail goods, manufacturing, transport & logistics, agribusiness, as well as ancillary trade enabling infrastructure such as industrial parks. To date, FEDA has invested more than US$1.3 billion in companies and projects across its various fund initiatives, in sectors such as manufacturing, agro-processing, financial services, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, amongst others.
About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa's trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank's total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody's (Baa2), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB-). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.
About Spiro:
Spiro is the largest electric mobility company in Africa, which operates the fastest growing battery swapping infrastructure in 6 countries in Africa. Spiro has a vision for transforming the African economies through substitution of expensive imported fossil fuel-based transportation into affordable, and accessible electric mobility solutions locally made in Africa, by Africans, for Africa & the world. This far, Spiro has achieved over 800 billion kms of CO2 free travel, crossed 26 million battery swaps and operated over 1200 battery swapping stations with more than 60,000 electric motor bikes in circulation. Through its expanding regional production network and operational assembling facilities in Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda, Spiro is committed to deliver affordable, locally manufactured electric mobility solutions at scale across Africa. For more information, visit: www.SpiroNet.com.
Premier Invest to Highlight Africa’s Expanding Financial Footprint at G20 Investment Forum
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René Awambeng, Founder and Managing Director of Premier Invest, is set to speak at the upcoming G20 African Energy Investment Forum in Johannesburg, where global investors, policymakers and development institutions convene to advance the growth agenda aligned with G20 strategic priorities. His participation underscores a shift: Africa-based financial leadership engaging directly in the global arena, and ties closely to the G20's focus on mobilizing private capital for infrastructure, trade finance and sustainable growth in emerging markets.
Premier Invest has been actively expanding its footprint and capabilities, securing its licence from the Abu Dhabi Financial Services Authority in August 2025. The milestone paves the way for fund management, advisory and complex transaction activities across strategic sectors including energy, infrastructure, food security and intra-African trade. At the same time, Premier Invest's recently launched group structure is designed to transform trade finance and investment across emerging markets – a proposition that resonates with the G20's agenda to build resilient supply chains, foster South-South trade and catalyze private investments in Africa's development priorities.
Adding to this momentum, Premier Invest hosted a Deal Room at the African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies conference, presenting a portfolio of energy and infrastructure opportunities totaling $13.4 billion across upstream, midstream, downstream and renewables sectors. The platform connected project sponsors, lenders and strategic investors, underlining Premier Invest's role as a capital-mobilization enabler on the continent.
Against this backdrop, Awambeng's participation in the G20 Investment Forum – hosted by the African Energy Chamber (AEC) – serves to connect Premier Invest's growing momentum with the broader G20 investment ecosystem, where cross-border capital, blended finance structures and African-led platforms are becoming central to driving sustainable development. Awambeng is expected to address how Africa can evolve from being viewed as an “investment frontier” to becoming a creator and exporter of investment solutions, harnessing its expanding talent pool, ongoing structural reforms and strengthening institutional frameworks.
“When African firms step up to structure capital and host platforms that transparently connect sponsors and investors, we shift the narrative from hand-outs to deal-making,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC. “René's leadership at Premier Invest and the Deal Room at AEW show that Africa doesn't just need external capital – it needs to drive how that capital is deployed, aligned with jobs, energy access and trade outcomes.”
As the G20 African Energy Investment Forum prepares to convene, the event will spotlight how Africa's private sector leadership can engage with global capital flows and play a central role in advancing the G20's vision for a resilient, inclusive and sustainable investment ecosystem. For Premier Invest, the forum offers a platform to showcase its expanding deal pipeline, recent regulatory milestones and broader mission to position emerging-market investment at the center of global finance.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) and KazakhExport Renew Quota-Share Treaty Agreement for 2025–2026
The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) (https://ICIEC.IsDB.org), a Shariah-based multilateral insurer and member of the Islamic Development Bank Group, and KazakhExport, the Export Credit Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan, have renewed their Quota-Share Treaty Reinsurance Agreement for the fifth consecutive year, covering the period from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026.
The agreement was signed by Dr. Khalid Khalafallah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ICIEC, and Mrs. Ayan Bektybayeva, Deputy Chairman of the Board of KazakhExport, on the sidelines of the 15th Annual Meeting of the AMAN Union, held from 4–6 November 2025 in Jeddah.
This renewal reaffirms the long-standing partnership between the two institutions in advancing trade, investment, and economic cooperation among Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states.
Under the agreement, ICIEC will continue to provide reinsurance coverage for KazakhExport's Documentary Credit Insurance Policy (DCIP), enabling the agency to expand its underwriting capacity for trade-finance risks, particularly in high-impact sectors that drive export diversification and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The renewed partnership underscores ICIEC's strategic role in delivering risk capacity, technical support, and knowledge transfer to member Export Credit Agencies (ECAs), while reinforcing Kazakhstan's commitment to strengthening non-oil exports under the institutional framework of Baiterek National Managing Holding JSC.
Dr. Khalid Khalafallah, CEO of ICIEC, commented: “This renewal reflects the depth of our partnership with KazakhExport and our shared vision to advance trade and investment across OIC member countries. Through this treaty, ICIEC continues to deliver reinsurance and technical support that empower member ECAs to underwrite larger, more diversified, and more impactful trade transactions.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC).Media contact:
Email: ICIEC-Communication@isdb.org
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About The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC):
As a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, ICIEC commenced operations in 1994 to strengthen economic relations between OIC Member States and promote intra-OIC trade and investments by providing risk mitigation tools and financial solutions. The Corporation is the only Islamic multilateral insurer in the world. It has led from the front to deliver a comprehensive suite of solutions to counterparts in its 50 Member States. ICIEC, for the 18th consecutive year, maintained an "Aa3" insurance financial strength credit rating from Moody's, ranking the Corporation among the top of the Credit and Political Risk Insurance (CPRI) industry. Additionally, S&P has reaffirmed 'ICIEC's "AA-"long-term Issuer Credit and Financial Strength Rating for the second year with a stable outlook. ICIEC's resilience is underpinned by its sound underwriting, global reinsurance network, and strong risk management policies. Cumulatively, ICIEC has insured more than USD 121 billion in trade and investment. ICIEC activities are directed to several sectors—energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, healthcare, and agriculture.
For more information, visit https://ICIEC.IsDB.org.
Africa Pushes Scale: African Energy Chamber G20 Forum to Spotlight Large-Scale Energy and Infrastructure Integration
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The African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org/) will host a strategic panel on “Scaling Large-Scale Energy & Infrastructure” at the upcoming G20 African Energy Investment Forum in Johannesburg, bringing together financiers, policymakers and developers to explore how to mobilize both public and private capital to drive renewable integration and infrastructure scale-up across the continent.
Africa's renewable sector is gaining momentum with several landmark developments supporting the case for large‑scale investment. In West Africa, for example, the Gambia River Basin Development Organization, backed by the African Development Bank, is advancing an €880 million regional energy project featuring a 1,677‑km, 225 kV transmission line connecting The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea‑Bissau and Senegal – a move that strengthens regional integration and helps scale large‐scale infrastructure. Elsewhere, broader data show that Africa is managing a surge in record inflows of solar panels and utility‑scale renewable activity in 2025, signaling readiness for the next generation of large projects.
The panel will tackle several critical questions, including how to balance intermittent renewables with reliable baseload generation, storage and smart grid technologies; what models and tools governments can deploy to turn large‑scale energy visions into investable, bankable projects; how regional integration can unlock economies of scale and bolster collective energy security; and how non‑solar clean energies – such as nuclear and geothermal – can be integrated into renewable‑heavy systems to meet net‑zero goals. By convening senior policy‑makers, financiers, developers and grid specialists, the session aims to move beyond dialogue to practical frameworks for scaling investment across Africa's energy infrastructure.
“Our continent is ready for large‑scale energy infrastructure that delivers not just megawatts but transformation,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC. “At this session we'll map how Africa can attract real capital, deploy smart infrastructure and build power systems that match ambition with reality. It ties directly into the G20 agenda relating to infrastructure, access, security and clean growth for Africa's future.”
As African energy systems enter a new phase of ambition, the upcoming G20 African Energy Investment Forum provides the ideal platform to bring policy, project and finance together. With this session on large‑scale energy and infrastructure, the event highlights Africa's emergence not just as a passive recipient of global investment, but as a frontier of integrated, resilient energy systems ready for the scale and speed that the 2025‑30 investment cycle demands.
To register for the Forum click here (https://apo-opa.co/3JLOLLz).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.From Soil to Systems: How Zimbabwe is scaling innovation for food security and rural transformation
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In rural Zimbabwe, where dry riverbeds once marked the end of each farming season, a silent agricultural revolution is underway. Solar-powered irrigation, satellite analytics, digital advisory tools, and science-based food safety solutions are redefining how smallholder farmers grow food, access markets, and build resilience. With support from the Government of Zimbabwe, the European Union (EU), the Fleming Fund, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the AFC Land and Development Bank (AFC) and technical leadership and support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), transformative innovations are moving from pilots to practice, reshaping lives and landscapes.
Unlocking Water: Turning dry riverbeds into lifelines
For years, farmers in semi-arid regions faced seasonal production due to drying dams and erratic rainfall. With support from the EU, solar-powered irrigation systems combined with sand-abstraction technology — which taps hidden water beneath dry riverbeds — are now restoring year-round agriculture. These systems reduce labour, save energy, conserve water, and significantly increase yields. “We used to watch our dam dry up every year. Now, we grow crops all year round,” shared David Ndou, Chairperson at Sivuli irrigation scheme.
Grounded in indigenous knowledge systems and enhanced by modern engineering, this approach demonstrates how local solutions integrated with technology can deliver climate resilience and commercial potential.
Digital Villages Initiative: Connecting farmers to the future
Innovation in Zimbabwe stretches beyond water systems. Through FAO's Digital Villages initiative, rural farmers are gaining access to digital identities, geo-referenced advisory services, mobile market platforms, AI-enabled crop insights, and agricultural information systems. More than 5 000 farmers — especially women — have already benefited from digital literacy and service access, enabling them to make informed decisions and connect to markets.
Women farmers are actively investing in smartphones to participate more fully in digital agriculture. “We are seeing women buying smartphones because they now see direct value through better extension support and market access,” noted lead farmer Sheyi Kahushe. This shift marks a major step toward bridging rural digital divides and accelerating inclusive growth.
Satellite-Powered Insights: A new era of data-driven agrifood systems
FAO's Earth Observation for Agricultural Statistics (EOSTAT) is helping Zimbabwe harness satellite data to generate timely, reliable crop and yield estimates, achieving over 80 percent accuracy. The system tracks droughts and floods in real time, strengthening early warning and enabling faster, evidence-based responses to protect food security.
The initiative is also building national capacity by training specialists from the Zimbabwe Space Agency, National University of Science and Technology, and other key institutions in advanced geospatial analysis.
According to Hillary Mugiyo, Early Warning Specialist in the Ministry's Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services Directorate, “EOSTAT is modernizing agricultural monitoring through digital innovation and driving Zimbabwe's shift toward data-driven, climate-smart agriculture.”
Financing Resilience: Seed Revolving Fund boosts wheat and maize production
To enhance efficiency, transparency, and accessibility in agriculture finance and input supply systems, FAO in partnership with AfDB and AFC Land Bank has introduced digital solutions into the loan management system. AFC now uses an e-voucher platform to enable farmers to access and receive inputs from suppliers, while the system tracks loan disbursement, repayment, and utilization in real time. This technology ensures that funds reach the intended beneficiaries quickly, reduces administrative delays, and allows both FAO and the AFC Land Bank to monitor progress and respond promptly to challenges. By combining digital loan management with traditional financing mechanisms, the programme is not only scaling production but also modernizing agricultural finance, making it more accountable, inclusive, and farmer friendly.
This support facilitated the cultivation of over 17 000 hectares of winter wheat and 72 000 hectares of maize under the Seed Revolving Fund; a milestone aligned with Zimbabwe's efforts to achieve wheat self-sufficiency and enhance food security.
Safer Food Systems: Combating Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
With support from the Fleming Fund and the AMR Multi-Partner Trust Fund, FAO is helping Zimbabwe modernize its food safety systems by rehabilitating 14 sentinel laboratories and promoting responsible antibiotic use in livestock production.
The upgraded labs now provide real-time data on resistant bacteria—helping detect outbreaks faster, guide treatment, and shape stronger health policies. Farmers, meanwhile, are adopting better hygiene, biosecurity, and animal care practices, reducing reliance on antibiotics.
These efforts are protecting consumers, safeguarding vital medicines, and reinforcing the One Health approach that connects human, animal, and environmental wellbeing. Paving the way for a safer, more resilient agrifood system.
Innovation in Action
“Innovation is more than an idea - it is action and collaboration that delivers impact,” said Tendai Munyokoveri, Assistant FAO Representative – Programmes. “In Zimbabwe, we are showcasing solutions that work, partnerships that deliver, and ideas that grow into meaningful change.”
From sand-abstracted water and solar power to satellite intelligence and mobile-enabled advisory services, Zimbabwe's transformation demonstrates how integrated innovation can accelerate food systems resilience. With continued investment, public–private partnerships, and community-driven leadership, these solutions offer replicable pathways for climate-smart, digitally-enabled agriculture across Africa and beyond.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.African Pastoral Markets Development (APMD) advances market coodination and investment matchmaking in Kenya’s livestock sector
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Through a demonstrated market coordination and investment matchmaking forum, the African Pastoral Markets Development (APMD) Platform continues to play a critical role in strengthening coordination, investment and private sector integration across Africa's livestock value chains. Representing the AU-IBAR Director, Mr. John Oppong, the Economics, Markets and Trade Coordinator, emphasized the essence of creating a more connected, transparent and market-oriented livestock economy that links production with processing, finance with opportunity and policy with enterprise.
The 2-day roundtable, therefore, brought together key stakeholders in Kenya's meat industry, feedlot operators, meat processors, financial institutions, and policymakers, to explore practical solutions for improving coordination, investment and value chain efficiency. While contributing approximately 12% of Kenya's GDP and nearly 40%to agricultural GDP, the sector largely remains informal, with over 80% of beef produced by pastoral communities being channeled through unstructured markets and low processing value systems.
The Naivasha forum underscored the urgent need for structured linkages between feedlot operators and meat processors. Feedlotters highlighted several issues affecting their operations, including high feed costs, limited access to affordable financing and logistical bottlenecks that translate to an increased production cost. Predominantly, the feedlot operators called for the introduction of quality-based pricing mechanisms by processors to reward producers for higher-grade cattle and improved feeding practices. Additionally, the stakeholders emphasized the need for timely payments from processors, as the delays in settling supplier accounts strain cash flow and the ultimate investment in the intensive livestock production system.
Feed costs emerged as a particularly significant constraint, with calls for targeted subsidies on livestock feed and inputs to stabilize production costs and enhance profitability. " Without support to manage the cost of feed, the entire feedlot system struggles to compete." noted Abdulrahim, reflecting a widely shared sentiment among stakeholders.
In the bid for financial inclusion, the financial service providers (FSPs) presented emerging solutions to expand access to capital and insurance for pastoral value chain actors. Equity Bank, in its presentation on Livestock Ecosystems, showcased innovative approaches including asset-based lending, digital financial services and bankassurance insurance models. These instruments, the bank explained, can help de-risk investment in the livestock sector, particularly for the pastoral producers who often lack formal collateral but hold valuable livestock assets.
On examination, Kenya's meat export grew by 39% in 2023, reaching a value of KES 19 billion (US$ 146 million), with major markets in the Gulf region including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar. However, achieving sustained growth requires addressing systemic challenges such as poor infrastructure, fragmented coordination, limited cold-chain capacity and weak compliance with international quality and safety standards.
By convening this forum, APMD reaffirmed its leadership in facilitating investment dialogue and partnership between public and private actors, while promoting evidence-based policymaking to drive sustainable pastoral market transformation. The expected outcome of the Naivasha engagement includes new business linkages between feedlot operators and processors, policy recommendations for improving coordination and a forthcoming market insight report that will inform investment and policy decisions within Kenya's livestock sector.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).International Monetary Fund (IMF) Staff Concludes Visit to Zimbabwe
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- Zimbabwe's economic rebound in 2025 has been stronger than expected, supported by a recovery in agriculture, solid mining performance, and easing inflation amid exchange rate stability.
- Discussions in Harare emphasized the importance of reinforcing fiscal discipline in the 2026 budget by aligning expenditures with revenues and sustainable financing sources, while strengthening expenditure management.
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team, led by Mr. Wojciech Maliszewski, visited Zimbabwe from October 29 to November 5, 2025, as part of the Fund's regular engagement with the Zimbabwean authorities and other stakeholders..
At the conclusion of the visit, Mr. Maliszewski issued the following statement:
“The IMF mission held productive discussions with the Zimbabwean authorities on recent economic developments and the 2026 budget framework.
“Zimbabwe's economic recovery in 2025 is stronger than previously anticipated, given the rebound in agriculture and solid performances in mining, while inflation has continued to significantly ease, supported by a stable foreign exchange rate. The economy is expected to maintain strong momentum in 2026.
“Discussions in Harare focused on enhancing fiscal discipline in the 2026 budget framework by aligning expenditures with revenues and available non-inflationary financing sources, while avoiding the accumulation of expenditure arrears. In this context, adopting credible revenue projections supported by concrete policy and administrative tax measures for 2026, and strengthening expenditure management, would help enhance fiscal resilience and the management of fiscal risks and pressures.
“In the context of the requested Staff Monitored Program, IMF staff stand ready to resume discussions upon progress towards addressing key policy issues highlighted in the Article IV consultations, including aligning the 2026 budget with the objective of sustaining macroeconomic stability.”
“IMF staff met with the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Hon. Mthuli Ncube, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Dr. John Mushayavanhu, and their respective teams, as well as other stakeholders. The IMF team wishes to express its sincere appreciation to the Zimbabwean authorities and all counterparts for their warm hospitality, open dialogue, and excellent cooperation throughout the mission.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Monetary Fund (IMF).
