The African Business Podcast: Recent Episodes
IC Publications Ltd
Hosted by our award-winning journalists, and featuring trailblazers and leading thinkers from across the continent, the African Business Podcast is an essential listen for anyone with an interest in Africa. If you are looking for serious thinking but with the twist of humour and humanity that makes Africa so endearing, you've come to the right place.
In this episode we speak to Dr Sherif Ayoub, Head of the African Carbon Markets Initiative about his work scaling up the market for carbon credits in Africa to create jobs and prosperity. We also hear from project developers KOKO Networks, about how these projects actually take place on the ground in Africa.
In this episode we speak to Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, about her role at the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures. We discuss how to advocate for capital to support biodiversity protection and climate action.
In this episode we speak to Kurtis Lockhart about chartered cities and whether they can deliver broad based prosperity in Africa and further afield. Credits Host and executive producer: Dr Desné Masie Co-producer: Peter Doerrie Research: Angus Chapman Digital Editor: Charles Dietz Design: Jason Venkatasamy Music: Corporate Uplifting Chill by MusicLFiles: https://filmmusic.io/song/6298-corporate-uplifting-chill Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
In this episode we track the journey of a carbon credit. Taking us from Kenya to Geneva, Washington DC, London and finally, Yorkshire, we unpack what's going on under the hood of the carbon trading industry and explore the implications for Africa.
In this episode we speak to the publisher of African Business magazine, Omar Ben Yedder, who has just come back from Davos 2023 in Klosters, Switzerland. The first in-person gathering in three years, the famous international forum as always, provided invaluable insights and networking opportunities to those who attended. Omar chats to us about his main reflections from WEF including the global macroeconomic forecast, the trade, demographic and industrialisation opportunities for Africa. China meanwhile signalled at the World Economic Forum that it is for business once more following its 'Zero-Covid policy' against the backdrop of substantial economic and political resources flowing to the conflict in Ukraine. He also caught up with Calvo Mawela, CEO of Multichoice SA, and Prof Mthuli Ncube, Minister for Finance and Economic Development of Zimbabwe. Mawela tells Omar all about Multichoice's phenomenal expansion on the African continent, and Mcube talks us through the monetary and fiscal policy priorities for Zimbabwe. Credits Host and executive producer: Dr Desné Masie Co-producer: Peter Doerrie Research: Angus Chapman Digital Editor: Charles Dietz Design: Jason Venkatasamy Music: Corporate Uplifting Chill by MusicLFiles: https://filmmusic.io/song/6298-corporate-uplifting-chill Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
In this episode we speak to Daniel Yu, a 32-year-old Californian entrepreneur now based in Zanzibar. He is the founder and CEO of Wasoko, a supply chain and distribution company established in 2015 to respond to the challenges faced by small and micro-business across Africa in managing stock levels. Having just raised $125 million in Series B venture capital funding from Tiger and Avenir, Wasoko is now valued at $625 million, and has its sights set on eliminating the inefficiencies plaguing Africa’s enormous, dynamic, so-called ‘informal’ retail economy.
A humble innovator, Daniel has learned Swahili in order to better service his customers in east Africa. Wasoko’s network now spans 75,000 businesses across six African countries, but the plan is to become – in Daniel’s words – the ‘operating system’ for commerce across urban Africa. For Daniel, this growth must be coupled with a broader positive impact; to improve overall conditions in the communities in which they operate is core to Wasoko’s mission.
Alive to the possibilities of the technology sector for the continent, Daniel has worked with the authorities on Zanzibar to turn the island into an innovation hub. He still sees substantial deficits in the regulatory and operational frameworks structuring the innovation environment in Africa, and worries that these will fall short of the continent's wealth of skills, creativity and entrepreneurial talent. Read more Digitalising African retail The informal sector is the future of African work Africa bucking the global VC trend An MIT framework for innovation ecosystem policy Credits Host and executive producer: Dr Desné Masie
Co-producer: Peter Doerrie
Research: Angus Chapman
Digital Editor: Charles Dietz
Design: Jason Venkatasamy
Music: Corporate Uplifting Chill by MusicLFiles
Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
British International Investments (BII), the UK’s official development finance agency, was the first organisation of its kind when it was founded in 1948. It remains at the forefront of international development finance, particularly for Africa, where it deploys 70% of its $2-$4 billion of new capital every year.
CEO Nick O'Donohoe is a pioneer of impact investing, coming to BII following stints in investment banking and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and having co-founded Big Society Capital, the world’s first social investment bank. He explains how BII fits into the UK’s foreign policy in the context of Brexit and a shrinking foreign aid and development budget.
He discusses priorities, illustrating how infrastructure and technology are key to enabling Africa to exploit its enormous entrepreneurial potential. He also touches on climate change, outlining how BII’s commitment to achieving net zero across its both portfolio and transactions will drive its engagement with the continent’s clean energy transition.
The podcast takes a philosophical turn, with Nick and Desné tackling the big questions of development, finance and investment. What does it mean to be developed? What is the ‘right’ kind of private sector? Must investments be large to be transformational?
They finish with a discussion of social impact, gender and green bonds. Nick sees huge progress in this space. Recalling the 1990s, and even into the 2000s, he argues that there has been an explosion in awareness of how investment can materially change development outcomes. Read more The next ten years of impact investment Africa's changing role in UK foreign policy What do we really know about Africa's informal economy? Explaining green bonds Credits Host and executive producer: Dr Desné Masie Co-producer: Peter Doerrie Research: Angus Chapman Digital Editor: Charles Dietz Design: Jason Venkatasamy Music: Corporate Uplifting Chill by MusicLFiles Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
British International Investments (BII), the UK’s official development finance agency, was the first organisation of its kind when it was founded in 1948. It remains at the forefront of international development finance, particularly for Africa, where it deploys 70% of its $2-$4 billion of new capital every year.
CEO Nick O'Donohoe is a pioneer of impact investing, coming to BII following stints in investment banking and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and having co-founded Big Society Capital, the world’s first social investment bank. He explains how BII fits into the UK’s foreign policy in the context of Brexit and a shrinking foreign aid and development budget.
He discusses priorities, illustrating how infrastructure and technology are key to enabling Africa to exploit its enormous entrepreneurial potential. He also touches on climate change, outlining how BII’s commitment to achieving net zero across its both portfolio and transactions will drive its engagement with the continent’s clean energy transition.
The podcast takes a philosophical turn, with Nick and Desné tackling the big questions of development, finance and investment. What does it mean to be developed? What is the ‘right’ kind of private sector? Must investments be large to be transformational?
They finish with a discussion of social impact, gender and green bonds. Nick sees huge progress in this space. Recalling the 1990s, and even into the 2000s, he argues that there has been an explosion in awareness of how investment can materially change development outcomes. Read more The next ten years of impact investment Africa's changing role in UK foreign policy What do we really know about Africa's informal economy? Explaining green bonds Credits Host and executive producer: Dr Desné Masie Co-producer: Peter Doerrie Research: Angus Chapman Digital Editor: Charles Dietz Design: Jason Venkatasamy Music: Corporate Uplifting Chill by MusicLFiles Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Since General Electric was founded by Thomas Edison almost a century and a half ago, the power business has changed a lot. Vuyelwa Mahanyele, regional sales director for GE’s gas business in Southern and East Africa, has seen this change up close. She tells us how decarbonisation became the overarching theme for both the company and the region, and steps through the financial, technical and policy aspects of making it a reality.
Achieving the trilemma of affordable, reliable and sustainable power in Africa remains a serious challenge. Mahanyele suggests that a combination of gas and renewables can do much of the heavy lifting. She places it in the context of the continent’s economic trajectory, arguing that better, cleaner power with revitalised generation and transmission infrastructure can drive a real economic acceleration, as it has across the world.
Mahanyele outlines the rapidly shifting technological frontier, exploring the technical and economic feasibility of innovations such as hydrogen, carbon capture and storage and next-generation gas power. She finishes with a discussion of the local and international factors – technology, investment, skills and policy – that can make large-scale transformation possible at the country, regional and international levels. Read more: General Electric: Accelerating South Africa's energy transition IISD: Exploring the case for gas-fired power in South Africa Africa's natural gas - necessary evil or economic saviour? The many colours of hydrogen explained The challenge of energy access in Africa Credits Host and executive producer: Dr Desné Masie Co-producer: Peter Doerrie Digital Editor: Charles Dietz Design: Jason Venkatasamy Music: Corporate Uplifting Chill by MusicLFiles Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Few people understand issues of international trade, development and environment as well as Pascal Lamy. Following eight years as Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Pascal now serves on the board of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation; one of Africa’s most influential civil society organisations. He joins us following the release of the Foundation’s 2022 Governance Forum report, which aims to make Africa’s case in the global climate change debate ahead of COP27 in Egypt in November.
Framing it as a race between demography and economy, Pascal wants to see Africa’s development needs prioritised in the global response to climate change. Africa is prepared to fight for its position, he says, and highlights south-south solidarity as a countervailing force against the US, China, EU and other heavyweights.
Natural gas is set to be a flashpoint at COP27. Despite claims that foreign ownership, frothy export markets, high prices and poor infrastructure make it unlikely that gas will be a development panacea for Africa, Pascal insists that the continent’s prodigious reserves should be exploited.
Africa is already a large positive for the global climate ledger, and Pascal outlines further opportunities for the continent to support global climate solutions. Governance will be key, he says, explaining the Mo Ibrahim Foundation's work on governance monitoring, assessment and improvement.
We conclude with a discussion of the global trade environment. Pascal offers his thoughts on Africa’s place within the global trade system, assesses the implementation of the AfCFTA, and explains how Africa can secure greater benefits from trade in the future.
Read more:
Making Africa's Case in the Global Climate Debate: the 2022 Ibrahim Governance Forum report
IC Intelligence on Africa's energy transition
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: Africa can play a leading role in the fight against climate change
What you need to know about the African Continental Free Trade Area
Why trade matters for African development
Credits
Host: Angus Chapman
Co-producers: Peter Doerrie, Dr Desné Masie
Digital Editor: Charles Dietz
Design: Jason Venkatasamy
Music: Corporate Uplifting Chill by MusicLFiles
Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Charlie Mitchell, Kenya correspondent for African Business Magazine, previews the upcoming contest between Raila Odinga and William Ruto, which will be a crucial test for the East African nation On Tuesday August 9 Kenyans will go to the polls for a crucial election to decide the direction of travel of East Africa's economic giant for the next five years. Veteran challenger Raila Odinga - who has received the vital endorsement of incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta - will go up against current deputy-president William Ruto, who is attempting to portray himself as the natural pick of Kenya's "hustler nation". The outcome of the tense race will undoubtedly have profound implications for growth and development across East Africa. In this special election preview episode David Thomas, editor of African Business, is joined by Charlie Mitchell, Kenya correspondent for African Business and the Times of London, who explains the competing visions of the contenders, the implications for economic policy, and the prospects of a free and fair vote. Credits
Host: David Thomas
Guest: Charlie Mitchell
Producer: Peter Doerrie
Digital Editor: Charles Dietz
Design: Jason Venkatasamy
Music: Corporate Uplifting Chill by MusicLFiles
Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Charlie Mitchell, Kenya correspondent for African Business Magazine, previews the upcoming contest between Raila Odinga and William Ruto, which will be a crucial test for the East African nation On Tuesday August 9 Kenyans will go to the polls for a crucial election to decide the direction of travel of East Africa's economic giant for the next five years. Veteran challenger Raila Odinga - who has received the vital endorsement of incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta - will go up against current deputy-president William Ruto, who is attempting to portray himself as the natural pick of Kenya's "hustler nation". The outcome of the tense race will undoubtedly have profound implications for growth and development across East Africa. In this special election preview episode David Thomas, editor of African Business, is joined by Charlie Mitchell, Kenya correspondent for African Business and the Times of London, who explains the competing visions of the contenders, the implications for economic policy, and the prospects of a free and fair vote. Credits
Host: David Thomas
Guest: Charlie Mitchell
Producer: Peter Doerrie
Digital Editor: Charles Dietz
Design: Jason Venkatasamy
Music: Corporate Uplifting Chill by MusicLFiles
Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
In this special round-up episode, we speak to three prominent attendees of the 2022 African Development Bank Annual Meetings. The theme, Achieving Climate Resilience and a Just Energy Transition for Africa, features prominently, as our guests talk us through their hopes, fears and aspirations for development on the continent. Omar Ben Yedder, Group Publisher and Managing Director at IC Publications, kicks off with his take on the Annual Meetings. He relays the challenges of attracting more development finance to the continent amidst myriad economic and financial pressures, gives us his highlights from the African Banker Awards and reflects on the upbeat, defiant tone of this year’s meetings [2:12-14:48).
Solomon Quaynor, African Development Bank Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization, highlights Africa’s huge infrastructure gap, laying out a strategic vision for a series of linked, transcontinental projects to help compress value chains and drive industrialisation. He also speaks about the so-called ‘African risk premium’, claiming that the maturation of the continent’s financial architecture alongside the strong performance of existing investments may mean this premium is finally eroding [14:48-41:02].
Professor Kevin Urama, the Bank’s Chief Economist, rounds out the episode with a wide-ranging overview of economic and environmental developments on the continent. He is frank about the existence of a ‘triangle of disaster’, but is positive that Africa’s financial institutions and mechanisms, as well as its robust productive base, makes it more economically resilient than many suppose. He speaks passionately and urgently about the threat of climate change, and outlines a framework for the decoupling of economic progress from environmental degradation. He concludes with a challenge; for Africa to chart its own economic course [41:03-1:25:04].
Read more:
Dr Hippolyte Fofack on IMF Special Drawing Rights (SDRs)
Africa's infrastructure paradox
The African 'perception premium'
The 2022 African Economic Outlook
Our World in Data: Decoupling emissions and economic growth
Credits
Host Angus Chapman
Co-producers: Peter Doerrie, Dr Desné Masie
Digital Editor: Charles Dietz
Design: Jason Venkatasamy
Music: Corporate Uplifting Chill by MusicLFiles
Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
In this episode we talk to zoologist-turned lawyer, Alexander Rhodes, about his work as Chair of Tusk conservation charity and Partner and Head of Mishcon Purpose at international law firm Mishcon de Reya.
We start with Alexander’s personal journey, from a young zoologist working alongside indigenous communities in Kenya to a leading, purpose-driven lawyer with decades of experience in both the commercial and philanthropic domains. He talks about the relationship between business and nature; not just in terms of impact, but also the embeddedness and reliance of economies and societies on healthy, diverse and resilient ecosystems.
This translates into Tusk’s unique approach to ‘conservation in human context’, where funds are directed to a portfolio of projects that best maximise both conservation and human outcomes. The approach is firmly grounded in community, and Alexander speaks passionately about the need for conservation to champion local knowledge, initiative and priorities.
Tusk is about to hit a £100 million fundraising milestone, and is anticipating the third annual iteration of its Wildlife Ranger Challenge, which began as a vital lifeline for African communities during COVID-19 and has morphed into one of the largest conservation, sporting and fundraising events on the continent. Alexander is proud of Tusk’s long-standing success, but acknowledges much more must be done to expand conservation, livelihoods and human flourishing in a rapidly warming world.
Read more:
Communities, conservation and livelihoods
Biodiversity and ecosystem services in Africa
The importance of indigenous knowledge for conservation
Gender and climate change
The Wildlife Ranger Challenge
Credits
Host and Executive Producer: Desné Masie
Co-producer: Peter Doerrie
Researcher: Angus Chapman
Digital Editor: Charles Dietz
Design: Jason Venkatasamy
Music: Corporate Uplifting Chill by MusicLFiles
Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
In this episode we speak with Dr. Alex Vines, director of the Africa Program at Chatham House thinktank, about the African dimensions of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He outlines how, across international relations, economics and domestic politics, the invasion may have created ‘Africa’s moment’.
Geopolitically, Alex sees the conflict in terms of an ongoing shift toward a multipolar world. Many domestic and international actors have yet to make up their minds about the invasion, and non-alignment – a position reinforced by recent actions at the United Nations – provides African countries with an opportunity to extract long-awaited privileges while forming new partnerships with both East and West.
Economically, there is tumult on the horizon. African commodity producers will benefit from elevated prices in the short term – particularly as gas helps fuel the transition to net zero – but price increases also risk stoking political instability. As populations continue to experience declines in their standard of living, Alex fears that agitation may trigger repressive government action and a slide into autocracy.
Russia has increased its African presence in recent years, but this is unlikely to remain the case as the war drags on. Whoever steps into the breach will be doing so at a time of great change. Notwithstanding the risks – of which there are many – Africa is acting from a rare position of strength. Read more: Analysing the Russia-Ukraine conflict from an African standpoint Cascading risks from Russia's invasion
UN vote on Russia invasion shows a changing Africa IIGCC: the invasion and the net zero transition Europe's refugee double standard
We are joined on this episode by Amine Antari, managing director of Forensic Investigations and Intelligence and Head of Middle East at Kroll. Born in Morocco, Amine talks us through a career in forensic investigation, intelligence and compliance that has taken him to the US, Canada, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The world seems daily to become a more uncertain place. Amine unpicks three contemporary crises – COVID-19, climate change and the invasion of Ukraine – and outlines how he sees them unfolding across Africa and the Middle East. Social, political and economic life in many countries remains volatile, but efforts to improve governance and transparency and incorporate climate reporting into corporate decision-making is cause for optimism.
The upcoming COP27 in Egypt is a real focus. In a fossil-fuel rich region that is also heavily exposed to climate impacts, the risk of stranded assets coexists with a tremendous appetite for global ambition.
We then dive down into specific countries. IMF negotiations in Tunisia balance financial support against a raft of difficult reforms, while failed elections in Libya suggest a return to political instability. Tensions between Algeria and Morocco have spilled over into the economic and diplomatic spheres, with the involvement of Western powers such as the US and France elevating the conflict to the plane of geopolitics.
Finally, we discuss Africa as an untapped market. The density of opportunity on the continent is unparalleled, and the role of North Africa as a bridge to the Middle East gives it an important strategic role. Digitalisation, technology and renewed transparency and governance are exciting developments
Read more:
The invasion of Ukraine: implications for Africa
UN report: the state of water security in Africa
IMF negotiations in Tunisia
Electoral instability in Libya
Algeria and Morocco: a regional cold war?
Looking ahead to COP27
Credits Host and Executive Producer: Desné Masie
Co-producer: Peter Doerrie
Researcher: Angus Chapman
Digital Editor: Charles Dietz
Design: Jason Venkatasamy
Music: Corporate Uplifting Chill by MusicLFiles
Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Environmentalist Achim Steiner, administrator of the UN Development Programme, says that the latest IPCC report - which details the disastrous unfolding climate consequences for Africa and other regions - is an urgent wake-up call for global policymakers. He talks to African Businessabout the report, the Cop negotiations process, the pandemic's impact on climate policy, and the potential economic fallout for Africa of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
In July, at its Rosslyn plant northwest of Pretoria, Nissan’s Navara pickup truck began to roll off the assembly line, the first model of its type by the company to be assembled in Africa for the African market. Its appearance is part of a strategy by the Japanese motor company, first articulated in 2020, to roll out several new models in Africa with a focus on SUV and cross-overs. The strategy, which will also focus on developing Africa’s manufacturing capacity, was backed by the 2020 establishment of Nissan’s Africa Regional Business Unit, led by managing director Mike Whitfield, who joins us to discuss the future of Nissan in the continent's automotive market. Opportunities for Africa in electric vehicle market
Is Tesla charging up for an Africa push?
In this episode we are joined by Barnaby Fletcher, Associate Director at Control Risks. In a wide-ranging discussion covering politics, economics and conflict at different scales, we unpick the risks and opportunities for Africa in 2022. We begin by discussing the nature of risk, outlining Barnaby's work as a leading risk analyst for East and Southern Africa and the career journey he took to get there. He defines risk as the potential effect of uncertainty, and explains how, while risk exists everywhere, the combination of debt, pandemic, climate change and multi-dimensional conflict makes Africa a particularly compelling case. Ongoing unrest in the Sahel, Sudan, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Libya and several other nations has involved a diverse cast of regional and international players, contributing to a fragmented conflict landscape that offers unclear prospects for a neat resolution. Meanwhile, recent local elections in South Africa and upcoming national elections in Kenya and Nigeria have thrown up new tensions, cleavages and opportunities for domestic political players. As the 2021 Control Risks and Oxford Economics Africa Risk-Reward Index makes clear, however, Africa is also full of opportunities. We discuss the burgeoning data, energy, agricultural and biotech sectors, highlighting how the failure of the rest of the world to provide support during the COVID-19 pandemic has forced Africa into exciting, self-sufficient development in key areas. The balance of risk and reward on the continent remains dynamic, but there is much to look forward to in 2022. Read more: The Africa Risk-Reward Index 2021 - report and podcast
The 'Tuna Bond' scandal in Mozambique Recent coups in Africa Upcoming elections in 2022 Africa's geopolitical importance African Business on the African tech boom Host and Executive Producer: Desné Masie Co-producer: Peter Doerrie Researcher: Angus Chapman Digital Editor: Charles Dietz Design: Jason Venkatasamy
MainOne CEO and founder Funke Opeke talks to African Business about the data centre market in Africa and the future of the firm after its $320m takeover by NASDAQ-listed Equinix.
In this episode we are joined by Shalini Soopramanien, Assistant General Counsel at the US DFC. In this episode we discuss the development priorities for the US DFC. Soopramanien talks us through her career path to DFC as well as her current responsibilities. We also look more in depth at project highlights over the past year, particularly the vaccine funding for the GAVI alliance and the DFC's climate and gender equality agendas for Africa. Read more:
https://www.dfc.gov/ (DFC Official Website)
https://www.dfc.gov/our-work/portfolio-for-impact-and-innovation (DFC PI2 website)
https://www.dfc.gov/climate (DFC’s Climate Agenda)
https://www.dfc.gov/our-work/africa-and-the-middle-east (DFC - Africa and Middle East)
https://www.dfc.gov/media/press-releases/g7-development-finance-institutions-and-multilateral-partners-invest-over-80 (Allocation of the G7 DFI $80 billion commitment to Africa)
Digital Africa executive director Stéphan Eloise-Gras talks about the potential of Francophone tech and France's €130m plan to support startups
This week we talk about the economic and political implications of the coup in mining hub Guinea that removed President Alpha Condé, we review the success of the NBA's Basketball Africa League in Rwanda, and take a look at the booming fintech unicorns of West Africa.
In this episode we are joined by Dr Knox Chitiyo. Associate Fellow, Chatham House Africa Programme, one of the world's leading analysts on Zimbabwe.
Dr Chitiyo talks us through the recent political and economic history of Zimbabwe, as well as the outlook for the current political economy and investment environment. We also talk about how this has been affected by Covid 19. Finally, we discuss Zimbabwe's international relations with its neighbours in the region and the wider global community as it advocates to normalise its international standing in the post-Mugabe era.
Read more:
Profile of Dr Knox Chitiyo and recent work: https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-people/knox-chitiyo
UK ESA (including Zimbabwe) Economic Partnership Agreement: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/esa-uk-economic-partnership-agreement-epa--2
In this episode we are joined by Kevin Kariuki · Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate & Green Growth at The African Development Bank Group (AFDB) discuss the ways in which the AFDB is supporting Africa's energy transition in light of the climate crisis and the need to balance Africa's increasing energy demands with ensuring that these energy sources are renewable and green. We also discuss the ways in which the private sector can participate in and contribute to realising the provision of reliable energy sources across the continent, particularly through the independent power producer programmes. Kariuki also discusses the ways in which the pandemic has affected these initiatives.
Read more: Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa extends grant to speed countries’ energy transition ahead of COP26: https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/sustainable-energy-fund-africa-extends-grant-speed-countries-energy-transition-ahead-cop26-43844
The African Business Editor’s Roundtable is a new forum in which our journalists debate some of the most important business stories on the continent.
In this episode, African Business Magazine editor David Thomas is joined by publisher Omar Ben Yedder and digital editor and reporter Shoshana Kedem. We talk about South Africa's proposed deal to sell a 51% stake in South African Airways to a private consortium, the implications on the tech industry of Nigeria's surprise Twitter ban, and ask how Ethiopia will deal with the developing famine in Tigray.
https://african.business/2021/06/trade-investment/takatso-consortium-buys-south-african-airways-stake/ https://african.business/2021/06/technology-information/nigeria-bans-twitter/ https://african.business/2021/05/trade-investment/us-sanctions-ethiopia-and-opponents-in-tigray-war/
The African Business Editor’s Roundtable is a new forum in which our journalists debate some of the most important business stories on the continent.
In this episode, African Business Magazine editor David Thomas is joined by publisher Omar Ben Yedder and digital editor and reporter Shoshana Kedem. We discuss the implications of Total's decision to call force majeure on its $20bn LNG facility in Mozambique amid a deadly insurgency, the disappointing Ethiopian telecoms auction, what Africa can learn from India's disastrous Covid-19 crisis, and whether Africa's diamond market is again sparkling after a tough year. We also pay tribute to a pioneer of African journalism who passed away this week.
- Flare-up: Insurgency threatens Mozambique’s LNG future (African Business)
- Ethiopian telecoms sell-off flops in wake of economic and security concerns (FT)
- Alarm Grows in Africa as it Watches India's COVID-19 Crisis (VOA)
Gray takes us through the issues and trends in the global art market, and the kinds of predicaments and transactions she helps her diverse clients with. Gray also talks us through issues to be aware of in the art world, particularly due diligence around provenance, potential money laundering, and cultural sensitivities as well as how these have been affected by lockdown We discuss the recent surge of interest in African art and the drivers for the rise in artists, collectors and curators from the continent, and how this is disrupting and decentralising the cultural centre from Western Europe alongside the rise of interest in Asian art too. We also discuss the issue of restitution, and how collections in Europe have been returning cultural treasures - some of them priceless - to their countries of origin. Gray talks us through the recent Savoy/Sarr report commissioned by President Macron on acquisitions made in the French colonial era. Finally we look ahead to what's next for the global art market, and how issues such as non-fungible tokens and other digital assets could radically democratise and change the way we consume and view art/
Read more:
Mishcon de Reya Art Law and Luxury Assets Group
2018 Savoy/Sarr Report on Restitution
Sotheby's modern and contemporary African art auction 31 March 2021
Cultural resurgence highlights Africa's place in the new world
Africa 1:54 Art Fair
Jack Bell Gallery London
Johannesburg Art Fair
In this episode we are joined by leading development finance expert, Tariye Gbadegesin, MD and CIO ARM, Harith Infrastructure Fund, a leading Pan-African fund which is one of Africa’s largest investors in infrastructure development. We talk to Tariye about her career to date, the current priorities and initiatives at ARM Harith, and about a sustainable pathway for Africa's development. ARM-Harith’s specialist knowledge is firmly focused on building impactful African infrastructure projects that balance the pursuit of profit with creating lasting value for our investors, stakeholders, communities, and the environment. Set-up in 2013, ARM-Harith closed its first fund in 2015 as the first Infrastructure Equity Fund to be registered by the Nigerian Securities & Exchange Commission (under the commission's then newly-released Infrastructure Fund Rules). ARM-Harith manages capital from Nigerian Pension Funds, Development Finance Institutions, Family Offices and commitments from ARM and Harith. Gbadegesin is an investment professional with 20 years of experience in financial services, and over US$ 3 billion of transaction experience. Prior to Arm Harith, She delivered investments of over US$800 million into West Africa’s power, transport, and telecommunications sectors in her 4-year role as Co-founder and Head of Industrial and Telecommunications Infrastructure at the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC). Her contributions to infrastructure development have recently earned her a position on the board of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Advisory Council in Washington D.C. She is also a member of the UNDP Working Group for Insurance-based Financial Instruments to support Climate Finance. She has also recently been appointed to both the United Nations PRI Advisory Committee, and the United Nations Technical Working Group on Finance and Investment. Read more: ARM Harith Infrastructure Fund: https://armharith.com/ De-Risking Infrastructure Investment in Africa: https://www.africaglobalfunds.com/opinion/de-risking-infrastructure-investments-in-africa/
IC Intelligence ESG Global Update: https://icintelligence.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Insight-IC_02_intelligence-INT-02.pdf
In this episode we are joined by leading African fintech investment banker, Edmund Higenbottam, MD of Verdant Capital. With 20 years of experience in investment banking, Edmund has established the largest advisor to the fintech sector in Africa, which is particularly attractive to investors. We discuss the effects of COVID-19 on market activity and why key players including VC funds and global groups are competing for market share. Africa currently hosts around 500 fintech firms, most of them in South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. The opportunities still remain vast as around two thirds of Africans are still unbanked, despite 60% of the world's mobile money passing through Africa. We also speak to Edmund about his career before founding Verdant, and he also gives us tips on hot fintechs to watch out for in 2021. This timely podcast coincides with the UK-Africa Fintech Summit this week. Read more: Verdant Capital https://verdant-cap.com/ UK-Africa Fintech Summit 03-04 February 2021 https://eu.eventscloud.com/ehome/index.php?eventid=200217940& African Business Tech 54 reports Africa tech investment holds steady under Covid https://african.business/2021/01/trade-investment/investment-in-africa-holds-steady-amid-covid-19/
In this episode we are joined by renowned Africa commentator, Charlie Robertson, chief economist for Renaissance Capital.
Renaissance Capital is a specialist, leading emerging and frontier markets investment bank providing access to over 50 markets across the globe with operations in Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, North America, and the Middle East.
Robertson talks to us about the main highlights in the political economy across the continent, concentrating on the key hubs, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya. We also look at the prospects for growth and development in 2021 given the constraints of the debt position of governments across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Robertson also offers his thoughts on the dynamics impacting South Africa's recent sovereign debt downgrade and the likely effects of violence in Ethiopia.
Read more:
Renaissance Capital: https://www.rencap.com/
Follow Charlie on Twitter to see his latest research and analysis: https://twitter.com/RencapMan
In this episode we are joined by Jeremy Leach, CEO and founder of Inclusivity Solutions, based in Cape Town, South Africa.
Leach talks to us about how he started Inclusivity to improve access and innovation in insurance across the African continent, by focusing on digital inclusion for the connected but unprotected, and listening intently to these customers' needs. Inclusivity has made great strides incorporating a framework by GSMA that shows that mobile money providers who offer a combination of savings, credit or insurance products have average 24% higher revenue per user.
Leach has had an extraordinary career, beginning as a chartered accountant and then re-skilling in international development as he became more excited about solving mass market problems. After working extensively on financial inclusion for the UK Department of International Development (now the FCDO) and as executive director of Finmark Trust, Leach received seed funding from a range of investors and angels and recently concluded a further series of funding with Goodwell Investments. He has plenty of advice for aspirant start-up founders on the continent.
Goodwell Investments and Inclusivity Solutions are massive believers in responsible corporate citizenship and in their work across the continent, encourage their peers and stakeholders to sign up for the Responsible Investing in Digital Financial Services Guidelines to improve the resilience of their customers and ecosystems by promoting robust due diligence and fair, transparent pricing.
Inclusivity has collaborated with Orange, Equitel and Tigo in rolling out access to insurance products in Africa. In the show we also look at some new collaborations in the pipeline such as the recent launch of Thandizo with Hollard Insurance providing income protection in Zambia, one of the hottest markets on the continent for digital financial services.
ARPU than those that don’t. We’ve seen this play out in one of our existing deployments where customers that registered for our insurance showed a 54% uplift in median spend per month than those that did not.
Read more:
Inclusivity Solutions: https://inclusivitysolutions.com/
Thandizo income protection cover provided by Inclusivity x Hollard in Zambia: https://www.facebook.com/HollardZambia/videos/775581249958694
GSMA State of Industry Report on Mobile Money https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/2018-State-of-the-Industry-Report-on-Mobile-Money.pdf
Goodwell Investments https://www.goodwell.nl/
Responsible Investing in Digital Financial Services Guidelines https://responsiblefinanceforum.org/investor-guidelines/
Responsible Digital Insurance paper co-authored by Leach: https://a2ii.org/sites/default/files/reports/responsible-mobile-insurance.pdf
Indemnité hospitalisation: https://www.orange.ci/fr/indemnite-hospitalisation.html
In this episode we are joined by Dr Matt Lilley, head of Africa for leading insurer, Prudential PLC. Lilley talks us through Prudential's strategy in Africa, and how it started the business partnering with local players, starting in Ghana in 2015. Pru learnt from its experience building out a leading insurance presence with consumers in ASEAN and its people-driven business has seen it go from strength to strength on the African continent too, where it wants to remain an employer of choice.
Prudential has been performing well on the continent by really listening on the continent, and by sticking to its long-term strategy and building on previous momentum, it is proving resilient during Covid-19. Lilley tells us about his vision for continued growth for this business and he is particularly excited about the role of technology for digital inclusion and product innovation. The group is particularly proud of the rollout of its artificial intelligence powered app, Pulse, on the continent. Pulse has proved extremely successful in Asia, and its Africa roll-out will start with the Kenyan market, as it will make healthcare more accessible to all. In addition to supporting economic development and financial inclusion in Africa, the group is also committed to ensuring mental health and wellbeing programmes support both its staff and its customers alongside the life insurance business. Read more: Prudential in Africa: https://www.prudentialplc.com/analysis/life-insurance-and-economic-development-in-africa Pulse: https://www.wedopulse.com/
In this episode we are delighted to host Michael Vlahovic, Head of Private Banking UK at EFG Private Bank in Mayfair, London. Michael talks us through his career to-date, with extensive experience in Zurich and a focus on good governance, value and client service. He details why the focus on premium client service and the high rates of service continuity amongst its private bankers makes EFG Bank so unique, and has supported its rapid expansion. Michael explains how EFG's recent phenomenal growth has enabled it to support clients in various geographies, including those in Sub-Saharan Africa. London remains a magnet for the wealthy from all over the globe, with its international connectivity and world class services. Michael also tells us more about the full-suite of services EFG can provide such clients, including those seeking to emigrate to the UK. Finally, we run through how EFG has been agile to innovate in maintaining the level of client service and continuing to find alpha in its investment strategies, despite the challenges presented by the global pandemic. Read more: EFG Private Bank UK: https://www.efgl.com/About-us/Management.html
When Covid-19 arrived on Africa’s shores, pan-African telecoms infrastructure company Helios Towers was just months past raising $364m in an October 2019 IPO on the London Stock Exchange and aggressively pushing to acquire thousands of mobile towers in new markets across the continent.
For Kash Pandya, CEO of the owner-operator of over 7,000 telecoms towers – which are used by MTN, Orange, Vodacom and others – the timing appeared far from ideal. Yet despite the challenges of coordinating business across five markets in various states of Covid upheaval, Pandya remains upbeat about the firm’s prospects and deal-making intent in this exclusive interview with African Business.
In this episode we speak to Dr Alex Irune, the chief operating officer of wholly Nigerian-owned energy company, Oando PLC. We discuss the effects of the Covid-crunch on Nigeria's oil-dependent economy and how this affects the policy direction to diversify the economy. We also look at how technology can increase efficiency in oil and gas production and the transition towards renewable energy. Irune also tells us about initiatives he is driving to support the youth of Nigeria in the country's 60th anniversary of independence, to help realise its potential. We are also joined on the show by energy partner at Addleshaw Goddard, Rory Connor, who gives us a 5 min overview of the progress of Nigeria's petroleum bill to reform the energy sector and also offers us his view on the international political economy of the energy transition. Read more: Tap to reach all: https://taptoreachall.org/donate Nigeria at 60: https://newafricanmagazine.com/24639/ Nigeria Petroleum Bill: https://africanbusinessmagazine.com/sectors/energy/what-you-need-to-know-about-nigerias-petroleum-industry-bill/ Addleshaw Goddard Green Recovery Report: https://www.addleshawgoddard.com/en/insights/insights-briefings/2020/energy/the-green-recovery-report-key-opportunities-transition-net-zero/ Tough times ahead for African Oil and Gas: https://africanbusinessmagazine.com/sectors/energy/tough-times-for-africas-upstream-oil-and-gas/
In this edition of the African Business podcast we speak to Abebe Aemro Selassie to talk about the outlook for African economies in the wake of the pandemic. Selassie is the Director of the African Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a position he has held since 2016. In this capacity, Mr. Selassie oversees the IMF’s operations and engagement with 45 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, spanning the three main pillars of IMF work—policy advice, lending operations, and technical assistance. His responsibilities also include building strategic partnerships and dialogue with senior policymakers and institutions across the region. We speak to Selassie about the contemporary role of the Fund in the global economy and in Africa. We also discuss his career path to the IMF and how that has influenced his vision and priorities for the continent. Selassie highlights the importance of acknowledging long tail risks such as climate change and epidemics and what the epidemic has done to our mental geography of the global economy and it’s outlook. We also look at the African opportunity and how resilient the public health response on the continent has been. Selassie gives some suggestions on what the priorities of governments should be now particularly in digital and green opportunities. Finally we discuss the implications of the IMF Covid -19 support packages that have been extended to two of Africa's major economies and geopolitically strategic countries, Nigeria and South Africa, which have received relief from the IMF in light of the pandemic of 3.4 and 4.3billion USD each. Selassie remains an optimist and continues to believe that this is the African Century. Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa, June 2020 Update
In this episode, Boynton talks us through the opportunities for private equity investors to drive economic development through infrastructure investment. He also takes through Old Mutual's commitment to ESG and supporting the implementation of the UN SDGs across the continent. We also discuss the current business and investment environment and the challenges and opportunities for African investors in the short to medium term.
Africa Infrastructure Investment Managers
In this episode, Dr Namukale Chintu, Senior Director for EMEA at EFG Private Bank Limited, talks to us about the wealth management opportunity on the African continent. Several years of high economic growth have fostered not only an unprecedented growth in the middle class, but has also created a significant amount of ultra-high net worth individuals and families. Chintu explains how EFG, as a pure-play private bank, is well-positioned to support this market segment in diversifying and preserving their wealth not only for themselves and their families, but also to give back to society.
As wealth increases through various ways, it is associated with lifestyle changes including time, family, assets, mobility, residence, tax, health and these changes require more bespoke services centred around the client that a retail bank would normally not offer. EFG's team of highly experienced private bankers support its service offering in banking, investment management, credit and fiduciary services using robust AML and KYC standards. While private banks do not provide advice on tax, immigration and other issues, the higher the net worth of the client, the more the Private Banker acts as a strategic wealth advisor who can coordinate the client’s additional requirements including introductions to advisers for tax, immigration, real estate, education, art, aircraft and yachts.
With special guests: - Olivia Rubagumya, Head of Investor Relations, Rwanda Finance - Hortense Mudenge, Head of Strategy, Rwanda Finance - Tom Le Feuvre, Director Global Markets and International Agreements, Government of Jersey - Allan Wood, Global Head of Business Development, Jersey Finance Summary The Jersey/Rwanda relationship starts with the Jersey cow, but there is a lot more to this partnership as we shall explore in this podcast. Following Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s private visit to Jersey in the early 2000s, he returned to the Island in an official capacity 2004 to explore the possibility of improving the dairy productivity of the native Ankole cow by crossbreeding with the Jersey. This partnership developed int Rwanda’s first international development agreement since the end of the nation’s genocide, and has grown into a strong bilateral relationship formalized by the MOU signing in May 2016. In 2020 the partnership marks another milestone as Jersey Finance celebrates its 60th anniversary and Rwanda Finance launches the Kigali International Financial Centre, which was meant to take place at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali but postponed due to Covid-19. This podcast will detail the history and developments of the partnership while highlighting to our audience the exciting opportunities to come. Tom Le Feuvre, Head of International Agreements and Global Markets, Government of Jersey, provides an overview of the Jersey and Rwanda partnership starting with the personal connection of Paul Kagame’s visit in 2000 and leading to today where multiple layers have been added to the partnership. He details the partnership’s origin story and how Jersey’s transformation from an agricultural economy to a thriving financial sector resonated with President Kagame’s vision for Rwanda. Building from this, Tom will discuss the different aspects of the partnership including MOUs, legal reforms and agreements, partnerships on conservation, tax transparency, regulatory and government-to-government dialogues; and ending with points on the Kigali International Financial Centre. Olivia Rubagumya, Head of Investor Relations, Rwanda provides an introduction to Rwanda Finance and an overview of the KIFC from her perspective in investor promotion. She will explain that although the launch was intended for CHOGM, the initiative is operational. She will detail how Rwanda has modernized and demonstrated itself as a norms maker in the continent. Olivia also updates us on the legal and governance reforms facilitating this. Hortense Mudenge, Head of Strategy, Rwanda Finance provides an overview of the technical aspects of the KIFC, and relevant reforms and initiatives. By using the podcast as one of the initiative’s soft launches, she will introduce what the audience can expect KIFC and what it can offer. She will give an overview of the Vision 2050 plan and how it plans to increase investment flows, from Asia and elsewhere, into the country and into the region. She details how the double tax avoidance treaties will boost these investment flows and Rwanda’s role as a steward for the region. Hortense explains how Rwanda Finance plans to support the country in achieving its ambitious goals for Vision 2050, and responds to the opinion of offshore centres being seen as inverted commercial “tax havens”. Hortense also describes how Rwanda intends to grow its financial sector from its small beginnings at the current time. Allan Wood, Global Head of Business Development, Jersey Finance gives an overview of the Jersey Finance and Rwanda Finance partnership from the first delegation that was brought to Kigali to the current capacity building stage and the Rwanda Finance delegation’s visit to Jersey. He will discuss how at Jersey Finance’s 60th anniversary it is great to be working with Rwanda Finance at it’s beginning. He discusses how Jersey has differentiated itself as a well-governed offshore centre. Allan gives an overview on the technical assistance aspects of the partnership, and its focus financial services and inward opportunities and then the long term unique relationship that continues to build and details on the technical assistance to Rwanda. He also provides an overview also of Jersey Finance’s other initiatives in Africa. See more: Rwanda Finance Jersey Finance Jersey and Rwanda strengthen ties Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting: Rwanda Jersey Cows to Transform Tens of Thousands More Lives in Rwanda Inyambo Cattle and their Critical Roles Repatriation agreement between Jersey, Nigeria and USA Jersey's Relationship with Africa Credits: Executive Producer and Host: Desne Masie Co-producer: Peter Doerrie Digital Editor: Charles Dietz Design: Jason Venkatasamy Group Publisher: Omar Ben Yedder Sponsors: EFG Private Banking Ltd Music: Corporate Uplifting Chill by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6298-corporate-uplifting-chill License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
In this episode, we speak to Andrew Skipper, Head of Africa at Hogan Lovells and a senior partner in the corporate practice of the firm. Skipper sets out the pertinent issues for investors and entrepreneurs to be aware of on the continent's diverse legal landscape, which draws on indigenous customary law and common law principles as well as legal frameworks of several other jurisdictions. He also highlights the significant impact that Covid-19 has had on the law.
Skipper also discusses the importance of culture in business, and how his love of Africa and African art has deepened his understanding and appreciation of the socio-historical issues on the continent. The firm is a staunch supporter of many arts and cultural programmes on the continent such as Africa 1:54, while Skipper is also on the council of the Royal African Society.
See more:
Hogan Lovells, Andrew Skipper profile: https://www.hoganlovells.com/en/andrew-skipper
Africa 1:54 https://www.1-54.com/
Yinka Shonibare Royal African Society Annual Lecture: https://royalafricansociety.org/event/art-africa-and-social-change/
Credits: Executive Producer and Host: Desne Masie Co-producer: Peter Doerrie Digital Edtitor: Charles Dietz Group Publisher: Omar Ben Yedder Sponsors: EFG Private Banking Ltd Music: Corporate Uplifting Chill by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6298-corporate-uplifting-chill License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
In this first episode of Series 2, we speak to Lukanyo Mnyanda, editor of Business Day, Africa's leading financial daily, based in Johannesburg. As Business Day celebrates its 35th birthday, Lukanyo talks to us about the history of the paper and the important role the business media and community in South Africa play in upholding governance and institutions. We also discuss the outlook for the political economy in the wake of the Moody's downgrade earlier this year and the impact of Covid-19.
Credits:
Executive Producer and Host: Desne Masie
Co-producer: Peter Doerrie
Digital Edtitor: Charles Dietz
Music: Corporate Uplifting Chill by MusicLFiles
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6298-corporate-uplifting-chill
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
In episode 13, following the Two Sessions meeting in China, and the extraordinary China-AU Summit in June 17, host Desné Masie invites our special guest Jinny Yan, Chief China Economist at ICBC Standard Bank to discuss the effect of COVID-19 on China’s economic and political relationship with Africa as well as the global economic outlook.
With a focus on putting into practice the opportunities from the China-Africa tie up, we dive into China's Belt and Road initiatives, discuss Africa’s economic debts to China and highlight the importance of ESG factors in new China-Africa projects.
2020 marks the final year of China’s 13th 5-year Plan, yet like countries all over the world COVID-19 has focused China to reimagine its economy. This will be structurally important for the global economy.
We also discuss creative approaches such as China’s street vendor economy and soft power development alongside effective solutions for China and Africa build back better.
China Street Vendor Economy
Belt and Road Initiative:
OECD
Chatham House
China-Africa Research Initiative
Forum on China-African Cooperation
ICBC Belt and Road Initiative Connectivity Index
Credits
Executive producer and host: Desné Masie
Co-producer and audio editor: Peter Doerrie Digital and social editor: Charles Dietz
Group publisher: Omar Ben Yedder
Music: ‘Give Love’ by Nettson
Podcast host Desne Masie was delighted to welcome our special guest for Episode 12, Emma Wade-Smith, Her Majesty's Trade Commissioner for Africa to discuss the UK government's trade and investment priorities in Africa post-Brexit, and the private sector support the Department for International Trade is extending for UK businesses operating on the African continent in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Wade-Smith tells us about the many initiatives, and trade and investment agreements that came out of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's UK-Africa Investment Summit in January, given how strategic Africa is for the UK's post-Brexit strategy. We also find out more about the career path to her current role, and what most inspires her about her job. More information: * DIT Dealroom * AIG * Growth Gateway * COVID-19 support resources * DIT Africa outreach inbox
Podcast host Desne Masie was delighted to welcome our special guest for Episode 11, Dr Leila Fourie, CEO of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). Dr Fourie took the helm at the exchange around 6 months ago amid an already tough time in the global economy. Economic headwinds for the exchange have only been amplified in 2020 with the Covid-19 global pandemic and the ratings downgrade of South Africa's sovereign debt to below investment grade.
We caught up with Leila to discuss how these developments have affected capital raising and listings, and what her vision is for the exchange beyond the crisis management around the pandemic. Under Fourie, who is a champion of sustainable finance and corporate responsibility, the JSE has been actively pursuing a social impact and green agenda. Yet she remains upbeat about the opportunities for the exchange beyond the pandemic, particularly in Asia.
More information:
JSE Official website
Moody's downgrades South Africa's sovereign debt
Op-ed by Leila Fourie: How do we get back to rational investing?
Podcast host Desne Masie was delighted to welcome our special guest for Episode 10, Lord Peter Hain, who has had an eminent career in politics and is a world-leading expert on governance. He was born in Kenya and raised in South Africa, and went on to lead the anti-apartheid movement when he later moved to the UK as a young man. Lord Hain went on to have many eminent cabinet roles in Tony Blair's and Gordon Brown's respective Labour governments including Minister for Africa, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Secretary of State for Wales. He has also been the Leader of the House of Commons. Lord Hain continues to fight for social justice and good governance in Africa, and was instrumental in holding multinational firms KPMG, McKinsey, Hogan Lovell and Bell Pottinger accountable for their role in South Africa's State Capture scandal. His intervention paid a large role in the eventual unwinding and downfall of Bell Pottinger.
In this episode of the podcast, we talked about global leaders who have differentiated themselves with integrity, empathy and competence such as South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa, and those who have crumbled under the scrutiny such as Donald Trump. We also discuss whether the lockdowns may cause more harm than good for Africa's poor, who have been driven to desperation and starvation during the pandemic. Lord Hain offers some suggestions and guidance for good leadership and governance in the private and public sector and the wider global economy in this wide-ranging discussion. More information: Twitter page for Lord Hain Lord Hain holds Hogan Lovell accountable for role in South African state capture UK government condemns Bell Pottinger for damaging its reputation in South Africa
Podcast host Desne Masie speaks to African Business magazine editor, David Thomas, about the April issue of African Business magazine. The cover story looks at the outlook for renewable energy in Africa and the politics around the low-carbon transition timetable that is appropriate for Africa's energy mix. David and Desne also have an in-depth discussion on the impact of coronavirus for Africa and how this has inspired the launch of our liveblog resource for the pandemic's development on the continent which you can read here. Our special guest is Ibukun Adebayo, of the International Markets team at the London Stock Exchange Group Limited (LSEG). Ibukun has been instrumental in spearheading many of the exchange's Africa initiatives over the past few years including the creation of the International Advisory Group for Africa and Companies to Inspire Africa, which aims to stimulate intra-Africa capital raising and investment. He has also overseen the introduction of several important market infrastructure projects such as launching green bonds in Morocco, Kenya, and Nigeria alongside governments and multilaterals as well supported the development of offshore local currency bond markets and the ELITE programme to build capacity for entrepreneurs who want to float their businesses. More information: LSEG Companies to Inspire Africa LSEG ELITE Progamme LSEG Developing the Green Bond Market in Africa LSEG Offshore Local Currency Bonds African Business magazine coronavirus liveblog Economic Impact of Coronavirus in Africa Credits: Executive producer and host: Desné Masie Co-producer and audio editor: Peter Doerrie African Business magazine editor: David Thomas
Online editor: Charles Dietz
Group publisher: Omar Ben Yedder
Music: ‘Give Love’ by Nettson
Podcast host Desne Masie speaks to African Business magazine editor, David Thomas, about the March issue of African Business magazine, a lusophone special looking at the new regime in Angola and its apparent purge of the Dos Santos dynasty from state-owned enterprises and coffers. We also discuss our Mozambique Special Report, and the prospects for the country in the wake of Cyclone Idai. Our special guest is Musa Kalenga, venture capitalist and futurists and one of the co-founders of Africa Tech Round Up. We discuss with Musa the opportunities and challenges for tech in Africa, particularly how to widen digital inclusion and access to those whom Kalenga calls the "digitally invisible" to make Africa's tech revolution broad-based and transformative. We discuss the challenge of insufficient STEM training and outcomes-based start-up incubator schemes. Finally, Kalenga talks us through some of the hottest tech sectors and deals in Africa over the past year. More information: Luanda Leaks Africa Tech Round Up Musa Kalenga's Page Credits
Executive producer and host: Desné Masie Co-producer and audio editor: Peter Doerrie African Business magazine editor: David Thomas
Digital and social editor: Shoshana Kedem
Group publisher: Omar Ben Yedder
Music: ‘Give Love’ by Nettson The online HTML, CSS and JS beautifiers will take care of your dirty web code. They are all free online programs.
Podcast host Desne Masie speaks to group publisher, Omar Ben Yedder back from his travels on the African continent and beyond. Omar has over the past month been to several high level conference and working groups, including World Economic Forum Davos 2020 in Switzerland, The 33rd AU Summit in Addis Ababa and the Intra-African Trade Fair pre-meetings in Kigali. We discuss whether Davos is still fit for purpose and the AU's plans for increasing peace and security in Africa through the Silencing the Guns initiative, focused on the Sahel and West Africa. Our special guest is Philippe Valahu, the CEO of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), an innovative infrastructure development and finance organisation delivering pioneering infrastructure in the poorest and most fragile countries in Africa and Asia. Philippe talks us through the pioneering work of the PIDG in co-ordinating Public Private Partnerships to derisk transactions and encourage private capital to participate in infrastructure projects in these regions, and bringing energy to countries where there is great need. We also talk about the pathfinding ACORN affordable housing green bond launched with PIDG company GuarantCo in Nairobi recently with the London Stock Exchange. More information: WEF DAVOS 2020 AU 33rd Summit 2020 AU flagship initiative - Silencing the Guns Intra-African Trade Fair Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) ACORN Kenyan affordable housing green bond PIDG Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund Credits
Executive producer and host: Desné Masie Co-producer and audio editor: Peter Doerrie African Business magazine editor: David Thomas
Digital and social editor: Shoshana Kedem
Group publisher: Omar Ben Yedder
Music: ‘Give Love’ by Nettson
In this episode, Editor of African Business Magazine, David Thomas, and podcast host, Desne Masie, discuss the response to the Corona Virus in Africa, the recent plague of locust in East Africa and other effects of climate change in Africa. We also consider if South African Airways should be wound up given its neverending financial troubles.
In the diary we look ahead to the sustainable investment forum with Invest Africa and the Private Infrastructure Development Group on 11 February in the City of London.
Our special guest this week is the CEO-designate for African Risk Capacity Limited, Lindelwe Lesley Nldovu, currently CEO of Axa Africa Specialty risks and we discuss the wider trends driving insurance coverage on the African continent and the work of the African Risk Capacity insuring sovereigns against disasters and extreme weather events using parametric insurance across a multi-country insurance pool.
Links:
African Risk Capacity
Thousands of African students trapped in China’s Coronavirus-province
Stronger penalties needed for rich countries over emissions inaction
Invest Africa & PIDG event: The Growth of Sustainable Investment in Africa, 11 February 2020
Credits:
Executive Producer and Host: Desné Masie
Co-producer and audio editor: Peter Doerrie
Editor African Business Magazine: David Thomas
Digital and social editor: Shoshana Kedem
Group Publisher: Omar Ben Yedder
Music: ‘Give Love’ by Nettson
In this episode, Editor of African Business Magazine, David Thomas, and podcast host, Desne Masie, discuss the first UK-Africa Summit in London, and the highlights of this month's issue of African Business Magazine especially developments in Sudan and in Francophone West Africa around the new eco currency. We also look ahead to the upcoming Mining Indaba in South Africa on 3-6 February.
Our special guest this week is the Africa lead for Consensys, Monica Singer, who is also the former CEO of Strate. We discuss the Consensys paper on Central Bank Backed Digital Currencies of which she is a co-author, as well as the future of blockchain and crypto-assets in Africa and Worldwide.
Links:
Mining Indaba
Consensys
Consensys CBDC paper
Bitcoin White Paper
Credits:
Executive Producer and Host: Desné Masie
Co-producer and audio editor: Peter Doerrie
Digital and social editor: Shoshana Kedem
Group Publisher: Omar Ben Yedder
Music: ‘Give Love’ by Nettson
In this mini-cast, group publisher for African Business Magazine, Omar Ben Yedder, and podcast host, Desne Masie, set the scene for Africa in 2020, which is set to be a bumper year, kicking off with the first UK-Africa Summit in London and the annual World Economic Forum at Davos where climate change is hot on the agenda as one of the major business risks. We also take a look at the various elections happening around the continent in 2020.
Further reading
African Business Magazine WEF Africa in 2020
WEF 2020
UK-Africa Summit
Show credits
Host and executive producer: Desné Masie
Co-producer and editor: Peter Dörrie
Graphics: Jason Venkatasamy
Marketing and social: Shoshana Kedem and Naomi Nwauzu Music: ‘Give Love’ by Nettson
Publisher: Omar Ben Yedder/IC Publications Ltd
Nieros Oyegun, head of network for CDC's The Africa List talks us through the initiative, which wants to fortify top executives with leadership skills and a peer network that spans across countries. The programme selects the leading 100 companies in each country based on current performance and future potential. Then two high-performing leaders from each company, nominated by the current CEO or chairman, are invited to join. Its membership is comprised of executives at large multinationals, local mid-market family businesses, and high growth start-ups from nearly 20 industries.
On December 3, The Africa List launched the Business Barometer survey with London Business School. It looks at how Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic landscape is changing – Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa have historically attracted the lion’s share of investment into the continent and have consumed the focus of most studies and surveys on Africa. African growth is now being driven from across the continent, beyond the traditional powerhouses and dominant sector. This survey – the largest of its kind in these countries – shows how business leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia navigate and perceive opportunities and challenges.
Group publisher Omar Ben Yedder also takes us through his usual diary update
Further reading
CDC Group
The Africa List Business Barometer
Jersey Finance
COP25
Show credits
Host and executive producer: Desné Masie Co-producer: Peter Dörrie Graphics: Jason Venkatasamy Marketing and social: Shoshana Kedem and Naomi Nwauzu Music: ‘Give Love’ by Nettson Publisher: Omar Ben Yedder/IC Publications Ltd
In this episode we interview the CEO of Crown Agents Bank, Albert Maasland, about the work they are doing supporting forex provision, liquidity and payments all over continent, including in smaller and more fragile states.
Albert also talks us through the enormous opportunities in Africa. We discuss the significance of the bank’s recent acquisition of the Fintech Segovia and the its win as best FX Provider for Emerging Market Currencies at the Global Finance Foreign Exchange Awards 2020.
Group Publisher Omar Ben Yedder also provides us with his usual diary update.
Further reading
Crown Agents Bank
Africa Investment Forum
Forum Brazil Africa
Art, Africa and Social Change
DLA Piper Africa Week
The 100 Most Influential Africans of 2018
Show credits
Host and executive producer: Desné Masie Co-producer: Peter Dörrie Graphics: Jason Venkatasamy Marketing and social: Shoshana Kedem and Naomi Nwauzu Music: ‘Give Love’ by Nettson Publisher: Omar Ben Yedder/IC Publications Ltd
In the special edition launch episode, we interview group publisher and editor-in-chief of African Business Magazine, Omar Ben Yedder, on his vision for this essential listen on the business and economics of the African continent today.
In keeping with the unprecedented interest in investing and capital raising across markets and sectors on the continent, we have as our first guest, Michelle Essomé, the CEO of the African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AVCA) set the scene of this exciting phase in African business against the backdrop of AVCA’s recently launched 2019, half year data track with all the facts and figures on the deal flow on the continent today.
We also find out what makes our well-travelled and knowledgable guests tick as they share with us the key recent Africa-focused events and stories on the international agenda and news headlines. We will be telling the story of the African opportunity in accessible and fun format here twice monthly and hope you enjoy the show!
Further reading
AVCA H1 Private Equity Data Tracker
UNGA Special Report September 2019
Summit and Economic Forum Russia-Africa
Harry & Meghan: An African Journey
Bonhams Returns to Switzerland with No Reserve Supercar Sale
Show credits
Host and executive producer: Desné Masie Co-producer: Peter Dörrie Graphics: Jason Venkatasamy Marketing and social: Shoshana Kedem and Naomi Nwauzu Music: ‘Give Love’ by Nettson Publisher: Omar Ben Yedder/IC Publications Ltd