Africa’s marine biodiversity is getting a reprieve as oceanic protected areas, known as “no-take zones, replenish reef fish biomass along the continent’s coastal waters. By Seth Onyango Strict fishing and extraction prohibitions in no-take zones are fuelling Africa’s marine biodiversity recovery and boosting coastal cities and towns’ tourist-centred economies. Kenya, Mozambique, and South Africa, which have cordoned off massive swathes of their coastal waters into these zones, are now witnessing thriving marine ecosystems. According to South African Risk and Vulnerability Atlas (SARVA), before 2019, South Africa had only 26 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which accounted for the protection of 0.4%…
Author: Bird Agency
The digital transformation wave in Africa is reshaping communications, marketing and public relations, with solutions led by young people poised to drive change, according to a groundbreaking Nigerian report. By Bonface Orucho Public relations in Africa is undergoing a transformation, driven by shifting dynamics in technology, as highlighted in a groundbreaking report by BHM Research Intelligence, a Nigeria-based PR and communications firm. According to the report, digital communications have become the key channels for reaching target audiences with public relations and communications messages. Over 3000 communicators and business executives participated in the study, which used group discussions, interviews, essay contributions,…
At one level, Vodacom’s announcement of space-based coverage in Kenya raises the spectre of competition for Elon Musk’s Starlink. On another level, it heralds a new age of universal mobile coverage for the continent – an Africa where no one gets left behind. By Conrad Onyango A statement by Vodacom Group that it placed a space-based network under formal trial with its Kenyan subsidiary Safaricom has ignited a frenzy of speculation that the company is to compete with Starlink’s satellite services in Africa directly. “After successful completion of the trial, AST SpaceMobile will scale up their satellite deployments in partnership…
Somalia is turning to its diaspora to bolster its Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows By Seth Onyango Mogadishu is ramping up efforts to increase remittance inflows to shore up its forex reserves, fuel consumption and ensure macroeconomic stability. With diaspora remittances already reaching an estimated US$1.6 billion annually, the government hopes its outreach program, launched last year, will boost these figures. In early July, the Horn of Africa nation held its second annual diaspora conference, seeking to tap investment opportunities from its citizens abroad, feed its exchange reserves, and help the Central Bank shield the shilling from excessive volatility. Ministers,…
A move to privatise some of Africa’s biggest ports is underway as South Africa’s largest port announces a privatisation partner. By Conrad Onyango South Africa’s state-run Transnet has picked Philippines-based multinational port operator International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) as an equity partner to run and expand Durban Container Terminal Pier 2. The move is the biggest signal yet of a trend that is transforming Africa’s port terminals. “The partnership with ICTSI will help reposition the terminal for best practice performance, ensuring growth in volume throughput, and will support the terminal in providing operational and commercial support to access global shipping…
Africa’s tuition payment market is the next fintech frontier for tech firms looking to bolster their balance sheets. By Seth Onyango Technology companies aiming to lead Africa’s fintech industry are now looking towards the continent’s growing market for tuition payment solutions. Last week, Nigeria’s Flutterwave became the latest tech firm to make a foray into Africa’s relatively untapped multibillion-dollar tuition payments solutions industry. The unicorn unveiled Tuition, a payment channel to allow African users to conveniently pay various fees to educational institutions within the continent and overseas using their local currencies. Flutterwave tips this feature to help eliminate the often-arduous…
The digital transformation wave in Africa is reshaping communications, marketing and public relations, with solutions led by young people poised to drive change, according to a groundbreaking Nigerian report. By Bonface Orucho Public relations in Africa is undergoing a transformation, driven by shifting dynamics in technology, as highlighted in a groundbreaking report by BHM Research Intelligence, a Nigeria-based PR and communications firm. According to the report, digital communications have become the key channels for reaching target audiences with public relations and communications messages. Over 3000 communicators and business executives participated in the study, which used group discussions, interviews, essay contributions,…
South Africa’s fintech earnings are expected to lead those of Nigeria as Africa’s fintech market grow to US$65 billion by 2030, according to a report. By Seth Onyango South Africa’s financial services market will out-earn Nigeria’s over the next seven years on the back of a strong performance by Africa’s fintech sector, according to a report. ‘New Global Fintech 2023: Reimagining the Future of Finance’ by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and QED Investors predicts that Africa’s fintech market, led by South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, and Kenya, will grow to US$65 billion in 2030 – a thirteen-fold increase from today’s levels.…
Africa’s first Critical Minerals Summit sees global powers lining up to secure mineral supplies for the energy transition. By Conrad Onyango At least ten global powers are training their eyes on Africa’s critical mineral supplies, according to the organisers of an upcoming event in South Africa. Europe, the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and countries from the BRICs have lined up as delegates in Africa’s inaugural Critical Minerals Summit slated for mid-October in Cape Town, as the world scrambles for rare earth and “transition” minerals. Organisers of the summit, Energy Capital & Power (ECP), have described…
A recycling organization is prioritizing the reuse, recycling, and repurposing of digital gadgets to combat Africa’s growing e-waste crisis. They also ensure the safe destruction of e-waste that cannot be reused. By Bonface Orucho In 2002, Tom Musili and his partners established Computer for Schools Kenya, a charitable organization. Its mission: equipping as many schools as possible with computers. But the success of the venture resulted in a new problem: as time passed, it became evident that there was a growing issue with the disposal of old computers. “Due to first-time use inexperience and genuine breakdowns, we were having hundreds…