Finance – Sector.Africa

World Bank approves $50 million grant to improve quality of education in Sierra Leone

July 3, 2020 Sector.Africa AdministratorAfrica, Bank, Communication, Construction, COVID-19, Deliv, Edu, Education, ER, Finance, Girls, Government, Government of Sierra Leone, Governor, human capital, Infrastructure, Learning, MIT, Prevention, Student, UN, Violence, World0 comment

The World Bank Board of Executive Directors yesterday approved a $50 million grant to support the Government of Sierra Leone’s flagship program for Free Quality School Education launched in 2018. According to the World Bank, the Free Education Project will support some initial COVID-19 response activities, including provision of distance learning and communication campaigns on prevention. Sierra Leone has made significant gains in school enrolment, but education outcomes and skills acquisition are among the lowest in Africa. The education sector also faces issues of deep inequities in access, weak governance,…

Africa Financial Services

Ghana Cocoa Board, African Development Bank and financial partners celebrate first $200 million disbursement of loan to boost cocoa productivity in Ghana

July 2, 2020 Sector.Africa AdministratorAccra, AFDB, Africa, African Development Bank, Agriculture, China, Commodities, Companies, Countries, Credit, Culture, ER, Farm, Finance, Ghana, Government, Industries, Irrigation, Johannesburg, LSO, Over, project, Sustainable development, Sustainable Development Goals, World0 comment

Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and lenders have welcomed the first disbursement of $200 million of a syndicated loan facility to boost cocoa productivity in the world’s second-largest producer. The occasion was marked by a ceremony held in Accra, Ghana on Tuesday 23 June, followed online by hundreds of observers across the globe. In attendance were COCOBOD and government representatives and participating lenders, which included development finance institutions: the African Development Bank (https://www.AfDB.org/), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Development Bank of Southern Africa and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Spa.…

Africa Education

Unity Bank Partners Dynamiss to Boost Access to E-Learning in Nigeria

June 25, 2020 Sector.Africa AdministratorAirtel, Bank, Banking, Business, Contents, COVID-19, Edu, Education, ER, Finance, Interest, Labor, Learning, LSO, MIT, Nigeria, Over, Pandemic, Student, students, Technology, UN0 comment

With Nigeria still uncertain of the school resumption due to the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic across the country, the importance of e-Learning is more pronounced now more than ever. To this end, Unity Bank Plc has forged a collaborative partnership with Dynamiss, a digital learning solutions provider, to provide low-interest credits to schools to boost access to digital learning resources in Nigeria. Under the partnership, a full e-learning package comprising Microsoft School Portal, Discounted Airtel Data and Free Contents and Devices powered by Dynamiss will be supported with financing from…

Africa Financial Services

MONEY, PEOPLE & POWER: The 10 bank CEOs who control 80% of Uganda’s banking sector – CEO East Africa

June 25, 2020June 25, 2020 Sector.Africa AdministratorAfrica, Agriculture, Bank, Bank of Baroda, Banks, Billboard, books, Brand, Business, Chief financial officer, Citibank Uganda, Communication, consumer, Corporate finance, Diamond, Finance, Government, Interest, Life, Loans, major, Marketing, MIT, mobile app, Money, Over, Retail, Sierra Leone, Small business, Stanbic Bank, Standard Chartered, Trade, Zambia0 comment

1. Anne Juuko Chief Executive, Stanbic Bank 2019 Asset Value: UGX6.6 trillion Market Share: 20.2 per cent Industry Rank: 1 Stanbic Bank has maintained the top spot in the banking sector ever since the acquisition of a majority stake (80per cent) in Uganda Commercial Bank (UCB) back in 2001. Getting to the top spot was the easy bit – despite the politics around the acquisition. Remaining at the top, ahead of the chasing pack is where all credit is due to the bank shareholders and management that have given the…

Asia Covid19

Singapore will emerge from COVID-19 crisis a stronger society, with renewed sense of identity and values

June 23, 2020 Sector.Africa AdministratorAsia, Business, Companies, COVID-19, E-commerce, Economy, Finance, Government, Health, healthcare, Infrastructure, Innovation, Life, Prime minister, Robotics, Singapore, Sustainability0 comment

Singapore will emerge from the COVID-19 crisis a stronger society, with a renewed sense of identity and values, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat has vowed to leave no Singaporean behind. Mr Heng was delivering the sixth and final speech in a series of national ministerial broadcasts on Singapore’s post-COVID-19 future. “Our economy will emerge stronger, creating better jobs and business opportunities for all Singaporeans. And our society will emerge stronger, leaving no one to walk this journey alone,” he said. “We will emerge stronger as one people, our…