3 August 2026: The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a grant of $18.8 million to the Government of Ghana for the implementation of the Regional West Africa Resilient Rice Value Chains (REWARD) Project.

The project aims to boost domestic rice production, strengthen food security, and create jobs across the agricultural value chain. It will support efforts to increase rice productivity, improve market systems, and reduce Ghana’s dependence on rice imports, while enhancing the competitiveness of locally produced rice.

Agriculture remains central to Ghana’s economy, supporting livelihoods and contributing significantly to food security. However, domestic rice production has not kept pace with rising demand, leaving the country to rely on imports and exposed to global price volatility.

The REWARD project seeks to address these challenges through investments in climate-resilient rice production systems, improved access to quality inputs and mechanization, and enhanced irrigation and land development in key production areas.

The initiative will also support the modernisation of rice processing facilities, strengthen market linkages, and promote greater private sector participation across the rice value chain.

Implementation will focus on selected districts within Ghana’s Northern Savannah Ecological Zone, an area with significant agricultural potential where productivity remains constrained by climate risks, inadequate infrastructure, and weak market integration.

“This project will help strengthen Ghana’s rice value chain by increasing productivity, improving market access, and supporting agribusiness development,” said Halima Hashi Country Manager, Ghana Country Office, African Development Bank Group. "By investing in climate-resilient agriculture, the initiative will contribute to food security, job creation, and more inclusive economic growth.”

The REWARD project aligns with Ghana’s national development priorities, including its agricultural transformation and food security agenda under the Feed Ghana Programme. It also supports the African Development Bank’s strategic priorities of climate-resilient agriculture, private sector development, and inclusive growth, while contributing to broader regional efforts to strengthen food systems and resilience across West Africa.

4 August 2026: The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a grant of US$1 million to Togo to support victims of the humanitarian crisis affecting the Savanes Region in the north of the country.

Since 2022, the deteriorating security situation in the Central Sahel has led to increasing population movements towards the Gulf of Guinea countries. In Togo, the Savanes Region is now hosting more than 55,000 refugees and nearly 16,000 internally displaced persons, while host communities are facing growing pressure on social services, economic resources and basic infrastructure. More than 1.9 million people are directly or indirectly affected by the consequences of this crisis.

The project will be implemented over a 12-month period by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in partnership with the Togolese authorities. The project seeks to respond to the humanitarian emergency in the Savanes Region, while strengthening the resilience of displaced populations and host communities.

The funding will provide rapid and inclusive emergency assistance to approximately 7,000 vulnerable people, including refugees and members of host communities. The project will support the registration and documentation of 5,000 new arrivals, enabling them to access essential services and protection. It will also provide 1,000 households with shelter rehabilitation kits and essential household items.

“In the face of the growing scale of forced displacement in northern Togo, this intervention will help address urgent humanitarian needs while strengthening the resilience of affected communities. The African Development Bank remains committed to supporting the Government of Togo in protecting the most vulnerable populations and preserving social cohesion in this strategic region of the country,” said Pascal Yembiline, the African Development Bank's Country Manager for Togo.

The intervention will pay particular attention to women and girls, who are among the groups most severely affected by forced displacement. The project includes activities to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, as well as initiatives to strengthen women's economic empowerment through the creation and reinforcement of women's cooperatives.

“This operation is part of the African Development Bank Group's efforts to address fragility, build resilience and support stability in the Gulf of Guinea countries affected by the spillover effects of regional crises,” said Martha Phiri, Director of the Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Department.

“Beyond emergency assistance, this operation will help strengthen the long-term resilience of affected populations and host communities, while supporting the efforts of the Togolese authorities to manage the growing influx of refugees and internally displaced persons,” Phiri said.

4 August 2026: Malawi marked a milestone in its energy transition on 24 July 2026 with the commissioning of its first grid-forming utility-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the Kanengo Substation in Lilongwe.

The 20MW/ 40MWh project was officially inaugurated by Hon. Dr. Jean Mathanga, Minister of Energy, alongside representatives from the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) and other government officials. The ceremony marked the start of commercial operations for Malawi's first utility-scale BESS.

The project is expected to strengthen grid reliability, enhance energy security and support the integration of renewable energy into Malawi's electricity network.

JIVO Energy served as the turnkey Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor, delivering the project from engineering and procurement through construction, testing and commissioning.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Jorge Lascas, Chief Commercial Officer at JIVO Energy, said the project demonstrates the company's ability to deliver complex utility- scale energy infrastructure.

"It is a proud moment that proves JIVO Energy's capacity to execute complex, high-impact utility-scale energy projects to international standards using Tier-I equipment."

Lascas also recognised the contribution of the project team.

"JIVO Energy's team dedication and hard work made this project possible. Their passion, resilience, and attention to detail have been remarkable. They met every engineering challenge head-on with unwavering commitment."

The commissioning of the Kanengo BESS marks an important step in Malawi's efforts to strengthen and modernise its electricity network. The successful delivery of the project reflects the strong collaboration between the Government of Malawi, the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM), the JIVO Energy team and other stakeholders, whose collective commitment made this landmark achievement possible.

###

About JIVO Energy: JIVO Energy has been engaged in renewable energy business in Africa & Asia since 2018 focused on Project Development, EPC, O&M, and investing in renewable energy projects, including provision of technical services related to renewable energy to several clients.

In addition, JIVO Energy provides Technical Feasibility, EPC and O&M services related to renewable energy to project developers and investors in Europe.

JIVO Energy currently operates in 15+ countries in Africa across East, West, and Southern Africa, with offices & teams in India, UAE, Portugal, Mauritius, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and Cape Verde.

JIVO Energy has now successfully implemented projects in Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Malawi, Cape Verde, Sao Tome, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Liberia and Zambia.

As of today, JIVO Energy has constructed (or has under construction) more than 100MWp of Solar PV and more than 60MWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), with another 200MWp+ of Solar PV and 150MWh+ of Battery Energy Storage Systems under development across 12 countries in Africa.

6 August 2026: The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a $255 million loan from the African Development Fund and a $10 million grant from the Rome Process/Mattei Plan Financing Facility to support Zambia’s participation in the Lobito Corridor development initiative. The Bank Group’s support forms part of a coordinated effort with multilateral and bilateral partners to advance an integrated economic corridor approach.

The Lobito Corridor spans Southern and Central Africa, linking Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia from the Port of Lobito, to the Copperbelt region. Through this first phase of financing, the Bank Group is helping to establish the critical foundations for a corridor model that connects transport infrastructure with trade facilitation, agriculture, energy, urban development and institutional capacity.

The Lobito Integrated Economic Corridor Development Project is expected to be transformative and catalytic for industrial development and regional trade. By linking Zambia’s Copperbelt and other mineral-rich and agricultural regions to Angola’s Atlantic Port of Lobito, the corridor will provide a more efficient export route, reduce logistics costs, strengthen supply-chain reliability and unlock new investment opportunities across Zambia and the wider Southern African region. The project’s emphasis on women’s empowerment and youth employment will also support inclusive growth, resilience and improved livelihoods.

"The Lobito Corridor is more than a transport investment; it is a platform for regional integration, industrialisation and economic transformation. This approval marks an important step in unlocking new opportunities for trade, investment and jobs across the region,” said Mike Salawou, Director for the Infrastructure and Urban Development Department.

Under the project, which will see the development of a new railway line connecting Zambia to Angola and the Port of Lobito, approximately 550 km of railway infrastructure in Zambia will be constructed and 105 km of the Mwinilunga-Jimbe road will be upgraded. In addition, there will be trade facilitation measures, institutional support and capacity building. The Bank’s financing will be implemented in phases. The current approval represents the first tranche under ADF-16, amounting to approximately $255 million, with additional resource mobilisation envisaged to reach up to $500 million in subsequent phases.

The operation will enhance access to capital through co-financing and private sector participation, create jobs and skills development and deliver climate-resilient infrastructure and value addition through integrated rail and road investments. It also supports the Bank’s Regional Integration Strategic Framework and the Southern Africa Regional Integration Strategy Paper.

The project will help operationalise the Bank’s corridor approach through a bankable, high-impact pilot corridor that can serve as a deal-making platform to crowd in private capital. It builds on the outcomes of the ongoing Bank-financed Lobito Corridor Trade Facilitation Project and supports the operationalisation of the Lobito Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency.

The project is expected to create approximately 500 permanent jobs and 5,000 temporary jobs across construction, logistics, one-stop border post operations and professional services. At least 300 people will be trained in rail and road construction and maintenance, and 50 people in corridor management, logistics, climate safeguards, monitoring and evaluation, with particular attention to women and youth.

6 August 2026: In Ethiopia’s Jimma Zone, smallholder farmers are helping test a new model for African agriculture, backed by the African Development Bank Group and Japan.

The project aims to raise yields, restore depleted soils and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the same time.

The work is supported by the Policy and Human Resource Development Grant (PHRDG), a Japan-financed bilateral trust fund managed by the African Development Bank Group. Established in 1994, PHRDG is the Bank Group’s longest-standing bilateral trust fund and supports technical assistance, human capital development and knowledge exchange in agriculture, food and nutrition security, climate change, debt management and health. Japan has provided more than $50 million to the trust fund.

Through the project, Evidence-based Regenerative Agriculture to Address Climate Change in Africa, PHRDG is helping move Japan’s partnership with the Bank Group from financing and policy dialogue to field-level innovation. Implemented in Ethiopia by the Sasakawa Africa Association, the initiative combines farmer training, climate-resilient crop varieties, soil restoration techniques and Japanese digital agriculture technology.

On demonstration plots in Seka Chekorsa Woreda, farmers are using improved maize and wheat varieties with liming, vermicomposting, biochar-based fertilizers, reduced tillage and digital advisory tools. Early data shows strong productivity gains: wheat yields rose 89%, from 1,293.0 to 2,443.7 kilograms per hectare, while maize yields increased 272%, from 1,222.0 to 4,541.8 kilograms per hectare. The project has reached more than 91,000 farmers in Ethiopia, including nearly 30,000 women.

Tomoki Nakai, Executive Director at the African Development Bank Group, said: “Japan’s partnership through PHRDG demonstrates how innovation can help farmers address some of the most pressing challenges facing African agriculture. The value of this project lies not only in the results it delivers today, but also in the significant opportunities and lessons it offers for strengthening food security and resilient agricultural value chains through farmer-led approaches.”

Nakai, who represents Japan, Argentina, Austria, Brazil and Saudi Arabia on the Bank Group’s Board of Directors, led a June delegation to the project sites to review progress and meet farmers, extension workers, researchers and partners. The delegation included Innocent Musabyimana, the project task manager in the Bank Group’s Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department, and Rosa Lugos, Principal Resource Mobilization Officer in the Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Department. The visit was organized by the Sasakawa Africa Association’s Ethiopia country office with local government partners and Jimma University.

The initiative is carried out with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and SoftBank Corp, now Greenin. It combines Sasakawa’s farmer training and sustainable farming expertise, climate-resilient crop varieties developed through the Bank Group’s Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation program, and e-kakashi, an artificial intelligence-powered digital agriculture solution developed by SoftBank.

E-kakashi collects and analyzes environmental and field data to help farmers and extension workers make better crop-management decisions. In Jimma, it is supporting analysis of the practices being tested, including their effects on greenhouse gas emissions, soil carbon and growing conditions. The evidence generated will help identify techniques that can reduce emissions, improve soil carbon sequestration, increase productivity, and make more efficient use of water, fertilizer and labor.

During the visit, the delegation toured maize demonstration plots in Buyo Kechema Kebele, observed greenhouse gas emissions measurement, and visited a government-supported vermicomposting centre and nursery facilities. At the Shashemene Farmer Training Center, the delegation viewed maize and soybean demonstrations and saw e-kakashi technology supporting digital extension and data collection. The mission also included a visit to a biochar production facility at Jimma University’s College of Agriculture.

Musabyimana said: “This project is helping us move from assumptions to evidence. By measuring what happens in the field, from yield performance to soil conditions and emissions, we can better understand which practices are most effective and what farmers need to adopt them at scale.”

The project responds to constraints in the target communities, including high soil acidity, declining fertility, low productivity, limited adoption of improved agronomic practices, input shortages, drought, flooding and pest risks. Its farm-level package includes reduced tillage, liming, vermicomposting, biochar-based fertilizers, Bio-Boost inoculants, improved seeds, post-harvest technologies and digital extension tools.

The work is part of a broader PHRDG-supported effort across Ethiopia, Nigeria, Benin, Ghana and Uganda to build evidence on climate-smart farming practices, test farmer incentives, document lessons, and expand adoption of climate-adapted, biofortified and nutrient-rich crop varieties.

The Jimma visit underscored how Japan’s partnership with the Bank Group is translating trust fund financing into practical innovation at farm level, linking Japanese digital technology, scientific evidence, local extension systems and farmer training. As the model is tested and refined, it could offer smallholder farmers a pathway to higher productivity, healthier soils and more resilient farming systems.

12 August 2026: Scatec ASA, a leading renewable energy solutions provider, has successfully reached Commercial Operations Date (COD) for the second phase of its 1.1 GW Obelisk solar and 100 MW/200 MWh battery storage project in Egypt.

The Obelisk project has been built in two phases. The first phase comprises 561 MW of solar capacity and the total 100 MW/200 MWh battery energy storage system, while the second phase now adds an additional 564 MW of solar capacity. The Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was signed in November 2024 and the project has been completed in record time.

“Reaching full commercial operations at Obelisk marks a defining milestone for Scatec. Completing Africa's largest hybrid solar and battery installation demonstrates our ability to develop, finance, and deliver large-scale renewable energy projects in emerging markets. Obelisk will supply clean, reliable power to Egypt for 25 years and is a tangible contribution to the country's energy security and transition,” says Terje Pilskog, CEO of Scatec.

The Obelisk project is Africa’s largest hybrid solar and battery installation, with an expected abatement of more than 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. It is projected to deliver over 3,000 GWh of clean energy annually, which will be supplied to the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) denominated in USD.

With Obelisk now fully operational alongside the 380 MW BenBan solar plant, Scatec has approximately 1.5 GW in operation in Egypt. Scatec’s near-term growth portfolio in Egypt further includes more than 4.3 GW of renewable energy capacity and 4.1 GWh of battery storage capacity, with the total combined portfolio expected to deliver approximately 17 TWh of clean electricity annually and provide critical grid stability support. Egypt remains one of Scatec's most important long-term growth markets.

Scatec is the controlling shareholder of the project with National Bank of Egypt, Norfund and EDF Power Solutions as minority equity partners. The project has been financed with the support of leading development finance institutions, with European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), African Development Bank (AfDB), British International Investment (BII) and European Investment Bank (EIB) acting as senior lenders. Scatec has developed and delivered the project through its fully integrated business model, providing Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC), Asset Management (AM) and Operations & Maintenance (O&M) services across the full project lifecycle.

###

About Scatec: Scatec is a leading renewable energy solutions provider, accelerating access to reliable and affordable clean energy in emerging markets. As a long-term player, we develop, build, own, and operate renewable energy plants, with 6.4 GW generation and 2 GWh storage capacity in operation and under construction across five continents. We are committed to growing our renewable energy portfolio, delivered by our passionate employees and partners who are driven by a common vision of ‘Improving our Future’. Scatec is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ‘SCATC’. To learn more, visit www.scatec.com.

18 August 2026: The Africa Circular Economy Facility, a multi-donor trust fund administered by the African Development Bank Group, is expanding its reach to five additional nations supporting the creation and implementation of national circular economy roadmaps and continuing to work with three countries. This second cohort enhances a program that continues to demonstrate how the integration of circularity into public policy, can drive economic transformation.

As part of this second phase of the National Roadmaps for the Circular Economy (NCER) program, Angola, Liberia, Madagascar, and Senegal will develop their own roadmaps by identifying priority sectors, aligning institutional efforts, and tailoring strategic guidelines to their local productive structures. Meanwhile, Benin, Chad, Ethiopia, and Mauritius, are entering the implementation phase to translate government frameworks into actionable policies, funded programs, and sustainable institutional capacities.

“The continent faces an annual development financing gap of more than $400 billion. Roadmaps for the circular economy can help countries strengthen their domestic productive capacities and turn their priorities into investment opportunities,” said Anthony Nyong, Director of the Climate Change and Green Growth Department at the African Development Bank Group.

A vast portion of Africa’s natural resources continues to be exported unprocessed, hindering industrialisation and limiting local job creation. The circular economy directly mitigates this structural loss of value by retaining resources and their productive potential within national economies.

Focused on value creation and community opportunities, this approach aligns seamlessly with the African Development Bank Group’s Four Cardinal Points strategic vision and the New African Financial Architecture for Development (NAFAD) seeking to mobilise more African capital, strengthen the continent’s financial markets, and finance large-scale transformation to promote employment, business growth, and local value creation.

The four countries in the first cohortBenin, Cameroon, Chad, and Ethiopia have already demonstrated the potential of this approach. Their respective roadmaps successfully identified priority sectors, most notably in construction, forestry, agriculture, plastics, textiles, manufacturing, energy, and water management.

In Chad, the roadmap aims to create more than 25,000 green jobs and reduce non-recycled waste by 40% by 2035, across six priority sectors. “Far from being a luxury, this initiative is a vital necessity for Chad’s future. It paves the way for us to diversify an economy that is still heavily dependent on oil,” said Chad’s Minister of the Environment, Hassan Bakhit Djamous.

In Benin, the Circular Economy Action Plan, launched in February 2026, sets ambitious 10-year goals: to achieve a 25% recycling rate, ensure the collection of all municipal waste, and establish 300 circular economy businesses.

Roadmaps serve as structural frameworks for investment. They allow stakeholders to pinpoint the sectors where circular solutions create the most value, organize the actions necessary for deployment, and define the governance mechanisms essential to their sustainability.

Through the Africa Circular Economy Facility, which also finances the African Circular Economy Alliance, the Bank Group provides the technical assistance needed to establish an enabling policy and institutional environment. The goal is to move Africa’s circular economy transformation from ambition to action.

19 August 2026: The Government of Angola and the African Development Bank Group have launched the Eastern Region Agricultural Value Chain Development Project, a strategic initiative designed to transform the country's agricultural sector.

The initiative is expected to benefit approximately 240,000 households, representing around 1.2 million people, with a strong focus on the economic inclusion of women and young people.

The transformative intervention aims to accelerate agricultural development in Eastern Angola by promoting a more modern, resilient, and market-oriented agricultural sector. It will support the development of value chains for cereals, beans, soybeans, groundnuts, cassava, coffee, cocoa, and palm oil, with particular emphasis on wheat and rice production to help reduce imports while strengthening the production ecosystem of smallholder farmers.

By leveraging the Eastern Region's strategic location along the Lobito Corridor, the project will stimulate agricultural growth, improve market access, attract private investment, and position agriculture as one of the key drivers of Angola's economic diversification.

Speaking at the launch ceremony held 16 July 2026, Isaac dos Anjos, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, said: "The launch of the Eastern Region Agricultural Value Chain Development Project marks an important milestone in the transformation of Angola's agricultural sector. We are creating the conditions for farming families to gain greater access to knowledge, technology, finance, and markets, enabling them to transition from largely subsistence farming to a more productive and market-oriented agricultural system."

The minister underscored how the project reflects the Angolan government's commitment to promoting a modern, sustainable, and inclusive agricultural sector capable of generating income, creating jobs, and improving living conditions in rural communities. “Our partnership with the African Development Bank is essential to accelerating this transformation and ensuring that agriculture continues to serve as one of the country's main engines of economic development," he added.

African Development Bank Country Representative in Angola, Pietro Toigo, stated: "The African Development Bank is proud to support Angola at this decisive stage in unlocking the enormous agricultural potential of the Eastern Region. This project represents a transformative investment to increase agricultural productivity, strengthen value chains, and create economic opportunities for men, women, and young people."

The African Development Bank's vision is to support integrated interventions that deliver sustainable impact by combining infrastructure, technical expertise, innovation, and private sector development.

“We believe this investment will help transform agriculture in Angola into a solid foundation for industrialisation, economic diversification, and inclusive growth," Pietro explained.

The Eastern Region Agricultural Value Chain Development Project further strengthens the strategic partnership between the Government of Angola and the African Development Bank.