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<p>On the next episode of State of Africa, we’re handing the mic to those who don’t just talk about change, they live it. We speak to key voices who have first-hand experience and insight into the profound impacts of displacement as refugees, as well as the necessary policy reforms that must be implemented.</p>


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State of Africa: How refugee youth are driving empowerment initiatives in their communities


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="640" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/A6RAHQABDRIGTJNVXZ2UH7TGEQ.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-590243"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The headquarters of the African Development Bank (AfDB) are pictured in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, January 30, 2020.REUTERS/Luc Gnago/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



<p>The African Development Bank Group and Standard Bank Group have set up a R7.3 billion facility to drive the growth of small, medium and micro enterprises across the continent.</p>



<p>An agreement signed by the two institutions in Johannesburg includes investment in a R3.6 billion social bond targeted at SMMEs with turnover below R300 million and a $200 million Risk Participation Agreement under Standard Bank’s South African unit. Loan sizes will be capped at less than R40 million.</p>



<p>&#8220;This financing will support up to 4,000 businesses, helping them scale operations, create jobs, and contribute to economic resilience,’’ Kenny Fihla, Standard Bank Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer said. “With approximately 3.2 million SMMEs accounting for 60% of jobs, ensuring access to finance is crucial.”</p>



<p>South Africa’s economic growth has averaged around 1% in the past decade with access to finance for the small scale sector cited among the main reasons for the lacklustre growth. The government wants to boost growth to three percent by next year as it implements a slew of reforms including improving the ease of doing business in the country.</p>



<p>The African Development Bank said the agreement will help increase lending by sharing risk while bridging the trade finance gap and promoting intra-African trade, which remains among the lowest in the world below 20%.</p>



<p>‘’This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our long-standing partnership and is a testament to our shared commitment to supporting SMMEs’ growth and enhancing trade finance across Africa,’’ Leila Mokaddem, Director General for Southern Africa at the African Development Bank said in a statement. “Expanding financial inclusion and trade opportunities empowers businesses to drive economic transformation and regional integration.’’</p>



<p>She said the agreement aligns with the African Development Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy which prioritises industrialisation, regional integration, and improving the quality of life in Africa. It also supports Standard Bank’s Sustainable Finance Framework.</p>


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Standard Bank, AfDB team up to Drive SMME growth

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<p>Africa Business Weekly on CNBC Africa brings you the most impactful business stories across sub-Saharan Africa every week. From the capital markets to economic news affecting the regions from East, West ad Southern Africa, we will speak to the major newsmakers from across the sub-Saharan Africa region to get exciting and unique angles to the stories shaping the continent.</p>


Africa Business Weekly: Delayed: The VAT hike that broke the budget

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<p>Analysts at Parthian Securities say investors are digesting the CBN’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged. Hence, they expect the market to close the week with a mixed to positive sentiment. Mercy Okon, Research Specialist at Parthian Securities, joins CNBC Africa for this discussion.</p>


Equities investors digest impact of MPC decision

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<p>Total subscription on the latest treasury bills auction saw total subscription hit 2.41 trillion naira. Following the Central Bank of Nigeria&#8217;s decision to hold interest rates, average yield in the Treasury bills market declined by 129 basis points to 20.2 per cent as limited interest persisted on the long end above 18 per cent. Traders at Access bank expect investors to position strategically ahead of the upcoming bond auction. Emmanuel Orji, treasury team member at Access Bank, joins CNBC Africa for a market update.</p>


Investors sustain interest in T-bills

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<p>Analysts believe the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria is concise in policy direction after retaining key policy parameters, signalling a continued focus on price stability and economic sustainability. Speaking on CNBC Africa&#8217;s Nigeria MPC, the analysts expect a gradual rate cut from the next meeting in May.</p>


Analysts: Nigeria rate hold reflects orthodox approach to growth

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<p>The Central Bank of Nigeria&#8217;s Monetary Policy Committee has left the Monetary Policy Rate unchanged at 27.5 per cent alongside other key parameters. The Central Bank Governor, Olayemi Cardoso expressed satisfaction around the positive impact of recent reforms on the  macroeconomic environment and expressed optimism around expected increases in the flow of foreign direct and porfolio investments owing to stronger investors&#8217; confidence.</p>


Nigeria MPC leaves MPR at 27.5%, other key parameters unchanged

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<p>The Central Bank of Nigeria is likely to leave monetary policy rate at 27.5 per cent and at most cut rates by 25 basis points following the release of the rebased consumer price index data. That’s the view of Bismarck Rewane, CEO of Financial Derivatives, Kubi Momoh, Chairman of CitiTrust Asset Management and Gregory Kronsten, Consultant on African Economics during CNBC Africa’s Special MPC Broadcast. They note the country is headed into an environment of improving macroeconomic stability on the back of recent reforms.</p>


Analysts: Nigeria MPC to remain cautious following CPI rebasing

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<p>Under the theme To The Power Of 10: The Rule-Breakers In Africa’s Next Chapter, the 10th edition of the FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit is around the corner. We reveal some of the exciting talks, panel discussions, speakers and experiences expected on the day.</p>


10th FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit: What to expect

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<p>Technological innovations are transforming the mining industry.  Mining companies deal with challenges ranging from operations to safety standards and the demand for more efficient mining strategies and safer environment increases yearly.  On the side-line of Mining Indaba 2025, Enaex Africa reflect on the importance of relationship building and work towards a more productive future in this Highlights Special.</p>


African Mining Indaba 2025: Highlights Special

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<p>Dangote Cement plans invest $400 million to upscale a second production line at its Mugher cement plant in Ethiopia as it aims to double the facility’s annual production capacity to 5 million tons. Abigail Alabi, a sub-Saharan Africa Industrial Goods analyst at Vetiva, joins CNBC Africa for an equities market update.</p>


Investors mixed on Nigeria equities

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<p>Agriculture Minister and DA leader John Steenhuisen weighs in on the postponement of the 2025 National Budget speech amid disagreements over the proposed 2 per cent VAT increase.</p>


Budget speech postponement a responsible decision – Steenhuisen


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="720" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/HACNBSSITZP6VKINH5EEMDGPKI.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-583356"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">South African President Cyril Ramaphosa briefs the media on South Africa&#8217;s G20 presidency for 2025 at the parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, December 3, 2024. REUTERS/Esa Alexander/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



<p>South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called an emergency cabinet meeting after the Democratic Alliance threatened not to support today’s budget statement by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana over a proposal to hike the value added tax.</p>



<p>Three sources told CNBC Africa that Godongwana proposed raising the rate from the current 15 percent to plug a hole created by the withdrawal of funding from the United States over South Africa’s land reforms and perceived support for Russia and China.</p>



<p>The rand declined more than 10 cents to as low as R18.46 against the dollar after trading mostly little changed in morning trade.</p>


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S. Africa’s Ramaphosa Calls Urgent Cabinet Meeting over budget

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<p>Investors shift focus to today’s 700-billion-naira Primary Market Auction. Traders at Access bank say the market is recording a bull-run following a sharp drop in January&#8217;s inflation data. Tobechukwu Ikpe, Treasury Team Member at Access Bank joins CNBC Africa for more market movements.</p>


DMO conducts ₦700bn T-bills auction

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<p>As South Africa awaits Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana&#8217;s 2025 Budget Speech today, businesses are bracing for signals on economic growth, investment, and policy support. With the speech expected to set the tone for the country&#8217;s economic direction, small and medium businesses are hoping for a boost in confidence and investor appetite. CNBC Africa’s Nomonde Xulu spoke to Sanisha Packirisamy, Chief Economist, Momentum and Maarten Ackerman, Chief Economist at Citadel for more.</p>


Budget 2025: Economists expectations ahead of Godongwana’s National Budget Speech

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<p>This week on State of Africa we take you inside the Africa IDP Solutions Roundtable in Lagos, Nigeria, where policymakers, private sector leaders &#038; IDPs confronted one of Africa’s biggest challenges – forced displacement. How can Africa build solutions for millions of displaced people and host communities?</p>


State of Africa: The private sector’s role in addressing forced displacement crisis in Africa

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<p>Imagine a world where artificial intelligence doesn&#8217;t just predict the future, but helps you shape it. In today&#8217;s gig economy, side hustles have become a norm for supplementing income and pursuing passions. From data-driven insights to automated decision-making, we&#8217;re diving into the future of finance and the rise of the side hustle that’s redefining success. CNBC Africa’s Prudence Makhubalo spoke to Elemi Atigolo, Managing Partner at Generative AI Consulting.</p>


CNBC Africa

State of Africa: How refugee youth are driving empowerment initiatives in their communities

Standard Bank, AfDB team up to Drive SMME growth

Africa Business Weekly: Delayed: The VAT hike that broke the budget

Equities investors digest impact of MPC decision

Investors sustain interest in T-bills

Analysts: Nigeria rate hold reflects orthodox approach to growth

Nigeria MPC leaves MPR at 27.5%, other key parameters unchanged

Analysts: Nigeria MPC to remain cautious following CPI rebasing

10th FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit: What to expect

African Mining Indaba 2025: Highlights Special

Investors mixed on Nigeria equities

Budget speech postponement a responsible decision – Steenhuisen

S. Africa’s Ramaphosa Calls Urgent Cabinet Meeting over budget

DMO conducts ₦700bn T-bills auction

Budget 2025: Economists expectations ahead of Godongwana’s National Budget Speech

State of Africa: The private sector’s role in addressing forced displacement crisis in Africa

Africa Side Hustle: The AI-powered side-hustle: Redefining success in the gig economy

News Tips

Advertise With Us

CNBC Africa

State of Africa: How refugee youth are driving empowerment initiatives in their communities

Standard Bank, AfDB team up to Drive SMME growth

Africa Business Weekly: Delayed: The VAT hike that broke the budget

Equities investors digest impact of MPC decision

Investors sustain interest in T-bills

Analysts: Nigeria rate hold reflects orthodox approach to growth

Nigeria MPC leaves MPR at 27.5%, other key parameters unchanged

Analysts: Nigeria MPC to remain cautious following CPI rebasing

10th FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit: What to expect

African Mining Indaba 2025: Highlights Special

Investors mixed on Nigeria equities

Budget speech postponement a responsible decision – Steenhuisen

S. Africa’s Ramaphosa Calls Urgent Cabinet Meeting over budget

DMO conducts ₦700bn T-bills auction

Budget 2025: Economists expectations ahead of Godongwana’s National Budget Speech

State of Africa: The private sector’s role in addressing forced displacement crisis in Africa

Africa Side Hustle: The AI-powered side-hustle: Redefining success in the gig economy

News Tips

Advertise With Us

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