Author: Africa Digest News

Treasury’s 600-EV Plan Signals Turning Point for Kenya’s E-Mobility Sector

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Kenya’s National Treasury has launched the country’s largest single public-sector electric mobility procurement to date, inviting bids to lease 600 electric vehicles and supply 70 fast chargers under a four-year fleet expansion programme. The tender, which closes on 21 April 2026, will equip the National Government Administrative Services, National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service, and…

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EV

Why the GCF Is Expanding Its Presence in Developing Regions

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The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has selected Nairobi, Kenya, as the host city for its new Eastern and Southern Africa regional office. This decision, announced during the GCF’s 44th Board meeting, held from 25 to 28 March 2026 in Songdo, South Korea, represents a landmark shift in the Fund’s operational model. At the same meeting,…

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News updates

Can KCB Bridge the Climate Finance Gap for MSMEs?

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KCB Bank Kenya has secured approval from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for a US$96.9 million (KSh 12.5 billion) blended finance facility under the Climate Smart Technology (CST) programme. The approval, confirmed in late March 2026, combines concessional lending, a guarantee, and a grant component to enable affordable financing for micro, small and medium enterprises…

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Funding

What Private Equity Firms Look for in Cleantech Investments

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Private Equity (PE) firms are investment funds that acquire significant ownership stakes, typically majority or substantial minority positions in established, more mature companies. Unlike venture capital, which focuses on early-stage, high-risk ventures, private equity targets companies that have already demonstrated proven business models, consistent revenue streams, and often positive cash flows. Core characteristics include: Significant…

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Funding

Can Crowdfunding and P2P Lending Bridge the Climate Finance Gap?

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Crowdfunding and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) platforms are digital marketplaces that enable collective funding from a large number of individual participants, typically through small contributions. These platforms generally operate through three main models: Equity Crowdfunding: Investors receive shares or equity stakes in the project or company. Debt/P2P Lending: Individuals provide loans and earn interest, often to fund…

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Funding

Fossil Fuel Disruptions Create a Renewables Window, But Higher Rates May Close It: Climate Finance in the 2026 Energy Crisis

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The escalation of military activity in and around the Strait of Hormuz in 2026 has produced the most severe short-term disruption to global oil and liquefied natural gas flows since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Between mid-February and mid-March 2026, Brent crude futures rose from approximately US$78 per barrel to peaks above US$118, with spot LNG…

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Funding

War Diverts Climate Finance: Why Conflict Zones in the Middle East Lag Global Green Transitions

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The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is among the most climate-vulnerable areas globally. It faces extreme water stress, rising temperatures 20% faster than the global average, intensifying heatwaves, declining agricultural yields, and accelerating sea-level rise along densely populated coasts. Despite this exposure, conflict-affected countries within MENA consistently receive the lowest per-capita and per-emission…

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Funding

The Hidden Carbon Cost of the 2026 Middle East War: Military Emissions and Reconstruction’s Long-Term Climate Burden

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Armed conflicts generate substantial greenhouse gas emissions across three scopes under the GHG Protocol framework: Scope 1: Direct emissions from military operations (fuel combustion in aircraft, ships, tanks, and vehicles). Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity and heat used by military bases and facilities. Scope 3: All other indirect emissions, most significantly those embedded…

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Environment

How Aqua-Spark Raised $48 Million for Its Africa Aquaculture Fund

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Aqua-Spark has announced the successful first close of its Aqua-Spark Africa Fund at $48 million. This milestone, disclosed in March 2026, establishes an open-ended investment vehicle dedicated to catalysing the development of a modern, sustainable aquaculture industry across sub-Saharan Africa. The fund provides growth capital to companies, infrastructure projects, and innovative technologies spanning the entire…

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Funding, Agri-SMEs

How Standard Bank and Anthem Are Financing South Africa’s Largest Solar PV Project

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Standard Bank has partnered with Anthem to provide the financing for the Notsi renewable energy project, South Africa’s largest single-phased solar photovoltaic (PV) facility, to achieve financial close. The 475 MW project, situated in the Free State province, reached this milestone in March 2026 and is structured to supply clean electricity primarily to the commercial…

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Funding