14 Aug - 20 Aug, 2025
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IN FOCUS |
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Bridging the Gap: Pathways for Accelerated Digital Financial Inclusion in the Global South
Omegere John Patrick, RIS
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Financial inclusion—primarily ownership of payment, savings, and credit accounts—is a critical pillar for socioeconomic transformation. Overwhelming evidence shows that financial inclusion fosters economic growth and development by strengthening financial resilience among households and businesses, while also broadening the tax base. With the rapid growth of mobile phone access and internet penetration, digital technologies have become essential for advancing financial inclusion. FinTech companies and digital financial service providers have introduced innovative solutions that enable previously unbanked populations to access financial services directly from their phones.
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Key Developments in the Global South |
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ASEAN Poised to Lead Global South in Low-Carbon, Sustainable Growth: Tegku Aziz, Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry |
Asean can set the benchmark for sustainable growth in the Global South if policies, businesses, and people are aligned towards a low-carbon future, said the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. He said that as ASEAN is projected to become the world’s fourth largest economy by 2030, it is important for the region to become more proactive in climate leadership, given its vulnerability to climate risks due to its lengthy 1,73,000-kilometre coastline. “Under our ASEAN Chairmanship, Malaysia is pushing for initiatives that make sustainability and a collective and financially viable goal,” he said. |
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ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development and India Exim Bank Collaborate for West African Development |
The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has deepened its long-standing partnership with India following the signing of a new commercial credit line worth $40 million with India Exim Bank. The agreement, concluded in London, underscores the growing financial and strategic ties between West Africa and India at a time when the sub-region faces pressing demands for infrastructure, energy and social development. The EBID–India Exim Bank relationship exemplifies the broader trend of South-South cooperation, in which emerging economies are forging mutually beneficial partnerships outside traditional donor-recipient frameworks. |
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Determined to reshape Africa’s development landscape, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has committed $40 million to the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa (AGIA) Fund—marking a pivotal step toward unlocking a $10 billion pipeline of climate-resilient, investment-ready projects. AfDB Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialisation, Mr Solomon Quaynor, made this announcement in a statement. Quaynor said the milestone marked a significant step in mobilising blended finance to deliver investment-ready green infrastructure projects across the continent. According to him, the initiative will help accelerate Africa’s transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy. |
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Demonstrating strong unity, Global South Member States and Civil Society called for ambitious, legally binding global measures to curb plastic production on the closing day of the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2), held by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA). The event brought together civil society organisations (CSOs) from across the Global South, including the Association de l’Education Environnementale pour les Futures Générations- Tunisia, C4 Center – Malaysia, and Acción Ecológica Mexico. It also featured distinguished delegates from Ethiopia and Fiji. |
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In line with the enlightened Royal vision, Morocco is making education a strategic pillar of solidarity-based and innovative South-South cooperation, the Moroccan delegation stressed during an open session of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC). “Faithful to the enlightened vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco reaffirms its firm commitment to working alongside its African brothers and partners to ensure that every child can learn in a safe, inclusive and hopeful environment,” the Moroccan delegation emphasized during this open session on “education in conflict situations in Africa,” noting that for the Kingdom, education is an essential driver of peace and development. |
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Eswatini has intensified its push to transform agrifood systems, convening government, private sector, development partners, and investors for the 2nd Annual Eswatini Agriculture Business and Investment Forum. Organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and development partners, the forum aimed to accelerate food sovereignty, unlock bankable investments, and place youth and climate-smart technologies at the core of agricultural renewal. The event highlighted priority value chains, showcased investment-ready projects, and explored strategies to expand market access, infrastructure, and innovation. |
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India and Singapore finalised around ten areas of cooperation as the top ministers from both sides met in Delhi, ahead of a possible visit by Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong next month. Pacts were signed on areas including connectivity, digitalisation, healthcare and medicine, skills development and advanced technology, an official statement said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw held the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable with six Singaporean ministers. |
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Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba and held a detailed meeting with officials of the Nepalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by his counterpart Amrit Bahadur Rai. Previously, on July 22, India and Nepal held Home Secretary-level talks in New Delhi, where a decision was taken to strengthen bilateral security cooperation and border management. Home Secretary Govind Mohan and his Nepalese counterpart Gokarna Mani Duwadee had discussed issues like maintenance of boundary pillars, trans-border criminal activities and working of Border District Coordination Committees.
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The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) welcomes the approval of the first malaria treatment specifically formulated for newborns and infants weighing less than five kilogrammes — a major advance in closing a critical gap in care for Africa’s youngest and most vulnerable. Africa CDC commends the eight Member States — Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda — whose participation in clinical trials was instrumental in achieving this milestone. Their leadership underscores Africa’s growing role in driving health innovation and ensuring that no child is left behind. |
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At the Africa Water Investment Summit, the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Senegal, as co-hosts of the 2026 UN Water Conference, in partnership with AUDA-NEPAD, Children Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), Global Water Partnership (GWP) and the Global Climate Finance Centre (GCFC), co-hosted the high-level session “Financing Africa’s Water Future: Catalysing Investment and Partnerships on the Road to the 2026 UN Water Conference.” Heads of State, ministers, development finance institutions, private investors, project developers and civil society representatives convened in Cape Town to tackle the USD 6.7 trillion investment gap to 2030 and the USD 22.6 trillion gap to 2050 for climate-resilient water infrastructure globally. |
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Egypt intends to expand its cooperation with Zimbabwe, with a particular focus on development and training in several strategic fields. Egyptian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Salwa Mowafi, announced the intent during a meeting in Harare with Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Jenfan Muswere. During the talks, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to deepen bilateral ties, including the exchange of experiences in healthcare, childcare, agriculture, water purification, tourism, and housing development. The modernisation of the media sector and technical cooperation were also discussed. |
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President Museveni and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi have agreed on a package of cooperation deals aimed at boosting shared use of the Nile, modernising agriculture, expanding trade, and strengthening health systems. The accords were signed in Cairo on the second day of Museveni’s three-day official visit. A key outcome was a Memorandum of Understanding on water management and irrigation, intended to promote equitable and sustainable use of the Nile River by all riparian states. Museveni urged a shift from historic rights to meeting the needs of all Basin countries, while El-Sisi stressed Egypt’s dependence on the Nile and its desire for Uganda’s support in fostering regional water cooperation. |
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At a meeting with senior officials of the Argentinian government, ministers of Panama, Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines explored new agribusiness and cooperation opportunities in the application of genetics in beef production, dairy farming and beekeeping, among other areas, to expand trade between Argentina and the Caribbean and Central America. The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) organised a visit to Argentina by Roberto José Linares, Minister of Agricultural Development of Panama; Ravi Ratiram, Senator and Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries of Trinidad and Tobago; and Frederick Stephenson, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Consumer Affairs of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. |
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Ghana and Lesotho have agreed to deepen cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation in a bid to accelerate Africa’s role in the global technology ecosystem. Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, hosted Lesotho’s Minister of Communication, Science and Technology, Nthati Moorosi, in Accra for talks focused on collaboration in digital policy, innovation and cross-border projects. The two nations committed to working together on harmonised digital frameworks to avoid policy fragmentation across Africa. As part of the effort, a virtual working group will be created with about 10 countries, including Ghana, Lesotho, Namibia, Rwanda, Nigeria, Guinea, Kenya and Gambia, with South Africa expected to join. |
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Indonesia's Ministry of Communications and Digital (Kemkomdigi) has launched a roadmap to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on talent development and infrastructure support. "The strategy begins with developing digital talent through national training programs, partnerships with universities," Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid said in a statement. The efforts to develop digital talent are also made by collaborating with global tech firms for knowledge and skills transfer. The government aims to cultivate AI professionals capable of driving innovation, shifting Indonesia’s role from technology user to technology producer.
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Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov established a digital transformation group, or digital headquarters, to advance AI integration across Kazakhstan, following President Tokayev’s directives. The group includes senior officials, such as the Deputy Prime Minister, the Head of Strategic Planning, the Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry, and the Presidential Digitalisation Advisor. The group is tasked with implementing nine priority areas outlined by the president. These span AI deployment in the economy, public administration, and healthcare; digital strategy development; IT architecture modernisation; cybersecurity; support for IT startups; the national QazTech platform; and innovative city initiatives. |
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The Federal Government has officially adopted Nigeria’s first National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM), a landmark step aimed at improving the health, dignity, and opportunities of women and girls nationwide. This policy, backed by WaterAid Nigeria and supported by Population Services International (PSI), was validated in Abuja by the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, alongside commissioners from all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and key civic stakeholders. Developed after extensive consultations across the country’s six geopolitical zones, the policy reflects state-specific priorities and socio-cultural contexts. |
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Jordan has kicked off public consultations for its National Digital Transformation Strategy, targeting the development of digital infrastructure, digital government services, and a national digital economy during the 2026-2028 timeframe. Among the key pillars of the strategy are digital identity and signature, privacy and trust, digital inclusion and participation and more, says the government. The strategy was unveiled by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship. As per the government’s announcement, “The plan’s foundations include legislative and regulatory frameworks, innovation and entrepreneurship, strategic partnerships, data, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.” |
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The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has launched a new digital platform to help attract investors and close the country's huge infrastructure funding gap. The platform, named NGF Investopedia, is designed to be a one-stop online shop where investors can find credible and transparent investment opportunities in all 36 Nigerian states. According to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the Chairman of the NGF, the goal is to address Nigeria's yearly infrastructure gap, which is estimated to be around $100 billion. He described the platform as a tool to help investors find not just where to invest but also how to invest in Nigeria with confidence. |
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THE Ministry of Health has pledged closer cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) to strengthen the country’s fragile health sector. Acting health minister Mohamed al-Ghouj met WHO’s representative in Libya, Ahmed Zouiten, in Tripoli for talks on directing joint efforts toward priority health issues with immediate impact on citizens. According to the ministry, the two sides discussed mechanisms for continued coordination to address health challenges and ensure effective responses. |
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