The Uhuru Institute for Social Development’s Post

On Risk Participation Agreements and how they help reduce constraints for local banks promoting intra-African trade.

The African Development Bank Group has approved two financial facilities for South-Africa based Standard Bank Group to support economic development in Africa: ✅ $200M Risk Participation Agreement to enhance trade finance across Africa, reducing constraints for local banks and promoting intra-African trade. ✅ ZAR 3.6B Social Bond to finance #SME lending under Standard Bank Group’s Sustainable Finance Framework, fostering #financialinclusion in #SouthAfrica. “This partnership reflects our commitment to sustainable growth. By supporting SMEs, we’re building an inclusive and prosperous Africa.” - Solomon Adegbie-Quaynor, VP for Private Sector, Infrastructure, and Industrialisation. Read more: https://bit.ly/3BnMvWK

African Development Bank Group Partners with Standard Bank Group. Big news for Africa’s economy! The African Development Bank Group has just approved two key facilities for Standard Bank to strengthen trade and empower #SMEs: $200 Million Trade Finance Facility: Helping local banks support businesses, close trade finance gaps, and boost intra-African trade. ZAR 3.6 Billion Social Bond: A groundbreaking initiative to fund SME lending in South Africa, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. This partnership is all about driving real impact. As Solomon Adegbie-Quaynor, the Bank’s Vice President for Private Sector, said: “We’re committed to creating opportunities for Africans to thrive by supporting SMEs and sustainable trade." Kenny Fihla from Standard Bank agrees: “This is a game-changer for SMEs and trade finance, helping us move closer to financial inclusion across the continent." It’s part of the African Development Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy (2024–2033) to build a more prosperous, integrated #Africa. #AfricaRising #SMEFinance #SustainableGrowth #TradeInnovation

South Africa’s Standard Bank has secured two facilities worth a combined US$400mn from the African Development Bank to support financing for SMEs on the continent.

Afreximbank has disbursed a US$40-million Intra-African Investment Facility to Fidelity Bank Nigeria Plc. This funding will support Fidelity Bank’s acquisition and recapitalization of Union Bank UK, marking a significant step in its international expansion. The facility, provided in two tranches of US$20 million each, has already enabled Fidelity Bank to refinance the acquisition of 100% equity in Union Bank UK and to inject additional equity into the acquired bank, as approved by UK regulators. Mrs Kanayo Awani, EVP of Afreximbank’s Intra-African Trade Bank, highlighted that “Fidelity Bank’s acquisition of Union Bank UK aligned with Afreximbank’s Intra-African Investment Facility. It was a significant milestone for both institutions, reinforcing African ownership and control within the global financial landscape…By supporting this strategic transaction, we are not only bolstering Nigeria’s banking sector but also fostering greater financial integration between Africa and its Diaspora. “ For more on the facility, visit: https://lnkd.in/ePVu9DMV #Afreximbank #FidelityBank #IntraAfricanTrade #Agenda2063

The Standard Bank Group has signed an agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to expand local currency lending and accelerate development projects across Africa. 

++ Crown Agents Bank and Invest Africa Ltd Launch ‘The Payments Exchange’ for Africa’s Economic Transformation ++ Crown Agents Bank, the specialist provider of foreign exchange (FX) and cross-border payments for hard-to-reach markets, and Invest Africa, a leading platform for business and investment opportunities in Africa, announces a new collaboration, ‘The Payments Exchange’. The campaign will drive new insight and understanding around the role of FX and payments in the economic transformation of Africa. It will also comprise a programme of events and content across 2024, that explores the integral role that payments and FX will play in realising the ambitions of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and future trade and investment. "In partnership with Invest Africa, Crown Agents Bank is proud to launch The Payments Exchange Series, catalysing dialogue and action to empower Africa’s economic evolution through optimised payments infrastructure. Together, we will pave the way for inclusive growth, facilitating financial access and fostering investment opportunities across the continent." - Chris Partridge, Head of Banks & NBFIs, Crown Agents Bank "At Invest Africa, we recognise the pivotal role that payments infrastructure plays in driving economic growth and investment across the continent. Through our collaboration with Crown Agents Bank, we are committed to amplifying the conversation around payments, fostering collaboration, and championing initiatives that will enhance financial inclusion and enable businesses to thrive in Africa." - Chantelé Carrington, CEO, Invest Africa Ltd #techafricanews #africa #economic #transformation #investment #opportunities #collaboration #inclusion #payment

United Bank for Africa (UBA) has initiated a N239.4 billion rights issue to bolster its capital base, enhance lending capabilities, and support its growth strategy across Africa. Key Details: 1. Rights Issue: The capital raise involves issuing 6.84 billion ordinary shares at N35 each, allowing shareholders to purchase one new share for every five existing shares as of November 5, 2024. 2. Purpose: The funds raised will strengthen UBA's regulatory capital, expand its lending capacity, and invest in digital infrastructure, aligning with a broader N400 billion equity program approved by shareholders. 3. Partnerships and Investments: UBA has pledged up to $6 billion in financing to support SMEs across Africa as part of its partnership with the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat. 4. Regulatory Compliance: This initiative complies with the Central Bank of Nigeria's revised minimum capital requirements for commercial banks. Read more https://lnkd.in/d4XJ5VdU #UBA #RightsIssue #Banking #Africa #DigitalInnovation

Regulating Africa to encourage embedded finance innovation Read an excerpt from the new Finextra research #report, 'The Future of Embedded Finance in Africa 2025', by Niamh Curran ➡️  https://lnkd.in/exYjSaeP Get your copy of the report here ➡️ https://bit.ly/3NhZ8F9 #fintech #thelongread #payments #finance #research #economy #digitalpayments #financialservices #financialinstitutions #banks #banking #Africa #embeddedfinance #embeddedpayments #digitalfinance #digitalpayments #mobilepayments #technology #innovation #future #trends #regulation #compliance #retailpayments #consumerprotection #security ##BNPL #alternativepayments #microfinance #loans #lending #credit #KCB #digitalcredit #government #regulators #KC #AML #centralbanks #regulatorysandbox

Crown Agents Bank, the specialist provider of #foreignexchange and #crossborder #payments for hard-to-reach markets, and Invest Africa – a leading platform for #business and #investment opportunities in #Africa – have announced a new #collaboration: The Payments Exchange, to drive new #insight and understanding around the role of #FX and payments in the #economic #transformation of Africa.