Solar Power Eclipses Fintech as Africa’s New Investment
Solar and renewables are vying with fintech and payments as the top draws for African venture capital, with investors viewing energy projects as the most attractive on the continent’s startup scene, a study found. Fintech and digital remained the most-funded sector by volume and deal count, the London-based research company said in the sixth edition of its study. Solar energy was the top-funded category across 29 deals, driven by a surge in demand for off-grid power solutions as companies see opportunities to reach the almost 600 million people in Africa without electricity. The sector grew 26% from the previous year, with companies such as d.light, Sun King, CrossBoundary Energy, and SolarAfrica reaching deals. Francophone West Africa — particularly Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso — is emerging as an increasingly active hub of climate-focused companies, the report said.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 22, 2026 08:02 UTC
Dean, School of Global Affairs and Public Policy job with AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO
The American University in Cairo (AUC) is the Middle East and North Africa’s leading English-language higher-education institution and one of the most unique universities in the world. The Dean works closely with the President, Provost and other senior University leaders in advancing the values, vision and mission of AUC. We are seeking an inspirational Dean who will be a visionary leader for the School and guide our further development. Perrett Laver is a Data Controller and a Data Processor whose legal basis for processing your personal data is ‘Legitimate Interests’. For more information about this, your rights, and Perrett Laver’s approach to Data Protection and Privacy, please see this Privacy Statement (https://perrettlaver.com/privacy-policy/).
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 22, 2026 06:46 UTC
North Africa Weekly: January 21, 2026 • Stimson Center
Read the North Africa Weekly on LinkedIn or join the conversation on X: @StimsonNAfricaOn Our RadarThe headlines shaping politics, security, and economics across North Africa and the Sahel. NORTH AFRICA POSTSweden publicly backed Morocco’s autonomy proposal, adding to Rabat’s diplomatic momentum on the Sahara issue. North Africa Program Director Hafed Al-Ghwell writes on how the 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy reduces Africa to a transactional resource frontier, eroding long-term American influence. VIRTUAL PANELThis Invest Africa webinar evaluates how North Africa can capitalize on its macro and logistical advantage to host resilient and export-oriented growth stories. PANELIn this Chatham House event, experts examined the key political, security, and economic dynamics to watch in MENA in 2026.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 21, 2026 20:40 UTC
Best Practices for Supplier Qualification in Life Science: Online Training Course (May 6th-7th, 2026) with 12 CPD Hours - ResearchAndMarkets.com
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Best Practices for Supplier Qualification in Life Science Training Course (May 6th - May 7th, 2026)" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Certifications:CPD: 12 hours for your records12 hours for your records Certificate of completionKey Topics CoveredDay 1Supplier Qualification IntroductionWhat is supplier qualification? International guidelines and directives for supplier qualification Overview of legislation, health authority expectations International Trade LawsIs the ISO 9001 certificate only sufficient for supplier qualification? Medical device suppliersMedical device supplier qualification process (21 CFR Part 820, MDR, GHTF, ISO 9001, ISO 1497, ISO 13485) PIP breast implant scandalFlow of supplier qualification & documentationHow does the relationship between audits and supplier qualification begin? Supplier qualification and digital technologiesGroup exercise: Review of an existing supplier Quality AgreementCritique of formatCritique of contentWorkshop: Supplier Quality AgreementBreakout groups to review and suggest improvement in supplier quality agreements.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 21, 2026 19:59 UTC
Boston Consulting Group (BCG’s) ASPIRE Women’s Workshop 2026 for university and PhD students (All-Expense paid to Barcelona, Spain ) – Opportunities For Africans
Application Deadline: March 1st, 2026Applications are now open for the 2026 Boston Consulting Group (BCG’s) ASPIRE Women’s Workshop. BCG ASPIRE Women’s Workshop is a 3-day women’s professional development event where over 90 talented students from Europe, Middle East, South America and Africa get to meaningfully engage with each other, explore consulting and connect with BCGers from around the world in the same location, Barcelona. Application RequirementsApplications to our ASPIRE Women’s Workshop are open to university and PhD students (undergraduate, master’s, or PhD programs). Depending on the country/office you are applying for, certain languages or documents may be required, such as copies of your most important diplomas (high school degree, undergraduate degree, graduate degree, PhD). For More Information:Visit the Official Webpage of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG’s) ASPIRE Women’s Workshop
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 21, 2026 17:37 UTC
Morocco’s dam filling rate approaches 50% – The North Africa Post
Morocco’s dam reserves rose sharply between 16 and 19 January, with total stored volumes increasing by 210 million cubic metres to reach 8.017 billion m³, pushing the national filling rate from 46.5% to 47.8%. Al Wahda Dam, the country’s largest, recorded the biggest volume gain, rising from 2.090 to 2.133 billion m³ (+43 million), with its filling rate improving from 59% to 60%. Al Massira Dam, supplying Casablanca, increased from 229 to 250 million m³ (+21 million), raising its filling level from 8% to 9%. Bin El Ouidane also added 21 million m³ to reach 340 million m³, improving its filling rate from 26% to 28%. Idriss I moved from 517 to 528 million m³ (+11 million), pushing its filling rate from 45% to 46%.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 21, 2026 15:10 UTC
Morocco’s ‘flawless’ AFCON 2025 security strategy praised by international media – The North Africa Post
Morocco’s security management during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, was executed “without any major incident or breakdown” across six host cities and nearly a month of competition, French media wrote. According to the French weekly JDD, Morocco’s success reflects a long‑term national security strategy developed under King Mohammed VI. JDD notes that AFCON 2025 involved 51 matches and the movement of hundreds of thousands of fans in an atmosphere of continuous celebration. Urban video‑protection networks, high‑definition stadium cameras, real‑time command centres, and aerial surveillance using drones formed the backbone of the monitoring system. According to JDD, Morocco views the tournament as a “general rehearsal” for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co‑host with Spain and Portugal.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 21, 2026 14:05 UTC
Lebanon Begins to Find Its Footing as Threats to Reforms – and Peace – Loom
NEED TO KNOWLebanon Begins to Find Its Footing as Threats to Reforms – and Peace – LoomLEBANONA year ago, Lebanon finally got a president. But for more than two years, Lebanon existed in a political stalemate with the powerful Shiite group Hezbollah and its allies wanting one candidate, while almost everyone else wanted Aoun. Lebanese officials say that while they are making progress, they know they are on a tight clock and that the countdown to the May elections has begun, an event that could disrupt their momentum. “You need economic reforms, but you also need security and political reforms. Meanwhile, the 2023–2024 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah devastated southern Lebanon, and the country needed donor funds to rebuild.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 21, 2026 13:44 UTC
Sex, death and betrayal: This North Korean movie shows things audiences have never seen before
A North Korean film is captivating audiences with scenes and storylines they have never seen before in a state-approved movie. Kyodo News/Getty ImagesBecause of the tightly controlled nature of North Korean society, independent accounts from ordinary moviegoers are impossible to obtain. It borrows the visual grammar of Hollywood thrillers in ways North Korean cinema long avoided. In Korean War epics like “Wolmi Island,” villains are foreign and obvious, while North Korean characters remain ideologically pure. via Magnolia PicturesWhat Kim Jong Il did not anticipate was that Sheen and Choi were secretly recording their meetings with him.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 21, 2026 12:25 UTC
Energy Hurdles in Africa; Mixed AI Sentiment; and Rethinking Shipping Strategies
Energy Transition & SustainabilityAfrica is a resource-abundant continent, but there is a wide disparity in the energy profiles between North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The former enjoys universal access to electricity, while 50% of the latter’s population lacks access. In this episode of the “EnergyCents” podcast, S&P Global Energy experts Silvia Macri and Anastasia Pantazopoulou joined hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss infrastructure hurdles and other energy poverty challenges facing many of Africa's less developed countries.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 21, 2026 12:01 UTC
CMA CGM files fresh FAK levels ex-Indian Subcontinent
CMA CGM files fresh FAK levels ex-Indian SubcontinentCMA CGM has announced a new round of Freight All Kinds (FAK) rates for dry cargo moving from the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East Gulf and Red Sea to North Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa, effective 1 February 2026 until further notice. From North West India, the carrier has set FAK levels at around USD 2,200 per container to North Europe, USD 2,100 to the Mediterranean and USD 3,100 to North Africa, with the quantum applicable on both 20‑foot and 40‑foot dry boxes on a gate‑in basis at origin ports. For cargo loaded in South East India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the Middle East Gulf, FAK rates are in the region of USD 2,300 to North Europe, USD 2,200 to the Mediterranean and USD 3,200 to North Africa, calculated on the vessel sailing date. For shipments originating in the Red Sea, CMA CGM has filed lower numbers, at about USD 1,300 per 20‑foot and 40‑foot unit to North Europe, USD 1,200 to the Mediterranean and USD 2,200 to North Africa, again effective 1 February. The revised tariff covers base ocean freight and bunker‑related charges only, with terminal handling, peak‑season, safety/security and other local surcharges remaining applicable on top of the headline FAK levels.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 21, 2026 11:50 UTC
Amethis Closes €406M Fund, Backing African Energy-Led Growth Companies
Amethis Investment Fund Manager, in partnership with Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity, has completed the final closing of Amethis Fund III at its target size of €406 million, marking a major milestone for Africa-focused private equity. Rather than focusing primarily on upstream oil and gas producers, Amethis Fund III is positioned to back local and regional companies that underpin Africa’s energy ecosystem. “Amethis Fund III exemplifies our shared conviction that long-term, responsible investment can unlock extraordinary potential across Africa. Amethis says the fund will help connect global investors with African entrepreneurs, supporting business growth, job creation and wider economic development across the continent. With Fund III, Amethis is positioning itself as a long-term partner to Africa’s energy value chain, backing the companies that enable large-scale energy projects to operate efficiently while building durable local capacity.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 21, 2026 09:28 UTC
Lombard and Credeq pioneer Gemini Enterprise deployment in Africa – Intelligent CIO Africa
Lombard and Credeq have become among the first companies in Africa to successfully deploy Gemini Enterprise, Google’s newest enterprise-grade AI enabler service. This breakthrough is the result of a collaboration between Synthesis, Google Cloud Africa, and the two pioneering businesses, marking a bold step forward for the region in advanced Artificial Intelligence adoption. As global interest accelerates around Gemini Enterprise, this deployment represents a timely and significant milestone. The deployment of Gemini Enterprise at Lombard and Credeq demonstrates the partners’ shared ambition to make advanced AI real, secure, and impactful across African industries. “This is a brand-new enterprise offering from Google, and we are proud that Lombard and Credeq are one of the first to deploy it in the African region,” said Paul Spagnoletti of Synthesis.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 21, 2026 08:48 UTC
Total solar eclipse 2030: Everything you need to know about totality in southern Africa and southeast Australia
On Monday, Nov. 25, 2030, a total solar eclipse will sweep across the Southern Hemisphere. Related: What's the difference between a total solar eclipse and an annular solar eclipse? What's special about the Nov. 25, 2030 total solar eclipse? Path of totality for the Nov. 25, 2030 total solar eclipseImage 1 of 4 The path of totality for the total solar eclipse on Nov. 25, 2030 (Image credit: Created using MapHub.net. Where to see the partial solar eclipse on Nov. 25, 2030The HESS telescope in Namibia will get a 99.9% partial solar eclipse.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 21, 2026 06:01 UTC
Battery warning after Warwickshire bin lorry wrecked in fire
Battery warning after bin lorry wrecked in fireThe bin lorry caught fire due to a lithium battery being in the waste, a council spokesperson saidA bin lorry has been destroyed after a lithium battery dumped as part of a household's rubbish caught fire, a council says. During an early morning collection this month in north Warwickshire, bin workers found the fire had started in the back of their vehicle while on a round. The damaged vehicle will cost about £250,000 to replace or £125,000 to fix just the back end of the truck, a North Warwickshire Borough Council spokesperson said. No injuries were reported but they urged residents to properly dispose of batteries at local shops or recycling centres.
Source:The North Africa Journal
January 21, 2026 04:45 UTC