AGP Executive Report

AI Skills & Jobs Pipeline: Namibia’s NOVA Institution of Artificial Intelligence is training future-ready AI technicians through practical, project-based programmes (plus incubation to turn ideas into businesses). Digital Infrastructure Funding: Trident Digital Tech Holdings closed a US$8m private placement to fund digital infrastructure and enterprise AI work across Africa, including Ghana’s digital tax platform. ESG & Corporate Reputation: Zain Group’s MSCI ESG rating upgraded from A to AA, placing it among top telecom performers in the GCC. Trade & Employment: South Africa’s cherry exporters gained first-time access to China after a landmark protocol signing, with expectations of growth in production, exports and processing jobs. Critical Minerals for Industrial Jobs: The US proposed a Kenya minerals partnership to build factories, train workers and transfer technology around rare earth and niobium deposits. Local Business & Regulation: Cape Town’s draft animal bylaw sparked backlash over pet licensing/permits; officials say wording was poorly drafted and clarify intent. Kenya Traders & Xenophobia Risk: African CSOs warned Kenya’s measures against foreign small-scale traders could fuel discrimination and xenophobic tensions. Infrastructure Finance: Kenya’s National Infrastructure Fund targets about Sh42bn annual income from government securities to support mega projects.

Informal Economy: A new report says nearly 83% of jobs across Africa are informal, with poverty and red tape pushing millions into work that lacks protection or taxation. Social Protection & Pensions: Kenya’s NSSF clarified how members permanently leaving the country can claim the Emigration Benefit, while South Africa’s Pension Funds Adjudicator warned that up to half of complaints stem from employers failing to pay contributions. Labour & Education: Liberia’s MCSS teachers threaten a boycott over unresolved pay and employment grievances, and South Africa’s Golden Arrow faces a potential strike after a dispute over disciplinary procedures. Jobs, Skills & Youth: A West Africa summit urged investment in youth for peace and stability, while a Liberia initiative (YEIBMANCO) targets youth entrepreneurship with finance, mentorship and market linkages. Trade & Employment: South Africa’s cherry farmers win zero-tariff access to China, with the deal expected to create about 600 jobs. Digital & AI Work: Egypt launches an “AI factory” partnership to build sovereign AI infrastructure, aiming to boost cybersecurity, data control and tech jobs. Migration & Xenophobia: Kenya’s crackdown on foreign traders sparks xenophobia fears, with government urging regularisation rather than harassment.

Smithsonian Leadership Shake-up: Lonnie Bunch III will retire from the Smithsonian by end-2026 after sustained pressure from the Trump administration over how American history is presented, raising fresh questions about institutional independence. Trade & Jobs: South Africa’s agriculture minister Willie Aucamp signed a protocol granting SA cherry producers market access into China for the first time, a potential boost given China’s huge cherry import volumes. Public Service Delivery: South Africa’s Deputy Minister Pinky Kekana will take government services to Zandspruit (Ward 114) on 11 September via an outreach and community imbizo, with departments including Home Affairs and SASSA. Entrepreneurship Push: Egypt is preparing to host the Global Entrepreneurship Festival 2026 (6–8 Nov), with officials linking startups to job creation and productivity. Immigration Controls: Ghana says it will tighten checks on citizens travelling abroad after the South Africa evacuation, focusing on group travel and recruitment risks. ESG & Corporate Reputation: Zain Group’s MSCI ESG rating upgraded to “AA,” making it Kuwait’s top-rated company in the telecom space. Sports & Careers: Nigeria appoints Augustine Eguavoen as interim Super Falcons coach for 2028 Olympic qualifiers.

Jobs & Mobility: Nigeria’s Shuttlers launches Shuttlers Pod, a scheduled door-to-door shared ride for Lagos commuters, with fixed fares, named drivers and guaranteed pickups—another step toward more reliable urban transport. Tourism & Investment: Zimbabwe is pitching Gonarezhou National Park to tourism investors after a media familiarisation tour highlighted wildlife assets, conservation infrastructure and the case for more private capital. Trade & Partnerships: Uganda and South Korea are holding a trade and investment meeting in Seoul to unlock new commercial partnerships and technology transfer. Workplace Wellbeing: A paid-leave focus story argues that time off matters for health, especially as modern work keeps people “switched on.” Health Coverage: South Africa’s medical scheme affordability gap is leaving 8.79 million people outside coverage, despite earning above the tax threshold. Youth & Enterprise Finance: Liberia launched the YEIB-MANCO Technical Assistance Program to help youth and MSMEs become bankable, formalise and grow. Finance Sector: Liberia’s Central Bank convenes a national conference on non-performing loans to improve lending and access to credit. UK-Africa Trade: Alastair Long takes up as the UK’s Trade Commissioner for Africa with a mandate to drive market access, investment and jobs.

Workforce Credentials: Abu Dhabi launched a Digital Skills Card using QR verification and blockchain-backed records so employers can instantly confirm qualifications. Local Jobs & Skills: NCDMB urged African governments to turn resource wealth into industrial power through stronger local content frameworks that build jobs and competitiveness in oil and gas value chains. SME Funding Readiness: Deloitte Ghana and UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce pushed SMEs to focus on “bankability” (governance, risk management, market traction) to unlock the right capital. Public Sector Integrity: South Africa flagged 891 potential ghost workers after physical verification of 800,000+ civil servants, with cases still awaiting validation. Cost of Living & Social Protection: South African pensioners protested for an old-age grant increase from R2,400 to R5,000, saying essentials like food, electricity and transport are crushing budgets. Football Bonuses: SAFA said Bafana Bafana World Cup bonuses are delayed due to US and Mexico tax compliance, though other allowances are already paid. Diaspora Support: Ghana reported 4,972 citizens repatriated since 2025, including GH¢49.72m spent evacuating nearly 1,900 people from xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Corporate & HR Tech: Bukhatir Group rolled out DIWAN, a secure enterprise AI assistant for employees, with private deployment and audit logging. Business & Trade: DP World faces a Kenya company-name dispute that could lead to being struck off unless it changes its local subsidiary name.

Gold & Jobs: Sibanye-Stillwater has won board approval for the Burnstone gold project in Mpumalanga, planning about R6.2bn investment and ~130,000 oz/year from 2027 build-up, with processing from Q1 2029—an unusual bet on new South African gold capacity. Trade & Capital Flows: Indonesia’s gold producer Merdeka Gold’s Hong Kong listing highlights a fast-growing Indonesia–Hong Kong “round trip” of trade and investment, with Hong Kong re-positioning to capture more regional growth. Healthcare Access: A Wits RHI transgender clinic closure after US funding cuts left a Soweto patient months without hormones, raising alarms about continuity of care and communication when services shift. Local Ownership & Manufacturing: Olive Africa Partners has acquired TexStyles Ghana (GTP and Woodin brands) from Vlisco, keeping operations in Ghana while transferring trademarks and ownership. Work & Migration Rules: Kenya warns visa-free entry doesn’t equal permission to work or trade; foreigners must follow work-permit rules, especially in retail. Education & Integrity: Ghana’s education minister orders schools not to admit students outside CSSPS, warning of sanctions after placement discrepancies. Aid Cuts Hit Health Workforce: Malawi faces a health crisis as US aid cuts force mobile clinic shutdowns and job losses, threatening HIV and family planning gains. Cyber & Identity Security: CyberKnight flags AI-driven phishing and identity-focused attacks across Africa, urging organisations to govern AI use rather than “bolt it on.” Football Governance: AmaZulu King Misuzulu backs Sandile Zungu for SAFA president, urging KZN regions to unite ahead of the 12 September vote.

Health Crisis & Jobs: Eastern Cape admits it needs about 600 ambulances for full EMS capacity, but only 192 are operational as it rolls out 26 more vehicles—highlighting how service gaps keep frontline workers under pressure. Energy Transition & Industry: Egypt accelerates renewables with deeper China-backed cooperation, aiming to lift renewable electricity targets to 45% by 2028 and pushing localized solar and wind industrial links. Security & Regional Ties: China’s PLA Air Force plans a bigger presence at Egypt’s second Airshow with fighter, tanker and early-warning aircraft—signalling deepening military cooperation. Trade & Employment: Nigeria’s foreign affairs minister urges businesses to use ECOWAS trade liberalisation and AfCFTA to expand markets, create jobs and focus on value addition in agriculture, mining and manufacturing. SME Sustainability Training: B Lab Africa launches the 7th Resilient Sustainable Business cohort to help African SMEs build sustainability systems that unlock investment and growth. Cost of Living Politics: Atiku Abubakar renews calls for production-linked support and domestic refining, arguing Tinubu’s fuel subsidy removal drove higher petrol, food and transport costs. Human Trafficking Prevention: Next2None and NAPTIP unveil Africa’s first international fashion-for-social-impact campaign, “Threads of Resilience: Fashion for Freedom,” targeting youth empowerment and survivor dignity. Skills-to-Work Pipeline: Somalia’s Bile Initiative 2026 trains ICT students in software development, AI and cloud to close the gap between university and hiring. Workplace Readiness for AI: A business-focused piece argues Africa’s “intelligent workplaces” must evolve so employees can benefit from AI rather than be left behind.

Skills & Jobs: Uganda is drafting a practical agriculture curriculum with ILO support to plug technical gaps in mechanisation, irrigation, farm structures and soil testing—aimed at creating youth employment and reducing reliance on foreign skilled workers. Climate Finance: A new analysis says Africa gets only about 23% of the climate finance it needs, with vulnerable countries receiving just 11% while private investment concentrates elsewhere—leaving mitigation and adaptation underfunded. Health & Industry: Egypt is pushing local production of advanced medical equipment, starting with assembly of CT scanners and surgical X-ray systems, plus plans for R&D and technology transfer. Workplace & Rights: South Africa’s Labour Court case tests church employment rules after a Seventh Day Church CFO was removed over a spouse’s refusal to relocate to Mozambique. Governance & Integrity: KZN police allegations of criminal networks infiltrating legal practice raise pressure on regulators to act. Public Safety & Community: Limpopo residents threaten to boycott elections over long-running water failures. Business & Investment: Gabon reiterates plans to deepen UAE trade and investment ties across energy, infrastructure and natural resources, citing job creation.

Youth & Jobs: African youth in Accra renewed calls for debt cancellation, reparations and resource sovereignty at a Youth Forum on Debt and Reparations, with speakers arguing Africa’s debt is tied to centuries of extraction and neocolonial control. Trade & Food Security: AUDA-NEPAD’s head warned that Africa’s food markets stay fragmented, so surplus often can’t reach deficit areas; she urged AfCFTA to remove barriers and build food corridors. Regional Business Support: Nigeria launched ETLS sensitisation workshops to help firms use ECOWAS trade rules to expand exports, add value and create jobs. Skills & Entrepreneurship: BYU’s BUILD Conference in Johannesburg backed African entrepreneurs with mentorship and business plan prizes, while Ghana’s Yaounde International Business School showcased student plans aimed at turning graduates into job creators. Investment & Local Content: Kenya ordered Tata Chemicals Magadi to exit, saying it failed to deliver enough local processing and jobs, as new investors are lined up. Finance & Growth: US EXIM Bank reopened credit and insurance for Zambia’s private sector after AGOA extension through 2028. Mobility & Work: Uber abruptly exited Nigeria and Uganda, ending operations and cutting about 3,300 jobs globally as it pivots.

Elections & Campaigning: South Africa’s Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma accused a political party of ignoring voter outreach and obsessing over “March and March” ahead of elections, sparking heated online debate. Opposition Momentum: In Nigeria’s Zamfara, ADC chairman Kabiru Garba says the “Zamfara First” agenda can unseat APC in 2027, urging disciplined grassroots mobilisation. Trade & Jobs: US President Trump signed an AGOA extension through December 2028, giving Kenya and other eligible exporters continued duty-free access and a boost for apparel jobs. Health Sector Investment: Tanzania is courting major US investors to build health-product manufacturing—pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and devices—aiming for technology transfer and job creation. Creative Economy & Employment: Nigeria’s FG unveiled Afrocentric Cultural Expo 2026, projecting over N125m in local economic injection and job-linked activity. Work & Welfare Pressure: A Gauteng woman says SASSA SRD grant rejection left her without income while she searches for work, highlighting how unemployment and bureaucracy collide. Illicit Trade & Consumer Risk: South Africa seized fake Springboks merchandise and production equipment worth over R1.5m in Johannesburg, while toy-makers warn counterfeit toys now take about 25% of the market. Regulatory Crackdown on Foreign Traders: Kenya ordered Tata Chemicals to “pack and go” over alleged regulatory failures, and also moved to shut foreign-owned small businesses, raising uncertainty for cross-border entrepreneurs.

Tanzania Creative Economy: Tanzania’s creative sector is pushing for major reforms to unlock finance, insurance, IP protection and fair taxation, warning current systems don’t fit creatives’ realities and leave most workers uninsured. Nigeria Cost-of-Living & Wages: Nigeria’s minimum wage debate heats up as Omoyele Sowore says no one can live on ₦70,000 and even his ₦500,000 proposal is “too small,” while Atiku accuses the Tinubu government of driving desperate youth to sell kidneys. Ghana–South Africa Xenophobia Response: Ghana evacuates 41 more citizens from South Africa after xenophobic attacks, bringing returnees to about 1,600 since May, with reintegration support promised. Skills to Jobs in Nigeria: Kaduna State begins paying 4,050 TVET graduates ₦200,000 each to start businesses, aiming to turn vocational training into self-employment. Ghana Digital Jobs Push: MTN Ghana signs an MoU with the University of Ghana to bridge academia and industry and accelerate AI-led digital transformation. Rwanda Farm Finance: IFAD, Bank of Kigali and Aceli Africa launch a blended financing programme to expand credit for farmers’ organizations and smallholders, targeting women and youth. Global Restructuring Watch: Volkswagen plans 50,000 job cuts and major model simplification, a reminder of how global competition can quickly reshape employment. Uber Africa Exit: Uber cuts jobs and exits Nigeria and Uganda as it pivots toward driverless technology, raising concerns for gig workers.

Jobs & HR Policy: Nigeria’s Federal Workers Forum is demanding a jump in the national minimum wage from ₦70,000 to ₦300,000 and a new civil service salary structure, arguing pay has failed to keep up with living costs. Digital Finance & Skills: Lagos State’s tech adviser urged Nigeria to lead Africa in digital finance, tokenised assets and cross-border settlements, stressing the need for local trust and regulatory systems. Industrial Jobs: Uganda’s manufacturers say the sector contributes about 16.5% to the economy and is a key driver of jobs, taxes and value chains. Local Content & Energy: Nigeria’s NCDMB backed Africa Local Content at Africa Oil Week, pushing “from resource ownership to industrial power” across the upstream value chain. Women in Leadership: Zimbabwe’s WomenCan Awards spotlight women reshaping business and communities, with categories recognising impact beyond titles. Youth & Governance: A review of the African Youth Charter marks two decades since adoption, but warns youth remain underrepresented in politics and economically marginalised. Workplace Wellbeing: Zimbabwe’s “mjolo pandemic” story links relationship stress to rising mental health strain. Food Systems & Employment: Kenya’s Food4Education argues school feeding can scale into an economic engine, employing thousands and sourcing mostly from smallholder farmers. Corruption & Accountability: Nigeria’s whistleblower protection gap is highlighted as EFCC/ICPC investigations depend on people willing to speak up. Trade & Jobs: China’s zero-tariff push raises the question for Nigeria: can preferential access translate into factories, jobs and value-added exports?

Jobs & Skills: Kenya’s President William Ruto ordered a crackdown on foreign nationals running small businesses and hawking, saying they must close from next week unless they create jobs and expand production. Workplace Scams: South Africa’s WCED warned teachers about a revived WhatsApp scam demanding about R2,800 for “fake” permanent teaching posts. Labour Market Impact: A South Africa study says illicit trade has wiped out 87,000 potential formal jobs and cost R68bn in annual tax revenue. Human Capital & Education: Nigeria’s NELFUND is highlighted as a lifeline for students facing tuition and upkeep funding gaps. Child Protection: South Africa’s Children’s Memorial Institute in Johannesburg faced a crippling electricity disconnection, threatening hospital laundry and infection control for multiple facilities. Policy & Investment: Kenya’s Ruto also ordered Tata Chemicals Magadi to leave, pushing for local glass and chemical plants—raising a legal and industrial test for the country’s mineral-to-manufacturing plan. AI & Work: Bill Gates warned AI leaders are privately worried about how dangerous AI is for jobs and society, despite public reassurances.

Asset Recovery & Corruption: South Africa’s push to fight corruption is increasingly about silent seizure of stolen assets under Poca—civil forfeiture without criminal conviction, plus criminal routes—yet advocates say hundreds of thousands of potential silicosis/TB claimants still wait. Oil & Gas Jobs: Namibia’s Custos Energy welcomes TotalEnergies as operator of PEL83 (Mopane discoveries), aiming to move the project toward production and youth skills/jobs. Transport Costs & Work Access: An Ipsos study finds nearly 1 in 7 South Africans miss work or studies because transport is unaffordable, with fuel and fares deepening the mobility trap. Uber Restructuring: Uber shuts down in Nigeria and Uganda effective Sept 2 and plans global job cuts (about 10%), citing a leaner structure as it pivots. Agriculture Skills: Nigeria’s NADF trained 4,000 tractor operators and mechanics as FG deploys 2,000 tractors and thousands of implements to sustain mechanisation. Digital/Trade for Jobs: US Consulate in Lagos says it’s actively facilitating tech and investment partnerships with Nigerian entrepreneurs to create jobs. Egypt-China Trade Push: China’s zero-tariff policy for imports from 53 African countries is expected to boost Egyptian agricultural exports; separate deals target local manufacturing like tires in the Suez zone. Workplace & HR Compliance: South Africa’s DStv plans new streaming packages from Sept 17, while a South Africa aviation minister seeks a fresh inquest into a 2020 SACAA crash—both tied to accountability and service delivery.

Uber exits Nigeria and Uganda: Ride-hailing giant Uber has shut down operations in Nigeria and Uganda effective Sept 2, citing a global restructuring and “evolving business priorities,” leaving it operating only in Egypt, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa; the move also comes as Uber cuts about 10% of its workforce globally. Jobs and skills under pressure (Morocco): Morocco’s call centre and offshoring union federation urges the government to revise its offshoring offer by 2030, calling for tripartite talks, job-impact tracking, retraining before layoffs, and social dialogue on AI and automation. Local-content crackdown (Kenya): President William Ruto orders authorities to close small businesses run by foreign nationals from Sept 7, arguing hawking and low-capital retail should be reserved for Kenyans, with a Local Content Bill pushing workforce and sourcing rules. Diaspora cash hit (Kenya): Remittances from the US to Kenya fell by nearly Sh22bn in H1 2026 as Trump tax fallout and regional shocks bite, pushing US inflows to their lowest first-half level since 2021. Human rights squeeze (Tunisia): Human Rights Watch says Tunisia has prosecuted and detained civil society workers, with convictions and long detentions used to shut down migrant and rights-support groups. Energy-for-jobs push (Eswatini): Eswatini’s PM calls for energy partnerships that create jobs, transfer skills, and build local companies—positioning IPPs as developers and owners, not just contractors. Workforce pathways (Gauteng): Gauteng selects 18 disadvantaged students for the Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro medical programme in Cuba after thousands of applications, aiming to expand access to medical training and community service.

Jobs & Skills: Nigeria’s employers’ group NECA says Q2 GDP growth is only a “mixed outlook” and warns GDP gains aren’t yet translating into better business conditions and living standards. Digital Finance: FirstBank says it’s disbursing over N1bn in digital loans daily, pushing faster credit access for salary earners and small businesses. Agri-Employment: ACCI flags Nigeria’s agriculture as still underperforming in GDP contribution and backs mechanisation and export-quality production via AGROMEQA EXPO 2026. AI & Hiring: Huawei Nigeria’s summit calls for investment in local talent and innovation to move Nigeria from tech consumer to tech creator. Public Safety & Work: Durban’s N3 “Spaghetti Junction” was blocked by construction workers protesting, highlighting labour tensions around major infrastructure upgrades. Health & Productivity: South Africa faces an early diabetes surge, with Stats SA data showing diabetes now overtakes TB and HIV as a leading natural cause of death. Education & Equity: An Eastern Cape teacher wins a promotion dispute after an ELRC ruling that he was unfairly overlooked despite scoring higher. Climate Finance: Liberia moves closer to a national carbon market policy, with the big question now being how to protect forests and communities while attracting investment.