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AfDB Launches Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme at Climate Adaptation Summit.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) announced a new Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) during the Climate Adaptation summit. This flagship program will focus on agriculture, infrastructure, youth and innovative finance. The African Development Bank has committed to mobilize $25 billion as climate finance between 2020 and 2025, of which at least 50% will support climate adaptation and resilience building. AfdB and GCA will use this to leverage an additional $12.5 billion through other key partners. At the summit Germany pledges US$268 million to support climate resiliency in low-income countries while Japan shall provide US$69 million to improve rice irrigation facilities in Senegal. Donor Tracker
Update from Davos: How Africa can lead an Inclusive, Cohesive and Sustainable Pandemic Recovery.
Government and business leaders must focus on four key priority areas, including implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area, ensuring a just transition to zero emissions, and harnessing the digital transformation. These efforts can help support an inclusive, sustainable recovery for the region. This article is part of the updates from Davos: World Economic Forum
NEW SPECIES ALERT! ‘Spectacular’ orange-furred Bat described from West African Mountain
An orange-furred bat has been described from the caves and mining tunnels of the Nimba Mountains in Guinea. Researchers say the bat had such a distinctive look that they quickly recognized it was a species new to science. The newly described species, which they named Myotis nimbaensis, meaning “from Nimba,” may also be critically endangered and found only in this particular mountain range. Mongabay . 
How much is an Elephant worth? Meet the Ecologists doing the sums.
In 2014, researchers led by the ecological economist Robert Costanza updated the 1997 valuation of the Earth’s ecosystem services. It was estimated they were now worth $125tn a year. Meet the ecologist working on valuating an elephant: The Guardian
Scientists produce Embryos in Race to Save Northern White Rhino from Extinction
Scientists working to save the northern white rhino from extinction have produced two more embryos of the world's most endangered mammal, increasing the number of viable embryos produced so far to five. There are no known living males and neither of the two remaining northern white rhinos on Earth- a mother and her daughter living in Kenya - can carry a calf to term.
Fears for Rosewood as Guinea-Bissau prepares to lift Six-year Logging Ban
The Guinea-Bissau government is poised to lift a moratorium on logging that came into force in 2015. Forestry officials and conservationists say they fear a return to rampant overharvesting of rosewood and other valuable species. Mongabay
Uganda Start-up ventures into Solar Smartphones
Simi Mobile, a Uganda startup company has introduced the solar charged phone to address the plight of 60 per cent of the population which is living outside the electricity grid. They also want to make it cheap and user friendly for government services. Monitor.co.zm
Siemens Mobility to install first ever high-speed Rail System in Egypt
Siemens Mobility have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) together with the local companies Orascom Construction S.A.E. and The Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co.), to design, install and commission Egypt’s first-ever high-speed rail transportation system. Constructionreviewonline.com
African Tech Startup funding passes $700m in record-breaking 2020
397 startups raised an impressive US$701.5 million in total funding. Both these figures are up substantially on the previous year, with the number of funded startups increasing 27.7 per cent on 2019, and the funding total growing by 42.7 per cent. Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt remain emphatically Africa’s “big four” from a funding perspective: Disrupt Africa
Africa50, Foreign Policy launch Infrastructure-focused Podcast Series
The podcast features visionary leaders, entrepreneurs, CEOs and heads of institutions, who will share their views and insights on the continent’s challenges and investment opportunities. Africa50
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but climate change is making that job even more difficult. As the world is getting hotter, African farmers are in a race against time to find new and ingenious ways to work under increasingly extreme conditions. A Malawian farmer has an idea – but can she succeed? Listen here:
