Renaissance Africa Energy Company and hosts to its South Swamp Gas Gathering Solution (SSGGS) project have commenced plans to conserve the Apoi Creek Forest Reserves in Bayelsa State.
The polluted Apoi Creek
Renaissance, a consortium of indigenous firms in March acquired the onshore and shallow waters assets hitherto operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) in the Niger Delta.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement in Yenagoa on Friday, July 11, 2025, Mr. Charles Akhideno, Head, Biodiversity at Renaissance, noted that the event aims to develop a Diversity Action Plan for areas within five kilometre radius of the SSGGS project site near the Apoi Creek Forest Reserves.
He said that Renaissance prioritises care for the environment and engages in conservation efforts to restore the environment where it operates.
According to him, the company is working with communities, environmental scientists and civil society organisations and Bayelsa government to develop plans to preserve endangered animals and plants species at the Apoi Creek Forest Reserves.
He noted that the environmental scientists who have been conducting studies at the forest reserves will review species of monkeys, chimpanzees, vultures, parrots amongst other plants and animals species that are endangered for attention.
Mr. Ebi Ben-Ololo, Bayelsa Commissioner for Environment, regretted that oil and gas exploration had adversely affected and degraded the environment across Bayelsa with relics of pollution degrading the ecosystem.
Ben-Ololo, however, commended the approach adopted by Renaissance Africa in prioritising environmental protection and conservation even before the commencement of the SSGGS project.
Traditional rulers, community development committee members, women and youth leaders deliberated on ways to halt human actions that put pressure on the forest resources and endanger the biodiversity of the forest reserve.
They resolved that alternative economic activities should be considered for those who depend solely on the forest resources in environmentally sustainable fields.
Some civil society organisations in the Niger Delta have called for the decentralisation of Nigeria’s climate change response structure.
Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal
The call was made at the ongoing Third Niger Delta Annual Climate Change Conference in Port Harcourt on Friday, July 11, 2025.
In his address, the Convener, Mr. Friday Nbani, said that the move would give more meaning to the campaign against climate change and environmental crisis.
At the conference organised by the Leadership Initiative for Transformation, Nbani urged the National Council on Climate Change to evolve policies that would have positive impact across the country.
The Convener said that the conference aimed to aggregate the voices of Niger Delta stakeholders ahead of the COP30 conference scheduled to hold in Brasil in November.
He said that the annual conference was a vital forum for regional advocacy and strategy on climate change and environmental challenges.
Nbani, also the Director, Lekeh Development Foundation, said that issues of climate change should be given attention at the state and local government levels.
“We need state and local government climate change desks to capture the realities on the ground, especially in the rural communities where degradation is severe and undocumented.
“Niger Delta communities can no longer farm or fish. This is why we must build solidarity and unity, our voices must be heard at the national and global levels.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Ken Henshaw, the Executive Director, We the People, called for an urgent transition from the use of fossil fuels.
Henshaw faulted multinational oil corporations for the region’s environmental challenges and criticised the country’s economic dependence on crude oil.
“As a country, if we refuse to break away from fossil fuel, we will be contributing to the climate crisis.
“We need an economy that is not tied to oil and gas, communities need direct support and protection from climate-related disasters,” he said.
Also speaking, Anthony Hayward, a lawyer, said that Niger Delta communities had shown remarkable courage in their quest for environmental justice.
He joined the call to decentralise Nigeria’s climate governance structure and the need for reparations to oil-producing communities.
The lawyer said that Nigeria should be more proactive about the campaign against environmental pollution by ensuring that the positions of the law prevailed at all times.
The event brought together environmental activists, legal experts, civil society leaders, and impacted community representatives, among others.
The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) says it will hold a high-profile celebration on July 29, 2025, to mark its 10th anniversary.
Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Alhaji Saleh Abubakar
The Director-General (D-G) of the agency, Mr. Sale Abubakar, made this known on Friday, July 11, in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, during a courtesy visit to Gov. Umar Namadi.
Abubakar said the agency has over the years led national efforts in combating desertification, restoring degraded lands and improving livelihoods in the 11 frontline states of Northern Nigeria.
He explained that through extensive afforrestation, water harvesting, and community engagement programmes, the agency made measurable contributions to environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
The director-general added that Jigawa was among the 11 frontline states of the agency’s operation and due to its strategic importance.
Abubakar stated, “Aside the normal GGW activities, projects like the Action Against Desertification (AAD) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), were all executed in the state.
“The agency will be bold to state that Jigawa has the highest GGW activities and other international funding support.
“Hennce the reason to select it as the venue for this year’s GGW Day which coincides with the 10th Anniversary of the agency.
“To commemorate a decade of dedicated service and raise national awareness, the agency is planning a high-profile celebration to be hosted in Dutse on July 29, 2025.”
According to him, the event will serve as a moment of reflection, recognition, and renewed commitment to the goals of the African Union-led Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI).
Abubakar added that the previous GGW Day was celebrated in Abuja with Vice-President Kashim Shettima in attendance, among other top-notch personalities.
He added that the event would feature activities like National Green Wall Summit and a fund raising to complement the Federal Government’s effort.
According to him, other activities lined up include public tree planting campaigns, environmental awareness programmes, cultural and stakeholders engagement, as well as awards to recognise partners and contributors.
“We are extolling your remarkable commitment to national development and CSR particularly in supporting social impactful causes.
“Therefore, your usual cooperation in championing the cause of mitigating climate change menace in your state and beyond, the agency decided to host this year’s event in Dutse.
“This is to appreciate your unwavering commitment to environmental concerns.
Responding, the Governor commended the agency for its laudable programmes that helped the state safeguard its environment and restored degraded soil in many parts of the state.
Namadi assured of his administration’s readiness to host the summit as well as ensure its success in all ramifications.
“I want to assure that Jigawa is happy to host this year’s summit and we are ready to ensure the success of the summit in all ramifications.
“You will find us cooperative and supportive.
“As a New World, on behalf of the people and government of Jigawa, I want to sincerely thank you for choosing the state for this year’s summit,” the governor added.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to harnessing Nigeria’s vast gas resources with stakeholders.
Participants at Asharami Square, convened by Sahara Group
Ekpo said gas must be seen not just as fuel, but as a legacy for future generations and a driver of economic transformation across the country.
He gave the assurance on Friday, July 11, 2025, in Lagos during a keynote at the second edition of Asharami Square, convened by Sahara Group to promote energy dialogue.
The event was with the theme, “Harnessing Gas for Africa’s Sustainable Future”.
Represented by his Senior Technical Adviser, Mr. Abel Nse, Ekpo said the ministry would keep working with regulators for a stable, innovation-driven policy environment.
He identified the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission as key collaborators in this effort.
Ekpo praised Sahara Group for shaping public discourse, stating that Asharami Square helps bridge the gap between intention and action in the energy transition space.
“It is an honour to join you at this important initiative reshaping how we act on the urgent themes of sustainability, energy transition, and development,” Ekpo said.
He noted that although Africa has abundant gas reserves, the continent still battles energy poverty, poor infrastructure, and limited access to clean, affordable energy.
“This paradox must be resolved – not later, but now,” he added.
Ekpo stressed that natural gas should be seen not only as a transitional fuel, but as a transformational one capable of accelerating inclusive growth.
He said gas can power industries, energise homes, cut dependence on dirtier fuels, and enable economic diversification in key sectors.
Under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, he said, the Decade of Gas is a strategic move to reduce poverty and promote clean energy alternatives nationwide.
“Harnessing gas requires more than goodwill – it needs bold investment in infrastructure and delivery mechanisms,” he added.
He said pipelines must connect supply to demand, while virtual pipelines should serve remote and underserved communities across Nigeria.
Ekpo emphasised the need for de-risked investment environments and financial frameworks that attract private-sector participation in gas projects.
He cited LPG penetration programmes for clean cooking and regional ventures such as the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline and West African Gas Pipeline expansion.
Quoting the International Energy Agency, he said Africa holds over 7 per cent of global gas reserves but uses under 5 per cent of global gas output.
“This mismatch between potential and use must be urgently addressed,” he said.
Ekpo called on local and foreign investors to help expand Nigeria’s gas infrastructure for both domestic consumption and export markets.
“Our aim is clear: let no molecule of gas be stranded,” he said.
He said the Petroleum Industry Act offers a modern regulatory framework that encourages transparency, competitiveness, and boosts investor confidence in Nigeria’s gas sector.
Speaking on the media’s role, Ekpo said journalists influence public policy and must be empowered to tell stories that inspire change and humanise energy poverty.
“In an era of misinformation, the media can either spark action or fuel indifference,” he warned.
He urged journalists to connect gas narratives to jobs, health, education, and dignity in their reporting.
Ekpo called for a collective effort in shaping Africa’s energy future, rather than being passive in the global energy transition.
“Gas gives us flexibility to meet rising demand, reduce emissions, and support renewables. Let us act now to ensure gas powers Africa’s transformation,” he said.
During the June 2025, UN Climate Meetings in Bonn, the Technology Mechanism under the UNFCCC hosted a side event that brought together experts, government representatives and financial institutions to examine how data, finance and technology can drive the deployment of climate technologies in buildings and infrastructure.
A city. Photo credit: Pixabay / Graphical
Organised in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Climate Policy Centre, the session underscored the urgent need to scale up climate solutions for buildings, especially in developing countries.
Buildings and Cities at the Heart of Climate Solutions
Buildings account for nearly one-third of global CO₂ emissions and are highly vulnerable to climate impacts. However, they also offer a major opportunity for rapid and cost-effective action. Opening the session, Sophie De Coninck, Director of Means of Implementation at UN Climate Change, stressed the urgent need for an integrated approach that combines policy, technology, data, and finance.
Representing the COP30 Presidency, Ambassador Antonio Da Costa e Silva of Brazil’s Ministry of Cities called for a greater focus on urban issues ahead of COP30 in Belém. While forests are expected to be a central theme, he argued that COP30 should also be “a COP of cities” – noting that 80% of the Amazonian population lives in urban areas grappling with informal settlements, housing deficits, and rising climate risks.
Data-Driven Tools for Decision-Making
MIT Professor Christoph Reinhart presented innovative digital tools that model energy use and retrofit potential for millions of buildings. In Massachusetts, these tools have already informed policy and incentive design. Users can input building characteristics to receive tailored retrofit options, cost estimates, and projected emissions reductions.
The tools are now being adapted for use in other countries, such as Brazil, India and Portugal, to support globally accessible, open-data models that empower both governments and building owners to make informed decisions.
Hanane Hafraoui of GlobalABC highlighted that the “technology toolkit” for buildings already exists, with a catalogue by the Solar Impulse Foundation/GlobalABC containing over 1,500 cost-effective, ready-to-deploy solutions. She stressed the need to align policy, skills development and finance to accelerate implementation.
Financial Institutions Call for Market Signals
In a panel discussion, experts from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), University College London (UCL), and Kyrgyzstan stressed the importance of market-enabling environments.
EBRD’s Jan Willem Van de Ven called for clear national strategies and locally adapted energy performance standards. Dastan Abdyldaev from Kyrgyzstan shared the country’s experience revising national building codes, despite limited data, with support from the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN). UCL’s York Ostermeyer discussed the role of digital building passports in reducing investment risk and borrowing costs, noting that well-documented energy performance can lower interest rates by 15–25 basis points in Europe, making a significant difference over time.
Participants also highlighted key challenges for the Global South, including data gaps, informal construction and evolving building types. They stressed the need for inclusive finance, noting that lack of land tenure and insurance complicates investment in informal settlements. There were also calls for sustainability in building design, focusing on the need for reduced consumption and the importance of collaboration – with growing interest in the harmonization of tools, standards and data models.
Next Steps
The Technology Executive Committee (TEC) is preparing two policy briefs to help countries accelerate climate action in buildings and infrastructure. Discussions will continue at the TEC’s 31st meeting (TEC 31) in September 2025, with members and partners exploring how best to implement these insights and recommendations.
A detailed new study by IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, commissioned by Humana Lithuania, follows the journey of used textiles from collection and pre-sorting in Sweden to export and resale in Kenya and finds the system valuable both economically and ecologically. The findings demonstrate significant benefits to Kenya’s economy, environment, and job market, contradicting the false narrative that Africa serves as a dumping ground for low-quality textiles.
Used clothing
The report follows the journey of used textiles from Sweden to Kenya’s mitumba markets. It examines the sustainability implications of exporting second-hand clothing (SHC), including the operation of the trade, relevant legislation, and quality assurance practices.
The study also highlights the market dynamics in Kenya and the potential socio-economic impacts, such as job creation and local economic activity, and finds that a prevalent criticism – that exporting second-hand clothes to Kenya constitutes dumping of low-quality garments – is not supported by evidence.
Amanda Martvall, a textile expert and co-author of the report,added, “The mitumba market in Kenya is a clear example of a well-functioning circular value chain in practice, and exporting unusable used textiles would not make economic sense – no evidence was found in Kenya that supports this claim. Instead, specialised sorting centres carefully grade and categorise garments by quality and type, adding value at each stage and ensuring that only marketable clothing reaches new users. In contrast, the rise of ultra-fast fashion and the accelerating consumption of new clothing is deeply concerning. This is where fundamental change is urgently needed.”
The case study follows the highly organised and methodical nature of the second-hand clothing trade, showing how the used clothes are manually sorted and rigorous quality control is built into every stage of the process. Skilled and trained workers perform thorough sorting and frequent inspections at Humana Lithuania and global partner facilities, ensuring that only marketable items reach Kenyan shores.
“Our operations are specifically designed to ensure only quality textiles that have market value are exported,” explained Orjan Osterdal, CEO of Humana Lithuania. “This methodical approach benefits both the environment and local economies, clearly dispelling the dumping myth and underlining the importance of the trade for a truly circular textile economy.”
Key findings from the report include:
Dumping is not profitable: Given Kenya’s high import taxes on mitumba, approximately 40% of shipment costs, or around EUR 0.62 per kilogram, importing textiles to discard them in landfills or incinerators would be economically unfeasible.
Robust Kenyan market dynamics: The Baltic Textile Trading (BTT) and Think Twice retail chains in Kenya implement strategic pricing cycles that maximise garment reuse, demonstrating sophisticated consumer awareness and market efficiency.
Circular economy and job creation: The SHC trade generates employment opportunities, ranging from collection and sorting in Europe to retail operations in Kenya.
System supports humanitarian fundraising: In the Global North, sorting and resale of used clothing is frequently carried out by charitable organisations and social-value businesses, with profits reinvested to support humanitarian causes in the Global South.
Effective sorting and quality control are key: In 2024, approximately 38,000 tons of used textiles were sorted at Humana Lithuania’s sorting centers in Vilnius and Oman, including 11,000 tons sourced from Sweden.
Textiles are sorted into over 400 categories based on quality and market needs.
Only clean, wearable items are exported to Kenya.
In summary, the study highlights the critical role African markets, such as Kenya, play in ensuring sustainable textile management globally and demonstrates how the trade, after rigorous sorting processes in Europe, positively impacts Kenya’s local economy through job creation, small-business opportunities, and affordable clothing options for consumers.
Mathias Gustavsson, co-author of the report,added, “Export markets like Kenya play a crucial role in European textile sustainability. Without these markets, many reusable textiles would inevitably be incinerated or sent to landfills due to limited recycling infrastructure in Europe.”
Ahead of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) holding from July 14 to 18, 2025, African civil society and climate justice groups and movements are issuing an urgent call to governments of the region to reject all forms of geoengineering on the African continent and globally.
UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya
Africa faces a grave threat as geoengineering – the large-scale technological interventions in the Earth’s systems – attempts to mask the symptoms of climate change instead of addressing its root causes. This can cause disruptions to African monsoon, collapse of ecosystems and displace peoples and communities.
At AMCEN 2023, African Ministers collectively called for a global governance mechanism for the non-use of solar radiation modification. To protect Africa and African people, the group urged AMCEN to renew and expand that call, with Africa continuing to lead in global efforts to establish an International Solar Geoengineering Non-Use Agreement.
Despite growing opposition, Africa is being targeted by geoengineering proponents pushing what is termed risky and speculative approaches such as Solar Radiation Modification/Manipulation (SRM), often under the guise of African leadership on climate crisis. These efforts attempt to co-opt African policymakers, mislead the public, and shift the burden of climate risk onto the very continent that has contributed the least to global emissions.
Across the continent, African communities are already advancing real climate solutions rooted in climate justice – from agroecology and renewable energy to ecosystem restoration and community-led adaptation.
Civil society groups are also calling on all social movements, Indigenous communities, youth, and grassroots organisations across the continent and the world to join them in rejecting geoengineering and advancing real, just, and community led solutions to the climate crisis.
Dr. Mfoniso Xael, Programmes Manager, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, said: “Geoengineering is a false fix – risky, reckless, and rooted in the same broken thinking that caused the climate crisis. Africa must not become a laboratory for reckless techno-fixes like solar radiation manipulation that gamble with our monsoons, ecosystems, and lives. We reject this neocolonial bait-and-switch that masquerades as innovation while deepening injustice. Real solutions are already in our hands, rooted in agroecology, energy sovereignty, and community-led resilience. Africa must lead not in planetary manipulation, but in global resistance to it.”
Kwami Kpondzo, Director Centre pour la Justice Environnementale, Togo, said: The climate solutions need to be democratised and people centred solutions, not imposed colonial geoengineering technologies such as Solar Radiation Manipulation which will bring more harm to the people and nature. Geoengineering is not a solution to the climate crisis, not in the present time or in the future. Africa doesn’t need to waste time and energy for capacity building on geoengineering technologies but rather needs to amplify people’s solutions that are in harmony and peace with Mother Earth. NO to Solar Radiation Modification as climate solution, YES to real peoples’ solution.”
Josué Aruna, Executive Director of Congo Basin Conservation Society CBCS-Network DRC, said: “We would like to draw the attention of young people and African researchers not to be attracted by the financial means that neo-colonialism uses to divert our attention from the real issues of fighting climate change and destroying our future. Africans must turn their backs against this kind of support. Africa must be seen as humanity’s hope in the fight against climate change and not as a laboratory for dangerous technologies such as geoengineering.”
Amos Nkpeebo, FIDEP Foundation, Ghana, said: “This is a defining moment. As African youth, we bear the brunt of intergenerational climate injustices, and we refuse to accept dangerous illusory shortcuts like geoengineering that could further destabilize our future. The risk of termination shock and long-term planetary disruption is too great. Proven solutions already exist, like solar PV, agroecology and other resilience strategies led by our communities. We urge African leaders to invest in these real, just solutions, not untested experiments that gamble with the future of African youth.”
Kenneth Nana Amoateng, Executive Director, AbibiNsroma Foundation, Ghana, said: “Solar geoengineering does not address the drivers of human-induced climate change, nor does it address the full range of climate and other impacts of anthropogenic greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions. Solar geoengineering is not a climate solution. It is a technological gamble that the people of Africa cannot afford. Civil Society and AMCEN need to reject all forms of geoengineering on the African continent.”
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to setting the power sector on the path of sustainability and bankability by prioritising the different reforms being undertaken in the sector. This is critical to the economic growth and development of the nation.
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and other dignitaries at the meeting
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at the Mission 300 Stakeholders Engagement meeting, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, where he announced that the estimated investment required for the Mission 300 Compact is $32.8 billion, with $15.5 billion expected from the private sector. The Mission is to provide electricity to 300million unserved people in Africa.
He said the stakeholders meeting would provide an opportunity for them to align, strategise, and to build the partnerships needed to move from Nigeria Energy Compact, to concrete results, as he called on development partners, the private sector, philanthropic actors, the public sector, and the civil society organisations to rally around this mission.
“Mobilising this level of financing will demand innovation, coordination, and a shared commitment.
“In this room today are many of the institutions and individuals who can help us shape the future of Nigeria’s energy sector. Let us take this opportunity to ask hard questions, identify the practical solutions, and develop actionable plans that will make universal access a reality not just in the policy space, but in the daily lives of our citizens by powering our hospitals, our schools, our industries, and our homes,” Adelabu said.
He announced the priorities of the government in power sector reforms to include “adressing the market liquidity issues and initiating required sector reforms”.
“Currently”, he added, “there’s a huge outstanding debt to the Power Generation companies in the form of unpaid government subsidies which stands at about ₦4 trillion as of December 2024. The Federal Government is already working out modalities to defray this obligation and to ensure that further obligations are not accrued going forward, the government is working on a plan to transition the sector to a fully cost-reflective regime while implementing targeted subsidies for the economically vulnerable citizens in the country.
“Improving our power generation through recovery of idle capacities and expanding energy mix to ensure energy security, and to dilute the power pool with cheaper and cleaner energy sources.”
Other areas he identified included “Expanding transmission infrastructure to deliver more power, ensuring stability of the national grid to put an end to several grid disturbances and collapses previously observed on the grid, and to further strengthen the coordination and management of the national grid.
“Ensuring viability and performance improvement of the distribution segment of the power sector through strategic programs like the Presidential Metering Initiative and the World Bank-funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP).”
The Minister also said that the Power Ministry is pursuing increased renewable energy through its rural electrification and energy transition drive, to provide a reliable power supply to unserved and underserved communities.
Through its training institute, the Ministry is also working to improve human capital and local content development in the sector to reduce import dependence, stimulate jobs, and build a homegrown energy industry.
“I assure you,” he continued “that the Federal Government of Nigeria, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is fully committed to this vision and through the Federal Ministry of Power, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, we will continue to champion reforms, promote innovation, and partner with all stakeholders to deliver a sustainable energy future.”
He expressed the appreciation of the Federal Government to the World Bank Group under the leadership of Mr Ajay Banga and the African Development Bank under the leadership of the former Managing Director of the Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), and Sustainable Energy for All for taking on this mission to connect 300 million people across Africa to electricity by the year 2030 through the Mission 300 initiative, saying, “this ambition reflects our shared belief that energy access is a fundamental issue that must be urgently addressed to unlock economic potential of the continent”.
According to Adelabu, in January 2025 at the Dar es Salaam Africa Energy Summit, President Tinubu joined 11 other African Heads of State in endorsing the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration and formally committing to the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Mission 300.
“We presented our National Energy Compact, a bold statement of intent and ambition to fast-track access to both electricity and clean cooking for all Nigerians with the aim of achieving universal access by 2030 by increasing the rate of electricity access from 4 percent to 9 percent per annum and raising access to clean cooking from 22 percent to 25 percent per annum”, he said.
The Minister of Finance, Chief Wale Edun, who spoke through zoom from Brazil, also said that the reforms the government was undertaking in the power sector were critical towards unlocking the full potentials of the economy as it would lead to job creation. He said the reforms have led to over 40 percent increase in power distribution in the first quarter of 2025.
Present at the meeting were the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Geoffrey Nnaji, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, the World Bank Officers, head of agencies in the Power Ministry, and partners of the sector.
In June 2025, Burkina Faso marked a significant milestone in its commitment to elephant conservation and the fight against wildlife trafficking, with the formal validation at a two-day workshop in Ouagadougou of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the secure management of ivory and other wildlife products.
Group picture of all the attendees of the SOP training in Burkina Faso, June 2025
The technical validation workshop, organised by the Direction Générale des Eaux et Forêts (DGEF) and supported by the EPI Foundation (EPIF) and the local NGO Les Anges Gardiens de la Nature (AGN), brought together conservation stakeholders from government, civil society, and international partners, to establish robust, practical, and enforceable guidelines for the handling and storage of ivory and other seized wildlife products.
Ivory trafficking continues to be one of the major threats facing Africa’s elephants. Poor storage conditions, inadequate record keeping, and weak legal frameworks all result in stockpile mismanagement and potentially, leakages into the illegal trade. The newly adopted SOPs in Burkina Faso are a direct response to these risks and an attempt to minimise them.
The Big Picture
The workshop in Burkina Faso is part of an EPI Foundation regional project focused on Securing Wildlife Stocks in five West African Countries, funded by the UK’s Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund. This initiative supports Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in developing SOPs, improving storage infrastructure, and ensuring that ivory stocks are not exploited for profit.
During the workshop’s opening, the EPIF Director of State Engagement, Ulysse Korogone, highlighted the foundation’s commitment to implementing the African Elephant Action Plan (AEAP) while emphasizing the steps that need to be taken in maintaining the global ban on ivory trade, closing domestic ivory markets, and putting all government-held ivory out of commercial use.
The Content of the Standard Operating Procedures
The SOPs lay out detailed procedures for each step of the chain for seized wildlife products, from their discovery to their secure storage and eventual disposition. These result in not only technical improvements, they also reflect a philosophical shift toward transparency, accountability, and fast decision-making by authorities. Key improvements include the alignment of national legal codes with CITES provisions, standardised systems of marking and coding wildlife products, new inspection protocols and transparency in record keeping.
With the SOPs now validated, Burkina Faso is poised to implement a more rigorous and coordinated approach to wildlife product management. However, as noted in the workshop’s conclusions, successful implementation will depend on sustained collaboration across agencies and adequate resourcing for infrastructure, monitoring, and enforcement.
Participants expressed hope that the EPI Foundation would continue its support in extending SOP implementation and warehouse improvements beyond Ouagadougou to other parts of the country. Importantly, the workshop also set the stage for upcoming legislative reviews that will further entrench these new practices in law.
A Continental Movement with Global Impact
Burkina Faso’s commitment reflects Africa’s growing determination to stand firm against wildlife crime. It is a testament to the power of African-led conservation and the vision of the Elephant Protection Initiative. As more countries adopt SOPs and close the door on the ivory trade, they send a message that the future of Africa’s elephants is too important to be defined by mismanagement or corruption. It will be shaped by coordinated, courageous, and continent-wide action.
Global Credit Ratings (GCR) has affirmed and upgraded Shelter Afrique Development Bank’s (ShafDB) international and several key national scale ratings, reflecting the Bank’s strengthened capital position, risk management improvements, and growing credibility across its shareholder base.
Shelter Afrique Development Bank’s Director of Risk, Bernard Oketch
In its latest review, the Johannesburg-based rating agency has affirmed the Bank’s international scale long-term and short-term issuer ratings at B/B, with a Stable Outlook.
At the same time GCR has also upgraded the long and short-term national scale issuer ratings for Kenya to AA+(KE)/A1+(KE) from AA-(KE)/A1+(KE); Nigerian to AAA(NG)/A1+(NG) from AA+(NG)/A1+(NG); and Mauritian to BBB(MU)/A2(MU) from BB+(MU)/B(MU). All the three national scale ratings have been accorded a stable outlook.
The Agency has also upgraded the ratings of its Nigerian Series 1 Senior Unsecured Notes under the NGN200bn Domestic Bond Issuance Programme to AAA(NG) from AA+(NG).
“The upgrades reflect GCR’s confidence in the Bank’s improved risk management, strengthened capitalisation (leverage ratio up to 82.2% in FY2024), and progress in capital arrears resolution. The Stable Outlook affirms expectations of continued sound capitalisation, strategic disbursement growth, and enhanced shareholder engagement,” GCR said in a commentary.
“This recognition underscores Shelter Afrique’s growing operational credibility, commitment to quality lending, and continued transformation into a resilient and trusted multilateral development bank dedicated to delivering affordable housing and urban development solutions across Africa,” GCR added.
Welcoming the rating reviews, Shelter Afrique Development Bank’s Director of Risk, Bernard Oketch, said the rating upgrade has reinforced the Bank’s financial strength, strategic direction, and institutional credibility.
“These upgrades reflect our strong fundamentals and our unwavering commitment to reforms, growth, and sustainable impact. Clearly, we are on a solid path forward in delivering impactful, quality-driven housing finance solutions across Africa,” Mr. Oketch said.
Shelter Afrique Development Bank’s has 46 shareholders comprising 44 member States under “Category A” shareholding, and African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Africa Reinsurance Corporation (Africa-Re) under “Category B” shareholding – who will be convening in Algiers, Algeria from July 15 to 17, 2025, for the Bank’s 44th Annual General Meeting and Housing Symposium. https://www.agm.shelterafrique.org/agm-2025/
It has also “Category C” shareholding for non-African institutions and States willing to join the institution as shareholders.
