Public-sector reform across Africa is rarely held back by a shortage of good ideas. Instead, government officials and international development experts increasingly recognise that the true hurdle lies in the human dynamics of leading change: building institutional trust, overcoming systemic resistance and sustaining momentum.

These insights took centre stage during a high-level virtual seminar convened by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). Titled “Leading Public Sector Transformation in Africa: Leadership Lessons from the LEAPS Program”, the strategic webinar brought together senior government officials, key partners and programme alumni to evaluate how targeted leadership development is reshaping public financial management (PFM) across the continent.

Governments across Africa are undertaking ambitious PFM reforms to mobilise domestic resources, improve public investments and strengthen budgeting frameworks. While these structural adjustments are indispensable, progress remains uneven. Many nations struggle to translate high-level reform ambitions into lasting results due to leadership gaps and institutional fragmentation.

ACBF Executive Secretary Mamadou Biteye emphasised during the seminar that technical expertise alone is insufficient. Many countries have sound policies but struggle with implementation because of resistance to change and coordination bottlenecks.

To tackle this, the ACBF with support from the Gates Foundation established the Leadership Excellence in Africa’s Public Sector (LEAPS)

programme under the Ubora Academy. LEAPS is built on the realisation that reform leaders must possess emotional intelligence and behavioural competence. They must actively inspire people, build trust and manage internal resistance when initiatives encounter difficulties.

Rather than relying on conventional seminars, LEAPS utilises a comprehensive, six-month approach. The curriculum combines structured learning modules, 360-degree feedback, personalised development plans, coaching, peer learning circles, technical seminars and mentorship by seasoned PFM experts.

The learning design focuses on five core areas: understanding African leadership challenges, building self-awareness, managing teams, driving strategic change and leading across institutional ecosystems. The hybrid format includes a five-day in-person track for senior executives and aligns with national calendars, allowing countries to host cohorts annually.

The programme has scaled rapidly since its inception, moving from an initial pilot in six nations Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Zimbabwe and The Gambia to include Nigeria, Tanzania, the African Union Commission and Ethiopia.

The initiative’s reach has been substantial. The first cohort graduated 179 participants, 88 completed the second, and 116 are currently undertaking the third. The programme now includes professionals from accountability institutions such as audit services, revenue authorities, central banks and parliamentary committees. Change stories shared by LEAPS alumni demonstrate that leadership

development is actively altering how public institutions operate. In Kenya, participants used people centred leadership to advance digital PFM reforms and secure stakeholder alignment. Raphael Owino, Director General of Public Debt Management at Kenya’s National Treasury, noted the programme’s crucial timing amid ongoing challenges with public debt and fund management.

In Senegal, training contributed to stronger delegation, participatory management and improved public communication, including making budget information accessible to citizens. Sokhna Mai Diop, Principal Treasury Inspector, said coaching through LEAPS filled a vital gap left by formal training.

In Ghana, professional coaching strengthened institutional accountability and cross-functional collaboration between finance and audit institutions. Dr Birago Antwi-Agyei of the Ghana Revenue Authority found the training instrumental in creating a forward-looking leadership plan. In Zimbabwe, reflective and empathetic leadership empowered officials to navigate reform processes

under severe constraints. Angela Nyangani, Deputy Director of Audit, noted the programme offered essential tools for leading systems, organisations and oneself. Participants across cohorts also reported sharper decision-making and improved inter-agency coordination.

Moving forward, the ACBF is focused on scaling these proven models and integrating leadership development into how public institutions manage talent. Biteye stressed that alumni must become mentors and catalysts for institutional culture change.

Adil Ababou of the Gates Foundation emphasised the importance of country ownership, noting that LEAPS focuses on the specific capacity needs of participating institutions. With plans to mentor more than 200 public officials in the next three years, the foundation is backing LEAPS to build sustainable leadership pipelines.

London-listed mining company Kefi Gold and Copper has immediately suspended all development activities at its flagship Tulu Kapi gold project in Ethiopia following a serious security incident that resulted in multiple fatalities.

The incident, which occurred on September 4, involved security personnel and community members, and tragically claimed the life of at least one company employee. In response to the breach, Kefi announced it has halted field operations while it engages directly with community representatives, regional authorities, and security stakeholders to assess the situation and establish the conditions necessary for a safe and orderly resumption of work.

Company leadership stressed that project activities will remain paused until comprehensive security measures are put in place to guarantee a secure environment for all personnel and the surrounding communities. Owing to the sensitive and ongoing nature of the situation, Kefi stated it is unable to release further operational or security specifics at this time, noting that this cautious approach is intended to protect the safety and interests of all affected individuals.

“The company is deeply saddened by the loss of life and extends its sincere condolences to all those affected,” Kefi said in an official statement.

Despite the setback, the company emphasized its continued collaboration with federal and regional partners. “The governments of Ethiopia and of the Oromia region are committed partners in Tulu Kapi, and we are working together on both the immediate response and on securing the project’s long-term future in a manner which protects the community and all stakeholders,” the statement added.

Kefi reaffirmed its long-term commitment to the venture. Construction and development at the site officially commenced in March and, prior to the incident, had been running strictly on schedule, with initial gold production targeted for mid-2028.

During the current suspension period, management plans to tightly control expenditures. The company confirmed it will defer further drawdowns and deployments of project financing until the circumstances have been fully evaluated and appropriate risk-mitigation measures are implemented.

To weather the pause, Kefi assured investors that it maintains sufficient capital reserves and committed standby facilities to cover anticipated financial requirements. It remains too early to determine whether the temporary suspension will introduce delays to the broader project development timetable or shift the targeted production window.

By Eyasu Zekarias

The Addis Ababa Chamber of Sectoral Associations is positioning itself to lead and coordinate private sector engagement at the upcoming 32nd United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP32) through its newly established Green Growth Centre. The initiative, set to be officially launched on September 8, 2026, marks a strategic shift aimed at enabling Ethiopian businesses to move beyond passive participation and become active partners in shaping the country’s climate and economic future.

According to information obtained by Capital from Chamber sources, the Ethiopian Sectoral Associations Chamber’s Green Growth Centre has been tasked with spearheading the broad private sector mobilisation effort. The centre, which has been operating for a year in partnership with the German development agency GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), will serve as the coordinating hub for business involvement in COP32.

“Preparations for COP32 are already underway by the government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Now, work has been finalised to enable the private sector to take a leading role through the Addis Ababa Chamber’s Green Growth Centre,” Chamber sources said.

A strategic document titled “Establishing the COP32 Private Sector Coalition: A Strategic Platform for Business Leaders, Climate Action, and Green Growth” has been prepared to guide the process. It outlines the rationale, objectives, governance structure and key engagement sectors of the planned coalition.

The document emphasises that climate change is fundamentally transforming the operating environment for businesses, investors and communities. The transition toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy presents both significant risks and unprecedented opportunities for the private sector.

Historically, private sector participation in global climate processes has been fragmented, with companies, chambers and associations engaging in activities without a unified platform for coordination, knowledge sharing and joint action. The COP32 Private Sector Coalition aims to bridge this gap by creating a structured platform where the Ethiopian private sector can coordinate its contributions, showcase climate solutions and mobilise investment.

The coalition’s objectives are wide-ranging, designed to ensure that the private sector remains a central pillar of Ethiopia’s climate journey before, during and after the summit. Key goals include coordinating active participation in COP32 preparations, execution and legacy; establishing a unified business agenda that identifies priority climate, investment and policy issues; and facilitating investment and finance by identifying commercially viable green and climate-resilient opportunities.

Membership will be inclusive, encompassing large domestic and foreign direct investment (FDI) companies, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), sectoral associations, financial institutions, banks and insurance companies.

The coalition plans to establish a green investment and climate project pipeline to identify and package investment-ready projects across key sectors such as renewable energy, green manufacturing, climate-smart agriculture, e-mobility and circular economy solutions.

A high-level Ethiopian Business and Climate Investment Forum will be organised to translate climate ambitions into tangible investment and partnership opportunities. An innovation and exhibition platform will also be established, enabling Ethiopian companies to showcase domestic climate technologies, green products and renewable energy solutions.

According to the documents, the implementation roadmap begins with coalition formation from September to October 2026. This will be followed by private sector consultations and agenda development between November 2026 and 2027. Investment and partnership mobilisation will intensify in 2027, concluding with a post-summit legacy phase to ensure that COP32 participation and commitments made during the conference translate into lasting action.

At the recent Climate Finance Summit held in Addis Ababa, which attracted more than 150 participants from 27 countries, Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide emphasised that hosting COP32 is not merely a diplomatic milestone, but an opportunity to showcase African leadership in climate solutions, strengthen Africa’s voice and shape the future global financial architecture.

The Minister noted that Ethiopia’s priorities include “robust financing for developmental adjustments, enhanced investment in recovery, accelerated energy access, nature-based solutions, and a climate finance architecture that addresses the needs of developing nations.”

The Chamber said the new coalition is receiving strong support from development partners. “We are bringing partners together. These development partners are coming to us themselves, and many different donors are pleased.”

The summit is considered a critical moment for Africa, which contributes minimally to global emissions yet disproportionately bears the brunt of climate change. The 7th African Climate Dialogue in Addis Ababa concluded with a strong call for the continent to strengthen its negotiating capacity and position COP32 as a decisive moment for implementation, accountability and resilience.

Detailed analysis from the Columbia Climate School indicates that for COP32 to deliver genuine impact, Ethiopia must move beyond traditional pledge-based formats and reimagine the summit as a platform to showcase tangible, Africa-built solutions designed for global adoption and scaling.

Ethiopia officially assumed responsibility for hosting COP32 during the COP30 summit held in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has since established a national coordinating committee to lead the preparatory process, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Gedion Timothewos has been appointed COP32 President-Designate. The government continues to actively engage international partners, drawing lessons from historic Paris Agreement negotiations through discussions with COP21 President Laurent Fabius.

By building a bridge between climate ambition and business action, Ethiopian businesses are expected to play a vanguard role in ensuring COP32 serves as a catalyst for green, climate-resilient and inclusive economic growth for the country’s next generation.

France has officially announced the end of its use of the Mercator projection in all diplomatic contexts. This major policy change follows France’s active co-sponsorship and supportive vote for a historic United Nations General Assembly resolution entitled “Correct the Map,” which was originally introduced by the African Group.

Inherited from the 16th century, the standard Mercator projection was originally designed specifically for maritime navigation because its mathematical properties allow a route with a constant bearing to appear as a straight line.

However, institutional cartography’s reliance on this model has long perpetuated a severe visual bias. The projection distorts the relative sizes of global landmasses, vastly enlarging regions near the poles—such as North America and Europe—while drastically shrinking territories closest to the Equator.

Although the 16th-century model was never designed to express a politicized viewpoint, its widespread institutional use has unconsciously shaped global perceptions. By making Africa look artificially smaller, its continued use has helped entrench and perpetuate the narrative that the continent occupies a diminished place on the international stage.

Recognizing that maps are never neutral and carry profound cognitive, educational, economic, and political implications, the African Group spearheaded the “Correct the Map” initiative at the UN. The newly adopted resolution acknowledges that traditional map representations constitute a historical bias that distorts continental proportions to the detriment of equatorial regions.

The resolution encourages UN Member States to transition toward fairer map representations in official documents and school textbooks, invites relevant UN agencies to develop guidelines on good cartographic practice, and requests a comprehensive implementation report from the Secretary-General by the eighty-third session.

According to documents reaching Capital, on September 4, 2026, France joined the initiative by co-sponsoring and voting in favor of the text. This move positions France as a leading European nation to address global cartographic bias, echoing the African Union’s “Correct the Map” campaign.

Officials emphasize that this powerful symbolic gesture builds directly upon commitments forged at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi in May 2026, fostering a more equal and balanced partnership between African countries and France.

In alignment with the UN adoption, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs is formally phasing out the Mercator projection from its diplomatic operations. This policy builds upon a trajectory begun in 2021, during which France steadily removed the projection from its public websites and educated the public on map biases during major events like the Saint-Dié-des-Vosges International Geography Festival.