The Zimbabwean Dollar dropped 40% against the US Dollar in March 2024
Over the years, the value of the Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL) has been on a massive downward trend compared to the US Dollar (USD). This has led to the latter accounting for most of the domestic transactions in the Southern African country. The ZWL went from 10,152.5 to USD 1 as of January 1, 2024, to 30,674.3 on April 1, 2024. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is introducing a gold-backed digital currency as a legal tender to stabilise its currency.
- Kenya led with 90.1 percent account ownership in 2024.
- Mauritius (89.6 percent) and Ghana (81.2 percent) also in top 3.
- Nigeria ranked 11th at 63.3 percent; Tanzania fell short at 59.8 percent.
- Only 14 African countries exceeded the 60 percent inclusion benchmark.
- Another 14 African countries have no recent data in the Global Findex
Gabon imposes Africa’s highest international air travel tax at $297.70, followed closely by Sierra Leone at $294 and Nigeria at $180.
Libya charges the lowest air travel tax among the listed African countries at just $1.30, with other low-cost countries including Malawi ($5.00), Lesotho ($5.70), and Algeria ($9.80).
All of the 10 most expensive countries charge over $100 in departure taxes, suggesting a trend of high levies among a subset of African nations.
The gap between the highest and lowest air travel taxes in Africa exceeds $296, revealing significant disparities in passenger costs across the continent.
The Government of Germany is the largest donor to AfDB’s Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF), contributing $6.19 million in a single donation in April 2014.
The Government of Flanders (Belgium) follows closely with a total contribution of $6.12 million, made in two installments (2016 and 2019).
In 2023, the U.S. Department of State joined as a new donor with a contribution of $5.43 million.
The current value of the ACCF stands at $36.5 million.
To date, the ACCF has supported seven completed projects, 20 under implementation and one cancelled project (originally planned for Sudan).
Some completed projects include climate finance readiness initiatives in Eswatini and Côte d’Ivoire, while ongoing efforts feature "Capacity Building for Women Climate Change Negotiators in Eastern and Southern Africa" in Uganda ($950,000) and "Development of long-term low-carbon and climate-resilient development strategies (LTSs)" for Gabon, Liberia, Botswana, and Lesotho ($500,000).
The project in Sudan was cancelled due to the conflict in the country.