World Bank Update: The World Bank lifted its Africa growth forecast for 2026 to 4.3% (from 4.1%) and flagged AI as a jobs and productivity lever, while warning poverty gains remain weak and risks include Middle East conflict, El Niño, high global rates and debt costs. SME Finance (Kenya): AfDB and Family Bank signed a $10m trade-finance facility to expand foreign-currency lending for Kenyan importers/exporters, targeting manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, renewables and women-led firms. SME Credit (Nigeria): Moniepoint backed cash-flow-based lending as Nigeria’s formal credit access rose to 10% in EFInA’s A2F 2026 survey, with gains for women business owners and farmers. Trade & Working Capital (Kenya): EASETRADE will support agribusiness and supply-chain MSMEs with structured supply-chain financing like invoice discounting to close a reported $330bn SME financing gap. Startup Pathways (Tanzania): Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange engagement with angel investors aims to connect early-stage funding to later growth and eventual listing. Local Content & Procurement (Eswatini/South Africa): MPs in Eswatini pushed for citizen economic space and local contractor participation in a major housing/infrastructure loan-backed programme, with an emphasis on SME opportunities. Insurance Gap: A new risk-financing push argues Africa’s underinsurance and fragmented markets leave households, SMEs and trade corridors exposed, despite big premium concentration in a few countries. SME Tools (Africa): NativeTalk launched an all-in-one business communications app for SMEs to reduce channel fragmentation and improve customer response.