SME Finance Boost (Tanzania): NMB Bank’s IFC-listed offshore Tanzanian shilling bond on the London Stock Exchange raised Tsh262bn to unlock long-term local-currency funding for MSMEs, women-led businesses and farmers. SME Payments (Kenya): Airtel Money launched Bizna Wallet for Kenyan micro and small businesses, letting merchants separate business cash, track sales, receive payments across mobile money networks, and earn 50% cashback on eligible transactions. SME Capacity Building (Nigeria): Keystone Bank, with NACCIMA and SMEDAN, rolled out an entrepreneur programme covering credit readiness, tax and compliance, and scaling strategies. Digital Trust for SMEs (Cybersecurity): CREST introduced AI accreditation standards for penetration testing providers, aiming to prove responsible AI use as adoption accelerates. Agri-Trade Rule Change (EU EUDR): A new explainer says the EU Deforestation Regulation will reshape Africa’s agricultural competitiveness, with micro and small enterprises facing compliance timelines into 2027. Local Business Funding (South Africa): A step-by-step guide explains how spaza shops can apply for the DSBD Spaza Shop Support Fund, offering up to R100,000 for upgrades, training and stock. Tourism Spend Lift (Tanzania): Visitor spending rose 19.1% in 2025, with premium leisure travel driving higher per-night spend—good news for local operators. Business Growth Programme (Nigeria): Paystack opened applications for a four-week Small Business Launchpad for active merchants, with clinics, expert office hours and free payment processing for three months after completion. Women-led Enterprise (South Africa): NDA highlighted MaRocks Laundry Services, a Ventersdorp woman-owned business that scaled with a R222,316 grant and added jobs.