AGP Executive Report

El Niño & food risk: South Africa is bracing for a very strong El Niño, with forecasts pointing to below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures—an early stress test for grain and broader food systems. Weather warnings: SAWS issued a yellow level 2 severe thunderstorm alert for KwaZulu-Natal, warning of heavy downpours, hail, lightning and localised flooding. Wildlife crime: Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority says ten lions were found dead after suspected poisoning, renewing fears for large carnivores across East Africa. Community clean-up: Volunteers in Bryanston joined a World Clean-up Day effort to clear the Braamfontein Spruit River, showing how local action can chip away at urban pollution. Climate finance push: Sahara Power’s Dr Kola Adesina told UNGA roundtable talks that sustainable investment assets now total $16.7tn, but Africa still faces a major climate-funding gap. UNGA leadership shift: Nigeria’s President Tinubu will not attend UNGA in person; VP Kashim Shettima will lead the delegation, including climate-action engagements. Public safety & environment: Lagos LASTMA warned against skating on highways, citing collision risks on roads built for motorised traffic. GBV response: South Africa’s IMC on GBVF approved a comprehensive emergency strategy after the killings of women in Ekurhuleni.

Regional Waste & Circular Economy: East African governments and businesses launched an EAC Circular Economy Platform in Nairobi to coordinate circular economy policy and attract investment into waste management and recycling, as waste generation in the region is reported to have doubled to 180m tonnes (2023) from 90m (2010), with only about 10% recycled. Insurance Integration: East African regulators (EAISA) in Nairobi adopted a harmonised insurance core-principles assessment template to close regulatory gaps and move toward a more integrated cross-border insurance market. Renewables Industrial Push: Egypt signed with China’s SANY Renewable Energy for a 2,000MW Gulf of Suez wind project plus a first wind turbine manufacturing plant, aiming to scale local production and technology transfer. Energy Transition in Nature: Kenya’s Maasai Mara rangers are trialling electric motorcycles to patrol and deter poachers with less noise and fuel use during the wildebeest migration. Climate Risk Alert: Namibia’s meteorological service warns of below-normal rainfall and hotter conditions ahead of the 2026/27 rainy season, urging early drought preparation. Methane in Agriculture: UNEP is running webinars with Nigeria to build capacity for measuring and managing methane emissions in agriculture under a methane reduction pilot programme. Green Hydrogen Funding: AfDB selected four green hydrogen projects across Egypt, Morocco, Namibia and South Africa for $20m in repayable support tied to large-scale solar/wind, electrolyser and storage investments. Identity Reform: Malawi launched the Nzika Digital ID Wallet and removed expiry dates from national identity cards, shifting identity management toward secure digital credentials. Health Tech: Nigeria carried out its first tele-robotic surgery, demonstrating remote, robot-assisted cancer treatment capability across the country.

Climate & debt pressure on women: ActionAid Nigeria warns that climate change and unsustainable debt are hitting women, girls and children hardest, with climate-vulnerable countries paying far more on debt than on climate action. Flood risk & early warning: Kinshasa hosted a workshop to strengthen impact-based early warning systems, linking weather hazards to actions to cut losses. Urban waste cleanup: Fidson Healthcare and partners joined World Cleanup Day efforts in Lagos, pushing waste reduction and environmental hygiene with LAWMA support. Wetland livelihoods in Rwanda: A Rwf269m community centre opened near Rugezi Marsh to back cooperatives and conservation-linked income. Agriculture & biodiversity debate: Coverage highlights concerns that “Green Revolution” approaches and monocultures are undermining local crops and nutrition, while another report flags biodiversity risks from invasive landscaping trees like Conocarpus. Regional justice & environment: ECOWAS Court will hold a Dakar conference including a dedicated track on environmental justice.

El Niño & extreme weather: South Africa braces for a turbulent weekend with an Orange Level 5 warning for severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, hail, damaging winds and possible flooding, with colder conditions spreading Sunday. Transboundary water conservation: Kenya marked Mara Day with a push for joint action with Tanzania to protect the Mara River Basin, stressing upstream decisions affect downstream ecosystems and livelihoods. Protected areas under pressure: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is seeking private partners to manage its large biodiversity estate as funding strains force a shift from direct government management toward commercialised, sustainable tourism models. Jobs & green skills: Ghana’s AfDB-backed GWYESCO programme targets 22,000 jobs, including green jobs like biodigester installation and sustainable charcoal production, plus training and MSME credit support. Mining value-add: Uganda’s mineral conference agenda focuses on moving beyond raw exports toward processing, industrial capacity and employment from mineral wealth. Private capital for development: The World Bank says it mobilised a record $112bn in private capital for developing economies, highlighting the jobs challenge in places like Kenya. Tropical Atlantic watch: The US National Hurricane Center is monitoring Invest 99L in the open Atlantic, with a 70% chance of tropical cyclone formation within 48 hours.

Severe Weather Alerts (South Africa): SAWS warns Saturday could bring heavy downpours, excessive lightning, hail and damaging winds, with Orange Level 5 risk for parts of the Northern Cape and Free State, plus Yellow Level 2 disruptive rain along the KZN coast and localised flooding and power/communications disruptions. El Niño Preparedness (Zanzibar): Zanzibar’s authorities have ordered residents in 188 high-risk shehias to relocate ahead of expected heavy rains in November–December, citing flood, road/bridge damage and impacts on farming and transport. Urban Waste Pressure (Africa): Coverage highlights Africa’s urban waste crisis outpacing infrastructure investment, choking neighbourhoods as cities struggle to manage growing volumes. Waste & Recycling Finance (Egypt/Tanzania/Nigeria): New funding and pilots focus on digitising waste collection and building recycling platforms, including a Bekia-backed push to improve recycling systems. Trade & Transport Costs (East Africa): Shippers warn fuel prices, border delays and fragmented logistics are driving up and destabilising cargo movement costs, threatening regional competitiveness. Wildlife & Conservation: India’s cheetah programme reports new cub births at Kuno, while conservation efforts also spotlight habitat and species protection.

Urban Waste & Health: Johannesburg’s illegal dumpsites are growing into mountains that choke neighborhoods with fumes, reflecting a wider Africa-wide gap where cities generate waste faster than they can collect, recycle, or safely dispose of it. Climate & Water Stress: A new global look at rivers warns that 2025 was among the driest years in decades, adding pressure to already strained water systems. Disaster Resilience: Madagascar’s cyclone aftermath shows how storms can damage both people and fragile ecosystems, with conservation groups struggling to restore communications and protect endangered species. Energy Transition Funding: Nigeria’s $400bn net-zero push faces a hard test: whether investment can be mobilised and deployed at scale, not just debated. Waste Management Policy: Nigeria and UNEP are partnering to strengthen waste management across Africa, aiming to move from dumping to safer systems. Food Systems & Nutrition: A Kenya-led school meals project will use agroecology and local procurement to improve nutrition while supporting smallholder farmers. Local Governance & Accountability: South Africa’s eThekwini election manifesto spotlights municipal billing, water services, safety and accountability. Conservation & Nature: Hluhluwe-iMfolozi reports a major drop in rhino poaching, linking tourism revenue to ranger patrols and anti-poaching tech.

Severe Weather Watch (South Africa): The SA Weather Service issued disruptive rain warnings for KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, with Orange Level 6 for flooding risk up to Richards Bay and Orange Level 5 for parts of the Eastern Cape, as thunderstorms, hail and damaging winds are also forecast. Water Security: South Africa’s Department of Water and Sanitation flagged falling dam levels in the Lowveld and Ehlanzeni, urging intensified water conservation ahead of El Niño-linked stress. Illegal Mining Crackdown (Côte d’Ivoire): Authorities announced a six-month push to curb illegal gold mining with tougher river surveillance, penalties, ecological rehabilitation and reintegration for miners after mercury-contaminated water concerns. Pastoralism & Resilience (Sahel): A high-level forum on pastoralism “Nouakchott+10” opened, aiming to boost self-sufficiency in milk, red meat value chains and regional cooperation. Green Hydrogen (South Africa): A summit in Cape Town urged scaling Africa’s green hydrogen value chains beyond feasibility into investment and local industrial capacity. Agriculture Data for AI: A focus on how farm surveys and ground observations are needed to make agricultural AI reliable, not just satellite-based.

Climate Disasters at UNGA81: UN chief Antonio Guterres says the world owes a “mea culpa” to Gaza, Sudan, Lebanon and others after repeated failures to stop suffering—setting a stark tone for Africa’s climate and humanitarian demands. Flood Risk in South Africa: eThekwini put emergency teams on Level 6 alert for disruptive rainfall, warning of flooded roads, low bridges and informal-settlement impacts. Water Security Debate: A South Africa-focused analysis argues the next water win isn’t just new supply, but reliable, diversified systems—reuse, groundwater and other sources. Renewables Monitoring: EcoPhi launched its EcoPhi Gateway Nano to remotely track solar and other distributed energy assets across remote African sites. Water Access in Ghana: A GH¢48,000 mechanized borehole was commissioned for Akrokyere Presbyterian Primary School, part of a wider push for community wells. Justice & Accountability in Liberia: Sweden’s ambassador pledged continued support for Liberia’s post-war justice via UN/EU channels as a war and economic crimes court bill is urged forward. UNEP Careers in Nairobi: UNEP opened six-month internship vacancies in Nairobi with deadlines later this month. AI and Local Tech: ClawCon Nairobi drew 400+ to discuss personal AI assistants and agent-style tools for African users.

Marine Conservation Funding: West Africa’s marine protected areas push is getting a boost: a call for proposals backs national authorities to plan, study, consult, and document new MPAs, with submissions due 15 Oct 2026. Extreme Weather & Flood Risk: South Africa’s Weather Service warns of severe thunderstorms and heavy downpours that could trigger flooding in Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Free State, with damaging winds also expected in the Western and Northern Cape. Biodiversity Recovery (Morocco–Spain): Morocco and Spain, with IUCN support, are advancing a conservation effort for the Andalusian buttonquail, including captive-breeding and transfers to help reinforce wild populations. Health Emergency Capacity: Ethiopia becomes the first civilian EMT in WHO Africa to achieve international classification after a verification process covering readiness, clinical services, logistics, and WASH. Climate Finance for Energy: A new paper argues for parametric insurance revenue cover to protect hydro-dependent utilities across Eastern and Southern Africa as climate-driven water swings threaten power supply and public finances. Cocoa Under Rain Stress: Research highlights how intense downpours can cut cocoa yields by hitting flowering and early development—timing matters for millions of smallholders. Oil & Gas Data Mapping (Ghana): GNPC says GIS analysis could unlock 1bn barrels of oil and 2.5tn cubic feet of gas in the Tano Basin by linking stranded resources to existing infrastructure.

Biodiversity & Wildlife Governance: South Africa released a draft National Leopard Conservation Strategy and Action Plan for public comment, aiming for community-driven “living landscapes” where leopards can thrive alongside livelihoods. Health & Consumer Safety: A WBeauty clarifying shampoo was recalled after bacteria were detected, with a COMESA alert expanding vigilance across several countries. Climate & Risk: A new report by Global Witness says at least 124 land and environmental defenders were killed in 2025, with land disputes driving more than half of the killings and Latin America the deadliest region. Renewables & Industry: Egypt signed a deal to build a large wind project and a local turbine manufacturing plant, positioning local production and technology transfer as a model for Africa’s renewable push. Energy Transition & Power: South Africa’s Gas Bill adds an internal appeal mechanism for disputes involving NERSA decisions, aiming to reduce costly court battles. Energy & Infrastructure: Zimbabwe’s tourism push is increasingly tied to aviation connectivity and infrastructure, with an Open Skies strategy flagged to unlock investment. AI Readiness: Tanzania is still being questioned on how prepared it is to detect, regulate and manage AI use in everyday life.

Water Security Under Threat: Ghana’s Atewa Forest Reserve—supplying drinking water to over five million people—is facing illegal mining pressure, with groups warning of cascading risks for biodiversity and climate commitments. Urban Climate Pressure: In Mauritania, the Nouakchott Region President highlighted how climate change is worsening service delivery as cities expand, pushing for stronger local powers and financing. Air Pollution & Health: A new study links higher air pollution to more nighttime coughing, even at levels below WHO daily limits, raising concerns for respiratory health across cities. Weather Alerts: South Africa braces for very cold, wet and windy conditions in parts of the Western, Northern and Eastern Cape through Friday, with additional storm warnings in other provinces. Ebola Update: UN health officials say DR Congo’s deadly Ebola outbreak is still “massive” and may take months to control, despite signs of slowing in some areas. El Niño Looms: Multiple reports warn that El Niño could intensify extreme weather patterns, affecting rainfall, drought and heat risks across the region.

BRICS Summit Wrap: India’s New Delhi BRICS meeting ended with a leaders’ declaration pushing a more representative Global South voice, including calls for reforming global governance and stronger cooperation on climate and sustainability. Gender & Work Inequality: A South Africa-focused piece argues workplace pay gaps and unequal treatment persist despite strong laws, with women still facing discrimination in everyday pay and opportunity. Biodiversity Finance Push: An opinion urges India and the Global South to move biodiversity credits from debate to real markets ahead of COP17, warning that waiting for more discussion won’t unlock nature funding. Water Project Capacity: Liberia’s LWSC and the African Union Commission launched training to help build bankable, climate-resilient water and sanitation projects and mobilize financing. Conservation Recovery: Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park highlights anti-poaching and community-led restoration after decades of wildlife collapse. Weather & Risk: South Africa issued warnings for disruptive rain, thunderstorms, damaging winds and rough seas, flagging flooding and infrastructure impacts. Electric Mobility in Conservation: Kenya’s Maasai Mara is testing electric motorcycles for ranger patrols to cut fuel use and noise while improving anti-poaching operations.

El Niño health prep: Kenya’s El Niño-linked flood risk is pushing stepped-up disease surveillance, safe-water checks, and medicine stockpiles, with county health teams told to protect water sources and distribution systems. Weather disruption in South Africa: A cut-off low is driving severe storms, hail, lightning and damaging winds across provinces, while eThekwini warns of up to 80km/h gusts that could disrupt ports, small harbours and coastal safety. Water and sanitation accountability: The Witness’ reporting is keeping pressure on Pietermaritzburg over water shortages, sewage spillages and failing infrastructure, with the SA Human Rights Commission now investigating. Irrigation for climate resilience: At Rwanda’s Africa Food Systems Forum, officials urged scaling irrigation because most farming depends on rainfall and El Niño drought could worsen hunger. Petroleum governance cooperation: Ghana and Uganda are sharing lessons on upstream petroleum regulation, local content and health, safety and environmental standards. Rare earth push: Victory Metals secured a mining lease for its North Stanmore heavy rare earth project, clearing a key step toward development. AI-ready infrastructure: Submer and Edgecore signed an MoU to expand AI-ready data centre infrastructure across the Middle East, Turkey and Africa.

Air Quality Monitoring: Addis Ababa has rolled out digital monitoring apps to map urban air pollution, link hotspots to vehicle emissions, and tighten enforcement—aimed at a city where aging fleets keep pollution high. Sovereign AI for Africa: Experts at an Addis Ababa workshop urged African teams to build foundation models rooted in local languages and realities, warning against dependency on foreign AI systems. Health + Pollution Link: A South Africa study finds high air pollution can raise invasive pneumococcal disease risk, with older adults and young children hit hardest—strengthening the case for cleaner air. Weather Watch (SA): A cut-off low is set to bring severe storms, hail, lightning, damaging winds and disruptive rain across parts of South Africa, with coastal rough seas and flooding risks. Marine Life Crisis: South Africa says pilchard herpesvirus is the most likely cause of a 2,600km sardine die-off, while investigations continue. Trees Survival Scrutiny (Kenya): Environmentalists are pushing Kenya to track tree survival, not just planting numbers, as drought and poor maintenance can wipe out seedlings. BRICS & Global Order: UN chief Guterres and BRICS leaders renewed calls for reforming global institutions and prioritizing climate justice and technology for emerging economies.

Climate & Disaster Risk: South Africa’s Weather Service issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for damaging winds across parts of Northern Cape and North West, with a cut-off low expected to bring showers, thundershowers, hail and rough seas. BRICS & Environment: At the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration, stressing nuclear safety during conflicts, protecting civilian infrastructure, and backing circular-economy principles for transport plus sustainable aviation fuels to cut emissions. Food Systems & Resilience: PM Modi pushed BRICS “resilience” and early-warning cooperation, citing pandemics, climate disasters and supply shocks; separate coverage highlights BRICS work on digital agriculture and disaster risk reduction. Water, Ports & Decarbonisation: West and Central Africa’s port body urged committees to develop fundable projects for port resilience, environmental protection and IMO decarbonisation. Agriculture Innovation: Dryland Congress 2026 ended with the Delhi Declaration on Drylands, calling for South-South cooperation, better data systems and “living laboratories” to boost dryland farming. Livestock & Livelihoods: Jersey officials say Jersey cows and training are helping Zambian smallholders raise milk output and incomes ahead of a dairy partnership renewal.

Climate Extremes: East Africa’s iconic mountain glaciers are set to vanish within years, with Mt Kenya’s ice area shrinking 96% over 115 years and 40–60% loss recorded in the last decade. Weather & Risk: El Niño is strengthening with near-100% likelihood to persist into early 2027, raising odds of drought and extreme heat in southern Africa and heavier rain and flooding in parts of east Africa. Digital Infrastructure & Water: South African civil groups are demanding reviews and a pause on new data center approvals, citing scarce water, land and electricity and calling for transparency before expansion. BRICS & Climate Governance: At the New Delhi BRICS summit, leaders pushed resilience and climate and backed UN Security Council reform, while the New Delhi Declaration called for West Asia de-escalation and stressed local-currency trade and climate resilience. Meteorology Leadership: Nigeria’s NiMet chief Prof. Charles Anosike was elected president of ACMAD’s board of governors, aiming to strengthen climate services across Africa. Agriculture & Exports: Ghana’s 24-hour economy plan links greenhouse production to cold storage, logistics and air cargo to boost horticulture exports. Space Race: Senegal is moving ahead with homemade satellite capability, with Gaindesat-1B designed to collect environmental and climate data.