Banking Expansion: Standard Bank’s Kenya unit says it will double its retail footprint by 2029, adding outlets plus digital and agent banking to win more small enterprises and mass-market customers. SME Financing Boost: The African Development Bank backed Standard Bank with a $332m deal to expand SME lending in South Africa, with AFAWA support for women entrepreneurs. Energy for Micro-Businesses: Nigeria launched the Tinubu Light Initiative to supply affordable renewable power solutions to 1 million micro, small and medium enterprises, targeting big job creation and lower operating costs. Women-Led Growth in Kenya: Kingdom Bank partnered with AWEP Kenya to improve access to finance and business support for women-owned SMEs, backed by tailored products under “Funded & Fearless.” Consumer Protection Push (Ghana): ICEDEG Africa urged passage of Ghana’s Consumer Protection Bill, arguing fragmented rules leave SMEs—especially women-owned firms—exposed in disputes with large suppliers. Payments & Merchant Acceptance (East Africa): UnionPay International and Pesapal expanded card acceptance across Tanzania and Rwanda, adding thousands of tourism and SME merchant locations. Workforce Support (South Africa): Business Partners launched a R150m SME Youth Jobs Fund to help established SMEs hire more young people by easing labour-related costs. Digital Distribution for Vouchers: A new model for monetising prepaid WiFi vouchers aims to make reseller networks easier to manage in cash-based markets. Migration Shock (South Africa): Reports say more than 160,000 migrants have fled after violence, raising fears of labour shortages and disruption to small-business and informal trade.