African nations are searching for ways to close a massive financing gap, and blue and green bonds are emerging as a potential path forward. Bloomberg Africa senior reporter Yinka Ibukun joins us from Accra. Yinka, we've already seen some test cases of this.Benin took a pioneering pioneering step of actually issuing an SDG bond, sustainable development bond in 2021. And it was a €500 million bond and about a sixth of the proceeds for that bond were to be spent on the expansion of access of clean water in Ben ...

Core Insights - The company's performance in 2025 was affected by macroeconomic uncertainties, market softness, and geopolitical disruptions, prompting decisive actions to restore sustainable performance [1] - The company reported strong free cash flow and managed to protect its added value margin while reducing inventories and capital expenditure [2] Financial Performance - Revenue for the year was EUR 3,091 million, reflecting an organic revenue decline of 2.5% [7] - EBITA was EUR 410 million, with an EBITA margin of 13.2% [7] - Earnings per share before amortisation stood at EUR 2.61 [7] - Free cash flow amounted to EUR 361 million [7] Strategic Actions - The company made progress in rebalancing its portfolio through three acquisitions in America and Southeast Asia, along with three divestments in Europe [3] - Sustainability commitments are on track, with a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) rate of 71% [3] - The company proposed a cash dividend of EUR 1.15 for 2025 and announced a EUR 75 million share buyback program to enhance shareholder value [3][4] Future Outlook - The company anticipates improvements in organic revenue growth and EBITA margin in 2026, continuing to implement strategic actions aligned with the 'thrive 2030' strategy [5]

Core Insights - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has allocated €8 million ($9.3 million) to Sparkasse Bank Skopje for the Green Finance Facility (GFF) in North Macedonia [1] - The GFF aims to provide loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency [1][2] - The initiative is part of a broader collaboration involving multiple organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme and local government agencies [2] Funding and Impact - The GFF pools resources from various entities, including the Joint SDG Fund, the North Macedonian government, EBRD, and local banks [1] - The EBRD has invested over €3 billion ($3.5 million) across more than 200 projects in North Macedonia to date [3] - The new loan marks a milestone, bringing the total allocation to €37 million to support SMEs in renewable energy and energy efficiency [4] Institutional Support - Sparkasse Bank Skopje is the fifth-largest bank in North Macedonia and will channel these funds into SME projects [4] - The bank's management emphasizes its commitment to supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, which are crucial to the economy [5] - EBRD is also preparing a €25 million ($29 million) unfunded risk-sharing guarantee for Crnogorska komercijalna banka to enhance lending capacity for MSMEs in Montenegro [6]

Sustainability and Development - The speaker emphasizes the importance of sustainable development goals (SDGs) as a comprehensive measure of a country's progress, beyond just GDP [3] - The world faces two major problems: climate change and inequality, which drive the need for SDGs [4] - The speaker advocates for celebrating and incentivizing "carbon preventers," people living simple lives with minimal carbon footprints, such as tribal communities [7] - The speaker questions the conventional development paradigm, suggesting a need to re-evaluate what constitutes progress and well-being [10] - The speaker proposes incentivizing communities for preserving biodiversity, such as suggesting an "oxygen tax" for regions with abundant forests [11][12] Economic Opportunity and Livelihood - The speaker highlights the potential of utilizing local resources and entrepreneurship to create livelihood opportunities in rural areas, preventing migration to cities [12] - The speaker provides examples of individuals and organizations finding innovative ways to generate income in rural communities, such as processing local produce and utilizing traditional knowledge [12][15] - The speaker points out the supply-demand mismatch in cities, where an oversupply of labor leads to exploitation, and suggests empowering rural communities to improve their economic standing [16][17] Global Responsibility and Consumption - The speaker argues that developed countries should not hinder developing countries' progress, but rather support them in achieving sustainable development [18] - The speaker emphasizes that individual consumption patterns significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, and encourages reducing, reusing, and recycling [18] - The speaker suggests that every purchase is a "vote" for either sustainable solutions or unsustainable practices, urging consumers to make conscious choices [18]