Amid global climate negotiations, as we move closer to implementing the Baku to Belém Roadmap with COP30 being held this month, Africa finds itself at a critical juncture.

David Gowu, President of Technology Information Confederation Africa (TICON Africa) said, the continent must not only secure its share of what is projected to be a $1.3 trillion climate investment pipeline, but also prove it is worthy of this financing.

This is key when the Roadmap requires that funding be used effectively, transparently, and in an equitable manner. None of this money can be wasted at a time when Africa urgently requires assistance in limiting the adverse effects of climate change.

If climate finance transparency is the backbone of the Baku to Belém Roadmap, then African technology companies must be its vital organs, tracking climate investment from disbursement to measurable climate outcomes through the intelligent use of data.

Across the continent, businesses are deploying artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and data analytics – from precision agriculture in Kenya to forest-monitoring systems in the Congo Basin. These examples show that the technological capability already exists.

Despite this, Africa’s tech sector remains largely sidelined from building the public sector technology and capability needed to track and report climate investment impact.

While African startups build innovative monitoring solutions, they’re rarely commissioned to create the government tracking systems that could address corruption, the very issue that sees billions in climate finance lost to misappropriation across the globe each year. The result is a persistent data gap that limits access to finance, weakens accountability, and undermines global transparency goals.

Africa needs to ensure that any use of climate finance is beyond reproach.

Why data matters

Data, when turned into information, transforms investment into outcome. It enables us to see whether money is being used effectively and whether promises are being kept. This is key for good governance – something Africa has been criticised for lacking.

When we have these insights, climate finance becomes measurable, comparable, and verifiable, building the trust required for long-term financing partnerships.

African countries contribute minimally to global carbon emissions, yet they are highly vulnerable to climate change. The effects include increased water stress, reduced agricultural yields, and heightened inequality. Millions have been displaced by drought, floods, and crop failures – all because the globe is getting too hot, too fast.

For Africa to reach Net Zero, we will need around $2.8 trillion – and that figure is already out of date. The African Development Bank Group estimates corruption amounts to around $10 billion, which is money lost to healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Many observers believe the true figure is much higher.

There is a solution. We can use Africa’s skilled data scientists and expert software developers to track financial flows and help reduce the money leaving our shores each year. In doing so, we strengthen governance through transparency, accountability, and data-driven oversight, which is a safeguard for Africa’s climate future.

African solutions for African challenges

Moreover, data helps us identify where urgent intervention will make the greatest difference and lift communities out of crisis. Why not use the talent already available on the continent? This will create much-needed jobs while skilling up the next generation of data scientists.

Africa already has AI-driven climate models and satellite-enabled monitoring of forests and farmlands. These are powerful examples of what’s possible when local expertise meets local context.

African companies are proving that technology built on the continent can solve global problems. Let’s harness the skills we have at home to ensure money is used as intended and directed where it’s most needed.

African data scientists bring two critical advantages: technical capability and on-the-ground knowledge. They understand local realities, governance structures, and community needs in ways external actors cannot. They know which regions face the most urgent threats and where funding will have the greatest impact.

This combination of technical sophistication and contextual intelligence is exactly what the transparency challenge demands. It is also how we will demonstrate good governance through measurable impact.

A matter of urgency

The Baku to Belém Roadmap created the framework for coordinated international action. Now African innovation must fill it with substance.

International donors and multilateral institutions should prioritise partnerships with African technology companies when building climate finance tracking infrastructure.

African governments must recognise their domestic tech sectors as strategic climate assets, investing in digital public infrastructure that supports transparent climate governance.

And African companies should step forward with confidence, knowing that their locally developed solutions can meet and even set global standards.

The technology exists. The talent exists. The urgency is undeniable.

Africa can lead the world in climate finance transparency, if we choose to trust our own capabilities and act with the speed this moment demands.

Kaspersky’s new platform, ‘Cyber Pathways’, offers a comprehensive look into the essential cybersecurity roles, skills, and tools, to empower professionals to chart their career paths with confidence.

Featuring an interactive guidance test and personalised learning recommendations, the resource helps users to discover their ideal cybersecurity role. This platform is equally useful for newcomers to cybersecurity, IT generalists, seasoned experts and corporate organisations.

According to a global Kaspersky study, a staggering 41% of companies report that their cybersecurity teams are significantly understaffed, primarily due to a shortage of qualified professionals capable of handling complex challenges.

This talent gap is further echoed by the fact that 49% of cybersecurity experts see a pressing need for more practical training opportunities to enhance their skills and venture into new, more demanding areas.

Recognising the crucial role of expertise in closing this gap, Kaspersky introduces its new digital project ‘Cyber Pathways’, a comprehensive interactive platform designed to empower cybersecurity professionals at all levels.

‘Cyber Pathways’ is a digital platform that offers an in-depth overview of key cybersecurity spheres and spotlights the vital hard and soft skills essential for success in each area.

It highlights core responsibilities and introduces key tools and solutions utilised in these roles. It also offers practically oriented educational courses tailored to expand knowledge and sharpen skills in a chosen cybersecurity field.

Key cybersecurity spheres are reviewed in the ‘Kaspersky Cyber Heroes’ part, each embodying a vital area of cybersecurity: threat intelligence, malware analysis, security operations, security assessment, network security, and information security research.

These heroes are designed to help professionals understand the unique characteristics of each role and identify the key competencies required to succeed in them.

Career guidance test in an engaging and interactive form enables professionals to assess their current expertise level and identify the cybersecurity role that best matches their strengths and aspirations.

The platform offers three tailored test options, catering to different levels of expertise: for beginners in cybersecurity, for advanced professionals, and for organisations.

Building on nearly three decades of unmatched experience and extensive historical data, Kaspersky has developed a unique expertise that not only protects against the most dangerous cyber threats and guarantees top-tier product quality, but also empowers cybersecurity professionals worldwide to enhance their knowledge and stay ahead of cybercriminals.

Rooted in this expertise, the educational recommendations provided on this platform combine highly practical, hands-on programmes from Kaspersky Cybersecurity Training and Kaspersky Academy.

Designed to equip professionals with the critical skills needed to combat sophisticated threats, these initiatives ensure that their skills remain sharp, current, and ready for any challenge.

Additionally, these recommendations include valuable resources for corporate organisations, featuring online tools from Kaspersky Security Awareness that promote cybersecurity-conscious behaviours within teams and foster a resilient security culture.

Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has announced Monday, January 5, 2026, as the final deadline for full compliance with the Digital, Electronic, Online, and Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025.

In a statement signed by Ondaje Ijagwu, director of Corporate Affairs, the Commission said that the Regulations took effect on July 21, 2025, pursuant to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.

According to the statement, the new framework is designed to promote fairness, transparency, and accountability within Nigeria’s expanding digital lending ecosystem.

To facilitate compliance, the Commission has also released an accompanying instrument, the Guidelines on the Digital, Electronic, Online, and Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025, issued under Sections 17 and 163 of the FCCPA.

“This document provides practical direction for lenders and intermediaries, explains the documentation required, and introduces updated Forms 1 and 3 based on feedback received from stakeholders,” the statement noted.

The FCCPC added that applicants with pending submissions may supplement their filings with any additional information required under the new Guidelines without waiting for formal requests.

It assured them that applications would continue to be processed promptly and transparently.

Speaking on the compliance timeline, Mr Tunji Bello, executive vice chairman of the FCCPC, underscored the importance of adhering to the January 5 deadline.

“Full compliance is not only a legal requirement but an important step in protecting consumers and ensuring that the sector continues to grow in a fair and responsible manner,” Bello said. “Operators have had ample time to adjust to the Regulations and the additional guidance now provided. We expect all obligations to be met before the deadline.”

The Commission emphasised that all affected operators, including digital lending platforms, service partners, and intermediaries, must complete their compliance obligations before the stated date.

It warned that enforcement actions will commence immediately after the deadline, including restricting non-compliant entities from operating, directing partners or platforms to cease dealings with them, and imposing other sanctions permitted under the law.

Copies of the Guidelines, Forms, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are available on the FCCPC websit: www.fccpc.gov.ng, as well as at the Commission’s offices nationwide.