Imani Development

🌊 🎣 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗶𝗸𝗮

Fishing has long sustained communities along Lake Tanganyika, but overfishing, climate change, and land degradation are placing this vital ecosystem under strain. In response, the FISH4ACP Alternative Livelihoods initiative in is supporting communities in Mpulungu and Nsumbu to diversify incomes, strengthen resilience, and reduce pressure on fisheries—while building sustainable, market-oriented local economies.

Since May 2025, the programme has engaged 15 cooperatives across eight rural communities, reaching over 400 households with 58% women’s participation. Investments in rice mills, greenhouse seedling tunnels, treadle irrigation pumps, and solar-powered cold storage hubs are creating practical, scalable livelihood opportunities that improve food security, generate income, and empower local communities.

Read more ➡️https://imanidevelopment.com/beyond-fishing-how-fish4acp-is-unlocking-new-livelihoods-on-lake-tanganyika-by-chido-myambo/

Beyond Fishing: How FISH4ACP Is Unlocking New Livelihoods on Lake Tanganyika by Chido Myambo Along the shores of Lake Tanganyika—one of the world’s most important freshwater ecosystems—fishing is more than a livelihood. It sustains nearly half of rural jobs and provides a critical source of food and income for millions. Sadly, this vital system is under growing strain. Overfishing, cl...

The development landscape remains a dynamic and volatile operating environment, but we believe this is an opportune time for a regionally based company that supports development on a rapidly transforming continent. Our declaration of global vision and local knowledge continues to signpost the true value we bring.

Today on , we would like to take this opportunity to celebrate our home and our continent. On this special day, we reaffirm our commitment to contributing to Africa’s growth & development. Happy

𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁𝘀 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗔 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗳𝗖𝗙𝗧𝗔

Earlier this month, the COMESA Council of Ministers, during their Extraordinary Meeting, formally adopted the COMESA Strategy for the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

The strategy, developed in 2024 by Imani Development under the leadership of Dr Nick Charalambides, Francis Mangeni, Steven Karangizi, and Mark Pearson, has since undergone extensive consultations and refinement by the Secretariat to ensure a robust approach to implementation before being presented to the Ministers.

With the benefit of time since the analysis was finalized, we are now able to reflect more objectively on several of the strategy’s key strengths;

🤝 it treats AfCFTA and COMESA as complementary, and addresses overlap directly;

🏗️ it builds on existing COMESA instruments and institutions;

🎯 it focuses on practical implementation issues—coordination, capacity, and sequencing;

🈸 it integrates all actions within COMESA’s own Medium- Term Strategic Plan (MTSP).

One aspect that is perhaps less visible, but important, is the legal analysis. The strategy looks carefully at how AfCFTA obligations interact with the COMESA acquis, including areas of convergence, divergence, and potential duplication (for example in investment frameworks). That in turn informs how implementation is approached in practice.

Congratulations to christopher onyango and the COMESA team!

Read more➡️ https://www.comesa.int/press-release-9th-extraordinary-meeting-of-the-comesa-council-of-ministers-2-april-2026-virtual/

Today, on we unite under the global call to action: “OUR POWER, OUR PLANET.” serves as a powerful reminder that our responsibility to protect and nurture the planet extends beyond a single day—it is a commitment we must uphold every day.

We are excited to introduce a high-impact programme implemented by CaDev_Catalyst Development and Challenges Zambia, designed to empower innovators and entrepreneurs building solutions in the circular economy and green sectors.

Applications are now open for the 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵4𝗖𝗘 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝘂𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 & 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲!

♻️ If you are building sustainable, climate-smart solutions that tackle waste, enhance resource efficiency, and create real environmental impact, this programme offers you the support, mentorship, and ecosystem access needed to scale your business.

Apply and learn more here 🔗 https://cadev.co.zm/greenscale-zambia-application-form/

Our B Corp™ Certification journey began in May 2017, with a simple but powerful belief that business should be a force for good; a value we’ve long held since 1982 when we started. Ever since, we have worked hard to push boundaries, holding ourselves accountable to reshaping the future through ethical business.

With the 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗕 𝗟𝗮𝗯 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 challenging us to raise the bar in the future, being a B Corp is just the beginning, as we strive to meet these higher standards. Our B Corp™ Certification is a powerful signal that shows our commitment to measurable social and environmental progress — all while living our values.

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional economic community bringing together eight Partner States: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Established under a treaty signed in November 1999 and effective from July 2000, the EAC is mandated to promote economic, political, social, and cultural integration across the region.

This week our team of in-country experts, Dr Evarist Mugisa, Prof Seth Omondi Gor and Kepa Dima, are in East Africa (Rwanda, Kenya, South Sudan) to lead stakeholder consultations on EAC Vision 2050 implementation progress.

These consultations aim to assess progress made in achieving the goals and objectives outlined in the EAC Vision 2050. Specifically, they seek to:

🔍 Gather stakeholder insights, perspectives, and technical contributions on implementation progress, related successes and challenges, and operational aspects of EAC Vision 2050 implementation (e.g. coordination, institutional structures, monitoring and reporting indicators, processes, and frameworks);

🧭 Get stakeholder views and contributions on the continued relevance, necessary adjustments or reforms, and considerations related to the review of EAC Vision 2050 against national development strategies and trajectories.

Since its launch in 2018, Grow Malawi (GA) has supported over 100 entrepreneurs, creating more than 800 jobs and reaching over 90,000 people along key value chains.

In celebration of , we shine the spotlight on some remarkable women-led ventures— Kwanza Cocoa, Mami Foods, Charis Farms, Harvest Hut Farm—that participated and successfully completed cohort 10 of the programme.

Specifically designed to support high-impact women-led businesses across critical sectors of the economy, GA Cohort 10 supported more than ten ventures, through a blend of business advisory services, tailored mentorship, and access to financing of up to USD 40,000.

Find out more about their businesses➡️https://growmalawi.org/cohort-10/

Growth Accelerator Malawi is financed and managed by UNDP Malawi with funding support from various development partners. The programme is implemented by Landell Mills in partnership with Imani Development.

Cohort 10 - Growth Accelerator Malawi Women in Entrepreneurship

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In response to challenges faced by rural fishing communities along Lake Tanganyika such as, overfishing, declining fish stocks, and limited income diversification, the FAO funded FISH4ACP Alternative Livelihood Implementation Project is empowering small-scale fishermen, processors, and traders around the Lake Tanganyika with sustainable livelihood opportunities. The project is currently supporting six women’s groups in adopting horticultural practices and two groups in improving rice production. It will also support the establishment of seedling tunnels operated by three lead farmers to supply quality seedlings to the horticultural groups, and link them to profitable local markets.