MOROGORO, Tanzania, March 25, 2026/APO Group/ –The Coca-Cola system (https://CCBAGroup.com/)  in Tanzania is investing USD 1.94 million to help restore the Ruvu Basin, a vital water source serving Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial capital of approximately 9 million (https://apo-opa.co/40TfNFO) people, and a lifeline for communities, farms, and businesses across eastern Tanzania.

 

The initiative focuses on improving water replenishment through nature-based solutions, restoring catchment areas, and supporting more sustainable water management in the Ngerengere catchment of the Ruvu sub-basin. It also aims to strengthen capacity for watershed management, help restore degraded catchment areas and promote water stewardship.

Led by the Global Water Challenge (GWC) and implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in partnership with the Wami-Ruvu Basin Water Board (WRBWB), the project aims to deliver on-the-ground impact, including tree planting and the uptake of more climate resilient livelihood practices, benefiting at least 2,000 farmers.

This work forms part of the Coca-Cola system’s Africa Water Stewardship Initiative, launched in 2024. The initiative represents a nearly USD 25 million investment to help address critical water-related challenges in local communities in 20 African countries by 2030.

“The world is experiencing increased water insecurity, which is evident through water scarcity, with demands for safe, usable water exceeding supply in certain areas and scarcity challenges forecast to increase in the future. The Coca-Cola system intends to continue focusing on promoting water stewardship, increasing water use efficiency, and treating and returning safe water to communities,” said Alfred Olajide, Vice President, Franchise Operations, East and Central Africa at Coca-Cola.

David Chait, Managing Director of Coca-Cola Kwanza added: “As part of the Coca-Cola Beverages Africa group, we have a responsibility to assist those who face water scarcity and to help protect local water resources where we operate, especially in places with the biggest challenges. The Coca-Cola system’s Africa Water Stewardship Initiative aims to help protect and enhance the health of important watersheds and to improve access to water and sanitation services in local communities.”

Charles Oluchina, Country Representative, IUCN Tanzania, said: “We are proud to be the implementing partner, alongside WRBWB, for this project. This initiative is aimed at helping to protect and restore the Ruvu sub-basin focusing on Ngerengere catchment through nature-based solutions and improving water security and livelihoods for communities.”

“Recognising that partnerships are critical to support this work, Coca-Cola and its authorised bottlers are collaborating with governments, businesses, and civil society organisations to design and implement strategic interventions for a better shared future,” concluded Olajide.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 24, 2026/APO Group/ –Marriott Bonvoy® (https://apo-opa.co/4bMGKjw), Marriott International’s (www.Marriott.com) award-winning travel programme and Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest airline and a Star Alliance member, today announced a partnership that gives travellers more opportunities to earn and redeem points and miles across both hotel stays and flights.

 

Starting today, eligible members of Marriott Bonvoy and ShebaMiles, Ethiopian Airlines’ loyalty programme, can convert ShebaMiles into Marriott Bonvoy points for hotel stays, upgrades and more, as well as Marriott Bonvoy points to ShebaMiles to book flights. Members can also choose whether to earn Marriott Bonvoy points or ShebaMiles when staying at properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.

This collaboration marks a key partnership for Marriott Bonvoy with a leading African airline, connecting Ethiopian Airlines’ network of over 145 destinations with Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of more than 30 hotel brands and 10,000 destinations worldwide.

“Africa is one of the world’s fastest‑growing regions for travel, and this partnership reflects our continued commitment to deliver the most rewarding travel experiences for our members,” said Andrew Watson, Chief Commercial Officer – Europe, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. “Through our partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, Marriott Bonvoy members will have the freedom to enjoy the benefits of loyalty in ways that are most meaningful to them – whether earning miles during their stays or using points to get the miles they need for flights.”

Rahel Assefa, Ethiopian Airlines Group Vice President of Marketing, also remarked: “The partnership we have established with Marriott Bonvoy is part of our ongoing efforts to advance our vision of enhancing the ShebaMiles member travel experience while diversifying our service offerings. Through this new partnership, our ShebaMiles members will have greater opportunities to earn and redeem their miles through access to Marriott Bonvoy’s global network of hotels across multiple touchpoints and destinations in Africa and around the world. Ethiopian Airlines remains committed to building strategic partnerships with various stakeholders that enhance our service offerings and enable us to continually exceed our customers’ expectations.”

Ethiopian Airlines offers extensive coverage across Africa and frequent connections to major global cities such as Mumbai, Paris, London, Washington D.C. and Beijing. As a member of Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline network, Ethiopian Airlines gives ShebaMiles members – and Marriott Bonvoy members who convert points to ShebaMiles – access to flight redemptions and cabin upgrades across 25 Star Alliance partner airlines serving more than 1,150 destinations.

ShebaMiles members can convert miles to Marriott Bonvoy points at a 2:1 ratio. Marriott Bonvoy members can convert points to ShebaMiles at a 3:1 ratio and will receive 5,000 bonus ShebaMiles for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred in a single transaction. On eligible stays at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties, members can earn up to two miles per US dollar spent or can earn Marriott Bonvoy points as normal.

To access these benefits, members simply need to be enrolled in both Marriott Bonvoy and ShebaMiles programmes. No account linking is required. For more information, visit the Marriott Bonvoy (https://apo-opa.co/4rQdMFq) and ShebaMiles (https://apo-opa.co/3Ptwa9A) websites.

NEW YORK, United States of America, March 24, 2026/APO Group/ –Circle Internet Group, Inc. (NYSE: CRCL), one of the world’s leading internet financial platform companies, today announced a collaboration between one of its affiliates and Sasai Fintech, a business of Cassava Technologies (www.CassavaTechnologies.com/), to accelerate USDC adoption and expand internet-native financial infrastructure across Africa. Issued through Circle’s regulated affiliates, USDC is a fully-reserved, transparent payment stablecoin redeemable 1:1 for U.S. dollars, powering programmable payments and financial applications worldwide.

 

Stablecoin use in Africa is growing rapidly, driven by mobile-first consumers, cross-border commerce, and a rapidly expanding digital economy. Together, Circle and Sasai Fintech will explore practical applications for USDC and how Circle’s full stack platform can support reducing costs, frictions and settlement time for Sasai’s enterprise and consumer customers.

 

Sasai Fintech operates across key payment corridors, offering a unified suite of digital financial services that enables business payments, facilitates cross-border transfers for individuals and remittance operators, and delivers innovative mobile wallet solutions. Through integration of USDC and Circle’s onchain infrastructure, these platforms can seamlessly connect users to the global financial system.

 

“Africa’s digital economy is entering a new era, propelled by entrepreneurship, a mobile-first generation, and the acceleration of intra-regional trade,” said Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Executive Chairman at Cassava Technologies. “By integrating with the trusted and widely adopted USDC network, we can drive financial inclusion and open transformative opportunities for businesses and consumers alike.”

 

“Emerging markets are at the forefront of stablecoin adoption, and Africa represents a significant opportunity for internet-native innovation,” said Jeremy Allaire, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO at Circle. “Working with Cassava, we can extend the benefits of USDC and onchain infrastructure into high-growth payment corridors to deliver always-on global connectivity.”