Mining Finance: Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) will bring senior executives to African Mining Week in Cape Town (Oct 14–16) to push capital for mining, mineral processing and infrastructure, with panels on mineral corridors and value addition. Women’s Employment Skills: A new analysis warns skills programs often fail women by leaving them without internships, networks and affordable access to jobs—calling for better soft-skills and pathways into formal wage work. Youth Skills Agenda: Sierra Leone outlined its youth employment vision at the Youth Knowledge Forum in Rabat, focusing on technical training, digital transformation, entrepreneurship and inclusive access. Cyber Rights: Women on Mining and Extractives Sierra Leone (WoME-SL) raised concerns about Section 44 of the Cyber Security and Crime Act, urging discussion on its impact on freedom of expression. Port Congestion & Trade: The Sierra Leone Labour Congress called port congestion at Queen Elizabeth II Quay an emergency and urged faster completion of Gento Port to cut delays and costs. Palm Oil Processing: Jolaks Manufacturing secured $20m financing to expand palm oil refining, aiming to strengthen demand for smallholder crude palm oil and grow local value chains. Land Reform: Sierra Leone is modernizing land administration with digital records, stronger development controls and decentralized planning to tackle disputes and unplanned settlements. Tourism Vendors: An opposition MP demanded written guarantees for Cabbage Beach vendors ahead of erosion control works tied to the Four Seasons Ocean Club project. Vehicle Tracking: A West Africa-wide push for better fleet tracking is highlighted through a regional comparison of government vehicle management systems.