Maternal Health & Facility Readiness: A new IPS report warns that while maternal deaths in Africa fell 40% since 2000, progress is stalling and Africa still accounts for over 70% of global maternal deaths; preventable causes like postpartum hemorrhage persist, and “delay” in seeking care, reaching facilities, and getting proper treatment remains the core problem. Illegal Mining & Environmental Damage: In Abidjan, Cardinal Jean-Pierre Cardinal Dogbo renewed calls for stronger state action against illegal gold mining, linking greed to the reckless exploitation of natural resources and urging citizens and authorities to fight the “idolatry of money.” Cocoa Belt Women’s Livelihoods: In Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa-growing areas, a savings-and-loan network in Bringakro—supported by Nestlé and the International Cocoa Initiative—has grown to seven groups and about 210 women, aiming to reduce vulnerability and child labor risks by boosting women’s economic independence. Climate Risk & Flooding Lessons: A Ghana-focused feature highlights how floods are increasingly shaped by climate change, urban growth, land-use shifts, and loss of natural water-absorbing systems—an urgent reminder for West Africa’s cities, including Côte d’Ivoire’s, to adapt better. Toxic Waste Legacy: Survivors in Côte d’Ivoire’s Abidjan still face fallout from the 2006 Probo Koala toxic dumping, after a controversial settlement that left many victims feeling justice was incomplete.