A quarterly reflection by Tariro Mutizwa, FCMA, CGMA, Vice President – Africa at CIMA
As the first quarter of 2026 draws to a close, it is striking how quickly the year has gathered pace. What began as a moment of anticipation in January has already become a period of tangible progress for CIMA across Africa.
The past three months have been defined by connection, collaboration and a shared commitment to strengthening the finance and accounting profession. We are proud of what has been achieved, and grateful for the continued engagement and energy of our members and candidates, whose involvement brings our work to life.
Listening and connecting to transform the profession
Engage 365: strengthening global and regional connections
One of the most significant developments this quarter was the launch of Engage365, our new global community platform. Designed to bring members and students together across borders, Engage365 creates space for meaningful connection, knowledge‑sharing and professional support.
Through the platform, members and students can engage with peers, access expert insights, stay informed on issues shaping the profession and explore opportunities to contribute through advisory groups and committees. At its heart, Engage365 reflects our belief that a strong, resilient profession is built through community and shared learning. I encourage you to take advantage of Engage365, join the CIMA Africa-Wide Community and connect with fellow members and students on the continent.
International Women’s Month: Give to Gain Campaign
March also provided an opportunity to reflect on the vital role women play in the accounting and finance profession. The launch of the Give to Gain campaign on 10 March highlighted the power of mentoring and the opportunities available to women across the profession. This initiative builds on conversations sparked at key global events, including the Women’s Global Leadership Summit and ENGAGE Africa Conference, and reinforces the importance of collective action. You can also watch a recording of our webinar which celebrated women in finance.
Future of Sustainability Conference 2026
We were pleased to collaborate with Topco Media to deliver the fourth edition of the Future of Sustainability Conference on 24 and 25 March 2026 in Johannesburg. As the world’s largest body for management accounting, we recognise the important role finance and accounting professionals play in advancing sustainable business practices. This collaboration provided a valuable opportunity to engage delegates on how sustainability skills and knowledge are becoming integral to the profession, and to share how our programmes and courses are supporting professionals in this evolving area.
Empowering finance professionals
Strengthening governance and risk capability in Nigeria
This quarter also saw the announcement of a collaboration between the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the Nigerian Capital Market Institute (NCMI), the training arm of Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission. The collaboration expands access for Capital Market Operators to COSO’s Internal Control and Enterprise Risk Management Certificate programmes – supporting stronger governance, risk management and organisational resilience.
Executive perspectives on AI opportunities and risks
AICPA and CIMA in partnership with North Carolina State University’s ERM Initiative, released a global study examining executive perceptions of AI opportunities and risks. Findings from 1,735 executives highlight a growing divide between organisations successfully leveraging AI and those constrained by gaps in talent, systems and governance, underscoring the evolving role of finance professionals in this space.
Investing in future talent
CGMA Professional Qualification: preparing for what’s next
We continued promoting how the CGMA Professional Qualification is evolving to meet future demands across our key African markets. Media engagements with subject matter experts helped bring these changes to a wider audience, reinforcing the relevance of the CGMA designation in a rapidly changing world. You can watch Daniel Prendergast, FCMA, CGMA, Technical Director - Professional Qualification, discuss the evolution of the CGMA Professional Qualification in an interview with Channels Television in Nigeria here.
University of Cape Coast collaborations
We were pleased to renew our partnership with the University of Cape Coast for a further three years, enabling new cohorts of students to access the CGMA Finance Leadership Program, the fully digital, flexible pathway to study for the CGMA Professional Qualification and earning the CGMA designation.
CGMA Finance Leadership Program Tuition Provider Awards
We were pleased to recognise leading CGMA Finance Leadership Program Tuition Providers in South Africa for their exceptional commitment to supporting students on their CGMA journey. IBTC and the University of Johannesburg received Gold Awards, while CharterQuest was honoured with a Silver Award.
Looking ahead
As we enter the second quarter, there is much to look forward to:
- CGMA Convocations will take place in Harare, Zimbabwe on 17 April; Johannesburg, South Africa on 30 May; and Lusaka, Zambia on 24 June. I look forward to celebrating with our CGMA candidates across these regions.
- CIMA President and Association Co-Chair visit will South Africa, Botswana, and Zambia in the latter part of May.
- CGMA Leadership Academy for associate members of the Institute under the age of 35 will take place from 27 to 30 July.
- ENGAGE Africa 2026 will take place in Cape Town from 28 to 30 October, I hope to see you there.
Thank you for your continued commitment to CIMA and to the profession. I wish you a productive and rewarding second quarter of 2026.