diplomacy&development

Energy experts say the growing oil crisis across the globe is a wake-up call for the African continent to be become less dependent on foreign oil supplies. The cost of fuel has risen sharply, with Brent crude oil hitting a 14-year high in recent weeks. It remains firmly above $100 per barrel at the time of publication. With the military conflict in Ukraine, concerns have arisen around the world’s ability to meet its energy needs. The United States and the United Kingdom have banned Russian oil imports, with the European Union under pressure to follow suit. “Nobody really anticipated needing to grow significantly,” Vicki Hollub, chief executive of Occidental Petroleum said during a recent conference in  Texas . “That’s the challenge now. If you didn’t plan for growth, you’re not going to be able to achieve growth today.” Regardless of the outcome, the squeeze is being felt across the globe. Some governments have decided to subsidise their citizens’ energy bills, or to reduce the cos...

• Applications open in English and French for fourth year of the Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) prize competition. • ABH annually awards 10 outstanding entrepreneurs from across Africa with a share of a US$1.5 million grant. • Season 3 of the ABH Show featuring the Top 10 Heroes from the 2021 competition was premiere on CNBC Africa on March 25th 6pm CAT and will subsequently air on CNBC Africa, StarTimes, DSTV, VoxAfrica and a number of local African TV stations.  The “ Africa's Business Heroes” (ABH) prize competition , one of the Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship philanthropic programs spotlighting and celebrating Africa’s entrepreneurial talent, has opened  applications for its fourth annual edition .  Entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries, across every sector, age group, and gender are now be able to submit their applications, in either French and English, for a chance to become one of the Top 10 finalists. The official slogan of the competition, “It’s African Time”...

• Les candidatures sont ouvertes en Français et en Anglais pour la quatrième édition du concours Africa’s Business Heroes. • ABH offre chaque année à 10 entrepreneurs exceptionnels des quatre coins de l’Afrique une part de la cagnotte totale s’élevant à 1,5 million de dollars  • La troisième saison de la série télévisée ABH suivant le parcours des 10 héros de l’édition 2021 du concours a été diffusée en avant-première sur la chaîne CNBC Africa, le 25 mars dérnier, à 18 h UTC+2, puis sur StarTimes, DSTV et VoxAfrica, ainsi que sur un certain nombre de chaînes locale en Afrique.   Le concours «  Africa’s Business Heroes  », l’un des programmes philanthropiques phares de la Fondation Jack Ma mettant sous les feux des projecteurs et célébrant les talents entrepreneuriaux africains, a annoncé le 24 Mars dérnier, l’ouverture  des candidatures pour sa quatrième édition annuelle .       Les entrepreneurs des 54 pays africains, quel que soit leur sect...

HE the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt entrusted HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs with his greetings to HH the Amir. HE President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah Al Sisi met Tuesday in Cairo with HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. At the outset of the meeting, HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs conveyed the greetings of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to HE the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt and His Highness' wishes of good health and happiness to him and further development and prosperity to the Egyptian people. For his part, HE the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt entrusted HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs with his greetings to HH the Amir and his wishes of good health and happiness to His Highness and further progress and development to the Qatari people. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral co...

The admission of DRC into the EAC is a historic event that demonstrates the agility of the community to expand beyond its socio-cultural boundaries to new people and trade centred partnerships and collaboration. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was on Tuesday officially admitted into the East African Community (EAC) during the 19th Extra-Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State and Government chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta virtually. Welcoming the newcomer to the EAC, President Kenyatta termed the admission of DRC into the EAC a historic event that demonstrates the agility of the community to expand beyond its socio-cultural boundaries to new people and trade centred partnerships and collaboration that will expand opportunities for citizens of the region. “Today as chairman of the EAC, I proudly and warmly welcome our brothers and sisters from the DRC to the EAC and look forward to joining hands in strengthening our community together. Working together, we have more to gain...

More than 50 percent of WFP’s assistance to refugees in Uganda is provided in the form of cash transfers. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of EUR 3 million from the European Union (EU) to provide cash transfers for 780,000 refugees in Uganda. This funding is in addition to an earlier contribution of EUR 4.5 million. WFP uses cash transfers to empower people with choice to address their essential needs by purchasing goods from the local markets, while also helping to boost these markets.More than 50 percent of WFP’s assistance to refugees in Uganda is provided in the form of cash transfers. “The top-up from the EU comes at a time when we need it most. With influxes of new refugees, unpredictable weather, and other shocks such as COVID-19, refugees are now, more than ever, in need of assistance to enable them to progress towards self-reliance. These additional funds will enable WFP to continue providing much-needed food assistance to refugees and ...

Over 11 previous editions, it has awarded around €555,000 to African business projects with positive social and environmental impacts in various sectors.   March 28 will mark the opening of the 12th Orange Social Venture Prize in Africa and the Middle East. Candidates can submit their applications until May 27 on the website https://POESAM.Orange.com . POESAM was launched in 2011. Over 11 previous editions, it has awarded around €555,000 to African business projects with positive social and environmental impacts in various sectors: health, education, e-commerce and farming. There are two stages to the competition: A national stage to gather applications, between March and late May at Orange’s 17 subsidiaries. When this stage is complete, a jury with representatives from Orange’s start-up ecosystem will meet in each subsidiary to choose 3 national winners (per subsidiary) who will qualify for the international stage; An international stage, where the projects of the 3 winners from e...

A récompensé au cours de ses 11 éditions à hauteur d’environ 555 000€ des projets d’entrepreneurs africains à impacts sociaux et environnementaux dans divers secteurs.   Ce 28 mars débuteront les inscriptions de la 12ème édition du Prix Orange de l’Entrepreneur Social en Afrique et au Moyen-Orient. Jusqu’au 27 Mai, les candidats pourront soumettre leur candidature sur le site https://POESAM.Orange.com . Le POESAM a été lancé en 2011, et a récompensé au cours de ses 11 éditions à hauteur d’environ 555 000€ des projets d’entrepreneurs africains à impacts sociaux et environnementaux dans divers secteurs : la santé, l’éducation, le e-commerce ou encore l’agriculture. La compétition se déroule en deux étapes : Une phase nationale de collecte de candidatures qui a lieu entre mars et fin mai dans les 17 filiales d’Orange. A l’issue de cette collecte, un jury composé de représentants de l’écosystème startup d’Orange se réunira dans chaque filiale pour désigner 3 lauréats (par filiale) nati...

Sébastien Périmony, candidat au siège de député à l'assemblée nationale française pour la 9ème circonscription des Français de l’étranger (Algérie, Burkina-Faso, Cap-Vert, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambie, Guinée, Guinée Bissau, Libéria, Lybie, Mali, Maroc, Mauritanie, Niger, Sénégal, Sierra Leone, Tunisie) Sébastien Périmony lance sa campagne dans la 9ème circonscription des Français de l’étranger (Algérie, Burkina-Faso, Cap-Vert, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambie, Guinée, Guinée Bissau, Libéria, Lybie, Mali, Maroc, Mauritanie, Niger, Sénégal, Sierra Leone, Tunisie).  Décou vrez et partagez son site de campagne:  www.perimony2022.fr Pour mieux connaitre le candidat:  https://youtu.be/CG7aaqaAqZs Sébastien Périmony, qui  lance sa campagne dans la 9ème circonscription des Français de l’étranger,  est auteur du livre « Voir l’Afrique avec les yeux du futur ». Il vit en Ile de France.  Il est né le 4 janvier 1978 dans la Somme. Analyste programmeur de formation, il est sepuis 2003,...

President of the Republic of Kenya,  Uhuru Kenyatta The centre is one of the largest software engineering facilities in Africa and sets the standard for a new generation of technology hubs across the continent. President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday evening unveiled the 27 million dollars Microsoft Africa Development Centre, expressing optimism that the facility will bolster the Government’s quest to secure high-tech jobs in the digital space for the youth. Speaking during the launch in Nairobi, President Kenyatta termed the Microsoft facility a “seminal development” that endorses the international recognition of Kenya’s abundant high-tech workforce capabilities, business opportunities and conducive investment environment. “As a premier centre of research and development for Microsoft, we all remain confident that you – together with our young men and women – will build a local world class talent and create innovative technological solutions that will yield global positive impacts,” ...

NBA Africa and the Royal Bafokeng Nation, through its sports development arm Royal Bafokeng Sports (RBS), announced an expansion of their youth development partnership. 12th year of Royal Bafokeng jr. NBA ( www.NBA.com ) programme will reach more than 20,000 boys and girls from 44 schools across the Royal Bafokeng Nation and Greater Rustenburg region; Programme has reached more than 100,000 youth since 2011 through basketball development and youth engagement initiatives. NBA Africa and the Royal Bafokeng Nation, through its sports development arm Royal Bafokeng Sports (RBS), today announced an expansion of their long-term youth development partnership.  The expanded partnership will see the 12th year of the Royal Bafokeng Jr. NBA Programme reach more than 20,000 boys and girls from 44 schools across the Royal Bafokeng Nation and Greater Rustenburg Region in South Africa. The Royal Bafokeng Jr. NBA Programme, which launched in 2011 with 36 boys and girls teams from 18 middle and hig...