diplomacy&development

TWAA seeks to create impact in the world of networking, with a focus on tools for community mobilization, content sharing and networking targeting the female economy. Built with safe protocols and features to counter cyber bullying; Set to redefine digital networking as we know it and drive intra Africa trade; Women influencers and communities globally are setting up for “early adopters” advantage; Available on web portal, android app and IOS apps for women worldwide. TWAA - a mentorship and digital community based social media company arising from Africa – launches a “Women in Tech” community on its platform in a bid to connect women led communities with technology. TWAA seeks to create impact in the world of networking, with a focus on tools for community mobilization, content sharing and networking targeting the female economy. Founded by African media and tech entrepreneur Irene Kiwia, and incubated and invested by leading Pan African venture studio Adanian Labs, TWAA is a platform...

Discussions covered developing the private sector and ways Zimbabwe could best tap its renewable energy resources. Senior African Development Bank ( www.AfDB.org ) officials recently undertook a three-day business mission to Zimbabwe. The bank’s vice president for power, energy, climate and green growth, Dr Kevin Kariuki, and its vice president for private sector, infrastructure and industrialization, Mr. Solomon Quaynor, both met with senior Zimbabwean government officials and business leaders in Harare last week. Discussions covered developing the private sector and ways Zimbabwe could best tap its renewable energy resources. Kariuki and Quaynor met with the Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube, the Energy and Power Development Minister Soda Zhemu. Others were Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Jesimen Chipika, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Development Vangelis Haritatos, and representatives of Zambezi River ...

The second edition of the Afrifursa Fintech Summit, AFRIFIN, will be held on September 22, 2022. After an inaugural edition that registered more than 440 participants and top-tier stakeholders from the global fintech space, as well as rising stars of the African fintech ecosystem, the AFRIFIN virtual summit now launches its 2nd edition. The acquisition of Oklahoma-based Global Technology Partners (GTP) by the African fintech  MFS Africa shows that African fintechs are changing the rules of the game. The Afrifursa Fintech Summit, AFRIFIN is the platform that brings together dynamic founders, latest innovation, and exciting opportunities for collaboration between Africa and Canada. AFRIFIN, founded by finance expert Tapfuma Musewe, fulfills a vision: shifting the narrative around Africa by connecting the Canadian and African fintech ecosystems and engaging in social impact partnerships - through shared thought leadership, understanding of the fintech startup environment, market inte...

La seconde édition du sommet AFRIFURSA de la Fintech se tiendra le 22 septembre prochain. Après une 1ere édition qui a enregistré plus de 440 participants, dont la crème des acteurs de la sphère fintech mondiale, ainsi que des étoiles montantes de l’écosystème fintech africain, le sommet virtuel AFRIFIN lance sa deuxième édition. L’acquisition de l’entreprise américaine GTP (Global Technology Partners) – basée en Oklahoma, par la fintech africaine " MFS Africa démontre que les fintechs africaines sont en train de changer les règles du jeu. Le sommet Afrifursa de la Fintech, AFRIFIN est la plateforme qui réunit les créateurs d’entreprise, innovations de pointe et des opportunités de collaboration entre l’Afrique et le Canada. AFRIFIN a été fondée par Tapfuma Musewe, expert en finances, pour matérialiser une vision : celle de changer la donne sur l’Afrique, en connectant les écosystèmes fintech canadien et africain, et en s’engageant dans des partenariats à fort impact social ; par...

Humanitarian workers step up to respond every day by providing lifesaving assistance such as food and cash, health and clean water, protection services and emergency education to millions of women, children and men. Every year on 19 August, the humanitarian community comes together to celebrate World Humanitarian Day. Thirteen years after its first celebration, the aid community worldwide is grappling with the toll of a megacrisis. The devastating combination of conflicts, the climate emergency, geopolitics, the pandemic, poverty and a war has caused the number of people who need humanitarian assistance to reach a record 303 million. As this megacrisis continues, humanitarian workers step up to respond every day by providing lifesaving assistance such as food and cash, health and clean water, protection services and emergency education to millions of women, children and men. Because as the saying goes, #ItTakesAVillage. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a whole comm...

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” was invited by the First Lady of Sierra Leone to participate at the 10th African Conference on Sexual Health and Rights. High-level panel of Merck Foundation ( Merck-Foundation.com ) CEO, Senator Rasha Kelej, the First Lady of Sierra Leone, H.E. Mrs. FATIMA MAADA BIO and The Vice President of Liberia, H.E. Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor to discuss efforts to empower women and support girl education; Merck Foundation CEO recognizes the efforts of the First Lady of Sierra Leone as the Ambassador of “More Than a Mother” campaign. Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany met H.E. DR. JULIUS MAADA BIO, The President of Sierra Leone and H.E. Mrs. FATIMA MAADA BIO, The First Lady of Sierra Leone and Ambassador of Merck Foundation ‘More Than a Mother’, during her visit to Sierra Leone and participating as guest of honor at the 10th African repr...

Sénatrice, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO de la Fondation Merck et Présidente de la Fondation Merck « Plus Qu'une Mère » a été invitée par la Première Dame de Sierra Leone à participer à la 10ème Conférence Africaine sur la Santé et les Droits Sexuels. Panel de haut niveau du CEO de la Fondation Merck (Merck-Foundation.com), Sénatrice Rasha Kelej, la Première Dame de Sierra Leone, S.E. Mme FATIMA MAADA BIO et le Vice-président du Libéria, S.E. Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor pour discuter des efforts visant à autonomiser les femmes et à soutenir l'éducation des filles ; CEO de la Fondation Merck reconnaît les efforts de la Première Dame de Sierra Leone en tant qu'Ambassadrice de la campagne « Plus Qu'une Mère » Sénatrice, Dr Rasha Kelej, CEO de la Fondation Merck, la branche philanthropique de Merck KGaA Allemagne a rencontré S.E. DR. JULIUS MAADA BIO, Le Président de la Sierra Leone et S.E. Mme FATIMA MAADA BIO, La Première Dame de la Sierra Leone et Ambassadrice de la Fondation Merck «...

Accompanying President Ramkalawan was the Seychelles Ambassador to the African Union, Conrad Mederic, the Director Regional Affairs, Mr Christian Faure and and Third Secretary SADC Desk, Mr Jean-Philippe Bannane. President Wavel Ramkalawan was among the Heads of State and Government who convened in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo this morning for the official opening ceremony of the 42nd Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).  This year’s summit is taking place under the theme: “Promoting industrialisation through, agro-processing, mineral beneficiation, and regional value chains for inclusive and resilient economic growth”. Highlights of the ceremony included the introduction of panel of Heads of State and designated Government representatives in attendance, followed by the Presentation of medals of honour for the Founding Fathers of SADC.  In ushering a new era of SADC Leadership, the opening ceremony also witnessed the official hand...

The major objective of the event was to develop action plans on promotion and implementation of regional and national industrialization policies. Experts from the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Sub-Regional Office for Southern Africa (SRO-SA) and the Government of Zambia held a two-day National Action Planning workshop from 10th to 11th August 2022 on the alignment and harmonization of regional and national frameworks on industrialization. The major objective of the event was to develop action plans on promotion and implementation of regional and national industrialization policies for inclusive and sustainable development in Southern Africa. This workshop was organized based on the recommendations from the study findings of ECA report which focused on the adoption of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) industrialization policy frameworks and strategies as new industrialization trajectory for regional m...

In the midst of a global oil-and-gas crisis, Africa must take charge of its own energy destiny, and use its rich resource assets for the benefit of its own people. This is the call from former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo. His comments come as the world scrambles to find  new sources of oil and gas to meet its energy needs following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In this context, Obasanjo says African countries cannot be beholden to the unrealistic ideals of the Global North for an exclusively renewables-driven economy. He says this is particularly true when the developed world is itself accepting the need for hydrocarbons. “Like the rest of the world, Africa must follow energy policies that promote socio-economic development and sustainable hydrocarbon use,” he says.  “Africa is the lowest producer of greenhouse-gas emissions and needs to lift nearly half-a-billion citizens out of poverty,” says Obasanjo. “Responsible management of our hydrocarbons and investment in o...

Corporate and civic leaders assembled in Dakar for the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power Conference 2022 will have the opportunity to compete in a golf tournament on the event’s third day, promoting energy sector discourse in the formation of the Dakar Energy Club. Energy Capital & Power (ECP) ( www.EnergyCapitalPower.com ), in partnership with the African Energy Chamber, is proud to announce a nine-hole golf tournament challenge to follow two days of packed programming on September 1-2 in the world-renowned CICAD venue in Dakar for MSGBC 2022. Celebrating the formation of the Dakar Energy Club - an NGO collective for civic and corporate leaders in the energy sector promoting informal, intersectional dialogues around energy futures - the scramble format contest on September 3 will bring together 16 three-player teams at the King Fahd Hotel’s Golf Club Pointe des Almadies on Dakar’s picturesque coastline. In addition to participating in the sport itself, delegates will have a unique opport...

Melinda French Gates, Philanthrope, Fenme d'affaires,  Défenseuse mondiale des femmes et des filles. Co-Présidente de la  Fondation Bill & Melinda Gates. En juin, lors d’un voyage au Sénégal et au Rwanda, mon premier voyage en Afrique depuis le début de la pandémie, j’ai pu constater d’innombrables exemples africains d’innovations. Parmi celles-ci figurent notamment une université rurale formant la prochaine génération de professionnels de la santé mondiale ; une entreprise qui transforme des pneus usagés, lieux de reproduction des moustiques, en gazon synthétique et en combustible pour les cimenteries ; et une équipe de scientifiques développant des vaccins et des traitements de pointe pour lutter contre toutes sortes de maladies infectieuses. Après avoir passé 20 ans à me rendre sur le continent et à travailler avec ses dirigeants, je n’ai nullement été surprise de voir que des solutions africaines qui permettaient de répondre aux défis de l’Afrique. Je n’ai pas plus été...