diplomacy&development

Quentyn Taylor, Director of Information Security, Canon Europe It’s no longer enough to just print and sell a product. In the modern print landscape, businesses in Africa need to think about creative solutions to meet customers’ needs, while maintaining cyber hygiene with a 360 -degree approach. With Africa’s print industry projected to reach a staggering value of US$235.3 million by the end of 2031, the digital disruption has continued to introduce new security challenges. Security is becoming a priority for many businesses, but the speed at which the cybersecurity landscape is evolving and the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks means a detailed understanding of where some of the biggest risks are coming from is limited amongst many CISOs and IT managers. By 2025, the cost of cybercrime for businesses is predicted to reach $10.5 trillion, up from $8 trillion in 2023. Despite this trend, many businesses are overlooking and neglecting high-risk areas such as print security, inadv...

Le développement d'un système alimentaire africain durable est une question vitale qui doit être traitée de toute urgence. L'agriculture africaine subit déjà les répercussions du changement climatique, les petits exploitants étant les plus touchés. On estime que les petites exploitations de moins de deux hectares produisent plus de la moitié des calories générées par l'alimentation dans le monde. La majorité de ces exploitations n'ont qu'un accès limité, voire inexistant, à des intrants coûteux tels que les machines, les outils, les semences et les engrais, et dépendent essentiellement des précipitations pour l'irrigation. En raison de ce faisceau de contraintes, les petits exploitants agricoles sont plus sensibles aux phénomènes météorologiques violents tels que les sécheresses prolongées et à la variabilité climatique induite par le changement climatique. L'adaptation agricole est urgence absolue. Le rapport mondial 2022 sur les crises alimentaires, mis à ...

The two-day meeting was fruitful in advancing the MOU and creating the Kenya-Tanzania Transboundary Marine Conservation Area, both of which are critical steps in strengthening transboundary cooperation. With the backing of the SIDA-funded Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation Project, a meeting was led by AU-IBAR in partnership with WIOMSA and the Nairobi Convention from November 20th to 21st, 2023. This assembly convened over 20 delegates, drawing participation from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Marine Parks and Reserve Unit (MPRU) of the United Republic of Tanzania. The primary objective of this gathering was to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize activities within the proposed Transboundary Marine Conservation Area (TBCA). The overarching aim is to enhance transboundary cooperation between Kenya and Tanzania, focusing on the conservation of aquatic biodiversity and environmental protection. The meeting, held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, was guided by the f...

Once the review is approved by IMF Management and completed by the Executive Board, Zambia will have access to about $184 million in financing (SDR 139.9 million). The Zambian authorities and the IMF team have reached a staff-level agreement on economic policies to conclude the second review of the 38-month Extended Credit Facility-supported program (ECF). Once the review is approved by IMF Management and completed by the Executive Board, Zambia will have access to about $184 million in financing (SDR 139.9 million); Despite a challenging environment, the economy is showing resilience, with real GDP growth now projected at 4.3 percent in 2023 and 4.7 percent in 2024. External and domestic conditions have put pressure on the external balance and the exchange rate, raising inflation; Economic policies will continue to focus on restoring macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability, while protecting health, education, and social spending, safeguarding financial stability, and stepping ...

Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI - May God Assist Him, and within the framework of the year 2023 decreed to be the  AfCFTA Year, United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa), through its African Local Governments Academy (ALGA) and its partners, are organizing the 7th edition of the African Forum of Territorial Managers and Training Institutes targeting Local Governments (FAMI 7_2023) from November 20 to 26, 2023.  The event will be held in El Jadida in the Casablanca-Settat region, on the premises of the Ecole Nationale de Commerce et de Gestion (ENCG), part of the Université Chouaib Doukkali. FAMI 7_2023 is organized in partnership and with the support of the Directorate General of Local Authorities (DGCT) of the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior, the Chouaib Doukkali University, the National School of Trade and Management (ENCG), the Deposit and Management Fund (CDG), the OCP Group and the UCLG Africa Partner Network. The theme chosen ...

Sous le Haut Patronage de Sa Majesté le Roi Mohammed VI -Que Dieu l’Assiste, et dans le cadre de l’année 2023 décrétée Année de la ZLECAf, Cités et Gouvernements Locaux Unis d’Afrique (CGLU Afrique), à travers son Académie Africaine des Collectivités Territoriales (ALGA) et ses Partenaires, organisent du 20 au 26 Novembre 2023, la 7ème édition du Forum Africain des Managers Territoriaux et des Instituts de Formation ciblant les Collectivités Territoriales (FAMI 7_2023).  La rencontre se tiendra à El Jadida dans la Région de Casablanca-Settat dans les enceintes de l’Ecole Nationale de Commerce et de Gestion (ENCG) relevant de l’Université Chouaib Doukkali. Le FAMI 7_2023 est organisé en Partenariat et avec l’appui de la Direction Générale des Collectivités Territoriales (DGCT) du Ministère de l’Intérieur du Maroc, l’Université Chouaib Doukkali, l’Ecole Nationale de Commerce et de Gestion (ENCG), la Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion (CDG), l’OCP ainsi que le Réseau des Partenaires de CGL...

Les États-Unis saluent les efforts de toutes les parties prenantes en République démocratique du Congo (RDC) destinés à soutenir un processus électoral inclusif, transparent et paisible reflétant la volonté du peuple congolais. Nous prenons acte des mesures positives prises à cette étape du cycle électoral, comprenant la certification de l’ensemble des 26 candidats par la Cour constitutionnelle. Nous notons aussi les actions des autorités visant à faire respecter la liberté de mouvement des candidats politiques, ainsi que la condamnation des discours de haine et des tentatives de violence contre des candidats à l’élection présidentielle.  Des mesures supplémentaires visant à garantir la transparence aideront à renforcer la confiance dans le processus. Nous invitons instamment la Commission électorale nationale indépendante (CENI) à s’assurer que les versions imprimées et en ligne des listes définitives des électeurs soient accessibles sans tarder afin que tous les électeurs sachent...

Ms. Al-Mashat said that the launch of the programme would have a positive impact on Africa's agenda for sustainable development. The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) ( www.Afreximbank.com ) today in Cairo launched a new initiative that will open doors, allowing African contractors to capitalise on various infrastructure investments available across the continent.  Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, joined by Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation of Egypt, launched the Afreximbank Intra-African Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract Promotion Programme during the Presidential Summit of the Intra-African Trade Fair 2023 (IATF2023).  Prof. Oramah told guests that the programme was one of the Bank’s initiatives to support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), saying that it aimed to enable African companies to successfully bid for, win and execute infra...

Nurani Nimpuno, Head of Global Engagement for LINX LINX Nairobi is the new Internet Exchange Point (IXP) for East Africa, located out of three data centre locations across Kenya’s capital. The London Internet Exchange (LINX) ( https://www.LINX.net/ ) have announced that their interconnection hub in Nairobi, Kenya is now live and ready for business.   LINX Nairobi ( https://apo-opa.co/3stuMbZ ) is the new Internet Exchange Point (IXP) for East Africa, located out of three data centre locations across Kenya’s capital. The IXP has the vision to further enhance the countries connectivity and digital ecosystem. Kenya is considered one of the leading technology powerhouses of Africa, undergoing a digital revolution since the early 2000’s the country has reported an average of 10.8% growth per year since 2016. The country is uniquely positioned to serve all of East Africa with fast-growing fibre connectivity throughout the whole region, with a well-connected submarine cable network p...

Tushar Vaishnavi, Strategic Planning Director, Canon Central & North Africa  The winds of change have swept across the African consumer landscape over the past decade, reshaping shopping habits and behaviours, particularly among our vibrant younger generations. Coupled with technological advancements and a shifting consumer-brand dynamic, this presents unique challenges – and opportunities – for businesses, retailers, and the marketing industry on the African continent. While businesses find themselves under immense pressure to deliver tangible results and demonstrate a return on investment, the battleground for consumers' attention is fierce. Today's discerning consumers have the power to choose which brands to embrace and which to ignore. Buyer journeys have also become intricate and nonlinear. Spoilt for choice when it comes to channels, consumers transition seamlessly between the physical and virtual realms to gather information, form impressions, and make purchasing de...

RF 24-105MM F2.8L IS USM Z It is the first RF zoom lens to combine a dedicated iris/ aperture control ring and Servo functionality via optional power zoom adapters. RF 24-105mm F2.8L IS USM Z – the ideal choice for a hybrid workflow; Power Zoom Adapters PZ-E2 and PZ-E2B – offering smooth, professional control for the RF 24-105mm F2.8L IS USM Z; RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM – a compact and lightweight ultra-wide zoom lens; RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM – the longest-reaching telephoto zoom lens for the RF mount3 . Canon today announces the launch of three groundbreaking RF lenses and two new power zoom adapters that offer a breadth of capabilities for content creators of all levels, broadening their creative possibilities.  The ultimate hybrid lens with two optional power zoom adapters RF 24-105mm F2.8L IS USM Z marks a significant milestone in lens technology, one that many photographers and videographers have been waiting for. This all-in-one lens essentially performs as multiple len...