diplomacy&development

Lors du Kobo Art Festival, Kobo Hub et l’Ambassade de France en RDC ont annoncé le lancement de l’Institut Régional de la Mode - Kobo Art Fashion, un hub dédié à la mode en RDC et dans le bassin du Congo. L’inauguration officielle est prévue pour mai 2025.  Ce projet, soutenu par le Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères français et l’Ambassade de France, a pour objectif de promouvoir l’industrie de la mode en RDC et de mettre en valeur le talent créatif local.  Un Hub Unique pour Créateurs et Passionnés  Kobo Fashion se structure autour de trois composantes majeures:  1. Programme d’Incubation et de Formation  En partenariat avec Nadine Gonzalez, fondatrice de ModaFusion et des écoles de mode CASA 93, ce programme accompagnera les talents créatifs en RDC ainsi que ceux provenant d’autres pays du Bassin du Congo (Cameroun, Gabon, République Centrafricaine, République du Congo). Des formations sur l’entrepreneuriat dans la mode seront proposées afin de ...

The Swedish Government has decided to contribute funds to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).  Over the next three years, Sweden will provide SEK 615 million to IFAD, a UN agency that promotes food security and creates livelihood opportunities for women and men living in poverty in rural areas of developing countries. Through low-interest loans and donations, IFAD supports people in poor and disadvantaged rural areas, such as women smallholder farmers and vulnerable groups. The increasing food insecurity in the world requires renewed efforts to reduce poverty and strengthen the resilience of the people affected. IFAD’s projects help boost production capacity and enhance livelihood opportunities, enable people living in poverty to access markets for their products, and enhance environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change in rural areas. In 2025–2027, IFAD’s activities will prioritise measures for climate change adaptation and enhanced biodive...

The company has introduced 16 unique digital solutions and built robust end-to-end eVisa platforms for 12 sovereign governments. • Last 100 million applications have come in the past 5 years – despite pandemic- driven travel slow-down of 2020-2022 • Trusted partner of 69 governments; working with 25 of them for over 15 years VFS Global ( www.VFSGlobal.com ), the world’s leading outsourcing and technology service specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide, has crossed the 300 million applications milestone. It is notable that the last 100 million applications have been achieved in the past 5 years despite the pandemic-driven travel slow-down of 2020-2022. In 2023 alone, the company processed 24.1 million applications, 35% more than 2022. (Source: ISR 2023) ( http://apo-opa.co/3ZMmkSO ), and between January to May 2024, it has processed approximately 100,000 applications a day. Zubin Karkaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global Group, said, “We are very ple...

Lauréat du MAC 2024_Theodore-Ohene Botchway La grande finale de MAC 2024 a marqué le point culminant de la compétition, qui a célébré les solutions agro-technologiques innovantes à l'origine du changement en Afrique de l'Ouest. L'école de Technologie Meltwater Entrepreneurial  (MEST Africa) ( www.Meltwater.org ) a annoncé SAYeTECH ( https://apo-opa.co/4imJ3Mq ) comme lauréat du concours MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) 2024. La grande finale de MAC 2024 a marqué le point culminant de la compétition, qui a célébré les solutions agro-technologiques innovantes à l'origine du changement en Afrique de l'Ouest. Organisé en partenariat avec l'ambassade de Norvège à Accra, le thème de cette année, « Find Your Soil », était axé sur l'innovation agro-technologique dans la région.  Le MAC 2024 a attiré des candidats de pays importants de la région de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, notamment le Bénin, le Cap-Vert, la Côte d'Ivoire, la Gambie, le Ghana, la Guinée, la Guiné...

Lauréat du MAC 2024_Theodore-Ohene Botchway La grande finale de MAC 2024 a marqué le point culminant de la compétition, qui a célébré les solutions agro-technologiques innovantes à l'origine du changement en Afrique de l'Ouest. L'école de Technologie Meltwater Entrepreneurial  (MEST Africa) (www.Meltwater.org) a annoncé SAYeTECH (https://apo-opa.co/4imJ3Mq) comme lauréat du concours MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) 2024. La grande finale de MAC 2024 a marqué le point culminant de la compétition, qui a célébré les solutions agro-technologiques innovantes à l'origine du changement en Afrique de l'Ouest. Organisé en partenariat avec l'ambassade de Norvège à Accra, le thème de cette année, « Find Your Soil », était axé sur l'innovation agro-technologique dans la région.  Le MAC 2024 a attiré des candidats de pays importants de la région de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, notamment le Bénin, le Cap-Vert, la Côte d'Ivoire, la Gambie, le Ghana, la Guinée, la Guinée-Bi...

St. George’s University (SGU) School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies, recently hosted its Familiarization Program, welcoming education agents and school counselors from Africa and around the world to its campus. The program offered a comprehensive overview of SGU’s medical curriculum and campus facilities, providing valuable insights into the university’s offerings. During the visit, the delegates were introduced to the life of an SGU medical student and learned how the institution’s programs and tracks are designed to prepare students for real-world medical practice. The tour included exclusive access to SGU’s modern medical facilities, including specialist simulation and anatomy laboratories, clinical exam rooms, a sonogram room and the campus security center. In addition, the delegates explored other campus amenities such as the fitness and wellness center, health services clinic, and accommodation halls, gaining a holistic understanding of the university’s commitment to student...

The efficiency of the disbursement reflects Transnet’s fulfilment of the Bank’s rigorous requirements for governance, the environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. The African Development Bank ( www.AfDB.org ) has released the first tranche of its $1 billion loan to Transnet, the South African state-owned conglomerate managing the country’s ports, railways and pipelines. This disbursement is the first in a series of four tranches planned for an unparalleled financing arrangement to support Transnet’s business’s recovery plan.   Approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors five months ago, this funding underpins a recovery plan to address pressing operational challenges of the company, while bolstering South Africa’s critical infrastructure.  The funding will allow Transnet to commence the first phase of its ambitious ZAR 152.8 billion (USD 8.1 billion) five-year investment plan to upgrade existing infrastructure while enhancing key logistic chain segments. ...