diplomacy&development

• From Women to Women: Merck Foundation marks International Women Day  2024 through their “More Than a Mother” program that was launched in 2016  to empower women living with infertile through access to information, health  and change of mindset.  Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, together with Africa’s  First Ladies, who are their Ambassadors, mark ‘International Women’s Day 2024’,  through their historic campaign “More Than a Mother”. Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of “More Than a  Mother” stated, “Happy International Women’s Day to all the women in the world and to the  men who support and empower them. We at Merck Foundation, together with First Ladies of Africa, mark Women’s Day every day  through our "More Than a Mother" campaign, which is a strong and unique movement that  aims to empower women living with infertility stigma through access to information,  education, change of mindset, and economic empowerme

• De Femmes à Femmes : La Fondation Merck célèbre la Journée Internationale  de la Femme 2024 à travers son programme « Plus Qu'une Mère » lancé en  2016 pour autonomiser les femmes vivant avec l’infertilité grâce à l'accès à  l'information, à la santé et au changement de mentalité.  La Fondation Merck, la branche philanthropique de Merck KGaA Allemagne, en collaboration  avec les Premières Dames Africaines, qui sont leurs Ambassadrices, célèbrent la «  Journée Internationale de la Femme 2024 », à travers leur campagne historique « Plus  Qu'une Mère ». Sénatrice, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO de la Fondation Merck et Présidente de « Plus  Qu'une Mère », a déclaré : « Bonne Journée Internationale de la Femme à toutes les femmes  du monde et aux hommes qui les soutiennent et les autonomisent. À la Fondation Merck, en collaboration avec les Premières Dames Africaines, nous célébrons  chaque jour la Journée de la Femme à travers notre campagne « Plus Qu'une Mère », un mouvem

Merilynn Steenkamp – General Manager, South Africa Multi-Country Network at Roche Diagnostics President Sahle-Work Zewde, the first woman president of Ethiopia, said, “If the history of Africa was written by Africans and by women, I think we would find many unsung heroes.” History cannot be rewritten, but we can write a new chapter; one in which African women are respected as equals by men and women alike, are healthier, live longer, happier lives and have access to the same opportunities that men do. According to the Gender Inequality Index , while there have been many recent advances in women’s empowerment on the continent, African women are held back from fulfilling their potential by many constraints, and one of the primary barriers women face is access to essential healthcare and diagnostics.1,2  Voices unheard – The African women’s health crisis "I lost a maternal aunt to cervical cancer that was discovered late.  “Because I was around 14 years old, it did not occur to me un

This Framework of Cooperation outlines the main areas for joint activities to promote peace, security and stability within the Member States of the sub regional organization. The United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and the Mano River Union (MRU) agreed, to further strengthen their partnership, by signing today a triennial Framework of Cooperation Agreement (FCA) for 2024 – 2026. Signed by the acting Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for West Africa and the Sahel, Khassim Diagne, and the Secretary-General of the MRU, Ambassador Maria Harisson, this Framework of Cooperation outlines the main areas for joint activities to promote peace, security and stability within the Member States of the sub regional organization, namely Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Deputy Special Representative Diagne commended the excellent collaboration between UNOWAS and the Mano River Union Secretariat.  “The signing today of the Fram

President Guelleh expressed his full commitment to enhance existing bilateral relations, particularly in potential areas which are mutually beneficial for both countries. The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Djibouti K.K. Theshantha Kumarasiri presented credentials to President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti on 26 February 2024. Ambassador Kumarasiri is concurrently accredited to the Republic of Djibouti with residence in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. During the discussion that followed the presentation of credentials, President Guelleh expressed his full commitment to enhance existing bilateral relations, particularly in potential areas which are mutually beneficial for both countries. He also stressed the need to capitalize the strategic locations of Sri Lanka and Djibouti, which connect the Indian Ocean shipping route between the East and the West. The Djiboutian leader also appreciated the initiatives taken by the Government of Sri Lanka under its new Foreign Policy initiative, “Look Africa,&q

SFDs H.E. Sultan AI Marshad the Minister of Economy Planning in Tunisia H.E. Feryel Ouerghi signs 55M deal to modernize phosphate rail network The project will help renew approximately 190 km of the railway network, to support increasing the capacity for transporting phosphate, and contribute towards Tunisia’s economic growth. The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) Chief Executive Officer, H.E. Sultan Al-Marshad ( www.SFD.gov.sa ), signed a new development loan agreement with the Minister of Economy & Planning of the Republic of Tunisia, H.E. Feryel Ouerghi, through which SFD is contributing $55 million USD to finance the project for renewing and developing the railway network for phosphate transportation in Tunisia. The agreement was signed in the presence of the Minister of Transport of Tunisia, H.E. Rabie Elmajidi and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Tunisia, H.E. Dr. Abdulaziz bin Ali Al-Saqr, alongside officials from both sides. This agreement marks a significant

The Trade Mission ensures stakeholders maximize the opportunities of the Namibia International Energy Conference taking place April 23-25. The African Energy Chamber (AEC) ( www.EnergyChamber.org ) – serving as the voice of the African energy sector – has launched a Trade Mission to Namibia from April 23-25 to promote business opportunities within the country’s energy industry. In collaboration with the Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC), the Trade Mission will facilitate engagement between companies; connect stakeholders to market intelligence and resources; while capitalizing on the conference offerings to drive new investment into the country. Visit https://apo-opa.co/3SIy4RC to secure your place. Namibia expects to produce first oil from the Orange Basin by 2030 as well as 10-12 million tons of green hydrogen equivalent by 2050. A commitment to accelerate the development of the Graff-1 and Venus-1 discoveries - made in 2022 by energy majors TotalEnergies and Shell - is