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COVID-19 daily update,25th May: we report 149 new cases out of 5,144 tests (3% positivity); 21 recoveries and no new deaths.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI).
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Coronavirus – Zambia: COVID-19 Daily Status Update (25 May 2021)

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Total daily tests: 616 New confirmed cases: 13 Cumulative confirmed cases: 18,570 Active cases: 44 Recoveries: 17,854 (9 new) Currently admitted: 5 New deaths: 0 Total deaths: 672 Total vaccinated to date: 35,227
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
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Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 daily update (25 May 2021)

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Total cases: 26,780 (+50) Recovered: 25,283 (+139) | 94.4% Active cases: 1,148 In critical condition: 3 Tests: 1,414,886 (+4,840) Test positivity rate: 1% Vaccinated: 350,400  Deaths: 349 (+0) | 1.3%
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda.
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Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (25 May 2021)

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A collaboration between AstraZeneca (www.AstraZeneca.com) and Plan International Kenya to address non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention among young people; The Programme will operate in Nairobi inclusive of 5 villages in Kibera and 13 villages in Mathare; The Programme builds on five years of successful implementation and results in Kibera, Nairobi between 2016 and 2020.

Today, Plan International Kenya and AstraZeneca are pleased to announce the five-year renewal of the Young Health Programme Kenya, a global community investment initiative from AstraZeneca, focusing on young people and prevention of the most common non-communicable diseases (NCDs): cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.
In Kenya, young people between 10 and 24 account for over 33% of the total population [1], providing the country with a considerable socio-economic development opportunity. The period of adolescence is pivotal in reducing NCDs and maximizing health across all stages of life.
“We are very excited to build on five years of successful implementation in Kenya and expand our reach to 18 new areas, the remaining villages in Kibera and into the new area of Mathare,” says Kate Maina-Vorley, Country Director, Plan International Kenya. “Having successfully worked closely with the Nairobi County and National Government to support policies and guidelines on NCD prevention, and reached over 82,000 young people and 267,000 members of the wider community over the past five years, we are looking forward to continuing this vital work focusing on NCD prevention. Our recent external evaluation illustrated incredible results, including for instance that the number of young people using tobacco declined more than 40%, from 47.2% at baseline to 5.9% at the final evaluation. Combining our programme to empower young people to make healthier life choices, with the present significant political will to address the challenge, we hope to continue to have a huge impact on long-term health outcomes.”
The Young Health Programme addresses the primary NCD risk factors of tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and air pollution, as well as supporting the broader health and well-being of young people.
According to the World Health Organisation country profile of 2018, NCDs in Kenya are estimated to account for 27% of total deaths and 13% of premature deaths, with cardiovascular diseases and cancers being the leading cause of death, accounting for 8% and 10% respectively [2]. The Kenya 2015 STEPS survey revealed that 94% of Kenyans aged 18-69 are consuming less than the WHO-recommended 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day [3], an alarming statistic that may compromise their current and future health.
Nancy, a 23 year old peer educator from Kibera said, “The programme built my capacity in different ways. At an individual level, I have become knowledgeable about the risk that can lead to NCDs and have learnt so much about NCDs compared to before joining the programme. At the community level, I have raised awareness about NCD prevention among young people. Most of them have taken it positively and as a result, have reduced the practices, especially those who were harmfully using alcohol.”

The Young Health Programme Kenya is a five-year programme that aims to contribute to the improved health and wellbeing of young people between 10-24 years of age in five villages in Kibera that were not reached through the 2016-2020 programme, and all thirteen villages in Mathare. Specifically, it aims to ensure that young people in Nairobi have increased knowledge about risk factors and NCD prevention, which gives them greater capacity to make informed decisions about their health, in the context of improved health services, an enabling support system and policy environment.

The Young Health Programme Kenya hopes to directly reach more than 88,000 young people with health information and NCD prevention programming. Indirectly, it is expected to reach an additional 400,000 young people and 196,000 members of the wider community through campaigns, events and awareness raising activities.
Globally, the AstraZeneca Young Health Programme has reached more than 5 million young people in 30 countries since it was launched in 2010.  
“Since the Young Health Programme launched in Kenya in 2016, I have seen the peer educators in action, and have been inspired by their desire to become champions for other youth in their communities to live healthier lives. The impact this can have shines through in the achievements of the programme to date and we are delighted to continue our commitment to adolescent health in Kenya,” said Dr Kennedy Njau, Government Affairs Director, Sub Saharan Africa, AstraZeneca.
For more information about the Young Health Programme, please go to the website:
www.YoungHealthProgrammeYHP.com
Expansion launch event 26 May 2021 on YouTube: YouTube Link (https://bit.ly/3fkkFwI)
[1] https://bit.ly/3wvsu8z
[2] https://bit.ly/3uh5xo0
[3] https://bit.ly/3oPjJ6s
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AstraZeneca.
About the Young Health Programme: AstraZeneca’s Young Health Programme (YHP) is a global programme with a unique focus on young people age 10 to 24 and prevention of the most common non-communicable diseases (NCDs): cancer, diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease and mental ill health. Delivered in partnership with Plan International and UNICEF and informed by research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, YHP aims to support the development of protective environments and empower young people to make informed choices about their health.  YHP is part of our sustainability commitment to use our capabilities to make the most meaningful impact where society needs it &#8211; health.
The Young Health Programme:  Better health choices, brighter life chances.
www.YoungHealthProgrammeYHP.com
About Plan International: Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We strive for a just world, working with children, young people, our supporters and partners. Plan International has been building powerful partnerships for children, adolescents and youth for more than 80 years, and is active in over 75 countries across the world.
Plan International has been operating in Kenya since 1982 and to-date continues to work in 10 counties: Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Tharaka Nithi, Siaya, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, Homabay and Kisumu. 
About AstraZeneca: AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas &#8211; Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal &#038; Metabolism and Respiratory. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.
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Award-Winning Young Health Programme expands to 18 new communities in Kenya

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Partnership set to grow rugby for development and gender equality initiatives in Oceania and beyond; ChildFund becomes first-ever charity partner for the women’s edition of a Rugby World Cup; Rugby fans will have the opportunity to opt in to donate when purchasing match day tickets; Appointment builds on record-breaking success of the Rugby World Cup 2019 partnership in Japan where £2 million was pledged by rugby fans to support ChildFund’s rugby for development programmes and Typhoon Hagibis disaster relief; Rugby World Cup 2021 hosted in New Zealand set to take place 8 October-12 November, 2022 in Auckland and Whangārei.

World Rugby (www.World.rugby) has announced the appointment of international development agency ChildFund as the principal charity partner for Rugby World Cup 2021, playing in 2022, a first in the history of the premier women’s 15s event.
With a focus on gender equality initiatives, ChildFund works with partners, including Oceania Rugby, to provide vulnerable girls and women with opportunities to learn skills to overcome challenges and be active leaders in their communities. Rugby fans will have the opportunity to engage with and support the work of ChildFund Rugby, ChildFund’s dedicated rugby for development unit, via an opt in mechanism to donate when purchasing match day tickets, with funds raised through the partnership supporting the expansion of rugby for development programmes in Oceania.

World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said: “We are delighted to be extending our impactful association with ChildFund, this time as principal charity partner for Rugby World Cup 2021. The tournament will showcase rugby’s unstoppable women as they compete at the highest level.

“Importantly, it will also generate an incredible legacy by supporting a new generation of female players and leaders in Pacific Island nations through ChildFund’s significant contribution to rugby for development programmes in the Oceania region.”

Through a ground-breaking partnership at RWC 2019, a record-breaking £2 million was pledged by rugby fans globally to ChildFund, providing more than 25,000 children from disadvantaged communities in Asia with the opportunity to take part in ChildFund’s Pass It Back programme across Asia, teaching life skills through rugby with the support of Asia Rugby.

Funds raised were also used to support local communities in Japan with the rebuilding effort following the devastation caused by Typhoon Hagibis during the tournament.

ChildFund Rugby’s development programmes not only promote the right to play in communities where children have little or no access to organised sport, but provide important learning opportunities around leadership, problem-solving, gender equality, relationships, conflict-resolution, and planning for the future.

With a strong focus on gender equality, a strategic objective shared by World Rugby, more than half of all participants and rugby leadership roles are female, challenging gender stereotypes.

ChildFund Alliance Chair Simon Whyte said: “ChildFund is excited to again be partnering with World Rugby to change children’s lives through sport.

“Over 31,000 children and young people have benefitted from their involvement in ChildFund’s rugby for development programmes, which are highly successful in providing critical learning opportunities for children facing significant challenges linked to poverty and inequality.

“As part of this, 6,000 children have participated in Reconnect, a COVID-19 early response initiative developed by ChildFund which supports positive responses among young people to the challenges of the pandemic.

“ChildFund’s rugby for development programmes also support global efforts to achieve gender equality, reduce inequality, and end gender-based violence, reflecting targets within the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

ChildFund Ambassadors Honey Hireme-Smiler and Emily Chancellor, former and current New Zealand and Australian players, will be on opposing sides when the tournament commences. However, they are on the same team in recognising the importance of organised sport in girls’ and boys’ lives, particularly in disadvantaged communities.

Hireme-Smiler, former New Zealand Black Fern, said: “I am extremely passionate about supporting younger girls as this was how we were raised within our whanau (family). The ways in which ChildFund makes an impact on the lives of vulnerable children – whether through health and wellbeing, education, or sport – is so inspiring.”

Wallaroos player Emily Chancellor, who shared her rugby skills with children in Laos in 2019, added: “ChildFund Rugby’s development programmes are incredibly important for young people in developing communities, because they combine education with team sport. Learning through play is a really valuable way to build confidence and resilience.

“I’m also proud to support an initiative which has such a strong focus on gender equality and is creating an equal playing field for girls and boys alike.”

Funds raised during the tournament will allow ChildFund Rugby to expand its contribution to rugby for development programmes for children and young people in Oceania, support female leadership initiatives, and support the creation of strong rugby women’s networks around the globe.

 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Rugby.
For more information, visit www.ChildFundRugby.org
Media Contact: Douglas.Langley@worldrugby.org +353 87 067 8599
Rugby@APO-opa.com
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ChildFund appointed principal charity partner for Rugby World Cup 2021 to support the next generation of unstoppable women in rugby

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Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation) announced the Call for Applications for their upcoming Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021 and “Mask Up with Care“ Media Recognition Awards 2021 in partnership with African First Ladies at the 8th edition of “Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary”; The Merck Foundation Health Media Training was attended by African, Asian, and Latin American Journalists from more than 35 countries.

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany conducted their Health Media Training through an online video conference, on the sidelines of the 8th Edition of “MERCK FOUNDATION AFRICA ASIA LUMINARY”, being held in partnership with the Government of Zambia. The conference was inaugurated by The President of Zambia, H.E. Dr. EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU and Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp Chairman of both of Executive Board of E.Merck KG and Merck Foundation Board of Trustees. It was co-chaired by H.E. Mrs. ESTHER LUNGU, The First Lady of Zambia and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation.
The Merck Foundation Health Media Training is a part of ‘Merck Foundation More than a Mother’ community awareness Program and was organized to emphasize on the important role that media plays to influence our society to create a cultural shift with the aim to Break the Stigma around Infertility, raising awareness about Infertility Prevention, and Empowering Girls and Women through Education.
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck More Than a Mother emphasized “I have always emphasized on the prominent role of media as I strongly believe that media has the capacity and ability to create a culture shift in our communities in a cost-effective way. Through this important training, we are aiming to educate media, especially the young journalists, on how to break the silence and be the voice of the voiceless in order to eliminate the stigma of infertility and raise awareness about male infertility and infertility prevention and emphasize the importance of girls’ education, through their day to day work”.
Merck Foundation Health Media Training was addressed by top fertility experts and stalwarts of media from countries like Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mauritius, and Senegal.
The Health Media training was attended by journalists from Print, TV, Radio and Online media from more than 35 African and Latin American countries.
During the session, Merck Foundation also announced two awards for media fraternity, Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards  “More Than a Mother” 2021 and Merck Foundation “Mask Up With Care” Media Recognition Awards 2021; two awards for fashion fraternity, Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021 and Merck Foundation “Make Your Own Mask” Fashion Awards 2021.
Furthermore, Merck Foundation in partnership with African First Ladies announced two other important awards:
1) Merck Foundation Film Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021 and 
2) Merck Foundation Song Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021.
“All these awards are in partnership with my dear sisters the First Ladies of Africa. 20 First Ladies will lead these awards in their countries as Ambassadors of Merck Foundation More than a Mother. However,  the awards are open for all of Africa as well as Latin America which will be announced separately in Spanish and Portuguese next week”, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej added.
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej also emphasized, “I strongly believe that media, art, and fashion play a significant role in raising awareness about sensitive topics like infertility and girl education and women empowerment, hence will contribute significantly to break the stigma around infertile women in Africa, if utilized properly. There are many infertile women out there; we witness their stories of suffering and humiliation every day, it is time to act and make a change. Through the awards under the “More Than a Mother” campaign, we would like to join hands with media, film, music and fashion fraternity to make a change and Break Infertility Stigma, a message that must reach every door, every community, every mind, and every heart. Another important message is to emphasize the importance of girl education in our communities.
Moreover, given the unprecedented times and second wave of coronavirus, it is important to sensitize communities and raise awareness about following best practices. Raising awareness about coronavirus in our communities will also contribute to supporting health workers who are at the forefront of COVID-19 response &#8211; providing high-quality, respectful treatment, and care. Hence, we came up with awards for media persons and fashion designers, so as to encourage people to wear masks during the Coronavirus pandemic and protect themselves and others.
Details of the Merck Foundation Africa “More Than A Mother” Media Recognition Awards 2021:
Who can apply:
Journalists from Print, Radio, Online, and Multimedia platforms from the following groups:
 	Southern African Countries 	West African Countries 	East African Countries 	African French Speaking Countries 	African Portuguese Speaking Countries 	Latin American Countries 
How to Apply:
Entries can be submitted via email to: submit@merck-foundation.com  
Last date of Submission: 30th August 2021
The Subject line of the mail should mention: Merck Foundation Africa “MORE THAN A MOTHER” Media Recognition Awards 2021
Please specify your name, country, category of application, and contact details in the mail.
Categories and Prize Money:
Categories
Print Media
Online Media
Radio
Multimedia
Prize Money
USD 500
USD 500
USD 500
USD 1000

Sending multiple applications will increase the chances of winning the award.
For more information on the awards, please visit our website: www.Merck-Foundation.com.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.
Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard: Facebook: bit.ly/2LdbD8F Twitter: bit.ly/2LesKH8 YouTube: bit.ly/3sdHMxm Instagram: bit.ly/2LC26rm Flickr: bit.ly/2XqzQdU Website: Merck-Foundation.com Download Merck Foundation App: bit.ly/2MmNvAU
About ‘Merck Foundation More Than a Mother’ campaign: “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” is a strong movement that aims to empower infertile women through access to information, education and change of mind-sets. This powerful campaign supports governments in defining policies to enhance access to regulated, safe, effective and equitable fertility care solutions. It defines interventions to break the stigma around infertile women and raises awareness about infertility prevention, management and male infertility. In partnership with African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Information, Education &#038; Gender, academia, policymakers, International fertility societies, media and art, the initiative also provides training for fertility specialists and embryologists to build and advance fertility care capacity in Africa and developing countries.
With “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, we have initiated a cultural shift to de-stigmatize infertility at all levels: By improving awareness, training local experts in the fields of fertility care and media, building advocacy in cooperation with African First Ladies and women leaders and by supporting childless women in starting their own small businesses. It’s all about giving every woman the respect and the help she deserves to live a fulfilling life, with or without a child. 
The Ambassadors of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” are: 

H.E. NEO JANE MASISI, 			The First Lady of Botswana
H.E. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, The First Lady of The Gambia
H.E. MONICA GEINGOS, The First Lady of Namibia
H.E. SIKA KABORE, The First Lady of Burkina Faso
H.E. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO, The First Lady of Ghana

H.E. AISHA BUHARI, The First Lady of Nigeria
H.E. ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE,
The First Lady of Burundi
H.E. CONDÉ DJENE, The First Lady of Guinea Conakry
H.E FATIMA MAADA BIO, The First Lady of Sierra Leone
H.E. BRIGITTE TOUADERA, The First Lady of Central African Republic
H.E. CLAR WEAH, The First Lady of Liberia
H.E. ESTHER LUNGU, The First Lady of Zambia
H.E. ANTOINETTE SASSOU-NGUESSO, The First Lady of Congo Brazzaville
H.E. MONICA CHAKWERA, The First Lady of Malawi
H.E. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA, The First Lady of Zimbabwe
H.E. DENISE NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI, THE First Lady of Democratic Republic of Congo
H.E. ISAURA FERRÃO NYUSI, The First Lady of Mozambique

The Former First Lady of Burundi, H.E DENISE NKURUNZIZA, The Former First Lady of Chad, H.E. HINDA DÉBY ITNO, The Former First Lady of Malawi, H.E. PROFESSOR GERTRUDE MUTHARIKA and The Former First Lady of Niger, H.E AÏSSATA ISSOUFOU MAHAMADOU have worked successfully with Merck Foundation as Merck Foundation More Than a Mother Ambassadors to break the stigma of infertility and empower infertile women in their countries.

Merck Foundation launched new innovative initiatives to sensitize local communities about infertility prevention, male infertility with the aim to break the stigma of infertility and empowering infertile women as part of Merck Foundation More than a Mother COMMUNITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, such as; • ‘Merck Foundation More than a Mother’ Africa Media Recognition Awards and Health Media Training • ‘Merck Foundation More than a Mother’ Fashion Awards • ‘Merck Foundation More than a Mother’ Film Awards • Local songs with local artists to address the cultural perception of infertility and how to change it • Children storybook, localized for each country

About Merck Foundation: The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality &#038; equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare and scientific research capacity and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website.  Please visit Merck-Foundation.com to read more. To know more, reach out to our social media: Merck Foundation (Merck-Foundation.com); Facebook (bit.ly/2MU6Fht), Twitter (bit.ly/3scVf8t), Instagram (bit.ly/3boJ0jr), YouTube (bit.ly/3sf4aWX) and Flicker (bit.ly/3snPHZ8).
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Merck Foundation Health Media Training and Media Awards 2021 conducted in partnership with African First Ladies to build Media capacity in breaking Infertility stigma and supporting Girl Education

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Victor Campenaerts, the winner of stage 15 of the Giro d’Italia, has been forced to withdraw from the race due to a leg injury. The Team Qhubeka ASSOS (www.TeamQhubeka.com) rider experienced pain in his right knee during the cold and wet conditions on stage 16 but managed to finish in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Following extensive treatment to a tendon problem on Monday evening and then subsequently on Tuesday’s rest day, it was decided by the team’s medical staff that he should withdraw to reduce risk of further aggravating the injury.
Campenaerts leaves the race having put in consistently impressive performances for the team culminating with his victory in Gorizia, Team Qhubeka ASSOS’ third win of the 104th Giro d’Italia.
Victor Campenaerts
I’m really disappointed to be leaving the Giro d’Italia, particularly after winning my first ever stage – it was an incredible moment for myself and the team.
The pain first surfaced in the cold conditions on Monday and unfortunately hasn’t responded well to treatment. Having to stop is absolutely not what I want to be doing but ultimately it is the right decision.
At last year’s race I finished in a very strong fashion, twice placing second in the last three days of the Giro and I continued to feel this year that I was growing stronger and stronger.
It was very emotional saying goodbye to the team; we have had the most unbelievable Giro d’Italia winning three stages, so far. There is the most incredible team spirit in the group, celebrating our successes as a rider and staff group together but ultimately knowing that what we are doing is for a greater purpose in continuing to show the world that bicycles change lives.
I’ll be watching and cheering like a crazy fan now and know that the belief in this team means that anything could happen.
Ubuntu – I am because we are.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Team Qhubeka ASSOS.
Media Contact: Jean Smyth (Head of Communications) Email: jean@ryder.co.za Mobile: +27 63 4701 1710 or +31 625 739 033
About Team Qhubeka ASSOS: Team Qhubeka ASSOS is a purpose-led, high-performance team, fighting to win on the world&#39;s biggest stage, to inspire hope and create opportunity. Founded in 2007, Team Qhubeka ASSOS (formerly NTT Pro Cycling) became the first-ever African cycling team to gain a UCI WorldTour license, in 2016.
We achieved our first major win in 2013 when Gerald Ciolek won Milan-San Remo, one of the five Monuments of cycling. We have competed in six Tour de France’s and notched up 7 stage wins, with Mark Cavendish wearing the coveted Yellow Jersey at the 2016 Tour de France.
We are a multicultural, diverse team with bases in South Africa, the Netherlands and Italy. There are 19 nationalities represented across our World Tour and continental feeder team rosters. Our focus on developing African cycling has resulted in more than 55 riders from the African continent be given the opportunity to race on the world stage, since the team&#39;s inception.
We race to help people to move forward with bicycles through our relationship with Qhubeka Charity. Through our work with Qhubeka, we have contributed to the distribution of over 30 000 bicycles in communities in South Africa.
About Qhubeka: Qhubeka is a charity that moves people forward with bicycles. People earn bicycles through our programmes, improving their access to schools, clinics and jobs.
A bicycle is a tool that helps people to travel faster and further, and to carry more. In the face of extreme and persistent poverty, bicycles can change lives by helping to address socioeconomic challenges at the most basic level – helping people to get where they need to go. 
All images attached to the press release can be used with the respective image credit in combination to this release.
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Inspirational Giro d’Italia stage winner – Victor Campenaerts – withdraws due to injury

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Each year, Africa day is celebrated on May 25th to pay a tribute to the undying spirit of the great African continent as well as to recognize its diverse cultures, remarkable heritage along with the prolific progress made by the continent as a whole. To celebrate this significant day, Canon (www.Canon-CNA.com) takes a walk down the memory lane, reflecting and rejoicing some of its major moments of contribution and change in the African landscape.  

WALK DOWN THE MEMORY LANE 
“Corporate philanthropy is not just about being part of the conversation, it is about starting a conversation and as a company, we truly stand by these words. Our philosophy has always been to make real and meaningful impact in people’s lives, to ensure that we provide opportunities that bring about a wave of change and progress in the society. A leader is someone who can channel creative energy, impulse and hope through the people. We have aspired to do exactly so in the past through our various initiatives and collaborations in Africa, and really gone an extra mile to create copious local employment opportunities across the continent, thereby ensuring we are hitting directly at the grass-root level with our efforts reducing gender bias and creating employment opportunities for men and women alike. A glimpse at our management &#038; in-country sales team across Africa proves what we stand for, a balanced team of visionary minds, regardless of any prejudice. We are a company for the people and by the people, our strength lies in empowering individuals, our employment drives across the continent have been vital in ensuring success, stability and equilibrium for Africa. As we celebrate Africa Day, I am extremely proud to look back at all our accomplishments that have set a visionary tone of collaborative contribution for the future,” remarks Somesh Adukia, Managing Director – Canon Central and North Africa.  
TORCHBEARERS OF CHANGE AND INNOVATION 
Being the torchbearers of change and innovation, this past year saw Canon set up myriad initiatives to promote and inspire the young talent in Africa. Through its Miraisha programme, Canon recognized and awarded ten young students from Kenya with scholarships to aid in the development of their visual storytelling skills. The elected scholars are poised to work towards a certificate in film technology, studying twelve subjects including video camera operations, screenwriting, editing, photography and film production techniques. Through this exclusive partnership with the KCA University, Canon aims to empower the African youth with creative opportunities that contribute not just on an individual level but also on the community level.  
In keeping up with its endeavor to promote young talent, Canon also unveiled its ‘Student Development Programme’ for 2021 for the fifth consecutive year. An initiative designed to supplement young photographers with a real-time experience of working with an industry expert, this life-changing opportunity is presented to 250 students from across Europe, Middle East and Africa. As a result, each candidate is able to participate in a unique and bespoke educational programme designed to enhance students’ visual storytelling skills thereby advancing their careers. 
ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE: LEVERS FOR BUILDING THE AFRICA WE WANT 
Canon has paid particular attention to the 2021 theme of ‘Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want’ in all of its initiatives, carving out a road-map that builds on a strong foundation of these pillars. To maintain its commitment in a changing world, not only did the brand strategize encouraging initiatives for the younger African population but it also implemented peer-to-peer business partnerships in order to provide support and inculcate a collaborative spirit. Aiming to create a win-win situation for both the company and its partners, Canon employed its ‘closer to customer’ strategy in the African continent to strengthen its distribution network as well as to provide opportunities to the local players.  
As a result, this collaborative bandwagon will see Docutech and Al Mactab focus on advancing Canon’s Wide Format print solutions in Ghana and Libya respectively, while Express Automation will amplify Canon’s Professional Print services in Kenya and Digimate will boost Document Solutions and Large Format Print offerings in Morocco. Partnering with local business players has been the go-to strategy for Canon in order to streamline the supply process and facilitate growth and opportunities in the remotest of areas.  
On a similar note, Canon’s annual Service Conference held earlier this year in March, witnessed its partners and distributors come together from more than 30 African countries to virtually participate in a thought-provoking session of cutting-edge business ideas and innovation. The conference presented Canon’s Service partners an opportunity to get up-to-date on the Business and Service direction of CCNA.  
With the undeniable global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canon has made sustainable efforts to improve its remote service capabilities by designing virtual conferences that encourage its partners to receive optimum training to operate and implement services such as e-Service and e-Maintenance thereby ensuring seamless and unobstructed support to its customers.  
WORKING TOGETHER FOR COMMON GOOD 
Canon’s corporate philosophy of Kyosei – living and working together for the common good, ensures that all elements of its universe from its business partners to employees to customers are looked after and taken care of. The flywheel of Canon’s various activities in Africa focus on delivering real value thereby creating sustainable impact through its consistent contribution towards the pursuit of keeping creativity and innovation alive.  
In 2020, Canon expanded its world-renowned Ambassador Programme to over 100 leading international photographers and filmmakers, once again staying true to its commitment of nurturing creative talent without any boundaries. A first of its kind, the Canon EMEA Ambassador Programme was created to represent and support current and future generations of photographers and filmmakers by sharing their passion and technical know-how with fellow professionals, as well as enthusiastic amateurs who want to develop their skills.  
The consistent drumbeat of Canon’s efforts in the African continent have proven particularly important in creating a positive impact despite various challenges faced in the past year. Coming together as a company and promoting the ‘Kyosei’ culture has manifested in a thriving environment that is symbiotic for all the stakeholders, be it a consumer or a company employee.  
Adding on to this, company MD Mr. Somesh Adukia says, “At the heart of our business, lies our commitment to be change-makers, to be a company that recognizes its power and position to bring about a social change thus positively impacting the very people it serves. This is what sets us apart, our dedicated efforts in relentlessly pursuing the greater good, for one and all. As we celebrate Africa today, it is extraordinary that we also celebrate a key milestone &#8211; five years of Canon Central and North Africa. From the time we set foot on the African continent, we have walked on the path of creativity, collaboration and curiosity and we will continue to do so. Each and every day, we endeavor to work towards the development and progress of Africa and its people. We are optimistic to be spectators of tremendous growth and opportunities for Africa, we believe the future is full of possibilities.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).
Media enquiries, please contact: Canon Central and North Africa Mai Youssef e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com
APO Group &#8211; PR Agency Rania ElRafie e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com
About Canon Central and North Africa: Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2015 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region &#8211; by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.
Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.
Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.
For more information: Canon-CNA.com.

Celebrating the past, defining the future: looking back to look ahead

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For the first time, banks can now self-provision the most complete banking services at the click of a button; With Temenos (www.Temenos.com), banks can innovate in minutes and launch new products in days to achieve the industry’s fastest time to market; With Temenos Banking Cloud, banks can gain business agility to create new revenue streams, massively scale and significantly reduce their cost of operations to 10% of legacy systems; The Temenos Banking Cloud brings the unmatched breadth of Temenos front-to-back Banking Services, an innovation Sandbox, and the most complete fintech Marketplace, powered by an Explainable AI-enabled engine all through an easy-to-access, self-service portal.

Temenos (SIX: TEMN), the banking software company, is accelerating its leadership in the cloud by introducing the next-generation in SaaS, The Temenos Banking Cloud. This combines the industry’s most complete banking services, covering all segments and all geographies, with a Sandbox for fast innovation and the Temenos MarketPlace for fintech collaboration, all powered by a new AI-enabled engine to drive banks’ business growth and accelerate time to market. With Temenos Banking Cloud, banks now have the power to self-provision always-on banking services and scale instantly and securely while dramatically reducing the cost of operations to 10% of legacy systems. Join TCF Online (https://bit.ly/3ujXfvH) with over 10,000 attendees, to find out more.

Max Chuard, Chief Executive Officer, Temenos, said: “Banks face huge challenges – fierce competition, rising customer expectations, cost pressures. Research shows that for quite some time 70% of banks cannot cover their estimated cost of capital. Banks can no longer wait; they need a new approach to run their business and develop banking products.

Building on over 10 years of cloud leadership, $1 billion in R&#038;D investment and the experience of over 700 SaaS customers ranging from global banks to over 70 challengers, we are delivering the next-generation in SaaS, The Temenos Banking Cloud.

The Temenos Banking Cloud is for both digital-first banks that want to launch in weeks as well as large or complex banks that want to acquire distinct capabilities, launch products fast and progressively migrate customer bases that are serviced by legacy systems.

We are putting banks in control of their business models and innovation cycles, giving them the agility and speed to build great customer products and profitable businesses. With The Temenos Banking Cloud, we empower banks to digitally transform and massively scale faster than ever.”

Chris Sozou, General Manager Platforms, Partnerships &#038; Analytics, Virgin Money Australia, said: “Our digital bank has been designed with a clear ambition to simplify banking and help customers achieve their financial goals. With Temenos SaaS, we can deliver a frictionless digital experience, bringing together credit cards, transactions, and savings accounts, plus a loyalty program in a single, native mobile app.  With The Temenos Banking Cloud, it is easier to integrate with third parties and we have an agile platform that easily scales up or down depending on business demands.”

The Temenos Banking Cloud gives banks the freedom to innovate faster, move from a CapEx to an OpEx model and benefit from a lower total cost of ownership. Varo Bank (https://bit.ly/3hSXMC4), using Temenos SaaS, estimates that it services customers at 25% of the total costs incurred by a traditional bank. Banks using The Temenos Banking Cloud have benefited from instant and massive scalability. A European challenger bank opened over 600K accounts in 3 months. While a global digital disruptor saw a staggering number of over 20M loan applications processed within 9 months. They are already adding over 100K new loans per day which is expected to reach 200K loans per day. Over 700 financial institutions use Temenos SaaS such as Al Ain Finance (https://bit.ly/3wCVEmh), Alpian (https://bit.ly/3wDN5HX), Flowbank (https://bit.ly/3hXfpAL), Flowe (https://bit.ly/3vmtTy4), Itau (https://bit.ly/3yFCYEj), Orange Bank (https://bit.ly/3ui4pQZ) and they will now benefit from all the new rich features of The Temenos Banking Cloud.

Dan Dickinson, Chief Information Officer, EQ Bank, said: “As Canada’s first digital-only challenger, we turned to Temenos SaaS to easily scale to meet customer demand, grow deposits much more quickly at a lower cost, and pass on the benefits to our customers. With The Temenos Banking Cloud, we can accelerate our business growth and benefit from unlimited innovation through the Sandbox and Temenos MarketPlace capabilities.”

The Temenos Banking Cloud removes the complexity, enabling banks to concentrate on their customers rather than their technology. With the touch of a button, banks can turn on new banking services, scale instantly, build new applications, plug into the richest fintech marketplace, and proactively manage usage and service health. With The Temenos Banking Cloud, banks gain:

 	Faster to time market with Banking Services: The industry’s leading front-to-back Banking Services with localized functionality from over 150 countries, covering all banking segments. The Banking Services are created using Packaged Business Capabilities [1], which are aligned to the BIAN standards. They are extensible, flexible and open, and can be easily configured and integrated with external applications.  The Banking Services can be consumed instantly, are pay-as-you go, and continuously updated safely without the need for big upgrades. These Banking Services are built for banking, they offer enterprise-grade controls to manage mission-critical systems. 

 	Unlimited innovation in the Sandbox: Temenos Sandbox enables banks to innovate faster by exploring new Temenos functionality, train their developers, and create new applications. The Sandbox includes access to Temenos Banking Services, Temenos MarketPlace, example data, and integration tools to enable banks to configure new products. The Sandbox also offers high-quality well-documented APIs, which are essential connectors of open architecture. Banks can choose to move to production environments in the cloud or on-premise. 

 	Collaborate with the most complete fintech marketplace: Instant access to Temenos MarketPlace (https://bit.ly/3hUc3i6), with the most innovative fintechs such as Plaid, Taurus (https://bit.ly/3fJb9lB), Tink (https://bit.ly/34elHUy), and Wise (https://bit.ly/3vlf2nn). The fintech solutions are pre-integrated so they can be rapidly consumed for a quick time-to-value. Developers can work with open APIs to extend their banking services by inviting fintechs and developers to the Sandbox environment and collaborate. 
The Temenos Banking Cloud is powered by an Explainable AI engine with advanced data analytics, so banks can test, report and measure product performance, and gain insight to support business decisions and product design. Through the self-service portal, IT users and developers can spin up fully provisioned environments, benefit from real-time dashboards on usage and billing, configure permissions and manage security credentials. Temenos AI advisors offer recommendations to banks to proactively manage usage and service health.

The Temenos Banking Cloud offers multi-layered security, comprehensive compliance coverage, and the highest availability across the globe. Temenos’ cloud-native, cloud-agnostic technology architecture is micro-services-based and API-driven to optimize the use of the underlying cloud platform services.
[1] According to BIAN, Packaged business capabilities (PBCs) are software components representing a well-defined business capability, functionally recognizable as such by a business use.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Temenos.
Media Contacts: Jessica Wolfe &#038; Scott Rowe Temenos Global Public Relations Tel: +1 610 232 2793 &#038; +44 20 7423 3857 Email: press@temenos.com

Alistair Kellie &#038; Andrew Adie Newgate Communications on behalf of Temenos Tel: +44 20 7680 6550 Email: allnewgatetemenos@newgatecomms.com

About Temenos: Temenos AG (SIX: TEMN) is the world’s leader in banking software. Over 3,000 banks across the globe, including 41 of the top 50 banks, rely on Temenos to process both the daily transactions and client interactions of more than 1.2 billion banking customers. Temenos offers cloud-native, cloud-agnostic and AI-driven front office, core banking, payments and fund administration software enabling banks to deliver frictionless, omnichannel customer experiences and gain operational excellence.

Temenos software is proven to enable its top-performing clients to achieve cost-income ratios of 26.8% half the industry average and returns on equity of 29%, three times the industry average. These clients also invest 51% of their IT budget on growth and innovation versus maintenance, which is double the industry average, proving the banks’ IT investment is adding tangible value to their business.

For more information, please visit www.Temenos.com.

Temenos transforms banking with The Temenos Banking Cloud to accelerate SaaS and AI adoption with instant access to Sandbox, Banking Services, and Marketplace

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

Total cases: 26,730 (+42) Recovered: 25,144 (+47) | 90% Active cases: 1,237 In critical condition: 3 Tests: 1,410,046 (+4,029) Test positivity rate: 1% Vaccinated: 350,400  Deaths: 349 (+0) | 1.3%
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda.
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Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (24 May 2021)

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Total daily tests: 459 New confirmed cases: 6 Cumulative confirmed cases: 18,557 Active cases: 40 Recoveries: 17,845 (12 new) Currently admitted: 3 New deaths: 0 Total deaths: 672 Total vaccinated to date: 35,227
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
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Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 daily update (24 May 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI) today announced that the French Ministry of the Interior will deploy 30,000 of Motorola Solutions’ (www.MotorolaSolutions.com)  VB400 body-worn cameras (https://bit.ly/3fj3UBQ) to its National Police and the Gendarmerie (military police) to modernize policing. The roll-out of body-worn cameras, valued at $17.5 million (€15 million), is one of the largest ever deployed and is expected to start in July 2021. The deployment will support the French government’s goal (https://bit.ly/3ulpBFV) to improve trust and safety in policing by having all law enforcement officers wearing body-worn cameras.

&#8220;Maintaining safety and integrity in all interactions between police and the community is a major priority for the National Police and the Gendarmerie, and video technology plays a vital role in achieving this,&#8221; said Jack Molloy, executive vice president, product and worldwide sales. &#8220;After a rigorous testing and competitive process, our solutions ranked superior in performance, usability and the ability to seamlessly integrate into the workflows of France&#39;s frontline police. We are proud to be their chosen partner and are committed to ongoing innovation with the French Government.”
The rugged VB400 is designed to protect both the police and the public with its intuitive recording function and the extended battery life that lasts beyond the shift with up to 12 hours of recording. Motorola Solutions will also provide a broad range of accessories including helmet cameras for motorcycle officers to capture high-definition footage even when riding at high-speed. Future innovations can include Holster Aware (https://bit.ly/3uiGlxv) which automatically activates a recording and live-streams body-worn camera footage if an officer draws his or her weapon as well as an Android-compatible application which enables officers to view and categorize footage in the field.
The cameras will be deployed with VideoManager evidence management software (https://bit.ly/3bUoart) which is essential to improving efficiency as video increasingly becomes part of an agency’s workflow. The cameras seamlessly upload recorded video directly into VideoManager, where it is securely stored in-country and organized using time, date and location, together with incident data added by officers.
&#8220;This partnership follows a number of significant body-worn camera deployments,” said Jack Molloy. &#8220;Since moving into the body-worn camera market, we have quickly become a global player due to our differentiated solution that integrates into our mission-critical ecosystem spanning voice communications, command center software, and video security and analytics.”
This is the latest in a series of global body-worn camera deployments both within enterprises and law enforcement agencies. Additional deployments include: Co-op in the U.K. as well as Metro Nashville Police, Romania National Police and London Ambulance Services.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Motorola Solutions.
Media Contacts: Brittany Kelly Motorola Solutions Mobile: +1 (224)246-3914 Brittany.Kelly@motorolasolutions.com 
Elvan Lindberg Motorola Solutions Mobile: +46 (0)707448893 Elvan.Lindberg@motorolasolutions.com
Follow @MotoSolutions on Twitter (https://bit.ly/3wuTqFo) Follow @MotorolaSolutions on Instagram (https://bit.ly/3oMjZTX) Follow @MotorolaSolutions on LinkedIn (https://bit.ly/3vkGYrE) Like @MotorolaSolutions on Facebook (https://bit.ly/3ujEKaH)
About Motorola Solutions: Motorola Solutions is a global leader in mission-critical communications and analytics. Our technologies in land mobile radio mission-critical communications, command center software and video security &#038; analytics, bolstered by managed &#038; support services, make communities safer and help businesses stay productive and secure. At Motorola Solutions, we are ushering in a new era in public safety and security. Learn more at www.MotorolaSolutions.com.
MOTOROLA, MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS and the Stylized M Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC and are used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2021 Motorola Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.
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French Ministry of the Interior Chooses Motorola Solutions to Modernize Frontline Policing With 30,000 Body-Worn Cameras

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The future of global content consumption lies in what the industry terms ‘super aggregation,’ the idea that with the increasingly competitive subscription service market – including Video-on-Demand (VoD), music, e-books, sports, e-learning, gaming, fitness, e commerce and more – consumers will want, or eventually need to, consolidate their accessibility and payments through a single ‘perfect bundle’ from a service provider, writes Amdocs Media’s (www.Amdocs.com) VP for Africa, Gary Finch.

With their large client bases and local insights, operators and OTT Brands in Africa are well-placed to become super aggregators or expand their existing offerings to create a more comprehensive, unified media experience. By offering attractive and seamless ‘super bundling’ options, operators will be in a strong position to increase customer retention and generate new revenue streams in the rapidly evolving over-the-top (OTT) and media space.
‘Super bundling’ allows for the grouping of multiple subscriptions under a single umbrella with one account [1], thereby addressing the issue of consumers having to subscribe to numerous different content providers.
From a user experience perspective, having one home screen that gives easy access to multiple apps; and has the ability to recommend content from different sources – rather than having access content through separate apps – makes for a much richer user experience.
For example, if customers already have particular shows or movies in mind, offering them the ability to search across all subscriptions at once, instead of painstakingly searching through each application – one after the other – will increase their satisfaction and keep them coming back.
The greatest requirement needed by operators and OTT Brands to be super aggregators is the ability to be nimble and offer solutions that are adaptable, easy to sign up for and meet their customers’ consumption needs.
Importantly, access to a comprehensive content ecosystem needs to be underpinned by scalable solutions that allow operators to quickly enhance their entertainment offerings and maximise revenues while gaining increased customer insights from content consumption.
Based on the success of operators in other regions, local African video and entertainment players that remain dominant in their respective markets, are also seeing the potential of collaboration in the OTT space and partnering with global and local OTT streaming media services to enhance their offerings.
For those operators and OTT Brands with established own-branded services, the opportunity exists to create hybrid, cross-platform offerings by leveraging partnership integration to deliver unified and easy-to-navigate experiences.
With 30.7 million pay-TV subscribers in Africa at the end of 2019 – a number that is expected to grow to 47.26 million by 2025 [2] – the future growth potential for the continent is really coming into focus.
In addition, with growing demand for localised African content, the super aggregation model is perfectly suited to providing a distribution platform for local and global OTT brands to be presented alongside each other.
For content providers, this means looking into the opportunities offered by new-generation content strategies, whereby instead of providing all the content themselves, they can complement their existing offerings with those from third-party providers.
This requires vendor collaboration and partnerships. Not only does this benefit operators – Other OTT brands are able to expand their reach into new markets by tapping into user bases and leveraging the insights of partners who understand the local markets, and have both a critical mass and a subscriber base that can be monetised.
Success hinges on technology. The key to succeeding in this space is having the monetisation capabilities to support OTT partnerships.
There is no doubt that there is a demand for content in Africa. Success lies in being able to create a “super aggregator” business model that allows operators and OTT Brands to leverage the strengths of the entire ecosystem to create the “perfect bundle” and ultimately maximise their monetisation opportunities.
[1] Subscription Aggregation &#8211; The Rx for OTT Fatigue? by Alex Evans, Managing Director, and Michael Kaufman, Senior Manager, at L.E.K. Consulting
[2] Africa Pay-TV forecasts by ResearchAndMarkets.com
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amdocs.

Super aggregation key to growth of Africa’s video and entertainment services

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Today, climate activists marked Africa Day by staging protests at Total’s petrol stations. The protests took place in Benin, Togo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, Ghana and Nigeria. The protests highlighted Total’s human rights violations, greenwashing strategies and climate inaction.

Total is involved in controversial projects across the continent, notably the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and the Mozambique Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) project that have witnessed displacement of local communities from their ancestral land as well as several human rights abuses other issues that have been called out by activists and frontline communities.

Vanessa Nakate, a Ugandan activist, said: “We cannot drink oil. This is why we cannot accept the construction of the East African Crude oil pipeline. It is going to cause massive displacement of people, destruction of ecosystems and wildlife habitats. We have no future in extraction of oil because it only means destroying the livelihoods of the people and the planet. It is time to choose people above pipelines. It is time to rise up for the people and the planet.”

Andre Moliro, DRC activist, said: “Total’s fossil fuel developments pose grave risks to protected environments, water sources and wetlands in the Great Lakes and East Africa regions. Communities have been raising concerns on the impact of oil extraction on Lake Albert fisheries and the disastrous consequences of an oil spill in Lake Victoria, that would affect millions of people that rely on the two lakes for their livelihoods, watersheds for drinking water and food production.”

Landry Ninteretse of 350.org said, &#8220;At a time when the international scientific community is telling us that the world cannot absorb any new fossil fuel developments if we are to tackle the climate crisis, Total is still pushing for the construction of highly controversial pipelines such as the East African Crude Oil Pipeline and the Mozambique LNG that threaten to destroy the livelihoods of tens of thousands of people, while affecting a great portion of diverse ecosystems and adding millions of tons of carbon emissions yearly.”

Earlier in the year, more than 260 African and international organisations sent an open letter (https://bit.ly/3fjfi0D) to 25 banks urging them not to finance the construction of the EACOP. Total issued statements on its website describing its environmental and social risk assessment and mitigation strategies for the EACOP and Tilenga oil extraction project as “rigorous” (https://bit.ly/2SrCUr6) and claiming to act “responsibly and transparently” (https://bit.ly/3wwNCuZ) on the social and environmental issues related to the projects.
The #StopEACOP Alliance went ahead to issue a statement (https://bit.ly/3vonX7Q) clarifying several misleading figures presented by Total such as the number of oil wells to be drilled within Murchison Falls National Park, and the number of project-affected people for Tilenga and EACOP.
Total seeks to position itself as a climate leader but chooses to ignore the massive climate risks posed by going ahead with its fossil fuel projects across Africa.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of 350.org.
For interviews and additional information contact: 350Africa.org Christine Mbithi Email: christine.mbithi@350.org Telephone: +254725906695
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Hundreds protest against TOTAL across Africa

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Hosted by, and produced in partnership with NVentures, this edition features five offshore asset presentations from leading independents: Africa Energy Corp, VAALCO Energy, Impact Oil &#038; Gas, Heritage Oil and Eco Atlantic. All five centre around prospective opportunities offshore Africa, from Equatorial Guinea to Southern Africa; a region which has recently been in the industry spotlight for its high-profile discoveries and deepwater plays – signalling the possibility of further groundbreaking reserves.

Each presentation gives an in-depth look into the asset or portfolio opportunity, including: license details, exploration history, available data, farm-in process and timelines.

The presentations include:

 	Garrett Soden, President, CEO &#038; Director of Africa Energy Corp presents their portfolio of world-class assets offshore Southern Africa 	David DesAutels, EVP Corporate Development at VAALCO Energy presents high-value opportunities across Block P, offshore Equatorial Guinea 	Philip Birch, Exploration Director at Impact Oil &#038; Gas presents their targeted billion-barrel portfolio 	David McGurk, Exploration Director at Heritage Oil, presents their drill-ready, low-risk exploration opportunity lying at the heart of a world-class petroleum system 	Selma Usiku, Senior Geologist at Eco Atlantic Oil &#038; Gas; presents highly prospective opportunities in the Walvis Basin, offshore Namibia. 
For 2021, AOW looks forward to hosting a full day’s programme of the Africa Independents Forum, as we welcome 20+ Independents to the Main Stage to present world-class farm-ins and the hottest asset opportunities from across the continent.

Partners of AOW’s Africa Independents Forum include: NVentures and Farmout Finance Forum.

To access the digital edition of the Africa Independents Forum, click here (https://bit.ly/3fIaLEb).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Oil Week.
For more information, please contact: Shelby O’Brien Africa Oil Week Email: Shelby.OBrien@hyve.group
About Africa Oil Week: Africa Oil Week (www.Africa-OilWeek.com) is the voice of E&#038;P and aims to power the sustainable future of the Africa upstream. Now entering its 27th year of the show, the event brings together governments, national and international oil companies, independents, investors, the G&#038;G community and service providers.
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To celebrate Africa Day, Africa Oil Week launches an exclusive digital, pre-event edition of the Africa Independents Forum, showcasing prospective offshore opportunities across Africa

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

By Charity Migwi and Nicole Rodel

The world has no business investing in new fossil fuel developments in our race to the 1.5°C pathway. The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) newly released Net Zero by 2050 roadmap (https://bit.ly/3vmJj5j) has closed the door on new fossil fuel extraction, and fossil fuel giants have lost their claim to fame of new oil and gas reserves being aligned with the Paris Agreement. It’s a small victory for climate, and the big polluters, governments, and public finance institutions will have a tough time giving grounds for dirty developments &#8211; but there is seemingly no slowing down Total SE, Standard Bank and AfDB from riding their gravy train through Africa at full steam ahead.

Since 2012, Total SE has been the largest fossil fuel spender in Sub-Saharan Africa (https://bit.ly/3ujpZ7N). The French energy giant expanded its dominance in the region when it signed the Shareholding Agreement (SHA) and the Tariff and Transportation Agreement (TTA) alongside the governments of Uganda and Tanzania, with Tanzania recently signing the Host Government Agreement (HGA) (https://bit.ly/3uhmr5N). This deal has paved the way for oil exploration in the Albertine Graben and the construction of the longest heated pipeline in the world, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). The signing of this long awaited deal has spelled doom for communities affected by the project as compensation delays and mixed messages have only triggered anguish (https://bit.ly/3uekZkV) and controversy among the Project Affected Persons (PAPs). Not only will tens of thousands of people be displaced but locals risk losing their land in exchange for peanuts as the valuation report used by the government relies on old property rates (https://bit.ly/3oUBSQr). In consequence, Total will continue enriching itself at the expense of already vulnerable East Africans.

EACOP is not the only African charm for the French energy giant. Its mega Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) project in Mozambique is targeted for completion in 2024 &#8211; and the added conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands of people (https://bit.ly/3oM0GtK) from their homes, farmlands and fishing areas, leaving them without livelihoods and reliant on food aid. Total’s operation in Mozambique has ignited flames for the province of Cabo Delgado as the gas industry is fuelling social tensions. The already vulnerable locals are feeling frustrated being caught up in the manifestation of the paradox of plenty. Their resource rich province is being plundered by political and global economic elites as they suffer violence, human rights abuses and massive displacements, amid escalating insurgencies and security threats conveniently labelled as terrorism. In response, Total declared force majeure on its $20 billion LNG project (https://reut.rs/3yEAc27), thereby absolving itself of its commitments and contractual obligations, while still holding the major benefits of being the project concessionaire even at a time when survival is at stake.

The effect of Total’s presence ranges from human rights violations, violent conflict, environmental destruction, displacement, and death; all while fueling the climate crisis. Environmental racism has put black, indigenous, and people of colour communities in the path of polluters and the climate crisis &#8211; one of the biggest global threats to ensuring human rights and dignity for all.

At the forefront of championing these crises is Standard Bank, as they continue to play an advisory role in organizing funding for the $3.5billion EACOP project as well as finance the Mozambique LNG to a tune of $485 million (https://bit.ly/3oPJt2x), thereby fuelling a climate catastrophe. In the meantime, Standard Bank prides itself in being a leading oil and gas sector banking team on the continent (https://bit.ly/3oPJt2x). With its tremendous assets totalling over $162 billion regionally, Standard Bank has the potential of influencing positive transformation across the African continent through clean renewable energy that will not only meet the continent’s energy needs but also create thousands of jobs. Instead, the bank opts for life long torture of already vulnerable communities by investing in fossil fuels.

While governments and fossil fuel companies champion these projects under the guise of economic revival and job creation, growing environmental, social, and governance concerns &#8211; and stranded assets &#8211; are beginning to make their way into the boardrooms of the public finance institutions footing the bill, in large part due to pressure from civil society and grassroots movements. The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) &#8211; who poured $400 million (https://bit.ly/3fNfAMr) into Total’s Mozambique LNG project, but strongly refuted claims (https://bit.ly/2QT8TQy) of its involvement in financing EACOP &#8211; recently released its draft Climate Change and Green Growth Strategic Framework for public comment, which finally put in writing that the Bank will “cease all investment in coal or coal-related technologies, ensuring that it will not perpetuate or provide longevity to coal”. The strategic framework tiptoes around the subject of natural gas, with the seemingly cuddlier cousin to coal and oil set to play a limited and transitional role in Africa’s energy access development goals, but no mention of oil is made whatsoever. However, a golden thread weaved throughout the draft policy is the AfDB’s commitment to Paris Alignment &#8211; and with the IEA’s new stance against oil and gas for a 1.5°C warmer world, it may be back to the drawing board for the AfDB to uphold their goal of operationalising the Paris Agreement.

The climate crisis is already here and hurting the most vulnerable people. In 2020, the warmest year (https://bit.ly/3fjafxd) on record, extreme climate disasters displaced more people globally than war (https://bit.ly/2RBFkDz). It is time for governments, public finance institutions, and fossil fuel giants to take heed of what we, the people (https://bit.ly/3bSbX6u), have been calling for (https://bit.ly/3bSbX6u), and reimagine our development pathway for a sustainable and equitable future. The people and the planet do not need to be weighed against profit and economic development. This is a climate emergency, and we need to use all of our energy and might to fight for the Africa we want &#8211; one that prioritises its abundance of wind and solar potential to fuel its prosperity and puts its people, heritage, and environment at the centre of our development.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of 350.org.
About the Authors: Charity Migwi is the Africa Regional Campaigner at 350.org Nicole Rodel is the Junior Manager, Communications and Campaigns, at African Climate Reality Project
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Polluters are slowing down Africa’s progress (By Charity Migwi and Nicole Rodel)

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Over the past decade, Africa has become a potential investment destination as the appetite for doing business grows and as many opportunities arise.  Africa’s fast-growing business environment has indicated greater innovation and has provided strategies to success in the world’s next big growth market according to Brookings.

While in some parts of the continent there are significant challenges in accessing critical information on investment, tax and regulatory regimes, the potential for business to play a transformative role across all sectors, truly exists. In addition, with the AfCFTA creating a continent-wide market, major economic growth appears to be on the horizon.
With this in mind, Africa Day aims to reflect the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (African Union) and celebrate the cultural and economic potential of our continent. As we commemorate the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity on 25 May 1963, Centurion Law Group (https://CenturionLG.com) aims to position itself at the forefront of Africa’s business practices with the upcoming launch of its new knowledge and legal platform on doing business in Africa.
In just a few days, the Pan-African corporate law conglomerate will launch its much-anticipated Africa Investment Guide set to provide a wealth of legal and business knowledge gravely required by businesses seeking to invest on the continent. Our Investment Guide, put together by our country experts, provides practical and in-depth insight on relevant laws and regulations which impact investments in the different African countries.
“Availability of reliable information on the legal and regulatory landscape of countries of interest has remained a non-tariff barrier to trade and investment in Africa. What Centurion has done here is to put to great use, its unique positioning across Africa to bridge the gap between potential social and economic investors on one hand, and government and local private sectors in Africa on the other hand.” noted Zion Adeoye, the Managing Director of Centurion Law Group  notes
As we develop a united Africa and a better world, let’s use Africa Day as an opportunity to circulate the nature of learning and commit to a transparent and enabling environment to remind ourselves of how far we have come and how far we can still go.

For more information on the Africa Investment Guide launch, subscribe by visiting centurionlg.com or email investmentguide@centurionlg.com. Join the conversation by engaging on our social media platforms by using the official hashtag #AfricaInvestmentGuide
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Centurion Law Group.
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