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WHO Africa Online Press Briefing on COVID-19 in Africa

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Investing in African Mining (Mining Indaba) (www.MiningIndaba.com), part of Hyve Group Plc announced the exceptional line-up of keynote speakers for Mining Indaba Virtual, which will take place 2-3 February 2021.

The organisers are extremely delighted to confirm four heads of state will be delivering keynote addresses, including H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone, H.E. Mokgweetsi Masisi, President of Botswana and H.E. Félix Tshisekedi, President of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) discussing the opportunity for international investment and much more for their countries.

Joining the heads of state on the expanding list of speakers are CEOs from major mining companies, government leaders and senior representatives from across the global mining industry. Tackling topics from reigniting mining capital: ESG investing in a Covid-recovery world, harnessing technology and automation to grow economies to opportunities for battery metals in the global reboot, green metals, PGMs and global decarbonisation and more.

This year’s virtual event has been designed to reflect the priorities of helping to rebuild and shape the future of the industry. Spread over two half days, it will boast a highly exceptional line-up of industry speakers. “Mining Indaba has been built on 27 years of industry support, and this year, although virtual, we want to help to continue to support the industry during such a turbulent year.  The programme truly reflects the industry’s needs and will support the industry for the year ahead.” Tom Quinn, Head of Content, Mining Indaba and Africa Oil Week.

The line-up of speakers joining heads of state includes:
 	Hon. Gwede Mantashe, Minister of Minerals Resources &#038; Energy, South Africa 	Mark Cutifani, Chief Executive, Anglo American 	Roger Baxter, CEO, Minerals Council South Africa  	Mxolisi Mgojo, CEO, Exxaro Resources 	Bold Bataar, CEO Energy &#038; Minerals, Rio Tinto 	Neal Froneman, CEO, Sibanye-Stillwater 	Alfred Baku, Executive Vice President, Gold Fields 	Nigel Beck, Head of Sustainable Finance, Standard Bank 	Shirley Webber, Managing Director – Head of Natural Resources, Absa Bank 	Steven Phiri, CEO, RBPlat 	Natascha Viljoen, CEO, Anglo American Platinum 	Rebecca Campbell, Partner, White &#038; Case 	Humphrey Oriakhi, Managing Director, PAC Capital Limited 	Adrian Hammond, Lead PGM Analyst, SBG Securities 
Geared towards building ‘Resilience and Regrowth: Adopting the New Mindset for African Mining’ to help rebuild and shape the future of the industry. This free to attend online conference is now CPD certified meaning attendance counts towards professional development, featuring high-level content including pioneering insights, multi-stakeholder strategic conversations, presidential addresses and more.

Registration for the Mining Indaba Virtual has now opened, the event is free to attend. For more information about the programme, visit the website here (https://bit.ly/3qB01v5).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Investing in African Mining Indaba.
Media Contact: On behalf of Investing in African Mining Indaba Amy Neville Email: amy.neville@hyve.group
About Investing in African Mining Indaba: Investing in African Mining Indaba (www.MiningIndaba.com) is solely dedicated to the successful capitalisation, development and widening perspective of the African mining industry. Bringing together the world’s industry giants to tomorrow’s barrier-breaking disruptors from across the spectrum. It’s the place where multi-million deals are done, and life-long partnerships are discovered.

Mining Indaba Virtual announces speaker line-up from key mining sectors

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H.E. President Macky Sall has generously dedicated the International Conference Centre Abdou Diouf to host the MSGBC Oil, Gas &#038; Power 2021 event; The event will gather energy business and political leaders from across the continent to explore energy opportunities in West Africa, with a narrative defined by the energy transition; Senegal positions itself as the central hub for the region’s energy industry and invites global investment in all forms of energy.

The first ever MSGBC Oil, Gas &#038; Power conference and exhibition will unite leaders from Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Mauritania and the wider West Africa region with global energy dealmakers in Dakar on October 26-27.

The event kicks off a new era of regional cooperation and integration in the energy sector, with national governments pushing for quicker and more efficient development of energy resources throughout the MSGBC basin and the wider region, from hydrocarbons to renewables and power access and reliability.

“Africa Oil &#038; Power recognizes the changes taking place in the industry. We are set to use our innovative platform and run an aggressive campaign for investment that moves the industry forward” said Renée Montez-Avinir, Managing Director of the organizer Africa Oil &#038; Power (AOP).

“We are lucky to have the support of the governments of the region and the investor community and over the next months, we will drive deal making into the region. Also important is bring international and regional players for a dialogue about the MSGBC’s energy industry and the region’s energy mix,” she concluded.

MSGBC Oil, Gas &#038; Power 2021, organized under the auspices of H.E. President Macky Sall and in partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy of Senegal, COS-Petrogaz, Petrosen, and various US and global energy industry and investor associations, will represent a unique opportunity for business and political leaders to understand the full scope of investment opportunities present in the energy sectors of Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea, as well as Côte d’Ivoire, Algeria, Morocco and Niger.

 	Morocco and Algeria are pushing for strong diversification of their energy matrices, betting on several multi-million-dollar solar developments to complement gas-based power generation and ongoing hydrocarbons development. 	Senegal’s onshore gas project operated by Fortesa for the past 18 years has opened the way for similar onshore gas utilization projects across West Africa and local content empowerment. 	Niger’s pipeline connection to Benin will open new synergies in the Sahelian energy landscape and allow for Niger’s oil to reach global markets. 	Targeting 43 percent of renewables in its energy matrix 2030, Côte d’Ivoire offers extensive opportunities for investment, particularly in hydropower. 	Guinea has implemented a strong hydrocarbons policy as well as an attractive legal framework to entice new entrants, while it has sought to acquire new data for its acreage. 	The entry of BP and Kosmos Energy in Gambia’s block A1 in 2019 marked the beginning of a new era of exploration for the country. 	BP’s Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project off the coast of Mauritania and Senegal will kickstart a natural gas-based economic revolution. 
The International Conference Centre Abdou Diouf in Dakar has been most generously offered by H.E. President Macky Sall for the hosting of this momentous event. MSGBC Oil, Gas &#038; Power 2021 will signal the post-COVID resurgence for the region’s energy industry and for Senegal itself, the nation that is most strongly positioned as the energy hub for the whole of West Africa and is hence at center stage for debate, leadership and investment.

Africa Oil &#038; Power, the continent’s leading investment promotion platform and the organizer of MSGBC Oil, Gas &#038; Power 2021 is grateful to President Sall for his support, generosity and leadership in advancing the regional energy industry by making this event possible.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Oil &#038; Power Conference.
Find out more about Senegal and the MSGBC’s energy industry and about the event at www.MSGBC2021.com and contact International Conference Director Joao Marques directly at joao@afriaoilandpower.com.
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President Macky Sall to Drive Energy Investment for West Africa with MSGBC 2021 Event, Gathers Support from Leaders and Investors

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The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-IDB.org), member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, has approved a Murabaha Financing Facility in favour of Eastern Bank Limited in Bangladesh to support the Bank’s private sector business, particularly SMEs importing raw materials.

Eastern Bank is the latest partner institution to work with ITFC expanding its financing outreach to the private sector through local banks in Bangladesh. The financing comes at a critical time for SMEs in Bangladesh and other OIC member countries facing the social and economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which has disrupted global trade, supply chains and stretched financial resources.

Eastern Bank Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ali Reza said: “this Murabaha financing facility will enable EBL to provide better value to its clients through the extensive links and support of ITFC and IsDB. This financing facility is a manifestation that EBL is always looking to offer innovative trade products and tailored financing solutions for our clients. This important relationship with ITFC will ensure growth of EBL’s corporate and SME clients and will contribute further to trade business of the country.”

Commenting on the Murabaha financing facility, Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, ITFC CEO, said: “We are pleased to announce the partnership with Eastern Bank Limited in supporting SME growth in Bangladesh. Such collaborative approach is meant to facilitate SME access to financing and that is key in the country’s economic growth and ability to expand participation in global value chains. ITFC continues to extend support in trade development and ultimately leading to socio-economic development for our member countries.”

The financing and grants being rolled out by ITFC, as part of the IsDB Group COVID-19 Response Package, are supporting preparedness for the pandemic through the provision of medical supplies, staple foods and fertilizer for agricultural production in OIC countries with interventions in several countries including Bangladesh, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, the Maldives and Senegal.  
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).
Media Contact: Tel: +966 12 646 8337 Fax: +966 12 637 1064 E-mail: ITFC@itfc-idb.org Twitter: @ITFCCORP Facebook: @ITFCCORP LinkedIn: International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC)
About the International Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC): The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-IDB.org) is a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. It was established with the primary objective of advancing trade among OIC member countries, which would ultimately contribute to the overarching goal of improving socioeconomic conditions of the people across the world. Commencing operations in January 2008, ITFC has provided US$53.9 billion of financing to OIC member countries, making it the leading provider of trade solutions for these member countries’ needs. With a mission to become a catalyst for trade development for OIC member countries and beyond, the Corporation helps entities in member countries gain better access to trade finance and provides them with the necessary trade-related capacity building tools, which would enable them to successfully compete in the global market.

International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation Signs Murabaha Financing Facility with Eastern Bank Ltd to support SMEs in Bangladesh

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January 1st, 2021 marked the start of trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. In ratifying the agreement, 34 African countries have created the largest free trade zone in the world by country participation. This is a historic point for the continent, it is the beginning of what is hoped will, at the very least, form a workable framework for a modern African economy. An African economy that will allow free movement of labor and goods within member States – a drastic change from the current siloed economic structures, and hopes to foster intra-African trade, industrialization and self-reliance.

Economic co-dependency or cooperation between sovereign States is not a new economic strategy. Europe has sought to achieve this at the regional or supranational level through the establishment of the European Union. However, the recent decision of the United Kingdom to leave the EU shows that the goal of integration is not without its challenges.

The United States has functioned for so long as a collage of economic co-dependent states that few pay much attention to the analogies with modern supranational regional organizations such as the European Union. However, on closer inspection, it is clear that the same rules of a shared currency, open borders and the full economic integration of the states played a large and important role in the growth, stability and development of the US. There are similar associations in Asia – the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); and in the Arab region – the Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU).

Africa has also championed regional economic integration, but never at the level or scale of the AfCFTA and, indeed, not as successfully as in other world regions. African economic communities like ECOWAS, SADC, EAC and others, have failed to substantially integrate their disparate national economies which would have served to protect the region from exploitation by its neighbors to the east and the west.

With consumer population projections favouring Africa, and a combined consumer and business spending projection of $6.7 trillion by 2030, [1] the time is now for Africans to look inwards for solutions to the continent’s economic woes. The sports, media and entertainment industry is one space where the continent continues to show promise. African content competes favourably on the radio and streaming networks on a global scale, spurring key investments from media giants like Disney and Netflix. The continent is also a major contributor in the world sports industry particularly in consumption and talent exportation. The discussion must now revolve around the question of how the AfCFTA and intra-African collaboration can be best employed to secure these industries’ futures.

The answer: developing local industrialisation, production and distribution infrastructures for the consumption of sports, media and entertainment. This is key to the success of the AfCFTA in these industries. It will be near impossible to unlock the true value of this agreement without Africa first fixing its infrastructure deficit and this is relevant even beyond the sports and entertainment sectors. African countries must aim to localize its production and distribution processes as much as possible to control a larger part of the African market.

For example, the music industry today is primarily dominated by streaming consumers and with the rise of movie streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon TV, the film industry is leaning towards this model as well. From the onset of the digital revolution, China was branded “isolationist” for regulating the entrance of businesses like Google and Facebook into the country to give local alternatives a chance to develop. This move may have been branded as a security move, but it has also proven to be an economic boon to Chinese competitors in these spaces. With this agreement, the time is ripe to develop African digital infrastructures to leverage upon the continent’s population resource in industries like music and film where there is already an appreciable global presence. It is indeed the right time to create our own entertainment giants!

In the sports arena, rather than constantly exporting our best talents, local investment in sports like football, for example, can provide the required infrastructure to ensure that African athletes can thrive right here on the continent. This will serve to effectively reduce talent flight, a major challenge in the industry today. It could eventually place African leagues at par with the popular European leagues where so many players of African descent consistently perform excellently.

It is still too early to gauge how the AfCFTA will affect the sports and entertainment industry, since the agreement is still in its early stages of implementation. We are also yet to observe how committed member States are to this intended collaboration. One thing is for sure though; any initiative that welcomes the free movement of goods and services within Africa and promotes intra-African investments and cooperation on intellectual property rights is a huge step in the right direction for a continent with much to benefit from greater economic integration.
[1] https://brook.gs/2KzeIiV &#8211; Accessed on 15.01.2021
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Centurion Law Group.
For more information on the AfCFTA or if you have any questions, please contact Oneyka Cindy Ojogbo at Oneyka.ojogbo@centurionlg.com.
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The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): Future of Sports and Entertainment in an Economically United Africa

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African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) President Akinwumi A. Adesina said on Wednesday that Africa remained fertile ground for investment, but much hinged on the continent’s ability to boost its healthcare sector.

Adesina spoke during the Africa Investment Conference, a virtual one-day event organized by the UK Department for International Trade, which brought together UK and African business and government leaders to discuss investment and partnership opportunities. Four sectors were under the spotlight: sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, financial and professional services, and agriculture and agri-tech.
As part of the conference, Emma Wade-Smith, Her Majesty’s UK Trade Commissioner for Africa, joined Adesina in a fireside chat on the theme “Building back better – utilizing UK private sector strengths and values, and business-to-business opportunities working with UK government and others going forward.”
Africa still possessed the same fundamentals that had driven the continent’s phenomenal growth over the past decade, Adesina said. Participants heard that the continent offered ample opportunities in terms of natural resources, vast tracts of arable land, and a young and rapidly urbanizing population. The potential presented by the newly launched African Continental Free Trade Area was also highlighted.
“The fundamentals in those phenomenal growth rates in Africa are still there…Africa still leads in terms of ease of doing business…It’s very exciting, the digital explosion that you see in Africa today,” Adesina said, listing among others the tide of mergers and acquisitions among African firms.
Africa’s economy shrank by 2.1% in 2020 and is expected to grow by 3.4% in 2021 as the global economy recovers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During their exchange, Wade-Smith tapped Adesina’s views on the impact of vaccines on Africa’s economic outlook. Adesina said for him the issue was long-term.
Wade-Smith said she was heartened to learn that 10 of the fastest-growing economies were still in Africa, adding that there was not enough awareness of how much innovation was happening in the region. She said there was an opportunity to blend African and UK innovation. “I’ve been struck by how many opportunities there are,” Wade-Smith said.
Africa has a mere 365 pharmaceutical companies, compared to 7,000 in China and 11,000 in India, as individual countries with comparable population sizes.
British investors were urged to pay attention to Africa. “That’s where the next frontier is,” Adesina said.
Other participants included UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Minister for Africa James Duddridge, Minister for Investment Gerry Grimstone, as well as business leaders from Standard Bank, pharmaceuticals firm AstraZeneca and mobile operator Vodacom.
Johnson earlier told the conference that although “many things have changed” since last year, “there is one thing I can tell you that has not changed: that is my ambition for the UK to be Africa’s investment partner.”
The conference follows last year’s successful UK-Africa Investment Summit, hosted in London by the Prime Minister, where 27 trade and investment deals worth £6.5 billion and commitments valued at £8.9 billion were announced. At the time, Africa was home to eight of the world’s 15 fastest-growing economies amid a groundswell of optimism about its economic upswing.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media Contact: Gershwin Wanneburg Communication and External Relations Department African Development Bank Email: g.wanneburg@afdb.org
About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org.
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U.K. Africa Investment Conference: Africa is the world’s next business frontier, says AfDB&apos;s Akinwumi Adesina

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The 41st Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC) kicked off on 20 January 2021, in the context of the prevailing COVID-19 Pandemic, ahead of the 34th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) scheduled to take place on 6 and 7 February 2021 under the theme of “Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want”. Addressing the ambassadors in his opening remarks, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat underscored the need for the PRC to put optimal proposals that should support the smooth transition from the old structure of the Commission to the new one. “I am convinced, you will have ironed out all the difficulties, all the rough obstacles on the way to ushering the Union into its new era, that of the successful Institutional Reform, thus attesting to the benefits and advantages of teamwork, executed with competence, dedication and passion”. Underlined the AUC Chairperson.

Noting that the PRC conducted its meetings last year in extraordinary circumstances due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Chairperson Faki commended the efforts of the PRC, that resulted in the holding of the 37th ordinary session of the Executive Council, the 2nd coordination meeting between the African Union, the RECs/Regional Mechanisms and the Member States, the two extraordinary sessions of the Conference on African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the holding of a Virtual Summit on the theme of the year “Silencing the Guns”. The AUC Chairperson also expressed appreciation to the good collaboration, which exists between the PRC and the AU Commission. Highlighting the AU’s theme of the Year 2021 “Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want”, the AUC Chairperson said it is an important theme and goes hand in hand with the whole movement for the institutional reform of the Union, “as culture is the main marker of identity and through it we know who we really are”. Emphasised Chairperson Faki. (See complete speech of the AUC Chairperson on the AU website: www.au.int).

On his part, H.E. Edward Xolisa Makaya, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa and Chairperson of the Permanent Representatives’ Committee, in his opening speech, commended the efforts made by the Bureau of the AU Assembly, the Commission and the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in helping the African continent to face the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Notwithstanding Covid-19, Africa showed incredible determination by conducting and concluding virtual negotiations on complex and difficult matters of the AfCFTA, leading to the successful Johannesburg Extraordinary Summit on 6 December 2020. It is absolutely important to work to implement all the decisions taken at the Summit”. Underlined the Chair of the PRC.

As the Summit is to embark on election of senior leadership of the AU Commission, the PRC Chairperson thanked the current leadership of the AUC for their fortitude, diligence and able stewardship in managing the Commission. PRC Chairperson Makaya also thanked his peers, the Permanent Representatives and their officials for their support and most importantly their friendship during South Africa’s tenure as Chair of the PRC and ultimately Chair of the Union. (See complete speech of the PRC Chair on the AU website: www.au.int).

The official opening ceremony of the 41st Ordinary Session of the PRC virtual meeting, was attended by the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Commission, the AU Commissioners, and Representatives from AU Organs and AU officials. For two days, the ambassadors will deliberate on different reports including: the activities of the PRC Sub-Committees, reports of the Specialized Technical Committees (STCs) held in the year 2020, the reports of the AU Commission, other AU Organs and the AU Specialized Agencies. The Session will finally consider the draft agenda and draft decisions of the 38th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council scheduled to take place on 3 – 4 February 2021, before adopting their report to be submitted to the Executive Council for consideration.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).

COVID -19, Institutional Reforms and AUC Elections at the centre of discussion of the 41st Ordinary Session of Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC) in prelude to the 34th AU Summit

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The response to the COVID-19 crisis builds momentum for Africa’s digital transformation to overcome the pandemic and create more productive jobs, according to the 2021 edition of Africa’s Development Dynamics (AfDD) launched today.

The COVID‑19 pandemic is the hardest shock to African economies in 25 years. Gross domestic product (GDP) has decreased in 41 countries in 2020, compared to 11 countries in 2009 when the Global Financial Crisis hit. Yet Africa’s governments are facing today’s crisis with lower financial resources than they did then: over 2010‑18, domestic revenues per capita decreased by 18%, and external financial flows per capita by 5%. Tax‑to‑GDP ratios had already been stagnating at 16.5% between 2014 and 2018 in 30 African countries, despite important tax reforms. Public revenues should contract even further, by about 10% in at least 22 African countries between 2019 and 2020; total national savings could drop by 18%, remittances by 25% and foreign direct investment by 40%.
In that context, Africa’s booming digital sector offers an opportunity for governments to help kick-start a new growth cycle in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, according to the report. By encouraging the spreading of digital technologies, data and interconnection to all sectors, starting with healthcare, African countries can accelerate economic transformation and the creation of productive jobs, in line with the Aspirations of the African Union Agenda 2063.
In just ten years, Africa’s total inbound international Internet bandwidth capacity increased by more than 50 times; the operational fibre-optic network extended by almost four times; mobile cellular subscriptions more than doubled; and about 58% of the population now live in areas covered by 4G networks. Africa has over 480 million mobile money accounts, more than all other developing regions taken together. More than 500 African companies provide technology-enabled innovation in financial services (fintech). The valuation of some African start-ups exceeds a US billion dollars. Over 640 tech hubs are active across the continent.
Beyond digital infrastructure development, however, most digital success stories remain exceptional. Innovations hardly trickle down to the real economy and create too few jobs. Only 26% of rural dwellers use the Internet regularly, compared with 47% of urbanites. In 37 African countries, more than 50% of the population cannot afford 1GB of data per month. Only 31% of all African firms have their own website.
The report recommends four policy actions for governments to accelerate digital transformation and job creation in all economic sectors:
 	Promote the dissemination of digital innovation beyond large cities. Only 35% of intermediary cities are connected to terrestrial fibre-optic networks. Connecting them can have a strong multiplier effect, since 73% of Africans will live in intermediary cities and rural areas by 2040. 	Invest in the development of Africa’s workforce skills and provide social protection for informal iWorkers. Recent surveys show that many iWorkers face unpredictable and lower compension than the national minimum wage, and they do not benefit from standard labour conditions as in formal employment. Expanding and adapting social protection systems to this new reality is critical to address vulnerability. 	Remove barriers that prevent smaller firms from competing and growing in the digital age. Venture capital funding for Africa’s start-ups grew sevenfold between 2015 and 2019, yet the funding ecosystem for entrepreneurs remains fragile and inadequate. Half the most dynamic start-ups are based in only five cities:  Cape Town, Lagos, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Cairo. 	Update regulations and harmonise them at regional and continental levels. Currently, only 28 countries in Africa have personal data protection legislation in place, while 11 have adopted substantive laws on cybercrime. 
Browse the report: www.au.int/afdd2021 and https://oe.cd/AFDD-2021
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).

Digitalisation of economic sectors will kick-start a new growth cycle after COVID-19, Africa’s Development Dynamics report shows

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The African Development Bank (AfDB) (www.AfDB.org) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) today signed a joint partnership action plan highlighting their strengthened cooperation and mutual development priorities and a strong shared emphasis on boosting public and private sector investment in Africa.

The Joint Action Plan enables both institutions to grow a shared pipeline of bankable projects around key complementary themes to which each institution would bring their comparative advantage.

These themes are: climate action and environmental sustainability; transformative large-scale quality infrastructure investment; Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and services; financial inclusion with a gender lens aimed at the empowerment of girls and women; education and training; and the health sector.

The signing comes amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which is increasing poverty across the African continent and threatening markets and livelihoods, heightening the urgency for action.

The agreement was signed by African Development Bank, Acting Senior Vice President Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala, and Thomas Östros, European Investment Bank Vice President, during a virtual ceremony attended by more than 100 stakeholders from across Africa and Europe. The session was preceded by a short roundtable between the two senior management members and representatives from both institutions.

“It is crucial that more multinational development banks and other development finance institutions commit to closer and stronger collaboration, such as seen through this Joint Action Plan between the AfDB and the EIB, in order to more efficiently and effectively support our regional member countries during these troubling times,”  said Tshabalala. “Sustainable economic growth and security in regions facing particular challenges, such as the Sahel and Horn of Africa, are our top priority.”

“Partnerships are crucial for the EIB’s business and impact, and this partnership with Africa’s Bank is crucial for Africa. The Action Plan signed with the African Development Bank today demonstrates the firm commitment of the European Investment Bank, the EU Bank, to delivering investment that makes a real difference to Africa. Enhancing our work with the African Development Bank, Africa’s multilateral development bank, is a strategic priority for the EIB and Europe. Together the EIB and AfDB will enhance cooperation and engagement with African partners to ensure that Africa emerges from the health, social and economic challenges of COVID-19 to an even brighter 21st Century,” said Thomas Östros, European Investment Vice President.

The Joint Action Plan was developed following an EIB delegation meeting with the African Development Bank in February 2020.

Shared priorities for supporting transformation

The plan reflects the Bank’s High 5 development priority areas as well as EIB’s priority areas for Africa. In the wake of COVID-19 both institutions have devoted financing for rapid response to meet budgetary and health needs of countries in the region.

Building on track record of joint financial and technical support across Africa

Over the past 5 years, the shared portfolio of the two institutions has grown to EUR 3.4 billion, leveraging investment totaling EUR 10.2 billion for 26 projects across the continent.

The EIB and African Development Bank recognise the unique role of publicly owned development banks in supporting high-impact and pioneering investment and mobilising private sector financing.

Recent cooperation to increase venture capital financing for innovation and technology companies through the Boost Africa initiative and commitment to the Desert to Power programme highlights how public banks accelerate financing in priority policy areas.

The unique financial and technical contribution of public banks was further demonstrated earlier this month when the EIB and AfDB Presidents confirmed enhanced support for biodiversity and investment across the Sahel under the Great Green Wall initiative confirmed at the One Planet summit hosted by the French President Macron and Prince Charles.

In recent years the EIB and AfDB have jointly supported clean energy, water, transport and private sector projects across the continent, from Morocco in the north, Senegal in the West, Kenya in the East and Zambia in the South, and elsewhere across Africa.

In the Sahel region, both AfDB and EIB are financing climate and energy initiatives such as Desert-to-Power and the Great Green Wall Initiative.

The African Development Bank Group and the European Investment Bank have a long history of cooperation, framed by their relationship as Multilateral Development Banks and a Memorandum of Understanding on an Enhanced Strategic Partnership, signed in 2005, between the EIB, the AfDB and the European Commission. They have also signed a Procedural Framework for co-financed public sector projects.

Click here (https://bit.ly/3bTAI3e) to read the plan and for more information.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media Contact: African Development Bank Amba Mpoke-Bigg Communication and External Relations Department Email: a.mpoke-bigg@afdb.org
European Investment Bank Richard Willis r.willis@eib.org Tel: +352 43 79 82155 / Mobile : +352 621 55 57 5
About African Development Bank: The African Development Bank (AfDB) (www.AfDB.org) Group is the premier development finance institution in Africa with a mandate to spur sustainable economic development and social progress in the continent, thereby contributing to poverty reduction. The Bank Group achieves this objective by mobilizing and allocating resources for investment in the continent; and providing policy advice and technical assistance to support development efforts. The African Development Bank&#39;s authorized capital of around $208 billion is subscribed to by 81 member countries made up of 54 African countries and 27 non-African countries. For more information, visit www.AfDB.org.
About EIB: The European Investment Bank (EIB) (www.EIB.org) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals.

African Development Bank, European Investment Bank sign Joint Partnership Action Plan to fast-track development in Africa

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Escalating conflict and a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Cabo Delgado has left communities completely reliant on humanitarian assistance. According to the Government, attacks by non-state groups have forced more than 565,000 people to flee their homes and villages, abandoning their crops and livelihoods.

Last December, the United Nations Regional Directors for Eastern and Southern Africa visited Mozambique to assess the plight and needs of displaced populations as well as of host communities in northern Cabo Delgado province, and met government officials in Maputo.
They expressed their deep concerns about the unfolding humanitarian situation in Cabo Delgado where violence has exposed people to human rights violations and left people with very limited access to food and livelihoods. The growing insecurity and poor infrastructure have meant that reaching out to people in need has become harder and coupled with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, the crisis has become even more complex.
“We need to urgently increase our presence in Cabo Delgado in order to help those in need, especially women and children,” said Lola Castro, WFP Regional Director for southern Africa.
The joint mission with Regional Directors of FAO, IFAD, IOM, UNFPA, UNHCR and WFP, as well as by the UNDP Resilience Hub Manager and members of the UN Country Team, allowed participants to witness firsthand the impact of continuing violence in Cabo Delgado and to show support for affected communities and the Mozambican people. 
They heard extremely moving accounts from displaced men, women and children in the city of Pemba, the capital of Cabo Delgado, and in the districts of Ancuabe and Chiúre, whose lives have been upended by conflict and insecurity. They also met communities accommodating the displaced, visited planned resettlement areas and held discussions with the provincial governor and Secretary of State, as well as with religious leaders and representatives of civic organisations.
The crisis in the north of the country is a complex security, human rights, humanitarian and development emergency, underscoring the imperative of continuing to provide life-saving assistance while collectively supporting government-led long-term resilience building.
While acknowledging that much has been done to help victims of the crisis, the Regional Directors stressed that with displacement increasing daily, the lack of adequate food, water, sanitation, shelter, health, protection and education was exacerbating an already dire situation – one set to be further compounded by the imminent rainy season in a country particularly prone to climate extremes, as cyclones Idai and Kenneth devastatingly illustrated in 2019. Most recently, tropical storm Chalane, which hit the same populations last December, as cyclone Idai did less than two years ago, was a harsh reminder of the climate threat Mozambicans are facing and of the urgency to massively scale up investments in recovery and resilience.
With COVID-19 keeping most schools closed, the importance of robust investment in education to build Mozambique’s social and human capital is a growing concern. 
There is an urgent need to expand protection, health, food and nutrition programmes for vulnerable children and women, and vaccination and immunization interventions and psychosocial counselling, and of working to enable displaced farming and fishing families re-establish sustainable livelihoods.
The Regional Directors urged support for the adequate resettlement of uprooted families straining the already limited resources of impoverished host communities and slowing government efforts to effectively register and assist the displaced.  
They noted that urgent investments in development and resilience-building are required to not only promote human rights and social justice, but also to limit the impact of current crises and help prevent future ones. 
To curb violent extremism, they called for development initiatives to be transnational in approach and to prioritise the economic empowerment and social and political inclusion of women and young people. 
They urged the Government of Mozambique and the international community to step up efforts to end all forms of violence in the country, including gender-based violence and child marriage, and to invest more in women and girls as agents of progress and change.
The Regional Directors expressed gratitude to the government for its role in helping to meet the humanitarian needs of people in the north of the country and re-affirmed the commitment of the United Nations to upholding human rights and promoting peace and sustainable development for all Mozambicans.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

Joint Statement on Mozambique by United Nations Regional Directors for Southern and Eastern Africa

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Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is concerned about the situation in Riang, in Jonglei state, eastern South Sudan, where the health of communities is increasingly at risk. In January, an MSF emergency team flew into Riang and found remote communities struggling to access clean water, safe water storage, latrines and basic healthcare. Years of flooding and violence have taken a heavy toll on the region, making communities more vulnerable, particularly children under the age of five.

From 9 to 14 January, the MSF team provided medical consultations to roughly 770 people in Riang. They also distributed kits containing mosquito nets, blankets, buckets, soap, water purifiers and filters, and plastic sheets and ropes for shelters to over 1,000 families. In addition to providing dignity to flood-affected families, these kits help reduce their exposure to deadly illnesses, such as malaria, respiratory infections and waterborne diseases.
“A worrying 60 per cent of the children under the age of five treated in our mobile clinic last week tested positive for malaria; some of them were already in a severe condition. We also saw people suffering from untreated illnesses, including a large number of women with suspected urinary tract infections, which reflects the lack of drinking water,” said MSF emergency coordinator Roberto Wright. “International donors have only ensured funding for other health organisations working in Jonglei until next month, so the situation in the region may quickly deteriorate even further.”
The fall in funding in Jonglei reflects a general trend across South Sudan, which has left many people without access to essential healthcare. MSF is calling on international donors to ensure funding continues for other health organisations working in Jonglei state, so that they can provide healthcare and urgent humanitarian assistance, including food, water and latrines, to people living in hard-to-reach areas like Riang. Surrounded by swamplands, these rural communities face months of floods during wet seasons and widespread violence, aggravated by the scarcity of resources, such as food and livestock, during dry seasons.
People living in these villages have to walk more than an hour to reach the nearest free-of-charge healthcare, crossing swamps while carrying patients in baskets or on plastic sheets. During the rainy season, the water levels are so high that only those able to swim can cross the swamps to see a doctor. Meanwhile, those in need of specialised treatment must be carried to the MSF facility in Lankien, a journey of several days and nights walking.
Holding a long stick to support her steps, 47-year-old Nyadeng Wal walked alongside with her teenager granddaughter to reach the emergency team’s mobile clinic. The girl carried her unconscious two-year-old brother in a basket on her head. “We crossed the swamp during the night to take him to a clinic in Pathai. They gave him medication, but he did not improve,” said Nyadeng. MSF’s medical team diagnosed him with severe malaria. Following a recommendation, the family walked to the MSF facility in Pieri where he was admitted for treatment.
Elizabeth Nyechot Koeng also took her seven-year-old daughter, Nyepay Riek Puor, to the MSF mobile clinic in Riang. The girl has had a large open wound on the side of her head since last September. “Our house in [the village of] Pieth was flooded with around half a metre of water. It rained so heavily that night that the wall collapsed and struck her head,” said Elizabeth. “The whole family had to flee. My husband left with our children and his mother to seek a safer place. Nyepay was bleeding, so I crossed the swamp with a family member to take her to Pulchol. We spent three days in a clinic and then came back to Riang to search for our family.” They went several more times to a private clinic in Pathai, where follow-up was available, but the family did not have enough money to finish her treatment.
“The gut-wrenching experience of Nyepay and her family represents the situation across many parts of South Sudan. There is one emergency after another. The protracted flooding, ongoing violence in the region and lack of free healthcare facilities have severely reduced access to healthcare, and mean many wounds are not properly treated. Those that do manage to get some treatment often have little follow-up or time to heal,” said Wright.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).

MSF emergency team responds to worrying health needs in Riang, South Sudan, with high rates of malaria

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Following the agreement on a proposal for the selection mechanism of a unified executive authority, reached by the Advisory Committee of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) in Geneva on 16 January, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) conducted a one-day voting process, from Monday 18 January 10:00 AM to Tuesday 19 January 10:00 AM, during which the LPDF members were asked to cast their vote on the proposal.

Seventy-two LPDF members engaged in the voting process, with 51 voting in favor of the proposed mechanism, representing almost 73 percent of the votes cast, and 19 members voting against. Two members abstained and two others did not engage in the process.
With 73% (seventy-three percent) of the votes cast in favor of the Advisory Committee’s proposal, the proposal has therefore passed by exceeding the stipulated threshold of the voting process, set by the Advisory Committee at 63% (sixty-three percent) of the cast votes.  
The Mission commends the LPDF members who engaged in the voting process for their commitment to the UN-facilitated intra- Libyan dialogue, and for upholding their responsibilities before the Libyan people.
Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya Stephanie Williams said welcoming the vote: “Today marks the first anniversary of the Berlin International Conference on Libya. With this vote, LPDF members took a significant step forward towards the implementation of the Roadmap adopted in Tunis in mid-November.  Libyans have now a genuine opportunity to move past their differences and divisions, select a temporary government to reunify their institutions through the long-awaited democratic national elections, which will take place   on 24 December 2021.”
UNSMIL is finalizing the nomination procedure and forms as well as a timeline for the voting process, which will be shared with the LPDF shortly.  A committee of the LPDF will verify the submissions to ensure full transparency.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).Media filesDownload logo

UNSMIL announces that Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) approves the proposal of selection mechanism of executive authority for the preparatory period

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The COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating the move to digital, as large proportions of the population have continued to work, learn and be entertained remotely, while others have trialled services such as remote health care for the first time. These were amongst the findings of a recent Amdocs (www.Amdocs.com) survey (https://bit.ly/3956itb) of 1,000 US consumers.

The results draw many clear parallels with Africa’s reality, with connectivity constraints providing a key exception. Driven by digital giants such as Apple, Amazon and Facebook, industries across Africa are racing to digitalise their operations. The objective is to match their customers’ expectations for real-time, personalised and guided experiences in their channel of choice, as they have become accustomed to from these players.
For communications service providers looking to enable a simple, intelligence-driven and streamlined experience, many are starting with their current offerings and looking for ways to add value. Establishing partnerships and collaborating with players in adjacent industries provide the most obvious opportunities. One of the most prominent US examples is Waze, Google’s social GPS navigation app, which embedded Spotify and Apple Music to enable its users to play music in their car without leaving the original app.
In the service bundling area, African customers’ expectations continue to increase as they demand the power to select the bundle, device and music of their choice – on demand and with one click. Digital catalogues with embedded features, as well as the ability to merge with third-party catalogues offer significant potential, allowing carriers to, for example, sell connectivity bundles, with Netflix on top and Amazon gaming miles added as a giveaway.
A mindset change: prioritising digital
The ability to exceed consumers’ expectations demands that service providers adopt a digital-first mindset; that is, promoting the adoption of unassisted channels where customers can easily self-serve, consume and manage their account autonomously. Moreover, the highly competitive African landscape makes speed and agility crucial, including the need to rapidly adapt and bring solutions to market to meet ever-changing consumer demands.
To enable these new experiences and support complex business operations, service providers worldwide and in Africa must embark on transformation journeys – centred on the cloud and the agility this brings – by implementing AI-driven operations focused on continuous improvement. This will allow them to stay one step ahead, with full automation. A company that successfully transformed its customer experience is Indonesia-based mobile telecommunications services operator, XL. With a view to increasing its in-store conversion rate and empowering agents to deliver personalised services with targeted offers, a sales-on-tablet application was introduced, which offered a unique user design that allowed for guided agent experiences and significantly improved personalisation.
Agents felt empowered to approach customers with more confidence and could convert care issues into upsell opportunities more easily. In addition, the average handling time was reduced and the overall process of dealing with the customer, bills and related interactions simplified.
In the Philippines, telecommunications services provider Globe, also introduced a sales-via-tablet application, as well as an omni channel solution that was initiated for its retail channel and expanded to incorporate its contact centre and self-service channels. This was aimed at simplifying the retail store experience, improving agent experience and helping to monetise the digital economy.
Globe’s journey to digital resulted in a 60% improvement in average handling time – from 60 minutes to 25 minutes; a 90% satisfaction rate amongst store agents; the condensing of a complex re-contracting; an error rate reduction of about three to four times; and the quick launch of new bundles and offers.
By adopting similar approaches, communication service providers in Africa can improve engagement, build customer loyalty, promote the adoption of unassisted channels and ultimately become customer experience leaders in the industry.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amdocs.
Media Contact: Lethabo Kgolane PR Account Manager – Corporate Eclipse Communications lethabo@eclipsecomms.com +27 (0) 71 077 6751
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Customers demand greater digital engagement from Communication Service Providers (CSPs)

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783 new cases of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe and 52 deaths.

Bulawayo &#8211; 26 Harare &#8211; 251 Manicaland &#8211; 44 Mash Central &#8211; 156 Mash East &#8211; 76 Mash West &#8211; 120 Midlands &#8211; 51 Masvingo &#8211; 41 Mat North &#8211; 10 Mat South &#8211; 8
28 675 confirmed cases 18 110 recoveries 825 deaths
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe.

Coronavirus – Zimbabwe: COVID-19 update (19 January 2021)

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Test conducted: 7 700 019 Positive cases identified: 1 356 716 Total recoveries: 1 144 857 Total deaths: 38 288 New cases: 9 780
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa, Department of Health.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – South Africa: COVID-19 update (19 January 2021)

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Health Minister Lizzie Nkosi announces 19 new COVID-19 deaths in Eswatini, taking total deaths to 403. &#8220;May their souls rest in peace.&#8221;

New cases: 256 Total cases: 13 443
Active cases: 4272
New recoveries: 138 Total recoveries: 8512
New deaths: 19 Total deaths: 403
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 update (19 January 2021)

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African Union Member States (55) reporting COVID-19 cases (3,288,950) deaths (79782), and recoveries (2,721,185) by region:

Central (82,523 cases; 1,556 deaths; 71,272 recoveries): Burundi (1,245; 2; 773), Cameroon (28,010; 455; 26,861), CAR (4,974; 63; 4,902), Chad (2,919; 113; 2,148), Congo (7,709; 114; 5,860), DRC (21,140; 640; 14,812), Equatorial Guinea (5,365; 86; 5,191), Gabon (10,019; 66; 9,732), Sao Tome &#038; Principe (1,142; 17; 993)

Eastern (345,570; 6,537; 281,521): Comoros (1,769; 49; 1,113), Djibouti (5,910; 61; 5,825), Eritrea (1,877; 6; 1,073), Ethiopia (131,546; 2,033; 116,335), Kenya (99,227; 1,734; 82,427), Madagascar (18,301; 273; 17,609), Mauritius (556; 10; 518), Rwanda (11,259; 146; 7,412), Seychelles (746; 2; 563), Somalia (4,744; 130; 3,675), South Sudan (3,670; 64; 3,505), Sudan (27,371; 1,704; 28,205), Tanzania (509; 21; 178), Uganda (38,085; 304; 13,083)

Northern (1,029,976; 27,312; 863,542): Algeria (104,092; 2,840; 70,747), Egypt (157,275; 8,638; 123,491), Libya (110,465; 1,700; 88,062), Mauritania (16,081; 403; 14,509), Morocco (460,144; 7,977; 435,686), Tunisia (181,885; 5,750; 131,019), Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (34; 4; 28)

Southern (1,544,396; 40,682; 1,257,287): Angola (18,926; 439; 16,677), Botswana (18,630; 88; 14,624), Eswatini (13,187; 384; 8,374), Lesotho (7,018; 101; 1,652), Malawi (13,027; 321; 6,080), Mozambique (28,270; 253; 19,132), Namibia (30,995; 296; 27,858), South Africa (1,346,936; 37,449; 1,117,452), Zambia (39,515; 578, 28,066), Zimbabwe (27,892; 773; 17,372)

Western (286,485; 3,695; 247,563): Benin (3,413; 46; 3,245), Burkina Faso (9,352; 105; 7,448), Cape Verde (13,046; 120; 12,287), Cote d’Ivoire (25,304; 142; 23,527), Gambia (3,933; 128; 3,697), Ghana (58,065; 352; 55,789), Guinea (14,172; 81; 13,371), Guinea-Bissau (2,509; 45; 2,405), Liberia (1,898; 84; 1,707), Mali (7,855; 311; 5,589), Niger (4,204; 145; 3,136), Nigeria (112,004; 1,449; 89,939), Senegal (23,392; 536; 19,531), Sierra Leone (3,014; 77; 2,107), Togo (4,324; 74; 3,785)
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).Media filesDownload logo

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