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Angola’s National Agency for Oil, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG) now allows those interested in partaking in the ongoing 2020 licensing round for oil blocks in the onshore Kwanza and Lower Congo Basins to consult the available data packages before purchasing them. The ANPG hopes this will increase transparency in the process, as intended by the governing legal framework. It will ensure that qualified participants engage with the necessary confidence needed to start the process and secure agreements at the end of the process. This will significantly reduce the risk of companies entering the process with many uncertainties. Interested companies simply need to register their interest with the ANPG either via letter or email, requesting a free data consultation session. The session can either be provided virtually or in person. The ongoing licensing round is in line with Presidential Decree 52/19, which foresees yearly bid rounds until 2025. Angola’s regulator, the ANPG, is intent on attracting interest far beyond the traditional players in Angola’s oil and gas sector. Special attention has been given to attract mid-sized explorers to Angola’s basins that have proven prolific in recent years and provided returns for companies far beyond industry averages in other locations. Six licenses onshore Kwanza Basin and three licenses onshore Lower Congo Basin are currently on offer for this round. The governing Presidential Decree 52/19 also specifies that the blocks will be awarded by public tender, restricted public tender and direct negotiation with clear timelines put in place. The data available will provide a solid basis upon which models will be built to understand the oil and gas potential of the blocks on offer. Having access to the data packages, which include the most relevant and essential information on the areas of interest, will help potential explorers prepare their proposals and their future strategy for the exploration and development of these concessions. Two data packages are currently available, each representing an onshore Basin on offer: 	The Lower Congo onshore basin, where three (3) Blocks are on offer, namely CON 1, 5 and 6. This package comprises the information obtained below that also covers the adjacent Blocks: 	Geological information regarding the 24 wells of the 3 blocks to be bid and the remaining 33 wells of the adjacent blocks, constituting additional information 	14 study reports detailing the stratigraphy, the structural component and the area’s prospectiveness 	Accessibility study (atlas) 	Georeferenced information (maps) 	Legal / Juridical information 	The Kwanza Land Basin Data Package, where six (6) are on offer, namely KON 5, 6, 8, 9, 17 and 20, also does not contain only the data on blocks to be bid on, but also includes information from adjacent Blocks belonging to this Basin. This second and final package comprises the information detailed below that also covers the adjacent Blocks. 	Geological information (reports and logs) of 47 wells, of which 36 belong to the blocks on offer and 11 wells belonging to the neighboring blocks. 	13 abandonment reports from the main fields in the basin 	Seismic data (Vintage Seismic) 	Accessibility study (atlas) 	Georeferenced information (maps) 	Legal / Juridical information Note: It is important to note that geophysical data (seismic and magnetometric) are not part of the data packages.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Oil &#038; Power Conference.The Angolan Agency for Oil, Gas and Biofuels counts on Africa Oil &#038; Power (AOP) (www.AfricaOilandPower.com) – the continent’s leading energy investment platform – as a consultant. Please contact Joao@africaoilandpower.com for further information.Media filesDownload logo

Angola’s ANPG moves to make 2020 bid round more transparent

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Total cases: 18,199 (+146) Recovered: 16,992 (+189) Active cases: 955 In critical condition: 13 Tests: 980,705 (+2,655) Test positivity rate: 5.5% Recovery rate: 93.3% Deaths: 252 (+3) | 1.3%Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (22 February 2021)

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Download logoEbola vaccination of people at high risk kicked off today in Guinea as the emergency response was escalated to counter the spread of the virus that re-emerged in the country a little more than a week ago for the first time since 2016. The vaccination was launched in Gouecke, a rural community in N’Zerekore prefecture where the first cases were detected on 14 February. The Minister of Health and Public Hygiene of Guinea, General Remy Lamah, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Vincent Martin, the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Guinea, Dr Georges Ki-Zerbo and the UNICEF Representative in Guinea, Pierre Ngom, were among the officials at the event. The vaccination uses the “ring strategy” where all people who have come into contact with a confirmed Ebola patient are given the vaccine, as well as frontline and health workers. The launch started with the vaccination of health workers. “The last time Guinea faced an Ebola outbreak, vaccines were still being developed,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “With the experience and expertise it has built up, combined with safe and effective vaccines, Guinea has the tools and the know-how to respond to this outbreak. WHO is proud to support the government to engage and empower communities, to protect health and other frontline workers, to save lives and provide high-quality care.” The vaccination began just 24 hours after Guinea received more than 11 000 doses of the rVSV-ZEBOV Ebola vaccine which were sent by WHO from its headquarters in Geneva. In addition, WHO is organizing the deployment of over 8500 doses from Merck, the vaccine’s producer in the United States of America, bringing to around 20 000 doses expected in the initial phase of immunization. The World Food Programme is providing crucial logistical support by setting up special flights to transport the vaccines and other supplies to N’Zerekore from Conakry. The quick rollout of the Ebola vaccine is due in part to the capacity Guinea built up during the 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak. Around 50 Guineans were also deployed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to support the country’s response in the past three Ebola outbreaks and are now leveraging that expertise in their home country. “The speed with which Guinea has managed to start up vaccination efforts is remarkable and is largely thanks to the enormous contribution its experts have made to the recent Ebola outbreaks in the DRC,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Africans supporting fellow Africans to respond to one of the most dangerous diseases on the planet is a testament to the emergency response capacity we have built over the years on the continent.” Implementing an Ebola vaccination strategy is a complex procedure as the vaccines need to be maintained at a temperature of minus 80 degrees centigrade. Guinea has developed ultra-cold chain capacity with vaccine carriers, which can keep the vaccine doses in sub-zero temperatures for up to a week. So far, there are eight Ebola cases (four confirmed and four probable) and five people have died. Genome sequencing is underway in Senegal’s Institut Pasteur to identify the strain of the Ebola virus. Guinea’s health authorities supported by WHO expert teams and partner agencies are stepping up efforts to identify contacts, set up treatment centres, enhance surveillance, support the vaccination campaign and work with communities to rally them behind the Ebola containment efforts. Around 50 WHO international and national experts, including vaccinators, are already on the ground in Guinea and by the end of month, more than 100 WHO experts are expected to be part of the response to bring the Ebola outbreak under control. WHO has disbursed US$ 1.25 million to support the response in Guinea and to reinforce Ebola readiness in neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone. The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund has also released US$ 15 million to support the response in Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and preparedness in the neighbouring countries. Guinea’s neighbours are on high alert, upping public health measures and surveillance to quickly detect and stop any cross-border Ebola transmission. N’Zerekore is Guinea’s second-largest city and is close to the border with Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

Ebola vaccination starts in Guinea to curb new outbreak

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H.E. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Equatorial Guinea’s Head of State officially inaugurated Cameroonian oil operator, Tradex’s first service station last week after nine months of construction work. The new filling station located in Malabo II was constructed by Equatoguinean company, Alammarin For Construction SL and has a storage capacity of 100,000 litres of fuel and 300 tanks of 12.5kg of butane gas. The launch of Tradex’s flagship filling station in the country signals its entrance into Equatorial Guinea’s petroleum products market and, forms part of its three-year expansion plan, launched in 2019, to invest approximately $25 million in Equatorial Guinea through building a network of 10 service stations. In line with the objectives set by AfCTA, the collaboration between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon in this way highlights the substance of regional integration and the exciting prospect of local strategic solutions to local challenges and, is a prime example of the efficacy of local resource allocation. “This project comes to remedy the stock break of the refined product that has proven to be a challenge for our country,” said H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima. “At the same time, we hope the goals set in our partnership with Tradex can be considered as a reflection of the government’s dedication to increasing the number of investors in the country and encouraging subregional integration,” he added. Also breaking ground on the company&#39;s second services station, Tradex’s Managing Director, Mr. Bassalang George shared details on the company’s near-term expansion plan which is driven by the goal to ensure a permanent supply of refined petroleum products to Equatorial Guinea. Specifically, he said the company intends to complete construction on five more locations by the end of 2021. “We are excited to see the launch of Tradex’s first filling station in Malabo,” said Leoncio Amada Nze, President of the CEMAC Region for the African Energy Chamber. “This marks the first of many to come. We are glad that Equatorial Guinea was able to see this launch just after nine months since the first brick was laid. We are equally excited to see the commencement of construction on the second gas station which will be located in the Ela Nguema district,” he added.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.Media filesDownload logo

Cameroon’s Tradex inaugurates its first service station in Equatorial Guinea as part of its expansion plan

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H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea met with H.E. Timipre Sylva, Minister of Petroleum Resources of Nigeria at the presidential palace in Malabo intending to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. The meeting included a signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which will consolidate new opportunities for the hydrocarbons sector for both countries and, allow the counterparts to collaborate on maritime piracy protection strategies as security remains a major concern for energy infrastructure, with attacks reaching record highs in the Gulf of Guinea. The ministers also agreed to expedite joint cross-border cooperation for the supply of gas from Nigeria to Equatorial Guinea which will also be an opportunity for Equatorial Guinea’s energy sector to see an additional step to its local content development plans. This agreement once again signals that energy cooperation between neighbours on the continent can unlock tremendous value for African nations, in particular, in the Gulf of Guinea where there is great potential for collaborations. This trip comes after H.E. Sylva was appointed by the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as a Special Envoy to some participating countries in the Declaration of Cooperation. As part of his appointment, H.E. Syvla is tasked with communicating the principles of fairness, transparency and equity in Gabon, Congo Brazzaville and South Sudan, which are also key stops on the road trip. He is also to carry the mission to ensure that countries continue to comply with oil prices in the international market as members of OPEC.  In line with this, he also met with H.E. Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Equatorial Guinea’s Head of state who reassured the country’s commitment to cooperating with OPEC, maintaining its production levels. Attending the meeting from the Equatorial Guinea delegation were  Robustiano Eyugue, Director of Hydrocarbons; Oscar García Director of State Company; Jacinto Nguema Owono, Director of Local Content; Juan Antonio, Director of Sonagas and Serapio, Deputy Director of Sonagas. “The African Energy Chamber salutes the commitments made by the ministers,” said Leoncio Amada Nze, President of the Cemac region for the African Energy Chamber. “We believe it is only through regional collaboration will paramount issues such as OPEC compliance, piracy and the monetization of gas for domestic and international export, will meaningful growth become a reality,” he added.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.Media filesDownload logo

Delegation of Nigeria’s Ministry of Petroleum Resources holds a bilateral meeting with the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea

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Download logoThe African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), a unit of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), will host a conference on leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost women’s economic empowerment on Tuesday 23 February. The virtual event is aimed at creating a better understanding of the contribution of the private sector to policies that will advance the economic empowerment of women under the trade bloc which commenced business on 1 January this year. It will also discuss how to ensure decent and productive employment for women in trade in services, as well as how to create a gender-responsive trade facilitation agenda, and consider the gender dimension of investment, competition policy and intellectual property rights under the AfCFTA. The outcome of the conference will be used to support the design of gender-responsive measures that help to build back better in longer-term post-COVID-19 economic recovery efforts, accelerating delivery on the 2020-2030 African Women’s Decade of Financial and Economic Inclusion. David Luke, Coordinator of the ATPC, Thokozile Ruzvidzo, Director, Gender, Poverty and Social Policy Division at the ECA, and Mr Cas Coovadia, BUSA CEO will deliver opening remarks. Also scheduled to speak in the opening session, are South Africa’s Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Maite-Nkoana Mashabane, Ms Busi Mabusa, Chairperson of the International Development Corporation (IDC), and Ms Niki Kruger, Chief Director of Trade Negotiations in the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC). The AfCFTA promotes entrepreneurship and economic empowerment opportunities for women-owned businesses through increased access to new regional export markets and expanded opportunities across key sectors. With the exception of Eritrea, the remaining 54 member-countries of the African Union (AU) have signed the treaty establishing the AfCFTA among which 36 have ratified the agreement.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) host conference on women’s empowerment in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) era

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Written by Lynne McCarthy, Marketing and Communications Specialist, Danfoss Turkey, Middle East &#038; Africa (www.Danfoss.com) Optyma™ Control Panel Proves Effective at Facebook HQ office in Dubai. Cooling IDS team MENA Region has bagged a remarkable project for the Control Panels by providing an effective Turnkey solution for Facebook Dubai. It was a strategical win as we provided a fully equipped solution to Facebook’s demands by enhancing their Cold Room performance assuring optimum protection for the perishables kept inside their cold room. We have recently commissioned our Optyma™ Control Panels (CP) installed in the cold rooms for the Social media giant, Facebook who recently opened a new 20,000 square foot flagship office in Dubai following its 264% growth in MENA in the past five years. This office space accommodates sixty employees, at its new home in Dubai Knowledge village. The Project execution was done through Naser al Sayer &#038; Co LLC (NASCO), one of our premium partners for Refrigeration Accessories &#038; Controls for the region. By running successful Test runs at diversified tropical conditions after bundling Optyma™ CPs with the refrigeration Units; We could convince NASCO the Differential Factor in our CPs. NASCO agreed that in comparison to their earlier competitive alternatives &#038; the locally assembled panels, Optyma™ control panels could offer their customers a comprehensive, price effective and unified solution for their Commercial Refrigeration requirements. Now NASCO bundles our Optyma™ CPs with majority of their Cold room to cater their customers with a complete energy effective solution. For the FB project, Carlo Magno D Goloyugo, our Technical Manager supervised the integration between Danfoss Optyma™ AK-RC control panels and the cold room units to the customer’s BMS, which allows the global Facebook Technical teams to monitor the performance of the cold room remotely, accessible 24/7 round the globe. “The value proposition our Optyma™ Control panel offers is well conceived by the customers now and today we have reached the doors of Facebook,” says Amal Vijayan, Sales Manager UAE region, “This is one among many prestigious installations in the region where Optyma™ CPs along with our Refrigeration Controls ensure to reinforce Danfoss as the reliable partner whose focus is always on energy efficiency.” The newly upgraded Optyma™ Control panel offers a trouble-free installation, when combined with other Danfoss condensing units and components, whilst serving as a user-friendly remote monitoring solution when connected to the ProsaLink app. The energy savings this solution brings with its smart defrost and night-set mode, makes it the desired solution for future refrigeration applications. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Danfoss.For more information about this initiative contact, amal@danfoss.com Danfoss (www.Danfoss.com) engineers advanced technologies that enable us to build a better, smarter and more efficient tomorrow. In the world’s growing cities, we ensure the supply of fresh food and optimal comfort in our homes and offices, while meeting the need for energy-efficient infrastructure, connected systems and integrated renewable energy. Our solutions are used in areas such as refrigeration, air conditioning, heating, motor control and mobile machinery. Our innovative engineering dates to 1933 and today Danfoss holds market-leading positions, employing 28,000 and serving customers in more than 100 countries. We are privately held by the founding family. Read more about us at www.Danfoss.com. Media filesDownload logo

Optyma™ Control Panel ensures Energy Efficient protection of perishables at Facebook HQ Office in Dubai (By Lynne McCarthy)

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Download logoExpanding the development of existing Cassiterite (tin ore) assets and greenfield explorations; engagement of Geonomik Pty Ltd to detail Moolyella Project tin potential; strong tailwind from high tin prices. SunMirror AG (&#8220;SunMirror&#8221;; XETRA Vienna: ROR1; ISIN CH0396131929) (www.SunMirror.com), the mining and exploration firm specializing in raw materials such as gold, lithium and other metals and minerals, is increasing its efforts to discover potential tin reserves to meet new demands. SunMirror has engaged Geonomik in Perth, Australia, to review and conduct the Moolyella Project, prospective for tin, lithium and rare earths. A review of the project in 2011/12 confirmed reconnaissance rock chip sampling over an area of two square kilometres, revealing the presence of highly anomalous lithium in a significant number of samples analysed. After further assessing historical data, SunMirror&#39;s management decided to ramp-up exploring the highly prospective Moolyella Tin and Lithium projects in the Pilbara region of Western Australia due to these sites&#39; history, location, infrastructure and record of rapidly bringing-to-market resources. Dr. Heinz Rudolf Kubli, member of the Board of Directors of SunMirror AG, explains &#8220;Tin price levels are nearing multi-year highs. One of the reasons is the unprecedented demand for tin used in semi-conductors. We want to take advantage of the resulting opportunities.&#8221; The Company is targeting a highly prospective exploration ground in the most attractive jurisdiction in the world for mining investment. The Moolyella Project is located 23 kilometers northeast of Marble Bar and consists of one exploration license covering 93 square kilometers. The license is held by Lithium 1 Pty Ltd, a fully-owned SunMirror subsidiary, and covers one of the most prolific historical tin, tantalum and lithium producing districts in Western Australia. In Australia&#39;s oldest large-scale tin mining province, primarily artisanal mining took place between 1898 and 1986, which means the area has never been fully explored or drilled at depth. SunMirror&#39;s tin tailings are scattered across the land holding.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of SunMirror AG.Press Contact: edicto GmbH Doron Kaufmann/Axel Mühlhaus Phone: +49 69 905505-53 sunmirror@edicto.de Eschersheimer Landstrasse 42 &#8211; 44 60322 Frankfurt/Main, Germany About SunMirror AG: SunMirror (www.SunMirror.com) is a natural resources holding company with a strategic focus on gold and other critical commodities &#8211; those metals and minerals that drive demand for sustainable next-generation technology. The company&#39;s shares (ISIN CH0396131929) are listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange (ticker: ROR1) and the Düsseldorf Stock Exchange. For further information, please visit: www.SunMirror.com. About Opus Group: Opus Capital Switzerland AG (www.Opus-capital.ch) and Opus Capital Asset Management AG (&#8220;Opus Group&#8221;) specialize in bringing next generation companies to market by combining extensive industry expertise with one of Switzerland&#39;s leading independent financial services firms. For more information, please visit: www.Opus-capital.ch.

SunMirror AG ramping up Tin Exploration Efforts at Moolyella Project

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5G will be the most transformative communications technology in a generation and enable a universe of new services, including advanced energy management capabilities that will be critical to solving growing energy and sustainability challenges. But new research highlights the practical challenges of 5G energy management facing telecommunications operators. Estimates suggest 5G networks can be up to 90% more efficient (http://nokia.ly/2ZFwlRQ) per traffic unit than their 4G predecessors, but they still require far more energy due to increased network density, heavy reliance on IT systems and infrastructure, and increased network use and accelerated traffic growth. The report from telecommunications consultancy STL Partners and Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) (http://bit.ly/2OT9gJl), a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, concludes telecom operators should address these challenges in two ways: By adopting energy efficiency best practices across their networks, and by encouraging their customers to adopt 5G-enabled services to reduce consumption and emissions in all walks of life. STL Partners estimates global 5G traffic will overtake 3G/4G as soon as 2025, making sustainability an urgent priority for operators. In fact, 40% of enterprises surveyed for the report indicated energy efficiency should be the first or second priority for telecom operators when deploying 5G networks. The report, Why Energy Management Is Critical To 5G Success, uses research including a survey of 500 enterprises globally to outline the challenges telcos face as they wrestle with the increased energy use and costs associated with 5G. The paper identifies several best practices aimed at mitigating those increases and costs, organized across five categories: 	Network technology: Deploying hardware and software designed and operated for efficiency 	Facilities infrastructure: Including new edge data centers to support cloud native IT 	Infrastructure management: Deploying the appropriate hardware and software to measure, monitor, manage, improve and automate the network 	Organization and evaluation: Taking a holistic, full lifecycle view of costs and investments across the network 	Working with others: Embracing innovative and non-traditional commercial models, standards and collaboration “Telecom operators making meaningful energy and cost reductions are doing so by evaluating the entire ecosystems around their network operations – people, objectives, infrastructure and partners,” said Scott Armul, vice president for global DC power and outside plant at Vertiv. “Because of the reliance on IT to enable 5G applications, a high degree of collaboration will be required across operators, OEMs and infrastructure providers, and customers to ensure deployments are optimized and every possible efficiency is pursued.” 5G as a Tool for Sustainability The report makes clear that network efficiency improvements and best practices, while important, are only one piece of the energy puzzle that comes with 5G. Those efforts must be paired with a more holistic, societal approach to curbing energy use and emissions that leverages 5G capabilities in ways far beyond the control of the telco operator. “Operators are deploying 5G networks to grow new revenues. This growth will come from new connectivity and applications enabling operators’ customers’ own transformation journeys,” said Phil Laidler, director at STL Partners. “To be credible, informed partners for their customers, operators must lead by example. Energy strategy is a great place to start.”   Opportunities for Progress In terms of influencing customer behaviors in order to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, the report identified three industries with the potential for significant improvement through the use of 5G services. The manufacturing sector could achieve up to $730 billion worth of benefits by 2030 through the use of 5G to enable advanced predictive maintenance and automation. Transportation and logistics could get up to $280 billion in benefits by 2030 through advanced driver assistance, connected traffic infrastructure, and automated home deliveries. And, finally, the report suggests 5G could allow the healthcare sector to provide improved access to healthcare services for up to 1 billion patients by 2030 while simultaneously reducing emissions through higher asset utilization, reduced patient and clinician travel, and higher clinician productivity. Influencing such behaviors is critical to operators’ efforts to mitigate the environmental impact of 5G, but there is work to do in order to build the partnerships needed. Just 37% of those surveyed said they see operators as credible partners in reducing carbon emissions today, but 56% said they believed telcos could be credible partners in the future. Additional details, including ways telcos can lead customers to use 5G in sustainable ways and strategies for improving efficiency across 5G networks, are available in the report, which can be downloaded at Vertiv.com (http://bit.ly/2NStp1A). STL Partners is hosting a webinar on the topic, featuring experts from Vertiv, on March 2. To register for Clean Energy: Critical For 5G’s Success?, visit STLPartners.com/webinars. For more information on the Vertiv portfolio of energy-efficient solutions to support 5G, visit Vertiv.com/5G-EMEA (http://bit.ly/3dEGWFa).Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Vertiv.Media Contact: Rania El Rafie M  (+41) 215613203 E rania.elrafie@apo-opa.com About Vertiv: Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) (Vertiv.com) brings together hardware, software, analytics and ongoing services to ensure its customers’ vital applications run continuously, perform optimally and grow with their business needs. As Architects of Continuity™, Vertiv solves the most important challenges facing today’s data centers, communication networks and commercial and industrial facilities with a portfolio of power, cooling and IT infrastructure solutions and services that extends from the cloud to the edge of the network. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, USA, Vertiv employs approximately 20,000 people and does business in more than 130 countries. For more information, and for the latest news and content from Vertiv, visit Vertiv.com. About STL Partners: STL Partners (STLPartners.com) helps telcos and their partners innovate, grow and stay ahead of the competition. STL Partners provides actionable insights and practical guidance on emerging challenges and opportunities, with a focus on innovation and identifying new sources of growth. Clients can access specialised research either through subscription (paid) or as highlights only (free). STL Partners consulting helps our clients leverage new and emerging technologies, including 5G, Edge Compute, Telco Cloud, IoT, and AI, Automation and Analytics, so that they can create more value for their clients, and grow their businesses. Based in London, UK, STL Partners works globally to provide actionable insights and practical guidance. To learn more about STL Partners, visit STLPartners.com.Media filesDownload logo

Research from STL Partners and Vertiv reveals Why Telcos Should Prioritize Efficiency and Sustainability in 5G Networks

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In the lead up to the UN summit being held in Nairobi, UNEP (https://bit.ly/2ZIpPtG) has named Kenya as an emerging leader in the fight against plastic pollution and among the first countries in East Africa to sign the Clean Seas initiative (www.CleanSeas.org). Responding to these developments, Greenpeace Africa (www.Greenpeace.org/africa) senior Political Advisor Fredrick Njehu has said: “It is encouraging that Kenya&#39;s environmental stewardship has been acknowledged worldwide. Both officials and ordinary citizens have fought against the menace that single-use plastic has become in Africa. However, the threats to our country&#39;s efforts remain real.  “President Biden has put on hold any new free trade agreement negotiations with our government, which may have opened the floodgates to plastic imports if the American Chemistry Council (ACC) lobbying (https://bit.ly/3dEIEq4) proved successful. But, the deal is not completely off the table as it should be.  &#8220;Both countries have a joint responsibility to make trade right for the people and the planet, and not just free for corporations. Any trade and investment agreement between the two countries must exclude any imports of plastic waste into East Africa.  “Kenya has invested heavily in both policy regulations and law enforcement to win the fight against plastic pollution. NEMA recently launched a new wave of surveillance to heighten checks on the outlawed plastic bags across the country. Our government must be firm and must stay true to its efforts against the plastic pollution crisis which is exacerbating climate emergencies.&#8221; Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Greenpeace.Notes to Editor: 	•  Kenya banned the use, manufacture and importation of single-use plastic carrier bags for commercial and household packaging in 2017. That was preceded by the country’s decision to sign on to the Clean Seas initiative, making it one of the first African nations to commit to limiting plastic in its waterways. 	•  Last year, Greenpeace’s investigative journalism unit, Unearthed uncovered that the ACC wanted the United States government to insist that Kenya relax its existing plastic bans so that it could make Kenya a gateway to Africa for plastic trade – and then sell us recycling as a “false solution” (https://bit.ly/3sp15mJ) to the environmental catastrophe it would cause. 	•  The aforementioned exposé, published in the New York Times, blew open the relationship between the plastic and petrochemical industries. Plastic is made of oil therefore its production is contributing to the climate change crisis we face. 	•  The Biden administration has indicated that addressing climate change sits high on their diplomatic agenda with Kenya, which is hopeful in ensuring that any trade deal between Kenya and the United States serves to protect the climate and people impacted by climate change. Media Contact: Hellen Dena Communications and Story Manager hdena@greenpeace.org +254 717 104 144 Media filesDownload logo

Kenya Still at Risk Despite UN Plastics Nod: Greenpeace

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From 5 &#8211; 7 March 2021, leading manufacturer of home appliances, Defy (www.Defy.co.za), will be hosting the Hack The Normal (https://HackTheNormal.com) online hackathon with the aim of exploring how technology can be leveraged for sustainable living and economic development in Africa. Supported by Defy sister company, Beko (www.Beko.com), hackathon participants will have the opportunity to develop new products, services, and business models with commercialisation potential to address one of the following challenge areas: 	Financial Solutions: With Africa rapidly becoming a key player in the global economy, the continent must prepare itself for a surge of commercial activity with all the supporting services necessary for trade. Attendees will be asked to put forward solutions that could improve financial inclusion and liquidity in the sub-Saharan region; solve the hard currency problem between countries involved in trade; address business challenges faced by individuals and companies; or create shared economic systems between companies and individuals. 	Sustainable Living: As the continent is expected to double its population by 2050 from 1 billion to nearly 2.4 billion inhabitants [1], this will be accompanied by challenges such as access to potable water, food, and even constant supply of electricity. With this in mind, hackathoners will need to design solutions for a more sustainable future for the average African household and the planet in general. Alternatively, they will need to come up with a way for creating sustainable impact in areas ranging from food waste to energy and water consumption. 	Healthy Living: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased focus on hygiene and health. To help ensure a healthier future for the continent, solutions that have a positive impact on sustaining healthy living conditions in African homes will need to be supplied. Additionally, solutions that contribute to the health of individuals and families, focused on areas such as nutrition, personal care, sleep, exercise, and personal hygiene are also sought. Over the three-day hackathon, participants will be trained in a myriad of areas ranging from problem discovery and solution development, to prototyping and storytelling. Plus, they will get the chance to refine their ideas with the help of expert coaches and mentors from the fields of business, technology, and design. Projects that meet Defy’s impact, applicability and commercialisation criteria will be selected for further development. Not only will those behind the projects gain access to sales opportunities, investment networks, and the ecosystem in general – they will also have the opportunity to participate in acceleration and incubation programmes. Applications close on 28 February 2021 and will be accepted from both individuals and teams that have ideas or projects which address the hackathon’s challenges. Following a pre-evaluation process, successful participants will be notified by 3 March via email. “We invite people from across multiple disciplines to come together to innovate new solutions to ensure a sustainable life in Africa, stimulate economic growth and improve the state of our world,” concludes CEO of Defy Appliances Evren Albaş. To apply, or for more information, go to https://HackTheNormal.com [1] https://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/population/ Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Defy.Media filesDownload logo

Calling African Innovators: Solutions for Sustainable Living and Economic Development in Africa Sought

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Mr. Ayman Amin Sejiny, the CEO of the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) (www.ICD-idb.org), and Mr. Sakhi Annaklichev, the Chairman of the Management Board of Uzbek Industrial and Construction Bank (JSCB), signed a USD 25 Million Shari’ah-compliant Line of Financing Agreement which will be utilized by JSCB to local finance private sector businesses, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The ICD, the private sector arm of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDBG), extended its third Line of Financing facility to JSCB with the aim of promoting Islamic finance, improving financial inclusion and supporting private sector development in Uzbekistan. On this occasion, Mr. Sejiny commented that: “This Line of Financing facility will be utilized by Uzbek Industrial and Construction Bank to support economic activities and recovery during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond”. He added: “SMEs have a crucial role to play in a country’s growth and development. ICD is now focusing on increasing access to Islamic finance by channeling funds to established financial institutions in its member countries”. Mr. Sakhi Annaklichev, Chairman of the Management Board of JSCB praised the quality of the partnership between the two institutions. Mr. Sakhi stated: “In fact, the bank benefited from the first line (USD 12 million) from ICD in 2009 and the second line (USD 6 million) in 2002. The lines enabled the bank to support several SMEs by financing projects in various vital sectors such as production, agriculture, construction, and transport. Mr. Annaklichev added: “We thank ICD for extending this facility in challenging times caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, when banks need to support their clients, especially SMEs”. Since its inception and as a testament to ICD’s firm commitment to develop the private sector within its member countries, ICD has extended Line of Financing facilities to several financial institutions in Uzbekistan for the development of the private sector. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).About ICD: The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) (www.ICD-idb.org) is a multilateral financial institution established by the Board of Governors of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) during its twenty-fourth (24) annual meeting held in Rajab 1420H (November 1999) in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ICD was established to be the IDBG private sector window. The authorized capital of the Corporation is USD 4 billion. The shareholders consist of the IsDB (rated Triple A), 55-member countries and 5 financial institutions from the member countries. ICD is rated ‘A2’ by Moody’s, ‘A-’ by S&#038;P and ‘A+’ by Fitch. The ICD aims to play a complementary role to the activities of IsDB and the national financing institutions in the member countries by focusing on private sector institutions in their various activities and operations in full compliance with the principles of Islamic Shari’ah. In addition to extending financing and financial services, ICD provides advisory and consultancy services to governments and private sector institutions in order to adopt policies for establishing, expanding and modernizing private sector companies, developing Equity Capital Markets (ECM), Debt Capital Markets (DCM) in the form of Sukuk, adopting better management practices, and strengthening the role of the market economy. ICD focuses its financing on development projects (such as infrastructure and private equity funds) that aim to create job opportunities and to encourage exports. To achieve all these goals, ICD establishes and strengthens cooperation and partnership relationships with an aim to establish joint or collective financing. ICD also applies financial technology (Fintech) to make financing more efficient and comprehensive. Financial services institutions within ICD’s member countries are benefiting from fintech innovations by using artificial intelligence, robotics, blockchain, data analytics, and cloud computing services. ICD created a platform based on its relationships with 119 financial institutions, through which, the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDBG) in general and the institution, in particular, can have access to a concerned country and identify available financing opportunities. The platform allows financial entities to collaborate in identifying investment opportunities, sharing market information and laying the groundwork for actual financial transactions within the OIC member countries and across borders. For More Information, please visit: www.ICD-idb.org. About JSCB “Uzbek Industrial and Construction Bank”: Uzbek Industrial and Construction Bank (Sanoat Qurilish Bank (SQB) or the Bank) (www.SQB.uz) is a majority state-owned universal commercial bank, which carries out all kinds of banking operations represented in financial services market including servicing of private and corporate clients. Its principal activities are commercial and retail banking operations, transactions with foreign currencies, the origination of loans, issuance of guarantees and letters of credit. SQB, one of the country’s largest state-owned lenders, has managed to achieve impressive growth over the last 2 years. SQB is at the 1st place by loans to key industrial sectors of the country like, oil-gas, chemical industry; energy sectors and 2nd largest bank in terms of assets and loan portfolio size. Currently, the bank&#39;s transformation process is being implemented with the support of experts from the International Finance Corporation and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in the frame of which the bank’s 14 directions were improved such as corporate governance, treasury and risk management systems. Also, SQB has been successfully performing in global area. In 2019-2020, the Bank expanded its international cooperation with such financial institutions as EBRD, ADB, OFID, JICA, ICBC Standard Bank PLC, VTB Europe SE, Aktif Bank, PromsvyazBank, Halyk Savings Bank of Kazakhstan, Moscow Credit Bank and Transkapitalbank. The bank’s USD 300 million five-year Eurobond in November was also a big breakthrough for the country. The sovereign raised $500 million from its own debut deal earlier in the year, when no other Uzbek bank had ever sold an offshore bond. In 2020, SQB was awarded by ADB as “The Best Partner in Trade Finance” and by Asiamoney was considered as “The best Domestic bank”. SQB has the ratings BB- from Fitch and S&#038;P rating agencies. Media filesDownload logo

Signing of a USD 25 Million Line of Financing Agreement between the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector and JSCB “Uzbek Industrial and Construction Bank”

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Hype will first launch in Africa, where Opera (www.Opera.com) has nearly 150M MAU, with Kenya as the pilot market; With Hype, Opera reimagines the chat experience, with content sharing as a key feature; Opera Mini, with more than 100M users worldwide, becomes the world&#39;s first mobile browser with an integrated chat service. Today, Opera the Norwegian browser developer is announcing the launch of its new dedicated chat service Hype, built into mobile web browser Opera Mini. With the introduction of Hype in the Opera Mini browser, Opera is rethinking the concept of mobile browsers providing its users with a personalized, engaging browsing experience that enables seamless surfing, chatting and sharing content– without compromising speed or driving increased data consumption. “Chat services and browsers are apps people use every day and feel very personal about,” said Charles Hamel, Product Lead for Hype. “With the integration of Hype in Opera Mini, we are not only rethinking what a chat service should be like in 2021, but also changing the very definition of what a mobile browser should be.” Hype is launching first in Kenya as a pilot market, where starting today, users will be able to easily set up their Hype account and start chatting with secure end-to-end encryption. This launch is a facet of Opera’s emphasis on investing and growing its digital ecosystem in Africa, with the goal of bringing more people online; since 2018, Opera has grown its user base in Africa by 40%. “Hype was developed first and foremost with African consumers in mind. Today, 40% of the Kenyan population has access to smartphones, with younger generations dominating as 75% of their 47 million inhabitants are under 30 years old,” said Hamel. “With such early adopter demographics at play, there is massive potential for the growth of Hype in Kenya. On top of that, we are also partnering with the leading telecommunication carriers in the country, offering daily free browsing to all Opera Mini users. We believe the combination of these factors will lead to the rapid adoption of Hype in the country.” This announcement follows similar browser innovation from Opera, which was the first to integrate messenger services as part of their PC browser, in 2019. Today, its more than 80 million users enjoy the integration of services such as Facebook messenger, Telegram, Whatsapp, Instagram and Twitter. Share online content in a snap The way people communicate is constantly evolving. Today, new generations are relying on new formats like memes and stickers to express themselves, often relating to pop culture references and internet content they find. To make this easier and fun, Hype brings WebSnap, a feature previously known from the Opera desktop browser, that allows users to take snapshots from the web. Once a websnap is captured, users can edit it by adding colors, text, and emojis, making it fun and entertaining before sharing with others. WebSnap also allows users to smoothly share the link of the original website from which they took their snaps. This comes in handy as users no longer need to copy links from websites and switch between apps to share the content they want. Designed in collaboration with local artists Hype is the first African inspired chat service built into a mobile browser. It offers its users a series of stickers created by Kenyan artists Brian Omolo (https://bit.ly/3pIH1di) and Lulu Kitololo (https://bit.ly/3aLq3ql). These unique collections of stickers reflect everyday expressions used by Kenyans to provide users with a more engaging experience when communicating with others. “We are extremely happy to celebrate African culture with Hype and we are very excited with the end result and the collaboration we had with Brian and Lulu.” said Hamel. “These unique stickers with original designs are something we are very proud of at Opera as we become the first major browser to integrate real African art and pop culture into our products.” Current messaging services were created almost a decade ago, and none of these has ever focused on having such a collaboration with local artists to make online conversations more engaging. This unique offer from Hype stands out from other chat services and enables Kenyans with the ability to express themselves more accurately when using chat apps. Africa First: Initial adoption starts in Kenya The introduction of Hype in Kenya is part of Opera’s Africa First business strategy, adopted three years ago by the Norwegian company. This strategy consists of four main pillars: 1) Develop products with African consumers in mind; 2) Invest and grow Opera’s digital ecosystem in the African region to bring more people online; 3) Partner with leading global and regional companies; and 4) Employ and collaborate with African colleagues and stakeholders. The latest population census (https://bit.ly/3aOWLax) in Kenya, published in 2019, reported that the country is strongly youthful. Of Kenya’s 47 million inhabitants, 75% are under 30 years old, with children and adolescents representing 63% of the total population. “Hype was developed first and foremost with African consumers in mind. Today, 40% of the Kenyan population has access to smartphones, with younger generations becoming early adopters of technology,” said Hamel. “With such demographics, there is massive potential for the growth of Hype in Kenya. On top of that, we are also partnering with Safaricom and Airtel, the leading carriers in the country, offering free daily browsing to all Opera Mini users. We believe the combination of these factors will lead to the rapid adoption of Hype in the country.” In Q4-2020, the Opera user base reached 380 million monthly active users (“MAU’s”) worldwide, with nearly 150 million MAUs based in Africa. Since the announcement of Opera’s Africa First strategy in Q1-2018, Opera has grown its user base by 40% in the African region. This rapid growth in the region gives Opera a unique position to scale its digital ecosystem infrastructure and leverage its brand awareness and recognition. Opera also gives more value to its users there by introducing new products and features that truly address the needs of its users locally. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Opera.About Opera Mini: Launched in 2006, Opera Mini is a small, fast and powerful browser. It comes with unique features such as Data Compression, Offline File Sharing, and built-in Ad-blocker. Opera Mini also enables access to free ebooks through the Worldreader speed dial, and the music catalogue of the Kenyan music-streaming service, Mdundo, allowing users to stream or download music through the Opera Mini browser. Today, Opera Mini is used by more than 100 million MAUs who chose it over the pre-installed browsers on Android mobile devices. Opera Mini has a 4.4-star rating on Google Play and has been reviewed by more than six million people worldwide. About Opera: Opera (www.Opera.com) is a leading global internet brand with an engaged and growing base of over 380 million MAUs. Building on over 20 years of innovation, starting with our browser products, we are increasingly leveraging our brand as well as our massive and highly active user base in order to expand our offerings and our business. Today, we offer users across Europe, Africa and Asia a range of products and services that include our PC and mobile browsers as well as our AI-powered news reader, Opera News, and our app-based fintech solutions. Media filesDownload logo

Opera launches Hype; its new dedicated chat service built into the popular Opera Mini browser available now in Kenya

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
SA Rugby (www.SARugby.co.za) has re-focused its approach to women’s rugby as a major strategic objective for the organisation, Jurie Roux, CEO, said on Thursday. The Springbok Women will take part in the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in September and will do so with the support of SA Rugby’s first High Performance Manager for Women’s Rugby. Roux announced that former Ireland captain, Lynne Cantwell, had been lured to South Africa to fill the role in a departmental rejigging. “If we’re serious about women’s rugby – and we are – we had to make a serious appointment, and we have,” said Roux. “Lynne comes on board at a time when we have committed to growing the game amongst women – a directive from World Rugby and a South African national imperative – and she will work closely with Rassie Erasmus (Director of Rugby), Charles Wessels (GM: Rugby) and Springbok Women’s head coach Stanley Raubenheimer to improve the women’s game in South Africa.” Cantwell, who served as an Executive Committee Board member with Sport Ireland, said: “Globally women’s rugby has been recognised as the strategic growth area for the game where it is experiencing rapid transformation as a result of World Rugby’s focus. “At SA Rugby, we are committed to progress but recognize the work that needs to be done to repair and rebuild in order to move forward. “I think the women’s rugby community in South Africa has a unique identity and strength, with a bright future. I look forward to working with everyone to design an environment that allows South African women’s talent to thrive,” she added. Cantwell holds a degree in Sports and Exercise Science from the University of Limerick in Ireland and has a Masters in Physiotherapy from Southampton University in England. The former outside centre, who amassed 86 Test caps for Ireland, said joining SA Rugby affords her a number of exciting challenges. “I am excited and naturally a bit nervous about the big move over to South Africa for me and my family, but I feel incredibly comforted by the warm welcome I have been given internally at SA Rugby, by the players and management, and the provincial CEOs,” said Cantwell. “I am intensely motivated to progress women’s rugby and women’s involvement in rugby, and the backing a leadership level from Jurie, Rassie and Charles was central to my decision to join the team.” Erasmus said the role and appointment was made after a critical re-evaluation of SA Rugby’s approach to women’s rugby. “We have a rugby department and had a manager for women’s rugby, and we had done as much as we knew but we realised we lacked expertise and experience in the women’s high performance area,” said Erasmus. “We re-focused our approach and we’re very glad and excited to be able to bring someone with Lynne’s experience and skills into the South African environment. “We’re realistic about the fact that the short-term impact might not be all that obvious in results, but I have no doubt that the skills transfer and long-term impact will be a massive benefit to women’s rugby in South Africa.” Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Rugby Union.Media Contact: Rugby@APO-opa.com Media filesDownload logo

Women’s rugby receives strategic boost

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Download logoAdditional investment and commitment for further support were some of the key messages delivered by FIFA (www.FIFA.com) President Gianni Infantino on his visit to Khartoum, the Sudanese capital. The FIFA President notably met with the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, with the Minister of Youth and Sports, Yousif Adam Aldai, and with the President of the Sudan Football Association (SFA), Kamal Shaddad. The visit provided an opportunity for the FIFA President and his delegation to revisit the strong football history of Sudan. A founding member of CAF, along with Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa, Sudan was CAF’s first headquarters, and also played host to the first-ever African Cup of Nations in 1957. “Sudan was a founding member of CAF, and has been one of the first African nations to join FIFA,” the FIFA President said at Khartoum Stadium, the venue for the 1957 African Cup of Nations tournament. “Now we must work together, to bring the success of the past to the future. I can guarantee that FIFA will work closely with the whole football community in Sudan, with women and men, to continue to develop football and to bring Sudan back where it deserves to be, at the top of African football.” The stadium visit was followed by a meeting with Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Yousif Adam Aldai, where central to discussions was the need to restore Sudan’s rich football heritage and the ways in which FIFA could best support the country to further develop and strengthen football through the FIFA Football for Schools programme, as well as providing funding to refurbish the Khartoum Stadium. “I was saddened when I visited Khartoum Stadium and witnessed its current state,” the FIFA President said when subsequently speaking to members of the media. “This is an historical venue and we need to protect and cherish its history. We will invest and work together with the government and the SFA to make everyone in Sudan proud of the stadium again.” “We spoke with the Chairman of the transitional sovereignty committee about investment in football, because there is incredible talent in the country to be developed,” the FIFA President added. “We spoke about football being part of the school system and about women’s and girls’ football &#8211; a very important area of the game. The Sudan Football Association is already doing excellent work in this regard, and it can only increase once combined with the continued support of the Sudanese government and FIFA. We are all part of the same team, and we will all work together and show that we care about the people of Sudan and football here.” During the visit, the FIFA President also attended a women’s football training session at the academy located next to the SFA, and had the opportunity to meet with members of the teams.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Fédération internationale de football association (FIFA).

Support for Sudan discussed in landmark visit

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Download logoIn a report released recently sharing decisions of 34th meeting of the Assembly of the Union, the African Union (AU) expressed its support to intellectual property (IP) waiver proposal being discussed at the World Trade Organization (WTO).   Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) welcomes this endorsement by the AU to support this landmark proposal at the WTO that would allow countries to choose not to apply or enforce certain types of IP on COVID-19 medical tools during the pandemic. In the last few months, several international organisations including the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Unitaid and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) have issued statements supporting this critical waiver. The proposal initiated by India and South Africa is now being officially co-sponsored by Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, Pakistan, Mongolia, Venezuela, Bolivia and Egypt. However, a small group of WTO members including the EU, UK, US, Japan, Switzerland and Australia continue to withhold their support. Candice Sehoma, Access Campaign Advocacy Officer, MSF South Africa: “By politically endorsing this landmark proposal, the African Union is giving a crucial boost of support from the continent for waiving intellectual property during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is disappointing that several developed countries are continuing to stall this landmark waiver effort against the backdrop of a raging pandemic. As South Africa, India and other official co-sponsoring countries urgently need support from as many countries as possible to make this proposal a reality, we hope to see all African countries now come on board as official co-sponsors. Ensuring access to equitable and affordable medical tools needed to respond to this pandemic can no longer simply be left to corporations who continue to follow the business-as-usual approach of profit maximisation. Governments must act now to reach consensus on this game-changing proposal and fulfill their obligations to protect public health. We also call on opposing countries to quit stalling this critical waiver and instead step out of the negotiations, allowing other countries to reach an early consensus.”Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).

Coronavirus – Africa: MSF welcomes African Union’s motion supporting intellectual property (IP) waiver proposal at WTO

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
Download logoSave the Children was one of the first aid agencies to reach Axum in Ethiopia’s Central Tigray region earlier this month, delivering critical food distributions to more than 4,300 people. The child rights organisation distributed food, shelter and sanitation items to thousands of displaced children and their families – the first distributions in the location in over three months. A large number of people displaced by the recent conflict in Tigray have fled to Axum, with over 6,000 displaced people currently seeking shelter in overcrowded schools, makeshift camps, or in the homes of local families. Since arriving in Axum in early February, Save the Children has met families who have not eaten for days, and who cannot access vital health services, as there are extremely limited medical supplies in hospitals. Save the Children has reached over 1,063 families, or 4,368 people, with essential food aid and other supplies, but the area is in desperate need of more support. Health staff have spoken to new mothers and found many who have had to opt for non-assisted home deliveries as they could not access medical services due to the conflict and curfew. This has resulted in multiple cases of obstructed labour, ruptured uteri, severe bleeding and other complications that are highly dangerous for mothers and babies, resulting in maternal deaths or permanent disabilities for the child. Many new mothers have told Save the Children staff at food distribution sites that they are struggling to breastfeed, as they do not have sufficient food to produce enough breast milk for their babies. Terhas*, 22, and her baby Mulu*, four months old, received a food basket from Save the Children in February. Mulu was just one month old when Terhas fled violence in North West Tigray, walking two days on foot and then taking a tractor to find safety with a host family in Axum. &#8220;I am not producing enough milk as I do not receive enough food. Most days I only eat one meal per day. There is not enough food for people living here. We do not have the money to buy food so most of the time I have to beg the local community to give me food to eat. Many other women like me have to beg for food every day just to be able to feed their children,” said Terhas. While Save the Children is now responding in Axum, the agency still only has limited access to the thousands of people displaced by the conflict. Furthermore, while convoys of humanitarian aid have increasingly been allowed into the region, the critical staff needed to distribute and monitor distributions face access challenges. Ekin Ogutogullari, Save the Children’s Country Director in Ethiopia, said: “The arrival into Axum with food aid couldn’t have come a moment later. Children and families are in desperate need of the most basic support – food, shelter, medicines. At this point, there simply is not enough aid. It is critical that more aid agencies have access to ensure more supplies can reach the neediest.” “The humanitarian situation in Tigray is critical with hundreds of thousands of people still not having received assistance in more than three and a half months. Before the conflict, there were already some 600,000 people in Tigray facing food insecurity, drought and the worst desert locust infestation in 25 years, which diminished food production and increased incidence of malnutrition. The conflict has made things much worse. Without access and additional resources, no scale-up of protection and other services can take place to reach those desperately in need.” Save the Children’s distributions in Axum form part of the agency’s humanitarian response to the conflict in Tigray, which since January 2021 has reached 6,584 people, including 3,632 children. Save the Children’s response spans across the central and eastern parts of Tigray, Northern Amhara, and the Afar/Tigray border region, as well as in Sudan where the agency is supporting refugees displaced by the conflict. There are 1.3 million people across the region who are in need of humanitarian assistance, in addition to 950,000 people in need of aid before the conflict in Tigray. Approximately 500,000[3] people displaced across the region are in urgent need of essential aid supplies. Save the Children calls on the Government of Ethiopia to ensure aid support is ramped up, as well as the continuity of social services already in place, to ensure children and their families have enough food to eat, secure housing, and have access to essential medical services including psychosocial support. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Save the Children.

APO

Angola’s ANPG moves to make 2020 bid round more transparent

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (22 February 2021)

Ebola vaccination starts in Guinea to curb new outbreak

Cameroon’s Tradex inaugurates its first service station in Equatorial Guinea as part of its expansion plan

Delegation of Nigeria’s Ministry of Petroleum Resources holds a bilateral meeting with the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea

African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) host conference on women’s empowerment in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) era

Optyma™ Control Panel ensures Energy Efficient protection of perishables at Facebook HQ Office in Dubai (By Lynne McCarthy)

SunMirror AG ramping up Tin Exploration Efforts at Moolyella Project

Research from STL Partners and Vertiv reveals Why Telcos Should Prioritize Efficiency and Sustainability in 5G Networks

Kenya Still at Risk Despite UN Plastics Nod: Greenpeace

Calling African Innovators: Solutions for Sustainable Living and Economic Development in Africa Sought

Signing of a USD 25 Million Line of Financing Agreement between the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector and JSCB “Uzbek Industrial and Construction Bank”

Opera launches Hype; its new dedicated chat service built into the popular Opera Mini browser available now in Kenya

Women’s rugby receives strategic boost

Support for Sudan discussed in landmark visit

Coronavirus – Africa: MSF welcomes African Union’s motion supporting intellectual property (IP) waiver proposal at WTO

Supplies and critical food distributions reach displaced people in Axum, Central Tigray

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APO

Angola’s ANPG moves to make 2020 bid round more transparent

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (22 February 2021)

Ebola vaccination starts in Guinea to curb new outbreak

Cameroon’s Tradex inaugurates its first service station in Equatorial Guinea as part of its expansion plan

Delegation of Nigeria’s Ministry of Petroleum Resources holds a bilateral meeting with the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea

African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) host conference on women’s empowerment in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) era

Optyma™ Control Panel ensures Energy Efficient protection of perishables at Facebook HQ Office in Dubai (By Lynne McCarthy)

SunMirror AG ramping up Tin Exploration Efforts at Moolyella Project

Research from STL Partners and Vertiv reveals Why Telcos Should Prioritize Efficiency and Sustainability in 5G Networks

Kenya Still at Risk Despite UN Plastics Nod: Greenpeace

Calling African Innovators: Solutions for Sustainable Living and Economic Development in Africa Sought

Signing of a USD 25 Million Line of Financing Agreement between the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector and JSCB “Uzbek Industrial and Construction Bank”

Opera launches Hype; its new dedicated chat service built into the popular Opera Mini browser available now in Kenya

Women’s rugby receives strategic boost

Support for Sudan discussed in landmark visit

Coronavirus – Africa: MSF welcomes African Union’s motion supporting intellectual property (IP) waiver proposal at WTO

Supplies and critical food distributions reach displaced people in Axum, Central Tigray

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