Water and Electricity &#8211; The lifeline of any society! Both at the heart of economic growth and social well-being. Inefficiencies to the operations of water and electricity can lead to various issues, such as reduced productivity, employment and business opportunities, and disrupted health and economic growth. Without this infrastructure, economies would be at a standstill.



The efficient and steady supply of water and electricity is an imperative for the development, maintenance, and preservation of well-functioning societies. This is applicable to all areas of a working economy that includes both the production and services sector. They both play a fundamental role in food production, healthy ecosystems and for human survival itself. These resources at the heart of adaptation to climate change, serving as the crucial link between society and the environment.



Recently, the city of Johannesburg has been hit by drastic water and power outages, with blackouts at the heart of the crisis, caused by aging and poorly maintained facilities and underbudgeting for infrastructure updates. This has caused damaging effects to the city’s hospitals and manufacturing facilities. As a city that’s perfectly poised to entice global business; Johannesburg must do some work to get the basics right.



This month, Johannesburg water reported a R2.3 billion backlog to replace aging water infrastructure over the next 10 years. In September, the city recorded its 100th day of power cuts this year alone and has exceeded that figure since. The <a href="https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/city-of-old-joburg-faces-mammoth-task-of-clearing-r300bn-infrastructure-backlog-with-only-r77bn-20220926">overall infrastructure backlog is R300 billion</a>, with a capital budget of only R7.7 billion to resolve these issues.



Right now, the focus needs to be on innovative solves that are unique to the city’s challenges. &nbsp;A move to more sustainable and decentralized energy systems can support service delivery to all citizens of Johannesburg and is a viable solution for the long-term. If you look anywhere in the world, whatever people do that makes them human is powered by electricity, hence reliable supply is vital. Development relies on humanly connected services. Right now, there’s a dire need for efficient energy supply.



<a href="https://new.siemens.com/global/en/products/energy/topics/distributed-energy-systems.html">Distributed energy systems</a> (DES) solutions are the next step in renewable energy. They comprise small networks of people, businesses and public services, hooked up to an independent power source, that could be part-solar or wind. It is a game changer for SME’s as it will improve availability of electricity for their business ventures. Our pilot involved the installation of a microgrid at our Midrand Headquarters. This has reduced the use of utility supplied energy by 50%, saving 2&nbsp;435&nbsp;000 kWh, which equates to 174&nbsp;000 kWh per month – approximately the equivalent of the energy used by 50 average South African households annually.



Ours is a proven solution that can help save energy, cut costs, lower carbon emissions and ensure uninterrupted power. Everything from installation to operating costs have been tracked to present a realistic case study for the local context, and the results to date are convincing. At Siemens, we are leading by example through our commitment to turn our operations carbon neutral by 2030. We believe companies need to play a pioneering role in driving this change.



Collaborative efforts between all spheres of government and private institutions are needed to ensure a stable water supply. Johannesburg’s water treatment sector has the collective knowledge, technology and capacity to solve the country’s water and wastewater treatment crisis and solutions to these challenges are readily available within the country. To address the situation, a great deal of work must be done on maintenance and storage capacity must be upgraded and increased.



Siemens recognizes the importance of this valuable resource on our planet. With our company’s expertise, we enable the water industry to get the most from digitalization. The intelligent applications like the Siemens Water (SIWA), which are specifically developed for water and waste-water industry operators can optimize energy efficiency, avoid water loss and reduce contamination of water bodies and take predictive maintenance measures.



Going forward, we’re likely to see more renewable and hybrid energy solutions at play. Ultimately, the aim will continue to be achieving carbon neutrality through smart sustainability measures that are intelligently introduced to protect people as well as the planet. A ‘just’ energy approach is imperative to preserve and create jobs, while making the transition.



Achieving efficient water and energy is possible, with the right partnerships, the right knowledge and expertise. By working with the private sector, local and national governments can leverage the knowledge and the proficiency of the private sector and can improve infrastructure delivery and maintenance.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="485" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sabine-DallOmo-profile-1-820x485.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-420712" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sabine-DallOmo-profile-1-820x485.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sabine-DallOmo-profile-1-300x177.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sabine-DallOmo-profile-1-152x90.jpg 152w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sabine-DallOmo-profile-1-768x454.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sabine-DallOmo-profile-1-1536x908.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sabine-DallOmo-profile-1-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>Sabine Dall&#8217;Omo</figcaption></figure>

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Solutions to greater Joburg’s infrastructure challenges 

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/DSC04259_1-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-420553" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/DSC04259_1-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/DSC04259_1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/DSC04259_1-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/DSC04259_1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/DSC04259_1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/DSC04259_1-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>David Auerbach, co-found of Sanergy; Imtiaz Patel, chairman of the MultiChoice Group; Hannah Jones, CEO of Earthshot and Nancy Matimu, Managing Director Kenya &#8211; MultiChoice Group</figcaption></figure>



Despite accounting for only 4% of the global carbon emissions, the impact of climate change disproportionately affects Africa and poses a considerable threat to human well-being and development on the continent. This is more so because many African countries depend on climate dependent sectors such as energy, tourism, water, and agriculture.



According to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)’s State of the Climate in Africa 2021 report, extreme weather and climate change are undermining human health and safety, food and water security, and socio-economic development on the African continent.



The report states that the rate of temperature rise across Africa is faster than the global average and that 2021 ranked between the third and fourth warmest year on record for Africa. The African Development Bank acknowledge the impact of climate change in Africa, and has pointed out that African economies are between <a href="https://mg.co.za/opinion/2022-10-03-africa-is-the-recipient-of-collateral-damage-in-the-politics-of-climate-change-wrangling/">5% and 15% smaller</a> because of climate change.



Curbing the climate crisis requires creating awareness of the severity of climate change in Africa, reducing emissions from key industrial value chains, forest landscape restoration, and investing in low carbon transport amongst other crucial interventions.



While climate activists around the world continue to consistently urge world leaders and other relevant stakeholders to save our planet, combatting climate crisis requires a multi-disciplinary approach &#8211; collaboration between government, the private sector, activists, consumers, educational institutions and the media.



Through its expertise and resources, the private sector can be at the forefront of this major social transformation with real purpose. This should not be done as just a mere corporate box-ticking exercise, but should be seen as an opportunity to create a meaningful contribution and create a sustainable planet.



As a company born and bred in Africa, MultiChoice is invested in Africa and committed to help deliver a sustainable future for the continent. That is why it has decided to collaborate with The Earthshot Prize, an ambitious global environmental prize that aims to find innovative solutions to the world’s biggest environmental problems.



MultiChoice chose to partner with The Earthshot Prize because it has potential to make a massive positive impact in combatting climate challenge. Its approach of unearthing innovative climate change solutions and scale them up is what attracted us to this &nbsp;partnership. This approach recognises and support unique local solutions that speaks to communities at grassroots level and allows us to bring to bear our broadcasting expertise and experience in creating awareness and mobilizing communities to rally behind this cause.



The Earthshot Prize was launched in 2021 with three African organizations selected as finalists – Sanergy from Kenya, Reeddi Capsules from Nigeria, and Pole Pole Foundation from the Democratic Republic of Congo.



Sanergy, based in Nairobi, takes a circular economy approach to manage organic waste in Africa’s fast-growing cities by converting it into regenerative agricultural inputs – insect-based protein for animal feed, organic fertilizer for farming, and ecofuel.



Pole Pole Foundation is a grass roots NGO whose goal is to protect the critically endangered Eastern gorillas which live in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.



Lastly, Reeddi leverages its proprietary technology to innovatively provide clean, reliable, and affordable electricity to individuals, households, and businesses operating in the energy-poor regions of the world. Currently, Reeddi serves more than 1000 combined households and businesses monthly in Nigeria.



These finalists have access to resources across numerous professions and sectors including manufacturing, retail, supply chains, legal advice, digital technology, business strategy and government relations.



As the climate crisis intensifies, it important that a common framework and network to address climate change risks is established and a new generation of climate change initiatives are being formed in Africa.



There are various initiatives and projects on the African continent to fight climate challenges. However, to be successful, most of the projects need capacity, improved decision making, policy mainstreaming and evidence-based decision making.



MultiChoice recognise the importance of collaboration and that is why it is a member of the Global Alliance Membership of the Earthshot Prize. This alliance has an extensive network &nbsp;that includes non-profit and international organizations committed to the environment and sustainable development.



Our partnership with the Earthshot Prize is about making a real impact and make the world a better place.&nbsp;



Collen Dlamini MultiChoice Group Corporate Executive for Corporate Affairs.

The Earthshot Prize @ Bomas of Kenya

Businesses have a key role to play in building a sustainable future

While South Africa’s airline industry has seen dramatic consolidation over the past few years, the gap left by shuttered local airlines has opened the doors for other carriers to meet the growing demand for seats as the country returns to pre-Covid travel. However, this increasingly competitive landscape is placing significant pressure on airline leaders to optimise their operations and improve customer satisfaction.



<a href="http://www.clickatell.com">Clickatell</a>, a CPaaS innovator and Chat Commerce leader, began work with South Africa&#8217;s favourite low-cost airline, FlySafair, in 2021, rolling out a <a href="https://www.clickatell.com/products/whatsapp/">WhatsApp</a> customer communication channel. The introduction of the chat platform has not only injected new efficiencies, but it has dramatically boosted customer satisfaction.



“As an airline obsessed with efficiency and maintaining our reputation for being the most on-time carrier, we are always looking for new ways to improve the customer journey and internal processes to ensure superior customer experiences. So when Clickatell approached us about their Chat Commerce Platform, we knew we had to jump at the opportunity,” explains Eswee Vorster, FlySafair Executive Manager and CIO.



Clickatell’s Chat Commerce platform has enabled FlySafair to expand their customer service offering to the popular WhatsApp channel which is <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/291540/mobile-internet-user-whatsapp/">used by</a> 96% of South Africa’s digital population.



“Today’s consumers want the flexibility and convenience of engaging with the brands they love and trust on the channels that they use every day. WhatsApp is the logical channel for us to reach our South African customers,” Vorster says.



His views are supported by <a href="https://www.clickatell.com/infographic/chat-commerce/trends-report-the-future-of-digital-commerce/">research</a> conducted by Clickatell which shows that 89% of consumers want to conduct business on chat channels.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-digital-solutions-that-make-life-easier">Digital solutions that make life easier</h2>



Like every airline, managing a busy call centre had been one of the biggest challenges for FlySafair. But, with more and more customers preferring to use digital channels to answer queries and solve their own problems, Vorster and his team were on the lookout for a solution that could help them deliver.



The airline’s busy call centre receives several thousand calls during a normal day, which can triple or even quadruple during promotions. Reducing the pressure on agents, as well as empowering customers to find answers to their queries and manage their bookings themselves, was an obvious priority for airline management.&nbsp;



Clickatell’s digital contact centre solution, <a href="https://www.clickatell.com/products/chat-desk/">Chat Desk</a>, which allows organisations to run and manage live agent support in chat, enable FlySafair to resolve customer queries faster, eliminate hold times, and taking the frustration and inconvenience out of the customer service experience.&nbsp;



Clickatell’s Chat Commerce workflow builder and automation tool, <a href="https://www.clickatell.com/products/chatflow/">Chat Flow</a> allows FlySafair teams to design intelligent self-service engagements for their customers.



The Clickatell solution makes it possible for FlySafair customers to find helpful information or connect with a customer service agent by simply sending “Hi” on <a href="https://wa.me/27873570030">WhatsApp</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;+27 87 357 0030.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A better experience from start to finish</h2>



FlySafair has invested significant time assessing how it can improve its offering across the digital journey, especially when it comes to busy holiday periods.



The FlySafair WhatsApp channel hosts key information about flight cancellations and changes, luggage restrictions, identity requirements, Covid-19 safety requirements, as well as the option to chat to a live agent. In addition, customers can also choose to receive their boarding pass on WhatsApp, significantly improving and streamlining the passenger experience.



Providing answers to frequently asked questions, self-serve options including boarding passes on WhatsApp reduces queues and improves the overall travel experience.



“Our customers can efficiently manage their travel experience in chat. From accessing helpful information, receiving their boarding passes, check-in via WhatsApp, and can even request a call back from a call centre agent if they need in-person support. As our <a href="https://www.clickatell.com/enterprise-solutions/chat-commerce/">Chat Commerce</a> Partner, Clickatell enables us to offer customer service more effectively and efficiently through WhatsApp,” Vorster says.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Clickatell implementation forms a key part of FlySafair’s digital future.&nbsp;</h2>



“Constant technical innovation has enabled low-cost airlines to make their mark and truly compete with the established carriers. We see chat technology as a game changer for us going forward. Not only does it perform the basics very well, but it allows us to better understand travellers, taking us a step closer to a single view of our customer,” Vorster explains.&nbsp;



Reflecting on the partnership, Vorster says the companies’ comparable cultures have laid the foundations for an exciting future.



“I love the hands-on approach of the Clickatell team and their agile mindset fits perfectly with our culture of moving on opportunities when we see them. Clickatell helped us to completely transform our customer’s digital experience. Our goal is to offer all the functionality currently available on our website on WhatsApp,” Vorster shares.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Chat Commerce offers exciting use cases for the airline industry</h2>



Chat Commerce solutions are quickly gaining traction with companies across many sectors, helped in part by its scalability and rapid deployment capabilities.



Enterprises are able to launch a Chat Commerce solution in as little as two months with minimal disruption. This means companies can get started immediately and then refine their offering over time, making it perfect for airlines who cannot afford a single minute of downtime.



What’s more, the competitive nature of the airline industry lends itself perfectly to the many use cases of Chat Commerce and supporting automation, not least of all, the ability to upsell services.



Upselling over a known and trusted chat channel, like WhatsApp, is as simple as a quick text message. Once bookings are confirmed, travel agents and airlines can offer seat upgrades and even suggest places to stay at specific destinations, complete with special offers and promotions that passengers can take advantage of right then and there. In addition, by using payment links consumers can complete a travel related purchase within their favourite messaging channels.



Making payments over chat has already been warmly welcomed by travellers. Clickatell’s latest <a href="https://www.clickatell.com/press-center/travelers-embrace-mobile-messaging-and-payments/">Chat Commerce Trends Report: Travel Edition 2022</a>, found that 71% of consumers indicated that they are more willing to make a purchase with a travel company through a payment link only after chatting with a live agent or automated bot. By implementing a robust Chat Commerce solution, FlySafair has laid the groundwork for any number of future digital offerings. And, by choosing to work with <a href="https://www.clickatell.com/solutions/travel/">Clickatell</a>, they can rest assured that they can stay ahead of the competition without their passengers experiencing any unnecessary delays or cancellations.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Clickatell | Helping FlySafair Transform its Digital Experience for Travelers" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qMWufZlplQI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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FlySafair Works With Clickatell to Expand Its Customer Service Offering on WhatsApp

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Pic-2-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-420125" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Pic-2-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Pic-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Pic-2-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Pic-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Pic-2.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



The 2022 GovTech conference, a pre-eminent South African information communication technology focusing on public and private sector ICT service delivery, discussed how technology can facilitate socio economic transformation, drive Infrastructure development, and digitally transform the African continent.



Themed “Digitisation And Digitalisation Evolving Government Services,” the three-day conference held from September 13th to 15 at the Durban Exhibition Centre, was opened by Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni and hosted by the State Information Technology Agency (SITA).



Experts, executives and government officials dedicated to driving digital transformation, included delegates from Namibia, Zambia and Burkina Faso. &nbsp;Government ministers included Zambia’s Minister of Science &amp; Technology, Felix Mutati and, Namibia’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Dr Peya Numushelenga.



Ntshavheni promised that the South African government was committed to delivering on broadband objectives as key enablers for the delivery of an economic step change for South Africa.



“South Africa is implementing a broadband connectivity drive through a programme we call South Africa (SA) Connect. The goal of SA Connect is to ensure that all South Africans have access to the internet,” said Ntshavheni.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-panel-discussions-and-tracks">PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND TRACKS</h2>



For three days, experts and representatives of all spheres of government and the private sector shared their experiences on leveraging technology.



Attended by more than 2500 delegates, including information technology experts and government ministers from across, the following panel and roundtable discussions kept delegates busy:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>“An Enabling Policy Environment for Sustainable Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises;</li><li>“Future of education: How Technology is shaping this key sector for economic and social development,</li><li>“Digital Inclusion: What will it take to get every citizen and every government service online;</li><li>“The Digital Infrastructure: Collaboration for an African backhaul and data centres infrastructure ecosystem and what are the Key Technologies to Enable African Governments&#8217; Digital Transformation;</li><li>“Leveraging the Potential of Digitalisation &amp; Disruptive Technologies for improving government services;</li><li>“Technologies for improving government services;</li><li>“Sustainable Smart Villages and Cities in Africa;</li><li>“Infrastructure and Digital Inclusion;</li><li>“Youth in Information Communication Technology;</li><li>“Cyber Security and Protection of the Customers and Citizens and</li><li>“How African States Can Improve Their Cybersecurity &#8211; Policy tools for African governments.”</li></ul>



&nbsp;“We cannot solve the technology issues that exist on our own. GovTech 2022 was therefore an important stepping stone in creating an eco-system for the public&nbsp; and &nbsp;private sector to come out with solutions which will work best for our unique challenges and partner together to overcome them,” said Molatlhegi Kgauwe, the Acting Managing Director of SITA.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">PLEDGE FOR THE FUTURE</h2>



During panel discussions, track sessions, speeches, delegates, government officials and executives representing information technology companies, gave honest accounts of how hard it actually was to make change happen, and offered some valuable insights from their experiences and amongst others, pledged to:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Design affordable services that best meet the needs of citizens across the continent;</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Challenge the technology market to offer the flexible tools and services citizens need;</li><li>Protect citizens’ privacy and security;</li><li>Strive towards a paperless government&nbsp;as a matter of urgency and</li><li>Deliver better value for money products to all Africans consumers whether living in rural or urban areas.</li></ul>



“GovTech 2022 provided us with a platform to plan the way forward on how to use ICT to improve the lives of Africans. We look forward to GovTech 2023,” said Kgauwe.

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GOVTECH 2022 PROVIDED A PLATFORM ON HOW TO USE TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF AFRICANS

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMG_4585-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-419871" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMG_4585-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMG_4585-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMG_4585-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMG_4585-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMG_4585-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMG_4585-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



Transforming Africa / Sustainable Smart Villages in Africa



Introduction: In many ways we already live in smart cities, because we have fibre connectivity, e-billing and some service delivery via mobile phones. However, this is in the cities: villages and communities are on the wrong side of the digital divide. They might be able to access services via mobile technology in a limited fashion, but a real smart community needs substantial investment in support infrastructure and connectivity.



A definition of a smart city is an innovative city or community that uses information and communication technology (ICT) to deliver services and quality of life. In reality, there are unprecedented changes in urbanisation meaning the smart city concept should rather be used to transform urban life and create a digital society. Even though digitalisation is a feature of life in many places, there are still a number of elements preventing people from enjoying its benefits.



Sbu: One problem is we are trying to balance traditional operating systems with technology. Government usually works in silos; not only in its structure, but also its mindset. It will be difficult to change things; not only mindsets, but most cities already have existing infrastructure that will be disrupted if digital technologies are introduced. Also, as cities move to digital systems, it is about collecting data: where people live; how they live; what they spend and where they move. This means the higher the digitisation, the greater the threat to personal safety.



However, it is possible to use technology to enhance security such as encrypted techniques like blockchain. Essentially, one must balance the quality of life offered by digitalisation with privacy. One of the first tasks is educating citizens about the benefits of a smart city, while getting away from the perception a smart city is a “Big Brother”. In most cases implementing the smart city concept is not socially inclusive; it tends not to include the affluent or technologically advanced sectors of society.&nbsp;



Bongani: South Africa is not unique in its urban/rural distribution and, before we look at infrastructure, we must look at urban migration. In cities, one can use 4G and 5G, but in rural areas one should look at a broader range of technologies, such as satellite that can bring connectivity to rural areas.



The technology exists, but we don’t only look at technology; we must also look at co-operative models. We can look at combinations of satellite, towers, fibre and the like, but it is vital to consider costs. Connectivity must be affordable for someone getting a social grant.



Justin: A word of caution – even though smart cities depend on a broad range of support, the fundamentals of smart cities are the same as any city: electricity, roads, sewage, refuse collections and so on. Before looking at smart cities or villages, it is crucial that these foundations are properly laid.&nbsp;



These tasks are the responsibility of the private and public sector. When infrastructure is installed, it must be done to absorb the technology, so when electricity cables are laid, fibre must be installed simultaneously. This is easier when working in expanding cities, but the deepest need is in the rural areas, not the cities. There are various stakeholders to include and all must to primed and informed.&nbsp;



Bongani: In rural areas, people must travel far to access services. Already there are apps that can bring services to people and eradicate the need for travel or standing in queues. However, there is room to expand – like paying social grants directly into mobile wallets. There is an app on which you organise funerals. This gained traction especially after Covid-19. Anyone who has organised a funeral can attest to the cost and work involved. An app that does the work for you is useful.&nbsp;



Hence, if a community can operate on digital services, it cuts down on fuel and travelling costs. With the growth of e-commerce, the same principles can apply to smart services for municipalities. Of course, as mentioned, this increases the risks to privacy.



Justin: We can draw an analogy between our recovery from Covid-19 and the post-war recovery of countries after the two World Wars. A large part of the growth and recovery was massive infrastructure projects to kickstart economies and allow large numbers of people to return to normal life.



South Africa has significant opportunities for large capital investment projects that can combine the best of infrastructure development and the best of technology.&nbsp;



Bongani: There is a significant digital divide in South Africa. The minister has asked mobile tech companies to provide households with a threshold amount of free data and there is a business case to be made for that. South Africa is not known (to have) cheap data and this contributes toward the divide.&nbsp;



Sbu: Cyber security is the big issue. How do we protect our communities? As we implement more digitalisation, we expand the threat levels. As we build smart cities and villages, we acquire more data. This is necessary for services (and) government needs to understand the behaviour of citizens. This raises questions of privacy.



Not only are there threats to personal information, but to the operation of infrastructure linked to the grid also operating through the internet. We have seen pipelines and power grids can be vulnerable to cyber terrorism threats.&nbsp;



Justin: It is clear smart cities and communities are obliged to protect citizens and this is a massive responsibility. If you are introducing anyone to a smart city, you are introducing them to risk.&nbsp;



Bongani: There are two billion internet of things (IoT) devices globally and South Africa has 32 mega-developments in the pipeline. These will require bulk water services and service delivery and will accommodate around 10000 households. That’s a lot of data: there will be addresses, banking information, personal information and sites of critical infrastructure. The numbers stack up.&nbsp;



What happens if that gets hacked? Hackers don’t sleep; they want that data. If it was hacked, water stops flowing; bank accounts are compromised. We need to look at a new social compact between government and service providers and communities. We need to start with a framework that protects that information.&nbsp;

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The State IT Agency’s GovTech Conference 2022

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/ministers-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-419853" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/ministers-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/ministers-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/ministers-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/ministers-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/ministers-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/ministers-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>SITA, chairperson, Makano Mosidi, the Minister of Communication and Digital Technologies, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Namibia’s Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Peya Mushelenga and  Zambia’s Minister of Science &amp; Technology, Felix Mutati.</figcaption></figure>



Opening GovTech, the continent&#8217;s premier information communication technology conference, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, the Minister of Communication and Digital Technologies pledged that the government was focusing its efforts on being paperless by the end of the 6th administration.



Supported by the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) chairperson, Makano Mosidi and delegates from across the African continent, including Zambia’s Minister of Science &amp; Technology, Felix Mutati and Namibia’s Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Peya Mushelenga, Minister Ntshavheni told  2500 delegates including sponsors that the digitalisation programme aims to have 80% of citizen-facing services to be online by 2025, with government planning to go paperless by end the 6th administration



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-digitally-inclusive-information-society">DIGITALLY INCLUSIVE INFORMATION SOCIETY</h2>



As part of the SA Connect strategy driven by SITA, the national broadband programme has been identified by government to meet the technology goals of the National Development Plan of creating a digitally inclusive information society.



“The evolving nature of doing business has set in motion the need to evolve government services for the shifting delivery platforms, service and content packing, and skills and capabilities needed to build, grow and sustain government services and societal development,” said Minister Ntshavheni.



Part of our priorities in evolving government services is supporting the development and consumption of African- developed digital products and services, not only through DigiTech App Store but all technology and solutions developed indigenously in Africa by both big and small industry players,” she said.



The GovTech’s three-day event features plenary sessions and presentations on the theme “Digitisation and digitalisation evolving government services, heard that the broadband connectivity programme will be implemented through emerging and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) such as internet service providers, wireless access providers and mobile virtual network operators.



The Government and ICT experts are meeting at the Durban Exhibition Centre until Thursday September 15th to collaborate and share experiences, challenges and solutions that can demonstrate the power of technology, improve service delivery and boost economic growth.



Expanding the use of digital technologies in the public service after the pandemic, assessing how digital solutions can stimulate the economy and supporting the development of small and medium-sized businesses will be among the key topics for discussion.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">DIGITISATION VERSUS DIGITILISATION</h2>



Current issues related to cyber security and digital privacy, digital inclusion and pan-African cooperation will also be discussed during the round tables.



Unpacking the difference between digitisation and digitilisation, the SITA chairperson said digitization referred to changes within organisations for efficiency while digitalization referred to changing business models, creating new rules “starting to design from outside in.”



“Our theme aim to answer questions such as:  What do our citizens want? How do we design and co-design and collaborate with them and for them so that we can come from outside in….I trust and I hope that the conference participants over the next three days will take stock and address specific government issues and challenges with boldness,” she said.



Pull-out quote: “Part of our priorities in evolving government services is supporting the development and consumption of African- developed digital products and services&#8230;” Ntshavheni.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Choir-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-419852" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Choir-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Choir-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Choir-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Choir-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Choir-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Choir-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>The Ndlovu youth choir entertained GovTeh delegates</figcaption></figure>

ministers

GOVERNMENT FOCUSING ON BEING PAPERLESS BY END OF SIXTH ADMINISTRATION

05 September 2022 &#8211; The 2022 Government Technology (GovTech) conference will see representatives and ministers from various countries in Africa converge in South Africa to share their vision, knowledge, experience and expertise on digitisation, digitalisation, and other topics critical for the acceleration of digital transformation and service delivery in Africa. 



Under this year’s theme: “Digitisation and Digitalisation &#8211; Evolving Government Services,” the State Information Technology Agency (SITA), in partnership with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, will host GovTech conference from 13 – 15 September 2022 at the Durban Exhibition Centre.



The conference will be attended by more than 2500 delegates, bringing together Africa’s ICT experts from the public and private sectors, as well as the Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises&nbsp;(SMME) sector to focus among other things, on ICT infrastructure development and how technology can enable efficient dispensing of government services.



Structured in various tracks and topics, the conference program will provide options to delegates to participate in various streams and contribute towards reshaping the ICT agenda in Africa.



The panel and roundtable discussions, promise to be exciting as it includes these areas:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>An Enabling Policy Environment for Sustainable Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises;</li><li>Future of Education: How Technology is shaping this key sector for economic and social development;</li><li>Digital Inclusion: What will it take to get every citizen and every government service online;</li><li>The Digital Infrastructure: Collaboration for an African backhaul and data centres infrastructure ecosystem: Key Technologies to Enable African Governments&#8217; Digital Transformation;</li><li>Leveraging the Potential of Digitalisation &amp; Disruptive Technologies for improving government services;</li><li>Technologies for improving government services;</li><li>Sustainable Smart Villages and Cities in Africa;</li><li>Infrastructure and Digital Inclusion;</li><li>Youth in Information Communication Technology;</li><li>“Cyber Security and Protection of the Customers and Citizens and</li><li>“How African States Can Improve Their Cybersecurity &#8211; Policy tools for African governments.”</li></ul>







Several private and public sector experts have been invited. Some of the ministers invited include, Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga and Zambia’s Minister of Science &amp; Technology, Felix Mutati.



The event is supported by Microsoft SA as a lead sponsor. Huawei, Sentech, MTN, Vodacom and In2ITfollow as key sponsors.



GovTech, which has been held for 14 years, is the brainchild of SITA. Over the years, the conference, has evolved to become a premiere conference, as a superior networking platform, a hub of strategic ideas and a crucible that pioneers innovative thinking and solutions, to address the developmental and growth challenges in the country.



Molatlhegi Kgauwe,&nbsp;the Acting Managing Director for SITA said through innovation and SMME development,digital technologies open up new avenues for economic prosperity, innovation, job creation, and service access and the more SMMEs are exposed to these infrastructures, the wider the net of opportunities is cast.



“Besides people, infrastructure is the bedrock and the backbone of a country. The synergy between infrastructure development and information technology is critical to enable rapid progress, to leverage opportunities, and to provide solutions to the country and nation’s most pressing challenges.”



As the digital world grows bigger, through cybersecurity, thegovernments have to ensure that citizens can conduct business, communicate, and interact in a safe, agile, flexible and secure environment.



“Ultimately the aim is digital Inclusion and collaboration to enable the continent – wide connectivity and solutions, and to provide skills and service delivery to all so that Africa and indeed South Africa is positioned as a leader of service delivery; in the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” said Kgauwe,&nbsp;



To register for the conference, delegates can visit <a href="http://www.govtech.gov.za">www.govtech.gov.za</a>. Attendees and members of the public across the continent can follow Govtech 2022 by using the hashtags<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/govtech2022?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__%5b0%5d=AZVDhKhLI4-87zdPH3oU-gSG8Snrj2V93UjKMhd-O6T3rbNBGc4-3X71tzpEhC6V1UAw1h7_7CZrF5QRuLWDXmLhNomJ49BcV4PjbWQXXZCi3udEcT2PRi_Ad35CxvRHsX20tVI5KFDL2Por5YCUW5atn9bUKGqVfCI6KHdR034gGw&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#GovTech2022</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/techevent?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__%5b0%5d=AZVDhKhLI4-87zdPH3oU-gSG8Snrj2V93UjKMhd-O6T3rbNBGc4-3X71tzpEhC6V1UAw1h7_7CZrF5QRuLWDXmLhNomJ49BcV4PjbWQXXZCi3udEcT2PRi_Ad35CxvRHsX20tVI5KFDL2Por5YCUW5atn9bUKGqVfCI6KHdR034gGw&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#TechEvent</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/digitaltransformation?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__%5b0%5d=AZVDhKhLI4-87zdPH3oU-gSG8Snrj2V93UjKMhd-O6T3rbNBGc4-3X71tzpEhC6V1UAw1h7_7CZrF5QRuLWDXmLhNomJ49BcV4PjbWQXXZCi3udEcT2PRi_Ad35CxvRHsX20tVI5KFDL2Por5YCUW5atn9bUKGqVfCI6KHdR034gGw&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#DigitalTransformation</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/techinafrica?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__%5b0%5d=AZVDhKhLI4-87zdPH3oU-gSG8Snrj2V93UjKMhd-O6T3rbNBGc4-3X71tzpEhC6V1UAw1h7_7CZrF5QRuLWDXmLhNomJ49BcV4PjbWQXXZCi3udEcT2PRi_Ad35CxvRHsX20tVI5KFDL2Por5YCUW5atn9bUKGqVfCI6KHdR034gGw&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#TechInAfrica</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/4ir?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__%5b0%5d=AZVDhKhLI4-87zdPH3oU-gSG8Snrj2V93UjKMhd-O6T3rbNBGc4-3X71tzpEhC6V1UAw1h7_7CZrF5QRuLWDXmLhNomJ49BcV4PjbWQXXZCi3udEcT2PRi_Ad35CxvRHsX20tVI5KFDL2Por5YCUW5atn9bUKGqVfCI6KHdR034gGw&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#4IR</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/ai?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__%5b0%5d=AZVDhKhLI4-87zdPH3oU-gSG8Snrj2V93UjKMhd-O6T3rbNBGc4-3X71tzpEhC6V1UAw1h7_7CZrF5QRuLWDXmLhNomJ49BcV4PjbWQXXZCi3udEcT2PRi_Ad35CxvRHsX20tVI5KFDL2Por5YCUW5atn9bUKGqVfCI6KHdR034gGw&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#AI</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/hyperautomation?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__%5b0%5d=AZVDhKhLI4-87zdPH3oU-gSG8Snrj2V93UjKMhd-O6T3rbNBGc4-3X71tzpEhC6V1UAw1h7_7CZrF5QRuLWDXmLhNomJ49BcV4PjbWQXXZCi3udEcT2PRi_Ad35CxvRHsX20tVI5KFDL2Por5YCUW5atn9bUKGqVfCI6KHdR034gGw&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#Hyperautomation</a> and&nbsp; <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/quantumcomputing?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__%5b0%5d=AZVDhKhLI4-87zdPH3oU-gSG8Snrj2V93UjKMhd-O6T3rbNBGc4-3X71tzpEhC6V1UAw1h7_7CZrF5QRuLWDXmLhNomJ49BcV4PjbWQXXZCi3udEcT2PRi_Ad35CxvRHsX20tVI5KFDL2Por5YCUW5atn9bUKGqVfCI6KHdR034gGw&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#QuantumComputing</a>.



For more information contact:



Head of Corporate Affairs: Tlali Tlali (Mr) Tel: (012) 482-2996 Cell: 082 3333 880 Email: <a href="mailto:Tlali.Tlali@sita.co.za">Tlali.Tlali@sita.co.za</a>

Continent

GOVTECH 2022 BRINGS AFRICA’S ICT MINISTERS AND EXPERTS TO TACKLE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION ON THE CONTINENT

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="488" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_4824-820x488.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-419355" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_4824-820x488.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_4824-300x179.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_4824-151x90.jpg 151w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_4824-768x457.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_4824-1536x914.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_4824-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



It’s the first time the group has received the honour.



ON OUR FIRST ATTEMPT, ABSA ACHIEVED TOP Employer certification in five markets, positioning the business as a Top Employer in Africa.



The Absa Group is now:



• Top Employer South Africa 2022



• Top Employer Zambia 2022



• Top Employer Kenya 2022



• Top Employer Ghana 2022



• Top Employer Botswana 2022



Absa has been recognised not only for matching rigorous global benchmarks, but also for exceeding these in several categories including digital HR, learning, career development, and ethics and integrity. “We’re so proud of the contribution of our business leaders and our People and Culture Function,” says Thokozile Lewanika Mpupuni, Absa Group Head of Leadership, Learning and Talent. “Absa is determined to bring possibilities to life, and this award underscores our commitment to, and progress in building an organisation that recognises that people are our strength.”



Culture is an essential element to win the hearts and minds of employees. It brings a collective energy and cohesion that is required for organisational success. “Our culture has the power to differentiate Absa in an increasingly dynamic environment where we compete for the best talent. That talent is essential to drive innovation and agility,” says Mpupuni.



Absa’s culture transformation journey began in 2018 with its historic separation from Barclays PLC. This resulted in a repositioning in the market, a new brand, refreshed values and a purpose that emphasises possibility. “Because of leadership’s strong impact on culture, we invested in a senior leadership culture program that started in 2020.The ability of our leaders to embody and present the Absa we aspire to has far-reaching effects throughout our entire organisation,” says Mpupuni. This program is based on similar successful global interventions at organisations such as Google, Nike and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and it includes training leaders in conversational technology.



Other culture initiatives include team values workshops, team culture and identity workshops. Absa emphasises listening and language capabilities that empower colleagues to actively participate in the creation and development of the organisational culture. Absa’s Colleague Experience Survey, initiated during 2020, is an important opportunity for employees to raise their voices and be heard, and the business receives actionable insights to continuously enhance the everyday lived experience of individuals. “We’re ensuring that we continuously listen and get feedback from our people. By listening to each other, we help make sense of our world, foster trust in our relationships and, in turn serve our people with a genuine intention to bring about real change that makes a difference,” says Mpupuni.



Even though the new Absa has not yet reached its desired cultural maturity, the foundation has been laid to inspire purpose, create a shared value approach to business, and foster a future-fit, learning organisation. “We’re all co-owners of culture and when we show up with a sense of personal responsibility for shared outcomes, that’s when we start to see change. The Top Employer Africa certification signals this shift,” concludes Mpupuni.



Absa’s People and Culture Function will continue to focus on holistic wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, new ways of work, workforce future-fitness and culture to ensure that Africa’s top talent is able to thrive and bring possibility to life for themselves, and for the stakeholders we serve.

DSC_4824

Absa Is A Top Employer Africa

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="429" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/HP-Image-1200x628-1-820x429.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-419109" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/HP-Image-1200x628-1-820x429.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/HP-Image-1200x628-1-300x157.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/HP-Image-1200x628-1-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/HP-Image-1200x628-1-768x402.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/HP-Image-1200x628-1.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



HP has revealed the results of its first education-focused survey in Africa, which sheds light on teachers’ skillsets and how learning experiences for students can be improved in South Africa and Nigeria. The research supports HP’s education programme in Africa, which aims to provide the right technology and skills to the education sector.



As the effects of the pandemic continue to be felt on the education system, schools must navigate the imperative to catch up with national curriculums whilst providing future-proof classrooms and learning environments.



“Teachers perform a pivotal function in our society, not only in shaping the minds of future leaders and preparing students to take on the jobs of the future, but also inspiring and enabling better learning outcomes,” says Brad Pulford, Managing Director of HP Africa.



Understanding the realities of 21st-century teaching, 10 skills were identified in the study as crucial to future proofing learning. The majority (7 in 10) of teachers surveyed agreed that creative, innovative, critical, and entrepreneurial thinking, as well as digital literacy, are very important.



Crucially, one in three teachers say they could benefit from additional training to improve their skills in the above-mentioned areas, and that the development would have an enormous impact on the pedagogy.



Access to adequate resources and technology is key



Educators face numerous challenges which can negatively affect teaching outcomes, such as a lack of basic materials. 82% of teachers surveyed noted access to instructional materials and supplies as a problem, and a further 89% said access to adequate technological resources is an issue – a crucial aspect of teaching that has been overlooked for over a decade but has been brought to the fore by the pandemic.



Still, an overwhelming majority, 95%, believes that technology can have a positive benefit in the teaching environment and can raise learners’ engagement in lessons.



The Covid-19 pandemic thrust the importance of technology in classrooms into the spotlight, bringing new opportunities and pressures to teachers around the world. The shift has not been without difficulties, with 45% teachers ranking ICT skills as a challenging facet of the role – outpacing other elements like active teaching, homework marking and lesson planning. At the same time, 85% of survey respondents confirmed new skills in this area would have the greatest influence in their ability to teach.



Beyond technology, at least 50% of teachers report having too many learners in their classrooms which impedes quality learning, and 71% say they require more time to assist individual learners. Luckily, despite these challenges at least 95% of teachers are optimistic about their jobs and roles in shaping the future leaders of tomorrow.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fit-for-purpose">Fit for purpose</h2>



HP’s Innovation and Digital Education Academy (<a href="https://www.hp.com/emea_africa-en/solutions/education/idea-fellows.html">HP IDEA</a>) programme plays a critical role to bridge the skills gap – in fact, it forms part of HP’s goal to accelerate digital equity for 150 million people by 2030.



This immersive teacher development programme is designed to enable educators to develop and access new learning modalities in select schools in South Africa, Nigeria, and other 14 markets across Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.



“Through the <a href="https://www.hp.com/emea_africa-en/solutions/education/idea-fellows.html">HP IDEA</a> programme, our aim is to ensure that educators are equipped with the latest tools and best practices in teaching and learning, and ensure they too are ‘future-fit’. Understanding the educational landscape and where we can provide support and expertise is key to its success,” Pulford adds.



Pulford concludes: “We aim to expand and evolve HP IDEA through partnerships with local governments and complementary support for educators to ensure that drives results in the lives of pupils – collective action will make a real impact.”

HP-Image-1200×628-1

African teachers want to become future-fit with more “soft skills” training

Cambridge International qualifications are accepted at over 2,000 tertiary institutions across 160 countries, including top-ranking universities in the US, UK, Africa and across the globe.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="546" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/VC-Phakeng-173-2-820x546.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-419116" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/VC-Phakeng-173-2-820x546.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/VC-Phakeng-173-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/VC-Phakeng-173-2-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/VC-Phakeng-173-2-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/VC-Phakeng-173-2-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/VC-Phakeng-173-2-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>Image credit: UCT Vice Chancellor, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng &#8211; University of Cape Town</figcaption></figure>



As Africa’s leading university, the University of Cape Town has chosen to shoulder the responsibility to be at the forefront of transformation on the continent — a challenge they willingly embrace. Their mission is simple: to unleash Africa’s potential to help create a fair and just society.



It is their belief that the most important tool every African needs is an affordable, quality education – one that will qualify them for employment or a university degree. This is the only way to close the inequality gap. It is a necessity, not only for the university sector, but for everybody in the country.



This is why they chose to change the face of education in South Africa by launching <a href="http://www.uctonlinehighschool.com?utm_source=cnbc_africa&amp;utm_medium=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=CNBC-Africa">UCT Online High </a> <a href="http://www.uctonlinehighschool.com?utm_source=cnbc_africa&amp;utm_medium=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=CNBC-Africa">School</a> in 2022 — the most affordable online private school in South Africa; becoming the first University on the African continent to extend its expertise and impact to the secondary schooling market through an innovative online modality. This progressive school is purpose-built to allow South African learners to work towards achieving their National Senior Certificate from anywhere in the country.



UCT Online High School places emphasis on impeccable support, with each learner having access to a Support Coach throughout their entire school career. The offering is tailored to the learner by providing Structured Flexibility – a framework which allows learners to work anytime from anywhere, within well-defined boundaries. By placing Individual Mastery right at the centre of their philosophy, UCT Online High School ensures that each learner masters every module before moving on to the next one. That way they don’t progress with gaps in their tree of knowledge.



As part of their initial offering, they also launched UCT Online High School’s Free Curriculum with support from the Michael &amp; Susan Dell foundation. This entirely free online school platform allows any guardian, learner or educator to access their full CAPS (National Senior Certificate) curriculum — because money should not be a barrier to those wanting to learn.



A few months after its public launch in 2021, UCT Online High School was selected among the 12 Top Innovators in<a href="https://youtu.be/SUCP2VAmo1o"> </a>The WorldClass Education Challenge at the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Summit 2021. A digital platform to crowdsource solutions for the world&#8217;s most pressing issues, as outlined by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From almost 400 submissions, 12 notable innovators were selected – these individuals and their organisations have worked alongside Deloitte professionals to help address the global education crisis. UCT Online High School made the final selection of Top Innovators in Africa, cementing its impact at home, and abroad.



A year, and some 5,000 CAPS learners later, they are immensely pleased to be able to offer an additional curriculum in the form of the Cambridge Assessment International Education — the most affordable Cambridge International qualification in Africa at R3,300 per month (within South Africa) and US$230 per month (outside South Africa)! Cambridge International is one of the world’s most prestigious international curriculums, recognised by over 2,000 tertiary institutions worldwide, including all major local universities. With nearly a million learners in 10,000 schools in 160 countries, a Cambridge International qualification is a powerful global passport to the future. As the most affordable fully accredited Cambridge International school in Africa, UCT Online High School is proud to be able to offer this qualification to learners in South Africa and beyond. Starting with South Africa’s closest neighbours, they aim to expand their reach to the rest of the African continent in the near future. And they’re only getting started.



Admissions for the UCT Online High School’s Cambridge Assessment International Education are now open, with classes commencing in January 2023, after which learners will be able to enrol at any time, from wherever they are in the world. This new curriculum offers the full bouquet of Lower Secondary, IGCSE, AS and A levels at R3,300 per month (within South Africa) and US$230 per month (outside South Africa), but for 2023 we will be launching lower secondary and IGCSE, making it the most affordable fully accredited Cambridge International school in Africa. To offer a full break down:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Lower Secondary (years 8 &amp; 9, ages 12-14) provides learners with a broad curriculum, giving them a strong, well-rounded foundation.</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Upper Secondary otherwise known as IGCSE (years 10 &amp; 11, ages 15-16) is the most popular international qualification for 15 &#8211; 16 years olds and focuses on core academic and language development. Our first set of IGCSE exams will be written in November 2024.</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Cambridge Advanced, the AS and A levels qualifications (Years 12 &amp; 13, ages 17-18) is one of the strongest academic high school qualifications you can exit with, streamlining you into a focused career path. UCT Online High School is set to expand into AS/A levels in 2025.</li></ul>



For full list of FAQs please visit their website: <a href="https://www.uctonlinehighschool.com/frequently-asked-questions?utm_source=cnbc_africa&amp;utm_medium=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=CNBC-Africa">https://www.uctonlinehighschool.com/frequently-asked-questions</a>



For more information on UCT Online High School, please visit:<a href="http://www.uctonlinehighschool.com"> </a><a href="http://www.uctonlinehighschool.com?utm_source=cnbc_africa&amp;utm_medium=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=CNBC-Africa">www.uctonlinehighschool.com</a>.



‘If I may just say what an honour it is to partner with Cambridge Assessment International Education, one of the world’s most prestigious institutions. Together we are providing access to a truly world-class education from the comfort of one’s own home — not just to learners in our own country, but to those throughout Africa too.’, says Yandiswa Xhakaza, UCT Online High School Director &amp; Principal.



Christine Özden, Chief Executive of Cambridge Assessment International Education, says, ‘We are delighted to announce that UCT Online High School has joined our global community of Cambridge schools and we look forward to a long and productive relationship with them.’



In their tireless quest to innovate and be at the forefront of creating an equitable and innovative education system on the continent, the online high school also announces the launch of an Adult Matric programme delivered entirely online. The Adult Matric programme provides a second chance for those who were unable, or never given the opportunity, to write their National Senior Certificate when they were young — because it’s never too late to enable a better future for ourselves and our families.



<a href="https://bit.ly/3w91qOA">As per Youth Capital’s research</a>, and at any given time, there are about 250,000 people working towards a matric certificate outside the full-time, in-school system.Since an average of 800,000 candidates write matric examinations each year, this means that about a third of the total matric cohort are ‘on the fringe’ or ‘non-traditional’ learners. Yet, as second-chancers, the educational journeys of these non-traditional learners often go unrecognised. Despite their grit and perseverance, second chance matrics are rarely reported on publicly. UCT Online High School is here to celebrate and support these learners, and the Adult Matric programme offers a viable and affordable alternative for adults to study online, and part-time, towards their matric certificate.



A matric certificate can transform young and old people’s futures alike, by signalling their knowledge and skills to employers, creating pathways to further education, and ultimately improving their chances of finding work, keeping a job, and earning a higher salary.



UCT Online High School isn’t just a school, it’s the backbone of an entire ecosystem which has been designed to service learners from a broad range of socioeconomic and academic means. They believe in a brighter future for all, and they’re doing everything that they can to make it happen. They’re calling on future changemakers, young and old, to join their innovative learning journey and make their future official.



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VC Phakeng portraits

AFRICA’S MOST AFFORDABLE CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATION LAUNCHED BY UCT ONLINE HIGH SCHOOL

The African cryptocurrency market is growing rapidly and has become a financial solution for many. While most crypto trading is P2P, few companies have the capacity to cater to high-net-worth individuals and corporates who seek to buy, sell or move large amounts of USDC and USDT stablecoin.



Yellow Card Financial, the fastest growing cryptocurrency company on the continent, provides a personalised trading facility through their world-class <a href="https://yellowcard.io/otc/">Crypto Over-The-Counter (OTC) desk</a> for those who seek to trade any volume worth over or&nbsp; from $50,000 to millions of dollars.



The OTC desk, launched in 2021, provides access to a massive global network in the 16 African countries where the company operates, including South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Botswana, Tanzania, Rwanda and Zambia, to name a few.



Yellow Card complies with global AML, Sanctions, FATF Travel Rule requirements, and <a href="https://academy.yellowcard.io/topics/how-kyc-protects-you-in-the-financial-space/">KYC</a> all of our customers across all jurisdictions. We are also registered on GoAML and with local Financial Intelligence Units in most of our jurisdictions to help report on AML, Sanctions, and Financial Crime matters.



One of Africa’s largest crypto markets is undoubtedly <a href="https://yellowcard.io/nigeria/">Nigeria</a>, cited in the 2021 Global Crypto Adoption Index among the top 20 countries with the fastest crypto growth.



Munachi Ogueke, CBO for Yellow Card Financial, says that despite challenges regarding regulation and currency availability, Yellow Card has consistently provided customers personalised service at competitive rates with no limits on trading volumes.



“One of the challenges customers face is the inability to buy USD with NGN. We have the solution in providing USDT as an alternative,” says Munachi.



Yellow Card has a wide range of liquidity providers, helping to serve customers with the most competitive rates for large transactions at a fraction of the cost of trading on an open exchange, paying fees and slippage.



“Our biggest competitive advantage is definitely our extremely deep liquidity pools that fill any order size anytime,” adds Munachi.



With a full range of fiat currencies available, the African blockchain leader can trade in the pair which suits each client’s needs. Currently, we sell or buy USDT and USDC for these currencies: US Dollar, South African Rand, Nigerian Naira, Botswana Pula, Ghanian Cedi, Ugandan Shilling, Kenyan Shilling, Zambian Kwacha, Central African Franc, Rwandan Franc and Tanzanian Shilling.



<a href="https://yellowcard.typeform.com/to/BD1xa3NX">Sign up</a> for a Yellow Card account today and experience a safe, secure, personalised, fast solution from the comfort of your home or workplace.



About Yellow Card Financial:



<a href="https://yellowcard.io/">Yellow Card Financial</a> was founded by Chris Maurice and Justin Poiroux and launched in Nigeria in 2018. Since then, the U.S. and Africa-based teams have sought to make cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT Stablecoin accessible to anyone in Africa.



Among the company’s key mandates are to provide financial freedom for all through cryptocurrency and education on the market. Efforts like the <a href="https://academy.yellowcard.io/">Yellow Card Academy</a> that dispense information about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, economics, and financial literacy do just that.



In 2021, Yellow Card announced a $15M Series A, the largest ever by an African cryptocurrency exchange.

Yellow-card

High Net Worth Individuals, Corporates and Institutions to Benefit from Yellow Card’s OTC Crypto Desk

Despite a string of supply-side shocks to the manufacturing sector, Justin Schmidt, Head of Manufacturing Sector at Absa Retail and Business Bank, found a positive mood and encouraging interactions at the 2022 Manufacturing Indaba.



The mood from delegates and exhibitors at the 2022 Manufacturing Indaba was more positive than what the data is indicating. “Overall, the conference had surprisingly strong attendance, with some great engagements across the manufacturing sub-sectors,” says Schmidt.



According to Absa’s Q2 Manufacturing Survey – published just a day before the Manufacturing Indaba opened at the Sandton Convention Centre – confidence levels in the sector dropped by 14 points from the first quarter of the year to 29 in the second, following a string of bad-news events.



“After surviving the past two years, manufacturers continued their recovery despite the headwinds,” says Schmidt. “However, the additional shocks caused by the floods in KwaZulu-Natal (Africa’s second-biggest manufacturing hub), the increased intensity of load shedding and the knock-on effects of the Russia-Ukraine war have weighed heavily on manufacturers. Unsurprisingly, that resulted in this knock to confidence.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spillover-effects">Spillover effects</h2>



The quarterly survey covers approximately 700 businesspeople in the manufacturing sector and was conducted by Stellenbosch University’s Bureau for Economic Research in May. The confidence index ranges between zero and 100, with zero reflecting an extreme lack of confidence and 100 extreme confidence, where all participants are satisfied with current business conditions.&nbsp;



The manufacturing sector’s seasonally adjusted output for April 2022, as published by Statistics South Africa, also fell by 5.4% month-on-month. At the same time, Absa’s survey indicated a drop in both domestic and export sales, with manufacturers noting insufficient demand as a more serious constraint to current activities than at the start of the year.&nbsp;



“As consumers feel the pinch of rising food and fuel prices, along with increasing interest rates, the manufacturing sector may experience the spillover effect of reduced disposable income resulting in lower demand,” Schmidt notes.



Load shedding has also taken its toll. For manufacturers, Stage 2 load shedding – while difficult – is manageable because it allows for planning and scheduling, and it tends to happen at night. However, when South Africa moves into Stage 4 (as it did in Q2) or higher, it is a lot more difficult and costly for manufacturers to operate.



“Power is both the biggest enabler of, and the biggest constraint on, South Africa’s manufacturing growth going forward,” says Schmidt. “We must solve the power crisis – and while we are seeing some positive moves there, it needs to happen much quicker.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Reigniting economic growth through manufacturing</h2>



Manufacturers are fully aware of the constraints on and hindrances to production with shortages of raw material ranked as their second largest constraint to activity. “There remain overarching concerns around supply chain uncertainty and rising prices,” says Schmidt.



The Manufacturing Indaba included breakaway sessions focused on precisely those issues: energy, transport and logistics, localisation – and, of course, value chain integration in the age of the African Continental Free Trade Area. It’s a busy sector, and one that – as the event’s theme underlined – has the potential to “reignite economic growth”.



With that big picture in mind, Schmidt says the short-term sentiment for South Africa’s manufacturing sector remains generally positive. “Looking further ahead, we need to see structural reforms taking place to see long-term growth and recovery,” he says. “But overall, it’s a positive sector. Manufacturing has survived the shocks of the past two years, and the sector was showing an unexpectedly strong recovery into Q1 2022. It’s reasonable to expect that it will survive those Q2 shocks and bounce back in time.”







Justin Schmidt Head of Manufacturing Sector at Absa Retail and Business Bank



“Power is both the biggest enabler of, and the biggest constraint on, South Africa’s manufacturing growth.” – Justin Schmidt | Head of Manufacturing Sector at Absa Retail and Business Bank

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Mixed mood sets the tone at Manufacturing Indaba

The COVID-19 pandemic threw the world into disarray, but in Africa, life continues: Farmers farm, merchants sell, people apply for capital to create jobs and improve livelihoods, and a heightened need for access to healthcare underpins it all. But on a continent with widespread inequality, where over half of the population is still excluded from the formal economy, and one in three lacks formal proof of identity – the task to go from ‘survive’ to ‘thrive’, is an even greater challenge. This is particularly critical at a time when there is a global food crisis in the making.



Still, a silver lining exists. In villages, farms, cities, clinics and communities across Africa, a digital evolution is underfoot, one that started even before the pandemic. While there are significant gaps in infrastructure and internet access, mobile phones proliferate, making the continent fertile soil for the adoption of innovative solutions that create new value chains and wider access to financial tools.



Take farming for instance. In Africa, farmers face significant challenges, including limited access to markets, access to working capital to secure quality seeds and pesticides, and access to relevant financial tools to pay and get paid efficiently. Millions of farmers across Africa work incredibly hard to make a subsistence living. For whole communities to truly thrive, the people working the land need a sustainable farming model which helps farmers move from subsistence production to more commercial production and does so in way that is fair and transparent to all parties.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/3-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-418189" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/3-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/3-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/3-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/3-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>Michael Froman (centre), vice chairman and president of strategic growth for Mastercard, tours the Masaka district in Uganda, to learn how Farm Pass is helping smallholder farmers at a local cooperative, the Kibinge Farmer Producer Organization access better prices. </figcaption></figure>



“In Sub-Saharan Africa, agriculture is the perhaps the most vital source of livelihoods, with over 60% of the population are smallholder farmers. Even more profound is that economic growth from agriculture is estimated to be between two to four times more effective at reducing extreme poverty than any other sector,” says Michael Froman, Mastercard vice chairman and president of strategic growth. “With greater investment, digitization and support, many countries have the potential to increase food production, reduce costly imports, promote rural livelihoods and reduce poverty. And Farm Pass can be a critical part of that equation.”



Farm Pass is a digital platform that Mastercard launched in 2015, bringing together various agri-sector stakeholders from the supply and demand sides in one agricultural marketplace. Smallholder farmers can access a stable marketplace with transparent pricing, enabling them to command higher prices, and quality inputs and agricultural advisory services to increase harvest productivity. It is&nbsp;transforming agricultural ecosystems and connecting farmers to the formal financial system, also providing them with a&nbsp;digital record that could support future loan applications. During the pandemic, farmers were able to sell produce at 25%-50% higher prices by connecting directly with buyers in Farm Pass, even though local markets were closed.



On his recent visit to the Masaka district in Uganda, where Robusta is the main coffee variety grown, Froman experienced the positive impact of Farm Pass first-hand in his interaction with farmers at a local cooperative, the Kibinge Farmer Producer Organization, which streamlines production efforts. At Kibinge, over 3,400 farmers have registered for Farm Pass. Across Africa, Farm Pass has already helped roughly 659,000 smallholder farmers access better prices.



Kibonde Christine Nabukeera, one of the Kibinge coffee farmers, says: “Before I used to spend money on transportation, but now I can sell my produce from home and wait for an update on my phone. Also, all the prices of e-Farm inputs are easily accessible, including the change in prices.”



“Before we launched Farm Pass, these farmers struggled with a long sales process, delayed payments and manual navigation of complicated paper trails, in addition to the risk that paper records could be lost,” continues Froman. “But now, these farmers are more optimistic about the potential of their farming operations. It shows the immense impact that digital inclusion can have in driving commerce and creating a path toward greater financial security. And the fact that it can be used offline as well as online is extremely valuable to smallholder farmers&nbsp;who often operate in low connectivity settings.”



Soon, more farmers will discover its benefits as a result of the partnership between Mastercard and Ecobank Group, which will see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mastercard.com/news/perspectives/2022/mastercard-farm-pass-digital-farming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Farm Pass rolled out to 33 countries</a>&nbsp;across Sub-Saharan Africa, growing the award-winning digital solution’s footprint beyond Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania where it is currently live. And as more farmers move from&nbsp;subsistence to commercial farming, it will in turn stimulate agricultural growth, increase competitiveness, and improve food security in Africa – which has also experienced the knock-on effects of disrupted supply chains in the wake of the Ukraine crisis.



Farm Pass can also play a part in providing wider access to capital, given that only 3% of the agri-sector currently receive credit from banks. Access to working capital generally requires two things – proof of transactions and proof of ID. By integrating their operations with a payment system, Farm Pass enables smallholder farmers to build a digital transaction record that can facilitate the extension of formal credit or other financial services from banks and other institutions.



Lack of formal ID is a bigger problem, which affects access to services for many marginalized citizens. This is why Mastercard created&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mastercard.com/global/en/business/governments/community-pass.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Community Pass</a>, a shared interoperable digital platform that connects people in the most remote and underserved communities to service providers including banks, governments and healthcare providers. Community Pass establishes a functional identity&nbsp;by creating a unique digital ID, allowing access to credit and services that would otherwise be unattainable. Farm Pass is the agricultural solution sitting on the Community Pass platform.



This is helpful not just for the farmers who use Farm Pass, but also for the medical professionals who are keeping communities safe in the wake of the biggest pandemic in a century. The potential of Wellness Pass, another component of Community Pass, is why Froman’s next stop was in Addis Ababa, formalizing a new partnership between Mastercard, Gavi, JSI and the Ministry of Health in Ethiopia.



Wellness Pass tackles the problems created by fragmented and manual healthcare systems, including lack of interoperability, a reliance on paper-based medical records, and limited ability to verify care plans, which impairs data access for clinics, governments and patients. The solution facilitates digitizing health and vaccination records and makes them portable and available offline. It also uses biometric verification to preserve patient privacy and enable individuals to participate equitably in society – in this case, to receive much needed healthcare services and accurate record keeping of their medical history.&nbsp;For Ethiopia, it&nbsp;will&nbsp;strengthen the country’s public health response through secure Covid-19 vaccination tracking and offline portability of health records.



“In the wake of the pandemic, we quickly reconfigured the Wellness Pass tool from focusing on childhood vaccinations to tracking Covid-19 vaccinations so that societies could more easily cope with managing the virus,” says Froman.&nbsp;“Our hope is that Wellness Pass will reach one million Ethiopians in the next 15 months, improving the accessibility, affordability and quality of primary healthcare for residents. This is consistent with the 2025 Digital Ethiopia Strategy.”



Wider adoption of technology is driving innovation. But you can’t just pull a product off the shelf at headquarters and assume it’s going to work anywhere. It’s the way in which global expertise and know-how blend with a deep understanding of local communities and needs which has the potential to produce innovations with the greatest impact. It’s how Mastercard can deliver on its commitment to connect one billion people, 50 million small and micro businesses and 25 million women-run businesses to the digital economy by 2025.&nbsp;



“By connecting people and businesses to the digital economy with the help of our partners, Mastercard is working to enhance the financial security and wellbeing of communities. Driving sustainable, inclusive growth is central to who we are as a company and our commitment to “doing well by doing good.”

download

<a>Pass to Greater Prosperity: Advancing financial security and well-being across Africa through digital inclusion</a>

Africa is a continent that is bearing the brunt of the devastating impact of climate change, yet it has contributed the least to global emissions. The low carbon output reflects Africa’s crippling energy deficit which has stymied industrialisation and economic development.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="600" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CNBC-article-2-_800x600.png" alt="" class="wp-image-417164" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CNBC-article-2-_800x600.png 800w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CNBC-article-2-_800x600-300x225.png 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CNBC-article-2-_800x600-120x90.png 120w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CNBC-article-2-_800x600-768x576.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption>Enlit Africa</figcaption></figure>



A new report from the Africa Finance Corporation sets out the continent’s stance of balancing the need for emissions reduction with critical development imperatives as Africa starts to look to net-zero.



<a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/">Enlit Africa (the unifying brand for African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa) invites you to join the conversation 7-9 June 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa</a><a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/welcome">.</a> <a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/the-event/attend">REGISTER TODAY</a>. 



“While renewable sources are the ultimate goal, Africa must also exploit its abundant reserves of natural gas as an essential transitional source of energy to support industrialisation – a position backed by the European Commission’s recent decision to classify natural gas as a form of green energy and a vital transition fuel in the path towards decarbonisation,” says the report.



A role for gas?



This is a position supported by <a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/welcome">Enlit Africa 2022</a> (formerly African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa), and one that will receive coverage at the event as delegates explore the topic of gas masterplans and the role of gas across the energy transition. <a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/the-event/Learn/speakers">Speakers</a> sharing their thoughts on the role of gas include Thabang Audat, Chief Director: Planning, from the South African Department of Mineral Resources and Electricity. He is supported by Craig Morkel, Gas Economy Leadership Group Chairperson for the SA Oil and Gas Alliance, Hasnayn Ebrahim, MD, Africa Infrastructure Advisors and Maggy Shino, Petroleum Commissioner, Namibian Department of Minerals and Energy.



But the development of gas markets is not limited to that of natural gas only – but includes the possibilities to be explored through the development of a hydrogen market – not only as a source of primary energy, but also as a commodity for an export market.



Alternative fuels



This will form the basis of discussions at Enlit Africa around the development of a hydrogen market in Africa, plans to commercialise hydrogen and what the considerations are when it comes to pricing hydrogen.&nbsp; Joining this conversation are Siggi Huegemann, Chairman, African Hydrogen Partnership; Hendrik Louw, CEO, Northern Cape Economic Development, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, and representative from the Department of Science and Innovation, South Africa



Attendees and exhibitors at Enlit Africa represent the leading suppliers, experts and energy professionals from Africa and around the world, offering an opportunity to network and engage with utilities, municipalities, OEMs, government, regulators, EPC, developers, financiers and the entire energy ecosystem. <a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/the-event/attend">Register today.</a>



The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction estimates that the cost of structural damage caused by natural disasters in Africa will climb to $145bn a year by 2030. The continent thus needs strong and resulting buildings to rebuild ocean and river defences and infrastructure in transport, construction of electricity grids and off-grid energy. This will in turn help develop sustainable mining and the circular economy that could drive growth and job creation.



The focus of the Energy Storage and Alternative Solutions sessions during Enlit Africa will focus on how alternative energy source such as renewable energies, are providing certainty and energy security to mines and other large industrial concerns, not only in the case of loadshedding, but also in response to the effects of climate change. However, the conversation will also focus on opportunities to utilise renewable energy to bring electricity to clinics and communities and how collaboration between mines and the communities surrounding them can be beneficial for all.



Innovation



In order to effect change, Africa-based institutions like the IFC need access to essential climate funds through financial innovation to support resilient building and investment in localised mass-scale manufacturing and processing. The IFC’s Green City Action Plan is one such initiative. Speaking at Enlit Africa,&nbsp; representatives from the IFC will share how, by working with the City of Ekhuruleni, they have developed a Green City Action Plan that sets out actions that can help CoE meet its climate mitigation and sustainability targets. The Green City Action Plan leverages a new IFC platform, APEX, which is supported by the APEX Online Application Tool that helps quantify and prioritise policy and investment solutions across four key sectors: energy, transport, water, and waste.



Innovative finance mechanisms and unpacking the reality of the just energy transition for Africa are topics of discussion at Enlit Africa. <a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/the-event/attend">Register today</a>. 



Information about the programme, speaker line up, networking, roundtable and site visit opportunities can be found by visiting <a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/programme">https://www.enlit-africa.com/programme</a>.



Back at the CTICC <a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/welcome">Enlit Africa 2022</a> will return to the CTICC in Cape Town with a world-class exhibition, showcasing the latest technology and services on offer in the sector. Known for its compelling content and speakers, the organisers will not disappoint, with two keynotes and most of the content presented in speaking hubs on the expo floor. Conference delegates will also be able to enjoy the networking and site visits that the event has popularised for over two decades. Strict health and safety COVID-19 protocols will be observed. Industry support Eskom, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and the City of Cape Town have been official hosting partners of the event for many years and 2022 will be no exception. <a href="https://www.esi-africa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESI Africa</a>, the continent’s leading news provider for power and energy news, is the official host publication.



<a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/welcome">Enlit Africa (formerly African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa)</a> is Africa’s leading exhibition and conference, gathering the power and energy industry’s most influential professionals and decision makers from across the continent for three days of relevant, accredited technical and strategic conference seminars, valuable networking opportunities and access to world-class products and solutions.



Enlit Africa is organised by&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wearevuka.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Vuka Group&nbsp;</a>(formerly&nbsp;<a href="http://www.clarioneventsafrica.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clarion Events Africa</a>), a leading Cape Town-based and multi-award-winning organiser of exhibitions, conferences and digital events across the continent in the infrastructure, energy, mining, mobility, ecommerce and CX sectors. Other well-known events by The Vuka Group include&nbsp;<a href="http://www.drcminingweek.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DRC Mining Week</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.africaminingforum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Africa Mining Forum</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nigeriaminingweek.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nigeria Mining Week</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://generationehq.com/smarter-mobility-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Smarter Mobility Africa</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://ecommerce-africa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ECOM</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://cemafricasummit.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CEM Africa</a>.



<a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/">Enlit Africa (the unifying brand for African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa) invites you to join the conversation 7-9 June 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa</a><a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/welcome">.</a> <a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/the-event/attend">Register today</a>.

CNBC-article-2-_800x600

The role of gas in Africa’s energy sector is just one of the strategic angles being pursued at Enlit Africa

Biased cultural norms, limited technology access, and biased teaching and learning materials perpetuate the STEM education imbalance between boys and girls.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Ghana_00693-1-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-417156" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Ghana_00693-1-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Ghana_00693-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Ghana_00693-1-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Ghana_00693-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Ghana_00693-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Ghana_00693-1-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



Ensuring that girls receive a quality education is the most powerful investment we can make in our collective future. Educated women are more likely to marry at a later age, have fewer children, earn higher incomes and build better lives for themselves and their families. The World Bank has even said that without improvements in gender equality, <a href="https://blogs.worldbank.org/nasikiliza/how-empowering-women-can-help-end-poverty-africa">we will not reduce poverty</a> in Africa.



Addressing the under-representation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses is a central part of improving girls&#8217; education in Africa. The choice could not be more clear: if Africa does not make significant progress in getting more girls in the sciences, its progress towards sustainable development will be compromised.



However, in many countries across the continent, <a href="https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/2022-04/Girls%27%20education%20and%20empowerment.pdf">social norms and traditions prevent</a> girls from pursuing educational opportunities. In Sudan, for instance, many families with children see girls’ priority as domestic chores over schoolwork. Evidence shows that African girls who spend 28 hours per week on household duties and caregiving attend school 25% less than those with just 10 hours of weekly domestic chores. In a continent where girls are far more often pressured to work in the home than boys are, it results in major gender disparities in learning.



Some will argue that technology could be the solution, providing digital access to learning that girls might not otherwise have. However, gender norms already limit girls’ access to technology, and have had a disproportionate<a href="https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/sub-saharan_africa_education_series_21_july_r.pdf"> impact on their learning opportunities during the Covid-19 lockdowns</a>.



In Ethiopia, parents are more likely to deny girls access to mobile phones as they want to protect them from<a href="https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/2022-04/Girls%27%20education%20and%20empowerment.pdf"> exposure to unsafe content</a>. One <a href="https://www.girlsandmobile.org/">study</a> found that for boys, cost is the biggest barrier to mobile phone access, while for girls, social norms are the main constraint; a large majority of boys do not have to seek permission to use technology while nearly half of girls do.



Globally, the<a href="https://www.girlsandmobile.org/"> disparity between boys and girls</a> is so great that boys are 50% more likely to own a mobile phone than girls and more than half of girls have to borrow a mobile phone if they want access, compared with only 28% of boys.



There is also significant disparity in how girls and boys are treated in the classroom itself, especially in STEM subjects. Teachers often demonstrate the same gender biases as parents, sub-consciously encouraging boys ahead of girls by calling on them first or more often to answer science-related questions. Teaching materials and textbook examples further deepen the divide with more references to boys and male success than that of women and girls.



Data from the OECD reveals a strong correlation between 15-year-old boys&#8217; self-confidence in STEM subjects and their higher performance versus girls’. Yet boys&#8217; brains are no more effective at STEM problem-solving than girls&#8217;, and there are<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29484644/"> negligible gender differences in children’s maths skills</a>. What evidence does show, however, is that girls&#8217; self-perception, due to community pressures and biases, are the primary reason for girls succeeding less in many countries in STEM studies and careers.



The most immediate way to nurture their confidence in the sciences is to increase girls’ exposure to high-quality, inclusive science instruction in schools. Girls’ familiarity with STEM is a key part of building their self-confidence in it.



That’s why the British Council is tackling some of these issues in a drive to increase and sustain access, interest, participation and performance of girls in these subjects at all levels:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Making Coding Fun for Girls After-school coding clubs #LearningToCode are being piloted in Kenya and South Africa to give girls exposure and access to technology and build their confidence through fun activities in a creative and safe environment.</li><li>Training Teachers on Gender Inclusion Through teacher training across many African countries, in conjunction with ministries of education and teacher training colleges, we are skilling-up teachers to be more gender inclusive in the classroom and making them aware of biases and how they can affect girls.</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Digital Skills in the Classroom We work with the Wikimedia Foundation in Ghana on our Skills for Success programme which is focused on building teacher training colleges capacity to skill-up teachers in digital technology so they can bring that to the kids in their classrooms. This is particularly important for girls who are less likely to get exposure to technology at home.</li><li>School Leadership Training We work with school leaders across Africa to teach more inclusive styles of school management, promoting reflective learning.</li></ul>



These are just some examples of the systems changes that can be achieved. We encourage aid agencies, ministries of education and other partners to consider the wide-reaching benefits of creating societies in which&nbsp;girls can achieve their potential in STEM.



The British Council welcomes the opportunity to co-create impactful, needs based education programmes in partnership with like-minded organisations.







Andrew Zerzan is the Deputy Regional Director and Director of Education, Arts &amp; Civil Society for British Council in Sub Saharan Africa.



Andrew is an international programme leader, passionate about finding solutions to complex social and cultural challenges. He has more than 15 years’ experience in international programme strategy, partnership development and project management.



Andrew joined the Council in 2014 and has held several roles including, Global Director of Education, Global Head of Business Delivery, and Director of Risk and Security.



Prior to joining British Council, Andrew worked with several organisations including the World Bank, Gates Foundation and Reed Elsevier plc. In 2004 he launched a start-up education business, pioneering a high-tech approach to learning and connecting people from different cultures and geographies.



Andrew was commended by the City of London for innovative risk management in the Risk Management Awards of 2014.



Andrew has experience of living and working in Europe, Africa and Asia, and is currently based in Nairobi with his family and dog. Andrew has weathered the pandemic appreciating the ingenuity of African youth to thrive regardless of the challenges they face.

Ghana_00693_British Council

Closing the gender gap in African STEM education

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="429" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CNBC-image-820x429.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-416719" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CNBC-image-820x429.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CNBC-image-300x157.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CNBC-image-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CNBC-image-768x402.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CNBC-image.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



Market intermediaries, such as stock exchanges, central depository systems, and settlement systems, as well as anybody else allowed to conduct business under the Capital Markets Act of 2000, are subject to CMA oversight, licensing, and monitoring in Kenya.



As such, there are numerous benefits for traders in Kenya who choose to sign up with a Forex broker that is regulated by the CMA says Louis Schoeman from <a href="https://forexbrokers.ke/">Forex Brokers Kenya</a>.



To this end, the CMA ensures that every broker has operational customer service help. Therefore, if any issues emerge, the Kenyan consumer will be able to get help as fast as possible and through a reliable regulatory mechanism.



Accordingly, the CMA ensures that registered forex brokers do not engage in malpractices or fraudulent conduct that could harm their reputations in order to protect the interests of their traders.



Added to this, Kenyan forex traders can benefit from decreased fees and spreads as a result of the requirements set forth by this regulator. It is the duty of regulated forex brokers to ensure that Kenyan investors may reap the benefits of their currency market investments.



Only a handful of Forex brokers have received CMA licensing to date, and in this article we explore the 4 best options which also provide Kenyan traders with competitive trading conditions and a wealth of trading tools at their disposal.



<a href="https://one.exness.link/boarding/sign-up/a/v1hp2646" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Open a Free Trading Account Now</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-exinity-east-africa">1. Exinity East Africa</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-overview">Overview</h3>



Forex, CFDs, and stock investments are all provided by Exinity East Africa, which forms part of major brokerage firm, Exinity Limited.



Exinity Limited has been in the online trading business for more than two decades and now serves clients from more than 150 countries across the world.



Exinity, Alpari, and FXTM all fall under the umbrella of the Exinity Group, which also owns the payment provider AcruPay. To date, the company has grown from a single MetaTrader broker in Limassol, Cyprus, to holding major offices around the world.



Forex, CFD, and stock trading products are available to nearly two million customers through this network. The broker is licensed by the FSRA in the United Arab Emirates, the FSC in Mauritius, and the CMA in Kenya to conduct business.



Users of Exinity can choose from a variety of capital and speculative market options. These range from long-term investors to swing traders, arbitrageurs, and scalpers, and everything in between.



Customers of Exinity have access to a variety of trading platforms and account options. The firm&#8217;s own mobile app, which is supported on both Apple (iOS) and Android (APK) devices, available for account holders around the world, and features an integrated analyst sentiment indicator and market research tools.



Pros and Cons



<figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter"><table><tbody><tr><td>Pros Full MetaTrader suite available Negative balance protection provided Multi-regulated</td><td>Cons Cryptos not available </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Features



<figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter"><table><tbody><tr><td>Feature</td><td>Information</td></tr><tr><td>Regulation</td><td>CMA, FSRA, FCA</td></tr><tr><td>Minimum deposit from</td><td>$20</td></tr><tr><td>Average spread from</td><td>0.5 pips</td></tr><tr><td>Commissions from</td><td>$2 per lot for Forex</td></tr><tr><td>Deposit/Withdrawal Fee</td><td>None</td></tr><tr><td>Maximum Leverage</td><td>1:200</td></tr><tr><td>Bonuses</td><td>Yes</td></tr><tr><td>Customer Support</td><td>24/5</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Scope Markets</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Overview</h3>



The feature-rich MT5 platform for desktop, web, and mobile devices is offered by Scope Markets, a regulated trading broker, to provide online Forex and CFD trading to Kenyan clients.



Retail and institutional traders in Kenya can use Scope Markets&#8217; online trading services, which include FX and CFD trading.



These clients can choose from a variety of trading options that the broker offers and that are all compliant, adaptable, economical, and focused on them.



As such, clients have access to a wide range of global markets, including stocks, indices, currency, commodities, and CFDs.



The management team at Scope Markets has been in the financial industry for over two decades and has developed numerous long-term relationships. Fast execution, minimal slippage, and tight spreads are among the features that benefit their clients in Kenya and around the world.



Pros and Cons



<figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter"><table><tbody><tr><td>Pros MetaTrader 5 available Excellent educational resources Well-regulated</td><td>Cons Demo account not currently available </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Features



<figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter"><table><tbody><tr><td>Feature</td><td>Information</td></tr><tr><td>Regulation</td><td>CMA, CySEC, FSCA</td></tr><tr><td>Minimum deposit from</td><td>$500</td></tr><tr><td>Average spread from</td><td>0.9 pips</td></tr><tr><td>Commissions from</td><td>Variable</td></tr><tr><td>Deposit/Withdrawal Fee</td><td>$35 per withdrawal</td></tr><tr><td>Maximum Leverage</td><td>1:30 retail/1:100 professional</td></tr><tr><td>Bonuses</td><td>None</td></tr><tr><td>Customer Support</td><td>24/5</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>







You might like: <a href="https://forexbroker.ng/forex-brokers/best-forex-trading-apps/">Best Trading Apps in Nigeria</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. FXPesa</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Overview</h3>



Founded in 2019, FXPesa is a relatively young forex and CFD broker. The company has headquarters in Nairobi, as well as a number of branch offices across the country.



A subsidiary of EGM Securities Limited, FXPesa is regulated by the Kenyan Capital Markets Authority (CMA). The parent firm, which is regulated by the CMA and is well-known in the industry, is deemed trustworthy by Kenyans.



In addition to currency pairs, indexes and commodities, FXPesa also offers shares and other financial products. As a result, it&#8217;s a good option for novice currency traders because it offers access to more currencies than many of its rivals.



Traders can also benefit from lower spreads by upgrading to a premium account.



FXPesa has both a web platform and a desktop trading tool for PC, called FXPesa Trader, which may be used to trade currencies.



There&#8217;s no software to download or set up while using the web-based platform. You&#8217;ll have full access to all FX and CFD markets after you log in with your account information. The interface is straightforward and easy to use, and it comes equipped with all the necessary resources.



The MetaTrader 4 (MT4) platform is also accessible in addition to the proprietary platform. Automated trading, trading signals, complex charts, and research and analysis tools are all included in MT4&#8217;s feature set, making it a good choice for both newbies and more experienced traders.



Pros and Cons



<figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter"><table><tbody><tr><td>Pros MetaTrader 4 available Proprietary trading platform available Good selection of trading assets</td><td>Cons Not the tightest spreads in the industry </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Features



<figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter"><table><tbody><tr><td>Feature</td><td>Information</td></tr><tr><td>Regulation</td><td>CMA</td></tr><tr><td>Minimum deposit from</td><td>$5</td></tr><tr><td>Average spread from</td><td>1.4 pips</td></tr><tr><td>Commissions from</td><td>None</td></tr><tr><td>Deposit/Withdrawal Fee</td><td>1% on e-wallets</td></tr><tr><td>Maximum Leverage</td><td>1:400</td></tr><tr><td>Bonuses</td><td>30% deposit bonus</td></tr><tr><td>Customer Support</td><td>24/5</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>







<h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. Pepperstone</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Overview</h3>



After launching in 2010, <a href="https://forexsuggest.com/pepperstone-review/">Pepperstone</a> Group has become one of the leading online brokerages in the industry, with the ability to trade in a wide range of markets, including forex, equities, indices, metals and even cryptocurrencies.



Traders in Kenya of a variety of skill levels can benefit from a wide range of trading options, including desktop, mobile, and web-based platforms, an extensive product catalogue, and a variety of account kinds.



Pros and Cons



<figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter"><table><tbody><tr><td>Pros No minimum deposit Low trading fees for forex No added costs for withdrawals or deposits </td><td>Cons Limited number of instruments No additional research tools </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Features



<figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter"><table><tbody><tr><td>Feature</td><td>Information</td></tr><tr><td>Regulation</td><td>FCA, ASIC</td></tr><tr><td>Minimum deposit from</td><td>AUD200</td></tr><tr><td>Average spread from</td><td>0.4 pips</td></tr><tr><td>Commissions from</td><td>$3.76 commission per lot per trade</td></tr><tr><td>Deposit/Withdrawal Fee</td><td>None</td></tr><tr><td>Maximum Leverage</td><td>1:500</td></tr><tr><td>Bonuses</td><td>None</td></tr><tr><td>Customer Support</td><td>24/5</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

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4 Best CMA-Regulated Forex Brokers in Kenya

<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="628" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CNBC-article-option-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-416689" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CNBC-article-option-1.png 1200w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CNBC-article-option-1-300x157.png 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CNBC-article-option-1-820x429.png 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CNBC-article-option-1-160x84.png 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CNBC-article-option-1-768x402.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure></div>



COP26 was a ‘mixed bag’ for developing countries, unlocking some much-needed funding mechanisms, even as it under-delivered in other areas. The issue of funding is one that has been high on the international agenda for many years, along with the shortfall between pledges made to aid with climate adaption and mitigation and what was actually realised.



Coming away from COP26, the shift in the discussion around financing was highlighted by an agreement between the United State,&nbsp;France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the European Union (EU) and South Africa to decarbonise South Africa’s energy sector and finance mitigation measures to protect against job losses in the sector.



A just energy transition



As the largest emitter of carbon in Africa, South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) deal will demonstrate that a shift from a heavily coal-dependant country to a decarbonised one is not only possible, but that it can be done without sacrificing economic growth.



The keynote sessions of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/welcome">Enlit Africa [formerly African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa]&nbsp;[7-9 June 2022]</a>, will focus on understanding the finance options, the priorities and the roadmap of the&nbsp;JETP. But more importantly,&nbsp;the discussions expand the conversation across the continent, asking how finance of that magnitude can be mobilised to support Africa’s energy transition.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://bit.ly/3MwqMM9">REGISTER HERE TO ATTEND AS A DELEGATE</a></h2>



It&#8217;s all about collaboration



The theme for this year’s event – Collaboration to fast forward Africa’s energy transition – recognises that collaborative efforts will&nbsp;drive the energy transition. Collaboration between public sector and private sector; between utilities, regulators and government; across generation to distribution, from manufacturer to financier to end user &#8211; all have a role to play in ensuring the energy system of tomorrow is sustainable, affordable and achievable.



More broadly, the realities of Africa in transition need to be considered and carefully planned to avoid a multitude of challenges. These include not adding to the debt burden of African countries in order to meet climate ambitions; and recognition that as the continent that contributes the least to global emissions, Africa is in a unique position to ask for meaningful financial and technical contributions from the international community.



Attendees and exhibitors at Enlit Africa represent the leading suppliers, experts and energy professionals from Africa and around the world, offering an opportunity to network and engage with utilities, municipalities, OEMs, government, regulators, EPC, developers, financiers and the entire energy ecosystem.



A deep dive into topics of importance



Conference sessions focused on alternative funding mechanisms and public private partnerships will address some of the questions around financing, while roundtable discussions will provide an opportunity for attendees to dig deeper into the plethora of climate funds and opportunities for impact investment and discuss the ever important question of risk allocation and mitigation.



Generation from both traditional and renewable energy will include&nbsp;discussions on efforts being made to convert existing power generation plant,&nbsp;electrification projects and alternative generation options such as offshore wind and hybrid systems. The attendees will also discuss how disruptive renewable energy systems are providing an element of security for industrial and commercial concerns around the continent as a means of addressing power outages and unreliable supply.



Commercial and industrial delegates will get to explore the role of energy storage,&nbsp;wheeling tariffs at municipalities and self-generation. All of these discussions will provide tangible, actionable steps for those entities interested in generating their own electricity and explain how energy storage will underpin the shift to more renewable energy integration for municipalities, utilities and private generators.



Information about the programme, speaker line up, networking, roundtable and site visit opportunities can be found by visiting <a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/the-event/Learn/programme">https://www.enlit-africa.com/the-event/Learn/programme</a>



Disruptive technologies



An entire section of the programme will be dedicated to the role of storage in the power sector, including how to&nbsp;integrate battery energy storage systems [BESS] at a municipal level,&nbsp;storage, renewable energy and society; and the role that new generation and storage is playing in Africa’s mining sector.



Appreciating the technical, financial and logistical opportunities and areas of caution will provide utilities, governments and all power sector players the ability to plan an energy transition that addresses the objectives of SDG7 and meets Nationally Determined Contributions announced during COP26. Additionally, it will also open up avenues for new business models. Specifically, the conference will focus on the development of the hydrogen economy, understanding the development of national hydrogen strategies and the economic structures and pricing that will support it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-register-here-for-free-exhibition-pass"><a href="https://bit.ly/3LlkZsH">REGISTER HERE FOR FREE EXHIBITION PASS</a></h2>



Back at the CTICC <a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/welcome">Enlit Africa</a> will return to the CTICC in Cape Town with a world-class exhibition, showcasing the latest technology and services on offer in the sector. Known for its compelling content and speakers, the organisers will not disappoint, with two keynotes and most of the content presented in speaking hubs on the expo floor. Conference delegates will also be able to enjoy the networking and site visits that the event has popularised for over two decades. Strict health and safety COVID-19 protocols will be observed.



 Industry support Eskom, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and the City of Cape Town have been official hosting partners of the event for many years and 2022 will be no exception. <a href="https://www.esi-africa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESI Africa</a>, the continent’s leading news provider for power and energy news, is the official host publication.



<a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/welcome">Enlit Africa (formerly African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa)</a> is Africa’s leading exhibition and conference, gathering the power and energy industry’s most influential professionals and decision makers from across the continent for three days of relevant, accredited technical and strategic conference seminars, valuable networking opportunities and access to world-class products and solutions.



<a href="https://www.enlit-africa.com/welcome">Enlit Africa</a> is organised by&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wearevuka.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Vuka Group&nbsp;</a>(formerly&nbsp;<a href="http://www.clarioneventsafrica.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clarion Events Africa</a>), a leading Cape Town-based and multi-award-winning organiser of exhibitions, conferences and digital events across the continent in the infrastructure, energy, mining, mobility, ecommerce and CX sectors. Other well-known events by The Vuka Group include&nbsp;<a href="http://www.drcminingweek.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DRC Mining Week</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.africaminingforum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Africa Mining Forum</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nigeriaminingweek.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nigeria Mining Week</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://generationehq.com/smarter-mobility-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Smarter Mobility Africa</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://ecommerce-africa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ECOM</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://cemafricasummit.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CEM Africa</a>.



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