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To underscore the importance of the role of the private sector in sustainable development, job creation and promotion of investment and trade amongst Member Countries of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group (www.IsDB.org), an Agency Agreement has been signed between IsDB and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) to benefit from the IsDB Group Business Forum – THIQAH. The agreement signed between IsDB President, Dr. Bandar Hajjar, and ICD CEO, Mr. Ayman Sejiny, reaffirms THIQAH’s efforts to promote and attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in Member Countries, transfer know-how, and open new markets to investors. In addition, it sets the ground for establishment of a unique and innovative platform for effective dialogue, cooperation, and inclusive partnership for IsDB Group and business leaders committed to partnering in promising investment opportunities. THIQAH has been well positioned to play a catalytic role in attracting the private sector and market resources into IsDB Group and projects emanating from member countries and programs within the framework of the New President 5-Year Program (P5P) Business Model. On the occasion, Dr. Hajjar stated: “I was impatient to see THIQAH coming aboard. Indeed, each of our entities has a crucial role in this new vision of IsDB Group. We count on all the entities to capitalize on their network to considerably complement and scale up IsDB Group&#39;s vision and strategy. We also rely on each entity&#39;s years of experience in their respective expertise to implement IsDB Group&#39;s programs.” Mr. Ayman Sejiny, meanwhile, said: “THIQAH organized and promoted more than 100 events last year. It will also build on its experience to organize several business forums this year as part of the Agency Agreement to support the IsDB’s ‘Restore Program’ and Member Country Partnership Strategy (MCPS) 2.0. THIQAH formalizes its excellent cooperation in promoting and maximizing cross-border investment and trade among Member Countries to be supported by IsDB Group’s financial products and services.” The Agency Agreement notably highlights THIQAH’s determination to foster a stronger strategic partnership with leaders of the private sector in order to capitalize on their expertise and know-how on one hand, and to synergize with IsDB Group entities on the other. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB Group).Media Contact:  THIQAH@isdb.org About the Islamic Development Bank Group: The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) (www.IsDB.org) is a multilateral development bank (MDB) working to improve people’s lives by promoting social and economic development in its 57 Member Countries (MCs) and Muslim communities worldwide, delivering impact at scale. Through collaborative partnerships, IsDB seeks to equip people and communities to drive their own economic and social progress at scale, putting the infrastructure in place to enable them to fulfil their potentials thereby touching the lives of 1 in every 5 of the world’s population. The Bank’s New Business Model of “Making Markets Work for Development” contributes to strengthening the competitiveness of the MCs in strategic industries for better participation and upgrading within the Global Value Chains including: food and agribusiness industry, the textiles, clothing, leather, and footwear industry, the petrochemicals and petroleum industry, the construction industry, and Islamic finance. IsDB also fosters innovative and sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest development challenges, leveraging the potentials of science, technology, and innovation (STI) as strategic drivers of economic growth spearheading the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Rated AAA by the three major rating agencies of the world, the IsDB is headquartered in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and runs major regional hubs in Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Suriname, and Turkey as well as centers of excellence in UAE and Malaysia. Over the years, the Islamic Development Bank has evolved from a single entity into a group (IsDB Group) comprising five entities: Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI), the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC). About the Islamic Development Bank Group Business Forum (THIQAH): The Islamic Development Bank Group Business Forum (THIQAH) (www.IDBGBF.org) is the window of IsDB Group that facilitates contact and coordination between relevant entities of the IsDB Group and private sector firms and related institutions in IsDB Group Member Countries. The main objective of THIQAH is to establish a unique and innovative platform for dialogue, cooperation, and inclusive partnership for business leaders committed to partnering in promising investment opportunities. Its vision is to position itself as the leading business platform of the IsDB Group serving the private sector and maximizing the achievements of successful investment projects. Through facilitation and catalyst roles, THIQAH will be leveraging IsDB Group’s resources to offer necessary services and confidence to investors and to establish strategic partnerships with the leaders of the private sector in order to capitalize on their expertise and know-how on one hand, and to synergize with IsDB Group entities on the other. The primary focus of THIQAH will be on maximizing cross-border investment and trade among Member Countries to be supported by IsDB Group&#39;s financial products and services (www.IDBGBF.org). Media filesDownload logo

IsDB and THIQAH Sign Agency Agreement to Promote Investment and Trade in Member Countries

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The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) (AWIEForum.org) in 2020 launched a new initiative “Enterprise Development for Women-Owned Ventures in Green Energy” in partnership with the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) (AWDF.org). The programme is implemented in Malawi and Nigeria. AWIEF is pleased to announce the call for applications for an Accelerator Programme targeting 10 women-owned and/or women-led enterprises involved in renewable and green energy production or service. What does the programme offer? Entrepreneurs will receive tailored support and training for scaling; one-on-one expert mentoring and coaching; tangible opportunity to raise capital; access to networks, partners and investors for growth. Who is eligible to apply? 	Women owners or leaders of scalable renewable and green energy businesses 	Business must be registered and operating in either Malawi or Nigeria 	Business is post-revenue and operating for not less than two (2) years 	You are looking for opportunities to raise growth capital 	You are dynamic and ready to take your business to the next level Programme duration The Women in Green Energy Ventures Accelerator will take place over a period of eight weeks from 15th March to 7th May 2021. To submit an application, please follow this link: http://bit.ly/2MYRjbX Applications close on 1st March 2021. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF).For more information, email: info@awieforum.org Media filesDownload logo

Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum announces Call for Applications for Women in Green Energy Ventures Accelerator Programme

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Team Qhubeka ASSOS (www.TeamQhubeka.com) is delighted to confirm the appointment of leading food scientist Dr. Samefko Ludidi, as the team’s official nutrition consultant for the upcoming season. Although high performance endurance sports – especially cycling – are often thought of as something that has much to do with precision work and the calculation of food portions down to the milligram, Team Qhubeka ASSOS will seek to highlight a different approach in its nutrition strategy: a more humane one. Under the leadership of Dr. Ludidi, the nutritional policy of the entire team will be optimized in the coming months. Ludidi, who is known for his down-to-earth and human approach to food (no calorie or nutrient counting and much greater attention paid to the social aspects of food, such as food taste and deliciousness), breaks with the strict scientific and calculated ‘beta’ approach that currently predominates many elite sporting environments. Douglas Ryder, Team Principal: “The world in which we work is demanding and athletes experience a lot of pressure from all sides. The current food trend in cycling contributes to this. Athletes are measured from A to Z, both under controlled conditions in the lab, and also now “live” in the field. This goes from measuring wattages to blood sugar values ​​to the composition and amount of everything that riders eat and drink. There is so much emphasis on performance and performance optimization that we sometimes get lost in numbers and treat people almost like robots. That is not always favorable for the riders and their performance and that does not fit in with our Ubuntu philosophy, which focuses very strongly on the human factor. We are therefore pleased that we are now joining forces with Dr. Ludidi and his team.“ As Africa’s only UCI-registered WorldTour team, the collaboration with Ludidi is not entirely coincidental: he has South African roots, as the son of a South African. In the long term, joining forces will not only serve the professional cycling world, but also the broader cycling community, as well as society at large. Dr. Ludidi: “So much new knowledge arises with each new strategy and technology that is implemented. We believe it is important that the knowledge that we generate and that we are able to test is made accessible to the outside world. We get paid to compete at the highest level in perhaps the most beautiful sport in the world, so I believe that it is our duty to our fans that we share everything we learn there in the cycling world with the rest of the world. So that anyone can benefit from it, both as an amateur or recreational athlete, but also as a person. After all, health is something that affects us all.“ The arrival of Dr. Ludidi at Team Qhubeka ASSOS also offers opportunities for the educational branch of the Qhubeka Charity which uses the bicycle to facilitate better living, learning and working conditions and health. Ludidi will be assisted in his work by Daan Hoogervorst, who is responsible for establishing the national nutritional guidelines for sports dietetics in the Netherlands.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Team Qhubeka ASSOS.Media Contact: Jean Smyth (Head of Communications) Email: jean@ryder.co.za Mobile: +27 63 4701 1710 or +31 625 739 033 About Team Qhubeka ASSOS: Team Qhubeka ASSOS (www.TeamQhubeka.com) is a purpose-led, high-performance team, fighting to win on the world&#39;s biggest stage, to inspire hope and create opportunity. Founded in 2007, Team Qhubeka ASSOS (formerly NTT Pro Cycling) became the first-ever African cycling team to gain a UCI WorldTour license, in 2016. We achieved our first major win in 2013 when Gerald Ciolek won Milan-San Remo, one of the five Monuments of cycling. We have competed in six Tour de France’s and notched up 7 stage wins, with Mark Cavendish wearing the coveted Yellow Jersey at the 2016 Tour de France. We are a multicultural, diverse team with bases in South Africa, the Netherlands and Italy. There are 19 nationalities represented across our World Tour and continental feeder team rosters. Our focus on developing African cycling has resulted in more than 55 riders from the African continent be given the opportunity to race on the world stage, since the team&#39;s inception. We race to help people to move forward with bicycles through our relationship with Qhubeka Charity. Through our work with Qhubeka, we have contributed to the distribution of over 30 000 bicycles in communities in South Africa. About Qhubeka: Qhubeka (www.Qhubeka.org) is a charity that moves people forward with bicycles.  People earn bicycles through our programmes, improving their access to schools, clinics and jobs. A bicycle is a tool that helps people to travel faster and further, and to carry more. In the face of extreme and persistent poverty, bicycles can change lives by helping to address socioeconomic challenges at the most basic level – helping people to get where they need to go.  All images attached to the press release can be used with the respective image credit in combination to this release.Media filesDownload logo

Team Qhubeka ASSOS combines nutritional science with a human touch to enable optimised performance

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Download logo75 people have tested positive to the disease, out of a sample size of 3,025 tested in the last 24 hours. The total confirmed positive cases are now 102,867. The cumulative tests so far conducted are 1,241,368. County distribution; Nairobi 51, Kiambu 6, Busia 4, Uasin Gishu 2, Mombasa 2, Nyeri 2, Garissa 1, Homa Bay 1, Kirinyaga 1, Meru 1, Murang’a 1, Nakuru 1, Nyandarua 1 and Trans Nzoia 1. 56 patients have recovered from the disease. 37 from the Home-Based Isolation and Care while 19 are from various health facilities. The total recoveries now stand at 85,008. Fortunately, there is no reported death and therefore our cumulative fatalities remain 1,795. 347 patients are admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 1,275 patients are on Home Based Isolation and Care. 33 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit, 14 of whom are on ventilatory support and 18 on supplemental oxygen. 1 patient is on observation. Another 8 patients are separately on supplementary oxygen with all of them in the general wards. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.

Coronavirus – Kenya: COVID-19 update (14 February 2021)

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A network of more than 700 trained Red Cross volunteers has been activated as part of a first wave of response to the new Ebola outbreak in the rural community of Gouéké in Guinea’s N’Zerekore prefecture. Drawing from their experience during the 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak, the Red Cross teams are rushing to contain further spread of the virus. Mohammed Mukhier, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ (IFRC) Regional Director for Africa said: “Time is of the essence. The resurgence of the virus in Guinea comes at the worst possible time when the country is already facing the COVID-19 pandemic. There are reasons for fear, but there are also reasons for hope. While we are extremely concerned, we are also reassured by the lessons we learned from previous outbreaks, and by recent medical advances.” More than 11,000 people were killed during the worst-ever Ebola outbreak in history in 2014-2016. Mukhier said: “We need a response that is faster than the virus itself. Unless the response is swift, the health, economic and social impacts are likely to be immense for millions of people in a country with a relatively weak health system, and where more than half of the population lives below the poverty line.” In response to this new outbreak, the IFRC and Guinea Red Cross have activated their “epidemic preparedness and response network” in the country. Through this system, Red Cross teams have been helping communities prepare and prevent the spread of diseases. Red Cross volunteers will provide services such as, contact tracing, psychosocial support, water, sanitation and hygiene and—if needed—safe burials. Guinea Red Cross has almost 2,500 volunteers across the country which gives it extraordinary reach into communities. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).Media filesDownload logo

Ebola outbreak in Guinea: Red Cross calls for a response that is “faster than the virus”

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Daily: Laboratory test: 6,562 Severe cases: 291 New recovered: 723 New deaths: 13 New cases: 788 Total: Laboratory test: 2,046,852 Active cases: 16,154 Total recovered: 128,742 Total deaths: 2,194 Total cases: 147,092Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Ethiopia.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 update (14 February 2021)

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Download logoAs a fourth case of Ebola is confirmed in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is extremely concerned that another Ebola outbreak in the area will devastate a community still reeling from the last outbreak, fighting COVID-19 and seeing increasing violence and food insecurity. The last outbreak in this area was declared over less than a year ago and took the lives of more than 2,200 people, almost 66% of those who presented with the virus. The response was extremely challenging due to ongoing conflict in the area, and the outbreak lasted more than two years. Beating Ebola in North Kivu now will be doubly complicated given the impacts of COVID-19. As another Ebola outbreak is also declared in Guinea, where the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak began, the IRC is calling for swift action and direct funding to frontline aid agencies to put an end to both outbreaks. Kate Moger, Regional Vice President for the Great Lakes at the IRC, said, “Another outbreak in North Kivu is a disaster. We cannot stress enough how difficult this will be for the people living in the province. They have faced decades of violence by armed groups and have now, between Ebola and COVID-19, been faced with disease outbreaks for almost three straight years. These communities are still trying to rebuild from the impact the last Ebola outbreak had on their health systems, as well as the emotional trauma from an increase in violence, particularly against women &#8211; all whilst fighting COVID-19. The COVID pandemic has further exacerbated an already dire situation and led to a major increase in food insecurity and even more conflict. Another Ebola outbreak on top of this is catastrophic. “It is imperative we apply the lessons learned from past outbreaks to stop the spread of Ebola in both the DRC and Guinea. The IRC stands in solidarity with the affected communities and is calling for immediate action and funding for frontline aid agencies to contain both outbreaks and prevent further spread.”  There are now more people facing a severe hunger crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo than has ever been recorded in any country. DRC ranks in the IRC’s emergency Watchlist top five for the third year in a row, reflecting persistent volatility in a country that is now in its fourth decade of a major humanitarian crisis.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Rescue Committee.

As new Ebola outbreaks emerge in the DRC and Guinea, the IRC calls for swift action and funding for frontline aid agencies to stop the spread

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The African Energy Chamber’s Regulatory Affairs Committee (EnergyChamber.org) held its first meeting of the year to discuss regulatory matters that impede the African energy sectors growth and to make proposals on progressive regulation fit for the post COVID recovery. The purpose of a regulatory committee is to identify and track global regulatory trends and make propositions to African regulators on how these could be adopted and adapted to improve the operating environment in Africa’s energy sector. Through its work, the Regulatory Committee was able to assist the Chamber in crafting propositions that led to some changes in regulations on how to soften the impact of COVID-19 on energy companies in a number of countries at the start of the pandemic in 2020. The Chamber’s Regulatory Committee took into account how difficult it is for investors, but also for governments to adapt to the new normal. The Committee’s discussion unpacked the importance of aligning regulation across the region. Key outcomes of the meeting included proposals to promote; 	sensible and market driven local content regulation 	Environmental regulations that are in line with international standards but not inhibitive to new exploration projects 	Constant exchanges between regulators in Africa to create an awareness for alignment and also exchange of best practice  Bill Drennen, President, and CEO of WTD Resources, a board member on the committee highlighted the importance of continuous dialogue and seminars between the Chamber and regulators. According to him, the aim of regulation should ultimately be to regulate the industry in a way, that allows to maximum investment to flow into the sector and be productive and profitable for all stakeholders. “The chamber has a leadership position on the continent and is therefore perfectly positioned to drive positive change in the African Energy sector regulatory space.” Additionally, fellow committee member Nicolas Bonnefoy, Partner at ASAFO &#038; Co added that: “Many African countries have severe constraints such as their slow administrative processes which have delayed new regulations being introduced that will render these states competitive in a post COVID era”. According to Mr. Bonnefoy, States often implement new policies and new regimes without taking into consideration market realities and competing regimes globally, often leading to no definite positive outcome. “The Chambers’ job right now is to engage with regulators, and where they might need expertise that is not in-house, offer expertise that is available at the AEC”. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.Media filesDownload logo

African Energy Chamber’s Regulatory Affairs Committee calls for less red tape and regulation that reflects post COVID Market realities

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Today ICRC President Peter Maurer finalised his official visit to Mozambique by meeting with the President of the Republic of Mozambique, H.E. Felipe Jacinto Nyusi. To help respond to the humanitarian crisis in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, the ICRC will scale up its programmes in 2021 with a focus on assistance, health and training programs on the promotion of International Humanitarian Law for weapons bearers. The ICRC has been working in Mozambique for over 40 years, in close partnership with the Mozambican Red Cross (CVM), including during the civil war and the violence in the central provinces. &#8220;The people of Mozambique are today facing a triple humanitarian crisis with persistent threats due to climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and armed conflict. We remain at the side of Mozambique in these challenging times and will scale up our support,&#8221; said Peter Maurer, the ICRC&#39;s President. More than 500,000 people have fled the upsurge of violence in the northern province of Cabo Delgado since the beginning of 2019. Most of them have fled to urban settings, such as Pemba, Montepuez and Metuge, putting additional strain on fragile communities and infrastructure, including medical services. &#8220;Health facilities and staff have been double victims of Cyclone Kenneth and the violence which has seen the flight of healthcare workers and the destruction of more facilities, including those rehabilitated post-cyclone,&#8221; said President Maurer. According to an assessment made by ICRC health experts, 39 health facilities (71%) out of 55 in 9 conflict-affected Cabo Delgado districts (there are 17 districts in total) are non-operational. Moreover, 686 health professionals have fled their places of work due to insecurity. In Macomia in late May 2020, after an attack on the town, almost the entire population fled into the surrounding countryside and infrastructure, including a maternity hospital that had been repaired by the ICRC after Cyclone Kenneth, was destroyed; it was the only maternity facility for miles. In 2021, the ICRC will rehabilitate nine primary health facilities serving more than 175,400 patients in Pemba, and support hospitals in Montepuez and Pemba specialized in the treatment of trauma wounds. It will also continue its support to the COVID-19 treatment center Décimo Congresso, in Pemba, rehabilitated in 2020, with donations of health and hygiene material. In parallel, the ICRC will continue helping displaced and host communities locate their missing loved ones or establish contact with them, as well as with essential household items, seeds, tools and fishing kits to help them rebuild their lives. Finally, it will support initiatives to ensure adequate conditions of detention and treatment of detainees. The ICRC is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).Media filesDownload logo

Mozambique: ICRC to scale up its humanitarian response in 2021

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New cases: 158 Total active cases: 14,266 Total currently admitted: 171 (20 new) Total number of tests conducted: 171,195 (963 new) Total confirmed cases: 29,035* Total recovered: 13,607 (53 new) New discharges from treatment units: 17 Total deaths: 952 (15 new) *Out of these, 134 lost to follow-up and 76 outcome under investigation.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health and Population, Republic of Malawi.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Malawi: COVID-19 update (14 February 2021)

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Download logoMinister of Health Lizzie Nkosi&#39;s COVID-19 update on 14 February 2021: New cases: 47 Total cases: 16,535 Active cases: 3,606 New recoveries: 56 Total recoveries: 12,252Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 update (14 February 2021)

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690 new cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria;  Lagos-170 Ondo-120 Borno-41 Ebonyi-37 Benue-33 Plateau-30 FCT-29 Nasarawa-25 Ogun-25 Edo-24 Osun-24 Katsina-22 Kaduna-21 Niger-20 Kwara-14 Ekiti-13 Yobe-10 Oyo-4 Bayelsa-1 Jigawa-1Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 update (14 February 2021)

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Total cases: 17,343 (+76) Recovered: 14,792 (+315) Active cases: 2,312 In critical condition: 15 Tests: 947,907 (+4,675) Test positivity rate: 1.6% Recovery rate: 83.8% Deaths: 239 (+3) | 1.3%Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (14 February 2021)

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As of 14th February 2021, in the last 24 hrs, we recorded 983 new cases (out of 7,661 tests), 295 recoveries and 11 deaths [MTSRIP].Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI).Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Zambia: COVID-19 update (14 February 2021)

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Download logoThe Sahel Alliance will hold its second general assembly in N&#39;Djamena, Chad on Monday, 15 February 2021. The meeting will take place on the side-lines of a summit for the G5 Sahel countries— Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Chad—as well as France. The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) played an active role in the formation in July 2017 of the Alliance, an international cooperation platform to spur development and stability in the Sahel region. To foster closer synergy with development partners, the Sahel Alliance has invited the African Development Bank to lead a working group on agriculture, rural development and food security. The Bank&#39;s extensive experience in the Sahel region in the management and control of water, agri-pastoral and fisheries development, as well as the sustainable management of natural resources, attracted it to the Sahel Alliance. Agriculture and food security is of strategic importance to the Bank, which counts Feed Africa as one of its High-5 strategic priorities. The Bank’s current Sahel portfolio includes three key projects aimed at strengthening the resilience of ecosystems and populations and ensuring food security through investment in agriculture and livestock farming as well as sustainable management of natural resources. The Bank’s flagship Desert to Power solar initiative, valued at $20 billion will turn the Sahel region into the world’s largest solar zone giant solar zone with up to 10 000 MW of solar generation capacity. Eleven countries are beneficiaries of this initiative: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan and Chad. Spanning Burkina Faso, Chad, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and the Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), the Programme for Building Resilience to Food and Nutrition Insecurity in the Sahel (P2RS) advances resilience to climate change, long-term financing of the agricultural sector, and developing trade and regional integration. By providing long-term sustained investment in building the resilience of Sahelian households, P2RS, which is mobilizing more than $250 million for its first phase and $750 million over 20 years, is contributing immensely to breaking the cycles of famine in the region. It also promotes the development of rural infrastructure and creates thousands of jobs for rural youth through the development of regional value chains and markets. Another project that demonstrates the Bank&#39;s commitment to the region’s development is the ongoing implementation of the Programme for the Rehabilitation and Strengthening of the Resilience of Socio-Economic Systems in the Lake Chad Basin (PRESIBALT), which covers Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Central African Republic and Nigeria. The project, valued at approximately $70 million, provides skills enhancement training to young people to prepare, them for the local economy, thereby reintegrating vulnerable members of society in a region plagued by political insecurity and extreme weather. PRESIBALT also provides socioeconomic support to women and youth The Bank is also implementing a third major initiative – the Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change Programme (IPCCP) &#8212; to strengthen the populations of the Sahel. With a budget of more than $205 million, the IPDCDC, which covers Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d&#39;Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and the Niger Basin Authority, will directly benefit about four million people, 51% of them women, between 2019 and 2024. Through an integrated and inclusive approach, the IPDCDC will recover 140,000 hectares of degraded land and construct 209 hydraulic structures for agri-pastoral and pisciculture activities. It will implement 450 sub-projects to help develop the agricultural chain and create 184 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) run by young people. In addition, more than 100,000 households will be strengthened to adapt to climate change. The scheme will also operate a financing mechanism for sustainable natural resource management activities in the Niger River Basin. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

The African Development Bank: a strategic partner in developing resilience and sustainable energy in the Sahel region

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With more than $1.9 billion processed daily and over one billion registered accounts globally, mobile money (https://bit.ly/3jQBn7F) is a massive industry. With strong growth coming from Africa, many analysts consider the region to be the epicentre of the global market. PayPal’s recent announcement that it will expand its Xoom money transfer (http://xoom.io/3pmXu6P) service to more countries on the continent this year makes it evident that there is still significant growth to come. But this also means that consumers must be aware of the security risks associated with mobile wallets and payments. By 2019 (https://bit.ly/3jQBn7F) there were 481 million registered mobile money accounts in Africa, making up 46% of global accounts. And with the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in lockdown conditions in many countries, even more people have turned to using mobile wallets instead of cash, as a safer option &#8211; from a hygiene perspective at least. While cash has long been considered “king”, mobile money and e-wallets have been growing exponentially in Africa over the past decade – and as the number of international and African players enter and expand into new markets across the continent. These provide a more user-friendly alternative to processing micro-payments and reduce the amount of cash people need to carry with them. And the expectation is that the region would exceed half a billion (https://bit.ly/3uaB8sO) accounts by the end of 2020. “While there is ample benefit to be gained from mobile money, spam, phishing, social engineering, and fraud all form part of the cyberattack landscape when it comes to this innovation. Threat actors are constantly coming up with more innovative tactics to compromise people’s wallets whether these pertain to traditional bank accounts or mobile wallets,” says Bethwel Opil, Enterprise Sales Manager at Kaspersky in Africa. “It is therefore imperative that consumers remain vigilant and apply common sense to their transactions and engagements with mobile money services.” he adds. “Considering the significant growth and potential for mobile money and e-wallets, these payment platforms must maintain a high level of security and keep improving on it. Given the financial and reputational risk, no provider can afford to have its systems compromised. However, security is only as strong as the weakest link in the chain. And like all other digital solutions, this is often the end user. Education is therefore the most critical component of mitigating the risk of social engineering compromises from people opening malicious links, sharing sensitive information, or falling foul of fraudulent schemes,” states Opil. To keep your mobile wallet safe, Kaspersky recommend the following precautions are taken: 	One of the best ways to avoid having a device being compromised is to avoid clicking on malicious emails, attachments, or other messages. Users must look out for red flags in communication from those purporting to be from service providers. For example, they need to be wary of grammatical mistakes, attempts to incite a sense of urgency or danger, e-mail addresses and links that differ from the official ones (even if just by one letter), and so on. 	Never trust messages unconditionally. It is imperative to check any potential issues through one’s personal account on the Website or in the mobile money app. This is especially important when it comes to messages confirming the crediting of funds. 	A user must also never use an unfamiliar delivery service especially when it comes to online purchases. Users must be careful of using alternative money transfer methods to the ones they are comfortable with. These are typically not covered by the protection programs of mobile money or money transfer applications. 	It goes without saying that users must never give out personal information beyond what is necessary for the transaction. This includes usernames and passwords. “In many respects, it is still the ‘Wild West’ when it comes to mobile money and e-wallets. Even though the solutions are safely used by millions of people daily, hackers are always on the lookout for soft targets. Constant vigilance and education remain essential to safeguard against any potential compromises,” concludes Opil. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kaspersky.Media Contact: Nicole Allman INK&#038;Co. Cell: +27 83 251 2769 nicole@inkandco.co.za Follow us on: Facebook: facebook.com/Kaspersky Twitter: twitter.com/Kaspersky YouTube: youtube.com/user/Kaspersky Instagram: instagram.com/kasperskylab Blog: http://blog.kaspersky.com About Kaspersky: Kaspersky (https://africa.Kaspersky.com) is a global cybersecurity company founded in 1997. Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky technologies and we help 250,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at https://africa.Kaspersky.com. Media filesDownload logo

With 1 billion registered mobile money accounts, Kaspersky stresses the importance of keeping your mobile wallet safe

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The Anzisha Prize (www.AnzishaPrize.org) launched the 2021 call for Africa’s biggest award for young entrepreneurs between, 15 and 22. Applications have now opened for the latest cohort, with successful entrepreneurs standing a chance to win a shared prize of US$100 000 and join the prestigious Anzisha Prize fellowship program. As the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts the world, young entrepreneurs are building opportunities for their communities and peers. Last year the Anzisha Prize, a partnership between African Leadership Academy and Mastercard Foundation, celebrated 10 years of supporting Africa’s youngest entrepreneurs. To date, the 142 business owners in the program have created more than 2500 jobs. Youth employment continues to be a key challenge in many countries and Africa’s high unemployment rate is one of the leading barriers to growth prosperity on the continent. Young entrepreneurs are an indication that the youth demographic could be the asset needed to transform the continent’s employment climate. “The world of work has drastically changed as we experience a global pandemic. Young entrepreneurs have remained steadfast and have supported their communities through difficulties. We’re thrilled to celebrate the next 20 young business owners who are, no doubt, paramount to job creation on the continent,” says Melissa Mbazo-Ekpenyong, Deputy Director of the Anzisha Prize. Young entrepreneurs are among the hardest hit during the COVID-19 crisis. An international Survey from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (https://bit.ly/3pmM42X) states that nearly 90% of young entrepreneurs report a negative impact on their business, including reduced customer demand, supply chain disruptions, and distribution disruptions. Despite this, many young entrepreneurs are still creating opportunities and jobs for their communities. 21-year-old Egyptian Alaa Moatamed, last year’s Anzisha Prize winner and the co-founder of Presto &#8211; an automated, delivery system that connects vendors with customers and suppliers, was able to increase the business revenue by providing delivery services to smaller businesses to cope with demand during the outbreak of COVID-19. She currently employs 11 under-25 employees and plans on increasing that number. While some entrepreneurs were forced to change their business models, the pandemic highlighted the need for some services to be increased. 22-year-old Madagascan Matina Razafimahefa, who received US$15 000 as the 2020 first runner up, is the founder of Sayna – an Edtech venture school in Madagascar. The business sources, trains, and produces highly equipped young Africans in industry-specific digital skills. Despite some loss in revenue due to COVID-19, the business was able to pivot to online learning platforms, which supported their growth. To date, Sayna has trained and placed over 2000 people in jobs across multiple African countries. “To drive economic recovery on the continent, we have to tap into every available resource. That includes young entrepreneurs, including young women entrepreneurs. Doing so takes intentionality. The Anzisha Prizes’ commitment to identifying and supporting very young entrepreneurs has only become more important in the wake of the pandemic. And the creativity, agility, and resourcefulness of young people has only become more valuable,” says Daniel Hailu, Regional Head, Eastern and Southern Africa, Mastercard Foundation. During the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, women-led businesses on the continent are more susceptible to closure than those led by men. To boost support of female entrepreneurs, the program is encouraging young women to apply to access various offerings of the fellowship and become role models for other young women who want to pursue entrepreneurship. As the future of work is altered by a global pandemic, job creation by young entrepreneurs remains an important solution for youth unemployment. Supporting and investing in young entrepreneurs is smart business for an economically strong future. Entrepreneurs are advised to download the application guide or apply for the prize at www.anzishaprize.org/apply. For more information on the Anzisha Prize, to apply and to nominate an entrepreneur, please visit the Anzisha Prize website: 	Website: www.anzishaprize.org/apply 	Website: www.anzishaprize.org/nominate 	Facebook: www.facebook.com/anzishaprize Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Anzisha Prize.Media Contact: Kabelo Mothoa Irvine Partners +27 71 617 1029 kabelo@irvinepartners.co.za Bonney Feldman Irvine Partners +27 76 495 7167 bonney@irvinepartners.co.za About the Anzisha Prize: The Anzisha Prize (www.AnzishaPrize.org) is delivered by African Leadership Academy in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. Through the Anzisha Prize, the organisers seek to fundamentally and significantly increase the number of job generative entrepreneurs in Africa. They believe that a key to doing so is to test, implement and then share models for identifying, training and connecting high potential, very young entrepreneurs (15 to 22 year olds) so that many more organisations have better collective success in creating a pipeline of entrepreneurs with the capabilities for scale. For more information, visit: www.AnzishaPrize.org. About African Leadership Academy: African Leadership Academy (ALA) (www.AfricanLeadershipAcademy.org) seeks to transform Africa by developing a powerful network of entrepreneurial leaders who will work together to achieve extraordinary social impact. Each year, ALA brings together the most promising young leaders from all 54 African nations for a pre-university program in South Africa with a focus on leadership, entrepreneurship and African studies. ALA continues to cultivate these leaders throughout their lives, in university and beyond, by providing on-going leadership and entrepreneurial training and connecting them to high-impact networks of people and capital that can catalyse large-scale change. For more information, visit www.AfricanLeadershipAcademy.org. About the Mastercard Foundation: The Mastercard Foundation (www.MastercardFdn.org) works with visionary organizations to enable young people in Africa and Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work.  It is one of the largest, private foundations in the world with a mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world. The Foundation was created by Mastercard in 2006 as an independent organization with its own Board of Directors and management. For more information on the Foundation, please visit: www.MastercardFdn.org.Media filesDownload logo

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IsDB and THIQAH Sign Agency Agreement to Promote Investment and Trade in Member Countries

Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum announces Call for Applications for Women in Green Energy Ventures Accelerator Programme

Team Qhubeka ASSOS combines nutritional science with a human touch to enable optimised performance

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African Energy Chamber’s Regulatory Affairs Committee calls for less red tape and regulation that reflects post COVID Market realities

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With 1 billion registered mobile money accounts, Kaspersky stresses the importance of keeping your mobile wallet safe

2021 Anzisha Prize applications open as need for job creation soars during pandemic

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