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Results of COVID-19 tests done on 21 January 2021 confirm 129 new cases. The cumulative confirmed cases are now 38,935.

One COVID-19 death. The total COVID-19 deaths are 317.
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Coronavirus – Uganda: COVID-19 update (22 January 2021)

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Team Qhubeka ASSOS (www.TeamQhubeka.com), Africa’s only UCI-registered WorldTour professional cycling outfit, is thrilled to present our iconic 2021 race jersey.

The unique ASSOS design was first presented to our riders earlier this week at a team training camp in Girona, Spain, ahead of what promises to be an exciting season. The vibrant elements of the jersey showcase our incredible partners but most importantly, to us all, bear the iconic Qhubeka hands (front and back) to reflect upon the story of our team’s desire to change lives through the bicycle, together with the Qhubeka Charity.
In 2021 Team Qhubeka ASSOS is set to compete in approximately 70 races over the course of 270 race days, broadcast around the globe, sharing the message that sport has to do good. The Qhubeka hand is the key symbol in illustrating that bicycle beneficiaries are receiving a hand up in their lives and in so doing are able to move forward.
This iconic feature is also a signal to current and potential future partners to put their own hands up in having the opportunity to join our team, as we continue to move forward in effecting meaningful change in the world.
Team Qhubeka ASSOS are scheduled to make their racing debut in the jersey at Étoile de Bessèges early in February while the plans for the jersey to be made available for sale to the general public will be communicated in due course.
Doug Ryder (Team Principal):
“Our 2021 jersey is absolutely beautiful and I can’t wait to see our team race in it – we are thrilled with how it has turned out! The design is one that I’ve personally been involved in together with our partners at ASSOS, and we’ve paid special attention to showcasing the journey this team has been on. This jersey highlights the unique story that our team has to tell and it will be worn with immense pride.
On the neck of the jersey, as well as on our vehicles, we carry the African proverb “Ubuntu” (I am because we are) to reflect that as a team you cannot exist in isolation.
2021 features the next bold step that we are taking together as a team and to have the Qhubeka hands so prominently displayed is deeply symbolic. Qhubeka has, incredibly, already distributed well over 100 000 bicycles and as a team we will ensure that we continue to make an impact in being a force for positive change to giving hope and opportunity.” 
Roche Maier (ASSOS Board Member and Chief ASSOS Creative design Centre):
“The historic colours of the ASSOS Werksmannschaft are black and white. The symbol of mission Qhubeka is a helping hand: simple, essential elegance. We are creating and building a team CI in line with the mission, it’s about the mission and not the ego of a sponsor. 

The idea is to keep and build upon this design and going forward simply replace the ASSOS second name with a bigger partner to join, fund &#038; secure the bicycle changes lives into an even bigger, sustainable movement for the future. 

ASSOS is a small, precision-driven Swiss operation and Team Qhubeka depends on more helping hands. We welcome you all to join the movement”.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Team Qhubeka ASSOS.
Media Contact: Jean Smyth Head of Communications Email: jean@ryder.co.za
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Africa’s first ever Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) World Tour team, Team Qhubeka ASSOS, unveils iconic 2021 race jersey

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African Union Member States (55) reporting COVID-19 cases (3,365,095) deaths (82,891), and recoveries (2,822,123) by region: Central (83,170 cases; 1,561 deaths; 71,449 recoveries): Burundi (1,358; 2; 773), Cameroon (28,010; 455; 26,861), CAR (4,974; 63; 4,902), Chad (3,065; 114; 2,193), Congo (7,709; 114; 5,860), DRC (21,398; 644; 14,865), Equatorial Guinea (5,365; 86; 5,191), Gabon (10,120; 66; 9,809), Sao Tome &#038; Principe (1,171; 17; 995) Eastern (348,829; 6,600; 285,128): Comoros (1,933; 54; 1,210), Djibouti (5,916; 61; 5,833), Eritrea (1,913; 6; 1,304), Ethiopia (132,326; 2,057; 118,006), Kenya (99,630; 1,739; 82,729), Madagascar (18,301; 273; 17,609), Mauritius (556; 10; 518), Rwanda (12,170; 162; 7,973), Seychelles (866; 3; 647), Somalia (4,744; 130; 3,675), South Sudan (3,788; 64; 3,542), Sudan (27,371; 1,704; 28,205), Tanzania (509; 21; 178), Uganda (38,806; 316; 13,699) Northern (1,047,100; 27,849; 877,784): Algeria (104,749; 2,853; 71,406), Egypt (159,715; 8,801; 125,171), Libya (111,746; 1,716; 89,909), Mauritania (16,266; 410; 14,509), Morocco (463,706; 8,076; 439,301), Tunisia (190,884; 5,989; 137,460), Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (34; 4; 28) Southern (1,591,259; 43,111; 1,333,490): Angola (19,177; 448; 17,176), Botswana (19,654; 105; 15,911), Eswatini (14,017; 441; 8,822), Lesotho (7,555; 113; 1,993), Malawi (16,049; 396; 6,314), Mozambique (30,225; 283; 19,510), Namibia (31,515; 310; 29,230), South Africa (1,380,807; 39,501; 1,183,443), Zambia (42,213; 597, 31,522), Zimbabwe (30,047; 917; 19,569) Western (294,737; 3,770; 254,272): Benin (3,557; 46; 3,248), Burkina Faso (9,719; 106; 7,748), Cape Verde (13,307; 122; 12,517), Côte d&#39;Ivoire (25,751; 142; 24,119), Gambia (3,950; 128; 3,697), Ghana (59,480; 361; 56,706), Guinea (14,236; 81; 13,509), Guinea-Bissau (2,510; 45; 2,405), Liberia (1,901; 84; 1,714), Mali (7,911; 320; 5,666), Niger (4,267; 147; 3,357), Nigeria (116,653; 1,485; 93,626), Senegal (23,909; 552; 19,916), Sierra Leone (3,081; 77; 2,143), Togo (4,505; 74; 3,901)Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus: African Union Member States reporting COVID-19 cases as of 22 January 2021, 9 am EAT

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Public participation in online trading has accelerated at unprecedented levels in 2020. This is the view of Dany Mawas, Regional Director at INFINOX (www.INFINOX.com), a leading CFD trading broker with international presence and market expertise, who explains that he, along with other heavyweights in the industry, Oakhaven Capital, believe that this trend comes as a result of new paradigm thinking in the industry. This includes the support of markets by Federal Reserve Banks (FED), the understanding that the FED and all Developed Market (DM) central banks will keep rates low indefinitely, the belief that cryptocurrencies are the future, and the inevitable decline of the dollar.

Mawas adds that it is important for traders to consider that history is full of examples of new paradigms that more often than not self-implode. “As such, it is vital for traders to ensure they have the right broker, who will empower them to make the best decisions and be there for them when needed.”
“Over the past five years that I have been working in the African region, I have noticed that many beginner traders are only interested in whether welcome or starting bonuses are offered,” he says. “As a result, the majority of brokers operating in Africa are attracting clients by almost exclusively marketing their ‘welcome bonuses’ without being able to deliver the necessary support to their clients.”
It is for this reason that when potential traders are looking for an online trading brokerage partner, it is crucial to consider all the trading services offered by the broker. Along with this, the quality of the broker’s services and its commercials (i.e. trading costs) are what should matter most.
To assist traders in finding the best broker to meet and exceed their needs, and to ensure they are empowered when it comes to online trading, Mawas lists the following pointers to consider:
Education is key: The concept of online trading has always painted a glamorous picture of people being able to easily make money simply by following a few trading rules. However, it is important to note that this is not the case and like any job from any industry, trading is not for everyone. To be successful in trading, it is essential to educate yourself and have enough time on your hands to optimise your chances of success. This is where excellent customer care and great trading services, such as education portals provided by the broker, are important elements to consider especially for those new to the industry.
Is your broker easy to contact: If you are currently trading and have some doubts about your current broker, take a moment to consider how easy it is to contact them by phone and how long they take to reply to an email. While it may be nice to receive a starting bonus, the future success in trading lies in fostering a reliable and safe trading environment. Your broker should supply you with all the necessary assistance and trading tools required for long-term profitability. 
At INFINOX, premium customer support and excellence are core company values. As per INFINOX’s latest internal study, it takes the company up to 10 seconds to return a phone call and less than 20 minutes to reply to a client inquiry via email. This is of particular importance given the current global pandemic, and making sure that you can contact your broker in record time is crucial for trading success and peace of mind.
Are the trading platforms offered free and reliable: One should look for brokers that offer access to free and reliable trading platforms across both mobile and desktop that give you access to Forex, Stocks, Crypto, Indices, Commodities, Futures and ETFs. At INFINOX we offer MT4, MT5, and IX Social &#8211; an app which gives you access to an exclusive community made of signal providers, trading strategy providers and traders. The app itself allows you to follow sophisticated traders and top performers, learn from them, interact with them and directly trade from the app. Other services include chart pattern recognition services, starting and new deposits bonuses, VPS, free use of EAs and Algos, and premium customer services including excellent client support, fast withdrawals and proactive support teams.
Future financial prosperity in these digitally-driven times lies in online trading, and by partnering with the right brokerage, traders can be assured that their best interests are at the forefront of the relationship, every time. And at INFINOX we do just that and more,” concludes Mawas.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of INFINOX Capital.
Contact details on behalf of INFINOX: Nosipho Mlotsana nosipho@eclipsepr.co.za Tel: +2721 023 0440 Cell: +2778 792 3281
About Infinox: INFINOX (www.INFINOX.com) is an award-winning and market-leading online trading platform. Founded in 2009, with the vision of delivering a customer-focused trading experience, INFINOX has been offering its clients premium service in a range of asset classes. We empower traders and help them gain access to markets so they can trade forex, stocks, indices, commodities, and futures; using our fast, efficient and reliable trading technology.
We are committed to providing our clients with outstanding service and offer a dedicated multi-lingual support team that’s available 24 hours a day 5 days a week. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced trader, INFINOX provides the relevant tools to help you get started and improve your trading strategies. We offer instant funding options and the ability to withdraw your money swiftly.
Founded in London, our operations in Africa are authorised and regulated by the Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB), Registration No. SIA-F188.

Online Trading: What to look for in a Broker

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Participation in decision-making, quality education, internet access and the climate crisis are among the main concerns for children and young people in Africa and Europe, according to U-Report polling data released today by UNICEF, the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU).

Almost half of all young people polled feel excluded from political decision-making processes that affect their lives, the poll findings show. While an overwhelming majority of the polled young people (91%) would like to have more say in the political decisions that shape their lives, 48% feel completely left out. The main obstacle they cite (59%) is lack of access to policymakers.

The findings are included in the report #YourVoiceYourFuture, a joint effort between the AU, EU and UNICEF that brings together results and recommendations from four U-Report polls across Africa and Europe. Altogether, 450,000 young people between 14 and 35 years old voiced their views on key topics that affect their future and are relevant to the partnership between Africa and Europe.

“In the midst of all the challenges being faced in the advent of the ‘new normal’, few things have remained constant – the unwavering resilience, energy and ingenuity of young people across the world. Now more than ever, it is clear that young people are integral to the recovery, progress and sustainability of this world,” said H.E Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor, AU Commissioner for Human Resources, Sciences and Technology.

Young people may feel let down by traditional politics, but they are finding alternative ways to engage with and mobilise their peers. A large majority (88%) say they feel responsible for tackling climate change, while 71% actually want to play a role in the green transition. Some 65% of respondents say they are active within a youth network or organisation in their community.
“Young people have a rightful seat at the decision-making table. They are the agents of change who with us build today a better tomorrow. We need to hear from them, but that is not all we must do. We must engage and empower youth to be involved in decisions affecting their lives,” said Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships.
Children and young people have a right to be heard on the issues that affect their lives, whether education or climate change. With the #YourVoiceYourFuture campaign and the four U-Report polls, the European Union and the African Union joined forces to explore new ways to engage with young people, to inform policy making, create interest around youth issues, and bring young people and decision makers closer together on both continents. The results of the campaign will inform the agenda of the Africa-Europe Youth Summit 2021, and will ultimately feed into the next AU-EU Summit of Heads of States and Governments.
“When children and young people speak, the world should listen,” said Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director. “Whether their countries are rich or poor, at war or in peace, their demands are the same: A better say in decisions affecting them, a heathier planet, and better opportunities. At a time when so many hopes have been dashed due to a raging pandemic and rising poverty, this is not too much to ask.”   
The #YourVoiceYourFuture report covers U-Report poll results and recommendations on the topics of climate change and the green transition; digital transformation and social infrastructure; education, skills and decent jobs, and; governance, peace and security. Some of the main findings included in the report are:

 	59% of the young people polled identified a lack of access to policymakers as the biggest barrier to their involvement in decision making, with some (17%) citing a lack of support for those in power. 	Young people find inadequate funding for education (43%) and its poor quality (17%) to be big barriers to reimagining a better future for them. 	75% of young people face barriers to accessing the internet. The main limiting factors are the high cost of data (38%), inability to afford internet devices (29%), and the lack of electricity (40%). 	The biggest climate change related change that young people have observed in their surroundings was identified by 48% as reduced food production or availability. 	Raising awareness is the most important action to fight climate change and reduce damage to the environment, according to 43% of young people, together with recycling waste (15%) and reducing the consumption of natural resources (15%). 	The lack of capital and resources for implementing environmentally friendly ideas was named by 47% of young people as the biggest challenge to supporting the transition to a green economy. 	38% of young people recommended creating more decent jobs in the agriculture sector, followed by the creative industries (20%), and manufacturing (16%). 
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).

Participation, education, digital access and climate change are key concerns for children and young people in Africa and Europe, U-Report poll finds

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UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is calling for an end to the unrelenting violence in Africa’s Sahel which has now displaced more than two million people within the borders of their countries for the first time ever.

The Sahel – which includes Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Niger — is home to some of the world’s least developed countries, and the communities hosting the displaced have reached a breaking point.
Needs are surging across a region where multiple crises converge including armed conflict, extreme poverty, food insecurity, climatic changes, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The extreme vulnerability of the Sahel has been laid bare by the impact of forced displacement, caused by widespread and gruesome violence perpetrated by armed insurgent groups and criminal gangs.
The humanitarian response is dangerously overstretched, and UNHCR is urging the international community to redouble its support for the region. States must act now to help Sahel countries address the root causes of this forced displacement, to boost strategic and sustainable development, and to strengthen institutions such as schools and hospitals, many of which have shut due to ongoing violence. The situation has worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Internal displacement in the region has quadrupled in just two years, as there were 490,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) at the beginning of 2019. More than half of the IDPs in the region are Burkinabé. The Sahel also hosts over 850,000 refugees, mainly from Mali.
Already this year, violence in Niger and Burkina Faso has forced more than 21,000 people to flee their homes and seek refuge within their own countries.
In Burkina Faso, since 31 December, a series of armed attacks on the town of Koumbri and nearby villages in the North of the country have displaced more than 11,000 people. Most are women and children who fled at night after attackers began shooting at their homes. They have reached safety and are now staying within local communities in Ouahigouya and Barga, some 35 kilometres away.
Despite the generosity of their hosts, many of the IDPs lack basic shelter and are sleeping under open skies. They are in urgent need of adequate shelter, water, and essential relief, as well as access to health and proper sanitation to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
UNHCR is erecting 108 sturdy shelters in Ouahigouya and our teams have distributed mats and blankets, hygiene materials, and other essential aid. Local authorities are accelerating efforts to register the new arrivals and relocate them to another site.
Across the region, UNHCR and its partners are working to provide critical assistance to hundreds of thousands of displaced people and their hosts, such as shelter, aid items, and cash. Our teams are also working to prevent and respond to instances of sexual violence, which have become widespread. We are rehabilitating schools and classrooms and supporting distance learning opportunities.
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Grim milestone as Sahel violence displaces 2 million inside their countries

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The 6th PIDA Week opened virtually on Tuesday under the theme “New decade, new realities, new priorities – positioning PIDA and infrastructure development in Africa’s continued growth and economic recovery”.

Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Week is an annual conference held to accelerate infrastructure implementation on the continent. The 6th PIDA Week which takes place amidst the backdrop of global economic and social uncertainty marks ten years of the implementation of the first PIDA-Priority Action Plan (PIDA-PAP1) and the transition to the Second Phase of the Programme (PIDA PAP II), which will run from 2021-2030.
During the official opening session, H.E. Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy of the African Union Commission (AUC) says PIDA has achieved two important milestones this year. “I am happy to announce that on January 12, African ministers of infrastructure validated the PIDA PAP2 priority list and the African Single Electricity Market. These are very important milestones for the continent in terms of creating jobs, enhancing economic productivity, facilitating trade, accelerating industrialization and market development. They are also believed to expedite digitalization which is a game-changer for Africa&#39;s development endeavors” underscores Dr. Abou-Zeid.
The selection criteria for PIDA-PAP2 deployed an Integrated Corridor Approach (ICA) for a smart, efficient, sustainable, and inclusive outcome. Gender inclusion has been among the eight criteria incorporated in the ICA. “Gender inclusion is not about including women as beneficiaries only, but also including them in the supply chain, across the whole value chain of our infrastructure development; making sure that women-led enterprises have a fair share in the procurement of large projects, as well as access to large finance, not just as the micro or small finance,” emphasized Dr. Abou-Zeid
The AU Commissioner further stressed digitalization and climate-resilient infrastructure. “Digitalization is a game-changer and is here to stay. It has implications on every walk of life and each sector including infrastructure. In the selection criteria, we insisted on the aspect of smart technologies and sound business models that are aligned to the current realities and are adaptable to the future. Climate mitigation impacts was part of the selection criteria, and the adaptation potential projects was considered because the adverse effects of climate change on Africa are already prevailing and deteriorating. We need our infrastructure to withstand the impacts of climate change.”
H.E. Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer of African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) said, “the Integrated Corridor Approach ensures that all related corridor infrastructure link complements each other mirroring the AU Agenda 2063 to realize the full socio-economic development impact of regional projects”. He commended the leadership provided by the AUC as well as the active participation of African Development Bank, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Member States, Regional Economic Communities and Development Partners during the process of developing PIDA PAP2.
PIDA PAP2 has drawn lessons from its predecessor PIDA-PAP1 which comprises over 400 projects. “The projects under PIDA PAP1 are at different levels of implementation which reached approximately 50% by the end of 2020.” Dr. Mayaki disclosed.
H.E. Dr. Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s Minister for International Relations and Cooperation South Africa said the successful implementation of the PIDA-PAP II would require an increased investment drive by private investors. “Infrastructure development in Africa requires USD130bn-USD170bn annually. However, to attract this investment we need to address issues of good governance, which affect the quality and delivery of infrastructure. PIDA project owners need to have the capacity and enabling environment for driving good governance,” said Minister Pandor.
The opening session of the 6th PIDA week was followed by a presentation on the PIDA Progress Report by Mr. Amine Idriss Adoum, Director, Programme Delivery and Coordination, AUDA-NEPAD.
In addition to the typical issues impacting infrastructure delivery on the continent, the 6th PIDA Week will consider thematic issues such as infrastructure priorities under the PIDA PAP2, Post-Covid-19 infrastructure financing, delivery and resilience, the critical role of infrastructure for the implementation of AfCFTA, Covid-19 impact on transport, energy, ICT and social infrastructure.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).

6th Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Week opens Virtually to Discuss Infrastructure Development in the New Decade of PIDA Programme

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UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is concerned by recent violence in Sudan’s Darfur region, which has caused thousands of people to flee their homes seeking safety – including across the border into Chad.

The intercommunal clashes, which started on 15 January in West Darfur and spread to South Darfur the next day, have claimed the lives of 250 people – including three humanitarian workers – and displaced more than 100,000.
Among the newly displaced, some 3,500 Sudanese have arrived in Ouaddaï Province in eastern Chad. These refugees – the majority of them women and children – have been hosted in four very remote locations that lack basic services or public infrastructure, where they have been sheltering under trees. 
Due to the COVID-19 situation, Chadian local authorities are directing the new arrivals to a transit site, where they will undergo quarantine before being relocated to an existing refugee camp, away from the border. UNHCR is rushing supplies to the area to respond to their needs. Before this latest round of clashes, Chad was already hosting more than 360,000 Sudanese refugees.
In Sudan, UNHCR is mobilizing resources as part of an inter-agency response to assist those affected by the clashes. UNHCR has prepositioned emergency shelters and other core relief items such as blankets to be quickly distributed as soon as the security situation allows.
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Over 100,000 displaced by resurgence of violence in Sudan’s Darfur region

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Total cases: 12,170 (+310) Recovered: 7,973 (+161) | 65.5% Active cases: 4,035 Tests: 812,943 (+4,359) Deaths: 162 (+9) | 1.3% Test positivity rate: 7.1%
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (21 January 2021)

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In February last year, Somalia was in the midst of a declared national emergency. Swarms of locusts, fed on rains driven by climate change, were steadily eating their way through swathes of crops and grasslands, consuming jobs and food supplies in the process. As a result, the already-fragile country was facing yet another devastating famine.

In the subsequent months, further disaster was to strike as floods and cyclones unfolded across the country, displacing more than 650,000 from their homes.
By June, COVID-19 was heaping pressure upon Somalia’s precarious health care system and threatening economic growth.
Unrelenting headwinds
2020 was an extraordinary year for most, but Somalia has been used to challenges, facing as it does a complex backdrop of conflict, political instability, and climate-related disasters.
Over the years, recurring droughts and floods have been a major driver of humanitarian crises.
At the same time, extreme groups such as Al-Shabab have been undermining peace and security, and driving conflict over natural resources, in turn affecting business and trade.
Ongoing civil war since 1991 has de-stabilized institutions and undermined governance.
Now climate change may prove to be the biggest threat ever posed to the country, delivering even more extreme and unpredictable weather with dire consequences for already-vulnerable communities.
Fortunately, Somali political leadership has understood the threats and has shown commitment to addressing them head-on.
Adapting to climate change
In 2013, a National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), developed with the support of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), was Somalia’s first step towards a nationwide climate adaptation strategy.
Since the establishment of the NAPA, progress has been made in boosting resilience and empowering everyday Somalis to prepare for and withstand extreme weather. Most Somalis, for instance, now understand how to better manage water to be able to withstand drought periods.
Examples of innovation have emerged as well, including in early warning systems and using mobile apps to reach communities, and work to collect and connect data on climate change with disaster risk reduction.
Ecosystem-based adaptation solutions are being embraced. In one example, under a UNDP-supported water management project, community-led afforestation initiatives are helping combat desertification.
Climate commitments
Somalia&#39;s commitment to tackle climate change has been registered internationally and in 2015 the country registered its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) – a formal statement of plans to reduce emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change under the global Paris Agreement.
Now it is working on a revised, more ambitious NDC to be submitted in the coming months.
Unlike the first, the new NDC – which examines the agriculture, water, energy, waste, and forest sectors – will have binding targets, including an overall goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030 relative to a business-as-usual trajectory, with international financial and technical support.
The government is also committed to an unconditional goal of reducing its net greenhouse gas emissions by 5 to 10 percent by 2030 using its own resources.
While Somalia’s emissions are historically extremely low, this represents a significant target given the country’s extremely challenging circumstances and constrained resources.
Adaptation is also front-and-center in the NDC with 16 priority areas identified, including food security and livelihoods, water resources management, disaster preparedness, and public health.
For the fragile state, climate mitigation efforts are win-win, helping support economic growth while boosting health, energy access, and environmental outcomes into the future. They also reflect a commitment to join the world on a low-carbon sustainable development pathway. And signal to the world the urgent need for bold climate action.
Developed in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, the NDC envisages clear roles not just for government but also for communities at large, including women, youth, civil society, and the private sector.
Citizens, for example, play a leading part in restoring forests and degraded ecosystems, disaster risk management, and sustainable land management, while the private sector has an important role in the uptake of renewable energy technologies, the mobilization of climate finance and investment, and climate change awareness.
With the backing of the Green Climate Fund and UNDP, the government is now developing a series of implementation roadmaps, including for adaptation and disaster risk reduction, to ensure the goals of the NDC are met.
Somalia is also using its COVID-19 recovery plan as a tailwind for green growth and meeting their NDC targets. For example, they are supporting people who lost their jobs to restart employment in fields that decarbonize the economy.
Facing forward
Around the world, action on climate change through NDCs is intimately connected to health and wellbeing, to peace and security – nowhere more so than fragile states like Somalia.
Despite the most difficult of circumstances, Somalia&#39;s proactive, multi-sectoral, and cohesive approach to climate action shows strong leadership.
With partners and international support, the fragile state will realize its goals for resilience and realize a low-carbon sustainable future.
There is no time to waste.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

How Somalia, one of the world’s most fragile states, is working for a more resilient, low-carbon future

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Tests conducted: 7,820,613 Positive cases identified: 1,380,807 Total recoveries: 1,183,443 Total deaths: 39,501 New cases: 11,381
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Coronavirus – South Africa: COVID-19 update (21 January 2021)

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Daily: Laboratory test: 3,945 Severe cases: 225 New recovered: 653 New deaths: 13 New cases: 292

Total: Laboratory test: 1,903,582 Active cases: 12,261 Total recovered: 118,006 Total deaths: 2,057 Total cases: 132,326
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Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 update (21 January 2021)

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By Akinwumi Adesina, President of African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org)

Your Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Your Excellencies, Governors, Excellencies, Ambassadors Honorable Ministers Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Muhammad Nami Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

I would like to wish you Mr. President and all of Nigeria a Happy and Prosperous New Year. I am delighted to address you today, as President of the African Development Bank – and as a Nigerian.

I thank you Mr. President for your incredible leadership, tenacity and resolute support behind my re-election as President of the African Development Bank for a second term. I am proud to be a Nigerian, any day, anytime and anywhere.

Thank you Mr. President for inviting me to this First National Tax Dialogue organized by the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS). I congratulate you on this Dialogue.

We all live today in very difficult times in Nigeria, Africa and the world with COVID-19 pandemic. To many lives have been lost. One death is one too many. I wish to commiserate with the Government and with the people of Nigeria on the lives lost. I wish to also commend the concerted efforts being deployed by Nigeria at all levels, including by the private sector, to tackle the pandemic.

Before the pandemic, 6 of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world were in Africa. With the pandemic shock, growth plummeted. Africa’s GDP growth declined by 2.1% last year, the worst in two decades. As economies went into lockdowns, people’s incomes declined, millions lost their jobs, trade volumes fell, and demand for goods and services declined. Cumulative loss to Africa’s GDP is estimated at $173-236 billion for 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Nigeria has not been spared. The economy shrunk by 3% in 2020 on account of falling oil prices and effects of the lockdowns on economic activity. The pandemic has impacted on budgetary balances and increased debt burdens.

Nigeria’s Debt-to-GDP ratio will push debt service payments beyond more than 60% of federally collected revenues. With shrinkage in oil revenues, debt service payments pose the greatest risk to Nigeria.

The African Development Bank Africa estimated that Africa faces an additional financing need of $125-154 billion by the end of 2020 to respond to the crisis. IMF estimates that Africa will need $345 billion in additional fiscal space by 2023.

Africa’s debt also is rising. Debt-to-GDP, which has been stable at 60%, has risen to 70-75% of GDP. The bulk of the debt has been for private bond issuances on the global capital markets &#8212; Eurobonds. As countries’ currencies devalued and external reserves plummeted, in the face of declined economic activity, many African countries face risks of debt distress.

Out of 38 African countries for which Debt Sustainability ratings are available, 14 are in high risk of debt distress, while 6 are already in debt distress.

To put a human face on the pandemic effects, we estimate that 28-40 million people in Africa are projected to fall into extreme poverty, and 30 million jobs would be lost due to the pandemic.

The African Development Bank has been very responsive in supporting Africa. The African Development Bank launched a $10 billion Crisis Response Facility to support African countries to meet the fiscal and economic challenges posed by the pandemic. The Bank provided $288 million in budget support to Nigeria to cope with the fiscal challenges posed by the pandemic.

The African Development Bank also launched a $3 billion fight COVID19 bond on the global market, the largest ever social bond in world history. It is now listed on the London Stock Exchange, the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq.  

I wish to commend the leadership of President Buhari and all the State Governors, and the private sector, in tackling the pandemic. It has been very challenging, given the second wave of the pandemic.

But let us not be deterred. Nigeria and Africa will overcome this pandemic.


African economies are projected to recover this year. The African Development Bank projects that GDP growth will recover to 3.4% for Africa, as economies open up, commodity prices recover, tourism bounces back, and global value chains recover their manufacturing capacities.

We project that Nigeria’s economy is poised to recover to growth of 1.5% in 2021 and 2.9% in 2022, according to the African Development Bank’s soon to be released African Economic Outlook. 

But building back will require a lot more resources. Taxes form a significant part of government revenue.

It is crucial to ensure that the tax base expands. Given that over 60% of Nigerians are in the informal sector, priority should be to support measures to move a large part of this from informal to formal sectors.

Making tax codes simpler and reducing administrative burdens and formalities are important to move from informality to formality. Doing so will allow people to be able to better assess their tax obligations. 

Digitalization of tax collection and tax administration is critical to ensure greater transparency of the tax system, widening of the tax base, while mitigating compliance risks and encouraging voluntary tax compliance.

The Government should focus a lot on corporate taxes, and ensure full compliance. But it is important to ensure that such taxes do not discourage investments.

Nigeria can learn from the case of Estonia, which taxes corporate incomes, but based on distributed profits. This allows corporations to re-invest their profits in expanding their businesses.

Taxing corporate revenue, instead of profits will discourage investments needed to grow businesses and create jobs.

Natural resources tax can play a major role for Nigeria. Given Nigeria’s high reliance on oil and gas, and minerals, the government should ensure that these sectors pay taxes and royalties that are fair and transparent.

Profit shifting, base erosion and tax avoidance by multinational corporations form a huge part of “Africa’s missing taxes”; and account for a large share of the over $60 billion illicit capital flows that Africa loses annually. 

If companies invest in Africa they should pay taxes in Africa. Governments should use Business Investment Treaties and Avoidance of Double Taxation to strengthen these incentives. If a company works in Nigeria, benefits from Nigeria, it should pay taxes in Nigeria.

Tax policy can be used to incentivize the closing of the massive infrastructure gap that Africa faces. Nigeria is showing good example.

The new initiative between the Federal government and selected private sector businesses to provide road infrastructure in return for tax rebates is an excellent idea.
It is conditional; and it can be assessed and measured for delivery. That is the kind of accountability needed, so tax rebates or exemptions are not abused.

Today, the Dangote Group is constructing 19 key economic federal roads, stretching for 800 kilometers across the six geo-political zones, due to company tax credits from the Executive Order 007 of 2019. 

However, Governments should avoid overly generous tax holidays and tax reliefs. While there should be fiscal incentives to attract and support the private sector, governments should avoid losing too much tax earnings.

Given the size of Nigeria’s economy, the population, urbanization and consumer spending, it is a market with huge opportunities to attract investors. Yes, it has infrastructure deficits. Yes, it has a high cost of doing business. Yet, Nigeria is not a market that can be ignored.

Government efforts to secure investments should not be based on giving too much “fiscal sugar” to the companies, so they do not suffer from “fiscal diabetes”.

Small and medium sized enterprises should be further encouraged and supported, as they are the lifelines of earnings and the creators of jobs. Tax exemptions or tax deferments can be used to support their growth.

Nigeria’s bubbling youth are creative. While their businesses may be small, they should be incentivized to grow.
Over time, they will become bigger businesses that can provide much higher taxes. There is an urgent need for a fiscal policy regime that strongly supports businesses of young people in Nigeria.

Given Nigeria’s high level of poverty and huge income inequality, taxes should not be regressive, where taxes paid on goods or services are the same regardless of income. 

But one thing we cannot ignore is good governance. Good governance is the “speed dial” for greater tax payments. The role of the government is not just to collect taxes; its role is to ensure that the taxes are collected transparently, used transparently and responsibly; and that citizens see what their taxes are being used for. 

While there should be tax obligations for citizens, there must also be tax accountability to citizens from governments. Participatory tax-based financing systems demand participatory governance.

While tax rates are low in Nigeria compared to a number of African and non-African countries, that is not a justification to keep increasing taxes. 

We must also distinguish between nominal taxes and implicit taxes — Taxes that are borne but are not seen nor recorded.

We should not simply compare tax-to-GDP ratios.  We must not compare apples and oranges.

Truth be told, Nigerians pay one of the highest implicit tax rates in the world — way higher than developed countries.

Think of it: they provide electricity for themselves via generators; they repair roads to their neighborhoods, if they can afford to; there are no social security systems; they provide security for their own safety; and they provide boreholes for drinking water with their own monies. That in incredulous in itself. Boreholes are not the way to provide water in the 21st century. Every household should have pipe borne water! 

Take for example that 86% of small and medium sized enterprises in Nigeria spend $ 14 billion annually on diesel for generators. Nigeria’s companies lose on average 10% of sales because they do not have access to reliable and affordable electricity. 

Governments, over time, have simply transferred their responsibility to citizens. When governments or institutions fail to provide basic services, the people bear the burden — a heavy implicit tax on the population.

Taxation is a social contract between governments and citizens. Tax compliance are higher when citizens are provided the needed public goods in exchange for tax payments.

Accountability and transparency builds trust; and trust powers higher tax compliance. When citizens see the benefits of taxes they will have incentives to pay taxes. 

Efforts should be made to improve overall tax administration and compliance. Weaknesses in tax administration with complex tax codes causes leakages, costing governments to lose much needed resources for development.

Tax legislations should also be stable and predictable. Given Nigeria’s structure, with three tiers of government with varying powers, efforts should be made to harmonize tax regimes and avoid multiplicity of taxes. 

To succeed, efforts must be made to reform domestic tax laws and institutional frameworks. There is much scope to further improve the institutional capacity for tax audits, data management and business intelligence, at all levels, to improve tax revenue collection. 

The African Development Bank is ready to provide needed technical and institutional support to the Federal Inland Revenue Service to build up its capacity for tax administration.

I wish you, Your Excellency Mr. President, all the very best of success as you lead our great nation and in your efforts to mobilize more resources for Nigeria’s development.

We will overcome the Covid-19 pandemic.

Let us arise, with faith, and strength, and a stronger sense of social contract, to mobilize resources for our nation’s development.

Let us do so with full accountability to the people.

As Nigerians, we must all pay our share.

For the nation we build is one in which we all have shares.

And together, we must make it work.

Thank you all very much.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

African Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina’s Speech at the Federal Inland Revenue Service Tax Dialogue

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Results of COVID-19 tests done on 20 January 2021 confirm 178 cases. The cumulative confirmed cases are 38,806.

11 COVID-19 deaths reported have been investigated and confirmed. The deaths are reported from various parts of the country
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Coronavirus – Uganda: COVID-19 update (20 January 2021)

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As of 20th Jan 2021, in the last 24 hrs, we had 1,434 new cases (out of 11,179 tests), 1709 recoveries &#038; 7 new deaths [MTSRIP].
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Coronavirus – Zambia: COVID-19 update (20 January 2021)

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136 people have tested positive to the disease, out of a sample size of 3,787 tested in the last 24 hours. The total confirmed positive cases are now 99,444. The cumulative tests so far conducted are 1,134,494.

176 patients have recovered from the disease. 162 from the Home-Based Isolation and Care, while 14 are from our various facilities. The total recoveries now stand at 82,654.

2 patients have lost their lives to the disease pushing our cumulative fatalities to 1,736.

686 patients admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 1,625 are on Home Based Isolation and Care.  30 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 14 of whom are on ventilatory support and 14 on supplemental oxygen. 2 are under observation.

11 patients are separately on supplementary oxygen with 10 of them in the general wards while 1 is in the High Dependency Unit.

11 patients are separately on supplementary oxygen with 10 of them in the general wards while 1 is in the High Dependency U
686 patients admitted i686 patients admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 1,625 are on Home Based Isolation and Care. 30 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 14 of whom are on ventilatory support and 14 on supplemental oxygen. 2 are under observation.n various health facilities countrywide, while 1,625 are on Home Based Isolation and Care.  30 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 14 of whom are on ventilatory support and 14 on supplemental oxygen. 2 are under observation.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.

Coronavirus – Kenya: COVID-19 update (20 January 2021)

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As we step into the second year of the pandemic, the question at hand, globally is, how are we going to recover from the Covid-19?

In the 2nd edition of “Billions at play: The future of African Energy and Doing Deals”, NJ Ayuk, provides some insight on how leaders and investors can build success from the oil and gas industry. The book opens with a foreword with OPEC Secretary General , H.E. Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo who describes Ayuk as someone “who has never been one to shy away from different conversations.”
The book offers pragmatic answers and solutions to the historic challenges that the industry has faced throughout 2020 by detailing actions that can be taken from tax breaks to new government regulations. Titled ‘How we’ll recover from Covid-19’, this chapter delves into how the strategic use of Africa’s natural petroleum resources, can open the door to prosperity and stability for everyday Africans across the continent. 
“I’ll be honest, Covid-19 has been a nightmare, and I believe we’re going to see more difficulties before we’re through. But I also believe that throwing up our hands and simply letting this economic devastation decimate Africa’s oil and gas industry is ill-advised,” writes Ayuk.

Covid-19 had a negative impact on upcoming projects and production on the African continent. For instance, Pecan Field Development in Ghana was cancelled with expectation to resume production at the end of 2021. There has also been a suspension of the Ezanga License in Gabon, whereby operational expenditures had to be reduced by 20 percent as well as the development Capex by 60 percent. This has had a detrimental effect on Gabon, a country that is heavily reliant on oil export revenue. Production in projects such as the Gharb Basin in Morocco also had to be delayed because of Covid-19, even though the project has been so successful.
“Releasing an updated edition of Billions At Play seemed like the most natural step to me as the energy sector was one of the hardest hit,&#8221; said Ayuk. &#8220;It was important for me to provide a central place where optimism can be offered regarding the affected world class oil and gas developments the continent was set to make progress on last year.”

The book is now available on Amazon and has for the first time been narrated by Adera Gandy and Boet Schouwinck as an audiobook also available through leading retailers including Exclusive Books (https://bit.ly/2Y0z2N7), Takealot (http://bit.ly/2Np8ZNI), Google Books (http://bit.ly/2LSC0AT), eBooks.com (https://bit.ly/2LSC7MP), Kindle (https://amzn.to/3sJSRXg) and many more! Billions At Play became number one on Amazon in several categories only a few days after its initial release in 2019, making it one of Africa’s energy best-seller. Billions at Play is a follow up to NJ Ayuk’s ‘Big Barrels: African Oil and Gas and the Quest for Prosperity.’
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
About NJ: NJ Ayuk is Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber (http://EnergyChamber.org), CEO of Centurion Law Group, and the author of several books about the oil and gas industry in Africa, including Billions at Play: The Future of African Energy and Doing Deals.
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