<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q5jjhFpIX3c" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Where does Kenya fit into the ranking of African countries that facilitate intra-African trade? The top five countries in this regard are South Africa, Namibia, Nigeria, Zambia, Cote d’Ivoire; with Kenya coming in at number 11. CNBC Africa’s Godfrey Mutizwa leads this discussion on strategy to deepen Kenya-Africa Trade: The Case for the African Continental Trade Agreement, joined by  expert panellists Amr Kamel, Executive Vice President of Development and Corporate Banking, Afreximbank; Jaswinder Bedi, Chairman of the Export Promotion Council of Kenya; Rachel Muthoga, Deputy CEO of KEPSA; Kiprono Kittony, Chairman of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Hazel Ojany, an investment advisor on Africa&#8230;.</p>


East Africa IATF Debate: Strategy to deepen Kenya-Africa trade

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<p>The 1st Annual Bio Africa Convention was hosted in Durban this week &#8211; designed to showcase Africa’s biotechnology innovations in the health, agriculture and industrial sectors. CNBC Africa’s Fifi Peters sat down with cabinet ministers and industry experts to find out how solid national policies can inspire investor confidence in African biotech&#8230;.</p>


Industry experts discuss Africa’s biotechnology innovations

<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/udgdEHjjkEI" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
<p>CNBC Africa&#8217;s Wole Famurewa engages panellists who share their experience working with Afreximbank over the years, as the bank celebrates 25 years of promoting trade on the continent including Albert Essien, Chairman of the Ghana Stock Exchange Council; Simon Tiemtore, Chairman Vista Bank Group; Noureddine Zekri, Director General, BMICE; Ahmed Elsewedy, Managing Director and CEO Elsewedy Electric Company and Patricia Poku-Diaby, CEO of Plot Enterprise.</p>


Afreximbank Debate: Businesses share their experience working with the bank

<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6KJjHP0JDAw" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
<p>With more than 500 million sub-Saharan Africans living without access to electricity, large-scale grids in Africa are falling far short in addressing electrification for rural areas. As part of the Siemens Dialogues from Nairobi, CNBC Africa’s Gugulethu Mfuphi speaks to expert guests about alternatives for the East African region and explore the idea of electrification as a driver for socio-economic development.<br />
http://cnbc.africa/videos/</p>


Siemens Dialogue: Finding innovative solutions to Africa’s lack of access to electricity

<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H1xblCfIwNY" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
<p>CNBC Africa&#8217;s Bronwyn Nielsen engages a high-level panel at the 25th Annual Meetings of the Africa Export-Import Bank in Abuja joined by expert guests Louis Kasekende, Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Uganda; Ronnie Ntuli, CEO of Thelo Holdings and Victor Silue Former CEO of BNI to discuss the response of trade finance institutions to challenges impacting trade.</p>


Afreximbank  Debate: Discusses response of trade finance institutions to challenges impacting trade

<p>MBABANE (Reuters) &#8211; The Kingdom of eSwatini will not switch its allegiance from Taiwan to China, its foreign affairs minister said on Wednesday, after China said it expected Taiwan’s last diplomatic ally in Africa to switch allies soon.</p>
<p>“They must not play mind games because our relationship with Taiwan is over 50 years so we will not dump them,” Mgwagwa Gamedze told Reuters from Taiwan, where he was on a visit. “We have no desire to change camps since Taiwan has been good to us.”</p>
<p>eSwatini was formerly known as Swaziland.</p>
<p>El Salvador this week became the third country to switch allegiances to China from Taiwan this year.</p>
<p>Reporting by Lunga Masuku; Writing by James Macharia; editing by John Stonestreet</p>


This country is Taiwan’s last remaining ally in Africa, says it won’t switch to China

<figure><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
<p>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mia-perry-526580" rel="author"><span class="fn author-name">Mia Perry, </span></a><span class="fn author-name">Senior Lecturer, Education, Arts, Literacies, </span><span class="fn author-name">University of Glasgow</span></p>
<p>Nigeria recently surpassed India to become the country with <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/26/africa/nigeria-overtakes-india-extreme-poverty-intl/index.html">the highest number</a> of people living in extreme poverty: 87 million. Nigeria is oil rich and boasts Africa’s fastest growing economy. Yet six of its people fall into extreme poverty <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/26/africa/nigeria-overtakes-india-extreme-poverty-intl/index.html">every minute</a>.</p>
<p>This story isn’t unique to Nigeria. It’s echoed in other resource-rich countries like the <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/18/africa/looting-machine-tom-burgis-africa/index.html">Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola</a> where an exploitative elite and multinational companies keep wealth from reaching the majority of citizens. By 2030, it’s estimated that <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2013/05/29/africas-challenge-to-end-extreme-poverty-by-2030-too-slow-or-too-far-behind">82% of the world’s poorest people</a> will live in Africa.</p>
<p>This is the continent’s paradox: vast natural resources and mineral reserves alongside extreme poverty.</p>
<p>Historically, poverty has been predominantly dealt with as a lack of material resources or an income deprivation issue. Development work has focused on pushing resources to poor communities. Many have criticised the availability of “free money” though international aid, which they say has created a “<a href="https://www.lejournalinternational.fr/Foreign-aid-is-hurting-not-helping-Sub-Saharan-Africa_a2085.html">dependency syndrome</a>”, dishonest procurement and white elephant projects. Aid work has also been accused of fostering <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2017/04/20/making-africa-great-again-reducing-aid-dependency/">paternalism rather than partnership</a>.</p>
<p>The reality is that poverty is about <a href="http://amartya.nl/why-poverty/">more than just money</a>. If money alone were the solution, poverty would have ended: more than $50 billion was given <a href="https://www.oecd.org/dac/stats/documentupload/Africa-Development-Aid-at-a-Glance.pdf">as overseas development assistance to Africa in 2017 alone</a>.</p>
<p>Without contextual knowledge, education and adaptation, foreign or imposed practices or resources cause new sets of problems. This is seen again and again across countries that depend on aid. For example, where food poverty was causing under-nutrition in parts <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(17)30432-1/fulltext">of Malawi</a>, financial aid has alleviated it. But that problem is quickly being replaced by <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(17)30432-1/fulltext">diabetes and hypertension</a> – because of a narrow financial solution to a complex problem.</p>
<p>We argue that tackling poverty requires a different focus, rather than just money. It requires partnerships and practices that promote learning, particularly in relation to cultural and self knowledge. Having communities identify their own problems, then collaborate to find solutions, is also crucial. Money has a role to play in partnerships, but projects shouldn’t default to depending solely on it.</p>
<h2>Driven communities</h2>
<p>Many of the factors that are blamed for contributing to poverty are not measurable in dollar terms or connected to income. These include people’s lack of choices, restriction of freedom, lack of skills, gender castes and barriers.</p>
<p>Understanding these issues and their complexities requires looking at poverty through a <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/311943048_The_Theoretical_Impact_of_the_Sustainability_Lens">sustainability lens</a>. This is a perspective that focuses on ethical and innovative ways to look at and use resources, share knowledge, and build community to affect positive change.</p>
<p>Our work with the <a href="https://sustainablefuturesinafrica.com/">Sustainable Futures in Africa Network</a> has shown the importance of this lens. We’re an interdisciplinary collective of researchers, educators, and communities of practice that aims to build understanding, research, and practice in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800915003158">socio-ecological sustainability</a> (which recognises the interconnection between social and ecological systems)<br />
in Africa.</p>
<p>We work from the understanding that because poverty is multifaceted, solutions to alleviate it must <a href="https://theconversation.com/an-integrated-sustainable-fix-is-key-to-solving-africas-energy-woes-48256">be multifaceted</a>, too.</p>
<p>A number of the community projects we work with are engaged in poverty reduction practices but don’t focus solely on generating income. These projects are driven by communities on their own with existing resources; they rely on their own abilities and efforts that are not externally funded.</p>
<p>One example is <a href="https://sustainablefuturesinafrica.com/2018/07/11/a-short-and-sweet-visit-to-the-sfa-hub-kampala/">ECOaction</a>, which works in a slum community on the outskirts of Kampala in Uganda. Residents largely rely on collecting and selling discarded plastic bottles collected from across the city for small amounts of money.</p>
<p>With no resource other than time and vision, residents have built a community hall from <a href="https://sustainablefuturesinafrica.com/2018/07/11/a-short-and-sweet-visit-to-the-sfa-hub-kampala/">recycled water bottles</a> and an urban garden that grows food for residents and a chicken farm. Colourful murals and sculpture can be found around every corner.</p>
<p>In Botswana, the Sustainable Futures in Africa team is working with a community in Mmadinare to develop a project that will protect their farm land from wild elephants. This will not rely on, or generate, external funding. But it will protect the farmers’ and the wild animals’ interests.</p>
<p>There are other ways to build strong sustainable communities without external financial resources. In Taba Padang, a village in Indonesia, <a href="http://www.eco-business.com/news/in-rural-indonesia-a-village-learns-to-embrace-its-forest-through-sustainability/">sustainable community forestry</a> is helping improve human wellbeing. There’s also <a href="https://www.ugandaletsgotravel.com/uganda/top-experiences/responsible-tourism/boomu-african-village/">Boomu African Village</a> in Uganda, where a women’s group participates in eco-tourism and invests back into the community. They have built a nursery school and trained other residents in their village to get involved in eco-tourism.</p>
<p>Other self-reliance projects centre on health. For example <a href="https://journals.co.za/content/journal/10520/EJC-ee9eff20">in Lesotho</a>, volunteers participate in community home-based health care and fill the gap in the community health care chain.</p>
<h2>A new lens</h2>
<p>There is, of course, no one-size-fits-all solution that will end poverty. But aid in the form of donated money, from one place to another, is culturally, practically, and ethically problematic.</p>
<p>Money is not the currency of well-being, sustainability and community cohesion. More often, it’s a tool for influence and power dynamics that will favour the creditor. That’s why partnerships that rely on different types of resources and bring people together to design and act on context-relevant solutions can be such powerful drivers of change. That’s why for resource rich Africa, promoting self reliance would be key to eliminating poverty.</p>
<p><br />
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/101145/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><em>This article was co-authored by Dr Deepa Pullanikkatil, who recently completed a residency at the University of Glasgow funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK. She is the co-founder of Abundance (www.abundanceworldwide.org).</em></p>
<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mia-perry-526580">Mia Perry</a>, Senior Lecturer, Education, Arts, Literacies, <em><a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-glasgow-1269">University of Glasgow</a></em></p>
<p>This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/beating-poverty-needs-partnerships-and-collaboration-not-just-money-101145">original article</a>.</p>

Why money alone can’t help beat poverty in Africa, here’s what is needed

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<p>CNBC Africa brings us this special debate with a panel of expert guests, to discuss the achievements of the BRICS-Africa partnership in pursuit of industrialisation, infrastructure development and integration.</p>


BRICS Debate: Advancing BRICS-Africa partnerships

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<p>The 10th annual Brics Leaders’ Summit officially kicked off today, this as the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa gathered in Johannesburg for their annual meeting. This year&#8217;s summit is themed “BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity in the 4th Industrial Revolution”.</p>


Official opening of the 10th annual Brics Leaders’ Summit in South Africa

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<p>We are in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, for the third leg of our IATF series of conversations around ways in which the African continent should boost intra-African trade. CNBC Africa’s Godfrey Mutizwa moderates the panel discussion with Dr Benedict Oramah,<br />
President &#038; Chairman of the Board, Afreximbank; Abubakar Abba Bello, CEO, Neximbank; Ambassador Albert Muchanga, Commissioner of Trade &#038; Industry, African Union; and Jani Ibrahim, National Vice President, NACCIMA.<br />
http://cnbc.africa/category/debates/</p>


West Africa IATF Debate: The case for import substitution in boosting intra-African trade

<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NWFKB_qukO0" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
<p>This highlights special focuses on the South African leg of the Road to Transforming Africa which will culminate in the Intra-Africa Trade Forum in Egypt in November, with the launch of the South African-Africa Trade and Investment Promotion Programme (SATIPP) in Sandton earlier.</p>


South Africa IATF Debate: Road to Transforming Africa

<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nt6q0BwqsFo" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>The Interest Rate debate engages both sides of the capping divide with an intention of deeply analysing the impact of capping of interest rates and coming up with possible solutions and ways forward.<br />
http://cnbc.africa/videos/</p>


Impact of interest rate capping on the Kenyan economy

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<p>The Metropolis of the World Association of Major Metropolises is the largest association of major cities, provinces and region across the globe, and this year their annual meeting will be held in Johannesburg. The launch of this event was held in Nasrec in Johannesburg.</p>


Johannesburg readies to host Metropolis annual meeting

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<p>The state of health in Nigeria comes under the spotlight in this highlight special on the Future of Health Summit held in Lagos; join CNBC Africa’s Christy Cole interviews key role players, on the role of technology in the transformation of healthcare in the country. And then in Part 2 we have interview with the Nigerian Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, conducted by Fifi Peters.</p>


Future of Health Summit: Role of technology in transforming Nigeria’s healthcare

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<p>Ensuring sustainable climate and disaster risk financing is available to countries that face extreme weather events in Africa, sits at the heart of the African Risk Capacity&#8217;s mandate. Join CNBC Africa from the side-lines of the African Development Bank&#8217;s annual meetings in Busan, South Korea, as we hear stories from countries that have benefited from the Africa Disaster Risk Financing Programme.<br />
 http://cnbc.africa/category/insights/african-development-bank/</p>


AfDB Debate: Discusses Africa disaster risk financing program

<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GvT8-bo4r0w" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
<p>The Human Science Research Council’s African Unity for Renaissance International Conference brings together continental experts to look at the question of Africa’s industrialisation. CNBC Africa’s Fifi Peters sat down with expert guests to explore the implication this will have on job creation and poverty alleviation.</p>
<p>http://cnbc.africa/</p>


African Unity for Renaissance International Conference 2018 Debate: Africa’s industrialization

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<p>Diamond Bank is set to light a spark with Tech Fest which aims to showcase technological solutions for businesses in Nigeria on the 15th and 16th of May 2018. CNBC Africa caught up with Uzoma Dozie, CEO of Diamond bank, Oluwakemi Okusanya, Vice President of Visa West Africa, and EduAbasi Essien, Independent Software Vendor Lead at Microsoft 4Afrika to discuss ways to expand Nigeria&#8217;s tech frontiers.</p>


Debates

East Africa IATF Debate: Strategy to deepen Kenya-Africa trade

Industry experts discuss Africa’s biotechnology innovations

Afreximbank Debate: Businesses share their experience working with the bank

Siemens Dialogue: Finding innovative solutions to Africa’s lack of access to electricity

Afreximbank Debate: Discusses response of trade finance institutions to challenges impacting trade

This country is Taiwan’s last remaining ally in Africa, says it won’t switch to China

Why money alone can’t help beat poverty in Africa, here’s what is needed

BRICS Debate: Advancing BRICS-Africa partnerships

Official opening of the 10th annual Brics Leaders’ Summit in South Africa

West Africa IATF Debate: The case for import substitution in boosting intra-African trade

South Africa IATF Debate: Road to Transforming Africa

Impact of interest rate capping on the Kenyan economy

Johannesburg readies to host Metropolis annual meeting

Future of Health Summit: Role of technology in transforming Nigeria’s healthcare

AfDB Debate: Discusses Africa disaster risk financing program

African Unity for Renaissance International Conference 2018 Debate: Africa’s industrialization

Diamond Bank Debate: Technological innovation challenges and opportunities in Nigeria

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Debates

East Africa IATF Debate: Strategy to deepen Kenya-Africa trade

Industry experts discuss Africa’s biotechnology innovations

Afreximbank Debate: Businesses share their experience working with the bank

Siemens Dialogue: Finding innovative solutions to Africa’s lack of access to electricity

Afreximbank Debate: Discusses response of trade finance institutions to challenges impacting trade

This country is Taiwan’s last remaining ally in Africa, says it won’t switch to China

Why money alone can’t help beat poverty in Africa, here’s what is needed

BRICS Debate: Advancing BRICS-Africa partnerships

Official opening of the 10th annual Brics Leaders’ Summit in South Africa

West Africa IATF Debate: The case for import substitution in boosting intra-African trade

South Africa IATF Debate: Road to Transforming Africa

Impact of interest rate capping on the Kenyan economy

Johannesburg readies to host Metropolis annual meeting

Future of Health Summit: Role of technology in transforming Nigeria’s healthcare

AfDB Debate: Discusses Africa disaster risk financing program

African Unity for Renaissance International Conference 2018 Debate: Africa’s industrialization

Diamond Bank Debate: Technological innovation challenges and opportunities in Nigeria

News Tips

Advertise With Us

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