Africa: Five Maddening Facts About Climate Finance

[ad_1] New in-depth analysis finds that less than one-third of donors' commitments have actually been dispersed for climate projects. The injustices of climate change are well-known and keenly felt in Africa. The continent is responsible for just 4% of global carbon emissions yet experiences some of the worst impacts of the crisis. Climate change made the historic drought in East Africa, which left 20 million people hungry, 100 times more likely. It made the devastating damage wrought by Storm Daniel, […]

January 12, 2024

News

Zimbabwe: Harare Stadium Conundrum Nears Solution as Rufaro Eyes Return in Time for 2024 Season

[ad_1] HARARE City Council (HCC) hopes for the return of football at Rufaro Stadium with indications that the ceremonial home of football will be ready to host Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches this season. Rufaro Stadium has been under renovations since last year to give the neglected football facility a face-lift. The closure of Rufaro, which last hosted top-flight football in 2019, has created a stadia conundrum in Harare forcing all teams to use the National Sports Stadium. […]

January 11, 2024

Africa

Africa: COP28 Just About Put Food Systems On the Climate Agenda. Now We Build

[ad_1] Though the talks' long overdue focus on food and agriculture ultimately disappointed, it provides a starting point for future action and advocacy. At COP28 in Dubai last month, food systems were finally put in the spotlight of global climate talks. There were numerous announcements related to the sector and, for the first time ever, there was a whole day dedicated to food and agriculture. Given the profound impact of agricultural practices and food consumption patterns on our planet's health, […]

January 11, 2024

Africa

Africa: Vaccinating Africa – Expanding Vaccine Manufacturing for Health Security

[ad_1] It is time for Africa to focus on producing vaccines for its population. In February 2021, UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres highlighted vaccine equity as "the biggest moral test before the global community." This statement was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic which exposed the vulnerability of Africa's health systems and amplified the urgency for the continent to become self-reliant in addressing public health challenges. The pandemic served as a reminder of the critical importance of equitable access to medical countermeasures, […]

January 11, 2024

Africa

Africa: Wanting to ‘Move On’ Is Natural – but Women’s Pandemic Experiences Can’t Be Lost to ‘Lockdown Amnesia’

[ad_1] The COVID-19 pandemic was - and continues to be - hugely disruptive and stressful for individuals, communities and countries. Yet many seem desperate to close the chapter entirely, almost as if it had never happened. This desire to forget and move on - labelled "lockdown amnesia" by some - is understandable at one level. But it also risks missing the opportunity to learn from what happened. And while various official enquiries and royal commissions have been established to examine […]

January 11, 2024

Africa

Africa: India Eyes Africa in Its Quest for Superpower Status

[ad_1] With Africa's strategic importance rising, India has leveraged the global trust deficit to become a trusted interlocutor. India is rapidly forging an important role in the new global order as a bridge between the global north and south. Leveraging its economic muscle and newfound political clout as the self-appointed voice of the south, India has nimbly straddled multiple, divergent interests and fora. In keeping with a 'multi-alignment' strategy, India has achieved several diplomatic victories, such as the African Union's […]

January 9, 2024

Africa

Africa: Technology Transfer Critical to Revolutionizing Africa’s Pharma Industry

[ad_1] Kigali — An agreement signed between the Rwandan government and the Africa Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation (APTF) gives impetus to Africa's domestic industry with the hope of helping the continent tackle vaccine inequity and fill the critical gap in vaccine manufacturing. The agreement to operationalize the foundation was signed in Kigali, Rwanda, in late 2023. What is important, according to stakeholders, is to focus efforts on building a resilient and self-reliant pharmaceutical industry for the continent. This became apparent during […]

January 9, 2024

Africa

Africa: Fairer Global Tax Won’t Be Enough to Cure Africa’s Chronic Capital Deficit

[ad_1] The UN has decided an intergovernmental authority should set international tax rules and curb illicit financial flows. On 22 November 2023, a coalition of 125 mostly developing countries led by Nigeria won an important United Nations (UN) General Assembly vote on drafting a convention on international rules on tax and combatting illicit financial flows. The UN vote was a victory for African tax activists who have long demanded that the international community wrest control of global tax reform from […]

January 5, 2024

Africa

Africa: AU Appeals for Calm in Ethiopia-Somalia Row

[ad_1] The African Union on Thursday joined the United States in appealing for calm in the Horn of Africa after regional tensions soared following a contested deal between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland. Somalia has vowed to defend its territory after Monday's agreement, which it described as an "aggression" and a "blatant assault" on its sovereignty by neighbouring Ethiopia. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) gives landlocked Ethiopia, Africa's second-most populous country, long-desired access to the Red Sea through […]

January 5, 2024

Business and Finance