Corporate Council on Africa launches US-Africa health resilience initiative
Corporate Council on Africa will launch the US-Africa health security and resilience initiative at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on December 15 formally. The two-year initiative brings together US and African opinion leaders, corporations, multilateral organisations, foundations and other players in the health sector to create strategic...
Cocoa farmers in West Africa earn a pittance as chocolate manufacturers bank billions
Recent statistics on world chocolate industry lay bare how exploitative the beverage’s market is, with cocoa farmers in West Africa forced to make do with a paltry six per cent of total revenues. Leading chocolate companies have since 2001 made pledges to end widespread abusive labour practices, but continue to...
Fund launched to speed up access to clean energy in Kenya
The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) has launched a results-based financing programme aimed at unlocking new markets for clean energy companies in Kenya. The $4 million programme will support commercially viable companies to establish new markets and accelerate access to clean energy for 87,000 unserved and underserved households in Kenya....
Road to energy transition might be bumpy, but banning fossil fuels is treacherous for Africa
What can be done to take natural gas off the banned fossil fuels list? The biggest concern about the continued use of natural gas comes down to one word: flaring. Flaring is the practice of routinely burning off associated natural gas that is produced from the reservoir during oil production....
African countries require balanced approach to the energy transition
Africa stands at a precarious juncture, where the transition from fossil fuels to renewables intersects with the economic benefits of a strategically managed oil and gas industry. Down one road, the continent expands exploration and production of its vast natural gas and oil reserves to bring electricity, fuel and financial...
Amref forms team to review universal health coverage progress in Africa
African countries that announced universal health coverage are set for review of the programmes following formation of an independent commission by the African Medical Research Foundation (Amref). African countries, with the weakest health infrastructure in the world, have committed to universal healthcare by 2030 in line with United Nation’s Sustainable...
Ecotourism now big risk to great apes and other animals in the wild
Wildlife veterinarian Stephen Ngulu starts his typical working day watching from a distance as the chimpanzees under his care eat their breakfast. He keeps an eye out for runny noses, coughing or other hints of illness. These days, Ngulu and others at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy’s Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary in...
US recall of troops from Somalia may cut off intelligence flow for Kenya
The decision by outgoing US President Donald Trump to withdraw American troops from Somalia is expected to force Kenya and Ethiopia back to the drawing board as the move by Washington will cut off intelligence flow the two East African countries need badly to keep Islamist militants at bay. The...
Illicit foreign markets driving up theft of eastern Africa tortoises, turtles
For some communities on the Indian Ocean coast of Africa, tortoises and turtles are potent love potions. Their body parts are harvested and sold to men and women looking to tie down their lovers in a long-term bond of marriage. To foreigners from the United States and Europe, turtles and...
Rugby Africa dishes out €276,000 to 11 unions on the continent
Rugby Africa has disbursed €276,490 to 11 affiliates on the continent to enable them to prepare for the 2021 after a difficult 2020 rugby season. The fund will enable 11 of the 39 Unions – Namibia, Kenya, Uganda, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Algeria, Zambia, Madagascar, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Ghana – start...
