Football Stars, Celebrities, International Health Organizations and Corporations Join to Launch “Africa United” To Help Stop Spread of Ebola in West Africa

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gAJPEKKc7Z0/VH9LR4bCPTI/AAAAAAAAFAg/QfFltW6LVgI/s1600/download.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gAJPEKKc7Z0/VH9LR4bCPTI/AAAAAAAAFAg/QfFltW6LVgI/s1600/download.png" width="373" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">At the Official Draw for the 2015 OrangeTM Africa Cup of Nations today, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) joined football stars, celebrities, international health organizations and corporations to announce the launch of Africa</span><a href="http://www.weareafricaunited.org/" style="font-size: x-large;"> United </a><span style="font-size: large;">, a global health communications campaign aimed at preventing the spread of Ebola in West Africa. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The campaign, which is supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation and driven creatively by actor Idris Elba, is designed to recognize the vital role of frontline healthcare workers, as well as to provide critical education and resources for the people of West Africa. Educational messages will be delivered on local and national radio and TV, billboards and by SMS to audiences in Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and neighboring countries.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">In a new TV spot titled “We’ve<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af4Ld1jIteE"> Got Your</a> Back,” Elba and a group of football players committed to the fight against Ebola in West Africa, including Yaya Touré, Carlton Cole, Kei Kamara, Patrick Vieira, Fabrice Muamba and Andros Townsend, are voicing their solidarity with the healthcare workers who are risking their lives every day to fight Ebola. In the video, the players acknowledge that, although fans regard them as heroes, healthcare workers tackling Ebola are the true heroes. Each player wears the name of a healthcare worker on his back as a symbol of respect for “the world’s most important team.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“For me the battle against Ebola is a personal one. To see those amazing countries in West Africa where my father grew up and my parents married being ravaged by this disease is painful and horrific,” said Idris Elba, actor and the creative force behind the development of the campaign public service announcements. “Imagine having to sit down and tell your family that you were going to fight this disease. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">That conversation is happening across West Africa and around the world every day. I am in awe of the bravery of these health workers, who put their lives at risk day in and out to stop the spread of this terrible disease. My hope is that, in some small way, through the development of these PSAs and the creation of the Africa United campaign, we can ensure that these workers get the support they need and that health messages are delivered to people on the ground to help them in their fight. #wevegotyourback. We will support you.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">In another campaign video titled <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnnU_o010EE">“West Africa vs.</a> Ebola,” Elba stars as a soccer coach giving a rousing and educational team talk to West Africa in preparation for its “life or death” game against Ebola. Elba explains the symptoms of Ebola and tactics for how to beat the virus, which includes spreading the word and working as a team.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">"I wanted to support this campaign for so many reasons. I could not sit back without doing something to help fight Ebola. It is important we don't treat this as something we just discuss with work colleagues or simply follow on the news for updates - instead our focus should be to do something,” said Yaya Touré, Ivorian professional football (soccer) player. "I also wanted to get involved with this campaign as it pays tribute to the many, many African heroes who are in the villages, towns and cities using their skills, resourcefulness and intelligence to battle Ebola. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Those people on the front line are often forgotten. African mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters are doing everything they can to fight Ebola - we have to support them. #WeveGotYourBack"</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The video spots and other multimedia educational materials—including video and radio messages, billboards and posters—will be available on the <a href="http://www.weareafricaunited.org/">campaign</a>, in English, French, Krio and additional local languages. The educational materials are designed to be adapted and distributed by Africa United partners such as ministries of health, health clinics, government and non-governmental organizations, media and sports organizations. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">These include the CDC Foundation and current partners Africa 24, SuperSport, ONE, UNICEF and Voice of America. CDC staff working in the affected countries contributed to the development and distribution of the health messages, and Africa United will continue to develop and provide messages to CDC and partners in real time based on changing needs in country.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">To further leverage the power of football to reach Africans, Africa United also will distribute FIFA and CAF’s ‘11 Against Ebola’ messages through Africa United partners. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The 2014 Ebola epidemic is the largest in history, infecting nearly 16,000 people with more than 5,600 deaths to date. While the spread of Ebola is a threat to people, health systems and economies around the globe, West African communities in particular are being crippled by the disease as a result of already-strained healthcare systems, mistrust of healthcare workers and fear and stigmatization of those infected. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“Private and public partnerships like Africa United are critical to aligning organizations fighting Ebola and to ensuring quick, effective responses to changing circumstances and needs,” said Charles Stokes, president and CEO of the CDC Foundation. “The CDC Foundation remains committed to advancing response efforts in West Africa through public education and resources for use on the front lines of the Ebola battle.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Africa United.</span></div> </div>

Football Stars, Celebrities, International Health Organizations and Corporations Join to Launch “Africa United” To Help Stop Spread of Ebola in West Africa

At the Official Draw for the 2015 OrangeTM Africa Cup of Nations today, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) joined football star...

Read more »

Vital tips for consumers when purchasing gifts online

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-njN_BxS4OKI/VH9KGtGfU_I/AAAAAAAAFAY/brVuPFZoHL0/s1600/hdl.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-njN_BxS4OKI/VH9KGtGfU_I/AAAAAAAAFAY/brVuPFZoHL0/s1600/hdl.png" width="238" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">In the lead up to the festive season, consumers are increasingly turning to online shopping portals instead of visiting physical stores. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.dpdhl.com/">Oliver</a> Facey, VP Operations for DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa </span><span style="font-size: large;">, says that shopping online not only offers consumers access to a greater selection of products with easy to compare prices, but also allows individuals to purchase products that may not yet be available in in their own country.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Although internet penetration in Sub Saharan Africa is still far below the world average of around 30%, the numbers are increasing as Africans become more familiar and comfortable with online shopping. According to figures from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in South Africa, 51% of individuals with internet access shop online and in Kenya, 18-24% make online purchases and according to a 2014 Phillips Consulting survey, Nigeria’s online shopping sector grew from N68.4 billion in 2011 to N78 billion in 2012, representing a growth of 25%. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">He warns though that while there are many motivators of why to shop online, consumers must be aware of the do’s and don’ts of online shopping to avoid possible drawbacks. Consumers should also be aware of the regulations involved with purchasing from international retailers, in order to avoid incurring additional expenses, thereby making the product less of an attractive buy.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Facey offers advice to consumer on what to consider when buying from international e-retailers: </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Be conscious of Customs’ import duties and taxes: </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Consumers are often caught off-guard when their shipments arrive from international retailers with unexpected additional charges. It is therefore imperative for consumers to be aware that they may have to pay customs duty for their online purchases, depending on the country that they are buying the goods from.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">All shipments transported across international borders must be cleared through Customs, where, depending on the type of goods being shipped, they may also be subject to additional charges. Import duties and taxes differ in each country and are usually calculated as a percentage of the item value. Import shipments may also be subject to interventions by Customs where the price, contents and country of manufacture are often investigated to mitigate a wide range of risks. This could result in delivery delays as well as additional costs. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">There are also e-retailers that offer Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) terms which clearly communicates that all costs, inclusive of the duties, taxes and clearance costs, are payable at checkout, to avoid any surprise costs at destination.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Regulations/restrictions on certain products: </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Some products are prohibited or have certain limitations when imported. These could be aviation restrictions - for example, flammable liquids are categorized as dangerous goods, therefore importing of perfume would be restricted. There may also be country specific restrictions - for example, on certain food or animal by-products.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Gifts are not necessarily exempted from duties and taxes: </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">When purchasing online products as a gift, check on the receiving country’s regulations to avoid the recipient being held liable for additional charges. For example, Customs Bureaus in Angola have legislated tax-free exemptions for gifts to an individual as long as the value is less than USD 350. In Zimbabwe, the limit is USD 50. This shows the varying limits for exemptions and demonstrates the importance of checking local regulations prior to making your online purchases. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Check delivery options and costs: </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Most websites offer a variety of delivery options, with associated costs. Make your decision by taking into account the cost of shipping, the expected transit times and the value of your order. For peace of mind, it is advisable to select a premium courier delivery option, where the delivery process can be tracked from dispatch to final delivery.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Use reputable e-retailer websites: </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Be sure to only make online purchases from websites that are well-known and reputable. Do not be fooled by websites with offers that may look enticing – if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“Online shopping is definitely the way to go, from a convenience and cost saving point of view, so once consumers become familiar with their local regulations, they can really reap the rewards. We have seen a steady increase over the past couple of weeks as consumers took advantage of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals available online.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The build up to the festive season is always peak season for parcel shipments within the express industry, and this year is no different. We recognize and welcome the influx of volumes and our ongoing investment in our people and extensive infrastructure across Africa ensures that we are well positioned to continue to exceed our customers’ service expectations,” concludes Facey.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Deutsche Post DHL.</span></div> </div>

Vital tips for consumers when purchasing gifts online

In the lead up to the festive season, consumers are increasingly turning to online shopping portals instead of visiting physical stores.  ...

Read more »

APO's market footprint continues to expand in Nigeria

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DtPCy519i4Y/VH3GAFtjjDI/AAAAAAAAFAI/_QEckVB64kw/s1600/Apo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="62" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DtPCy519i4Y/VH3GAFtjjDI/AAAAAAAAFAI/_QEckVB64kw/s1600/Apo.png" width="320" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">APO (African <a href="http://www.apo-opa.com/">Press</a> Organization)</span><span style="font-size: large;">, the sole press release newswire in Africa and the global leader in media relations relating to Africa, today announced its renewed and extended contract as exclusive supplier for press release wire distribution in Africa with the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (<a href="http://neximbank.com.ng/">NEXIM</a>)</span><span style="font-size: large;">, an Export Credit Agency (ECA) with a share capital of N50, 000,000,000 (Fifty Billion Naira) held equally by the Federal Ministry of Finance incorporated and the Central Bank of Nigeria.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The Nigerian Export-Import Bank was established as an Export Credit Agency with the broad mandate to promoting the diversification of the Nigerian economy and deepening the external sector, particularly the non-oil.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“For the past year, APO has played a substantial role in increasing NEXIM’s visibility, not only in Africa but also on an international scale, by distributing our press releases on Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters. We are Government's Trade Policy Bank committed to the diversification of Nigeria's economy away from oil for creation of Nigerian jobs and foreign exchange generation. We see our relationship with APO as a strategic one and are looking forward to working with them in 2015,” declared Mr Roberts Orya, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM).</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">NEXIM’s press releases are distributed via <a href="http://goo.gl/RKc5KV">Africa </a>Wire®, the newswire service for press release distribution and monitoring in Africa. This reaches over 50,000 media outlets, bloggers and social networks, and redistributes content to more than 50 African websites, as well as to Bloomberg Terminal, Thomson Reuters, Lexis Nexis, Dow Jones Factiva, 250 million mobile subscribers in 30 countries, and more.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Used by some of the world’s largest companies, PR agencies, institutions and organisations, APO Africa Wire® has a potential reach of 600 million and guarantees the most extensive outreach in Africa, acting as a channel that allows APO’s clients to target audiences in all parts of the continent and also the world.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“We have built a solid relationship with Nigerian organizations that are driving the country's economic growth and we are proud to continue expanding our footprint in Nigeria, supporting media relations for clients ranging from ministries, to companies in the financial sector," said Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, APO Founder and CEO. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization).</span></div> <div class="yiv0810965549MsoNoSpacing" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417527158389_28747"> <br /></div> </div>

APO's market footprint continues to expand in Nigeria

APO (African Press Organization) , the sole press release newswire in Africa and the global leader in media relations relating to Afric...

Read more »

Tangazo kwa vyombo vya habari

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-abBXKGJbdgI/VH3FC-pjn0I/AAAAAAAAFAA/EWeZxFpzDww/s1600/image001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-abBXKGJbdgI/VH3FC-pjn0I/AAAAAAAAFAA/EWeZxFpzDww/s1600/image001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Tunathamini mchango wako katika kusambaza taarifa za tamasha ulimwengu mzima. Sauti za Busara, tamasha la muziki maarufu Afrika Mashariki na lenye sifa kimataifa, litawaleta wasanii mbalimbali katika toleo la tamasha la 12 mwakani, tarehe 12 – 15 Februari mjini Zanzibar.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">katika kusherekea utofauti na uzuri wa muziki wa kiafrika, Sauti za Busara huvutia wageni kutoka sehemu zote za Afrika na kwingineko kusikiliza muziki wa African roots, fusion, pop, soul, Taarab, rap, reggae na aina nyingine nyingi, yote ikipigwa live kwa asilimia 100. Sauti za Busara 2015 itawaleta; Alikiba, Msafiri Zawose, Leo Mkanyia and the Swahili Blues Band kutoka Tanzania, Blitz the Ambassador kutoka Ghana/USA, Octopizzo and band na Sarabi kutoka Kenya, Ihhashi Elimhlophe na The Brother Moves On kutoka South Africa, Tcheka kutoka Cape Verde, Diabel Cissokho kutoka Senegal, Loryzine kutoka Réunion/France naMgodro Group kutoka Zanzibar and more.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">As a dynamic platform that brings global citizens together, Sauti za Busara values and appreciate TanzLikiwa kama jukwaa lenye kubadilika na kuwakutanisha wenyeji na wageni pamoja, Sauti za Busara inathamini na kutambua Tanzania kama nchi yenye amani duniani. Huku 2015 ikiwa ni mwaka wa uchaguzi mkuu Tanzania, tunaamini kwamba ili maendeleo ya taifa yaendelee bila vizuizi, tunahitaji kuimarisha umoja, kuheshimu utofauti wa watu/vitu mbalimbali na kufanya kazi ili kutunza na kulinda amani hii yenye thamani. Tamasha pamoja na wadhamini wamezindua shindano la Nyimbo za Amani ambapo vikundi 19 kutoka Tanzania vitashiriki. Dhima ya tamasha la 12 ni Together as One: Amani ndio Mpango Mzima!</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Busara Promotions, NGO inayoratibu tamasha la Sauti za Busara, ingependa kuchukua nafasi hii kutoa ukumbusho kwamba vyombo vya habari vyenye pasi za tamasha kwa waandishi ndio watakaopata ruhusa ya kuingia katika tamasha na kupata nafasi ya kuhudhuria press conferences, mikutano yote na waandishi wa habari, chumba chenye wi-fi katika eneo la tamasha, mahojiano na wasanii wa tamasha pamoja na majadiliano ya Movers & Shakers.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Kwa waandishi wenye kamera, pasi/vibali vitakuwezesha kupata eneo la mbele la wapiga picha (karibu kabisa na jukwaa) na kufanya shughuli ikiwemo kuweka visimamishi/tripod, visimamishi vya vipaza sauti, taa za ziada, au wafanyakazi zaidi ya mmoja.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Baadhi ya wafanyakazi wa tamasha na wasanii watakuwepo kujibu maswali na kukupa taarifa zinazoenda na wakati kuhusu tamasha la 12, katika Press Conference ya Dar es Salaam iliyopangwa kufanyika Alhamisi 29 Januari 2015, saa 3 asubuhi katika Hoteli ya Southern Sun, Dar es Salaam.</span></div> </div>

Tangazo kwa vyombo vya habari

Tunathamini mchango wako katika kusambaza taarifa za tamasha ulimwengu mzima. Sauti za Busara, tamasha la muziki maarufu Afrika Masharik...

Read more »

PwC’s ‘Capital Projects & infrastructure in East Africa, Southern Africa and West Africa,’ report has been issued today

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xaSgjIggIlc/VH3D8EVzTSI/AAAAAAAAE_4/0ow8vIJJzZ8/s1600/01.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xaSgjIggIlc/VH3D8EVzTSI/AAAAAAAAE_4/0ow8vIJJzZ8/s1600/01.png" width="226" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.pwc.com/">The African</a> continent continues to attract the interest of global investors, developers and operators searching for growth. While there are short term concerns in some of Africa’s regions, the opportunities abound for infrastructure investment and development. Infrastructure spend in the region is projected to reach $180bn per annum by 2025, according to PwC’s ‘Capital Projects & infrastructure in East Africa, Southern Africa and West Africa,’ report issued today </span><span style="font-size: large;">. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">More than half of respondents indicated that their planned spending on infrastructure – both new projects and refurbishment of assets – would increase by more than 25% from the previous year. They said much of their spending would be focused on new development, with 51% of all respondents planning to spend more than half of their budgets on new assets. Respondents from West Africa were especially bullish, with 58% planning an increase of more than 25% in spending, followed by those in East Africa (53%) and Southern Africa (40%). </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Jonathan Cawood, Capital Projects & Infrastructure Leader for PwC Africa, says: “The shallow economic recovery in most developed markets has shifted the focus to faster-growing regions. This is also true for the infrastructure development sector.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“With an abundance of natural resources and recent mineral, oil and gas discoveries, demographic and political shifts and a more investor-friendly environment, the investor spotlight shines brightly on Africa.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Interviews were conducted among 95 key players in the infrastructure sector, including development finance institutions, private financiers, government organisations and private construction and operations companies across East, West and Southern Africa. The sectors surveyed included water, transport and logistics, energy, mining, telecoms, and real estate, with the main focus being on economic infrastructure.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Highlighting the different stages of development and uniqueness of each country, the report provides insights into the world of infrastructure delivery across African countries and regions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It showcases the drivers for success, the current thinking and challenges stakeholders are experiencing within the region.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“While respondents are clearly committed and optimistic about the continent’s infrastructure development, there are a number of obstacles they recognise must be dealt with. Resolving these quickly and creatively will not only positively affect their current projects, but more importantly, will attract other project developers, owners and investors to enter the African market,” says Cawood.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Despite its slow growth, South Africa remains the powerhouse of the SSA region with the most sophisticated infrastructure, state-owned entities, financial services, telecommunications, regulation and greater industrial and sector capacity.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Overall the top three challenges in delivering capital projects across Southern Africa are: the availability of skills (47%), a lack of internal capacity among state organisations to plan, procure, manage and implement capital infrastructure projects (43%), and the impact of political risk and government interference during project lifecycles (40%). </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“With a number of concessions having been cancelled by governments in the region, an improvement in transparency, regulation and procurement is needed to help restore the confidence of foreign investors in partnership models,” adds Cawood. Access to funding was raised as a concern (33%), as was policy and the inhibiting regulatory environment (27%).</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Many projects across SSA have been affected by the lack of funding or insufficient funding. Funding from sources such as sovereign wealth funds, bonds and pensions funds is becoming increasingly important, but these types of investors are typically more interested in projects that are fully operational and tend to shy away from greenfield projects and their construction risks.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">China has made numerous investments across SSA to support its need for resources. Japan, India and other Asian countries are also investing in infrastructure often linked to resources on the continent. Funding from local players is also increasing significantly.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">With many governments and heir agencies reaching debt ceilings, funding models are gradually changing in Africa and respondents expect public-private partnerships (PPPs) to become more prevalent. More respondents in Southern Africa than other regions expect projects to be fully funded internally or through government funding. On the other hand, respondents in East and West Africa are counting on a mix of private-sector and government financing.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“Stability coupled with greater regional integration and cross-border cooperation is essential for the successful economic development of Southern Africa. The region is clearly on a strong growth trajectory but better project selection and preparation, tighter collaboration and improvement in trust are required to ensure sustained development,” says Cawood.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Managing the construction process with the right level of control, oversight and commercial skill is critical. The PwC report indicates that more than 80% of project delivery failure is due to non-technical issues caused by poor communication, lack of clear roles and accountability and a weak paper trail of decisions, variation orders and reporting. “We talk of three lines of defence that boards and management should ensure are in place for all large construction projects. These are, project controls, project reporting and independent oversight,” says Mark Ally, PwC Capital Projects & Infrastructure Partner. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">While all projects are susceptible to going off track and experiencing costly delays, some are more vulnerable, such as those involving new technologies, dependent on regulatory and environmental approvals and those in remote or politically unstable regions or where skills are in short supply. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> Nearly half (47%) of survey respondents said they experienced delays of more than six months on capital projects. Those in East Africa suffered the most delays of greater than six months, while those in Southern Africa said the largest number of delays were between one and six months. There are many examples in the world and few in South Africa where projects have come in more than two years late and more than double original budget estimates.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Mohale Masithela, PwC Partner in Capital Projects & Infrastructure Financing says: “The need to improve infrastructure to drive economic development is undisputed. The survey makes it clear that the availability of funding is a common and critical challenge. However, private capital does not track needs, it tracks opportunities. To ensure the need for infrastructure is viewed as an opportunity to provide capital by funders, some of the other challenges identified in the survey such as political risk, policy and regulatory clarity and the availability of appropriately skilled resources must be addressed.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">South Africa and Nigeria have the most ambitious infrastructure programmes and together make up almost 60% of the spend across SSA. Kenya follows as the third largest in planned spend. Transport and Utilities (including power/energy and water) will account for approximately 70% of this spend in Southern Africa.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Cawood concludes: “Infrastructure plays a key role in economic growth and reducing poverty having a 5-25% per annum return on investment as an economic multiplier. Those countries that have been most successful in developing and maintaining infrastructure have established programmes of prioritised investment opportunities with a number of features, including clear political support, a proper legal and regulatory structure, a procurement framework that can be understood by both procurers and bidders, and credible project timetables.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“These country programmes eliminate key frictions such as long project lead times, clarity around funding and procurement strategies and to some extent reduce the risks of political term of office changes.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC).</span></div> </div>

PwC’s ‘Capital Projects & infrastructure in East Africa, Southern Africa and West Africa,’ report has been issued today

The African continent continues to attract the interest of global investors, developers and operators searching for growth. While the...

Read more »

Balozi Seifa asikitishwa na jimbo la Mtoni

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1DRFOBNu2Wc/VH3CjkAGDPI/AAAAAAAAE_s/Af7FYcmN6qc/s1600/870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1DRFOBNu2Wc/VH3CjkAGDPI/AAAAAAAAE_s/Af7FYcmN6qc/s1600/870.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Mlezi Chama cha Mapinduzi Mkoa wa Magharibi akiwa pia mjumbe wa Kamati Kuu ya Halmashauri kuu ya Taifa ya CCM Balozi Seif Ali Iddi ni jambo la kusikitisha kuona Uongozi wa Jimbo la Mtoni unashindwa kuliendeleza jengo la Kituo cha Afya cha Mtoni kutokana na itikadi za kisiasa.</span></div> <span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Alisema jengo hilo lililoanzishwa kwa ushirikiano wa pamoja kati ya wananchi wa Viongozi waliopita wa Jimbo hilo kwa lengo la kuwaondoshea usumbufu wa huduma za Afya wananchi wote wa jimbo la Mtoni.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Balozi Seif alisema hayo akiwa katika ziara ya siku mbili kukagua uhai wa chama cha mapinduzi katika Mkoa wa Magharibi akiwa mlezi ziara iliyompa fursa kukaguwa maendeleo ya matawi yaliyomo Wilaya ya Mfenesini pamoja na kuzindua Shina la UVCC Nambari moja la Tawila CCM Mwakaje.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Alisema wazo lililoanzishwa na viongozi na wananachi hao la kujenga kituo hicho linafaa kuungwa mkono kwa vile wananachi watakaopata huduma za afya baada ya kukamilika kwake hawategemei itikadi yoyote ile ya kisiasa.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Balozi Seif ambae pia ni Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar aliwaahidi wana CCM hao pamoja na wananachi wa Mtoni sambamba na Wilaya ya Mfenesini kwamba Serikali itaimaliza Hospitali hiyo ili lengo lililokusudiwa na wananachi hao linanze kutekelezwa mara moja.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Alifahamisha kwamba atashauriana na Rais wa Zanzibar na Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Mapinduzi Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein kuona namna Serikali itakavyoongeza nguvu katika kuona jengo hilo linakamilika kama llivyopangwa.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Akigusia suala la kisiasa Balozi Seif aliwatahadharisha vijana kuwa makini na makundi ya watu wanaotumia vipindi vinavyokaribia wakati wa uchaguzi kuwatumia vijana katika kuwagawa wanachama wa chama hicho.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Alisema Vijana ni vyema wakaelewa kwamba wao ndio muhimili wa chama katika kukiongezea nguvu za kuendelea kushinda changuzi zote na akawapongeza Vijana wa Shina nambari moja la Mwakaje kwa uamuzi wao wa kuanzisha shina hilo.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Alieleza kwamba chama cha Mapinduzi kinaamini kwamba uanzishwaji wa mashina ya chama katika matawi mbali mbali hapa nchini ndio njia kuu ya kuu ya kuimarisha nguvu na uhai wa chama chenyewe.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mlezi huyo wa Mkoa wa Maghribi aliwakumbusha Viongozi wa Matawi na Majimbo la Mkoa huo kuendelea kuwahamasisha wanachama wao kulipa ada za uanachama pamoja na kufanya vikao vya chama ili kuondosha wanachama magarasa.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Alifahamisha kwamba Tawi au Jimbo lisilofanya vikao vyake kama kawaida kwa mujibu wa kalenda ya chama cha Mapinduzi ni kukaribisha fitna na majungu ambayo hatimae husababisha mgawanyiko na kuleta makundi ndani ya chama.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Aliwaeleza wanachama hao wa CCM na Wananchi wa Wilaya ya Mfenesini kwamba CCM ndio yenye dhamana ya kulinda na kusimamia amani na utulivu kwa wakati huu nchini Tanzania.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mjumbe huyo wa Kamati Kuu ya Halmashauri Kuu ya Taifa ya Chama cha Mapinduzi aliwapongeza Viongozi na wanachama wa CCM Wilaya ya Mfenesini kwa juhudi zao za kutekeleza nsera na ilani ya Chama.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Akizungumzia suala la Katiba Mpya iliyopendekezwa na bunge Maalum la Katiba Balozi Seif aliwashauri Wananchi hasa Vijana kuendelea kuhamasishana katika dhana nzima ya kujiandaa kuipigia kura katiba hiyo wakati wa kura ya maoni.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Alisema Katiba iliyopendekezwa na Bunge Maalum imekidhi mahitaji kamili ya kila kundi jambo ambalo inaonyesha kuungwa mkono pia na baadhi ya wanachama wa vyama vya upinzani hapa nchini.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Katika kuunga mkono juhudi za wanachama hao wa CCM Balozi Seif ameahidi kusaidia ukamilishaji wa mlango wa Duka la Shina ya Umoja wa Vijana wa CCM nambari moja la Tawi la Mwakaje.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Katika risala na taarifa zao tofauti wana CCM Hao wa Matawi yaliyomo ndani ya Wilaya ya Mfenesini Kichama wamelipongeza Bunge Maalum la Katiba kwa uwamuzi wao wa kupendekeza Katiba inayokubalika na wananachi walio wengi Nchini Tanzania.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Walisema Katiba hiyo imeweka wazi haki na maslahi ya kila kundi wakiwemo walemavu, vijana watoto na wanawake.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mapema Mwenyekiti wa Chama cha Mapinduzi Mkoa wa Magharibi Nd. Yussuf Mohd Yussuf alisema Uongozi wa CCM Mkoa huo umejipanga vyema tayari ukijianda na maandalizi ya uchaguzi mkuu unaotarajiwa kufanyika mwakani.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mlezi huyo wa Mkoa wa Magharibi Balozi Seif Ali Iddi mapema asubuhi alizindua shina nambari moja la Umoja wa Vijana wa CCM Tawi la CCM Mwakaje, kutembelea Matawi ya CCM Sharifumsa, Mtoni pamoja na Kukikagua Kituo cha Afya kinachojengwa pembezoni mwa Msuli ya Msingi ya Mtoni.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Othman Khamis Ame</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Ofisi ya Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar</div> </span></div>

Balozi Seifa asikitishwa na jimbo la Mtoni

Mlezi Chama cha Mapinduzi Mkoa wa Magharibi akiwa pia mjumbe wa Kamati Kuu ya Halmashauri kuu ya Taifa ya CCM Balozi Seif Ali Iddi ni j...

Read more »

The government of United Republic of Tanzania has never had any plan to evict the Maasai people from their ancestral land

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D2jLGBy7FjM/VHmZ19eR9UI/AAAAAAAAE_c/XugjialajRo/s1600/securedownload.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D2jLGBy7FjM/VHmZ19eR9UI/AAAAAAAAE_c/XugjialajRo/s1600/securedownload.png" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><span id="goog_434505581"></span><span id="goog_434505582"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a>The government of United Republic of Tanzania has never had any plan to evict the Maasai people from their ancestral land as falsely reported by the media in recent days. The information circulated through the media outlets globally was misleading, malicious and meant to tarnish the image of our country and her international standing.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://www.mnrt.go.tz/"><br /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.mnrt.go.tz/">The Minister</a> of Natural Resources and Tourism, Hon. Lazaro Nyalandu said that the claims that 40,000 Maasai were being evicted are false unfounded and baseless. The argument that the land in question is being sold to a wealthy Middle Eastern family are a total fabrication and in contrary to the Tanzanian law.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Members of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Land, Natural Resource, and Environment are due to visit the Loliondo area to bear witness to the government position and speak directly to the Maasai people. The Minister, Lazaro Nyalandu will also be leading a team of government officials and Media Houses to visit Ngorongoro in the next few days.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of the Ministry for Natural Resources and Tourism of The United Republic of Tanzania.</span></div> </div>

The government of United Republic of Tanzania has never had any plan to evict the Maasai people from their ancestral land

The government of United Republic of Tanzania has never had any plan to evict the Maasai people from their ancestral land as falsely rep...

Read more »

IOM Voluntarily Returns 253 Ethiopian Migrants

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1aCBx9beOI/VHg-npwrW1I/AAAAAAAAE_M/xdyOM5wWb-4/s1600/download%2B(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1aCBx9beOI/VHg-npwrW1I/AAAAAAAAE_M/xdyOM5wWb-4/s1600/download%2B(1).jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">The International Organization (IOM) will voluntarily repatriate  </span><span style="font-size: large;">253 Ethiopian migrants back to their country of origin. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The migrants had been detained at </span><span style="font-size: large;">Ruanda (Mbeya), Ubena (Bagamoyo) and Kigongoni (Pwani) prisons. This effort is made </span><span style="font-size: large;">possible through close collaboration between IOM, the Tanzania Ministry of Home Affairs </span><span style="font-size: large;">(Prison and Immigration Department), as well as the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The migrant group includes a total of 39 children, who will be provided with in-kind grants to </span><span style="font-size: large;">allow them to continue their education, once they have returned. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">This assisted voluntary return operation is funded by the Government of Japan, as part of </span><span style="font-size: large;">the ‘Voluntary Return Assistance to Migrants in Tanzania’ Project. Through this project IOM </span><span style="font-size: large;">Tanzania has voluntarily returned more than 220 Ethiopian migrants this year alone, and is </span><span style="font-size: large;">planning to return a total of up to 800 Ethiopian migrants by the end of the year. Since 2009, </span><span style="font-size: large;">more than 2,500 Ethiopian detainees have been assisted by IOM to return home through </span><span style="font-size: large;">generous funding from the Government of Japan. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The assisted voluntary return (AVR) of the migrants follows a verification mission IOM </span><span style="font-size: large;">conducted from 9 to 21 October 2014 in response to the heavy caseload of 453 Ethiopian </span><span style="font-size: large;">migrants detained in Tanzanian prisons. During this period, a team composed of </span><span style="font-size: large;">representatives of IOM Dar es Salaam and IOM Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian ConsulateGeneral, and the Prisons and Immigrations Departments visited 11 different prisons in five </span><span style="font-size: large;">different regions.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> All 453 migrants were verified to have the Ethiopian nationality. The </span><span style="font-size: large;">remaining caseload is expected to be voluntarily returned next week on a charter flight. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Background </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Tanzania is a transit country for migrants seeking to make the journey to South Africa. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Reports of migrants being intercepted by the authorities in Mbeya, Coast region and Tanga </span><span style="font-size: large;">are common. Tanzania has virtually no reception facilities and as a consequence migrants </span><span style="font-size: large;">are often locked up in overcrowded prisons with common criminals. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Thousands of (mainly) young Ethiopian men embark on the perilous journey to South Africa </span><span style="font-size: large;">each year. Migrants sacrifice their and their families’ savings to pay smugglers amounts of up </span><span style="font-size: large;">to 4,000 USD to facilitate the journey. Human smuggling has become a thriving multi-billion </span><span style="font-size: large;">dollar industry, which feeds off people’s desperation to establish a better livelihood. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“The risks are enormous – injuries, disease, exploitation and detention are just some of the </span><span style="font-size: large;">hazards that these migrants face when they leave home without proper travel documents,” </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">said IOM Chief of Mission Mr. Damien Thuriaux. “We are happy that, at least for this group, </span><span style="font-size: large;">the suffering is over and they can return to their families.” </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">IOM’s voluntary return operation includes medical screening, flights to Ethiopia with escorts </span><span style="font-size: large;">provided for minors, reception in Addis Ababa, onward transport to their places of origin and reintegration assistance.</span></div> </div>

IOM Voluntarily Returns 253 Ethiopian Migrants

The International Organization (IOM) will voluntarily repatriate   253 Ethiopian migrants back to their country of origin.  The migran...

Read more »

ViiV Healthcare announces new grants in support of ending mother to child transmission of HIV

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k0glXBP1Wzk/VHg7T67bJkI/AAAAAAAAE-4/RKoj4mi6Mfk/s1600/HIV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k0glXBP1Wzk/VHg7T67bJkI/AAAAAAAAE-4/RKoj4mi6Mfk/s1600/HIV.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">The Positive Action for Children Fund (PACF) is proud to announce 103 grants for 2015 totalling £5 million. 54 new grants and 49 extensions will be funded to support community responses to help end mother to child transmission of HIV thereby delivering crucial services to mothers, children and HIV affected families.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">PACF partners with local organisations working to improve the health and wellbeing of women and children affected by HIV, and the communities they live in. All PACF projects work to strengthen ties between these communities, local health systems and governments, so that more families have access to information, prevention measures, testing and care for HIV. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://goo.gl/jDZfVi">Together</a> these interventions safeguard women’s and their families’ health in an effort to meet the targets set out in the Global Plan towards the elimination of new infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">PACF partners address a range of factors related to mother to child transmission of HIV in their community, ranging from promoting women’s and girls’ access to education and health services, to testing infants early for HIV, to improving retention of mothers in local HIV services. According to the Global Plan statistics, the total number of new HIV infections in children was halved between 2009 and 2011 in low- and middle-income countries. The Global Plan predicts that by 2015, the number of children acquiring HIV infection can be reduced by 90% from the baseline year of 2009.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">In 2015, more than 50 organisations will be partnering with PACF for the first time. Thanks to these new partnerships, PACF will be reaching into previously unsupported countries, including Togo, Angola and Colombia. Their work will extend into 25 countries.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“It has been a rewarding year for PACF in terms of the quality, number and geographical coverage of grants awarded with increased focus on the support of small scale projects,” said PACF Board Chair Catherine Peckham.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Of the 103 new and extended partnerships announced for 2015, almost 90 partners are community based organisations focused on smaller initiatives, showing an ever stronger trend towards supporting localized projects. PACF aims to reach key populations that are often in rural areas and are underserved by health facilities.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">For those community based organisations in need of support to sustain their work, PACF provides unique capacity-building assistance through one-on-one mentorship with experts in the HIV sector. This special attention enables community based organisations to strengthen and sustain their programming, as well as extend HIV prevention and treatment services, and antenatal care to more people who need it.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“Supporting projects that bring real change for HIV-affected communities is the reason ViiV founded PACF in the first place,” said ViiV CEO Dominique Limet, “We are proud to be partnering with such groups across the world that are bringing this to fruition. They can really play an essential role into the mission we share. ViiV Healthcare is absolutely committed to communities affected by HIV and AIDS.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of ViiV Healthcare.</span></div> </div>

ViiV Healthcare announces new grants in support of ending mother to child transmission of HIV

The Positive Action for Children Fund (PACF) is proud to announce 103 grants for 2015 totalling £5 million. 54 new grants and 49 extension...

Read more »

Tigo Pesa returns TZS 3 Billion to customers as first quarterly payment

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SsNbO0UrtRA/VHg6cWwSSNI/AAAAAAAAE-w/0bZ6Ur3PGW4/s1600/tigo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SsNbO0UrtRA/VHg6cWwSSNI/AAAAAAAAE-w/0bZ6Ur3PGW4/s1600/tigo.png" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.tigo.co.tz/">Tigo</a></span><span style="font-size: large;"> announced today the first of its regular quarterly payments worth 3bn/- (US $ 1.8 million) to Tigo Pesa users. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">This payment comes three months after the company paid a staggering profit of TZS 14.25 billion (US $ 8.64 million) accumulated in the Tigo Pesa Trust Account to become the first mobile money service in the world to pay profit to its users. Tigo Pesa has a subscriber base of 3.6 million customers.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Tigo General Manager Diego Gutierrez said “This second round of profit disbursement shows the company’s continued commitment to benefit and improve the lives of Tanzanians. The payment goes to all Tigo Pesa users including super agents, retail agents and individual users of the service.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“The first payment was bigger due to the fact that the profit had been accumulated over a period of three and a half years. This second payment is the profit accumulated from funds held in trust in commercial banks for three months in the quarter July to September 2014,” the General Manager said.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Mr Gutierrez explained that, as before, the average return to a customer will vary based on their average daily balance in their Tigo Pesa e-wallet. This applies to super-agents, retail agents and individual customers. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Tigo Tanzania.</span></div> <div class="yiv0060664054MsoNoSpacing" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417163584655_25627" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div> </div>

Tigo Pesa returns TZS 3 Billion to customers as first quarterly payment

Tigo  announced today the first of its regular quarterly payments worth 3bn/- (US $ 1.8 million) to Tigo Pesa users.  This payment c...

Read more »

BOAD launches bond loan issue of FCFA 40 billion

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eV0zQsaBgv4/VHg4S42AkQI/AAAAAAAAE-k/cFi2JZeqFlw/s1600/boad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eV0zQsaBgv4/VHg4S42AkQI/AAAAAAAAE-k/cFi2JZeqFlw/s1600/boad.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">As part of the implementation of its annual bond issue program, the West African Development Bank (<a href="http://www.boad.org/">BOAD</a>)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> is launching a bond loan issue of FCFA 40 billion through a public offering from 1 to 19 December 2014. The bond value will be FCFA 10,000 at 5.95% interest, net of taxes. Bonds may be purchased at BOAD headquarters in Lomé, at its resident missions located in the buildings of the national agencies of the BCEAO, or through WAEMU-approved MICs.(1)</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The funds raised in this new operation will enable BOAD to increase its efforts in support of merchant public sector and private sector projects in the West African Economic and Monetary Union.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">With 26 bond lines issued as of the end of October 2014 for over FCFA 750 billion in resources mobilised since its first operation in 1993, BOAD is currently the leading non-sovereign issuer in the regional capital market. Two operations successfully conducted in January and July of this year have made it possible to mobilise around FCFA 180 billion.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Returns, safety and liquidity of BOAD securities are guaranteed based on the institution's performance, and income from these securities is exempt from taxes and duties.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of the West African Development Bank (BOAD).</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div>

BOAD launches bond loan issue of FCFA 40 billion

As part of the implementation of its annual bond issue program, the West African Development Bank ( BOAD )  is launching a bond loan iss...

Read more »

SMEs expect to generate up to 50% of revenues internationally by 2019

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DtkOmyWSr7A/VHg3hayhT0I/AAAAAAAAE-c/JOGAZr3mWr4/s1600/Dhl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="70" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DtkOmyWSr7A/VHg3hayhT0I/AAAAAAAAE-c/JOGAZr3mWr4/s1600/Dhl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">According to an in-depth study conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) on behalf of DHL <a href="http://www.dpdhl.com/">Express</a></span><span style="font-size: large;">, approximately 40% of global SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) do not perceive Africa as a growth opportunity, despite the positive economic growth stories and growing middle class in the regions.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The report further reveals that while many multinationals and state-owned companies are actively taking advantage of the opportunities that Africa offers, SMEs still remain apprehensive and are choosing to trade with other emerging markets instead.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Charles Brewer, Managing Director of DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa, says that despite current challenges to attract global SME interest, the findings of the study highlight the untapped potential that still exists in the continent.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“The fact that SMEs expect to generate up to 50% of revenues internationally by 2019 is a massive positive and highlights the vast opportunities for Africa from an investment and job creation perspective.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Brewer says that according to the study, which surveyed 480 SME executives and experts from business lobbying groups, SMEs are deterred by Africa’s low average consumer spend, cultural and infrastructure challenges, as well as inefficiencies such as corruption and political risk in the region. .</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">He explains that overcoming different market environments is the biggest hurdle. The quality of a target market´s infrastructure, the stability of its politics, administrative costs for establishing a local presence and cultural differences in doing business were all cited by the executives surveyed as factors that deterred them from entering new markets. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“The unfamiliarity of foreign markets received particular attention, with 84% of respondents describing understanding a target market’s culture or language as important or very important in determining its attractiveness. This also explains why most SMEs often expand into markets that resemble their own.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“This is evident in Africa, as companies looking to expand into the continent, often make use of a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Due to the various cultures, languages and customs on the continent, vast amounts of research need to be done into each region, and the services and products need to be specifically tailored to each country. Africa is not one country,” says Brewer.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">In terms of expansion tactics, the survey shows that partnerships are an important consideration for SMEs. The study identified a number of innovative approaches in this area, such as piggybacking on another company’s existing retail network to enter the sub-Saharan market in Africa.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“A number of multinationals and corporates have experience great success in Africa, DHL being a prime example. And the good news for SMEs is that they have the advantage of being more agile to adapt quickly and exploit the opportunities available. An entrepreneurial spirit is vital for the success of small businesses, we ourselves started out as an SME in 1969, and as they say, the rest is history. We too have focused on partnerships in Africa, and now have a retail presence of over 3500 outlets across Africa.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“We work with thousands and thousands of SMEs across Africa and have witnessed how these businesses are able to successfully establish a presence in the region. With the support of the right partners, a well-designed supply chain, clear understanding of their competitive strengths and the right mindset, SMEs can break through any border and make the world their market,” concludes Brewer.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The full EIU and DHL Express report, Breaking borders: From Canada to China, barriers overshadow growth for expanding <a href="http://www.economistinsights.com/countries-trade-investment/analysis/breaking-borders.">SMEs</a>.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Deutsche Post DHL.</span></div> </div>

SMEs expect to generate up to 50% of revenues internationally by 2019

According to an in-depth study conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) on behalf of DHL Express , approximately 40% of global...

Read more »

Ask your questions LIVE to the Minister of Information and Communications of Sierra Leone

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mD3cMyde43Q/VHg1jkDLTQI/AAAAAAAAE-Q/ABaHJcob_VU/s1600/Sier.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mD3cMyde43Q/VHg1jkDLTQI/AAAAAAAAE-Q/ABaHJcob_VU/s1600/Sier.png" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The Minister of Information and Communications of Sierra Leone, Alpha Kanu, will host an online press conference TODAY at 15 GMT.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Since Sierra Leone recorded the first case of Ebola on May 25th, this year, the President of the West African state Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma scaled down other development projects his Government was implementing under the “agenda for prosperity” by committing over 90 billion Leones (equivalent to about twenty million dollars) towards the fight against the Ebola Virus Disease.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">President Koroma appealed to the international community for a more robust support and proclaimed a public state of emergency in desperate efforts to mitigate the spread of and the eventual eradication of the Ebola virus. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">In spite of these efforts, the Ebola virus continues to ravage the country and had claimed the lives of 6 doctors and over 100 front line health workers, including nurses.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">During the online press conference, the Minister of Information and Communications Alpha Kanu will tell us where the country stands in the fight against the Ebola Virus Disease in the midst of local and international efforts, with the British Government alone providing about 120 million pounds.</span></div> </div>

Ask your questions LIVE to the Minister of Information and Communications of Sierra Leone

The Minister of Information and Communications of Sierra Leone, Alpha Kanu, will host an online press conference TODAY at 15 GMT. Si...

Read more »

CFAO Announces the Launch of its Club of Brands in Africa

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="yiv6509938501MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1416988249266_31528" style="padding: 0px;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2lyJ6h3JYro/VHWR7JgxaBI/AAAAAAAAE-A/0nJdBr313x8/s1600/securedownload.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2lyJ6h3JYro/VHWR7JgxaBI/AAAAAAAAE-A/0nJdBr313x8/s1600/securedownload.png" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://www.cfaogroup.com/" style="font-size: x-large;">CFAO</a><span style="font-size: large;"> announces the creation of its club of brands, a network of international brands wishing to support the rise of the African middle class.</span></div> <span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1416988249266_31561" lang="EN-US"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> The following new-generation international brands are the first five members of this innovative club: La Grande Récré (Ludendo group), L’Occitane en Provence, Cache Cache and Bonobo(Beaumanoir group), and Kaporal.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> CFAO will operate the sales outlets of these new partners under exclusive agreements (franchises, brand and distribution concessions, and distribution agreements).</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The club of brands will include around twenty brands with sales outlets opening first and foremost in CFAO's shopping centers in eight African countries: Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal*.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "CFAO acts as a catalyst for the development of international brands in Africa and as a springboard for brands that view the continent as a real growth lever. With our experience and our approach to consumption in Africa, we give them access to a high-growth market", explains Xavier Desjobert, Chief Executive Officer of CFAO Retail.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The launch of this club of brands goes hand in hand with the opening of CFAO's first shopping center in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire in the second half of 2015.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> According to Ludendo group President Jean-Michel Grunberg, "This franchise agreement bolsters La Grande Récré's international presence. Our expertise in toys and the strength of our brand concept are key in satisfying Africa's new consumption needs." </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The African middle class is expanding rapidly on the back of strong economic growth. Seven of the ten countries that will experience the strongest growth between 2011 and 2015 are in Africa**. In sectors related to services and consumption, revenue on the continent is expected to increase by between 4% and 5%*** per year by 2020, while the number of households bringing home annual revenue of more than USD 5,000 is likely to rise to 130 million compared with 85 million today.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> CFAO has a strong, longstanding presence in Africa and therefore boasts in-depth knowledge of the continent's markets and consumption patterns.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Through these recent initiatives, CFAO aims to offer African consumers a diversified high-quality products and services. This project demonstrates the confidence that CFAO and its partners place in Africa's economic impetus.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The club of brands’ first five members</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> La Grande Récré is a market-leading brand with 255 stores in France and worldwide. Its concept is based around a quality range of toys and games along with customer services such as advice and free gift wrapping in its lively, welcoming stores that range from 300 sq.m to 2,000 sq.m.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> L'Occitane group has 2,715 sales outlets worldwide. It is a global, natural and organic ingredient-based cosmetics and well-being products manufacturer and retailer with strong regional roots in Provence, France since 1976. The group is committed to developing high-quality, eco-friendly products that are rich in traceable natural and organic ingredients.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Beaumanoir group, which currently has over 2,700 sales outlets worldwide, is pursuing its international development strategy through a new multi-store concept in which several brands of a complementary nature are housed under one roof. Intially, the Cache Cache and Bonobo brands will be the two pillars of this multi-store strategy in Africa.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Its longstanding brand, Cache Cache, is the go-to international name for women seeking accessible fashion and wanting to enjoy and share a unique experience.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Bonobo is an accessible denim brand for young men and women aged 20 to 35.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Kaporal was created in 2004 in the home of Marseille denim. It has built its image around its jeans which are known for their inimitable fits. Over time the brand has made its mark on all aspects of the ready-to-wear industry and its stylish designs are now worn by 16- to 35-year olds on the lookout for a daring, creative clothing range and affordable prices. With more than 100 Kaporal stores and 1,300 multi-brand sales outlets in France and worldwide, Kaporal is positioning itself as a leading fashion industry name in the countries where it operates.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of CFAO Group</span><i id="yui_3_16_0_1_1416988249266_31562"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></span></i></div> </span></span></div>

CFAO Announces the Launch of its Club of Brands in Africa

CFAO  announces the creation of its club of brands, a network of international brands wishing to support the rise of the African middl...

Read more »

Regional Workshop Promotes Quality, Affordable Pre-Primary Education

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5YTx9U-DMyQ/VHNXPLvZv9I/AAAAAAAAE9w/7gRRvWmpDgo/s1600/CRC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="25" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5YTx9U-DMyQ/VHNXPLvZv9I/AAAAAAAAE9w/7gRRvWmpDgo/s1600/CRC.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Zanzibar’s First Vice President H.E. Seif Sharif Hamad opened a Regional Workshop on Quality, Affordable Pre-Primary Education. <br /><br />The workshop is welcoming delegations from 16 countries from around Africa. The aim of the workshop is to support countries to plan and operationalise good quality national pre-primary programmes, including how to ensure these reach the most vulnerable young children. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Country delegations will share ideas across the region and receive guidance from global experts to strengthen their national pre-primary plans over the course of the workshop. The ultimate goal is that participating countries will improve their ability to provide quality pre-primary education to all children, so that every child will enter school ready to learn. <br /><br />The Regional Workshop on National Planning for Quality Affordable Pre-Primary Education for the eastern and southern African Region is being organized by UNICEF, the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Secretariat, the World Bank, and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), implemented by Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Additional sponsors and supporters including the Association for Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), Save the Children, the World Organization for Early Childhood Education (OMEP), the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), Dubai Cares, UNESCO, and the Open Society Foundation (OSF). <br /><br />In Tanzania, and across the region, there is an increasing focus on improving the quality of education and improving learning outcomes for all students. <br /><br />Extensive evidence shows that children who attend quality pre-primary education have improved early language, literacy and mathematics skills, in addition to the social capacities they need to succeed in school. The impact of quality pre-primary education is long-lasting, with improved learning outcomes in primary school, and even improved earnings later in life. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">According to the Lancet Journal, one dollar invested in pre-school will yield 7 to 17 dollars in higher future wages. Thus investing in early childhood education is one of the most cost-effective commitments a government can make. Yet while most countries now recognize the importance of establishing learning foundations before school entry, many countries have expressed an interest in receiving support on how to effectively scale-up quality pre-primary education. <br /><br />In Tanzania, only one third of children have access to pre-primary education. In 2013, the mainland showed a net enrolment rate of 35.5 per cent in 2013, while in Zanzibar it was slightly higher at 37.3 per cent. <br /><br />Yet both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar’s Ministries of Education have committed to expanding access to quality pre-primary education in order to improve school readiness and learning outcomes later in primary school. ‘There is a great deal of evidence confirming the critical importance of the early years of a child's life, in terms of shaping their body and mind for the future. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Nobel prize-winning economists have shown that the highest return on investments in education and training are those made in childhood’, says UNICEF Tanzania’s Deputy Representative, Mr. Paul Edwards. <br /><br />On Tanzania Mainland, investments in pre-primary education contribute directly to the goals of the ‘Big Results Now’ initiative – a new development strategy adopted by the Government in 2013 - by securing strong foundations for learning, including in the 3Rs (Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic). </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">‘We have set ambitious targets for improving the quality of learning in primary school, especially on the 3Rs, and we know that important foundations for early literacy and numeracy are established in quality pre-primary classes’, says the Hon. Dr. Shukuru Kawambwa, Minister of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT). <br /><br />Fursa kwa Watoto, “Opportunities for Children,” an initiative to provide quality-enhanced pre-primary education and evaluate the impact on school readiness and learning outcomes in Standard II, is one contribution to pre-primary in Mainland Tanzania. Fursa kwa Watoto is led by MoEVT and the Prime Minister Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG), with support from Dubai Cares, UNICEF, Children in Crossfire and others. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">‘Dubai Cares decided to support work on pre-primary education after participating in the National ECD Forum in Arusha in 2012. We saw how committed both governments were to supporting early childhood, and we knew that because of this, investments in Tanzania would make a difference’, says Ana Nieto, Senior Technical Manager of Dubai Cares, which is also funding an early childhood initiative in Zanzibar. <br /><br />In Zanzibar, work on pre-primary education is also going strong, with efforts to strengthen quality and expand access as widely as possible via multiple modalities of pre-primary provision, including State preschools (including stand-alone preschools and preschool classes based at primary schools) ,Madrassa community-based early childhood and development programmes, and others, including TUTU Radio, which offers radio-based instruction for community-organized groups of young children facilitated by mentors. <br /><br />The workshop will conclude on 27 November, when a ‘Call to Action on Quality, Affordable Pre-Primary Education’ is expected to be drafted and approved. In addition, throughout the course of the workshop, country delegations will have developed a 2015-2016 Action Plan for Pre-Primary Education that will guide and contribute to national planning processes. <br /></span></div> </div>

Regional Workshop Promotes Quality, Affordable Pre-Primary Education

Zanzibar’s First Vice President H.E. Seif Sharif Hamad opened a Regional Workshop on Quality, Affordable Pre-Primary Education. The work...

Read more »

Wanaodhamini watoto kwenda kusoma nje wanapsawa kuwasiliana na Balozi

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J7CUVPNTiJo/VHLzMWuzOoI/AAAAAAAAE9g/IJCx_Ct0f3Y/s1600/644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J7CUVPNTiJo/VHLzMWuzOoI/AAAAAAAAE9g/IJCx_Ct0f3Y/s1600/644.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Mashirika Taasisi za Umma na zile binafsi pamoja na wazazi wanaowadhamini kimasomo wafanyakazi na watoto wao Nchini Jamuhuri ya Watu wa China wanapaswa kuwasiliana na Uongozi wa Ubalozi wa Tanzania Nchini humo ili kuepuka utapeli unaofanywa na baadhi ya mawakala wa sekta hiyo.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Balozi wa Jamuhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Nchini China Balozi Abdulrahman Amir Shimbo alitoa kauli hiyo wakati wa dhifa maalum aliyouandalia Ujumbe wa Zanzibar ulioongozwa na Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi ulipofanya ziara yake Nchini humo.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Dhifa hiyo iliyoshirikisha pia wafanyakazi wa Ubalozi huo ilifanyika katika Ofisi ya Ubalozi Wa Tanzania uliopo katika Bara bara ya Liang Ma He Naulu Mtaa wa Sanlitum Mjini Beijing Nchini China.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Balozi Shimbo alisema yapo matatizo mengi yanayoendelea kuwakumba Wanafunzi wengi wanaotoka Tanzania kwa kutumia Mawakala wababaishaji licha ya kwamba baadhi yao wamepata ufadhili usio na usumbufu.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Alisema kitendo cha baadhi ya wafadhi pamoja na wazazi wa wanafunzi hao kutumia mawakala husababisha kuibuka kwa matatizo na gharama kubwa zinazoweza kuepukwa sambamba na kuuongezea mzigo Ubalozi.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Balozi Abdulrahman alieleza kwamba hivi sasa wanafunzi wengi wanapata fusa za masomo Nchini China ambapo wengi kati yao hupata ufadhili wa Serikali, Taasisi na Mashirika ya Umma pamoja na Wazazi binafsi.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Balozi huyo wa Tanzania Nchini China aliuelezea ujumbe huo wa Zanzibar kwamba mwaka ujao Serikali ya Jamuhuri ya Watu wa China imeongeza nafasi 100 za masomo ya juu kwa Wanafunzi wa Tanzania kupata taaluma ya vyuo vikuu mbali mbali Nchini humo.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Alifahamisha kwamba Ofisi yake itawasiliana na Serikali zote mbili ya Jamuhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania na ile ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar katika uratibu wa kuzitumia nafasi hizo ili ziwafaidishe Vijana wa pande zote mbili za Jamuhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Akigusia ziara mbali mbali za Viongozi wa ngazi za Juu wa Tanzania wanaotembelea China Balozi Shimbo alisema Wafanyakazi wa Ofisi ya Ubalozi huo wamepata faraja kubwa kufuatia ujio wa Viongozi hao.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Balozi Shimbo alisisitiza kwamba Uongozi wa Ubalozi huo unaendelea kufuatilia utekelezaji wa makubaliano au ahadi zilizotolewa kufuatia ziara za Viongozi hao wakuu wa Tanzania China.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Alisema ziara hizo kwa pande zote mbili kati ya china na Tanzania kwa kiasi kikubwa zimeleta na kuimarisha zaidi uhusiano uliopo kati ya pande hizo mbili rafiki.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Akitoa shukrani kwa niaba ya ujumbe aliouongoza Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi aliwakumbusha wafanyakazi wa Ubalozi huo wa Tanzania Nchini China kuzidisha mashirikiano yao kwa lengo la kupata ufanisi zaidi.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Balozi Seif alisema mashirikiano hayo yataendeleza sifa ya watendaji hao kufanya kazi katika misingi ya umoja na upendo kama utamaduni wao ulivyowalea na kuwanyooshea njia.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Akigusia ziara yao nchini China Balozi Seif alisema ujumbe wake umeona na kushuhudia maendeleo makubwa yaliyofikiwa na China katika kukuza uchumi na kuimarisha maendeleo ya ustawi wa Jamii.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Alisema licha ya kujifunza huko lakini pia ziara ya ujumbe huo wa Zanzibar imesaidia kuimarisha uhusiano wa kihistoria unaoendelea kukua siku hadi siku kati ya China na Tanzania na Zanzibar kwa jumla.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Alifafanua kwamba Zanzibar na China hasa kisiwa cha Jimbo la Hainan zimekuwa na mafungamano makubwa ya ushirikiano wa muda mrefu uliokuja kutokana na kufanana kwa mazingira ya visiwa hivyo viwili vilivyoko katika ukanda wa joto.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Balozi Seif alimuhakikishia Balozi wa Tanzania Nchini China Balozi Abdulrahman Shimbo kwamba mambo yaliyokubalika ndani ya ziara hiyo yatafuatilia ili kuona ufanisi unapatikana.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar aliwapongeza Wafanyakazi wa Ubalozi huo kwa dhifa maalum waliyouandalia ujumbe wake jambo ambalo ni moja kati ya utamaduni uliojengeka miongoni mwa Watanzania.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Mapema Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi na Ujumbe wake walipata fursa ya kutembelea maegesho ya ndege katika uwanja wa Kimataifa wa Beijing sehemu ya Tatu { Terminal Three } iliyojengwa na Kampuni hiyo ya Beijing Construction Engeneering Group.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Mkuu wa ujenzi wa Kampuni hiyo Mhandisi Tiger Nzu aliueleza ujumbe huo wa Zanzibar kwamba uwanja huo wenye urefu wa kilomita tatu una sehemu 96 zenye uwezo wa kuhudumia abiria mbali mbali wa safari za Kitaifa na Kimataifa.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Mhandisi Tiger alifahamisha kwamba huduma zote zinazopaswa kupatiwa abiria wakiwemo walemavu na watu wenye mahitaji maalum kama watoto a Wagonjwa zimepangiwa utaratibu maalum katika viwango vinavyokubalika Kimataifa.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Wakati wa Tafrija ya chakula cha mchana iliyoandaliwa na Kampuni hiyo ya BCEG Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi alisema kwamba uzoefu na utaalamu mkubwa uliyonayo Kampuni ya Kimataifa ya ujenzi ya Jamuhuri ya Watu wa China { Beijing Construction Engeering Grouop -BCEG } unatoa matumaini makubwa kwa kumalizika kwa mafanikio uwanja wa ndege wa Kimataifa wa Zanzibar.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Alisema kazi kubwa inayoendelea kufanywa na Kampuni hiyo inayojenga maegesho ya uwanja wa ndege wa Zanzibar inatoa matumaini ya kuufanya uwanja huo kufikia hadhi ya Kimataifa.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar aliupongeza Uongozi na Wafanyakazi Kampuni hiyo ya { BCEG } kwa umakini wake ambao ndio saabu unayoupa fursa nyingi za tenda za ujenzi kampuni hiyo katika Mataifa mbali mbali Duniani hasa nchi za Bara la Afrika.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Naye Naibu Meneja wa Kampuni ya Ujenzi ya BCEG Bwana Ding Chuanbo alisema kukamilika kwa ujenzi wa maegesho ya ndege kwenye uwanja wa ndege wa Kimataifa wa Zanzibar kutaiwezesha Zanzibar kupiga hatua kubwa za kimaendeleo.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Bwana Ding alisema mabadiliko ya Kiuchumi ya Zanzibar yatazidi kuimarika kufuatia kuongezeka kwa mapato kupitia sekta ya Utalii inayoonekana kuchukuwa nafasi ya juu katika uchumi wa Zanzibar.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Naibu Meneja huyo wa Kampuni ya BCEG aliueleza ujumbe huo wa Zanzibar kwamba Kampuni hiyo iliyoasisiwa mwaka 1953 tayari imefanikiwa kiuzalishaji hali inayoifanya kuwa na Idara 24 za fani tofauti za utaalamu.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Balozi Seif na Ujumbe wake amemaliza ziara yake Nchini Jamuhuri ya Watu wa China akipitia Mjini Dubai kwa mapumziko mafupia ambapo anatarajiwa kurejea nyumbani mwisho mwa wiki hii.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Othman Khamis Ame</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Ofisi ya Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar</span></div> </div>

Wanaodhamini watoto kwenda kusoma nje wanapsawa kuwasiliana na Balozi

Mashirika Taasisi za Umma na zile binafsi pamoja na wazazi wanaowadhamini kimasomo wafanyakazi na watoto wao Nchini Jamuhuri ya Watu wa Ch...

Read more »

Philips and SNV collaborate to increase access to clean, efficient cooking solutions for communities in Africa

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dEOgUcncKE4/VHLwihfyXJI/AAAAAAAAE9U/JLebRKxMfbo/s1600/phy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dEOgUcncKE4/VHLwihfyXJI/AAAAAAAAE9U/JLebRKxMfbo/s1600/phy.png" width="316" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: <a href="http://www.philips.com/">PHIA</a>)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> and the <a href="http://www.snvworld.org/">SNV</a> Netherlands Development Organisation</span><span style="font-size: large;">, will be working together to improve access to clean cooking solutions in Africa by introducing clean and efficient household cook stoves to rural communities across the continent. The partnership aims to improve the health and well-being and income of rural populations while having a direct positive impact on the environment and will include research, community education and access to financing for adopting clean cooking technologies.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">According to the World <a href="http://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/WEO2012_free.pdf">Energy</a> Outlook 2012, a staggering 2.6 billion people still depend on traditional cook stoves or open fires for cooking and heating their homes. The health and environmental risks of this are considerable. Every week, 75,000 people – mostly women and children - get sick or even die as a direct result of inhaling smoke. And each day, 3.9 million tons of fuel wood are burnt, contributing to the daily loss of 200 km2 of forest (1). </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">There are cleaner and more efficient cooking solutions available. But communities in rural areas do not know the benefits of clean cooking alternates or cannot access or afford to invest in them. Philips and SNV are joining forces to address this issue.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Philips’ ambition is to create meaningful innovations that matter to people and address the key challenges that confront society; this is why for the last 3 years, Philips has invested in the design and manufacturing of an innovative fan driven cook stove that can improve the lives of those who rely on wood or biomass for their daily cooking. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">These specially designed cook stoves can reduce smoke and carbon monoxide emissions by more than 90% compared to an open fire (2) thus reducing the health risks of indoor cooking. The cook stove utilizes pellets, wood or other biomass for cooking in a healthy, environmental friendly and fuel efficient manner. Philips is testing different financing and go-to-market models to ensure that this solution become accessible to people that would not be able to afford them otherwise. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">SNV Netherlands Development Organisation has extensive experience with increasing access to clean cooking solutions for low income communities. They collaborate with and build capacities of local retailers to promote clean cooking solutions and increase local availability of cook stoves. SNV studies what people can afford, and sets up market based solutions including access to finance for households and small to medium businesses.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Over the years, SNV has invested in research to learn which cooking solutions are the healthiest, most economical, user-, and eco-friendly. Philips produces some of the cleanest products currently available on the market. To increase access to these products, SNV and Philips are now joining forces. They will collaborate in further research and promotion of clean cooking solutions.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">According to Andy Wehkamp, SNV’s director of Renewable Energy, the partnership with Philips is a natural step. “We believe that inclusive business can play an important role in poverty reduction and low carbon growth. We want to increase the income and health of low-income groups in a climate smart way, while at the same time generating benefits for participating companies. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">By joining forces with Philips we expect to reduce the amount of people dependent on open fires or inefficient cook stoves for cooking. This contributes to a better environment, while low-income groups can enjoy better health and living conditions”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">For Philips, the attraction of SNV is in their extensive Africa-wide network and deep understanding of the local environment. Christoph Castellaz, Head of Strategy and New Business Development, Philips Africa states “We welcome the opportunity to partner with SNV; Philips is passionate to invent and apply technology to help people but we need meaningful partnerships to co-create new solutions and new business models that can make innovations like our cook stove accessible and affordable to communities that need them the most.” </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The collaboration between SNV and Philips will initially focus on Kenya (East Africa) and Ghana (West Africa); an official Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SNV Netherlands Development Organisation and Philips will be signed on 20 November 2014 during the assembly of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves (GACC) in New York.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Royal Philips.</span></div> </div>

Philips and SNV collaborate to increase access to clean, efficient cooking solutions for communities in Africa

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA )  and the SNV Netherlands Development Organisation , will be working together to improve access to...

Read more »