IOM, the United Nations Migration Agency launches campaign to inform African migrants: ASK your questions LIVE

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1xtrqh9AAI/WMVSkQnefAI/AAAAAAAAHVM/dC92ZLlV714ulkjwfuZDtQp3fA9BwD73gCLcB/s1600/iom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1xtrqh9AAI/WMVSkQnefAI/AAAAAAAAHVM/dC92ZLlV714ulkjwfuZDtQp3fA9BwD73gCLcB/s400/iom.jpg" width="371" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">So far in 2017, 19,567 migrants arrived by sea to Italy and after the latest shipwreck this past weekend, 521 have died at sea – 50 more compared to the same period in 2016. The majority of these migrants are from Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Guinea, Senegal and Gambia – same as in 2016.<br /><br />Some of the migrants who make it to Europe and share their ordeal with the International Organization for <a href="http://www.iom.int/">Migration</a> (IOM), reveal that their journey was far more dangerous than expected. Many are unaware of the dangers and risks of migrating with the assistance of smugglers, not only at sea or in the desert, but also in transit countries like Libya. Recalling the life-threatening risks along their journey is often very distressing and in many instances, most migrants wish to forget and move forward with their lives and therefore tend not to share their experience with peers who are still back home.<br /><br />The Aware Migrants <a href="http://www.awaremigrants.org/">campaign</a> aims to inform migrants from 15 countries – mostly in West Africa plus Tunisia and Egypt – about the dangers of migrating irregularly across the Sahara desert, Libya and the Mediterranean Sea.<br /><br />The campaign is launched in the target countries of transit and origin in Africa with social media, TV and radio spots. <br /><br />Flavio Di Giacomo and Shiraz Jerbi, IOM Coordination Office for the Mediterranean - the UN Migration Agency will host an online press conference on Wednesday March 15 at 10am GMT.<br /><br />Journalists interested in participating in this online press conference will be able to ASK QUESTIONS LIVE VIA THE INTERNET.<br /><br />Where: Online<br /><br />When: Wednesday, March 15 at 10am GMT (T<a href="http://www.apo.af/IOM">ime converter</a>: )<br /><br />Who: Flavio Di Giacomo and Shiraz Jerbi, IOM Coordination Office for the Mediterranean<br /><br />Why: Launch of Aware Migrants in Countries of Origin and Transit<br /><br />Language: English<br /><br />How it works: This service is FREE and only requires a computer connected to the internet.<a href="http://www.apo.af/IOMafrica"> REGISTER</a>: <br /><br />Distributed by APO on behalf of International Office of Migration (IOM). </span></div> </div>

IOM, the United Nations Migration Agency launches campaign to inform African migrants: ASK your questions LIVE

So far in 2017, 19,567 migrants arrived by sea to Italy and after the latest shipwreck this past weekend, 521 have died at sea – 50 more...

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Africa theme park stakeholders to gain from ‘DEAL 2017’: International Expo Consults (IEC)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4oGAzJCMLJM/WMVQvl0wW2I/AAAAAAAAHVA/ou3s2mfvKvwblBFyqRc5ALXhA9TNg-CIgCLcB/s1600/dubai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4oGAzJCMLJM/WMVQvl0wW2I/AAAAAAAAHVA/ou3s2mfvKvwblBFyqRc5ALXhA9TNg-CIgCLcB/s400/dubai.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The African stakeholders of the theme park industry will stand to benefit from the largest show in the amusement industry – <a href="http://www.dealmiddleeastshow.com/">DEAL</a> 2017, as per International Expo Consults, the organisers of the show. With people patronizing theme parks across Africa and the growth of the amusement sector in the region, shows like DEAL can help the stakeholders of the amusement and leisure industry to come under one roof and discover the best kept secrets of the industry.<br /><br />Tourism in Africa is booming as reports which state that in 2014, 65.3 million international tourists visited the continent – around 200,000 more than in 2013. The numbers were meagre in 1990’s where the recorded number was 17.4 million. The tourism sector has leaped and boomed in size thanks to the infrastructure projects undertaken by government entities. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://apo.af/95pQkx">According</a> to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Africa’s strong performance in 2014 makes it one of the world’s fastest-growing tourist destinations, second only to Southeast Asia.<br /><br />Amusement parks in Africa offer more than fun as they induce historical and educational attractions to engage the whole family in unlimited immersive fun. Parks in Africa are known to inculcate fun mixed with learning. Most of the rides include looping rollercoaster rides, bumper cars, and exciting wildlife centered shows to historical attractions which form the base enabling a plethora of entertainment activities for all age groups.<br /><br />“DEAL 2017 is at the right juncture as it will help African investors to catapult their business to the next area of growth. DEAL has been supporting the industry and its stakeholders, year on year and has grown from strength to strength. This is the only show in the Middle East and Africa region to provide stakeholders with several billion dollar opportunities. International Expo Consults, the organizers of the DEAL show are set to welcome African exhibitors and trade visitors to one of the colossal shows in the amusement vertical in the MENA Region,” said Mr. Sharif Rahman, CEO, IEC.<br /><br />The Dubai Entertainment Amusement and Leisure (DEAL) show has shaped the region’s entertainment industry for the past two decades and it has brought together great minds and their world class innovations all under one umbrella. DEAL has led the amusement and entertainment space during this period and the testimony to this is the fact that exhibitors at DEAL 2016 have signed multi-million dollar contracts in just 3 days. Foraying into the 23rd edition, DEAL 2017 expects to witness an even larger gathering of key players and visitors in the amusement industry from Middle East, US, Mediterranean, Asian, and especially African countries.<br /><br />DEAL, since its inception in 1995 has developed into an unparalleled platform that gathers exhibitors, buyers, and professionals from the international amusement and entertainment industry. DEAL is the region's most anticipated and leading attraction for global and local stakeholders in the amusement and entertainment industries. The show is slated to be held from 27th - 29th March 2017 at Halls 1, 2, 3 & 4 at the iconic Dubai World Trade Centre.<br /><br />“Developments in the region with regards to entertainment and leisure are seen to be believed and the outcomes are very encouraging. Entertainment and leisure projects within the MENA region have boosted the confidence of the amusement and leisure industry manifold. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The growth of theme parks has spurred towards the organising of events such as DEAL within this region and bringing the industry experts and stakeholders together. ‘DEAL 2017’ is definitely set to don the mantle of the entertainment launch pad for amusement operators in this region. Like before we are all arms open to welcome delegates from Africa to our show,” concluded Mr. Sharif.<br /><br />Distributed by APO on behalf of International Expo-Consults (IEC). <a href="http://africa-newsroom.com/press/media/africa-theme-park-stakeholders-to-gain-from-deal-2017-international-expo-consults-iec?lang=en"><br /></a></span></div> </div>

Africa theme park stakeholders to gain from ‘DEAL 2017’: International Expo Consults (IEC)

The African stakeholders of the theme park industry will stand to benefit from the largest show in the amusement industry – DEAL 2017, ...

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Students of Florida International University Explore the Contemporary Problems of Public Administration at Regional and Local Levels in Africa

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r2-hus2bcJo/WL57uCzZPtI/AAAAAAAAHUs/EdrKOg36fhAXkTyTwmcbNmjkL5Ay9-pJACLcB/s1600/ugla.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r2-hus2bcJo/WL57uCzZPtI/AAAAAAAAHUs/EdrKOg36fhAXkTyTwmcbNmjkL5Ay9-pJACLcB/s400/ugla.png" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  <span style="font-size: large;">The African Local Government Academy (</span><a href="http://www.uclga.org/"><span style="font-size: large;">ALGA</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">), a flagship project of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) and Florida International University (FIU) in the United States have organised a study visit to the Kingdom of Morocco for PhD and Master’s students. This will be the third study trip organised by FIU for the benefit of its students with the first edition taking place in Bulgaria (2013), the second in the Kingdom of Morocco in 2014, which inspired this 2017 edition in Morocco again.<br /><br />This study visit has been arranged in partnership with the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de l’Administration (ENSA), the University of Al Akhawayn (AUI) and the International University of Rabat (UIR), with backing from the Moroccan authorities, on the theme: ‘Contemporary issues of public administration at regional and local levels’.<br /><br />In positioning ALGA as an organisation that is opened to collaboration on the continent the exchange is aimed at introducing students of FIU to the key issues and challenges of Public Administration, both in Morocco and Africa, as well as to fundamental reforms and good practice implemented to deal with them at a national, regional and local level.<br /><br />A group of 14 people will take part in this exchange of experiences with 12 sessions moderated by senior officials, university professors, and practitioners in the towns of Rabat, Ifrane, Azrou, Fez and Marrakech covering:<br />The challenges of decentralisation in Africa and the way in which UCLG Africa seeks to address them through advocacy, support, training and capacity building, networking and the integration of a gendered approach;<br />The place of Public Administration in the dynamic of development in Morocco;<br />The key reforms underway concerning Advanced Regionalisation in Morocco.<br /><br />The study visit will also be punctuated by visits to institutions and opportunities for cultural exchange.<br /><br />Coinciding with the celebration of International Women's Day, this group, comprising largely women, will also benefit from a presentation on ‘Promoting the status and leadership of women in Moroccan Public Administration’ on 7 March as a flagship experience in terms of the Continent.<br /><br />This exchange will also be an opportunity for UCLG Africa and its Academy to explore opportunities for collaboration and partnership, particularly in the areas of training, capacity building and research. <br /><br />Distributed by APO on behalf of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa). <br /></span><a href="http://uclga.africa-newsroom.com/press/media/students-of-florida-international-university-explore-the-contemporary-problems-of-public-administration-at-regional-and-local-levels-in-africa?lang=en"><span style="font-size: large;">View multimedia content</span></a></div> </div>

Students of Florida International University Explore the Contemporary Problems of Public Administration at Regional and Local Levels in Africa

  The African Local Government Academy ( ALGA ), a flagship project of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) ...

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Reimagine Work by Reimagining Business

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xpnRmw8dpbM/WL56-DByUuI/AAAAAAAAHUk/UNS1zrhU9hwBM0ZO6mFu8A8vsyWuJe4ygCLcB/s1600/ama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xpnRmw8dpbM/WL56-DByUuI/AAAAAAAAHUk/UNS1zrhU9hwBM0ZO6mFu8A8vsyWuJe4ygCLcB/s400/ama.jpg" width="266" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">When you want to know the future, acknowledge the past. As citizens of a rapidly accelerated world, we are seduced by the idea that our situation is unique. In many ways it is - not the least how the workplace is changing. But change in the workplace itself is not new, nor is the regression invited by companies that do not heed this shift. <br /><br />Technology can rapidly alter how work gets done. When the steam engine started appearing in the late 1700s, many sectors were not enthusiastic. They couldn't see the benefit when the existing worker's order seemed sufficient. <br /><br />Yet, while the old guard waved such ideas away, the newfound industrial sector was very interested. Even the simple act of pumping water out of shafts was so attractive that mines adapted it rapidly. The laborious manual task was mechanised, opening up new ways of doing things. Workers adjusted their skillsets and expectations. A new breed of employee emerged out of the silt. Within less than a generation you simply weren't attractive to workers if you weren't using steam. <br /><br />We are again experiencing a revolutionary change to how we work. New technologies are shifting workplace expectations at a breakneck speed and employees realise their value more than ever before. A nice salary and good coffee just doesn't cut it anymore: people who invest in their skills and worth at work, want to see reciprocation from employers. They want to see the new technology work for them. <br /><br />You don't transform your company for the sake of employees. You transform your company to stay competitive and innovative. New technologies boost the bottom line and fortunately these go hand in hand with modern employee expectations. <br /><br />A number of forces are shaping both sides of the fence. Smart systems, real-time data and mobility are creating a family of services that redefine all our expectations. These will, by SAP's estimations, boost productivity by 20 to 50 percent. The aforementioned technologies create true paradigm shifts on the work-floor. <br /><br />Smart systems underpin a new breed of automation that goes beyond taking menial work off an employee's plate. These are increasingly better at collaborating with employees. Real-time data parallels this, delivering insight when and how employees demand it. Mobility and the connectivity behind it define the new coalface of business interactions. <br /><br />To achieve these tiers, companies invest in several technologies, including in-memory processing, big data, machine learning, Internet of Things and the cloud. All of these create more agile and modern businesses, hence the argument that meeting employee expectations is the same as boosting business prospects. In this case, you actually do build it and they will come. <br /><br />Let's contrive a hypothetical situation. A team needs to present a new strategy for a customer. Yet the scope of the customer spans across numerous departments, including site visits. The customer generates a lot of data, which needs to be exploited. In addition, to meet the customer's challenges, employees need to interact with partners and other third parties. One group is ultimately responsible for the strategy, though they do not have the mandate to commandeer the other departments or partners outright. <br /><br />In old business terms, this would be shifting a mountain. But modern technology has turned this on its ear. Real time data combined with smart automation allows for on-the-fly analysis and reporting of the data. Collaboration tools enable seamless communication across departments and partners, without losing jurisdiction or control. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Mobile devices foster accurate site visits and boost collaboration conversations. Automation frees valuable time and skills to apply to the problems. Modern HR systems fluidly identify and allocate team members to appropriate roles. The strategy can be organically adjusted and tested by a core group focused on the outcome, without trying to herd the cats of corporations. <br /><br />The result is a hive mind approach, without disrupting the other operations and hierarchies in your business. <br /><br />This is very attractive to modern employees. They are increasingly expecting the malleability of a smart, real-time environment: an environment where they are treasured for their skills. Their functions are determined by vision, not by an attempt to fit circles into squares. <br /><br />Technology, however, is only part of the journey. As business leaders we need to reimagine what our employees can do, if appropriately empowered. We must appreciate and realise the value which modern technologies bring to our workforces as much as to our businesses. People are the lifeblood of our company cultures: if we enable them to do more and do it better, they will. <br /><br />SAP has invested heavily in this. Admittedly, we did it to create better products for our customers. We foresaw a future of smart technology and collaboration. But, if I may be honest, we didn't realise how much it would impact our own organisation. By using new business tools such as Ariba for procurement, SAP Jam for collaboration, SuccessFactors for talent management, Fiori for new mobile applications and SAP HANA for real-time data processing, SAP has transformed itself. <br /><br />Today the vast majority of our revenue comes from services that did not even exist a decade ago. Innovation culture is driven by our people, who we in turn support and value. In 2016 SAP won over 130 global awards for being a top and attractive employer. I can confidently say that these technologies work, because I have seen it in action. It has made me a better business leader. <br /><br />Smart people surround themselves with smarter people. This is a fundamental of success. Modern technology makes that almost too easy. The smarter people are out there and they want to do their best. You can help them achieve that, while also taking your business into the digital era. Don't be the dinosaurs who ignored the steam engine. Reimagine work, reimagine business and you can shape the future with people who want to follow your lead. <br /><br />Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of SAP Africa.</span></div> </div>

Reimagine Work by Reimagining Business

When you want to know the future, acknowledge the past. As citizens of a rapidly accelerated world, we are seduced by the idea that our ...

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Claviger - Your Key to the Middle East - A Comprehensive Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Sales and Marketing Agency Launches Operations in Middle East

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5APdxad9VBQ/WL56fsUSKRI/AAAAAAAAHUg/e7JBmj1Q2-gpPuVagsct2jB1km-CP0ztQCLcB/s1600/utalii.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="91" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5APdxad9VBQ/WL56fsUSKRI/AAAAAAAAHUg/e7JBmj1Q2-gpPuVagsct2jB1km-CP0ztQCLcB/s400/utalii.png" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://www.clavigerme.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">Claviger</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">, a comprehensive Sales and Marketing Agency specializing in Hospitality, Travel and Tourism recently launched its operations in the Middle East. Founded in March 2016 by experienced hospitality professional Ahmed Baki, the Agency, headquartered in Dubai, provides strategic counsel for clients looking to enhance their outreach and maximize their global sales and marketing efforts in the Region. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Claviger already boasts of serving an impressive list of clients from around the world, including Sheraton and W Hotel Maldives, The St.Regis in Washington and Bal Harbour, Kempinski Hotels in Berlin, Munich, Vienna, Venice, St.Moritz, Alila Hotels in Bali, Goa, Jaipur and Oman, The Farm San Benito in Philippines, Regent Porto Montenegro and Senses Luxury Villa & Suites in Mykonos. Each of the hotels and Villas is represented through its network of highly professional and experienced teams in Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />The Egyptian born founder with over 20 years of rich and varied Sales & Marketing experience in the region said, “I saw a need for a professionally led Agency in the Middle East that can help clients across the world understand, navigate and harness the unlimited potential that the Middle East region provides. It is one of the fastest growing outbound travel markets in the world today. Given the strong economies and high disposable incomes particularly the in Gulf Region there is a huge opportunity for clients around the world to strengthen their outreach and increase their business from this lucrative geographic region.”<br /><br />“Claviger was set up recognizing this need and with a view to provide strategic and integrated sales and marketing solutions with a consultative approach and a very strong client focus,” he added.<br /><br />The Agency functions as an extended sales and marketing arm for their clients providing representation within the market identifying sales and marketing opportunities as well as providing strategic counsel on a day to day basis. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">New customer acquisition, strengthening relationships with existing customers, devising sales and marketing strategies, organizing roadshows and other sales activities are a key focus. The Agency adopts a 360 degree integrated approach providing complete consultancy for brand positioning, conceptualizing strategic marketing plans, planning high impact execution strategies and providing creative and digital services including increased Social Media presence.<br /><br />Additionally, Claviger also provides full-service event management services dedicated to producing world-class events for private and corporate clients. Working with a team of trusted suppliers and partners, the Agency excels at creating unique events that enhance awareness for brands. From concept, to management, to perfect execution, is has already built a reputation for excellence within a short span of time.<br /><br />Given the rich hospitality experience of its founding members, Claviger has also ventured into Hotel Asset Management both at hotel and portfolio level helping owners maximize returns and meet their objectives.<br /><br />“We are committed to acting promptly, decisively and professionally with clients interests upheld at every level, ensuring that they receive the best possible exposure to increase their global sales and marketing efforts and optimize their returns from a fast growing and emerging market like the Middle East,” Ahmed Baki added further.<br /> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Distributed by APO on behalf of Claviger Middle East. </span></div> </div>

Claviger - Your Key to the Middle East - A Comprehensive Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Sales and Marketing Agency Launches Operations in Middle East

Claviger , a comprehensive Sales and Marketing Agency specializing in Hospitality, Travel and Tourism recently launched its operations i...

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CEICE yaonesha nia ya kujenga viwanda Zanzibar

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qm6_0vaRMlA/WL53v1Gc3vI/AAAAAAAAHUQ/UDdb16SicDI9TueUbZOOFvPTSAmkRksxACLcB/s1600/474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qm6_0vaRMlA/WL53v1Gc3vI/AAAAAAAAHUQ/UDdb16SicDI9TueUbZOOFvPTSAmkRksxACLcB/s400/474.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Kampuni ya utengenezaji, usafirishaji na uagizaji wa vifaa vifavyotumia mfumo wa Kisasa wa mawasiliano ya Nchini China { CEICE } imeonyesha nia yake ya kutaka kujenga viwanda vya utengenezaji wa vifaa hivyo Visiwani Zanzibar katika azma yake ya kutoa huduma ndani ya ukanda wa Kusini Mashariki mwa Bara la Afrika.<br /><br />Naibu Mkurugenzi wa Kampuni hiyo Kanda ya Kusini Mashariki ya Afrika Bwana Kang Kai alisema hayo wakati Ujumbe wa Viongozi Sita wa Kampuni hiyo kutoka Nchini China na Mjini Dar es salaam ulipofanya mazungumzo na Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Vuga Mjini Zanzibar.<br /><br />Bwana Kang Kai alisema Kampuni ya CEICE imeamua kuwekeza miradi yao Zanzibar kwa lengo la kuunga mkono mpango Mkuu wa Serikali ya Jamuhuri ya Watu wa China wa kuelekeza nguvu zake za Uchumi katika kusaidia Maendeleo ya Bara la Afrika { China – Africa }.<br /><br />Alisema kutokana na ongezeko kubwa la vyuo Vikuu Bara la Afrika hivi sasa linazalisha wasomi wengi ndani ya vyuo hivyo kundi ambalo linaweza kutumia taaluma yao kupitia ushirikiano na Miradi inayotekelezwa na Kampuni ya CEICE.<br /><br />Bwana Kang Kai alisema Kampuni ya CEICE imepiga hatua kubwa katika uzalishaji wa vifaa vya Kieletronik na kuviuza kwa Makapuni makubwa ya Kimataifa yakiwemo yale ya Sam sung na Sonny.<br /><br />Alisema ujenzi wa Viwanda hivyo ndani ya Visiwa vya Zanzibar mbali ya kuwapatia ajira wanafunzi wanaomaliza vyuo vikuu lakini pia watapata fursa ya kutumia vipaji walivyonavyo katika uzalishaji ndani ya viwanda hivyo.<br /><br />“ Mpango wetu wa kutaka kuwekeza Visiwani Zanzibar unalenga kutoa ajira pana katika miradi ya Viwanda pamoja na Umeme unaoambatana na mfumo wa kisasa wa ulinzi unaotumia umeme yaani Security System ”. Alisema Bwana Kang Kai.<br /><br />Naye Mkurugenzi wa huduma za Vitega Uchumi na Maendeleo kutoka Mamlaka ya Uwekezaji Vitega Uchumi Zanzibar {ZIPA} Nd. Shariff Shariff aliueleza Ujumbe wa Viongozi wa Kampuni ya CEICE kwamba Serikali inahitaji Viwanda katika mpango wake wa kuelekea Nchi ya Viwanda.<br /><br />Nd. Shariff alisema katika kuupa nguvu mpango huo Serikali ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar imetenga eneo maalum ndani ya Ukanda wa Maeneo huru ya Uchumi yaliyopo Fumba kwa ajili ya Taasisi na Kampuni zinazohitaji kutaka kujenga viwanda vyao Zanzibar.<br /><br />Akitoa shukrani zake kwa Ujumbe huo Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi alisema zaidi ya wakaazi Milioni 600 wanaoishi ndani ya ukanda wa Kusini Mashariki mwa Bara la Afrika wanahitaji huduma muhimu za mitandao ya kisasa.<br /><br />Balozi Seif alisema huduma za upatikanaji wa Vifaa kama TV, Simu na hata vitu vya umeme ni sehemu ya maisha kwa sasa kutokana na mabadiliko makubwa ya mfumo wa uliopo hivi sasa unaoifanya Dunia kuonekana kama kiganja badala ya Kijiji.<br /><br />Ujumbe wa Kampuni hiyo ya utengenezaji, usafirishaji na uagizaji wa vifaa vifavyotumia mfumo wa Kisasa wa mawasiliano ya Nchini China { CEICE } ukiongozwa na Naibu Mkurugenzi Mkuu wake Bwana Liu Yang upo Nchini Tanzania kuangalia maeneo ambayo inaweza kuwekeza miradi yao.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />Othman Khamis Ame<br />Ofisi ya Kamau wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar </span></div> </div>

CEICE yaonesha nia ya kujenga viwanda Zanzibar

Kampuni ya utengenezaji, usafirishaji na uagizaji wa vifaa vifavyotumia mfumo wa Kisasa wa mawasiliano ya Nchini China { CEICE } imeonye...

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Three Leading Organizations in Africa and The MasterCard Foundation Partner to Improve Livelihoods for 1.1 Million African Smallholder Farmers

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br /> <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1488876425655_6024" style="font-size: 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Xcw7geh7Og/WL53Iftcc5I/AAAAAAAAHUM/cdPPkLv7yW8jkcOvav9gfQI9jGXhcqBXgCLcB/s1600/pesa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Xcw7geh7Og/WL53Iftcc5I/AAAAAAAAHUM/cdPPkLv7yW8jkcOvav9gfQI9jGXhcqBXgCLcB/s400/pesa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Three of the leading organizations in Africa working with smallholder farmers today joined The MasterCard Foundation to reaffirm their commitment to provide farmers with more of the financial resources and agribusiness connections they need to succeed.<br /><br />At a one-day workshop and learning event in Dakar, the partners outlined how the work they are conducting has already led to improvements for farmers in Africa. As well, ICCO Cooperation used the occasion to launch its STARS (Strengthening African Rural Smallholders) program in Senegal, after recent launches in Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Burkina Faso.<br /><br />Collectively, these three organizations are expanding their support to improve the lives of a minimum of 1.1 million farmers in 11 countries: Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.<br /><br />"Smallholder farmers in Africa, need special attention to increase productivity and break out of their subsistence operation," said Ann Miles, Director of Financial Inclusion at The MasterCard Foundation. <br />"We're proud to work with such strong partners as AgDevCo, ICCO Cooperation, and Root Capital to enable smallholders to produce more, sell better, and work with local organizations in markets that are fair, transparent, and sustainable."<br /><br />Through its partnerships with AgDevCo, ICCO Cooperation, and Root Capital, The MasterCard Foundation supports multiple activities in the 11 countries. These activities include:<br /><br />* providing training and better quality inputs to farmers<br />* implementing mobile technology solutions<br />* brokering long-term purchase contracts<br />* supporting high-impact, early-stage agricultural businesses with capital needs under $150,000 and/or business revenues under $300,000<br />* developing and implementing innovative risk-mitigation tools, and <br />* developing new agricultural finance products and services for smallholder farmers. <br /><br />"Linking smallholder farmers to profitable markets is one of the best ways of lifting large numbers of people out of poverty", said Chris Isaac, Director of Investments at AgDevCo. "The MasterCard Foundation's support will allow AgDevCo to connect our SME investees - socially responsible faming and agri-processing enterprises in Africa - to hundreds of thousands of farmers, to boost productivity, lift incomes and improve food security". <br /><br />"The STARS program is supporting rural smallholder farmers, mostly women, to access tailor made financial services," said Netlyn Bernard, STARS Director. "We are using the "Making Markets Work for the Poor" (M4P) approach to ensure that through capacity building and access to finance they can adopt sustainable agri-business methods and be competitive in the market. We believe that given the right opportunities and tools, farmers can become effective entrepreneurs, increase their income and therefore improve the economic situation of their households and of their communities."<br /><br />"Our partnership with The MasterCard Foundation enables us to increasingly target earlier-stage businesses in Africa operating on the fringes of financial inclusion," said Mireille William, acting General Manager for Root Capital in West Africa. "Together, we're committed to providing these high-impact businesses with the capital and training they need to become engines of impact in their communities."<br /><br />The three partnerships are part of The MasterCard Foundation's portfolio of work supporting smallholder farmers in Africa. To date, the Foundation has committed more than US$300 million to support agricultural initiatives (including US$175 million for rural and agricultural finance projects).<br /> <br />Distributed by African Media Agency on behalf of The MasterCard Foundation.</span></div> <em id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1488876425655_6045"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1488876425655_6044" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></em><span></span></span></div>

Three Leading Organizations in Africa and The MasterCard Foundation Partner to Improve Livelihoods for 1.1 Million African Smallholder Farmers

Three of the leading organizations in Africa working with smallholder farmers today joined The MasterCard Foundation to reaffirm their ...

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Oranto Launches $500-Million Oil Exploration Campaign in South Sudan

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nQX3-KrN9SI/WL52H6krkAI/AAAAAAAAHUE/243IFNrFYcQ-hTdJYwPZnvdwLgDDFV5ogCLcB/s1600/oil.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="71" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nQX3-KrN9SI/WL52H6krkAI/AAAAAAAAHUE/243IFNrFYcQ-hTdJYwPZnvdwLgDDFV5ogCLcB/s400/oil.png" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Oranto Petroleum will invest $500 million to develop South Sudan’s Block B3, launching a comprehensive exploration campaign starting immediately. The Ministry of Petroleum and Oranto Petroleum Company, South Sudan signed the exploration and production sharing agreement for the block today in Juba.<br /><br />The B3 area covers 25,150 square kilometers. Some aeromagnetic and seismic data have been acquired for the area but no wells have been drilled. The block is highly prospective, with productive parts of the Muglad Basin to the northwest and estimated reserves in place of more than 3 billion barrels of oil. The block is categorized as low risk, high reward. Under the EPSA, Oranto will be the technical operator and 90% shareholder of the block, with Nilepet holding a 10% stake.<br /><br />“We believe the petroleum resources of Block B3 are vast. To reach our target of more than double current oil production, we need committed new entrants like Oranto,” said Minister of Petroleum Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth. “The government is working hard to reinvigorate the petroleum industry in South Sudan by creating an enabling environment for International oil and gas companies to invest and operate. It is up to the oil companies to come in, explore and produce.”<br /><br />“It’s an honor to formalize our entry into South Sudan with this EPSA,” said Prince Arthur Eze, Founder and Chairman of Oranto Petroleum. “Our company is at the vanguard of African firms exploring and developing African assets. This is the beginning of a long-term collaboration with Nilepet, the people of South Sudan and our partners to bring to light the immense potential of Block B3. Oranto is committed to an aggressive exploration work program that will benefit all stakeholders.”<br /><br />The 120,000-square kilometer Block B was split by the government into the B1, B2 and B3 blocks in 2012. In Block B3 Oranto will work alongside the B1 and B2 partners, which include Total. During the first three-year exploration period Oranto will complete a further airborne geophysical survey; acquire and process 2D seismic; and assess existing data held by the government and former operators. The EPSA contract was facilitated by pan-African law firm Centurion Law Group. South Sudan is an established, world-class petroleum producing region, whose territory includes a large part of the Cretaceous rift basin system that has proved petroliferous in Chad and Niger as well as Sudan.<br /><br />Atlas Petroleum International and Oranto Petroleum, the sister companies of the Atlas Oranto Group, own and operate 20 oil and gas acreages in 10 African countries: Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal and South Sudan. <br /><br />Distributed by APO on behalf of Oranto Petroleum Ltd.<br /> </span></div> </div>

Oranto Launches $500-Million Oil Exploration Campaign in South Sudan

Oranto Petroleum will invest $500 million to develop South Sudan’s Block B3, launching a comprehensive exploration campaign starting imm...

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Hitachi Data Systems appoints new country manager to accelarate growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WXQgGwoGaVg/WL0js1cFKdI/AAAAAAAAHT0/Yo7prR9sljEZsMepOwy8MxgjnCbzWO09gCLcB/s1600/hitachi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WXQgGwoGaVg/WL0js1cFKdI/AAAAAAAAHT0/Yo7prR9sljEZsMepOwy8MxgjnCbzWO09gCLcB/s400/hitachi.jpg" width="300" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Hitachi Data Systems (HDS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501), has appointed Niral Patel as General Manager for sub-Saharan Africa, effective 1 March 2017. <br /><br />In his new role, Patel will be responsible for driving business growth across the sub-Saharan region, working closely with global teams to accelerate growth. He will shape market opportunities through the development of alliances and partnerships and will drive the consolidation of Hitachi Data Systems' position in the market place. <br /><br />Tom Pegrume, Regional VP, Emerging EMEA says: "We are pleased to welcome Niral Patel to our organisation and look forward to his valuable contribution to our team. We will rely on his leadership to further strengthen our engagement in the public sector and across our key verticals. His appointment comes at a time when businesses need a different model if they want to maintain relevance and increase profitability. He will help navigate the needs of our customers in this era of digital transformation." <br /><br />"I am excited about my new role at Hitachi Data Systems. I believe that successful digital transformation projects involve the effective deployment of big data and analytics to uncover new insights. Data is everything in digitisation. How companies use their data will be critical to their survival," says Patel. <br /><br />Patel has over 17 years of experience selling technology solutions across a variety of businesses in South and Central Africa as well as the Middle East. He was previously the Public Sector Director for Microsoft South Africa, where one of his key focus areas was supporting government to deliver on its National Development Plan. <br /><br />Prior to his time with Microsoft, Patel headed up the Power Systems business unit at IBM. There he played a vital role in growing the business' revenues across the various industries within which it operates. Patel holds an MBA from the University of Warwick and is the recipient of several awards, including the Microsoft Circle of Excellence Award and IBM's EMEA Vice President's Leadership Award. <br /><br /><br />Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of Hitachi Data Systems.</span></div> </div>

Hitachi Data Systems appoints new country manager to accelarate growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

Hitachi Data Systems (HDS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501), has appointed Niral Patel as General Manager for sub-...

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Dangote Foundation commits N200m for Kano Specialist Hospital rehabilitation

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3KnHZjpkdFY/WL0jKITG4SI/AAAAAAAAHTs/wi_p_H2PlHgPAGfatX36K2H9X4kEfd8dQCLcB/s1600/dangote.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3KnHZjpkdFY/WL0jKITG4SI/AAAAAAAAHTs/wi_p_H2PlHgPAGfatX36K2H9X4kEfd8dQCLcB/s400/dangote.png" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The Foundation handed over to the hospital management a renovated maternity ward, two ultra-modern maternity laboratories, upgraded water supply system Eclampsia ward, theatre and improved sanitary environment befitting of a specialist hospital.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />To complement its N7 billion Surgical and Diagnostic Centre (SDC) currently under construction, the Dangote Foundation has concluded the renovations of some sections of the Murtala Muhammed Specialists’ Hospital, Kano which gulped over N200 million.<br /><br />The 900 bed capacity hospital, reputed for highest number of in-patients in sub-Saharan Africa has been lacking facilities that may detract from the new SDC being built by the Foundation, hence the decision to carry out the construction and renovation of the auxiliary facilities.<br /><br />The Foundation is currently building a N7 billion Surgical and </span><a href="http://www.dangote.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">Diagnostic</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> Centre at the hospital and the Foundation whose Chairman is from the State, said it was committed to its timely completion.<br /><br />The Foundation handed over to the hospital management a renovated maternity ward, two ultra-modern maternity laboratories, upgraded water supply system Eclampsia ward, theatre and improved sanitary environment befitting of a specialist hospital. <br /><br />President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote who was represented by his daughter, Hajiya Fatima Dangote, explained that the provision of the health care facilities was in line with the focus of the Foundation to contribute to improved health care service delivery in Nigeria as well as nutrition on the African continent. <br /><br />He stated that his Foundation has mandate to intervene in the critical areas such as health, education and human development which was why the Foundation has also embarked on some poverty alleviation programmes targeted at women at the grassroots.<br /><br />Kano State governor, who was represented by his deputy, Hafis Abubakar expressed the state’s gratitude to Dangote Foundation for coming to the aid of the state in the task of provision of sound health care to the people of the state.<br /><br />He urged other public spirited individual and organizations to rise up and partner with the state government orts at making life more meaningful to the people saying government alone could not provide all that the people need.<br /><br />The Deputy Governor then called on the staff of the hospital to make judicious use of the facilities and maintain them like their personal property so that they can serve the people for a long time.<br /><br />The state Commissioner for Health, Kabiru Getso said the Murtala Mohammed Specialist hospital Kano, was established about 92 years ago and is one of the biggest facility in Africa; with the maternity ward alone recording no fewer than 2, 000 deliveries monthly.<br /><br />Head of Medical laboratory of the hospital, Magaji Minjibir said the intervention by Dangote foundation was timely, because the state of the hospital has been appalling.<br /><br />According to him, the hospital's laboratory has suffered congestion and the hospital generally bedeviled with many infrastructural challenges.<br /><br />“At the Chemical pathology, we had to wait for our equipment to cool down before we process results. The Histology department had to stop work temporarily. Our authoclave is about 15 years old and outdated. We have only one microscope and this cannot cater for our teaming patients while lab staff take turns to perform tests and this delays results especially for patients in emergency cases”, Minjibir stated.<br /><br />The Matron in charge of Maternity ward, Hauwa Mansur Waziri, who also spoke on the pitiable situation of the hospital before the Dangote Foundation’s intervention, said the new facilities will go a long way in improving services and saving more lives.<br /><br />“There is no doubt that our staff will now be motivated by the conducive environment made possible by the Foundation. They can now perform their duties free of so many hazards. The wards now have bright light, functional tools, water and toilets. All these would enhance condition of patients and help healing process”, she stated with excitement.<br /><br />Distributed by APO on behalf of Dangote Group. </span></div> </div>

Dangote Foundation commits N200m for Kano Specialist Hospital rehabilitation

The Foundation handed over to the hospital management a renovated maternity ward, two ultra-modern maternity laboratories, upgraded wate...

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African Challenges to African Development

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DCHApyM3W_c/WL0igYOT8jI/AAAAAAAAHTo/-Y3Hs-gOjU4Nou6aqMhlu-UshW8h2XhWACLcB/s1600/End.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="76" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DCHApyM3W_c/WL0igYOT8jI/AAAAAAAAHTo/-Y3Hs-gOjU4Nou6aqMhlu-UshW8h2XhWACLcB/s400/End.png" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">By Ehiedu Iweriebor<br /><br />The parlous story of African economic and social development since independence best expressed in the failure to achieve the autonomous capacity for self-actuated development and in particular to create conditions of national and continental modern mass production and prosperity is well known and need not be repeated. It is enough to re-state that Africa’s development failure was because of the leaderships’ choice to retain, maintain and expand the inherited exocentric colonial system of development incapacitation, primary commodity export, import dependency and poverty generation.<br /><br />The progressive efforts of some African states and leaders to change the system and create self-reliant economies were stymied by the leaderships’ ideological inadequacies and dependency, the balance of payment crises of the late 1970s and 1980s and the subsequent economic crises and decline. This provided the avenue for Western multilateral imperialist agencies the World Bank and the IMF - to successfully infiltrate into Africa, re-colonize African states and convert them into neo-colonial out-posts of the so-called neo-liberal consensus. This framework embodied in the Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAP) with its destructives conditionalities: currency devaluation, trade liberalization, subsidy removal, deregulation and privatization, re-directed the African states to focus on expanded raw materials production and exports and to abandon industrialization and development capacitation.<br /><br />The application of these anti-development SAP dogmas in the 1980s and 1990s ushered in two decades of deepening indebtedness, serious economic crises, de-industrialization, socio-economic decline, deepening impoverishment and political repression. On the other hand, the period also saw the upsurge of popular democratisation struggles, civil rights campaigns, the restoration democracy, and the establishment of electoral democracy and the decline of military interventions in African politics. In the economic sphere, there were innovative dependency-reducing responses. This was because among businesses there was an increased re-orientation toward local sourcing of well-known agricultural and mineral endowments to expand production. This led to the emergence of new economic sectors and especially the expansion of cottage, small and medium scale consumer goods industries which were operationally autonomous due to the increased utilization of local resources for production and self-development.<br /><br />In addition there was relative political stability and policy and institutional the support for businesses through the creation of enabling environments for attracting investments.<br /><br />It was partly because of these new domestic conditions and the economic self-activation, and the partly because of return of better commodity prices in the first decade of the 21st century that the Western media fabricated and propagated the new view of “Africa Rising”. This became a very popular and re-assuring slogan among some African leaders, politicians and intelligentsia.<br /><br />However, it was an insecure condition because a “Rising Africa” whose upsurge is generated by increased external demand for primary commodities is essentially insecure. It does not represent genuine African development that is based on expansive domestic production and prosperity generation. It merely reinforces African dependency on primary commodity export and its dependence on the importation of manufactured goods. It is evaporating with the speed with which it was proclaimed.<br /><br />But there was a more consequential development story of this period that ushered in what this author describes as the Affirmative African Narrative phase of development. This is the progressive assumption by African businesses of the leadership role in promoting national and pan-African development. This new trend of African self-development is captured by the new concept of “Africans Investing in Africa” This is the process by which African industrial, service, and commercial enterprises began to make large-scale investments in many different African countries. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The investments involve for example the expansion of Banks, telecommunication companies, trading companies and so on. Examples of these include Nigerians Banks like UBA, Zenith, Access, First Bank; South African banks like Standard Bank and Moroccan Banks; Telecommunication companies such as MTN of South Africa, ECONET of Zimbabwe and GLOBACOM of Nigeria. Others are Shoprite, Coca cola and South African Breweries.<br /><br />While Africans investing in Africa is becoming common and commendable, it is important to emphasize that NOT ALL African investments in Africa are of equal economic importance or strategic development value. For example, African investments like Shoprite and similar companies which merely establish commercial or trading enterprises that do not add value to African economies are no different from traditional non-African FDI companies that are established to create captive markets for products from their home countries and thereby maximally exploit Africa.<br /><br />On the other hand, African companies that make investments that are decisive and transformational are those that deliberately promote and advance African development capacitation, through local resource exploitation, mass industrialization, large scale industrial, agricultural and mineral production, and beneficiation for internal use.<br /><br />In terms of investment for development capacitation through local resource utilization and valorization, the vanguard African company is the Dangote Group. In order to ensure that Africa achieves self-sufficiency in the critically important infrastructure development requirement – CEMENT – Dangote embarked on a pan-African investment strategy to establish integrated plants, or grinding plants or cement terminals in African countries according to their resource endowments. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The Group’s ultimate objective is become the ascendant cement manufacturing company in Africa. There is no question that the Dangotean strategy of development capacitation through local resource exploitation, mass industrial production and domestic prosperity-generation is what Africa requires to become the self-actuated mover of its own development and to create a secure development upsurge and continental prosperity that does not depend on the vagaries of external demand for primary commodities.<br /><br />This Dangotean transformational mission and project is now been threatened by what seems like the unwillingness of African countries to respect and maintain carefully crafted legal investment agreements as sacrosanct documents and binding commitments. Within the past year the Group has faced major challenges as a result of the failure of some African states to keep their sides of the bargain or agreements concluded with Dangote Group. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">This happened late last year in Tanzania when the government seemed to renege on some elements within the agreements reached with the Dangote Group to give it concessions and incentives for the massive investments of over $500 million dollars that the Group made in the construction of the monumental cement plant in Mtwara, Tanzania. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">This Dangote Cement plant with its 3 million metric tonnes per annum capacity is the largest cement plant in Eastern Africa. In addition to the cement plant, other associated Dangote development projects include the construction of a coal power plant and a jetty. While these are primarily beneficial to the Groups business, they also represent important investments and permanent additions to Tanzania’s power and sea transport sectors.<br /><br />Together these projects have generated significant direct employment opportunities and as they mature and attain full production capacity the multiplier effects in various sub-sectors would be expansive and extensive, thereby creating prosperity and income in the community as well as revenues for the local, regional and national the governments. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">But due to the problems Dangote had to temporarily shut down the plant; and after negotiations and assurances that restored the original terms, the plant resumed production. This Dangotean Tanzanian experience of government infidelity to the sanctity of agreements can only create profound doubts among business people on the readiness of African states and leaders to move Africa forward.<br /><br />But the Group’s challenges in Africa are not over. Just recently, in Ethiopia, the regional government of Oromo Regional State where Dangote’s new over $400 million dollar, 2.5 million metric tonnes per annum cement plant is located came up with new conditions that are bound to disrupt the operations of the Dangote plant. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">In what it claimed is an attempt to provide employment for jobless Oromo youth it decided to withdraw all mining licences and agreements already concluded with Dangote and similar other companies with mining concessions. In its place the regional government claimed that it would create youth owned companies that would now supply the minerals required by the cement and other plants.<br /><br />This action of the Oromo regional government in illegally annulling legally approved mining agreements with the Dangote Group and other companies raise major questions on the genuine preparedness of African states, politicians, and bureaucrats to foster Africa’s self-development through Africans investing in Africa. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Without question the action of these governments represents major challenges to Africans assumption of responsibility for their development and the emergent Affirmative Africa Narrative. In fact at its core, these anti-investment actions are a repudiation of the long-standing aspirations of Pan-Africanism and its advocates, and the practical commitment of the continental organizations like the former Organization of African Union (OAU) and the current African Union (AU) to promote African-led development through investments, intra-African trade and exchange, as instruments for creating secure African development and domestic prosperity-generation.<br /><br />This is a good example of how some African leaderships’ represent serious obstacles to African development. Quite clearly any aspiration for Africa’s take off through self-actuated development as represented by the transformational efforts of Dangote and similar committed pan-African economic revolutionaries is weakened by such leadership unfaithfulness, irresponsibility and lack of serious commitments to African investors.<br /><br />Despite these set-backs, it is important for African states and the continental and regional economic groups to reaffirm their commitment to African-led transformational industrial development as the basis for Africa’s capacitation for self-actuated development. In this light, it is imperative for the AU and its various economic agencies to design Continental Investment Protection Agreements that would commit African states to respect and uphold already approved agreements and avoid arbitrary nullifications of legally binding instruments. An additional guarantor is for each African state to negotiate investment protection treaties with each other. In fact this is especially indicated for countries such as Nigeria where investors are increasingly embarking on Pan-African development investments.<br /><br />Finally, pan-African transformational investors like Dangote should remain committed and not be discouraged by these clearly disruptive actions of hapless, backward and anti-African development leaders. The Dangotes’ of Africa as continental transformational vanguards should remain firmly committed to their chosen paths of legal profit making and simultaneous contribution to Africa’s transformation, economic development, prosperity-generation, psychological liberation, and the restoration of Africans dignity and equality with others in the world. These are worthwhile and enduring ideals and challenges that transformational revolutionaries and societal game-changers are bound to encounter and overcome so as to create new worlds.<br /><br />Distributed by APO on behalf of Ehiedu Iweriebor.</span></div> </div>

African Challenges to African Development

By Ehiedu Iweriebor The parlous story of African economic and social development since independence best expressed in the failure to ach...

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Merck continues to empower Kenyan women through ‘Merck More than a Mother’ and ‘Merck STEM for Women and Girls’ programs

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FKSAelDcWYY/WL0htlHWeDI/AAAAAAAAHTg/J7OtnvjSve46bSdZOkFlKZoGnnf4MSVawCLcB/s1600/mer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FKSAelDcWYY/WL0htlHWeDI/AAAAAAAAHTg/J7OtnvjSve46bSdZOkFlKZoGnnf4MSVawCLcB/s400/mer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Merck will inaugurate their initiative at OLYMYPIC School where they equipped their library with a Computer Lab to encourage young girls to study science and technology as part of their ‘STEM for Girls and Women’ program in Africa<br /><br />Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announces their commitment to empower Kenyan women through their ‘Merck More than a Mother’ and the start of ‘</span><a href="http://www.merckgroup.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">Merck STEM</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> for Women and Girls’ programs.<br /><br />Speaking at the event in Nairobi, Belén Garijo, Member of Executive Board and CEO of Merck Healthcare emphasized: “I believe in women empowerment and especially childless women - they are mistreated and discriminated in many cultures for being unable to have children and start a family. Empowering these women through access to information, health, and change of mind set to remove the stigma of infertility is needed. Through ‘Merck More than a Mother’ we are supporting this strong message together with our partners and we will continue our commitment to improve access to regulated and effective fertility care in Africa.”<br /><br />The day’s program also included a courtesy visit to Kenya’s First Lady H.E. Margaret Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi by the Merck delegation to brief her on the two programs and to explore possible areas of collaboration. The delegation consisted of H.E. Madame Brigitte Touadera, First Lady, Central African Republic; Belen Garijo, CEO, Merck Healthcare; Virginie Baiokua, Minister of Social Affairs and National Reconciliation, Central African Republic; Rasha Kelej, Chief Social Officer, Merck Healthcare; Leonard Saika, Director - Regional Head of Social Responsibility & Market Development – Africa, Merck and Lina Ekomo, Central African Republic.<br /><br />Madame Brigitte Touadera, the First Lady of the Central African Republic (CAR) emphasized: “I am very happy to participate in today’s event of ‘Merck More than a Mother’ in Kenya as it follows the one we had for the Central African Republic (CAR) last month. As the champion for the initiative in CAR and for Francophone Africa, I acknowledge the role that ‘Merck More than a Mother’ is playing to break the stigma around infertile women and to raise awareness about infertility prevention, male infertility and the necessity of a team approach to family building among couples which is very critical for Africa.”<br /><br />“It is very important to empower infertile women through improving access to awareness and fertility care so they can bear children as part of their human rights. In case they can no longer be treated, ‘Empowering Berna’ project will contribute towards empowering and training them to establish their own small business so that they can be independent and re-build their lives – a woman is more than a mother, ‘Empowering Berna’ initiative will prove this every day,” Rasha Kelej, Chief Social Officer Merck emphasized.<br /><br />In 2016, over 1,000 infertile women in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Liberia, Ghana, Central African Republic and Cote d’Ivoire who can no longer be treated have been empowered socially and economically to lead independent and happier lives through the ‘Empowering Berna’ project.<br /><br />Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health, Cleopa Mailu stated: “As a ministry we are happy with the strategic partnership we have with Merck in Kenya through its Merck Capacity Advancement Program initiatives which are boosting our healthcare capacity with special focus on diabetes, cancer and infertility which contribute to the country’s economic progression”.<br /><br />“In recognition of the important role women can play in the economic and social development of Africa, Merck is empowering them o participate in STEM where they are currently under-represented, through the ‘Merck STEM Program’ which we are launching today,” Garijo said.<br /><br />Merck will inaugurate their initiative at OLYMYPIC School where they equipped their library with a Computer Lab to encourage young girls to study science and technology as part of their ‘STEM for Girls and Women’ program in Africa. Furthermore, the winners of UNESCO-MARS awards will act as ambassadors in their respective countries.<br /><br />The Governor of Nairobi County, Evans Kidero announced during his keynote speech: “We are happy to partner with reputable and innovative companies such as Merck. We believe that the only way to effectively tackle the health and research related challenges we are facing can only be through establishing Public Private Partnership models in implementing successful programs. The size and complexity of the task is so large that no single organization or institution can manage on its own, so integration of efforts is necessary to achieve the health gains that our nation deserves”.<br /><br />“The Merck STEM Program will encourage our young women and girls to undertake science and technology related courses and make active contribution to the social and economic development of our country”, Kidero added.<br /><br />“Through this program Merck is targeting to empower over 7,000 girls and 60 women researchers across Africa in 2017 through various initiatives which include setting up computer libraries in schools similar to the one we are launching today for the first time in Kenya at Olympic School in Kibera, Nairobi, and appointing the UNESCO-MARS research award winners as ambassadors for the ‘Merck STEM Program’ ” Rasha Kelej added.<br /><br />About ‘Merck STEM for Girls and Women’:<br /><br />“The program started UNESCO-Merck Africa Research Summit (UNESCO-MARS) as its first initiative that has been held annually since 2015. UNESCO-MARS aims to build research capacity and empower young African researchers with special focus on empowering women in the fields of research and healthcare to raise the level of scientific research in Africa and improve access to health solutions in the continent,” explained Rasha Kelej, Chief Social Officer, Merck Healthcare.<br /><br />During the 2016 UNESCO-MARS, the ‘Best African Women Researchers Awards’ were launched for the first time with the aim of promoting women in STEM that saw five women researchers from across Africa recognized for the quality of their research. The first award went to Beatrice Nyagol from Kenya Medical Research Institute, who was also celebrated during the event in Nairobi.<br /><br />During the event, a high level panel discussion by fertility experts and policy makers called for action to break the stigma around infertile women; raising awareness about infertility prevention and management; defining policies to regulate ART; improving access to cost effective fertility care by integrating it into public reproductive health services and building fertility care capacity and providing training to African embryologists.<br /><br />The high level panel included: Sarah Opendi, Minister of State of Health, Uganda; Zuliatu Cooper, Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone; Virginie Baikoua, Minister of Social Affairs and National Reconciliation, CAR; Joyce Lay, Member of Parliament, Kenya; Oladapo Ashiru, President of Africa Fertility Society; Joe Simpson, Past President, International Federation of Fertility Societies; Paul Le Roux, President of Southern African Society of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endoscopy; Kamini Rao, Chair International Institute for Training & Research in Reproductive Health, India; Mohamed Kamal, President of Future Assured Foundation, Nigeria and Rasha Kelej, Chief Social Officer, Merck Healthcare. <br /><br />In addition to Kenya, ‘Merck More than a Mother’ is already being implemented in Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Tanzania, Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire and CAR.<br /><br />During the event Merck also highlighted other CAP initiatives in Kenya: <br />‘Merck Cancer Access Program’ which aims to increase the number of qualified oncologists through ‘Merck Africa Oncology Fellowship Program’ in partnership with the University of Nairobi, Kenya and Tata Memorial Hospital in India. Furthermore, Merck aims to support women cancer survivors to establish their own small business so that they can lead an independent and productive life through ‘Merck More than a Patient’ initiative.<br />‘Merck Diabetes and Hypertension Awards’ with the aim to building a platform of diabetes and hypertension experts across the globe through a one year online diabetes and cardiovascular medicine diploma at University of South Wales, United Kingdom. In 2016 six winners from Kenyan universities received the awards.<br /><br />Watch videos below of TV interviews in Kenya with Dr. Rasha Kelej, Chief Social Officer, Merck Healthcare and Joyce Lay, Member of Parliament, Taita Taveta, Kenya as they speak on infertility and what ‘Merck More than a Mother’ initiative is doing in Africa:</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />Distributed by APO on behalf of Merck. </span></div> </div>

Merck continues to empower Kenyan women through ‘Merck More than a Mother’ and ‘Merck STEM for Women and Girls’ programs

Merck will inaugurate their initiative at OLYMYPIC School where they equipped their library with a Computer Lab to encourage young girls...

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Huduma ya uchimbaji mchanga itarudishwa hivi karibuni

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RnfhSbm2JTc/WL0goYknHlI/AAAAAAAAHTY/HA2MSpRSG1I3G5Mbi7DExzFkwpbWlMYrACLcB/s1600/382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RnfhSbm2JTc/WL0goYknHlI/AAAAAAAAHTY/HA2MSpRSG1I3G5Mbi7DExzFkwpbWlMYrACLcB/s400/382.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: large;">Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi alisema Serikali ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar itafungua tena kazi za uchimbaji mchanga kuanzia Jumatatu ya Tarehe 6 Machi 2017 ikilazimika kuchukuwa uamuzi mgumu wa kusimamia moja kwa moja uchimbaji huo badala ya kuwaachia Wananchi.<br /><br />Alisema maamuzi hayo ya Serikali yatakwenda sambamba na utolewaji wa bei elekezi ya mchanga ili kujaribu kuzuia uharibifu wa mazingira uliokwishaathiri maeneo mengi yaliyokwishachimbwa mchanga pamoja naulanguzi wa kupita kiasi kwa wauzaji wa rasilmali hiyo.<br /><br />Akitoa Hoja ya kuahirisha Mkutano wa Tano wa Baraza la Tisa la Wawakilishi Zanzibar huko Mbweni Nje kidogo ya Mji wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi alisema Wizara ya Kilimo itaandaa zamu za kuchimba mchanga ili kupunguza msongamano wa gari zitakazokwenda katika maeneo ya Mchanga.<br /><br />Alisema zamu hizo zitawapa fursa ya siku Tatu kwa Wiki Wananchi wa kawaida kupata rasilmali hiyo ya Mchanga na Siku Mbili kwa Wiki zitazingatiwa kwa Makampuni na Taasisi za Serikali zilizopata vibali vya Ujenzi wakati Jumamosi na Jumapili zitakuwa siku za mapumziko.<br /><br />Balozi Seif alisema utafiti unaendelea kufanywa na Kamati ya Wataalamu kwa kushirikiana na ile ya Mawaziri inayoshughulikia suala mchanga kujua kiwango cha mchanga kiliopo kwenye eneo la Kiwanda cha Sukari Pangatupu, Kichwele na maeneo mengi ili kubaini wingi wake na endapo utafaa kwa matumizi ya ujenzi.<br /><br />Alisema Zanzibar si nchi ya kwanza kuwa na upungufu wa mchanga ambapo ipo mifano ya uhaba wa rasilmali hiyo iliyokwishajitokeza katika baadhi ya nchi duniani kama vile Malaysia, Singapore, Phillipines na Tuvalu.<br /><br />Balozi Seif alieleza kwamba upo ushahidi wa wazi uliothibitisha kuzama kwa Visiwa vodogo vidogo Vitano Nchini Phillipines kufuatia wimbi kubwa la uchimbaji wa mchanga kiholela pembezoni mwa fukwe zilizokuwa zimevizunguuka Visiwa hivyo.<br /><br />Alifahamisha kwamba ushibiti huo wa rasilmali ya mchanga unaweza kupelekea Wananchi katika maeneo mbali mbali Nchini wakavamia fukwe kuchota mchanga. Hivyo aliziomba mamlaka zote kupiga marufuku uchotaji huo ili kujiepusha na majanga na kuangamiza Visiwa hivi.<br /><br />Alitahadharisha kwamba Serikali ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar kupitia vyombo vyake itatoa adhabu kali kwa mtu ye yote atakayekwenda kinyume dhidi ya agizo lililotolewa na Serikali kuhusu suala zima la uchimbaji wa Mchanga.<br /><br />Balozi Seif aliwaomba Wajumbe wa Baraza la Wawakilishi wanaporudi Majimboni kuwaelimisha Wananchi wao juu ya uhaba uliopo wa mchanga unaovikabili visiwa hivi.<br /><br />Aliwashauri Wajumbe hao kuandaa utaratibu maalum wa kuwapangia Wananchi wao ziara mahsusi za kwenda kuangalia hali halisi ya uharibifu wa mazingira uliokwishafanyika katika maeneo yaliyochimbwa mchanga.<br /><br />Alisema Serikali kupitia Wizara ya Kilimo kwa kushirikiana na Wizara ya Ardhi pamoja na Wiara ya Ujenzi,Mawasiliano na Ushafirishaji zitaandaa muongozi wa uingiza wa bidhaa za ujenzi ikiwemo mchanga, kokoto, kifusi na Mawe kutoka nje ya Zanzibar.<br /><br />Alisema muongozo huo utakwenda sambamba na kufuatilia utaratibu uliotumika katika uuzaji wa maeneo ya Kilimo kwa ajili ya kuchimbwa mchanga ili kubaini kwa kina ujanja unaotumika kuyabadilisha matumizi ya maeneo ya Kilimo.<br /><br />Akizungumzia vita dhidi ya Dawa za kulevya vilivyotangazwa hivi karibuni na Rais wa Jamuhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Dr. John Pombe Magufuli Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif alionya kwamba Zanzibar haitakua kimbilio la waendelezaji wa biashara hiyo haramu na badala yake itakuwa gereza lao.<br /><br />Balozi Seif alisema vita hivyo ni vya Nchi nzima ya Jamuhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania ikiwemo Zanzibar. Hivyo wale wanaofikiria kwamba vita hivyo ni kwa Tanzania Bara pekee wanaelezwa bayana kuwa wamepotea njia.<br /><br />Alisema Takwimu kutoka Tume ya Uratibu na Udhibiti wa Dawa za Kulevya zinaonyesha kwamba mwaka 2016 jumla ya kesi 37 ziliripotiwa kwenye Mahakama za Unguja na Pemba na ni Mtu Mmoja tu ndie aliyetiwa hatiani.<br /><br />Alieleza kwamba kutokana na Takwimu hizo inaonyesha wazi ukubwa wa janga hilo hauendani na kasi za kuwakamata wanaoingiza dawa za kulevya nchini na kuwapa adhabu stahiki.<br /><br />Balozi Seif alisema janga la Dawa za kulevya linaweza kumalizika endapo jamii mitaani itakuwa tayari kushirikiana kwa kina na Jeshi la Polisi, vyombo vyengine vya ulinzi chini ya usimamizi wa Tume ya Uratibu wa Udhibiti wa Dawa za Kulevya.<br /><br />Akigusia vita dhidi ya ukatili na udhalilishaji wa kijinsia hasa kwa wanawake na watoto Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar alisema bado lipo ongezeko kubwa la vitendo hivyo vinavyoshinda kutoa matunda mazuri yaliyokusudiwa.<br /><br />Alisema takwimu za vitendo hivyo viovu zilizoripotiwa kuanzia mwezi Julai hadi Septemba Mwaka 2016 zinazonyesha jumla ya matukio 218 yamewasilishwa katika vyombo vinavyohusika Unguja na Pemba.<br /><br />Balozi Seif alitahadharisha kwamba hali hiyo bado inatisha na kutoa ujumbe kuwa bado Jamii inahitaji kushirikiana kwa karibu kujaribu kutokomeza vitendo vya udhalilishaji vya Kijinsia hapa Nchini.<br /><br />Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar aliwapongeza Wajumbe wa Baraza la Wawakilishi Zanzibar kwa umahiri wao wa kujadili Miswada Mitatu na baadae kupitishwa na Baraza hilo.<br /><br />Aliitaja Miswada hiyo kuwa ni Mswada wa Sheria ya kufuta Sheria ya Tume ya Uchaguzi nambari 9 ya Mwaka 1992, Mswada wa Sheria ya kufuta sheria ya Nembo nambari 1 ya mwaka 1985 na Sheria ya Bendera ya Zanzibar nambari 12 ya mwaka 2004 na kutunga sheria inayoweka masharti bora yanayohusiana na Bendera ya Zanzibar, Nembo ya Serikali yam APINDUZI ya Zanzibar na Wimbo wa Taifa wa Zanzibar ya Mwaka 2016 na mambo mengine yanayohusiana na hayo.<br /><br />Mswada mwengine ni Mswada wa Marekebisho ya Sheria ya Chakula, Dawa na Vipodozi, Sheria nambari 2 ya mwaka 2006.<br /><br />Baraza la Wawakilishi lilipokea Ripoti 7 za Kamati za Kudumu za Baraza hilo ambazo ni Ripoti ya Kamati ya kusimamia Afisi za Viongozi Wakuu wa Kitaifa ya mwaka 2016/2017, Ripoti ya Kamati ya Katiba, Sheria na Utawala ya Mwaka 2016/2017 na Ripoti ya Kamati ya Fedha, Biashara na Kilimo ya Mwaka 2016/2017.<br /><br />Nyengine ni Ripoti ya Kamati ya Maendeleo ya Wanawake na Ustawi wa Jamii ya Mwaka 2016/ 2017, Ripoti ya Kamati ya Mifugo, Utalii, Uwezeshaji na Habari ya Mwaka 2016/2017,Ripoti ya Kamati ya Mawasiliano na Ujenzi ya Mwaka 2016/2017 pamoja na Ripoti ya Kamati ya Kuchunguza na Kudhibiti Hesabu za Serikali na Mashirikia {PAC} ya Mwaka 2016/2017.<br /><br />Wajumbe wa Baraza la Wawakilishi halkadhalika pia walijadili Hoja Binafsi Mbili zilizoletwa na Mwakilishi wa Jimbo la Mpendae Mh. Mohammed Said {Dimwa} inayohusu Dawa za Kulevya na ile ya Mwakilishi wa Jimbo la Kiwengwa Mh. Asha Abdalla Mussa iliyohusu uimarishaji wa mfumo mzima wa Kisheria unaoshughulikia uendeshaji wa Kesi za udhalilishaji wa Wanawake na Watoto Zanzibar.<br /><br />Baraza la Wawakilishi Zanzibar limeahirishwa hadi Jumatano ya Tareje 10 Mwezi Mei mwaka 2017.<br /><br />Othman Khamis Ame<br />Ofisi ya Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar</span></div> </div>

Huduma ya uchimbaji mchanga itarudishwa hivi karibuni

Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi alisema Serikali ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar itafungua tena kazi za uchimbaji mcha...

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International Criminal Court (ICC) President meets with President of Uganda

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EIDlxWk_-pk/WL0dL4UeTdI/AAAAAAAAHTM/7SuD225aFJIqKW24M5F2CubgkkIWqKOlQCLcB/s1600/Ugnada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EIDlxWk_-pk/WL0dL4UeTdI/AAAAAAAAHTM/7SuD225aFJIqKW24M5F2CubgkkIWqKOlQCLcB/s1600/Ugnada.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The President of the International <a href="http://www.icc-cpi.int/">Criminal</a> Court (ICC)</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, who was on an official visit to Uganda, met with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at State House in Entebbe. The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Kahinda Otafiire, the Attorney General, Mr. Byaruhanga William and State Minister for International Affairs, Hon. Okello Oryem, as well as Mr Motoo Noguchi, Chair of the Board of the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV), also attended the meeting.<br /><br />The ICC President held bilateral discussions with H.E. the President and reiterated the Court’s commitment to listen to concerns raised by Uganda. She emphasized the Court’s willingness to continue engaging with States Parties on improvements of its methods of work.<br /><br />President Fernández expressed recognition for the historic role of Uganda in relation to the Court and thanked President Museveni for the cooperation of his government with the Court. She stated that “Uganda’s cooperation and support for the Court’s operations is and will remain crucial for the implementation of the Court’s mandate”.<br /><br />President Fernández was on a one-week official visit to Uganda, where she visited victim assistance projects supported by the TFV, an independent body associated with the Court.<br /><br />Though the TFV is separate from the Court, it was created under the Rome Statute system. The TFV supports and implements programmes that address harm resulting from genocide, crimes of humanity, and war crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court. To achieve this mission, the TFV has a two-fold mandate: (i) to implement Court-ordered reparations and (ii) to provide assistance through physical, psychological, and material support to victims and their families. The TFV's current activities in Uganda involve the assistance mandate.<br /><br />Distributed by APO on behalf of International Criminal Court (ICC). </span></div> </div>

International Criminal Court (ICC) President meets with President of Uganda

The President of the International Criminal Court (ICC) , Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, who was on an official visit to Uganda, m...

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Mabalozi watakiwa kuitunza heshima ya Tanzania

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h2D34wgVJCA/WL0cQFlj0YI/AAAAAAAAHTE/FV43RswJjrMokry9N7lDyJ_VTlt5-l2MACLcB/s1600/451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h2D34wgVJCA/WL0cQFlj0YI/AAAAAAAAHTE/FV43RswJjrMokry9N7lDyJ_VTlt5-l2MACLcB/s320/451.jpg" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Mabalozi wanayoiwakilisha Jamuhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania katika Mataifa Rafiki Ulimwenguni wataendelea kuwa na jukumu la kuitunza Heshima ya Tanzania katika misingi imara itakayoimarisha Uhusiano mzuri uliopo kati ya pande hizo mbili.<br /><br />Kauli hiyo imetolewa na Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi Ofisini kwake Vuga wakati akiwaaga Mabalozi Saba wapya wa Tanzania walioteuliwa hivi karibuni kuiwakilisha Nchi katika Mataifa tofauti Duniani uliofanywa na Rais wa Jamuhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Dr. John Pombe Magufuli.<br /><br />Balozi Seif Ali Iddi alisema yapo mafungamano mazuri ya muda mrefu yaliyopo baina ya Tanzania na Nchi Rafiki ambazo Wanadiplomasia hao wa Tanzania wana kazi kubwa ya kuhakikisha kwamba uwajibikaji wao unaleta tija na faida kwa mafungamano hayo katika pande zote mbili.<br /><br />Balozi Seif aliwaeleza Mabalozi hao kwamba Mataifa ya Qatar, Oman, Uganda, Kenya, Belgium na Korea Kusini yamekuwa mshirika mkubwa na Tanzania katika kuimarisha Sekta za Maendeleo zinazosaidia kustawisha maisha ya Wananchi.<br /><br />Alisema Zanzibar ikiwa ni sehemu ya Jamuhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania inahitaji kuendelea kuungwa mkono na Mashirika na Taasisi za Mataifa hayo ambapo Mabalozi hayo watakuwa na jukumu la kufanya ushawishi utakaopelekea azma hiyo inafanikiwa vyema.<br /><br />Akigusia Nchi ya Sudan ambayo Tanzania imeamua kufungua tena Ubalozi wake baada ya kuufunga katika miaka ya 90 kutokana na hali ngumu ya uchumi, Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar alimtaka Balozi atakayesimamia Ofisi hiyo kufanya juhudi katika kuhakikisha fursa za masomo zilizokuwa zikitolewa na Nchi hiyo zinarejea kama kawaida.<br /><br />Alisema Sudan ni Nchi iliyokuwa ikiifadhili na kuisaidia sana Tanzania na Zanzibar kwa jumla nafasi nyingi za masomo hasa katika fani za Elimu ya Dini ya Kiislamu na Historia.<br /><br />Akitoa shukrani kwa niaba ya Mabalozi wenzake Balozi wa Tanzania Nchini Oman Balozi Abdulla Kilima alisema jukumu walilokabidhiwa na kukubali kulibeba watahakikisha wanalitekeleza kwa nguvu zao zote.<br /><br />Balozi Kilima kwa niaba ya wenzake wamewaahidi Watanzania kwamba watazingatia kuilinda Heshima iliyopo ya Taifa lao inayoendelea kushamiri katika Nyanja za Kimataifa.<br /><br />Mabalozi aliyozungumzao nao Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar na kuwaaga ni pamoja na Balozi Pindi Chana anayekwenda Nchini Kenya, Balozi Silima Kombo Haji anayekwenda Sudan na Balozi Joseph Sokoine anayekwenda Nchini Belgium.<br /><br />Wengine ni Balozi Abdulla Kilima anayeiwakilisha Tanzania Nchini Oman, Balozi Matilda Masuka atakayekwenda fungua Ubalozi Mpya Nchini Korea Kusini, Balozi Grace Mgwano anayekwenda Nchini Uganda na Balozi Fatma Rajab anayekwenda Nchini Qatar.<br /><br />Othman Khamis Ame<br />Ofisi ya Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar</span></div> <img height="63" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h2D34wgVJCA/WL0cQFlj0YI/AAAAAAAAHTE/FV43RswJjrMokry9N7lDyJ_VTlt5-l2MACLcB/s320/451.jpg" style="left: 168px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 132.29px;" width="96" /></div>

Mabalozi watakiwa kuitunza heshima ya Tanzania

Mabalozi wanayoiwakilisha Jamuhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania katika Mataifa Rafiki Ulimwenguni wataendelea kuwa na jukumu la kuitunza Hesh...

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Wakati umefika wa kufuata mpango kazi

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SI28hfjzj_M/WL0bIO69OpI/AAAAAAAAHTA/3UmM2qDizd4G58QLqmKXRD8EKSgxrFgrQCLcB/s1600/482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SI28hfjzj_M/WL0bIO69OpI/AAAAAAAAHTA/3UmM2qDizd4G58QLqmKXRD8EKSgxrFgrQCLcB/s320/482.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi alisema kwamba wakati umefika kwa Skuli za Zanzibar kutumia Mpango Kazi ambao Uongozi wa Skuli husika unapaswa ukusanye matokeo mara baada ya vijana wao kufanya mitihani ili kufanya uchambuzi utakaobainisha maeneo yanayotakiwa kufanyiwa kazi.<br /><br />Alisema Uongozi wa Skuli ukijipanga upya kwa kushirikisha Wanafunzi katika kukabiliana na mapungufu yaliyozorotesha matokeo ya wanafunzi waliopita kazi ya kutekeleza yale yaliyokubalika wakati wa tathmini hiyo inakuwa rahisi na kuleta mafanikio makubwa.<br /><br />Balozi Seif Ali Iddi ambae pia ni Mwakilishi wa Jimbo la Mahonda alieleza hayo katika Hotuba iliyosomwa kwa niaba yake na Waziri wa Elimu na Mafunzo ya Amali Zanzibar Mh. Riziki Pembe Juma wakati wa hafla maalum ya kuwapongeza Wanafunzi waliofanya vizuri katika Mitihani yao ya Taifa ya Kidato cha Pili na cha Nne katika Skuli ya Sekondari ya Mahonda. <br /><br />Alisema Utaratibu au Mpango Kazi huo wa kupata mafanikio endelevu ya Elimu { Systematic Quality Work } ukifuatwa ipasavyo kila mwaka utasaidia kunyanyua ufundishaji na hatimae Skuli za Zanzibar zitanyanyua viwango vya ufaulu.<br /><br />Balozi Seif alisema ni jukumu la Wizara ya Elimu na Mafunzo ya Amali Zanzibar kuhakikisha kwamba Skuli zote Nchini zinawekewa utaratibu maalum wa kuzipima kila mwisho wa Mwaka kwa lengo la kunyanyua ubora wa Skuli zote Visiwani Zanzibar.<br /><br />Aliwapongeza Wanafunzi wote wa Skuli ya Sekondari ya Mahonda waliofaulu vizuri mitihani yao na kusema kwamba mafanikio yaliyopatikana hayakuja kama mvua bali ni matunda ya mshikamano yaliyoonyeshwa baina ya Walimu, Wazee Kamati ya Skuli pamoja na Wanafunzi wenyewe.<br /><br />Hata hivyo Balozi Seif aliwanasihi wanafunzi wasiofaulu mitihani yao wasivunjike moyo kwani milango ya kujiendeleza zaidi kielimu hapa Nchini ipo mingi ambayo hutowa fursa kwa wanafunzi hao kuendelea na mafunzo mengine ya kujijengea hatma njema ya maisha yao ya baadae.<br /><br />Alifahamisha kwamba wapo watu wengi Nchini ambao hawakufaulu katika Mitihani yao ya Taifa kwa mara ya kwanza lakini hawakukata tamaa na badala yake walifanya jitihada ya kujiendeleza zaidi na hivi sasa baddhi yao wanahesabiwa kuwa wataalamu katika fani za Ualimu, Udaktari na hata Kilimo.<br /><br />Aliwanasihi Wazee kujitahidi katika kuwashajiisha Vijana wao kupenda elimu na pale wanapofanya vizuri katika mitihani hiyo Wazee wanapaswa kujenga Utamaduni wa kuwazawadia vijana hao ili kuwatia moyo zaidi.<br /><br />Balozi Seif Ali Iddi aliushukuru Uongozi wa Skuli ya Mahonda pamoja na Kamati ya Wazazi ya Skuli hiyo kwa uamuzi wake wa busara wa kutenga siku maalum ya kuwapongeza Vijana wao waliofaulu vyema katika Mitihani yao ya Kidato cha Pili na Cha Nne.<br /><br />“ Nawapongeza kwa dhati wale wote waliosaidia kufanikisha hafla hii ya wanafunzi wetu, wakiwemo Walimu Wazazi, Kamati ya Skuli na wale wote ambao sikuwataja”. Alisisitiza Balozi Seif.<br /><br />Alieleza kwamba Utamaduni huo ni mzuri na ni vyema ukaendelezwa katika miaka mengine ijayo kwa vile unasaidia kupatikana kwa maendeleo ya kielimu yanayokuwa endelevu katika muda wote.<br /><br />Akisoma Risala ya Walimu, Wanafunzi na Wazazi wa Skuli ya Mahonda Mwalimu wa Sekondari wa Skuli hiyo Mwalimu Dadi Salim Rashid alisema kiwango cha ufaulu kwa Wanafunzi waliofanya mitihani ya Kidato cha Pili na cha Nne kimeongezeka ikilinganishwa na Miaka iliyopita nyuma. <br /><br />Mwalimu Dadi alisema idadi ya Wanafunzi waliofaulu kwa Kidato cha Pili imefikia wanafunzin106 kati ya Wafafunzin177 waliofanya mitihani wakati Kidato cha Nne Mwanafunzi pekee wa Daraja la Pili ndani ya Wilaya ya Kaskazini B ametokea Skuli hiyo ya Sekondari Mahonda.<br /><br />Alisema Wanafunzi 50 wa Daraja na Nne na 6 wa Daraja la Tatu wamefanikisha kuinawisha uso skuli hiyo ya Mahonda ambayo kwa kipindi kirefu imekuwa ikizorota katika ufaulu wa wanafunzi wake.<br /><br />Hata hivyo mwalimu Dadi alisema Skuli ya Sekondari ya Mahonda bado inakabiliwa na changamoto kadhaa zinazozorotesha ufanisi wa kufanya vizuri wanafunzi wake akizitaja baadhi yake kuwa ni pamoja na uhaba wa walimu wa masomo ya sayansi na kutomalizika kwa ukumbi wao wa Mitihani.<br /><br />Mapema Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Kaskazini “B” Nd. Issa Juma Ali alisema sababu zinazopelekea wanafunzi kukosa kufaulu mitihani yao ni dhima inayobebwa na Wazazi ambao baadhi yao hupenda kuisukumia lawama Serikali Kuu iliyokwisha toa muongozo.<br /><br />Nd. Issa alisema Viongozi wa Kamati za Maskuli wanapaswa kufanya juhudi za ziada katika kuwatafuta Vijana wa Mitaani waliopata elimu ya kutosha ili watenge muda wa kusaidia masomo ya ziada kwa wanafunzi wanaojiandaa kufanya mitihani yao ya Taifa.<br /><br />Katika hafla hiyo Waziri wa Elimu na Mafunzo ya Amali Zanzibar Mh. Riziki Pembe Juma alikabidhi Mashine ya Fotokopi kwa skuli ya Sekondari ya Kitope iliyotolewa na Mwakilishi wa Jimbo la Mahonda Balozi Seif Ali Iddi kukamilisha ahadi aliyotoa kwa uongozi wa Skuli hiyo miezi michache iliyopita.<br /><br />Othman Khamis Ame<br />Ofisi ya Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar</span></div> </div>

Wakati umefika wa kufuata mpango kazi

Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi alisema kwamba wakati umefika kwa Skuli za Zanzibar kutumia Mpango Kazi ambao U...

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Cross-border e-commerce considered a growth rocket for Sub Saharan Africa retailers

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1JS44-5KcKg/WLRrydF5NqI/AAAAAAAAHSo/bQOg6sXtyaodoTZeUUc1PRuGytAwmXPHgCLcB/s1600/dhl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="87" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1JS44-5KcKg/WLRrydF5NqI/AAAAAAAAHSo/bQOg6sXtyaodoTZeUUc1PRuGytAwmXPHgCLcB/s400/dhl.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: large;">The report reveals that cross-border e-commerce offers aggregate growth rates not available in most other retail markets: cross-border retail volumes are predicted to increase at an annual average rate of 25% between 2015 and 2020</span><span style="font-size: large;">. Cross-border online retail predicted to grow at twice the rate of domestic e-commerce (CAGR: 25%) until 2020</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Retailers can grow 60% faster with a premium service offering</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /><a href="http://www.dpdhl.com/">DHL Express</a>, the world’s leading international express services provider, has published research highlighting the significant growth opportunity for retailers and manufacturers with an international online product offering. The report – The 21st Century Spice Trade: A Guide to the Cross-Border E-Commerce Opportunity – looks in detail at the markets and products that offer the highest growth potential, the motivations and preferences of customers making international online purchases and the success factors for online retailers that wish to expand overseas. It focuses in particular on the opportunity for premium products and service offerings, with higher basket values accounting for a significantly higher proportion of orders in cross-border transactions. <br /><br />The report reveals that cross-border e-commerce offers aggregate growth rates not available in most other retail markets: cross-border retail volumes are predicted to increase at an annual average rate of 25% between 2015 and 2020 (from USD 300 Billion to USD 900 Billion) – twice the pace of domestic e-commerce growth. Online retailers are also boosting sales by 10-15% on average simply by extending their offering to international customers. An additional boost comes from including a premium service offering: retailers and manufacturers that incorporated a faster shipping option into their online stores grew 1.6 times faster on average than other players. <br /><br />“Contrary to what many retailers think, cross-border shipping is actually simple and retailers in Sub Saharan Africa are perfectly positioned to take advantage of international opportunities. ‘Brand Africa’ is something that has increased exponentially in popularity in recent years and it’s time for retailers to remove the boundaries and open up their business to seamless international trade. Often, retailers choose not to promote their businesses internationally, and worse yet, will turn down international sales interests due to the misconception that it’s too difficult to manage and deliver,” says Hennie Heymans, CEO for DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa. <br /><br />“Globally, our experience is that virtually every product category has the potential to upgrade to become premium, both by developing higher quality luxury editions and by offering superior levels of service quality to meet the demands of less price-sensitive customers. The opportunity to ‘go global’ and ‘go premium’ is available to retailers in all markets and our global door-to-door time definite network is well-positioned to support retailers looking to develop a premium service offering or directly reach new international markets without the need to invest in distribution or warehousing. In Sub Saharan Africa, the opportunity for Intra Africa trade should not be ignored. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">‘Going global’ does not only mean trading outside of the African continent, Africa is home to one of the world’s fastest growing middle class, with an appetite for quality products and services. There are also a number of trade blocs in place to support Intra Africa trade growth and retailers should take advantage of this captive market.” <br /><br />The report is based primarily on research and in-depth interviews conducted by a leading global management consultancy, as well as more than 1,800 responses to a proprietary exporter survey of retailers and manufacturers in six countries. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">It casts a light on the evolving face of e-commerce, with both supply and demand becoming more sophisticated Manufacturers are increasingly taking advantage of e-commerce to move to direct retail models – bypassing the ‘middleman’ and offering their products online to the end customer – and expect to grow 30% faster in cross-border e-commerce than other retailer groups. Customers in many markets are also becoming more discerning, citing product availability and trust, as well as attractive offers, as the motivating factors for shopping with overseas online retailers. <br /><br />The main challenges highlighted by consumers to cross-border purchases relate to logistics, trust, price and customer experience. At the same time, online retailers can take a number of relatively easy steps to identify, cultivate and service demand from abroad.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> The report noted that the e-commerce trend has given birth to a new eco-system of facilitators and off-the-shelf solutions (such as payment providers and programs that localize a website’s check-out experience for the visitor), helping retailers to adapt their offering to the digital world and to transact with customers in foreign markets. Global logistics partners can provide support in identifying the right trade-off between centralized and local warehousing and fulfillment, while fast, reliable and flexible delivery options can be an important tool in turning speculative interest into long-term customer loyalty. <br /><br />Distributed by APO on behalf of Deutsche Post DHL. </span></div> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>

Cross-border e-commerce considered a growth rocket for Sub Saharan Africa retailers

The report reveals that cross-border e-commerce offers aggregate growth rates not available in most other retail markets: cross-border re...

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Merck empowers Ugandan infertile women for the second year through 'Merck More than a Mother' in partnership with Uganda Ministry of Health

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4fwzT0XhekQ/WLRq2e1S_iI/AAAAAAAAHSk/7AmqCBNHDt08UKtcZ2zBgZEkpcnMFIlYwCLcB/s1600/merck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4fwzT0XhekQ/WLRq2e1S_iI/AAAAAAAAHSk/7AmqCBNHDt08UKtcZ2zBgZEkpcnMFIlYwCLcB/s400/merck.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Through ‘Empowering Berna’ project, “Merck More than a Mother” empowers infertile women socially and economically.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“Merck More than a Mother” aims to improve access to information, education, healthcare and change of mind-set to break the stigma around infertility.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /><a href="http://www.merckgroup.com/">Merck</a>, a leading science and technology company, today continues their commitment for the second year to empower infertile women in Uganda through improving access to information, health, change of mind-set and economic empowerment.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />Through ‘Empowering Berna’, Merck in partnership with Uganda Ministry of Health inaugurates today small businesses that been established this year to support infertile women across the country.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />The day’s program also included a courtesy visit to Uganda’s First Lady H.E. Janet Museveni at State House, Kampala by the Merck delegation to brief her on the ‘Merck More than a Mother’ initiative and to explore possible areas of collaboration. The delegation consisted of H.E. Madame Brigitte Touadera, First Lady, Central African Republic; Sarah Opendi, Minister of State for Health, Uganda; Belen Garijo, CEO, Merck Healthcare; Virginie Baiokua, Minister of Social Affairs and National Reconciliation, Central African Republic; Zuliatu Cooper, Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone; Joyce Lay, Member of Parliament, Kenya; Dr. Rasha Kelej, Chief Social Officer, Merck Healthcare; and Lina Ekomo, Central African Republic.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />Speaking at the event, Belén Garijo, Member of Executive Board and CEO of Merck Healthcare emphasized: “I believe in women empowerment and especially childless women - they are mistreated and discriminated in many cultures for being unable to have children and start a family. Empowering these women through access to information, health, and change of mind set to remove the stigma of infertility is needed. Through ‘Merck More than a Mother’ we are supporting this strong message together with our partners and we will continue our commitment to improve access to regulated and effective fertility care in Africa.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />“In Africa including Uganda, infertile women still suffer discrimination, stigma and ostracism. More often an inability to have a child or to become pregnant results in the woman being greatly isolated, disinherited or assaulted. This sometimes also results in divorce or physical and psychological violence. I am glad to see an initiative that addresses this challenge in the public domain in Africa as it is something that no one talks about and is treated as secret. ‘Merck More than a Mother’ is therefore very important for Africa since it aims to define interventions to reduce the stigma and social suffering of infertile women across the continent,” said, Sarah Opendi, Minister of State of Health, Uganda.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />Madame Brigitte Touadera, the First Lady of the Central African Republic (CAR) said: “I am very happy to participate in today’s launch another milestone of ‘Merck More than a Mother’ in Uganda as it follows the one we had for the Central African Republic (CAR) last month and in Kenya yesterday. As the champion for the initiative in CAR and for Francophone Africa, I acknowledge the social suffering infertile women go through and the role that ‘Merck More than a Mother’ is playing to eliminate this suffering and stigmatization by raising awareness about infertility prevention, male infertility and the necessity of a team approach to family building among couples which is very critical for Africa.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />Rasha Kelej, Chief Social Officer, Merck Healthcare explained: “Empowering those women across Ugandan rural villages was very essential, those women suffered great deal of discrimination, violence and isolation. Moreover meeting community members and leaders there to emphasize the importance to change their perception of infertility and infertile women in specific was very productive. I have witnessed firsthand the instant change of their mind-set and the transformation of those vulnerable childless women to strong, proud and productive community members.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lower levels of development are thought to be associated with higher levels of non-genetic and preventable causes of infertility such as poor nutrition, untreated sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unsafe abortion, consequence of infections caused by the practice of female genital mutilation, exposure to smoking and to leaded petrol and other environmental pollutants. Hence prevention awareness is very important,” Sarah Opendi added.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />“The businesses established by ‘Empowering Berna’ project are benefitting over 800 women in many districts in Uganda who have come together in groups and have been trained and supported to establish bakery, catering and tent hire businesses and more. They are currently able to earn an income to support themselves from their own new businesses - they are now ‘more than mothers’,” Rasha Kelej added.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />Over 1,000 infertile women in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, CAR, Ethiopia, Liberia and Cote D’Ivoire who can no longer be treated have been empowered socially and economically to lead independent and happier lives through ‘Empowering Berna’.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />The event in Uganda was attended by policy makers including ministers and fertility experts and included: Sarah Opendi, Minister of State of Health, Uganda; Zuliatu Cooper, Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone; Virginie Baikoua, Minister of Social Affairs and National Reconciliation, CAR; Joyce Lay, Member of Parliament, Kenya; Oladapo Ashiru, President of Africa Fertility Society; Joe Simpson, Past President, International Federation of Fertility Societies; Paul Le Roux, President of Southern African Society of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endoscopy; Kamini Rao, Chair International Institute for Training & Research in Reproductive Health, India; and Mohamed Kamal, President of Future Assured Foundation, Nigeria.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />Watch videos below of Ugandan women who are infertile and have been supported to start their own businesses through ‘Merck More than a Mother’s’ ‘Empowering Berna’ Project:</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />Watch below the video of a Ugandan couple Byansi and Sawuya and their battle with infertility and how they sought fertility care together and got a baby:</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Merck More Than a Mother with Byansi Adrian Ssemugga and Sawuya Ntongo, couple from Uganda: </span></div> </div>

Merck empowers Ugandan infertile women for the second year through 'Merck More than a Mother' in partnership with Uganda Ministry of Health

Through ‘Empowering Berna’ project, “Merck More than a Mother” empowers infertile women socially and economically. “Merck More than a ...

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