The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, warned that severe underfunding of the agri-food sector was preventing Africa from reaching its potential. He spoke at the launch of FAO's latest report, Public Expenditure on Food and Agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa, which reveals the gap between long-standing political commitments and financial reality in 13 sub-Saharan African countries. He noted that the report was based on "rigorous … [Read more...] about Severe underfunding of Agri-food sector preventing Africa from reaching its potential – FAO
Nedbank and AWIEF partner for the 4th Cohort of AWIEF Growth Accelerator
The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) is hosting the fourth cohort of its flagship AWIEF Growth Accelerator, sponsored by Nedbank. Applications are invited from dynamic and innovative female entrepreneurs for the AWIEF Growth Accelerator 2021 cohort. The AWIEF Growth Accelerator is designed to support the unique needs of early-stage and high growth-oriented women-led ventures with business modelling, growth strategy training, corporate advisory, mentorship, networks, … [Read more...] about Nedbank and AWIEF partner for the 4th Cohort of AWIEF Growth Accelerator
AfDB invites Business Associations and CSOs to apply for funding to support Women Entrepreneurs
The African Development Bank Group is launching a call for proposals for projects enhancing the viability and sustainability of women entrepreneurship enablers. Women’s business associations, incubators, accelerators, and cooperatives that advance women’s entrepreneurship, can apply for funding for innovative projects or programs to bolster the skills of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) owned and run by women across Africa, the Bank announced. Applications must be received by midnight … [Read more...] about AfDB invites Business Associations and CSOs to apply for funding to support Women Entrepreneurs
AGRA and Aceli Africa collaborate to support Agricultural transformation across Africa
AGRA has announced a partnership with Aceli Africa to enhance capital flows to SMEs in the agriculture sector and support a financially inclusive agricultural transformation across Africa. AGRA and Aceli have signed a letter of intent committing to jointly work together to test and scale up innovations that substantially drive down the cost and risk of financing SMEs in the agriculture space. Vanessa Adams, Vice president Strategic Partnerships with AGRA said, “AGRA firmly believes that it … [Read more...] about AGRA and Aceli Africa collaborate to support Agricultural transformation across Africa
Direct Relief named a Finalist in 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards
Direct Relief was named a finalist in Fast Company’s 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards, recognized in the Pandemic Response category for providing tens of millions of pieces of personal protective equipment, free-of-charge, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Fast Company magazine separately named the COVID-19 Action Fund for Africa (CAF-Africa) a finalist in the Pandemic Response category. Since August 2020, CAF-Africa has committed and delivered more than 66 million pieces of … [Read more...] about Direct Relief named a Finalist in 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards
AGRA has come up with a unique Centre to support African leaders in Agriculture sector
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has launched a unique Centre to support African leaders in the agriculture sector. The Centre for African Leaders in Agriculture (CALA) is a key part of a scale-up of investment to AGRA by the German Development Cooperation through KfW Development Bank. CALA represents a deepening of AGRA’s ongoing support to state capability, and is complementary to the technical assistance that AGRA has been providing to transform national and regional … [Read more...] about AGRA has come up with a unique Centre to support African leaders in Agriculture sector
WHO and UN Global Pulse building social listening radio tool to aid COVID-19 infodemic response
WHO and UN Global Pulse, the Secretary-General’s digital innovation initiative are embarking on a new venture to analyse content shared on public radio across the African continent to support infodemic monitoring. Part of the wider infodemic management programme, this collaboration will integrate radio data analysis into monitoring tools to inform the infodemic response by including more voices of vulnerable populations. Radio remains one of the most reliable and affordable ways of accessing … [Read more...] about WHO and UN Global Pulse building social listening radio tool to aid COVID-19 infodemic response
African countries face high risk of COVID-19 due to poor health measures
The risk of COVID-19 resurgence remains high in several African countries due to poor adherence to public health measures, mass gatherings, low testing and vaccination rates, an analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) has shown. Three countries face very high risk of COVID-19 resurgence, 20 face high, 22 moderate risk, and only one country faces low risk, according to the risk assessment of 46 countries. The risk was estimated using seven indicators with data from the past four … [Read more...] about African countries face high risk of COVID-19 due to poor health measures
Emerging lessons from Africa’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout
With 47 African countries now rolling out COVID-19 vaccines and over 17 million doses given on the continent, early insights from Africa’s largest-ever immunization drive offer hope, inspiration and early, yet vital lessons. Here, we shine a light on key lessons emerging from countries that have made strong progress, including Angola, Ghana, Mauritius and Rwanda. Planning and preparation is crucial Nearly 40 African countries developed national vaccination plans before COVID-19 vaccines … [Read more...] about Emerging lessons from Africa’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout
Development Banks and Institutions pledge US$17 billion to increase Food Security in Africa
A coalition of multilateral development banks and development partners has pledged over US$17 billion in financing in a bold bid to address rising hunger on the African continent and to improve food security. These funds were pledged on the final day of a two-day high-level dialogue - Feeding Africa: leadership to scale up successful innovations. The event was hosted by the Africa Development Bank and the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in partnership with the Forum … [Read more...] about Development Banks and Institutions pledge US$17 billion to increase Food Security in Africa
