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Category: COVER

  • Brastorne Connects the Unconnected in Africa

    Brastorne Connects the Unconnected in Africa

     

    Brastorne has implemented disruptive solutions to dissolve the barriers to digital inclusion in Africa
    GABORONE, Botswana, December 6, 2022/ — The Challenge

    More and more aspects of modern life have moved online. Access to information, economic opportunities, and how we interact with our social circles are all reliant on access to the internet. Access to this near-limitless online world leads to empowerment for those with ready access. However, digital inclusion is not universal and a growing digital divide is excluding entire segments of our society from the potentially limitless benefits.

    This is certainly the case in Africa, where 650 million of the continent’s one billion people own mobile phones, but the majority lack meaningful digital access. There are a startling 760 million unconnected people in Africa. Economic realities are driving this digital divide. Africans use feature phones in large numbers, leaving only a few people who have both smartphones and the data plans required to be online. When they have a smartphone, digital access comes at a crippling cost. One gigabyte of mobile data costs an average of $6.44 in Africa, which is equivalent to a week’s wages for the majority of the continent’s rural poor. There are many efforts globally to promote digital inclusion, but Africa is still left behind. Brastorne acknowledges these realities and has implemented disruptive solutions to dissolve the barriers to digital inclusion in Africa.

    The Solution

    Brastorne is dedicated to connecting the 760 million Africans who currently lack meaningful access to the digital world. Using existing infrastructure, standard telco networks, Brastorne’s technology turns the continent’s ubiquitous feature phones into internet portals for less than $0.05 per day. For these feature phone users, Brastorne’s solutions provide an experience similar to that of a smartphone mobile app. This is accomplished through a suite of technology solutions including USSD, IVR, or Voice to promote digital inclusion through Brastorne’s applications Mpotsa, mAgri and Vuka.

    Mpotsa, which translates to “ask me how?” in English, is a two-way telephone-based question/answer platform that aims to provide users with information on almost anything. It provides information to users by acting as a Google-like service that uses the user-friendly technology of Voice/IVR. Farmers use mAgri to access advisory services, wikipedia, weather/pest alerts, crop prices, and financial services, as well as trade, chat, and email in their native language. Vuka facilitates and accelerates convenient communication through USSD, allowing users to chat, send in-person messages, or broadcast messages on both low-end phones and smartphones. These solutions empower numerous communities that rely on feature phones by giving them access to essential information such as employment opportunities, health advice, and legal services.

    The Impact

    Brastorne has brought the power of the internet to millions of people, improving their lives. Through Brastorne’s flagship product Smallholder Farmers experience increased access to communications  and  Women Smallholder Farmers see increased Crop Yield and increased revenue. In 2021, 36 000 farmers gained access to information, markets, & communication in Botswana through mAgri. Furthermore Brastorne users realized 85% Monthly Savings in costs of information and communication access compared to alternatives (data bundles, physical travel costs etc), which can cost $15+/month. Brastorne users in total have realized $3.4 million total annual savings across all 60,000 subscribers in 2021. These savings can now be put to use to improve their farm, feed their families, or buy much-needed personal items.

    Brastorne’s information access service Mpotsa has brought the power of the internet to new users, giving them increased access to information, medical treatment, COVID vaccinations, and access to jobs. The service is a literal lifeline with an estimated 60% of Mpotsa subscribers who cannot otherwise afford digital information. In 2021, Mpotsa connected 25,231 total youth, over 15,000 of whom would otherwise have remained unconnected. This resulted in $60,554 total information access cost savings.

    The Future

    With its mission of connecting 760 million Africans who lack meaningful access to today’s digital world, Brastorne plans to expand its solutions to 19 different African countries. Brastorne is currently operational in Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and most recently  Cameroon (https://bit.ly/3VBXhNM), having launched in October through partnerships with mobile network providers such as Orange. It plans to address the realities of Africa’s lack of connectivity by enabling digital inclusion and its dividends through mAgri and Vuka. Visit their website to learn more www.Brastorne.com

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Brastorne.

    SOURCE
    Brastorne

     

     

  • Ghana’s Newest University is Putting West Africa at Forefront of the Digital Revolution

    Ghana’s Newest University is Putting West Africa at Forefront of the Digital Revolution

    The newly reformed institution is envisioned to become the premier technology institution in West Africa for equipping students and educators in the technology space
    ACCRA, Ghana, December 2, 2022/ — As part of a national drive to put Ghana at the forefront of the digital revolution in Africa, the former Ghana Technology University College has been granted university status and reformed to become the Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU) (https://site.GCTU.edu.gh); The newly reformed institution is envisioned to become the premier technology institution in West Africa for equipping students and educators in the technology space; GCTU is creating an entrepreneurial environment to support innovation and product development, and to foster industry linkages.
    Internationalization is key to the future path of the university, students from across West Africa will attend the institution while partnerships will be formed with international partners; The overall goal is to ensure African students are not left behind the curve in the digital revolution.

    AfricaLive.net (https://AfricaLive.net) spoke to GCTU vice-chancellor Prof. Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa on what this newly reformed institution means for Ghana and their plans going forward.

    AfricaLive: 2021 was a landmark year for your institution. Please can you provide a summary of your recent developments and the importance of them for your institution and higher education in Ghana?

    Prof. Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa: 2021 saw us achieve a milestone indeed. We used to be known as the Ghana Technology University College and were being run as a quasi-private university. Back in August 2020, we saw the Parliament of Ghana passing the Ghana Communication Technology Bill 2020. It was soon after ratified by President Nana Akufo-Addo into an Act of Parliament. The act mandates us to be a fully-fledged public university.

    When the bill was constructed, we were identified and mandated with becoming a viable center of higher education in information and communication technology.

    We were required to perform research with the following objectives in mind; promote education training and capacity building in academic disciplines related to ICT, provide global consultancy services to both the private sector and the public sector, promote basic and applied research in the area of ICT, create an entrepreneurial environment to support innovation, product development, as well as, foster industry linkages. It’s upon us now to structure ourselves in a way that makes it possible for us to carry out the mandate we have been given.

    In 2021, we saw the constitution and inauguration of the new governing council for the new Ghana technology institution. The government council was opened in September to help govern the university to ensure we execute our mandate exhaustively. They needed a substantive vice-chancellor for the newly formed Ghana Communication Technology University.

    I was interviewed for the role and have now been installed as the VC in the institution’s new format. We are now fully focused on aggregating our strengths and experiences in training and research for students in the area of ICT. We must ensure we train the human resource base for the digitised transformation agenda in Ghana. We aim to become the go-to first-class ICT university in the West-African sub-region.

    We are moving swiftly to upgrade the infrastructure in the institution to help us achieve our mandate. We wanted to create a viable ICT center but were not in a financial position to match our ambition. We consulted with the Ghana National Petroleum Cooperation (GNPC) (https://www.GNPCGhana.com) and they asked us to submit a proposal for the construction of the ICT center.

    We have an agreement now that will see them construct a four-story block that will house our ICT center of excellence. The building will house departments that will specialise in several disciplines such as cyber security, Artificial intelligence, robotics, and other labs. This will strengthen our ability to deliver competencies that will position our students to compete while also matching our ambition of being the best ICT institution in West Africa.

    It’s not just about bringing in new materials and technologies but also upgrading the quality of our staff. We are working on bringing in qualified people in the emerging technologies of interest so that they can prepare students adequately. We want staff who specialise in areas like information technology, computer science, computer engineering, and AI.

    AfricaLive: What do you believe Ghana can offer to the world and how confident are you in the future of Ghana Communication Technology University?

    Prof. Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa: I am very confident that as an institution, we are going to achieve all that we have set for ourselves, especially the objective of becoming a premier technology university in West Africa. The most important one is becoming a fully-fledged public university within the next few weeks.

    We have signed an agreement with Advanced AT in London to come and train our faculty on the world’s best practises of teaching and research. In March, the first training called Master Class will be enrolled, for our lecturers. We see ourselves becoming one of the world’s best institutions when it comes to technological training.

    AfricaLive: What current trends within the sector are going to influence the future of African education and how can African education institutions remain globally relevant in this time of fast changes?

    Prof. Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa: We are not restricting ourselves to the four corners of the lecture room; we are embedding technology in everything that we do. The fact that you can take classes from work or home is evidence of that. Government intervention is also essential in making life much easier for education providers. An enabling environment will enable educators to provide quality education for the human resource base that they want to train.

    Short courses for employees in tech industries are provided much to the delight of employers. It is up to those employees to make themselves available for classes or risk being redundant. We must ensure that we can educate our workforce by introducing them to continuous training and allowing them to attend short courses.

    AfricaLive: What steps should be taken to engage with industry on the future of work and action plans are you working on?

    Prof. Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa: We’ve signed several agreements with industries that will bring us closer together. The pacts signed will see to it that we no longer work in silos and that they share their technology, human resource needs, and research gaps with us. Our students could then research to solve the issues of the industries. This knowledge will help our students hone their research skills and build a more extensive knowledge base for our country and continent.

    We also have a prestigious lecture series regularly where we bring some of our industry partners to our institution to speak on issues that are topical in the industry.

    AfricaLive: How can the agricultural sector benefit from your research, and what flagship projects have you launched that will help?

    Prof. Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa: Under the Computer Science Programme, we have some projects that are helping farmers to identify some of the diseases that harm crops in different parts of Ghana. We are putting together a new proposal for funding to come up with new technology that will help the government identify the kind of diseases that set farmers back and hurt our food security. Research results will advise on the type of pesticides to buy for different crop diseases to avoid a one fits all approach.

    AfricaLive: What does it take for research like this to become a reality?

    Prof. Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa: Before conducting productive research, you need funds. If the University cannot provide you with the kind of funds that you need, then the team must put together an excellent proposal to seek funding.

    AfricaLive: What institutions beyond your borders are you looking to work within Africa?

    Prof. Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa: We want to work with some institutions in Nigeria, and are also establishing contact with some universities in South Africa and Kenya. We would also like to have a partnership with many more countries to ensure that we promote our area of specialisation.

    AfricaLive:  In response to environmental and sustainability challenges the identity of many African universities is evolving. How do you see your identity changing in this regard?

    Prof. Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa: We have taken into consideration sustainability issues in our delivery especially with the pandemic still around. We are not limited to lecture halls anymore because we have adopted the blended learning approach. We will execute 60 percent digital learning and 40 percent in-person. A lot of the documentation and processes will also be paperless and that will serve to reduce our carbon footprint. This will be big for us because it will help us shape our identity. Our focus is to be a student-centered university with academic freedom, innovation, and integrity. We want to evolve as an ICT institution, taking into consideration our new mandate.

    We are trying to restructure our university by following these steps. Recreate the institution as a collegiate university which will replace the faculty system. We will have the College of Computing Systems and Technology, College of Communication Engineering, and the College of Business. Each of these colleges will have faculties that will help them execute in various areas. 80 percent of the programs will be in ICT.

    Under the College of Computing Systems and Technology, we will have the Faculty of Cyber Defence and Security, Faculty of Computing, Faculty of Information Systems and Technology, Faculty of Multimedia and Communication Systems. We want to redefine our identity as an ICT university in Ghana, while also serving the entire West African subregion. With this identity, we will be known as a world-class ICT university because our programs will be unique to us in West Africa.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ghana Communication Technology University.

    SOURCE
    Ghana Communication Technology University
  • Rwanda’s Kigali Green City, the first of its kind to be built in Africa

    Rwanda’s Kigali Green City, the first of its kind to be built in Africa

    An international team has been appointed for the implementation of the Kigali Green City project in Rwanda. The team was appointed by the UK headquartered Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, which won an international design competition for the project.

    The FCBS team comprises the local architects Light Earth Designs, A Studio Space, and Studio FH Architects, as well as Turner & Townsend. The team also included Grant Associates, AKT II, and Atelier Ten

    Top of Form

    In addition, the East Africa leading planning, design, architecture, and engineering firm, FBW Group, was appointed to offer the key services of architecture and structure. The FBW Group will also offer civil engineering services, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering

    The company’s initial roles will involve supervising local compliance, making suggestions for local material suppliers, and maintaining environmental standards. It will also be involved in dealing with and receiving submissions from stakeholders.

    Implementation of the construction phase of the 16HA Kigali Green City project 

    The FBW team will be taking part in the planning for the construction phase of the 16HA pilot scheme as the project goes on. FBW Group is delighted to be a team player on what looks to be a revolutionary development. This was revealed by the Group’s director, Antje Eckoldt.

    The pilot project will lay the foundation for the development of high-quality, resource-efficient, low-carbon housing types suitable for a range of sizes and densities. It will also make way for future sustainable urban development.

    It is said that one of the project’s goals is to show that the urban environment has everything it needs to sustain its community. The urban environment can also enable people to live sustainably. This is through combining proper technologies, forward-thinking ideas, and local skills and materials.

    She continued by saying that they are currently exploring local low-carbon construction ways. According to her, they are also exploring materials and how they can be used to the best effect.

    Project Overview

    The Kigali Green City will be built on 620 hectares of land. The site is located approximately 16km from the Rwandan capital. More precisely in Kinyinya, in the district of Gasabo. The sustainable city is expected to consist of 1,749 housing units built on a total of 18 hectares. It is set to feature clean technologies, electric vehicles, electric bicycles, and motorcycle lanes.

    Moreover, it will have renewable energy, sustainable waste treatment, biogas plants, and urban forests, among others. Construction will mainly use local building materials. As a result, these will make houses more affordable and environmentally sustainable. The government of Rwanda is also planning to build commercial establishments and offices to accommodate “innovative green enterprises”.

    The project, the cost of which is US $5bn will be implemented in phases. The first phase (“Cactus Green Park”) will comprise a housing development with multiple green aspects.  This will act as a pilot to lead the way for further scaling up of green building and green urban planning projects. As part of this phase, 410 houses will be developed by Horizon on a total of 13 ha.

    The second phase will be developed by RSSB on 125 ha. The next phases will be developed subsequently. These will include commercial and office buildings attracting “Innovative Green Businesses”.

    Kigali Green City reportedly aims to demonstrate that green building is a necessity, not a luxury. This will be achieved by working to change the stereotype that sustainability is expensive. Living in resource-efficient housing will significantly reduce electricity and water bills for a population that often spends up to 20% of its income on utilities.

    Summary 

    Name:                 Kigali Green City

    Location:            Kigali Rwanda

    Type:                  Sustainable Urban Development

    Credit:(Construction Review Online)

     

  • ESG in Africa is colonialism 2.0

    OPINION

    by N.J. Ayuk

    Many today believe the era of colonialism in Africa is over. They’re wrong. The era of colonialism in Africa has merely entered a new and insidious phase.

    Some call it “neo-colonialism.” I call it colonialism 2.0. In colonialism 1.0, Western and other nations conquered large parts of Africa, and in colonialism 2.0, they use their money to impose their unrealistic ideologies on an unwilling but still desperate continent.

    Nowhere is this more obvious than in the mania surrounding ESG, a set of environmental, social, and governance criteria for financial investments that are being weaponized to impose green energy on African nations that desperately need cheap, reliable energy — that is, fossil fuels. We need this energy to continue developing our economies and providing basic necessities for our people.

    Everyone knows that Africa is still a largely developing continent. As such, it requires the help of other nations in order to save lives and improve the well-being of its citizens. Great progress has been achieved since World War II, not only in Africa but around the world. For example, just between 1990 and 2015, extreme poverty in Africa went from 54% of the population to just 41%. It is estimated that the number could decline to 23% by 2030.

    However, elites in Western countries are threatening to undermine all this progress unless Africans go along with their unrealistic and extremist expectations. In a rather colonial fashion, Western countries are denying African countries their once-in-a-generation opportunity for development by making us the subjects of their ESG experiments. If we don’t agree to abide by ESG criteria, they try to bribe us with IMF and other loans through the sophisticated international finance system. And if that fails, they punish us by denying their help — even if it kills our people.

    I’ll be as blunt as I was when I spoke at African Energy Week in Cape Town weeks ago. For African nations to continue to emerge from poverty, we need to drill, baby, drill. That’s Africa’s message to the world. If we’re going to solve energy poverty, the world needs to invest in Africa’s oil, natural gas, and other God-given resources.

    Foreign leaders from wealthier, more advanced nations need to be responsible and tone down the rhetoric that fossil fuels and energy producers are evil. As Matthew Opoku Premeh, the Ghanaian minister of energy, reminded us at Africa Energy Week, over 80% of the oil and gas we take from Africa ends up in Europe, China, and India. So not only are African resources often extracted for the benefit of other nations but now we are not even allowed to pursue our own priorities? Nonsense.

    Enough with the hypocrisy. Let us use what we have, as every other developed country has had the freedom to do for centuries. I stand with our energy producers and against the Western elite and will not apologize for Africa’s energy sector.

    That is why I went to COP27. I believe that if Africa does not take a seat at the table, it will end up being on the menu. Let me be clear: those of us who advocate African countries to continue using the oil and gas resources within our sovereign borders are not ignoring the green agenda — we simply are not willing to embrace Western elites’ timetables for transitioning to renewable energy at the expense of the energy security and economic well-being of our own people.

    Not just Africa but the whole world is now experiencing firsthand how important abundant and cheap energy is to economic development. With it, endless opportunities are available. Without it, your economy is at risk of collapse, as we are witnessing in Europe now.

    Cheap energy is absolutely vital to economic development. So far, many so-called “green” energy sources have simply proven incapable of providing enough energy to rapidly developing countries, let alone developed ones like those in Europe and the United States. Those of us across the African continent desperately need to build vast amounts of infrastructure to feed our people, get them to work, and expand our access to the world. This requires cars, buses, trucks, ships, trains, docks, roads, power plants, utilities, and fiber optic networks, among many other countless amenities developed nations already enjoy.

    Imposing environmental standards on African nations that are still in the early stages of development artificially maintains millions of Africans in poverty, unable to enjoy the economic empowerment that comes with cheap energy. As indicated by the International Energy Agency, over 700 million people don’t have access to electricity, many of whom are in Africa.

    Did not the West itself go through a similar phase of development? It would be one thing if new energy sources were up to the task — but they aren’t. Africans must not be held in poverty for the sake of environmental extremists in the West who can’t even provide for their own energy needs, let alone ours. As Matthew Prempeh made it clear in Cape Town, he would be “an irresponsible leader to sell my country on the altar of energy transition without talking about the significance of energy security or energy access or without talking about energy affordability.”

    By using ESG to impose strict “E” policies, the West is imposing its own priorities on countries that are still working on providing the basics to their people — food, infrastructure, internet, and energy.

    A growing number of Western countries are making their aid packages contingent on going “green” when African nations simply can’t afford it. In such a situation, the West cannot be surprised if such nations begin turning to countries like China and its Belt and Road Initiative for cheap capital with no environmental strings attached.

    We are not fools. Africans want to develop and prosper economically, and we know what we must do to achieve that. We need affordable, reliable energy. And if the West is unwilling to help us do that, we will turn elsewhere.

    Do we want cleaner air and sustainable energy? Of course we do, who wouldn’t? The real question should be who is willing to see Africans die and slip back into poverty in a sloppy attempt to achieve those goals. I’m certainly not, but it seems many of our old colonizers are willing to make that horrendous bargain.

    The West — its governments, corporations, nonprofit groups, and NGOs — must end ESG restrictions on investment in Africa and bring colonialism 2.0 to an end.

    N.J. Ayuk is a lawyer and entrepreneur, and executive chairman of the African Energy Chamber, the only advocacy organization representing all facets of Africa’s energy, oil, and gas industry.

     

  • Greening the Desert through Organic Farming

    Greening the Desert through Organic Farming

    Upholding the legacy of UAE’s Founder,

    Emirates Bio Farm Leads the Charge

    By: Mohammed Abu

    The good memoirs of late UAE’s Founder, H.R.H. Sheikh Zayed Al Nahayan, shall forever be cherished. Aside the historic Economic Diversification Plan that also ensured escapade from the resource curse, his passion and initiative for greening the country’s desert, protection and conservation of biodiversity in its ecosystem also deserves spectacular mention.

    To this end, the establishment of the Emirates Bio Farm(EBF), the largest organic farm in the UAE in 2016, built on the company’s founding principles of advocating for environmental protection, health and well-being of all UAE residents, was indeed one of the most glowing tributes ever paid to the Founder of the nation.

    “A guiding principle which embrace from the teachings of Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE and an early champion of environmental protection” EBF eulogizes him.

    The mission of EBF is contributing to the establishment of a secure and sustainable food system that promotes healthy living and the protection of the environment while providing genuine, certified organic food to the market.

    EBF is relentlessly working towards protecting biodiversity and the environment through its organic farming practices, building and preserving arable soil which successfully produces over 60 varieties of products in the middle of the desert in Al Shuwaib, Al Ain.

    EBF uses sustainable methods such as crop rotation, companion planting and the use of natural pest repellents allows the company to grow chemical-free crops that offer a high-quality alternative to imported produce giving consumers a local and sustainable option that is healthier and better for the environment. All our organic products are handpicked where the items are getting from harvest to the market within 24 hours, in order to maintain product freshness and optimum nutrition level.

    A big part of the Emirates Bio Farm mission is not only to produce high quality organic local products of many varieties but to also educate the UAE population on how their food choices impact the environment. It has also chosen agri-tourism as our method of communicating our mission and educating people about the realities of food and the impact of our choices on the environment around us.

    EBF operate to increase overall output as an integrated farm; making organic food affordable and available to the local market driving it as a sustainable investment in the country’s future in order to reduce reliance on imported products.

    Granted the prime importance of the seeds in the primary production value chain, EBF is also growing a seed library where seeds are collected to be re-used; as that increases the seed independence of the company and others in the region.

    The EBF: Agro-tourist Destination of Choice

    For foreign UAE bound tourists, conference and other events attendees as well as UAE resident holiday makers who love nature, a weekend retreat to Emirates Bio Farm, Al-Shuwaib, Al Ain, guarantees an unforgettable real life experience.

    The welcoming ambiance of the serene desert environment and the organic farm ecosystem that also treats one to rich organic dishes served at the canteen produced from farm fresh vegetables, is worth experiencing.

     

  • Breaking Africa’s Industrialization Jinx

    Breaking Africa’s Industrialization Jinx

    Beefing up Private Sector/ending raw materials exports, get focus!!!

    ……As African Union Extraordinary Summit ends in Niamey
    NIAMEY, Niger, December 1, 2022/ — African leaders reviewed the continent’s progress in industrialization, economic diversification, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in the context of global shocks, debt vulnerabilities, climate change, and security concerns.

    Twenty heads of state and government as well as their representatives attended the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Industrialization, Economic Diversification, and the AfCFTA in Niamey.

    “Not so long ago, the juxtaposition of the words industrialization and Africa might have seemed incongruous. Today, the question it raises is mainly one of ways and means,” said Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum, the summit’s host. “This in itself is proof that we are on the right track. A Nigerien proverb says, ” You cannot stop a river,” he added.

    Bazoum called on African countries to entrench the rule of law to catalyze the emergence of the African private sector, unleash the energies of African entrepreneurs, and simplify the business environment.

    “Inclusive, coherent, and sequenced industrialization that we want cannot be imposed and can only be achieved by creating synergies between the private and public sectors to empower small and medium sized enterprises and create quality jobs. .”

    Bazoum added: “the youthfulness of the population and its growth, which are a challenge, can constitute an asset, provided the demographic transition is well-managed.”

    His Nigerian counterpart, President Muhammadu Buhari. echoed the sentiment.  He said, “The African continent is blessed with a large youth population that can meet our labor shortages. Therefore, we need to tap into this abundant human resource by providing our youth with quality education that is relevant to their goals and meets the requirements of the labor market.”

    For President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, the way forward on industrialization entails investment in energy and infrastructure.

    “The pace of industrialization in Africa is still too slow to achieve Africa’s development goals under Agenda 2063,” said Kagame. “We need to invest more of our national budgets in industrial policy, and significantly increase energy and infrastructure capacity.”

    In a speech read on his behalf, African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina noted that free trade areas had brought prosperity worldwide not by trading low-value products, but by industrial production. “It is, therefore, clear that Africa’s prosperity must no longer depend on exports of raw materials but on value-added finished products,” he said.  Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade,  African Development Bank acting vice president for Regional Development, Integration and Service Delivery, represented Dr. Adesina and delivered the speech on his behalf.

    “Across Africa, we need to turn cocoa beans into chocolate, cotton into textiles and garments, coffee beans into brewed coffee,” Adesina said. He said the Bank was investing $25 billion to transform the continent’s agricultural sector and unlock the agribusiness market, which is expected to reach $1 trillion in value by 2030.

    The Bank chief also detailed efforts to develop spheres that will boost Africa’s industrialization and economic diversification, including the energy, health, natural resources, and pharmaceutical sectors.

    “Africa has an abundance of natural resources, oil, gas, minerals and metals, as well as a vast blue economy that needs to be rapidly industrialized,” Adesina said. “The future of electric cars in the world depends on Africa, given its vast deposits of rare mineral resources, including lithium-ion, cobalt, nickel and copper. The size of the electric vehicle market has been estimated at $7 trillion by 2030 and $46 trillion by 2050. Building precursor facilities for lithium-ion batteries in Africa will cost three times less than in other parts of the world,” he said.

    During the summit, the African Development Bank, the African Union, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization launched (https://bit.ly/3Ul8mBC) the inaugural Africa Industrial Index.  The joint report showed that 37 out of 52 African countries have industrialized over the past 11 years. The study provides a country-level assessment of the progress made by the 52 African countries based on 19 key indicators.

    The 19 indicators in the index cover manufacturing performance, capital, labor, business environment, infrastructure, and macroeconomic stability. The index also ranks the level of industrialization of African countries along various dimensions such as capital, labor endowments, , institutions, infrastructure, and macroeconomic stability, amongst others.

    South Africa has maintained a very high ranking throughout the 2010-2021 period, followed closely by Morocco, which is in second place in 2022. Egypt, Tunisia, Mauritius and Eswatini complete the top six over the period.

    The report will help African governments to identify benchmark countries to better assess their own industrial performance and adopt best practices more effectively.

    During the summit, heads of state also reviewed the pace of operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which came into force in January 2021 as well as its linkages to industrialization.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

    Media Contact:
    Olufemi Terry
    African Development Bank Group
    media@afdb.org

     

     

     

  • From Africa to the World: Landmark Event Presents Circular Economy Solutions for Green Growth, Climate and Biodiversity

    From Africa to the World: Landmark Event Presents Circular Economy Solutions for Green Growth, Climate and Biodiversity

    The WCEF2022 will challenge many shortcomings and destructive consequences of the predominant wasteful linear economy and introduce the concepts and opportunities of the circular economy
    KIGALI, Rwanda, November 29, 2022/ — The 6th World Circular Economy Forum WCEF2022 (www.WCEF2022.com) will take place 6–8 December in Kigali, Rwanda. This year’s forum will focus on how the circular economy can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support climate change adaptation, safeguard biodiversity and bring benefits to our societies.

    One of the world’s leading circular economy events, originating in Finland, WCEF2022 will bring together business leaders, policymakers and experts from Africa and around the world to present circular economy solutions and examine how businesses can seize new opportunities. An online briefing for the media will take place on the eve of the Forum, 5 December 2022.

    For the first time on African soil, the World Circular Economy Forum will be a platform for Africa and the world to share lessons to shape more resilient and greener economies.

    The WCEF2022 will challenge many shortcomings and destructive consequences of the predominant wasteful linear economy and introduce the concepts and opportunities of the circular economy. Politicians, policymakers, business-leaders, journalists, researchers and the public will learn about the many benefits of circularity.

    “As a founding member of the African Circular Economy Alliance we are very pleased to host the World Circular Economy Forum in Rwanda. This is the first time the event is taking place in Africa,” says Rwanda’s Minister of Environment, Dr Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya. “The circular economy represents the single greatest opportunity to supercharge green growth and job creation in Africa, and we look forward to sharing Rwanda’s experience and learning from others.”

    The WCEF2022 will address a wide range of challenges in the transition from a linear to a more resilient and resource-efficient circular economy including trade, value chains, policy and technology. Circular economy actors and start-ups from the continent will present their business models and share their stories, particularly looking at opportunities for collaboration, growth, job creation and development.

    “Transitioning to a circular economy is a way to make our economies wiser, resilient and future-proof”, says Jyrki Katainen, President of Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund. “These past years’ tragedies have shown that we are not resilient. The impacts of the pandemic, shifts in the global security environment, energy and food security are exacerbated by a fossil fuel dependent, wasteful and unfair linear economy. Now, we need to challenge the old model and build a new one, fit for today and for the centuries to come – the circular economy. Many solutions are already right in front of us, and we look forward to learning more about circular solutions from Africa in Kigali.”

    The circular economy is an alternative to the traditional linear economy (make, use, dispose) in which resources are kept in use for as long as possible, maximum value is extracted from them whilst in use, then materials are recovered and products are reused at the end of their life.

    Diverse and home-grown African circular solutions: from agriculture and waste management to the built environment

    Under the theme From Africa to the World, the WCEF2022 will present a wide range of circular solutions from Africa and globally for different industries and sectors, with a particular emphasis on harnessing the opportunities to improve livelihoods and end poverty, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to climate change and safeguard biodiversity. Some examples include:

    • Regenerative agriculture and nature-based solutions that help to mitigate and adapt to the consequences of climate change.
    • A scalable, affordable and sustainable built environment that is based on repurposing, renovation and the use of secondary raw materials.
    • Different circular policies and practices in water management, transport, infrastructure and food security in Africa’s rapidly growing megacities.

    In the transition from a linear to a circular economy waste management and recycling are key components and need to be improved and scaled rapidly. Africa already imports vast amounts of electronic and other waste, and with a rapidly growing population, will produce more waste. Circular economy approaches provide solutions for reducing waste by investing into modular product design, reduced packaging, life cycle extensions and product-as-a-service business models where using a product does not require ownership.

    Overcoming the challenges of circularity: policies and finance

    Africa’s vast natural resources and its young and entrepreneurial population can help it play a lead role in driving the circular economy transition and its contribution to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet, two main challenges will need to be overcome: legislation and finance.

    First, many existing laws and regulations need to change to allow for more circularity. That is why WCEF2022 will facilitate policy dialogues and knowledge sharing as a circular economy transition requires lawmakers, governments and others to inspire and learn from each other.

    Secondly, new financing models for circular businesses are urgently needed. The current capital flows into sustainable businesses and circular ventures are far too low. Circular economy companies need to develop bankable businesses that attract venture capitalists willing to take a risk. Development banks and other institutions can de-risk such investments with grant financing and technical assistance.

    These reforms require debate and innovation, which WCEF2022 will help provide.

    “ACEN is delighted to be co-hosting WCEF2022 as we showcase to the world how circular principles are being applied across Africa. We are looking forward to engaging with delegates to accelerate the transition to a just and inclusive circular economy across the continent,” says Peter Desmond, Co-Founder of the African Circular Economy Network ACEN.

    WCEF2022 everywhere: online participation and local live studios in Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Rwanda

    While the main event will take place in Kigali, Rwanda, stakeholders across Africa will be able to participate in parallel local events. At the WCEF2022 African Studios in Yaoundé, Lagos, Cape Town and Lusaka, participants will tackle specific national and regional challenges related to the shift from a linear to a circular economy. A fifth Studio in Rwanda will reinforce the main Forum in Kigali. In addition, Global Studios will be held in select locations around the globe.

    The WCEF2022 Studios will live-stream the main forum’s content, discuss its relevance at a national level and give local experts the opportunity to meet and discuss face-to-face. The WCEF2022 African Studios are organised by ACEN, one of the Forum’s co-hosts.

    To ensure easy participation from anywhere around the world, WCEF2022 will livestream all seven sessions of the main forum on 6–7 December free of charge to all registered participants. In addition, WCEF partners will organise more than 25 Accelerator Sessions on 8 December – outcome-oriented events that link WCEF with real action – in Kigali and Africa or online.

    The Forum’s agenda is live at www.WCEF2022.com and anyone can register to follow all live-streamed sessions free of charge. Please note that the partner-led Accelerator Sessions require a separate registration.

    Online briefing on 5 December

    Want to learn more? Representatives of the co-hosts will share their thoughts and answer questions in an online press briefing on the eve of the forum, on 5 December at 15:00 (CAT/EET) / 12:00 (GMT). The briefing will take place on Microsoft Teams.

    The speakers of the briefing include:

    • Ntobeko Boyana, Executive and South African Chapter Lead, ACEN
    • Kari Herlevi, Head of Global collaboration unit for sustainability solutions, The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra
    • Representative from the Ministry of Environment, Rwanda

    Attendees are required to register for the briefing by 2 December 16:00 (CAT/EET) / 14:00 (GMT) via www.WCEF2022.com. Registered attendees will be provided with the link to join the Microsoft Teams meeting.

    To follow the main forum, interested parties should apply for accreditation at www.WCEF2022.com

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Circular Economy Forum.

    Media kit, logo and press photos:
    A Media kit incuding facts & figures, FAQs and other components is available at http://bit.ly/3Ud22Mg
    The WCEF2022 logo and press photos are available at Sitra’s material bank (http://bit.ly/3upriER).

    Media Contacts:
    The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra
    Samuli Laita
    email: samuli.laita@sitra.fi
    phone: +358 294 618 277

    Ministry of Environment of Rwanda
    Basile Uwimana
    email: buwimana@environment.gov.rw

    African Circular Economy Network (ACEN)
    Tashma Kritzinger
    email: tashma.kritzinger@acen.africa

    About The World Circular Economy Forum 2022:
    The World Circular Economy Forum 2022     is jointly organised by the Government of Rwanda, the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) (http://bit.ly/3gBwja5), the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN) (http://bit.ly/3XH1l0T), and The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra (http://bit.ly/3VfUjhP), together with other international partners. The World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) is Sitra’s global initiative that examines how businesses can gain a competitive advantage through a circular economy and how the circular economy contributes to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

    About The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra:
    The Finnish Innovation Fund     Sitra is a future fund that collaborates with partners from different sectors to research, trial and implement bold new ideas that shape the future. Sitra is a nationally and internationally influential think-and-do-and-connect tank, a promoter of experimentation and new operating models, and a facilitator of co-operation. Its aim is a Finland that succeeds as a pioneer in sustainable well-being. Sitra was named the number one public-sector circular economy accelerator in the world when Sitra won the public-sector category of the Circulars Awards 2018 for its pioneering work to accelerate the world’s transition to a circular economy.

    About The African Circular Economy Alliance ACEA:
    The African Circular Economy Alliance ACEA     is a government-led coalition of African nations with a mission to spur Africa’s transformation to a circular economy that delivers economic growth, jobs and positive environmental outcomes. It was conceived in 2016 during the World Economic Forum on Africa with the mindset of developing Africa’s circular economy ecosystem while capitalising on its development opportunities. The Alliance serves as a platform that supports the transition to a circular economy at the national, regional and continental levels through policy development, leadership and advocacy, and support in scaling circular businesses and projects.

    About The Government of Rwanda:
    The government of Rwanda     is a founding member of the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA), together with Nigeria and South Africa. The country has an ambitious vision to be a climate resilient and carbon neutral nation by 2050 and is investing in the circular economy to bring this vision to life.

    About The African Circular Economy Network ACEN:
    The African Circular Economy Network ACEN     is a registered non-profit company with a vision to build a restorative African economy that generates well-being and prosperity inclusive of all its people through new forms of economic production and consumption which maintain and regenerate its environmental resources. ACEN is a network made up of 100 Country Representatives in 30 Chapters, and 27 international partners. ACEN aims to support this acceleration by connecting people, sharing knowledge and disseminating opportunities throughout its network and beyond.

    SOURCE
    World Circular Economy Forum

    Distributed by: APO Group
     
  • IBF Industry Stakeholders go back to School in Manama.

    IBF Industry Stakeholders go back to School in Manama.

    ……As CIBAFI-Ivey Business School Resume Collaboration

    Story: Mohammed A. Abu

    The Manama, Bahrain based General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions(CEBAFI), and Ivey Business School, Western University,Canada, have kick started continuation of their productive collaboration through the eight series of their Executive Programme.

    The 2022 edition of the programme themed:” Agile and Strategic Leadership for Succeeding in a Hyper Turbulent World”,will  run for two days,a Press Release issued by CIBAFI in Manama,Monday said.

    “After conducting the last two series of this highly interactive programme virtually, CIBAFI and Ivey Business School convened this year’s programme at the Le Méridien City Centre, Manama, Bahrain.

    “The programme brought together Senior Executives from Islamic banks as well as regulatory authorities to lay the groundwork for a successful agile transformation and to lead cultural and behavioural changes within their organizations.

    “Agile leadership entails being adaptable and responsive to change, as well as empowering team members to collaborate to achieve the organization’s common goals.

    “In today’s fast-paced business environment, managers and executives can engage and empower their employees to become more flexible and adaptive by using an agile st Agile and strategic leadership, in this changing global paradigm, is now an absolute necessity for institutions around the globe.

    “CIBAFI is thankful to the Ivey Business School for their continuous support in jointly organising this world-class and highly interactive learning experience for the leaders of the Islamic financial services industry.”

    Participants,the release added, will learn how to change their mindset and develop fresh concepts so they may test out disruptive and agile initiatives in their organizations.

    Participants will also engage in thought-provoking discussions about As a leading international organisation, CIBAFI continually supports the Islamic financial industry through specific activities and initiatives which promote growth and uphold ethical practices and Islamic finance values in all financial dealings and transactions.

    CIBAFI is committed to facilitating cooperation between members and institutions of common interest as well as providing platforms to discuss emerging issues and share knowledge through specialized publications and comprehensive training programmes.how leadership teams should commit to being vigilant and future proof their organisations.

    Their openness to diverse inputs from anywhere inside or outside the organization, and the extent of active networking outside of their comfort zones will be gauged and tested through a curiosity exercise.

    As a leading international organisation, CIBAFI continually supports the Islamic financial industry through specific activities and initiatives which promote growth and uphold ethical practices and Islamic finance values in all financial dealings and transactions. CIBAFI is committed to facilitating cooperation between members and institutions of common interest as well as providing platforms to discuss emerging issues and share knowledge through specialized publications and comprehensive training programmes.

  • Caterpillar rolls out first all-electric 793 mining truck prototype

    By Paul Ridden

    Heavy duty construction machinery producer Caterpillar has built and demonstrated an electric version of its monstrous 2,650-horsepower mining truck, aimed at helping the mining industry transition to more sustainable operations.

    The 793 Electric has a similar imposing look and gargantuan proportions to the 1,000-kWh effort from Anglo American and Williams Advanced Engineering, though that model was designed with battery-electric and hydrogen-electric variants in mind. The Caterpillar prototype is battery all the way.

    The company is not revealing what are likely to be mind-boggling specs at this stage, but we do know that the truck was loaded to capacity – which would be up to 265 US tons assuming it can haul a similar payload to the regular 793 – and driven over a 7-km (4.3-mile) course at Caterpillar’s Tucson proving ground in Green Valley, Arizona, which is where it was built.

    It’s reported to have rumbled up to a top speed of 60 km/h (37.3 mph), tackled a 10% gradient for one kilometer (0.62 miles) at 12 km/h (7.5 mph) and then used the 10% downhill jaunt to recoup some energy for its unspecified battery pack. At the end of the course, Caterpillar reports that enough charge remained for more complete cycles if needed.

    The 793 Electric mining truck prototype was demonstrated to customers at Caterpillar's Tucson proving ground
    The 793 Electric mining truck prototype was demonstrated to customers at Caterpillar’s Tucson proving ground Caterpillar

    Watching the demonstration were customers from the company’s Early Leaner program, which was launched last year to speed up development and deployment of Caterpillar’s battery electric trucks to help clients meet their emissions targets. Companies in the program that have committed to embracing electric vehicles include BHP, Freeport-McMoRan, Newmont Corporation, Rio Tinto and Teck Resources Limited.

    “Our global team came together to develop this battery truck at an accelerated pace to help our customers meet their sustainability commitments,” said Caterpillar’s Resource Industries Group President, Denise Johnson. “This demonstration is a significant milestone, and we are excited for these trucks to get to work at customers’ sites around the world in the near future.”

    Other than announcing a “significant investment” to install renewable energy technologies at the proving ground for the creation of a testbed for the sustainable mine of the future, Caterpillar is remaining tight-lipped on the finer details of the mammoth 793 Electric mining truck prototype. But you can see it in action in the video below.

    Meet Caterpillar’s First Battery Electric Large Mining Truck

    Source: Caterpillar

    Credit(New Atlas)
  • Nigeria signs MOU for solar mini-grids project

    Nigeria signs MOU for solar mini-grids project

    Modified date: Nov 25, 2022

    CarbonAI has signed an MOU with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) of Nigeria to develop solar mini-grid projects across the country. According to CarbonAI, the carbon credits produced by its gas flare capture projects, which it has set up all over Nigeria, would be used to pay for the solar mini-grid installations.

    The initiatives will concentrate on underprivileged neighborhoods close to CarbonAI’s technologies that are harmed by gas flares. While CarbonAI will be in charge of financing, designing, and building, the REA will locate prospective project areas and communicate with locals.

    Credit:(Construction Review)