MIL-OSI Publisher – Page 281 – MIL Africa Engine

April 23, 2026

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) Establishes Nairobi Office, Targeting Additional US$2 Billion in Regional Investments and Financial Services Solutions

Source: APO – Report:

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org) and the Government of Kenya have signed a Host Country Agreement establishing AFC’s first regional office in Nairobi, expanding the Corporation’s platform for scaling infrastructure investment and industrial development across Africa.

The agreement was signed by H.E. Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary (and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs), and AFC President and CEO, Samaila Zubairu. The signing ceremony, witnessed by H.E. President William Samoei Ruto at AFC and Government of Kenya’s ongoing The Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi, formalizes Kenya as the host country of AFC’s Regional Office. This positions the Corporation closer to a high-growth and capital rich market with increasing demand for bankable infrastructure solutions.

“Kenya welcomes the entry of AFC into the country and in the East Africa region. Kenya continues to be not only the hub for the region but in the continent,” said Prime Cabinet Secretary H.E. Mudavadi. “Kenya represents one of Africa’s most compelling growth corridors. Kenya’s economy is projected to expand by 5.3% in 2026, while the broader East African Community (home to over 400 million people) is growing at approximately 6% annually.”

Nairobi’s established role as a regional logistics, financial and technology hub makes it a natural base for AFC’s operations across transaction origination, capital mobilisation and cross-border project execution.

AFC plans to deploy and mobilize more than US$2 billion across the region over the next three to five years. Focus will remain on sectors with strong multiplier effects, including logistics and trade corridors, power and transmission, special economic zones, digital infrastructure, and climate-resilient assets. The Regional Office will drive capital mobilization and structured local currency solutions, delivering AFC’s investments and financial services products to its clients and partners, utilizing transaction frameworks that improve bankability and crowd in institutional capital.

The Regional Office will serve as a full-service platform—originating, structuring and executing transactions—while deepening portfolio optimization via partnerships with governments, institutional investors and private operators.

AFC’s expansion builds on an established track record in Kenya. Since Kenya joined AFC in 2017, the Corporation has committed over US$1.3 billion across energy, transport and industrial projects. Current initiatives include the development of the Dongo Kundu Integrated Industrial Park and Naivasha Special Economic Zone II in partnership with Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms, as well as ongoing support for the expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

President Ruto said: “This signing marks a pivotal moment in Kenya’s economic development journey. By deepening our partnership with AFC, we are reinforcing Kenya’s position at the forefront of infrastructure and industrial transformation in Africa. AFC’s presence in Nairobi will help create jobs and strengthen our capacity to deliver transformative projects aligned with Kenya’s Vision 2030.

“AFC’s decision to establish its first regional office here also reflects Kenya’s role as a preferred base for pan-African and international institutions seeking a platform for regional growth. With inflation easing and progress in fiscal consolidation, Kenya offers a stable environment for long-term structured development finance.”

Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of Africa Finance Corporation, said: “Nairobi’s position as a logistics, finance and technology hub makes it a natural anchor for AFC’s East African operations. Establishing a Regional Office in Nairobi allows us to originate faster, structure more effectively, and deploy capital at scale across interconnected markets. Our focus is on building investable infrastructure platforms that unlock regional trade, industrial capacity and long-term economic growth.”

– on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

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April 23, 2026

Sonangol’s Kátia Epalanga to Lead Muhatu as Angola Prioritizes Inclusive Growth

Source: APO – Report:

Kátia Epalanga, Executive Administrator of Angola’s national oil company Sonangol, has been appointed President of the Muhatu Energy Angola Management Network, in a move that reinforces the organization’s role at a pivotal stage in Angola’s oil and gas expansion. She succeeds Nicola Mvuayi – Executive Administrator at the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) – as the country advances deepwater, gas and low-carbon projects that are reshaping workforce and leadership priorities across the sector.

Epalanga brings over 23 years of experience to the role, having held various executive roles at Sonangol and Angola’s Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas. As a Senior Petroleum Installations Engineer with a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Epalanga has also worked with major international oil companies, including Chevron and TotalEnergies. She worked with TotalEnergies on the engineering and execution of two FPSOs for the Kaombo project – Angola’s largest oil development.

Strengthening Inclusion, Women-Led Innovation

Established in 2022, Muhatu has emerged as a critical platform for advancing the participation of women across Angola’s oil and gas sector. The organization operates at the intersection of professional development, advocacy and industry alignment, working closely with operators, regulators and service companies to improve access, representation and leadership pathways for women.

Under its previous leadership, Muhatu focused on building institutional credibility and expanding its engagement with industry stakeholders. This included strengthening partnerships with national entities such as Sonangol and the ANPG, while promoting mentorship and skills development initiatives. The organization also played a role in aligning gender inclusion with broader local content policies, ensuring that workforce development strategies reflected Angola’s long-term industrial objectives.

Epalanga’s appointment signals a continuation – and likely an acceleration – of this agenda. Her leadership comes with expectations of deeper industry integration, particularly as projects become more technically complex and capital intensive. The next phase for Muhatu will require moving beyond advocacy into measurable outcomes: increased female representation in technical roles, stronger participation in project execution and greater visibility in leadership positions.

A Critical Time for the Market

Epalanga’s appointment comes at a critical time for Angola, as the country looks towards sustaining production above one million barrels per day through accelerated exploration and brownfield developments. The country is actively repositioning its oil and gas sector through a combination of regulatory reform, aggressive licensing rounds and targeted investments in both oil and gas infrastructure. At the same time, projects are becoming more diversified – spanning ultra-deepwater developments, gas monetization and emerging low-carbon technologies such as carbon capture integration.

Within this evolving landscape, the demand for a skilled, adaptable and inclusive workforce is rising. Muhatu is positioned to address this shift by expanding the talent pool and ensuring broader participation by women across the oil and gas industry. This alignment will be visible at the upcoming Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Conference and Exhibition – taking place September 9-10 with a pre-conference day on September 8. As the premier platform for the oil and gas sector, the event positions local content and inclusion at the forefront of discussions on Angola’s oil and gas future.

As a long-term participant at the event, Muhatu plays a central role in reinforcing the role of women in the sector. Epalanga’s appointment gives Muhatu a stronger mandate heading into the event, elevating its role from participant to strategic voice in discussions around talent, inclusion and execution capacity. In this context, the leadership change is not peripheral – it aligns directly with the industry’s immediate priorities and the outcomes AOG is designed to drive.

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

April 23, 2026

Africa Strengthens Foundations to Lead Its Own Financing as Domestic Pools Surpass External Flows, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) Report Shows

Source: APO – Report:

Africa’s development challenge is increasingly shifting from capital raising to productive capital deployment in infrastructure and industry, according to AFC’s State of Africa’s Infrastructure Report 2026
Non-bank domestic capital pools now exceed US$2 trillion, surpassing ~US$1.7 trillion in cumulative external flows to Africa (2014–2024)
Official development assistance fell from US$83.8 billion in 2020 to US$73.5 billion in 2023, with further declines expected for 2025–2026
Sovereign issuance dropped from over US$29 billion in 2018 to US$4–6 billion annually in 2022–2023, with only limited recovery through 2024–2025
Domestic pension and insurance assets crossed US$1 trillion for first time
Central bank reserves at US$530 billion in 2025, from US$480 billion in 2024
Gold now represents ~17% of reserves, up from less than 10% in 2022–2023
Africa’s biggest infrastructure opportunity lies in integrated systems—connecting energy, transport, industry and digital layers into demand‑anchored ecosystems that improve bankability and enable scale

Africa’s domestic capital base has reached a scale that now exceeds external financing flows over the past decade, marking a turning point in how the continent funds its growth and industrialisation, according to the Africa Finance Corporation’s (www.AfricaFC.org) State of Africa’s Infrastructure Report 2026.

SAIR 2026 finds that cumulative external flows to Africa totalled approximately US$1.7 trillion between 2014 and 2024, while Africa’s non-bank domestic capital pools exceed US$2 trillion. The implication is clear: African capital now has a stronger foundation to play a significantly larger role in financing the continent’s development.

Launched at The Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi, co-hosted by AFC and H.E. Dr William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, the SAIR 2026 report argues that the overarching development priority has shifted from capital mobilisation to intermediation—converting savings into infrastructure, industry, and productive investment at scale.

“The constraint is no longer capital—it is intermediation,” Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of AFC, said at the The Africa We Build Summit today. “We have the savings, but not yet the systems to channel them into infrastructure and industry at scale. Closing that gap is now Africa’s most important economic task. The next phase of Africa’s infrastructure story must move beyond standalone assets towards integrated systems.”

Local Capital on the Rise

Driving the increase in domestic institutional capital, pension and insurance assets have surpassed US$1 trillion for the first time. Public development bank assets stand at US$276 billion, and sovereign wealth funds at US$164 billion, while central bank reserves increased from US$480 billion in 2024 to US$530 billion in 2025.

This increase has been supported in part by stronger commodity dynamics and rising gold accumulation. Gold now represents approximately 17% of Africa’s total reserves, up from less than 10% in 2022–2023, while physical holdings rose from 663 tonnes in 2022 to an estimated 738 tonnes in 2025.

Despite its increased scale, domestic capital remains largely concentrated in short-term, low-risk assets—particularly government securities—reflecting limited investable pipelines, regulatory incentives favouring liquidity, and insufficient risk-sharing mechanisms. The result is a persistent gap between available savings and long-term productive investment.

External Financing Recedes

At the same time, external financing is becoming less reliable, reinforcing the case for a domestic capital-led development model. Official development assistance to Africa fell from US$83.8 billion in 2020 to US$73.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to decline further. The OECD estimates global official development assistance fell 23.1% in 2025, the largest annual contraction on record.

Sovereign issuance remains well below pre-2019 levels, falling from over US$29 billion in 2018 to US$4–6 billion annually in 2022–2023, while foreign direct investment has remained concentrated at roughly US$45–55 billion annually, insufficient to meet the continent’s broad investment needs.

As a result, external capital is increasingly complementary, rather than foundational , to Africa’s development model.

From Assets to Integrated Systems

The biggest potential for capital deployment lies in demand-driven integrated infrastructure, according to SAIR 2026. In transport and logistics, corridors deliver the greatest value when designed as production ecosystems rather than transit routes—linking ports, rail, roads, logistics, storage, and trade facilitation to industrial demand. A continental backbone is already taking shape; the opportunity now is to improve performance, execution, and coordination.

This is particularly evident in East Africa. Mombasa—one of Africa’s busiest ports—handles more than 45 million tonnes of cargo annually, while rail investments are extending connectivity inland, including along the Naivasha–Kisumu corridor. In aviation, SAIR 2026 identifies air transport as the most immediate and scalable lever for integration. Across Kenya, Rwanda, and Ethiopia, aviation contributes a combined US$5.5 billion to GDP and supports around one million jobs, demonstrating how connectivity can rapidly translate into trade and growth.

Similarly, in energy, the priority is no longer incremental capacity additions alone, but integrated systems combining generation, transmission, storage, fuels, and industrial demand. Cross-border infrastructure such as the Ethiopia–Kenya interconnector shows how regional systems can move power to where it is needed most and improve system-wide efficiency.

Resilience Gap

Recent shocks—from Russia–Ukraine to the 2026 Gulf crisis—underscore the cost of fragmented systems and the urgency of building domestic processing, storage, and supply-chain resilience. The continent continues to import over 70% of its refined fuel and faces an estimated US$230 billion annual import bill across essential goods—including fuel, food, plastics, steel, and fertiliser, according to SAIR 2026.

In digital infrastructure, while connectivity has expanded rapidly, the next opportunity lies in building the “missing middle”—terrestrial backbone networks, metro fibre, data centres, Internet Exchange Points, and enterprise platforms that convert connectivity into productivity, services exports, and job creation.

Across all sectors and African countries, the report’s conclusion is consistent: the development challenge is increasingly institutional and systemic. Capital exists, and infrastructure assets are expanding. The next breakthrough will come from linking finance, energy, transport, industry, and digital systems into coherent ecosystems capable of supporting growth at scale.

“Africa is not capital-poor—it is capital-rich but system-poor,” said Zubairu. “The priority must be to build the institutions, instruments, and project pipelines required to deploy that capital into infrastructure and industry at scale.”

– on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

Media Enquiries:
Yewande Thorpe
Communications
Africa Finance Corporation
Mobile: +234 1 279 9654
Email: yewande.thorpe@africafc.org

About AFC:
AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for pragmatic infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.

Eighteen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of energy, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 48 member countries and has invested over US$19 billion in 36 African countries since its inception.

www.AfricaFC.org

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April 23, 2026

Mozambique ‘sky island’ expeditions found 4 new species of chameleon – already at risk from forest loss

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Krystal Tolley, Principal Scientist, University of Johannesburg

Tropical rainforests are known for their unique biodiversity, with species found nowhere else on Earth. But nearly 30% of tropical rainforest has been destroyed or has become seriously degraded since 1990. Many of these forests have not been fully explored for their biodiversity. This means that the world may be losing species before they are even discovered by modern science.

In Africa, forest loss is rapid; about 25% of the continent’s tropical forest has been lost since 1990, against a backdrop of incomplete knowledge of where the biodiversity is located.

Greatly lagging in this respect are the “sky islands” of northern Mozambique: isolated granite mountains that rise sharply out of the savanna plains. They were left standing when softer rock around them gradually eroded, and can be as high as 3,000 metres elevation. Because they rise so steeply, the sky islands attract clouds and rainfall, feeding moisture to the tropical rainforests on their slopes within an otherwise arid terrain. Isolation has allowed unique species to evolve on each mountain, such as geckos, rodents, fishes, crabs, frogs, butterflies and bats.

Mount Inago. Krystal Tolley, CC BY

Small patch of remaining pristine rainforest at Mount Inago. Krystal Tolley, CC BY

From 2014 to 2018, a research team led by fellow herpetologist Werner Conradie and myself explored these sky island forests to catalogue the species of reptiles found there. We found that each sky island forest is home to a previously unknown species of chameleon within the genus Nadzikambia (forest-dwelling “sylvan chameleons”).

Unfortunately, these chameleons are already at risk of extinction due to the heavy slash-and-burn clearing of the forests, the only place they can call home.

We’ve described these new species, choosing four names to highlight pioneering women scientists whose work inspired us to strive towards new discoveries, but also to call attention to the losses of their forest habitat.

Hunting for chameleons

Over the course of several years, we explored four of Mozambique’s sky islands – Mount Namuli, Mount Inago, Mount Chiperone and Mount Ribáuè – with the aim of cataloguing all reptiles but also in the hopes of finding new species of chameleons. This was because a species of sylvan chameleon had been discovered on one of these mountains during the 1960s, but they were not known from any other mountains.

However, chameleons can be very difficult to find, given their ability to remain camouflaged against the background coupled with their slow movements. They are more easily spotted at night while they are sleeping, as they stand out against the vegetation when illuminated by a strong beam of light. Sylvan chameleons are even more difficult to spot than others, as they usually perch high in the thick forest canopy – tens of metres up.

The search meant dealing with some tough conditions: a long, arduous trek up the hot, arid slopes to reach the forest high up the mountain. Establishing a remote base camp was essential. All food, clothes and gear had to be packed into the camp, and we didn’t know how long it would take to find any animals.

At each of these mountains, we surveyed every night for chameleons – no trails to follow, no GPS signal to guide us, no cellphone signal to call for help.

Sometimes we were lucky and found chameleons on the first or second night. At other mountains we were not so lucky, with fruitless searches making it necessary to return another year.

Eventually these mountains revealed their secrets and we discovered four new species of sylvan chameleon, one on each of the four mountains.

Slash-and-burn clearing of rainforest at Mount Inago. Krystal Tolley, CC BY

We don’t know how big their populations are, but we assume they are in decline. Most of their habitat has been destroyed by forest clearing to make way for agriculture, with increasingly rapid losses in the last decade. We estimate that in some cases, 80%-90% of their habitat has been destroyed.

When parts of an ecosystem are lost, the whole becomes unstable and is eventually lost.

Choosing names for the new species

To highlight their predicament, we have described and named these chameleons and have forecast that three of these species are at high risk of extinction.

In particular, we highlight Nadzikambia goodallae from Mount Ribáuè. This species has been named in honour of the distinguished scientist Jane Goodall, whose own study species, the chimpanzee, is under similar pressures from loss of its rainforest habitat.

Female sylvan chameleon (Nadzikambia goodallae) from Mount Ribáuè. Krystal Tolley, CC BY

We also honour the renowned discoverer of the structure of DNA, Rosalind Franklin, by naming the species from Mount Namuli as Nadzikambia franklinae. The use of DNA data from these chameleons was essential to confirm them as new species.

Nadzikambia franklinae from Mount Namuli. Werner Conradie, CC BY

We have dubbed the species from Mount Inago as Nadzikambia evanescens, meaning “vanishing” in Latin, acknowledging the state of the forest destruction.

Male sylvan chameleon (Nadzikambia evanescens) from Mount Inago. Krystal Tolley, CC BY

The final species, Nadzikambia nubila, is named for the cloudy aspect of Mount Chiperone. This species has a lower risk of extinction given that the local community view the forest as sacred, and say it should be protected.

Female sylvan chameleon (Nadzikambia nubila) from Mount Chiperone. Krystal Tolley, CC BY

This latter case is significant, as it demonstrates that wholesale destruction of these forests is not an essential trade-off for local people to thrive. If encouraged and supported, community support and buy-in can be a solution to protect biodiversity in these sensitive ecosystems.

– Mozambique ‘sky island’ expeditions found 4 new species of chameleon – already at risk from forest loss
– https://theconversation.com/mozambique-sky-island-expeditions-found-4-new-species-of-chameleon-already-at-risk-from-forest-loss-279908

April 23, 2026

SA, Mexico to renew rivalry in 2026 World Cup opener

Source: Government of South Africa

SA, Mexico to renew rivalry in 2026 World Cup opener

When Bafana Bafana walk onto the pitch for the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June, it will mark exactly 16 years since South Africa, as host nation, kicked off the first World Cup on African soil against Mexico in Johannesburg.

Fast forward to 11 June 2026, and history repeats itself — with the same two nations meeting again in the tournament’s opening fixture, this time with South Africa playing away in Mexico.

“The same two countries. The same opening fixture. Exactly 16 years later. That is not a coincidence that football often gives you. When history hands you a gift like that, you do something with it,” the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, said on Thursday in Pretoria during a media briefing.

As part of commemorating the historic encounter, the two countries will stage a Legends rematch on 8 June 2026 — three days before the official opener.

The legends of the 2010 Bafana Bafana squad are set to face their Mexican counterparts in Pachuca, Mexico, revisiting the iconic clash from the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“The South African Football Association (SAFA) and the South African Masters and Legends Football Association have been working together to identify 20 of the players and team management from the 2010 squad. The playing kit will be secured by SAFA through its sponsor, Adidas,” the Minister said.

The match will be hosted in partnership with Pachuca, home to Club Pachuca, one of Mexico’s most historic football clubs.

“We are deeply grateful to Pachuca for the role they are playing in making this possible. This is not a match happening next to the World Cup. This is a match happening because two football nations, with a shared moment in history, decided to honour that moment properly,” McKenzie said.

Following the match, the South African Legends will remain in Mexico to host coaching clinics on 9 and 10 June, sharing their experience with young Mexican players and South African diaspora footballers.

They will also attend the opening match on 11 June before returning home the following day.

Ekhaya Centre to showcase SA culture

To promote South Africa’s culture and talent, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, in partnership with Brand South Africa and SA Tourism, will host the Ekhaya Centre at the Centro Nacional de las Artes in Mexico City.

“Ekhaya will be a place to watch football. It will be a place to see South African art, to hear South African music, to eat South African food. It will be a media centre for the journalists covering Bafana’s campaign.

“It will be a fan park and a fan engagement space. It will be a venue for business and investment networking – because when our flag is flying, our economy should be working alongside it,” the Minister said.

South Africa will also participate at the Aldea Global centre in Mexico City, alongside exhibitions from the 48 participating nations, with up to 20 South African artists set to perform.

Additional activation centres will be hosted in Atlanta and Monterrey, aligned with Bafana Bafana’s match schedule, to further boost fan engagement and promote South Africa on the global stage.

Cultural ambassadors to travel with the team

The department will also support South African artists to perform at the Ekhaya Centre and other activation hubs.

“We will be supporting South African chefs to cater to our fans, our guests, and curious Mexicans who want to experience South African cuisine. We will also support local podcasters and journalists to cover the tournament and tell our story in our own voices.

“To the South African journalists, podcasters and influencers travelling with us: you are not going to Mexico on holiday. You are going to render a service to your country.

“You will be telling South Africans, in their own voices and on their own platforms, what their players are doing on the world stage. That role is not always adequately recognised in this country, and it should be,” the Minister said.

Details of the selection process will be announced by the department in the coming days. –SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Thu, 04/23/2026 – 15:05

April 23, 2026

Women in science – global study finds presence without power

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Marie-Francoise Roy, emerita professor in mathematics

Academia isn’t strong on gender equality. Women are under-represented throughout, in the research workforce and even more so as leaders in scientific organisations. This is true for science academies (prestigious bodies within national science systems) and scientific unions (international organisations representing disciplinary communities).

Women today make up nearly a third of the global research workforce. According to Unesco, they accounted for 31.1% of researchers worldwide in 2022 – up from 29.4% in 2012. Women are particularly underrepresented in engineering and technology (one quarter or less), while gender balance is largely achieved in the social sciences and humanities.

But workforce representation does not automatically translate into senior or leadership positions. A recent global study shows that women remain underrepresented in organisations that influence scientific agendas and norms, recognise scientific excellence and advise governments.

This 2026 report is based on data from more than 130 scientific academies and international scientific unions, alongside a survey of nearly 600 scientists. It was produced by the International Science Council, the InterAcademy Partnership and the Standing Committee for Gender Equality in Science, and follows studies in 2015 and 2020. I was one of the authors of the 2026 report, with Léa Nacache and Catherine Jami.

National science academies illustrate the scale of the gender gap. In 2025, women represented on average 19% of members of these bodies. That is an improvement from the results of the two previous studies – 12% in 2015 and 16% in 2020. But it still falls well below their presence in the wider research community. And the global average masks sharp disparities: in some academies, women account for fewer than 5% of members; in others, they approach 40%.

The task of international scientific unions is to help develop and structure their discipline, organise global congresses and award prizes. These unions show a somewhat different pattern from academies. On average, women now hold 40% of leadership positions in the international unions that were surveyed. But here, too, progress is uneven. Long-standing disciplinary inequalities remain, particularly for the most prestigious scientific awards.

Our report looks at the reasons for these patterns, how institutions operate in practice, and how change could be achieved.

The findings matter because scientific academies and unions play a significant role in the governance of science. Persistent gender imbalances in these bodies, therefore, raise questions not only of fairness, but of legitimacy and effectiveness. The legitimacy of science depends in part on whether its institutions reflect the diversity of the scientific community. And legitimacy is important in a context of global challenges – from climate change to pandemics – where public trust in science is fragile.

Beyond pipeline effects

Gender disparities in scientific leadership are often explained as a lagging effect: if fewer women entered certain fields decades ago, fewer will now be in senior positions or eligible for nominations in academies or for scientific prizes. Pipeline dynamics do play a role, as do traditional disciplinary gaps. But they do not explain the full picture.

Most scientific organisations report formally open and merit-based nomination, election and awarding procedures. Yet, the data show that women are consistently underrepresented in nomination pools relative to their presence among eligible scientists.

Our analysis points to the importance of institutional processes. Who is eligible to nominate? How are suitable candidates identified? How transparent are the nomination criteria? How much weight is given to informal reputation and networks?

In 90% of the academies surveyed, nomination relies on existing members. In contexts where membership is already predominantly male, such procedures seem to perpetuate existing imbalances. Even in the absence of explicit discrimination, informal sponsorship networks and patterns of professional visibility influence who is put forward. Evaluation of who would make a good nominee is therefore shaped by social and institutional dynamics, and not solely by individual achievement and merit.

Our survey of the gender equality initiatives in place showed that encouragement and awareness-raising practices alone have had limited impact. They need to be accompanied by structural reforms. In most organisations, gender equality measures lack dedicated structures, formal mandates, budgets or monitoring mechanisms.

Participation without equal progression

The quantitative findings were complemented by survey responses from individual scientists active in scientific organisations. These provided insight into how the structural patterns operate in practice.

Women who join scientific organisations report participating at levels comparable to men. They serve on committees, attend meetings and contribute to activities. But we found that this engagement does not translate into equivalent progression or recognition.

Women are three times more likely than men to report barriers to advancement within their scientific organisation. Women are 4.5 times more likely than men to report missing important events due to care responsibilities. And when they are able to attend, they are six times more likely to report not feeling they can participate to the levels of men.

Women are 2.5 times more likely than men to report experiences of harassment or microaggressions in their activities within scientific organisations. They also express lower levels of trust in the transparency of selection processes and in mechanisms to report and address misconduct.

Qualitative interviews documented strategies that women develop to navigate these environments. They include building women-only networks, investing in international engagement to escape restrictive local cultures, or collectively advocating for change. These strategies appear to be effective and organisations should encourage them.

From diagnosis to change

The report does not argue for a single model or fixed targets applicable everywhere. Scientific organisations vary widely. However, the evidence and case studies featured in the report point to a set of key institutional levers that can make a difference.

To take an example, in academies where formal rules and structures have been revised, improvements in women’s representation have been more sustained. Such good practices need to be systematically identified and generalised.

The central conclusion is straightforward: the underrepresentation of women in scientific governance is not a question of insufficient talent. It reflects institutional practices based on cultures that developed within male-dominated scientific communities.

If science aims to serve society as a whole, the bodies that define and represent it must be willing to examine how they operate – and who they include.

Many colleagues made contributions that helped shape and improve the report on which this article, prepared with Peter McGrath (InterAcademy Partnership) and Léa Nacache (International Science Council), is based.

– Women in science – global study finds presence without power
– https://theconversation.com/women-in-science-global-study-finds-presence-without-power-279248

April 23, 2026

S&P Global réaffirme la note AA- de solidité financière et de crédit émetteur de Société islamique d’assurance des investissements et des crédits à l’exportation (SIACE) avec perspective stable

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

La Société islamique d’assurance des investissements et des crédits à l’exportation (SIACE) (www.ICIEC.IsDB.org), assureur multilatéral fondé sur la charia et membre du Groupe de la Banque islamique de développement, a le plaisir d’annoncer que S&P Global Ratings a confirmé, pour la troisième année consécutive, ses notes de crédit émetteur à long terme et de solidité financière à « AA- », avec une perspective stable, maintenant ainsi la SIACE parmi les institutions homologues les mieux notées au niveau mondial.

Cette confirmation reflète la solidité des fondamentaux de crédit de la SIACE, soutenus par une assise financière robuste, un profil de risque faible, ainsi que par la confiance de S&P dans l’adéquation solide de son capital, la qualité de son dispositif de gestion des risques, son niveau exceptionnel de liquidité et sa performance financière soutenue. S&P a maintenu le profil de risque d’entreprise de la SIACE à un niveau fort (A+) et son profil de risque financier à un niveau très fort (jusqu’à AA+), soutenus par une adéquation du capital au niveau de confiance de 99,99 %, une gouvernance prudente, un solide soutien des actionnaires et le traitement de créancier privilégié. La note globale de « AA- » repose sur la solidité combinée de ces profils. La perspective stable reflète les attentes d’une croissance continue, portée par le mandat de l’institution, tout en maintenant de positions en capital et en liquidité solides.

S&P a également indiqué que l’exposition de la SIACE aux évolutions géopolitiques en cours au Moyen-Orient demeure limitée et bien diversifiée, avec des coussins de fonds propres robustes et un soutien adéquat de la réassurance suffisant pour absorber la volatilité potentielle et les sinistres. Les perspectives d’activité de la Société demeurent robustes, soutenues par ses marchés de base en Afrique, en Asie et en Asie centrale, en particulier dans le segment des garanties d’investissement bénéficiant du traitement de créancier privilégié.

La SIACE exprime sa sincère gratitude à ses pays membres, au Président et aux membres du Conseil d’administration, ainsi qu’à l’ensemble de ses parties prenantes pour leur soutien continu, sans oublier son personnel dévoué.

Cette confirmation met de nouveau en évidence la solidité financière de la SIACE, la robustesse de sa gestion des risques et sa résilience institutionnelle. Elle renforce son engagement à soutenir le développement économique durable dans l’ensemble de ses pays membres, tout en consolidant davantage son positionnement à l’échelle mondiale. Elle renforce également la confiance continue de ses partenaires mondiaux, notamment les assurés, les institutions financières, les agences de crédit à l’exportation et, plus particulièrement, les partenaires de réassurance, envers la SIACE en tant que contrepartie multilatérale fiable, digne de confiance et à faible risque.

Distribué par APO Group pour Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC).

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À propos de la SIACE :
Membre de la Banque islamique de développement (BID), notée « AAA », la SIACE a démarré ses activités en 1994 afin de renforcer les relations économiques entre les pays membres de l’OCI et de promouvoir le commerce ainsi que les investissements intra-OCI en fournissant des outils d’atténuation des risques et des solutions financières. La Société est le seul assureur multilatéral islamique au monde. Elle a joué un rôle de premier plan en proposant une gamme complète de solutions aux entreprises et parties prenantes de ses 51 pays membres. Pour la 18ᵉ année consécutive, la SIACE a conservé sa note de solidité financière « Aa3 » attribuée par Moody’s, la classant parmi les leaders du secteur de l’assurance-crédit et des risques politiques (CPRI). Par ailleurs, S&P a confirmé la note de crédit et de solidité financière à long terme « AA- » de la SIACE pour la troisième année consécutive, avec des perspectives stables. La résilience de la SIACE repose sur une souscription solide, un réseau mondial de réassurance et des politiques rigoureuses de gestion des risques. Au total, la SIACE a assuré plus de 139 milliards de dollars de transactions commerciales et d’investissements. Ses activités couvrent plusieurs secteurs : l’énergie, l’industrie manufacturière, les infrastructures, la santé et l’agriculture.

Pour plus d’informations, veuillez visiter : www.ICIEC.IsDB.org

April 23, 2026

Les femmes africaines ne devraient pas avoir à souffrir de maladies passées sous silence

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Dans de nombreux pays à faibles ressources, les problèmes de santé des femmes restent souvent invisibles et passent inaperçus sous le poids de la stigmatisation sociale. Pour Aimée, 31 ans, cela signifiait vivre près d’une décennie avec une douleur qui a conditionné sa vie au quotidien.

« Tout a commencé environ un mois après la naissance de mon bébé », raconte Aimée. « J’avais mal au dos et au ventre. Quand la douleur s’est arrêtée, j’ai senti quelque chose gonfler dans mes parties intimes. »

Diagnostiquée avec un prolapsus utéro-vaginal (PUV), une affection dans laquelle les organes pelviens descendent dans le canal génital, Aimée a souffert d’un inconfort persistant, de douleurs et de complications de santé. Si le diagnostic pouvait expliquer ses symptômes, il ne lui donnait pas accès à un traitement.

L’histoire d’Aimée reflète une réalité plus large et sous-estimée. Des recherches scientifiques (https://apo-opa.co/4cslGAj) montrent que le PUV touche entre 2 % et 20 % des femmes dans le monde, avec une prévalence estimée à 19,7 % dans les pays en développement.

Pourtant, le fardeau réel est probablement encore plus lourd, car de nombreuses femmes ne signalent jamais leur état par honte, stigmatisation ou peur des conséquences sociales, ce qui amène à retarder ou éviter les soins.

« Comme cette pathologie n’est pas visible, certaines personnes pensaient que je mentais sur mon état », témoigne Aimée. « De l’extérieur, j’avais l’air en bonne santé. »

Son état l’a progressivement contrainte à cesser de travailler. Même les tâches quotidiennes, comme aller chercher de l’eau, porter des charges ou s’occuper de son foyer, sont devenues de plus en plus difficiles.

Après des années de douleur, une lueur d’espoir est apparue dans la vie d’Aimée à l’annonce radio de Mercy Ships offrant des soins chirurgicaux gratuits aux femmes souffrant de pathologies similaires à la sienne.

« J’étais tellement contente », déclare-t-elle. « J’ai immédiatement pensé que j’allais guérir. »

À bord de l’Africa Mercy®, Aimée a rencontré d’autres femmes qui partageaient des expériences similaires, chacune endurant une souffrance invisible, chacune aspirant à être entendue.

« Les problèmes gynécologiques sont comme n’importe quel autre problème médical », explique le Dr Jérôme Melon, chirurgien gynécologue bénévole. « Ils affectent la qualité de vie des gens. Et même si nous ne pouvons pas les voir, ils bouleversent profondément la vie des patients. »

L’opération d’Aimée a été un succès, mettant fin à cette pathologie qui avait marqué près de dix ans de sa vie. Au sein du service, les femmes ont partagé leurs histoires ouvertement, souvent pour la première fois, brisant le silence qui entourait depuis longtemps leur condition. Aujourd’hui, Aimée a choisi de s’exprimer afin de rompre la solitude des autres femmes qui souffrent.

« Je veux partager mon histoire », a-t-elle déclaré, « car il y a beaucoup de femmes comme moi qui ne savent pas vers qui se tourner pour obtenir de l’aide. Je veux qu’elles sachent que cette affection peut être traitée. »

Aimée ressent elle-même une différence profonde. Son espoir est clair : vivre pleinement sa vie de femme, de mère et de travailleuse, libérée du fardeau qu’elle portait autrefois en silence.

Distribué par APO Group pour Mercy Ships.

A propos de Mercy Ships :
Mercy Ships exploite des navires-hôpitaux qui fournissent des interventions chirurgicales gratuites ainsi que d’autres services de santé aux personnes ayant un accès limité à des soins médicaux sûrs. Organisation internationale confessionnelle, Mercy Ships se consacre entièrement, depuis plus de trois décennies, à des partenariats avec des nations africaines. En collaboration avec des partenaires locaux, Mercy Ships propose également des formations aux professionnels de santé et soutient la construction d’infrastructures médicales dans les pays afin de laisser un impact durable.

Chaque année, plus de 2 500 professionnels bénévoles issus de plus de 70 pays servent à bord des deux plus grands navires-hôpitaux non gouvernementaux au monde, l’Africa Mercy® et le Global Mercy™. Des professionnels tels que des chirurgiens, dentistes, infirmiers, formateurs en santé, cuisiniers et ingénieurs mettent leur temps et leurs compétences au service de l’amélioration de l’accès à des soins chirurgicaux et anesthésiques sûrs. Mercy Ships a été fondée en 1978 et dispose de bureaux dans 16 pays ainsi que d’un Centre de Services Afrique à Dakar, au Sénégal.

Pour plus d’informations, rendez-vous sur www.MercyShips.org et suivez @MercyShips sur les réseaux sociaux.

Media files

April 23, 2026

Tolashe takes integrated services to vulnerable KZN communities

Source: Government of South Africa

Tolashe takes integrated services to vulnerable KZN communities

Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe will lead a service delivery outreach in Ngudwini, KwaZulu-Natal, as part of government efforts to improve living conditions for vulnerable communities.

The outreach, taking place on Friday, 24 April 2026, will be conducted through an Integrated Community Registration and Outreach Programme (ICROP) and guided by the District Development Model (DDM), which promotes coordinated planning and integrated service delivery across all spheres of government.

Tolashe will lead the social development portfolio, comprising the Department of Social Development (DSD), South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), and the National Development Agency (NDA), to deliver a comprehensive package of services directly to the community.

Services will include on-site assistance with applications for social grants, as well as access to a range of government support programmes aimed at improving livelihoods.

Community dialogues conducted ahead of the Minister’s visit revealed persistent challenges in Ngudwini, including Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), child abuse, malnutrition, poverty, unemployment, and high levels of substance abuse.

The Minister is expected to engage with NDA-funded women-led cooperatives working in areas such as victim empowerment, manufacturing, bakery, food security and mentorship. These initiatives aim to create employment opportunities and strengthen community resilience.

Additional concerns raised included parents and caregivers who lack essential documents such as identity documents (IDs), resulting in children not having birth certificates and unable to access social grants.

The dialogues further revealed the exploitation of social grant beneficiaries by loan sharks who confiscate identity documents and SASSA payment cards as collateral. In addition, the community reported high levels of non-adherence to HIV treatment, raising concerns about public health outcomes.

“Members of the community are encouraged to attend and should bring the necessary documents for assistance, including Identity Documents, Birth Certificates etc,” the department said.

Outreach to inspire future water sector professionals

Meanwhile, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina is leading a two-day community outreach initiative in the Eastern Cape, aimed at supporting underprivileged learners and promoting ignite interest in career opportunities in the country’s water and sanitation sector.

The programme, conducted jointly with key water sector entities, is taking place on Thursday, 23 April 2026 and Friday, 24 April 2026 at Aliwal North Orientation School and Bensonvale Methodist Church in the Joe Gqabi District Municipality.

As part of the initiative, Majodina will donate school uniforms and essential learning materials to deserving learners, while also leading a Water and Sanitation Career Exhibition designed to expose young people to opportunities within the sector.

The initiative forms part of the department’s broader strategy to build a strong channel of skilled professionals in response to growing capacity challenges in water and sanitation.

The programme will also celebrate academic excellence among top-performing learners from 17 schools across underserved communities in the district.

High-achieving learners will be acknowledged and rewarded, reinforcing the importance of education as a pathway to opportunity and socio-economic advancement.

“With South Africa facing a critical shortage of skills in water and sanitation, the career exhibition, supported by sector partners, will expose learners to diverse fields including engineering, science, policy development and infrastructure management,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Thu, 04/23/2026 – 14:23

April 23, 2026

S&P Global Affirms Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit’s (ICIEC) AA- Financial Strength and Issuer Credit Rating with Stable Outlook

Source: APO

The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) (www.ICIEC.IsDB.org), a Shariah-based multilateral insurer and member of the Islamic Development Bank Group, is pleased to announce that S&P Global Ratings has affirmed its long-term issuer credit and financial strength ratings at ‘AA-’ with a Stable Outlook for the third consecutive year, maintaining ICIEC’s position among the highest-rated peer institutions globally.

The reaffirmation reflects ICIEC’s strong credit fundamentals, underpinned by solid financial strength, a low-risk profile, and S&P’s confidence in its robust capital adequacy, sound risk management framework, exceptional liquidity, and sustained financial performance. S&P has maintained ICIEC’s Enterprise Risk Profile at strong (A+) and Financial Risk Profile at very strong (up to AA+), supported by capital adequacy at the 99.99% confidence level, prudent governance, strong shareholder support, and Preferred Creditor Treatment (PCT). The overall rating of ‘AA-’ is based on the combined strength of these profiles. Stable Outlook reflects expectations of continued mandate-driven growth while maintaining strong capital and liquidity positions.

S&P further noted that ICIEC’s exposure to ongoing Middle East geopolitical developments remains limited and well-diversified, with strong capital buffers and reinsurance support sufficient to absorb potential volatility and claims. The Corporation’s business prospects remain resilient, supported by core markets across Africa, Asia, and Central Asia, particularly within the PCT-backed investment guarantee segment.

ICIEC extends its sincere appreciation to its Member Countries, the Chairman and members of the Board of Directors, and all stakeholders for their continued support, as well as to its dedicated staff members.

This reaffirmation underscores ICIEC’s financial strength, robust risk management, and institutional resilience, reinforcing its commitment to supporting sustainable economic development across its Member States while further strengthening its global standing. It also reinforces continued confidence among global partners, including policyholders, financial institutions, export credit agencies, and particularly reinsurance partners, in ICIEC as a reliable and trusted low-risk multilateral counterparty.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC).

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About The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC):
As a member of ‘AAA’ rated Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), ICIEC commenced operations in 1994 to strengthen economic relations between OIC Member States and promote intra-OIC trade and investments by providing risk mitigation tools and financial solutions. The Corporation is the only Islamic multilateral insurer in the world. It has led from the front in delivering a comprehensive suite of solutions to companies and parties in its 51 Member States. ICIEC, for the 18^th consecutive year, maintained an “Aa3” insurance financial strength credit rating from Moody’s, ranking the Corporation among the top of the Credit and Political Risk Insurance (CPRI) Industry. Additionally, S&P has reaffirmed ICIEC “AA-“ long-term Issuer Credit and Financial Strength Rating for the third year with Stable Outlook. ICIEC’s resilience is underpinned by its sound underwriting, global reinsurance network, and strong risk management policies. Cumulatively, ICIEC has insured more than USD 139 billion in trade and investment. ICIEC activities are directed to several sectors such as energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, healthcare, and agriculture.

For more information; visit: www.ICIEC.IsDB.org