Category: Africa

Source: APO – Report:

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– on behalf of The World Bank Group.

Source: APO – Report:

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An oral monthly pill to prevent HIV, alimatravir (also known as MK-8527), produced by Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), is currently undergoing promising phase three trials. If the trials are successful, this development could provide another tool in the HIV prevention toolbox and a positive step towards ending AIDS. 

UNAIDS commends MSD for its early access plan to help partners prepare for manufacturing and delivery. MSD has announced voluntary licensing agreements with generic pharmaceutical manufacturers, including three in Africa, to produce the once-monthly oral HIV prevention candidate. Early planning for financing, demand forecasting, accessibility and regulatory readiness will be as important as scientific innovation to ensure that new HIV prevention technologies reach people rapidly and equitably. 

“Scientific innovation has the power to change the trajectory of the AIDS pandemic, but only if it reaches everyone who needs it,” said Angeli Achrekar, Deputy Executive Director of UNAIDS. “If alimatravir proves to be safe and effective and receives regulatory approval, manufacturing must be rapidly scaled up and the product made affordable and accessible in low- and middle-income countries from day one. No one should have to wait years for life-saving HIV prevention.” 

UNAIDS commends MSD for the proposed partnerships with Aspen Pharmacare in South Africa, Quality Chemicals Industries Limited in Uganda and Universal Corporation Limited in Kenya. If the trials are successful, the agreement will present an important opportunity to strengthen Africa’s local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity. It will also bring innovative HIV prevention options closer to the people who need them most, supported by sustainable market development and technology transfer. 

The announcement aligns with UNAIDS’ Global AIDS Strategy’s call to ensure equitable access to innovation and the strengthening of health sovereignty through local production, regional manufacturing and pooled procurement commitments. This was reaffirmed by countries in June this year in the 2026 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS. 

Despite remarkable progress in scientific innovations in recent years, including antiretroviral-based HIV prevention options, millions of people—particularly adolescent girls and young women, marginalized populations and other people at heightened risk of HIV—still lack access to effective HIV prevention options.  

In 2025, 1.2 million people acquired HIV, and more than half a million people (570 000) died of AIDS-related illnesses. Around 3100 adolescent girls and young women acquire HIV every week in sub-Saharan Africa. Expanding choice through new prevention technologies, alongside sustained investment in community-led services and strong health systems, will be essential to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. 

“UNAIDS welcomes partnerships that link clinical research, regional manufacturing and equitable access to HIV services,” said Ms Achrekar. “UNAIDS calls on governments, pharmaceutical companies, global health partners and communities to work together to accelerate production, ensure affordable pricing and remove barriers that delay access to new HIV prevention tools across all regions of the world.” 

UNAIDS will continue working with countries and partners to monitor equitable access, support affordable pricing, strengthen costing and resource planning, and advance sustainable financing pathways for the introduction and scale-up of all new HIV prevention technologies.

– on behalf of United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

Source: APO – Report:

The Ministry of Public Service requires up to Shs308 billion to cover a funding gap necessary to support critical development projects under the ministry, including the establishment of 19 Service Uganda Centres.

Appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Public Service and Local Government on Wednesday, 05 August 2026, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Catherine Bitarakwate, said plans are in place to establish 19 zonal centres across the country.

She said the centres will leverage existing POSTA Uganda infrastructure to centralise multi-sector public services including issuance of passports, driving permits, tax assessments and payroll updates and pension verification, among others.

“Currently, individual MDAs run duplicate regional offices averaging shs200 million each, annually. Consolidating into 19 zonal centres eliminates overlapping structures and saves the government an estimated shs286.2 billion annually,” Bitarakwate noted.

She also highlighted the expansion of the Civil Service College Uganda estimated at US$30.4 million, which she said will address challenges faced by civil servants who train at the institution.

“Expansion of the college will reduce daily training costs to shs197,000 per person, generate an annual monetary saving of Shs6 billion to government, and increase non-tax revenue to Shs7.5 billion,” Bitarakwate added.

Hon. Emmanuel Banya (NRM, Koboko County) asked whether the ministry was best aligned to strategically lead the one-stop model service centres aimed at re-engineering citizen access to government services.

Hon. Isaac Modoi (NRM, Lutseshe County) raised concerns over the viability of government’s recent rationalisation process.

“When you merged government institutions through the rationalisation process, the challenges accruing from this process seem to be watering down the purpose for the mergers. What remedies do you have to ensure persons affected are catered for?” Modoi asked.

Bitarakwate explained that the mergers necessitated an integration of different work cultures from different agencies that were put under the supervision of different parent ministries.

“The ministry is going to come up with a monitoring and evaluation report of the challenges and how they can be resolved. For individuals who lost jobs during rationalisation, we are progressively fixing them in MDAs where there is attrition,” Bitarakwate said.

She also added that the proposed adhoc Salary Review Commission is being considered under the review of the Public Service Act, noting that this will give a comprehensive perspective to several other reforms under the Ministry.

Regarding the proposed one-stop service centres, Bitarakwate told MPs that the Ministry of Public Service is spearheading structures through which different government agencies will offer key services at a decentralised level.

“We are not the ones going to do immigration or issue permits, but we shall bring these entities under one roof which is the old post office buildings. This will enable quick access to information and services rather than having people travel all the way to Kampala,” she said.

– on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO

The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon. Henry Tumukunde, has raised concern over gaps in government’s ability to monitor and protect Ugandans working abroad, saying more must be done to safeguard migrant workers after they leave the country.

Tumukunde said the country’s labour-export programme should not end with the recruitment and deployment of Ugandans, but must include adequate preparation, monitoring and mechanisms to assist workers once they arrive in destination countries.

He made the remarks while appearing before the Parliament Committee on Gender, Labour and Social Development chaired by Hon. Laura Kanushu, on Wednesday, 05 August 2026.

Tumukunde said Ugandans seeking employment abroad must be properly recruited and trained before departure, but government must also establish mechanisms to monitor their welfare once they are outside the country.

“How do you reach there?” Tumukunde asked, questioning how government can effectively monitor Ugandan workers in foreign countries when there is inadequate facilitation for officials expected to follow up on them.

He said Uganda has labour partnerships with other countries but questioned whether these arrangements were translating into adequate protection for migrant workers.

The minister said the Government needed to strengthen its systems for keeping records of Ugandans working abroad and ensuring that they can be located and assisted if they encounter problems.

He said Uganda should consider the importance of labour export in light of the money migrant workers send back home.

“I hope that you and the government should invest in training people, because you are getting quite a lot of remittances from these people,” Tumukunde told the committee.

The minister questioned why labour export was sometimes treated as a peripheral issue despite the significant contribution of migrant workers to Uganda’s economy.

He told the committee that about 5.5 million young people below the age of 30 are neither employed nor in education or training, warning that the figure could increase significantly in the coming years if the situation is not urgently addressed.

The minister also raised the issue of trafficking, saying the problem requires stronger controls involving several government institutions.

He said government would continue to play its role in addressing the weaknesses within the labour-export system and assured the committee that the Ministry would not ignore internal shortcomings.

Tumukunde also raised concern over inadequate funding, fragmented service delivery and weak oversight mechanisms that he said are undermining efforts to support Uganda’s most vulnerable people.

He said one of the major challenges he had identified was a failure to achieve genuine inclusiveness, particularly because resources allocated to vulnerable groups were often too limited to meet the needs of the intended beneficiaries.

“Are you really giving it enough time? Are you giving it enough coverage? Are you providing the appropriate budget that is supposed to take care of these very, very vulnerable people?” Tumukunde asked.

He also pointed to what he described as “technical fractures” in the system of service delivery, where funds from the gender ministry are sent to districts but are administered through structures under other government institutions.

He further criticised the limited resources available for political supervision, saying ministers and other political leaders are expected to monitor programmes across the country without adequate facilitation.

Hon. Richard Wanyama (NRM, Samia Bugwe Central County), however, challenged the ministry on funding, saying it had failed to absorb some of the funds allocated to it last year.

“Because last time you had Shs410 billion, but you spent Shs333 billion, so it will be very hard for you to ask for more money,” he said.

Wanyama also agreed with the minister about the frustrations faced by girls who go to work abroad, saying they are frequently cheated by labour recruitment companies.

Hon. Sowedi Kitanywa, MP for Busongora County North, asked the minister to lobby Cabinet for increased funding, saying members would support the ministry’s efforts.

“Fight more at Cabinet level to get more funding; we will support you here,” he said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO

Analysis from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) shows that the strengthening El Niño weather pattern is set to significantly worsen food insecurity in some of the world’s most vulnerable countries into 2027. The agency is ramping up its preparedness and response efforts as impacts from El Niño are already hitting the most vulnerable on the frontlines of hunger. 

“El Niño is a massive threat to the food security of millions who are already vulnerable,” said Carl Skau, WFP’s Acting Executive Director. “The sooner we help families to prepare for these climate shocks, the greater our ability to save lives and protect livelihoods. Severe floods and droughts can quickly push communities from coping to crisis. WFP is already ramping-up early response efforts in eight countries, and we stand ready to do even more.”

El Niño is expected to peak between September and December 2026, but in many locations the effects will be felt throughout 2027, due to impacts on future harvest cycles. Drought, flooding and extreme temperatures are already putting communities at risk. 

WFP and its partners are taking early action now, preparing for floods, droughts, and storms before they hit, to reduce humanitarian needs. Working closely with FAO, OCHA and other partners, WFP has active anticipatory action plans in over 50 countries, is supporting governments in their preparations, and helping communities to reduce risks. 

Since May, WFP has triggered anticipatory action plans in South Sudan, Chad, Mauritania, Uganda, Guatemala, and El Salvador, providing over USD 14 million in life-saving responses to support half a million people. This includes scaling its pre-arranged financing mechanisms such as disaster risk insurance, credit, and digital payments, to make more money available at lower cost. 

These efforts help communities and governments prepare for and withstand sudden shocks while reducing future humanitarian needs. In fact, experiences from prior El Niño events have shown that USD 1 invested in anticipatory programs can save between USD 3 and USD 7 in avoided losses and response costs. 

PROJECTED SCALE OF EL NIÑO IMPACT

The 2015-2016 El Niño impacted the food security of 60-100 million people. WFP’s early analysis projects that this 2026-2027 El Niño could push at least 49 million more people into acute food insecurity by the end of 2027.

The analysis focused on 45 countries already considered food insecure, and where El Niño will significantly influence rainfall patterns, temperatures and the occurrence of floods and droughts. Across these countries, the total number of acutely food insecure people (families that are unable to meet their daily food needs) would rise from approximately 225 million to 274 million people: an increase of approximately 22 percent. 

The largest impacts are expected in parts of Central America and southern Africa, with significant effects also anticipated in eastern Africa and south and southeast Asia. 

WFP expects that countries already grappling with poverty, conflict, economic instability and repeated weather extremes will likely bear the brunt of El Niño, and that its impact will not be experienced uniformly. Some countries are already experiencing below-average rainfall, flooding, and unusually hot temperatures, while others are expected to face deteriorating conditions during upcoming planting seasons and harvests.

Key findings of the report include:

• Latin America and the Caribbean could see one of the sharpest rises in food insecurity with more than 16 million people affected. Particularly, Central America is projected to have the largest proportional increase (83.1%) of all analyzed areas.
• East and Southern Africa face substantial risks, particularly where upcoming rainy seasons are critical for food production. More than 18 million people could see their food security deteriorate, representing a 26 percent increase. Southern African countries are particularly exposed because many households depend on rain-fed subsistence agriculture.
• Asia and the Pacific could see significant impacts in several already vulnerable countries with an estimated 8.2 million additional people facing acute food insecurity.
• West and Central Africa are also at risk with food insecurity projected to increase by 12 percent, affecting nearly 6 million additional people.

WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have already appealed for increased support to help at-risk communities prepare for El Niño to help protect lives, livelihoods and food security before emergencies escalate.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

Source: APO

 Last week, Spotlight Initiative 2.0, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented through the Government of Liberia and UN Women, in partnership with the HOPE (Helping Our People Excel) Consortium and Youth Crime Watch of Liberia reached another significant milestone with the successful validation of the Second Chance Education (SCE) Training Module.

The validation workshop brought together representatives of the Government of Liberia, United Nations agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, organizations of persons with disabilities, and technical experts to review and strengthen the training package, which is designed to equip women and girls with literacy, life skills, vocational and entrepreneurship skills, and pathways to economic empowerment.

Across Liberia, many women and girls—particularly survivors of gender-based violence, adolescent mothers, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups—continue to face barriers to education, skills development, and sustainable livelihoods. Although national policies promote gender equality and women’s empowerment, stakeholders identified the need for a comprehensive Second Chance Education model that integrates literacy, life skills, vocational training, leadership development, entrepreneurship, protection, and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) into a single learning programme.

To address these gaps, Spotlight Initiative 2.0 supported the development of the integrated Second Chance Education Training Module through a participatory and consultative process that included:

• A comprehensive review of national policies and existing programmes;
• Key informant interviews conducted across the eight Spotlight Initiative implementation counties of Bong, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Lofa, Maryland, Montserrado, and Nimba;
• Consultations with government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, and organizations representing persons with disabilities; and

• The development of a Facilitator’s Manual and Learner’s Workbook tailored for participants with limited formal education.

During the validation workshop, participants assessed the curriculum’s relevance, practicality, and inclusiveness, providing technical recommendations to strengthen implementation, disability inclusion, learner-centered approaches, and long-term sustainability. Emphasis was placed on accessibility measures, including the provision of learning materials in braille and local languages, ensuring physically accessible training venues, and addressing cultural considerations to support inclusive participation.
The workshop resulted in several key outcomes, including:
•    Validation of the integrated Second Chance Education Training Module;
•    Agreement to incorporate stakeholders’ technical recommendations before finalization;
•    Recognition of the module’s potential to serve as a scalable national model beyond the Spotlight Initiative; and
•    Strengthened collaboration among the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Local Government, the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, the European Union, UN Women Liberia, and implementing partners.
Participants also recommended that the curriculum remain flexible to support future implementation cycles and be regularly reviewed to capture lessons learned and improve effectiveness. They further emphasized the importance of a robust monitoring and evaluation framework, including clear performance indicators, routine data collection, and beneficiary feedback mechanisms to inform continuous improvement.
“This module is more than a literacy programme. It provides women and girls with practical skills, confidence, and opportunities to improve their livelihoods while strengthening community resilience. Our collective responsibility is to ensure that it is implemented successfully and sustainably,” said Hassan G. Robert, Data Analyst at the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Following the validation workshop, stakeholders will incorporate the agreed technical recommendations into the final training materials before proceeding with a Training of Trainers (ToT). Implementation of the Second Chance Education programme will subsequently begin across the eight Spotlight Initiative implementation counties, expanding access to education, skills development, and economic opportunities for women and girls throughout Liberia.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.

Source: APO

The ECOWAS Commission’s Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) holds a 3-day retreat in Lagos, Nigeria from the 3rd to 5th August 2026, with the theme: “Positioning PAPS for Strategic Transition, Institutional Continuity and Emerging Peace & Security Challenges in the ECOWAS Region”.

The retreat is a strategic platform for PAPS to reflect on its achievements, challenges and lessons learned under the outgoing management, while strengthening coordination across its Directorates, Divisions and relevant ECOWAS institutions. It will also assess the Department’s operational effectiveness in responding to evolving regional peace and security challenges, identify innovative approaches to resource mobilisation and programme implementation, and formulate strategic recommendations to facilitate a smooth leadership transition. The meeting will further examine ways to reposition the Department to contribute more effectively to the implementation of the ECOWAS Vision 2050 and the Community Strategic Framework. The retreat is being attended by all staff of the Department cutting across various cadre, relevant Directorates within the Commission, Force Commanders of the ECOWAS Stabilization Support Missions in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.

Dr. Danjuma AKU, the Chairman of the Technical Organising Committee welcomed participants to the PAPS Departmental Retreat, describing the gathering as a strategic opportunity for staff and leadership to step away from their routine responsibilities, reflect on the Department’s achievements and challenges, strengthen collaboration, and identify practical measures to enhance the delivery of ECOWAS’ peace and security mandate. The Committee noted that the retreat is particularly significant as it marks the final one under the current management team, providing an opportunity to reflect on the Department’s journey, consolidate institutional gains, and chart a sustainable path for continued excellence and effective service to the region.

In his opening statement, H.E. Amb. Abdel-Fatau MUSAH, PhD described the retreat as a critical opportunity to strengthen institutional continuity and position the Department to respond more effectively to the region’s evolving peace, security, and governance challenges. He said the retreat, held under the theme “Positioning PAPS for Strategic Transition, Institutional Continuity and Emerging Peace & Security Challenges in the ECOWAS Region,” would enable participants to assess achievements, document lessons learned, identify operational priorities, and develop practical recommendations to guide the incoming management while reinforcing the long-term effectiveness of the Department in advancing the ECOWAS peace and security agenda.

“This Retreat is more than a routine departmental gathering; it is an opportunity for institutional reflection, accountability, and renewal. As we prepare for a leadership transition, we must ensure that the knowledge, experience, and lessons acquired over the past four years are preserved and transmitted, while positioning PAPS to respond more effectively to the increasingly complex peace, security, and governance challenges confronting our region.” he added.

By the end of the retreat, participants are expected to have developed a shared understanding of the Department’s achievements, transition priorities, and future strategic direction, while producing actionable recommendations to support the incoming management. The retreat is also expected to strengthen institutional coordination and coherence, clarify operational priorities for addressing emerging peace and security challenges, preserve institutional memory, and reinforce continuity within the Department. Ultimately, it will reaffirm the Department’s collective commitment to advancing the ECOWAS peace, security, and governance agenda in line with the Community’s strategic objectives and Vision 2050.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO

The Commanding Officer of Nigerian Company 4 (NIGCOY 4), ECOWAS Stabilization Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB), Lieutenant Colonel Bibode Clarke, has formally handed over command of the Nigerian Contingent to Lieutenant Colonel Afam Junior Chidi, the Commanding Officer of Nigerian Company 5 (NIGCOY 5). The transition followed the successful rotation of Nigerian troops in the mission area and culminated in an official handing and taking over ceremony held at the Nigerian Contingent Headquarters in Bissau on 3 August 2026.

In his farewell address, Lieutenant Colonel Bibode Clarke described the rotation of troops in the mission area as a routine exercise aimed at rejuvenating operational effectiveness and sustaining the professionalism of the Nigerian Army. He expressed gratitude to the officers and soldiers for their unwavering support throughout his one-year tenure, during which the contingent contributed significantly to the maintenance of peace, security, and stability in Guinea-Bissau. He urged the personnel of Nigerian Company 5 to uphold the highest standards of discipline, professionalism, and commitment in the discharge of their duties.

In his acceptance remarks, the Commanding Officer of Nigerian Company 5, Lieutenant Colonel Afam Junior Chidi, commended his predecessor for his exemplary leadership and for ensuring a seamless transition of command. He pledged to consolidate on the achievements of Nigerian Company 4 and to continue supporting the mandate of the ECOWAS Stabilization Support Mission in promoting peace, security, and stability in Guinea-Bissau.

Highlights of the ceremony included the signing of the handing and taking over notes, inspection of the Quarter Guard, the formal handover of command and the Nigerian Company flag, as well as group photographs.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).