Category: Africa

Source: APO

.

Long viewed as a fallback for hard times, social protection is now being reimagined as a driver of resilience. With rising costs, widening inequality, and fragile economies, governments are searching for ways to make every policy choice count.

These challenges brought policymakers from Africa, Asia, and the Pacific to Livingstone, Zambia, from 8 to 10 July, where they focused on targeted refinements and applied approaches to strengthen social protection.

The gathering centered on hands-on methods: tools, data, and policy strategies that help governments respond to poverty, economic shocks, and climate threats with greater precision. It formed part of a broader UN effort to promote universal, adaptive, and inclusive social protection systems worldwide.

Zambia, the host, is contending with drought-linked hunger and soaring living costs. The Maldives faces logistical hurdles in delivering services across 187 dispersed islands. Tanzania is navigating population pressures, youth unemployment, and informality. Each delegation brought its own realities, but the drive for smarter systems was shared.

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) introduced a suite of empirical tools, including ECA’s multidimensional poverty dashboard and ESCAP’s evidence-based targeting models, to help governments sharpen decisions using locally relevant data.

Christian Oldiges, Chief of Social Policy at ECA, described the tool as a bridge between data and delivery. “It shows not just where the poor are, but what kind of poverty they face, and how existing schemes measure up.”

Selahattin Selsah Pasali, Social Affairs Officer at ESCAP, said member states such as Cambodia and the Maldives value the tools’ flexibility and training support, “which helps localize and institutionalize them.” Many, he noted, are now considering a shit from survey data to administrative records to better design policies and estimate costs.

Namibia shared progress digitizing its social grant system. Malawi, a global champion for the Social Protection Accelerator, is rolling out a new policy rooted in a lifecycle approach that addresses risks across age groups.

Tanzania is widening its model too. Frank Kilimba from the Office of the Prime Minister said: “We’re expanding beyond contribution-based systems to ensure broader coverage, especially for informal and rural populations.”

Rwanda was among the countries exchanging experiences. Ariane Mugisha, Chief Digital Officer in the Local Government Sector, said the sessions on social registries and data integration offered key insights into building adaptive systems. Her colleague Joel Murenzi, Social Protection Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Local Government, highlighted the importance of learning from others’ approaches to expanding coverage and adjusting benefit levels in line with inflation.

Behind the mix of countries, organizers said, was an intentional effort to draw from diverse settings. “We brought together small island states like the Maldives and middle-income countries like Namibia with least developed economies such as Malawi and Zambia,” said Amson Sibanda, Chief of Service at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). “Their challenges differ, but their commitment to reform creates a space for grounded exchange.”

That reality, said Mamusa Siyunyi, Social Affairs Officer at ECA, makes targeted support all the more essential. “It’s not just the triple crisis of food, fuel and finance,” she said. “It’s demographic pressure, climate risk, and limited fiscal space. Countries need support that’s relevant and usable.”

Several delegates requested additional training and ongoing technical assistance. Others stressed the need to bridge institutional divides that hinder implementation.

“We have the data, but making it useful means working across silos,” said Hudha Haleem of the Maldives Bureau of Statistics. “The big takeaway for me was how collaboration between data producers and programme implementers can make systems more responsive and inclusive.”

Fathimath Nisha Fahmy from the Maldives Pension Office agreed, adding that geographic realities demand precise, adaptive systems. “Using real-time data to target and adapt social protection is critical for countries like ours, spread across many islands.”

Mr. Sibanda underscored the need to match innovation with institutional readiness. “We always say that policymakers should be able to leverage the science-policy interface to make good decisions and future-proof their strategies,” he said. “But for that to happen, public institutions need the capacity to harness these tools and understand both their benefits and potential pitfalls.”

As countries prepare for a series of global forums on social development, the Livingstone meeting formed part of a wider push to build systems that are better designed, better resourced, and better able to reach those most at risk.

“Policymakers don’t just need inspiration,” said Mr. Oldiges. “They need proof points, blueprints, and allies. That’s what we came here to build.”

The three-day interregional workshop was organized by UN DESA, ECA, and ESCAP in collaboration with the government of Zambia. It brought together officials from eight countries across Africa and Asia-Pacific with a shared aim to build smarter, more resilient social protection systems that lift people sustainably, not just catch them when they fall.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

Source: APO

.

H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, received Dr. Hanan Balkhy, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, during her visit to Egypt. The meeting was attended by Dr. Nima Saeed, WHO Representative to Egypt, and focused on ways to strengthen joint cooperation.

At the beginning of the meeting, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat welcomed Dr. Hanan Balkhy, and lauded the constructive collaboration between the Egyptian government and WHO through national plans and presidential initiatives.

The Minister expressed aspiration for further cooperation in light of the state’s prioritization of developing healthcare services and implementing the Universal Health Insurance System.

During the meeting, H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat reviewed the mandate and work files of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, and its role in preparing the economic and social development plan and managing public investments for various sectors.

She highlighted the coordination with international development partners to enhance the role of UN organizations in Egypt, especially given the Ministry’s role as the national coordinator and rapporteur for the 2030 Agenda.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat pointed to the ongoing efforts to strengthen multilateral and bilateral development partnerships, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework “UNSDCF” (2023–2027), and bilateral relations with development partners.

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat referred to the new Planning Law in Egypt and its integration with the unified Public Finance Law. She noted that the Ministry is also working on developing the annual economic and social development plan, and starting from the next fiscal year 2026/2027, a medium-term plan for three years with clear targets will be developed, which will promote evidence- and data-based development policies.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat affirmed that ongoing cooperation with WHO is central to Egypt’s comprehensive national vision and reflects the state’s commitment to achieving the primary goal of Egypt Vision 2030: “Improving the quality of life for all Egyptians and raising their living standards.”

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat also indicated that providing equitable and high-quality healthcare is a fundamental human right and a key tool for achieving social justice and national development.

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat reviewed the progress in Egypt’s GDP for the third quarter of the last fiscal year, which recorded 4.7%, exceeding expectations despite regional challenges and global tensions.

She also noted the targets of the economic and social development plan for the current fiscal year, which allocates approximately 45% of government investments to various human development sectors.

For her part, Dr. Hanan Balkhy expressed gratitude to the Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation for the continuous coordination and ongoing cooperation to support UN organizations through international partnerships.

She affirmed WHO’s appreciation for its partnership with the Egyptian government and praised Egypt’s advancements in combating diseases and enhancing healthcare services, as well as strengthening pharmaceutical security through the expansion of medicine and vaccine manufacturing.

The two sides also discussed cooperation within the framework of WHO’s “Health in All Policies” approach, which aims to integrate health considerations into policymaking across all government sectors.

In this regard, H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat welcomed the initiative, emphasizing that this approach aligns with the state’s endeavors to foster evidence-based policymaking and develop Egypt’s planning system by starting the preparation of a medium-term plan from the next fiscal year. She also underscored Egypt’s Integrated National Financing Strategy (E-INFS) for Sustainability and Development, which represents a roadmap for financing development across various sectors, including health and human development sectors.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation – Egypt.

Source: APO – Report:

.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of congratulations to President Carlos Vila Nova of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe on the occasion of his country’s Independence Day.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, also sent similar message to President of São Tomé and Príncipe and to Prime Minister Americo d’Oliveira dos Ramos on the occasion.

– on behalf of United Arab Emirates, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Source: APO – Report:

.

On the occasion of the 2025 African Anti-Corruption Day, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, urges all African Union Member States to underscore human dignity in their anti-corruption strategies.

The 2025 African Anti-Corruption Day is commemorated under the theme, Promoting Human Dignity in the Fight Against Corruption. The commemoration held annually on 11 July, aligns this year with the overarching AU theme for 2025: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.”

The Chairperson emphasizes that corruption is not merely an economic crime but a direct assault on human dignity and security as it robs countries of their potential and individuals of their dignity. Corruption undermines trust in our institutions, diverts resources meant for development, and perpetuates inequality and poverty.

The Chairperson highlights that corruption strips citizens, particularly women, youth , children and the most vulnerable, of their fundamental rights, freedoms, and opportunities to thrive, leading to tragic consequences like increased maternal mortality due to diverted health funds or lack of basic education for children.

The Chairperson highlights the intrinsic link between the fight against corruption and the broader pursuit of justice and reparations. He notes that just as the continent seeks to address historical injustices through reparations, it must equally dismantle contemporary corrupt systems that perpetuate indignity and injustice.

The 2025 African Anti-Corruption Day theme seeks to sensitize Africans of the importance to examine our history, and to shape our shared future, based on the dignity of people.

The Chairperson reiterates that the African Union has prioritized the fight against corruption as a cornerstone of its Agenda 2063, envisioning an Africa where integrity, accountability, and transparency prevail. He stresses that the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC), adopted 22 years ago, remains the guiding framework. He urges Member States to continue aligning national legislation and strategies with its principles, particularly Article 2(4), which enjoins State Parties to promote socio-economic development by removing obstacles to the enjoyment of economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as civil and political rights.

The AU Chairperson calls for immediate action by Member States to fulfil their commitment to effectively tackle corruption and implement measures that apply a human rights lens in prevention and enforcement. He also calls for unity to dismantle corruption’s structures and build a continent where human dignity is protected and celebrated.

– on behalf of African Union (AU).

Source: APO – Report:

.

Thirty-four youth from across the south of Libya joined Deputy Special Representative for the Secretary General Stephanie Koury in an online youth consultation Wednesday to discuss their opinions on the Advisory Committee’s recommendations. 

The event is part of broader consultations to gather feedback from the public on the next steps of the political process. UNSMIL has also launched an online poll inviting Libyans to share options on the Advisory Committee’s recommendations and contribute to shaping the way forward in the political process. 

Participants stressed the need for representation for the south in any mechanism or institution, highlighting that they suffer through economic instability and insecurity across borders and do not benefit from oil money. 

The youth all agreed that the deteriorating economic situation was closely linked to the security situation and one could not be solved without addressing the other. They highlighted that they wanted stability and security and their voices to be heard in representative forums. 

“We suffer from weak infrastructure with power cuts during 50-degree heat,” said one participant from Ghat. “We are deprived of basic services. We need to focus on these things, not a constitution.” 

The economic situation is so bad, another participant from Ghat said, that it’s impacting the security situation. “This is why people are making their livelihoods from selling weapons,” they said. “We need to have a clear economic plan,” said a participant from Sebha. “We need to end the sources of corruption.” 

A participant from Ubari called for transitional periods to end. “Through the years and different governments, our divisions have only increased,” said a participant from Sebha, adding that the best way forward was to have a referendum.  

When discussing elections, the youth expressed distrust in the national authorities’ ability to oversee elections and in the democratic process overall. One spoke of how votes had been bought; people he knew sold their voter cards in the previous elections. 

DSRSG Koury briefed participants on the four options put forward by the Advisory Committee in May. As outlined in the  Executive Summary of the Advisory Committee’s report,  the options include:   

1. Conducting presidential and legislative elections simultaneously;   

2. Conducting parliamentary elections first, followed by the adoption of a permanent constitution;   

3. Adopting a permanent constitution before elections; or   

4. Establishing a political dialogue forum, based on the Libyan Political Agreement to finalize electoral laws, executive authority and permanent constitution.  

Many of the participants who joined favoured option four saying that this was the only option that ended the current cycle of entities that they felt did not represent them or the people of Libya. 

UNSMIL stressed that youth voices were crucial to the political process and that it intended to continue with its YouEngage outreach efforts.  

All participants were encouraged to complete UNSMIL’s online poll [link] and share it with their friends and families to ensure community voices are heard.

– on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

Source: APO – Report:

.

Training on financial and material management has been provided to newly elected area administrators, village coordinators, tax collectors in Afabet sub-zone, and members of the sub-zonal administration. The training was organized by the Human Resources Development Unit of the Northern Red Sea Regional Administration.

The training covered planning and its significance, financial and material management, strengthening worker discipline and productivity, documentation, project management, and conflict resolution in the workplace.

Explaining the importance of the training in facilitating their daily responsibilities, the trainees called for the program’s continuity.

Calling on the participants to apply the knowledge gained from the training in their day-to-day activities, Mr. Mohammed-Nur Rejib, Administrator of the sub-zone, expressed the administration’s readiness to strengthen participation and contribute to developing human resource capacity in the sub-zone.

– on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO – Report:

.

The Ministry of Agriculture branch in the Southern Red Sea Region has provided training on the preparation of solid and liquid organic fertilizers to exemplary farmers in the port city of Assab.

The training was attended by exemplary farmers from the sub-zones of Assab and South Dankalia, as well as members of the agriculture office branch.

The training covered the preparation of composted fertilizer from household waste and leaves, fertilizer from fish remains, and the proper use of organic pesticides.

Mr. Mohammed Abdurahman, Head of the Agriculture Office in the region, said that the objective of the training was to enhance farmers’ understanding and encourage the application of organic fertilizers and pesticides in their daily agricultural activities.

The participants noted that the training would significantly contribute to improving their agricultural productivity and called for similar future programs.

– on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.