Africa – Page 89 – MIL Africa Engine

August 12, 2026

DSTI puts women at the centre of science and technology

Source: Government of South Africa

DSTI puts women at the centre of science and technology

The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) has announced the finalists for the 2026 South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA).

This comes as South Africa commemorates the 70th anniversary of the historic 1956 march of 20 000 women to the Union Buildings, who stood up against apartheid pass laws.

“Celebrated annually during Women’s Month, SAWiSA recognises and rewards excellence in science, technology and innovation (ST&I) by South African women. The awards also celebrate outstanding researchers and scientists, whose achievements inspire the next generation of women and girls to pursue careers in ST&I,” the DSTI said on Wednesday.

This year’s theme: “Placing Women at the Centre of Science, Technology and Innovation”, aligns with the department’s mantra of “Placing science, technology and innovation at the centre of government, education, industry and society”.

The theme underscores the critical role that women play in advancing scientific excellence, driving innovation and contributing to South Africa’s socio-economic development.

“The DSTI Fellowships have been renamed in honour of the late Prof. Shirley Keolebogile Motaung, one of South Africa’s most distinguished black women scientists and academics.

“The DSTI-Prof. Keolebogile Motaung Fellowships will be awarded to young women pursuing their master’s and doctoral degrees in recognition of their academic excellence and research potential,” the department said.

This year, the department is introducing a new look SAWISA to support the strategic commitment to place women at the centre of science, technology and innovation.

It strengthens the visibility of research excellence, reinforces SAWiSA’s role as a transformation instrument, and creates a recognisable platform through which awardees can inspire public participation in science, mentorship and future talent development.

The new look combines scientific symbolism, feminine strength and South African identity, and will be reflected in the logo, trophy and overall branding.

The winners will be announced at a gala dinner on 20 August 2026 at the NH Johannesburg Sandton Hotel.

The 2026 SAWiSA finalists are as follows:

Prof. Agnes Chigona

Prof. Tanusha Raniga

Prof. Nirmala Dorasamy

Prof. Xanthe Hunt

Prof. Faheema Mahomed-Asmail

Prof. Musawenkosi Saurombe

Prof. Marietjie Venter

Prof. Sheena Kumari Pillai

Prof. Nelishia Pillay

Prof. Tricia Naicker

Dr Yaseera Ismail

Prof. Muthumuni Managa

Associate Prof. Lynn Hendrick

Dr Hafsa Essop

Prof. Tebogo Mothiba

Associate Prof. Sabrina Kumschick

DSTI-PROF. Keolebogile Shirley Motaung Fellowships

Doctoral Fellowships

Ms Makwena Sebone

Associate Prof. Jane Ndlovu

Ms Nolwandle Khumalo

Ms Nondumiso Nkosi

Ms Vhuhwavho Tshavhungwe

Ms Victoria Hlokoe

Ms Annarien Headley

Master’s Fellowships

Ms Kayleigh Mathieson

Ms Mushayathoni Nwovhe

Ms Nasiphi Siguca

Ms Rebaone Mofokeng

Ms Yolanda Mngcongo

Ms Jos Jansen van Vuuren

Ms Ayesha Aswat.

– SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Wed, 08/12/2026 – 12:08

August 12, 2026

Africans migrate for jobs mostly within the continent: why regional skills partnerships are needed

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Amanda Bisong, Policy Leader Fellow, School of Transnational Governance, European University Institute

In 2024, 25.1 million Africans were living in other countries on the continent. Labour migration has long been a defining feature of Africa’s economic landscape.

Migrant workers on the continent are concentrated in certain sectors: agricultural and manufacturing together absorb roughly a fifth of migrant labour. Most migrants hold medium-skilled jobs alongside high and low skilled occupations.

This sectoral concentration matters for the global skill partnership debate.

Global skill partnerships are agreements that link skills creation and skills mobility in a mutually beneficial way. Workers in countries of origin are trained in the skills that origin and destination countries need and are helped to go and work there legally. Destination countries fill labour shortages, origin countries gain skills and investment, and migrants get access to safer, more predictable pathways.

Yet, in practice, most of the partnerships involving destination countries outside the continent and African countries remain limited in scope and poorly attuned to the realities of mobility on the continent.

In Africa, the industries most reliant on migrant labour are regional and not highly formalised. They are not the high-income international corridors that most existing global skills partnerships are designed around. For example, while skills partnerships exist for skilled IT workers between Nigeria and Lithuania, most African migrant workers to other destinations on the continent work in manufacturing and agriculture.

As a researcher working on migration governance and labour mobility, I have followed how African governments and their partners have approached skills partnerships in practice. Drawing on my expertise, research fellowship, work on labour migration and mobility, and contributions to a recent mid-term assessment of the African Union’s Migration Policy Framework for Africa, I am of the view that mobility in Africa is already deeply regional, informal and often precarious.

I argue that what is missing is a skills and labour system that provides structure, recognition and protection. For skill partnerships to meet the needs of African countries, there should be a regional mobility track alongside the traditional domestic and international pathways.

Source: SWP 2025

Bilateral partnerships

Existing global skills partnerships involving African countries tend to follow a pattern: a bilateral agreement between one African country and a high-income destination, often in Europe.

These arrangements typically focus on training workers in specific sectors – healthcare, construction, information technology – with the expectation that some trainees will migrate while others remain and contribute locally.

Source: Salvo, 2022

While bilateral initiatives do achieve some of their stated objectives, they have weaknesses.

First, they ignore intra-African mobility patterns – 80% of African migration occurs within the continent.

For example, movement between Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire or between Uganda and Kenya is common and economically significant. Bilateral arrangements with distant partners do not support or formalise these flows.

Second, bilateral arrangements tend to create a “two-track” system. One track is for domestic skill development and another is for migration to a specific country. This model overlooks workers who might prefer, or benefit from, opportunities closer to home.

According to an Afrobarometer survey, almost 22% of respondents wanted to move to another country within their region or on the African continent.

Third, these agreements lack scalability and flexibility. It takes resources to reach them and put them in place, and each agreement must be tailored to the needs of the partner countries. This makes it difficult to respond to shifting labour market demands. Development partners often say it’s hard to scale up the initiatives.

Finally, without coordination at the regional level, multiple bilateral agreements can create fragmented standards and qualifications, and administrative inefficiencies.

Why a third track makes sense

To address some of these gaps, global skill partnerships should evolve from a two-track to a three-track model:

Domestic track – training for local labour markets
International track – pathways to high-income destination countries
Regional track – structured mobility within Africa.

The addition of a regional track recognises that development does not only flow one way.

The benefits of a regional mobility track

A regional track offers several distinct advantages.

Formalising existing mobility

People are already migrating within Africa, often through informal channels. A regional track would formalise this mobility, standardise training and qualifications, and cement legal protections for workers. Policymakers should make existing corridors safer and more productive.

Enhancing worker protection

Informal migration exposes workers to exploitation, poor working conditions and lack of legal recourse. A structured regional pathway would ensure labour standards, social protection and common rights.

Addressing regional skills shortages

Many African economies face skills gaps in healthcare, construction and technical trades. A regional track would allow countries to share human capital more efficiently, matching supply and demand within the continent.

For example, shortages in the healthcare sector in African countries could be partially addressed, provided that training and certification systems were aligned.

Addressing brain drain

One of the criticisms of traditional skills partnerships is the potential for “brain drain”. A regional track keeps talent within the continent.

This does not eliminate outward migration but creates a more balanced ecosystem of mobility.

Continental frameworks

Africa is not starting from scratch. Several continental and regional frameworks already provide a foundation for a regional skills partnership track.

The African Union has developed the Free Movement Protocol, facilitating visa-free travel and residence across member states.

The African Continental Free Trade Area and regional economic communities, such as the Economic Community of West African States and the East African Community, create a more integrated economic space and potentially increase the demand for cross-border labour mobility.

A more realistic model of mobility

Effective migration policy is not about imposing new patterns of movement, but about working with existing ones, making them safer, fairer and more beneficial for all. A three-track model does that.

Rather than treating international migration as the only destination for trained workers, the model recognises that development can also come from movement between African countries.

It expands opportunity without forcing choices, strengthens regional integration, and offers a grounded, context-sensitive approach to mobility.

Getting this right begins with acknowledging the sectors absorbing most African migrant labour on the continent: agriculture, manufacturing and medium-skilled level jobs, and designing policies that match this reality.

– Africans migrate for jobs mostly within the continent: why regional skills partnerships are needed
– https://theconversation.com/africans-migrate-for-jobs-mostly-within-the-continent-why-regional-skills-partnerships-are-needed-288149

August 12, 2026

How can governments tackle poverty when climate change, conflict and economic shocks hit all at once?

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Vidya Diwakar, Deputy Director, CPAN; Research Fellow, IDS, Institute of Development Studies

Multiple and often overlapping crises such as floods or drought due to climate change, violent conflict and economic instability are creating new forms of vulnerability. Collectively they’re known as a polycrisis. These have severe effects on countries in sub-Saharan Africa with high poverty levels where weak institutions and limited public resources make it harder to respond effectively.

Vidya Diwakar is a senior research fellow at the Institute of Development Studies and the deputy director of the Chronic Poverty Advisory Network. Her research focuses on poverty dynamics, violent conflict and intersecting crises, gender and education. She answers questions about her book Poverty in Polycrisis: Dynamic Pathways for Lasting Change.

What gap does your book seek to fill about understanding poverty?

The world now experiences increasingly interconnected crises with climate-related disasters, economic instability and violent conflict. These crises often overlap, and their effects build up to create new forms of vulnerability, making it harder for people to get out of poverty.

Consider the story of Aisha (anonymised), a woman our team interviewed in Borno, Nigeria. Aisha was once a successful farmer. But she now finds herself trapped in poverty after a series of crises. In 2013, Boko Haram killed her husband and three of her children, left her injured, and forced her and her remaining family to flee their village to a nearby settlement for internally displaced people.

Following this, Nigeria’s “cashless policy”, which restricted cash withdrawals to curb corruption, led to cash shortages. Aisha was forced to rely on credit-based sales for the charcoal selling business she had set up, leaving her without an income. The poor rains in Borno during the same year further reduced the ability of her remaining five children to support her financially.

Today, Aisha remains in the settlement camp, trapped in poverty.

In the world we live in, Aisha’s story is far from the exception as more people find themselves trapped in poverty due to compounding crises.

While there is extensive work on poverty and its drivers, the book focuses on how crises interact. The research draws on evidence from 15 high-poverty countries in regions of Africa and Asia. It examines how polycrisis is pushing people already in poverty into deeper deprivation. It also, surprisingly, shows how some people are able to escape poverty in these challenging contexts.

What about the intersection of climate-related disasters, economic instability and conflict?

When climate-related disasters, economic instability and violent conflict overlap, their effects mount up, making recovery much more difficult.

For example, a one-off drought might force a smallholder to sell some of their livestock or other assets. But they may be able to rebuild their business once the rains have come. However, if the drought is followed by high price inflation or broader economic volatility and more regular periods of drought, that might worsen the family’s food insecurity, push them into debt and make it harder to rebuild their income and assets.

These compounding forms of vulnerability have severe impacts in countries in sub-Saharan Africa with high poverty levels, weak institutions and limited public resources. Those already in poverty are being pushed deeper. And more people are falling into poverty for the first time and for longer periods of time.

The book also identifies strategies through which some people are escaping poverty. These pathways include relying on environmentally sustainable agricultural practices, diversification into off-farm livelihoods, and continuous economic and social adaptation to changing circumstances.

What about the role of governments and donors?

Our findings point to the fact that efforts and initiatives by governments and donors often reinforce harm, in three ways.

First, in response to crises, governments have adopted austerity measures. Nigeria’s fuel subsidy removal, for example, was accompanied by very little social assistance. This pushed many poor and vulnerable households deep into poverty.

Second, the standard response of fighting one crisis at a time can also make things worse for the world’s poorest. For example, evacuating populations to shelters during floods can increase disease transmission.

Third, there has been a decline in international aid. This will have severe consequences for poverty across future generations.

What are your recommendations?

The book recommends recognising how crises interact rather than addressing them in isolation.

Policies must must understand the challenges faced by poor and vulnerable people, and avoid causing harm.

This may sound obvious. But crisis responses often fail to account for these impacts.

Integrated policy responses could include cash transfers and social protection systems, early warning systems and other forms of disaster preparedness extended to rural and remote communities.

Peacebuilding activities can also help address root causes of both poverty and violent conflict.

Creating inclusive economic opportunities is important. Most people escape extreme poverty through “growth from below”: household-level strategies rather than top-down interventions alone. Yet government strategies seem to be going back to trickle-down economics.

Support from the international community remains important. This requires recommitting to predictable aid flows, especially to the poorest countries. Governments also have to expand their ability to raise and manage their public revenues, for example through taxes.

Complementary approaches, including debt restructuring, are important in the context of tightened aid budgets. They can ease fiscal pressures and help governments maintain pro-poor domestic investments.

What role can NGOs and the private sector play?

Non-state actors can contribute by supporting integrated responses that complement government action. These can include:

strengthening community-level resilience
supporting disaster preparedness at national and local levels
enabling livelihood adaptation
helping address vulnerabilities that emerge from overlapping crises.

Beyond service delivery, civil society organisations help ensure that responses are informed by people’s actual experiences. They can amplify the voices of marginalised groups in decision-making.

NGOs and community-based organisations can also act as intermediaries between communities and governments.

The polycrisis reveals how interconnected vulnerabilities have become today. Policy responses need to equally strive to be more interconnected. Collaboration across government agencies, international organisations and civil society is essential to create pathways out of poverty.

– How can governments tackle poverty when climate change, conflict and economic shocks hit all at once?
– https://theconversation.com/how-can-governments-tackle-poverty-when-climate-change-conflict-and-economic-shocks-hit-all-at-once-288292

August 12, 2026

Egypt: President El-Sisi Reviews Updates on New and Renewable Energy Projects

Source: APO – Report:

Today in New Alamein City, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Eng. Mahmoud Esmat, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Concord for Engineering and Contracting Eng. Ahmed Elabd.

Spokesman for the Presidency Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy stated that the meeting included a review of the latest developments in implementing the national strategy to expand renewable and new energy projects. The strategy aims to increase the share of renewable energy to 45% of total generated electricity by 2028, in line with the state’s policy of relying on new and renewable energy sources as part of the energy mix. This requires expanding the use of battery-based electricity storage technologies to secure the national grid and ensure the stability and continuity of electricity supply. In this context, Dr. Mahmoud Esmat noted that total investments in the electricity, new energy, and renewable energy sectors have reached approximately EGP 5 trillion since 2014.

The meeting also reviewed the role played by international partners in providing technical support and financing for renewable energy projects, contributing to strengthening Egypt’s position as a regional energy hub and a center for the manufacture of electrical equipment. In this regard, President El-Sisi stressed the need to support all types and models of partnerships, particularly those involving locally manufactured equipment, especially energy-storage batteries.

The president further emphasized the importance of supporting the localization of industries related to new and renewable energy, which constitute a fundamental pillar for strengthening energy security and advancing the green transition.

The Minister of Electricity presented the efforts being made in industries related to the electricity, new energy, and renewable energy sectors. In this context, President El-Sisi directed that local manufacturing be developed in the black sands industry, related value-added industries, fertilizers, and rare-earth elements.

– on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

August 12, 2026

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) Raises Landmark CHF 350 Million Digital Bond, Becoming First African Issuer and Largest International Issuer in the Swiss Market

Source: APO – Report:

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, today announced that it has successfully raised CHF 350 million through a 5-year Digital Bond. This milestone transaction makes the Corporation the first African institution to issue a Digital Bond listed, traded and settled on a regulated digital exchange. The issuance is also the largest digital bond ever issued in the Swiss Franc market, reinforcing AFC’s leading role in international capital markets.

The bond was priced at a coupon of 1.4925%, efficiently delivering funding within the Corporation’s USD 500 million benchmark issued in June 2026 (https://apo-opa.co/45iWWGr), and demonstrating AFC’s ability to combine innovative funding structures with competitive pricing. Efficiently timed amidst the ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, the transaction benefited from constructive investor sentiment and AFC’s dual investment grade rating- ‘A’ with a positive outlook by S&P, and A3 with a stable outlook by Moody’s.

Attracting a high-quality investor base, the issuance had approximately 90% of demand coming from Swiss domestic investors and 10% from international accounts. Additionally, banks and financial services institutions represented the largest investor group, accounting for 57% of the orderbook, followed by asset managers at 37%, while hedge funds accounted for 6%. The strong investor demand and quality of the book reflect continued market confidence in AFC’s strong credit profile. This historic issuance further strengthens the Corporation’s presence in the Swiss capital markets and marks AFC’s fourth and largest Swiss Franc issuance to date, following its CHF 150 million Green Bond issued in 2020 – the Corporation’s inaugural Green Bond.

Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of AFC, said: “This transaction is about far more than achieving competitive pricing. It marks another significant milestone in AFC’s funding journey and underscores the confidence global investors continue to place in our strategy, credit strength, and development impact. As we continue to diversify and innovate our funding approach, expanding the range of capital solutions available to AFC will remain central to mobilising long-term financing at scale and delivering on our mandate to accelerate Africa’s industrialisation and economic transformation.”

Banji Fehintola, Executive Board Member and Head of Financial Services at AFC, said: “This transaction is a proud milestone for our funding programme. Pricing the largest digital bond ever issued in the Swiss Franc market reflects not only the strength of AFC’s credit but the depth of trust that Swiss and international investors have placed in our strategy over time. The digital format of this bond is not an end in itself but a signal of our commitment to being at the frontier of innovation in the capital markets as we continue to diversify and strengthen AFC’s funding base to support Africa’s development”

Issued under AFC’s US$5 billion Global Medium-Term Note Programme, the digital bond is structured as a tokenized security using Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), with ownership recorded on a regulated digital register and settlement taking place through a regulated digital market infrastructure. The bond is admitted for trading and listing on the SIX Swiss Exchange and deposited with SIX Digital Exchange, the clearing and settlement system operated by SIX SIS AG. The proceeds will support AFC’s general funding requirements and strengthen the Corporation’s capacity to finance transformational infrastructure across Africa.

The transaction was arranged by Commerzbank AG (Technical Lead) and Deutsche Bank AG London Branch, acting through the Deutsche Bank AG Zurich Branch.

– on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

Media Enquires:
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 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.

Nineteen 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 power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 48 member countries and has invested US$18.5 billion across Africa since inception.

www.AfricaFC.org

Media files

August 12, 2026

Uganda: Lawmakers call for stronger action on insecurity

Source: APO

Legislators have urged government to address insecurity in various parts of the country, which they say has negatively impacted on the livelihoods of Ugandans.

The legislators were Tuesday, 11 August 2026 debating a motion to appreciate the President on the State of the Nation Address delivered to Parliament on 04 June 2026.

Hon. David Okwere (NRM, Bukedea County) said land grabbing has caused land insecurity in his constituency, which he noted has worried residents.

“The way land grabbing is taking place now is through sophisticated surveying with drones which villagers perceive to be birds. Their land is being observed without their acknowledgement. It is my prayer that government takes note of this so that we curb land insecurity in our country,” Okwere said.

Hon. Stella Atyang (NRM, Moroto District Woman Representative) commended President Yoweri Museveni’s disarmament initiative in the Karamoja sub-region, and urged government to establish mechanisms to sustain the peace and security in the area.

“My prayer is that a quick response is made to incidences like petty thefts taking place in our sub-region. This will help to keep the situation calm and my people assured that government is committed to ensuring that Karamoja remains stable,” said Atyang.Bukimbiri County MP, Hon. Eddie Kwizera also commended the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) for ensuring that Uganda is an ‘island of peace’, and urged security agencies to effectively screen persons coming into the country.

“When you have an island of peace, it means that we might get people coming to our country who could be criminals. We ask the UPDF to be very conscious of such persons,” Kwizera said.

The Deputy Chief of Defence Forces and UPDF representative in Parliament, Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, urged Ugandans to be proud of and ‘jealously defend’ the achievements of Uganda.

“World over, national defense is built by citizens and for the last 40 years, we have experienced a high level of peace and stability. We have been able to protect this country with the force we have. Our robust system gave birth to a well-developed national security system, which has given us international recognition as a critical security asset,” Okiding said.

During the State of the Nation Address, Museveni noted that wealth creation requires peace, law and order, saying that the UPDF has always guaranteed peace in the country, with the Police and the Judiciary ensuring law and order.

“On account of peace, some traders have generated a lot of capital through imports. These are the ones that built arcades and real estate,” Museveni told MPs.

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

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August 12, 2026

Thai Peacekeepers Recognized with United Nations (UN) Medal for Building Safer and More Resilient Communities

Source: APO

A repaired road means more than an easier journey. It means humanitarian aid reaches vulnerable people in need, farmers get produce to market, families can access essential services, and communities can connect for peacebuilding.

For Thai peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), engineering is an important part of protecting civilians and creating conditions for peace.

A total of 257 members of the Thai Horizontal Military Engineering Company, including 27 women peacekeepers, were awarded the prestigious United Nations Medal in recognition of their service to peace and stability in South Sudan.

“The United Nations Medal is more than a formal recognition. It honors your service, your sacrifice, and your dedication in a demanding operational environment. It also represents your contribution to the United Nations and to our collective efforts to advance peace and stability,” stated Major General Junhui Wu, UNMISS Force Commander.

Since their deployment, the Thai contingent has helped expand Juba International Airport, maintain and rehabilitate 241 kilometres of main supply roads, and deliver numerous engineering projects across the country.

The impact extends beyond infrastructure. By keeping key routes open, peacekeepers help communities, humanitarian workers, and those travelling for trade and peacebuilding move more safely, while helping restore essential services disrupted by conflict.

“We have also applied our engineering capabilities to support local communities, including renovating court facilities and the improvement of sanitation infrastructure. We have also shared agricultural knowledge and practice inspired by Thailand’s sufficiency economy philosophy, with the aim of promoting food security and creating cultivatable land to improve the quality of life for the people of the Republic of South Sudan,” explained Lieutenant Colonel Harun Taienkrob, Thai HMEC Commander.

Their contribution goes beyond engineering. The Thai peacekeepers have helped build trust and strengthen relationships with the people they serve.

“You have engaged with local communities, supported schools and sanitation facilities, shared knowledge, and helped strengthen the relationship between United Nations peacekeepers and the people of South Sudan,” said Brigadier General Shishir Bhardwaj, UNMISS Sector South Commander.

The commander also highlighted the long hours, difficult conditions and personal sacrifices behind the contingent’s service under the UN flag.

As the Thai peacekeepers prepare to return home, they leave behind more than infrastructure: safer access, stronger community resilience, and a meaningful contribution to lasting peace in South Sudan.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

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August 12, 2026

Police Deputy Minister to launch Campus Community Safety Forum

Source: Government of South Africa

Police Deputy Minister to launch Campus Community Safety Forum

South African Police Service (SAPS) Deputy Minister, Dr Polly Boshielo, will this week lead the launch of a Campus Community Safety Forum at North West University’s (NWU) Mahikeng Campus.

“The launch forms part of the SAPS and Department of Higher Education and Training’s (DHET) continued commitment to strengthening safety at institutions of higher learning through the establishment of Campus Community Safety Forums,” the police said in a statement.

“These forums provide a collaborative and proactive platform for the SAPS, campus management, students, staff and other stakeholders to work together to prevent and combat crime both on and off campus, while promoting safer learning and living environments,” the statement said.

The launch will take place on 13 and 14 August 2026 and will include the signing of a Campus Community Safety Forum pledge, as well as a career exhibition aimed at exposing students to career opportunities within law enforcement. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Wed, 08/12/2026 – 11:47

August 12, 2026

The dtic, Standard Bank, MTN & DHL Join Forces to Help African Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) Compete and Grow Across Borders

Source: APO

South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Standard Bank, MTN, and DHL (www.DHL.com) have announced a series of strategic partnerships aimed at helping SMEs across Sub-Saharan Africa scale their businesses, access new markets and participate more effectively in regional and global trade.

Launched under the banner of DHL’s GoTrade, this series of initiatives are aimed at helping African businesses overcome some of the most common barriers to growth, including limited access to finance, export readiness challenges, digital adoption gaps and market access constraints.

Since 2021, GoTrade has launched in more than 50 countries, supporting more than 24,000 SMEs globally, including more than 8,000 women-owned businesses. Across Sub-Saharan Africa specifically, more than 8,000 SMEs have participated in GoTrade programmes and capacity-building initiatives. DHL will be investing 300 million Euro on the African continent by 2030, as part of this investment the company will continue investing programs that extend participation in trade and support sustainable growth.

“Across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), SMEs represent more than 90% of businesses and provide approximately 70% of employment, making them one of the continent’s most important engines of economic opportunity and inclusive growth. Despite their significance, many of our entrepreneurs continue to face barriers related to financing, digital adoption, trade knowledge and market access, limiting their ability to participate fully in regional and global trade.

We are excited to work with our partners to create a collaborative ecosystem aimed at addressing these challenges through practical interventions that support businesses at every stage of their export journey,” said Hennie Heymans, CEO DHL Express SSA.

The partnerships announced bring together complementary expertise from government, financial services, telecommunications and international logistics to create a practical support ecosystem for businesses looking to grow through trade.

The partnership between the dtic and DHL supports the department’s broader objectives around industrialisation, export growth and emerging exporter development. The collaboration will focus on trade education, capacity-building programmes, business clinics, trade missions, corridor activation initiatives and increased awareness of key trade frameworks, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and other trade agreements that create new opportunities for African businesses.

“This partnership between the dtic and DHL demonstrates the power of collaboration in advancing trade and economic development,” said Acting Deputy Director-General Willem van der Spuy. “By working together with private-sector partners, we can provide businesses with practical support that enhances competitiveness, drives export participation and enables more emerging exporters (especially SMEs) to benefit from regional and global trade opportunities. Government’s role is to convene the right partners around a common framework, and this initiative reflects exactly that: the dtic setting the direction, with DHL and its partners Standard Bank and MTN strengthening delivery on the ground.”

Through its partnership with DHL, Standard Bank will bring its pan-African footprint, trade-finance expertise and cross-border trade ecosystem to help SMEs access new markets and participate more effectively in regional and global value chains. Standard Bank’s role in the partnership is to help SMEs translate export ambition into bankable, executable trade opportunities by combining finance, advisory support and access to trusted trade networks. In addition to banking and trade-finance solutions, the bank will connect businesses to its Export Readiness Programme, which provides entrepreneurs with the knowledge, advisory support and practical tools needed to compete internationally. First launched in KwaZulu-Natal in 2025, the programme has since expanded to Gauteng and the Western Cape.

Standard Bank’s strategic partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) also enables business matchmaking, trade linkages and market-access opportunities between African and Chinese businesses. In 2025, the bank connected clients from four African markets with Chinese importers across product categories including rooibos tea, coffee, cocoa, nuts and wine, helping to unlock meaningful new export opportunities for African businesses. Standard Bank’s trade and payments capabilities also help SMEs navigate one of the most complex aspects of international expansion: moving money safely, efficiently and across borders. By combining banking infrastructure with trade expertise and partner networks, the bank is helping African businesses participate in global trade with greater confidence.

“Access to finance alone is not enough. SMEs also need access to buyers, markets, trade knowledge and trusted networks. Through our Export Readiness Programme, our international partnerships and our collaboration with DHL, Standard Bank is helping African businesses build the practical capabilities and connections they need to trade beyond their domestic markets. This partnership strengthens our ability to support SMEs across key trade corridors, including within Africa, and to help them grow with greater confidence,” says Bill Blackie, Chief Executive of Business & Commercial Banking at Standard Bank Group.

Through its collaboration with DHL, MTN will help SMEs digitise and grow their operations by providing digital skills training, access to connectivity and cloud solutions that enable secure data storage, team collaboration, remote working and business scalability, digital payment capabilities, online marketing support. The partnership will also provide SMEs with mentorship opportunities, and guidance on expanding into new markets through exporting.

“Digital transformation is a critical enabler of business growth and competitiveness,” said David Behr, MTN Group Chief Enterprise Business Officer. “By combining MTN’s reach and digital capabilities with DHL’s international trade expertise, we can help SMEs embrace technology, improve business performance and access new opportunities across Africa and beyond.”

Together, the partners aim to create a stronger pipeline of export-ready businesses equipped to compete in increasingly interconnected markets. The collaborative initiatives are expected to support entrepreneurship, job creation and economic inclusion across African markets.

“African SMEs have the ambition and innovation needed to compete globally, but they cannot do it alone. Success in international trade requires access to the right combination of knowledge, finance, technology, policy support and logistics capability. By bringing together the strengths of the public and private sectors, we are creating an ecosystem that will help more businesses become export-ready, connect to international markets and contribute meaningfully to Africa’s economic growth agenda. Our ambition is not only to help SMEs trade more, but to help them grow sustainably, create jobs and unlock new opportunities across the continent,” added Heymans.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of DHL Express.

Media Contacts:
DHL Express SSA
Lerato Moeletsi-Banda
Mail: lerato.moeletsi-banda@dhl.com

the dtic
Bongani Lukhele
Director: Media Relations
Tel: (012) 394 1643
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August 12, 2026

SA, China deepen cooperation on disability inclusion

Source: Government of South Africa

SA, China deepen cooperation on disability inclusion

South Africa and China are set to deepen cooperation on disability inclusion, data, universal design, artificial intelligence and assistive technology as the two countries seek practical ways to improve the lives and rights of persons with disabilities.

The commitment was highlighted by the Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga during the visit of a delegation from the China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF) to South Africa on Tuesday.

Welcoming the Chinese delegation, the Minister described the engagement as an important continuation of high-level discussions held in China in October 2025, saying the two countries were now moving from dialogue towards measurable and practical implementation.

The partnership is grounded in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and South Africa’s White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The Minister stressed that disability inclusion should not be treated as a stand-alone programme, but must be integrated across government planning, budgeting and digital transformation.

At the heart of the cooperation is a commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities are recognised not merely as recipients of services, but as rights-holders, economic contributors, innovators and equal citizens.

Using data to drive inclusion

Chikunga said effective planning for inclusion requires governments to understand who is being excluded, where barriers exist and whether policies are producing meaningful results.

South Africa is therefore conceptualising a Disability Nerve Centre of Excellence as a G20 legacy project. The proposed centre would work with Statistics South Africa, institutions of higher learning and other disability-data stakeholders.

South Africa also wants to exchange expertise with China on disability-disaggregated administrative data, census methodologies, digital platforms and the ethical use of data.

Universal design was identified as another major pillar of the proposed partnership.

The Minister said accessibility should become a normal and non-negotiable part of national development rather than something added after infrastructure and services have already been designed.

This includes public buildings, transport networks, housing and digital platforms.

South Africa and China could also collaborate on joint training and knowledge exchanges on universal design and compliance auditing. Such programmes could benefit government officials, architects, urban planners and information technology professionals.

The Minister called for the two countries to explore ethical, affordable and locally relevant AI-enabled assistive technologies.

The proposed areas of cooperation include smart wheelchairs and intelligent mobility devices, AI-supported speech-to-text and text-to-speech tools, communication technologies, navigation systems for blind and visually impaired people, accessible digital interfaces, AI-supported learning tools, rehabilitation technologies and smart-home solutions.

However, Chikunga cautioned that innovation must be accessible to the people who need it most.

The goal, she said, is to combine innovation with inclusion, technology with dignity and artificial intelligence with human rights.

The Minister noted that people cannot fully access government services, education, employment, justice or healthcare if information is not provided in a form they can understand and use.

The proposed approach includes Easy Read and plain-language communication, Braille and accessible print, captioning and subtitling, South African Sign Language and other sign-language services, audio descriptions, accessible websites and mobile applications, as well as targeted accessible public information campaigns.

The Minister proposed a seven-point action plan designed to ensure that the bilateral engagement produces tangible outcomes rather than simply more meetings and presentations.

The proposed framework includes establishing a South Africa–China Disability Inclusion Knowledge Exchange Platform, joint capacity-building programmes, stronger cooperation between research institutions and universities, collaboration with technology developers and organisations of persons with disabilities, joint exploration of AI and assistive technologies, deeper cooperation on disability data and statistics, and joint programmes on universal design and accessibility.

The plan also proposes structured exchanges between learners with disabilities in pre-vocational and vocational programmes in both countries to support skills development. – SAnews.gov.za

Janine
Wed, 08/12/2026 – 13:15