Category: English

Source: APO

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Cabinet Secretary for Health Hon. Aden Duale held strategic discussions with Mr Ronald Mutasa and a World Bank delegation on accelerating Kenya’s health sector reforms through two flagship investments valued at USD 335 million.

The Building Resilient and Responsive Health Systems (BREHS) Project and the Kenya Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (KHEPRR) Project are supporting the country’s efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and strengthen health security.

The discussions focused on improving Primary Health Care, expanding access to quality services and bringing healthcare closer to communities through strengthened Level 2 and Level 3 facilities.

The investments will also enhance the country’s capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond effectively to public health emergencies and emerging health threats.

Hon. Duale reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working closely with the World Bank to ensure the investments deliver measurable improvements in health institutions, frontline services and health outcomes for Kenyans.

The engagement underscored the need to translate investment into impact by building a responsive and resilient health system that provides accessible, affordable and quality healthcare.

Also present were Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga and the Ministry’s Director of Public Health and Sanitation, Dr Stephen Muleshe.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.

Source: APO

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Following recent progress on macroeconomic stabilization, Zimbabwe has a timely opportunity to build long-term economic momentum and expand formal job opportunities, according to a new World Bank Group report launched today.

The Zimbabwe Growth and Jobs Report notes that fiscal and monetary discipline brought local currency inflation into single digits in early 2026, for the first time since 1997, and supported real GDP growth averaging nearly 6% between 2021 and 2025. At the same time, economic growth has not yet generated widespread improvements in productive employment or household incomes.

Currently, 80% of Zimbabweans work in the informal sector with median earnings of $130 per month, and nearly half the population lives below the international poverty line. The analysis shows that labor has largely shifted from agriculture into low-productivity retail and informal services rather than formal manufacturing or high-value service sectors.

According to the report, continuing on the current course would yield an average growth rate of 4% through 2030, delaying Zimbabwe’s goal of attaining upper-middle-income country status until 2036. On the other hand, accelerating key structural reforms could raise real GDP by an additional 10.7% by 2030 and 26.9% by 2040 above the baseline, supporting the creation of up to 230,000 new jobs and raising real worker earnings by more than 30% over the same period.

The report highlights four priority areas for policy attention:

1. Macroeconomic Stability and Arrears Resolution: Sustaining low inflation and fiscal discipline while making progress on debt resolution to restore access to concessional external financing.
2. Foundational Infrastructure: Addressing power generation and grid reliability—where electricity shortages cost an estimated 6.1% of GDP annually—alongside targeted investments in transport corridors and agricultural irrigation.
3. Regulatory Environment: Simplifying business permits, reducing administrative fees, easing cross-border trade procedures, and streamlining tax policy will help encourage small enterprises to invest, expand and formalize.
4. Private Sector Investment: Stronger land tenure and commercial justice, financial sector deepening, expanded credit access and improved regulatory certainty for foreign investors are vital to accelerate private investment growth.

“The window of opportunity created by recent stabilization is open, but decisive and coordinated execution over multiple years will be essential,” said Victor Steenbergen, World Bank Senior Economist and lead author of the report. “Focusing initially on power sector reliability and trade facilitation will yield rapid dividends. This sets the stage for deeper legal and financial sector reforms that build lasting investor confidence.”

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Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.

Source: APO

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The Uruguay IV Battalion of MONUSCO held a command handover ceremony in Goma on September 1. The event was an important moment for the Uruguayan peacekeepers and for the United Nations mission, which paid tribute to peacekeepers who had served in an especially challenging context in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The ceremony was presided over by the Head of the Mission’s Office in Goma, Mr. Gani Are, in the presence of several United Nations officials, as well as representatives of the Mission’s civilian, military, and police components.

On this occasion, Colonel Mathias H. Capó officially took up his duties as commander of the battalion and the Uruguayan contingent. Colonel Rodolfo Ramírez will serve as deputy commander.

The departure of this battalion and the arrival of the new rotation taking its place also mark a new chapter in Uruguay’s 25-year history of engagement in Africa.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo , successive commanders and their troops have put their expertise and capabilities at the service of peace and stability, in support of the implementation of MONUSCO’s mandate.

Tribute to a Battalion That Served Under Difficult Circumstances

The rotation involves 177 of the contingent’s 748 military personnel. Among those remaining on duty are 47 women military personnel. The last flight carrying the peacekeepers of the new battalion is expected shortly, marking the completion of the rotation process.

This transition is also a significant moment for those leaving the Democratic Republic of the Congo after several months of service. For many, their departure means returning to their families and loved ones, but also leaving behind a human and professional experience shaped by the realities of the field, the challenges they encountered and the bonds forged during their mission.

In his address, Mr. Gani Are praised the courage and dedication of the battalion leaving the Congo, recalling the particularly difficult circumstances in which it carried out its mission.

“Today, we gather to pay tribute to a rotation that, through its courage and sacrifices, wrote an indelible page in the history of URUBATT in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”

He particularly recalled that, under the command of Colonel Julio Giménez, these troops faced the crisis that followed the fighting in Goma in January 2025.

They did so, he stressed, “with heroism, discipline, professionalism and an unwavering commitment to peace and to the population we serve.”

For Mr. Are, this contribution cannot be separated from the men and women who wore the Uruguayan uniform and served under the United Nations flag:

“We express our deepest respect and eternal gratitude to each and every one of the men and women whose dedication, courage and selfless service made this mission possible.”

“What truly distinguished this battalion was its humanity”

For Colonel Roberto Wenzel, the battalion’s outgoing commander, the achievements of the rotation cannot be measured solely through operational results. He emphasized a dimension that, in his view, will remain at the heart of the battalion’s experience: humanity.

“What truly distinguished this battalion was its humanity: beyond their operational performance, these men and women served with courage, discipline and dedication in the cause of peace and in fulfilling the United Nations mandate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” he said.

Upon officially taking command of the Uruguayan contingent, Colonel Mathias H. Capó expressed his honor at assuming this new responsibility.

He affirmed his determination to build on the work accomplished by his predecessors while opening a new chapter for the contingent.

A 25-Year history that continues

The ceremony in Goma is part of a broader history: 25 years of Uruguay’s involvement in United Nations peacekeeping operations in Africa.

Over the years, many Uruguayan peacekeepers have served in the field, passing on their experience, values and sense of duty to those who followed them.

This continuity was particularly evident during the ceremony: as one rotation bid farewell to the Mission, another took over with the same determination to serve under the United Nations mandate.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mission de l’Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO).

Source: APO

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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched two tools in Africa to help governments better track and allocate public spending across agrifood systems. The launch took place at a side event of the Africa Food Systems Forum, in Kigali, Rwanda.

The first tool, the FAO Agrifood Systems Public Expenditure Analysis (ASPEA), provides a common framework for countries to define, classify and measure public spending across agrifood systems. The common approach can support more consistent data, strengthen accountability and help countries monitor public spending commitments.

The second, called the FAO Policy Optimization Tool (PolOpT), helps governments assess how existing public resources could be allocated more effectively across policies and subsectors to meet national development priorities. Analysis using PolOpT has shown that, in some cases, reallocating existing expenditure can generate greater results than simply increasing overall spending. This is particularly relevant as governments seek to finance agrifood systems priorities while managing competing demands on public budgets.

“Today, we are not simply launching two technical tools. We are launching practical instruments that can support governments in planning, budgeting, implementation, and accountability,” said Meshack Malo, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Africa.

Malo called on Member States, the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, financial institutions and research organizations to work with FAO to scale the use of the tools across Africa.

A common approach to tracking agrifood spending

In Africa, the tools can particularly support countries as they domesticate and implement the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Strategy and Action Plan 2025–2035.

The methodology tool was developed by economists from FAO’s Agrifood Economics and Policy Division and the FAO Investment Centre and is designed to provide policymakers and researchers with a more comprehensive picture of how public resources are allocated across agrifood systems.

PolOpT complements expenditure tracking by helping governments examine how existing budgets could be allocated differently to achieve national priorities. It was developed by economists in FAO’s Monitoring and Analysing Food and Agricultural Policies (MAFAP) programme. It uses country-specific economic modelling to generate alternative spending scenarios. These can help policymakers assess trade-offs between agricultural, economic, social and environmental objectives within existing fiscal constraints.

Rwanda, the host of the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026, has already moved to apply the approach. The Rwanda Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Telesphore Ndabamenye, this week validated the results of FAO’s PolOpT analysis and approved the tool for use in Rwanda. Following the Minister’s endorsement, the results are expected to be shared more widely across government, including with the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and other line ministries.

PolOpT is also informing public investment planning elsewhere in Africa. FAO has applied the tool in countries including Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria and Uganda, while Nigeria has used PolOpT analysis to inform its National Agrifood Systems Investment Plan for 2026–2027.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.

Source: APO – Report:

The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Zuko Godlimpi says the 2026 Rural and Township Economy Report 2026 launched on September 3, 2026 in Johannesburg is crucial for South Africa’s spatial transformation and economic inclusion.

According to Godlimpi, informal businesses face significant procurement challenges, including higher prices and limited access to formal distribution channels.

“Consumers in townships and rural areas face higher effective prices due to limited product variety and quality. High rental costs, exclusivity arrangements, and preferences for national brands exclude them from retail. Weak compliance and infrastructure hinder their participation in e-commerce. Regulatory barriers, such as permits and tax compliance, also inhibit formalisation,” said Godlimpi.

Godlimpi pointed out the decline of general dealers in the villages, with only a few operating often run by foreign nationals. He said the ultimate goal for the government is to resolve South Africa’s economic problems for all citizens, not just the metropolitan sector.

Godlimpi also highlighted the innovation and technology in rural economies and the need to better supply chain management and point-of-sale technology to improve customer experience.

“The removal of restrictions on African mobility in urban centers has complicated the competitiveness of township enterprises. The first challenge identified is the importance of stock availability, with consumers being less likely to return if the items are out of stock. The second challenge is the convenience of point-of-sale technology, with consumers preferring seamless transactions similar to those in major retailers,” he said.

Godlimpi also said that the structural changes and partnerships are key in improving the competitiveness of local enterprises.

“The task before us is therefore not simply to grow the economy. We must transform the economy while growing it. We must expand productive capacity while broadening participation. We must create an economy that is globally competitive while ensuring that the benefits of growth are more widely shared,” stressed Godlimpi.

He noted that the government requires industrial policy because markets alone will not necessarily build the productive capabilities required for long-term development.

“The relationship between industrial policy and competition policy must therefore be complementary. Industrial policy should support the development of productive and competitive firms. Competition policy should ensure that markets remain sufficiently open to enable new firms to emerge and grow. Industrial incentives should encourage investment and capability development,” he explained.

Godlimpi believes that competition law should prevent firms from using market power to exclude competitors. He added by saying transformation policy should broaden ownership and participation, while competition policy should address structural barriers that prevent transformed businesses from succeeding.

– on behalf of The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, South Africa.

Source: APO – Report:

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Outstanding students in the Keren and Elaberet sub-zones of the Anseba Region who attained high scores in the national examinations were presented with awards on 1 September.

Accordingly, Rora Junior and High School in Keren city recognized 10 outstanding students who scored 90 or above in the 2025/2026 eighth-grade national examination and 14 outstanding students who attained GPAs ranging from 3.0 to 4.0 in the national school-leaving examination.

Mr. Habtom Tesfatsion, director of the school, said that over the past three years, the pass rate in the eighth-grade national examination increased from 40% to 70%, while that of the national school-leaving examination rose from 18.5% to 31.2%.

Noting that the quality of education is showing measurable improvement, Mr. Yosief Okbaselasie, head of educational facilities, said that the encouraging outcome was the result of the coordinated efforts of the school community, the public and the students.

Similarly, Awet Secondary School in Elaberet sub-zone recognized 18 outstanding students who attained high scores in the 2025/2026 national school-leaving examination.

Indicating that students’ results are improving from year to year, Mr. Amanuel Zemicael, director of the school, expressed readiness to strengthen efforts to achieve better outcomes.

Mr. Solomon Neguse, head of educational facilities in the sub-zone, on his part, called for the continued recognition and encouragement of outstanding students.

– on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO – Report:

Giving people with lived experience of drug use a stronger voice in addressing one of Seychelles’ most pressing social challenges took centre stage as President Dr Patrick Herminie joined government officials, health professionals and members of the community for the official launch of the Seychelles Association of People Who Used Drugs (SEYPwUD) at the Roche Caiman District Administration Office.

The launch marks the establishment of a community-led organisation aimed at representing, supporting and empowering people who use or have previously used drugs, while ensuring that their lived experiences form part of the national conversation on drug-related issues.

Present at the launch were the Minister for Health, Dr Marvin Fanny, Minister for Education David Pierre, Chief Executive Officer of the Agency for Prevention of Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation (APDAR), Yvana Thérèsine, Secretary of State for the Prevention of Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation Benjamin Vel, other government officials, representatives of relevant organisations and members of the community.

Addressing those present, President Herminie welcomed the establishment of SEYPwUD and reflected on the importance of giving people with lived experience an opportunity to play an active role in addressing the drug situation in Seychelles.

The President highlighted that tackling drug-related challenges requires collective action and an approach that recognises the experiences of those who have faced drug use first-hand. He emphasised the importance of creating opportunities for people to rebuild their lives, reintegrate into society and contribute positively to their families and communities.

He further underscored the need to move beyond stigma and discrimination, noting the importance of support, rehabilitation and inclusion in helping individuals move forward. The establishment of SEYPwUD, he noted, provides an avenue through which people with lived experience can have their voices heard and become active participants in finding solutions.

Secretary of State for the Prevention of Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation Benjamin Vel also addressed the gathering, welcoming the creation of the association and highlighting the value of involving people with lived experience in national efforts to prevent drug abuse and strengthen rehabilitation and reintegration.

SEYPwUD is chaired by Mr Fady Banane, with Mr Christoph Bristol, a Physical Education teacher by profession, serving as Vice Chairperson. The association currently has 17 members, bringing together people with lived experience around a common purpose of peer support, advocacy and positive change.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Banane described the association as an opportunity for people with lived experience to have a voice and to support others facing similar challenges. He highlighted the importance of using their own journeys and experiences to inspire hope, challenge stigma and show that recovery and reintegration are possible.

SEYPwUD is founded on the principle that people who have experienced drug use should not simply be spoken about, but should have the opportunity to speak for themselves and contribute to decisions, policies and programmes that directly affect them.

The association seeks to provide a safe and inclusive platform where members can support one another, engage with stakeholders and contribute towards addressing the health and social challenges associated with drug use.

Its vision is for a Seychelles where people with lived experience of drug use are respected, empowered, healthy and able to actively contribute to society without stigma or discrimination.

Among its objectives are promoting the health and welfare of people who use or have used drugs, reducing stigma and discrimination, strengthening peer-led services and support networks, facilitating access to healthcare, rehabilitation and social services, and empowering members through leadership development and community participation.

SEYPwUD also intends to build partnerships with government, civil society, healthcare providers and international organisations to strengthen the collective response to drug-related challenges.

Following its official launch, the association will focus on peer support and outreach programmes, advocacy and awareness campaigns, capacity-building workshops, community engagement initiatives, research and evidence gathering, as well as leadership development for members and peer educators.

The launch also provided an opportunity for SEYPwUD to present its vision and strategic priorities, while testimonies from members brought lived experiences to the forefront of the event.

At the heart of SEYPwUD is a simple but significant shift: from speaking about people affected by drug use to giving them the space to speak, participate and become part of the solutions towards healthier individuals, stronger families and stronger communities across Seychelles.

– on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO – Report:

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The 2025/2026 academic year cultural competition among schools in the Central Region concluded on 3 September, under the theme “Culture: Fostering Values and Identity.”

The year-long cultural competition involved schools from the elementary to secondary levels and featured reading and calligraphy, general knowledge, photography and painting, innovation and creativity, debating, narration, short stories, poetry, dance, music and drama.

At the concluding event held at Cinema Roma, Mr. Mesfun Woldeselasie, head of administration and finance at the Ministry of Education branch in the Central Region, noted that culture reflects the aspirations and values of societies and called for nurturing committed and capable young people who adhere to noble societal values.

Mr. Solomon Barhe, head of culture, on his part, said that the program was aimed at instilling love of country and culture in the new generation, nurturing young people who are proud of their identity, and enabling them to inherit the values and culture of their forefathers and pass them on to future generations.

Mr. Solomon also called for organizing training programs for teachers who coordinate cultural activities and for strengthening parental participation.

At the event, awards were presented to the winning schools.

– on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO – Report:

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The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, has released $6 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to help communities in the Grand Sud region get ahead of expected severe dry conditions related to El Niño.

Forecasts point to significantly below-average rainfall from November through February next year, threatening a deterioration in food security.

The new funds will support anticipatory action now before conditions get worse and will help our partners to provide life-saving food, healthcare, nutrition assistance and clean water. 

– on behalf of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).

Source: APO

Across West Africa, a small plastic pouch can carry a contradiction. For millions of people, it signifies affordable drinking water when reliable taps are unavailable. For cities and their infrastructure, it’s an additional single-use plastic entering an already strained waste management system. While so-called “water sachets” keep people hydrated every day, they also contribute to one of the region’s most visible forms of plastic pollution. 

Water sachets are heat-sealed polyethylene pouches that are filled with purified drinking water. These pouches respond to more than 845 million people across sub-Saharan Africa still lacking safely managed drinking water. They’re small and malleable, yet strong enough to easily be carried around, sold cheaply and consumed on the move. 

The production of water sachets only requires basic equipment and a relatively low investment, and so they have proven a viable business opportunity for private and informal producers that can step in to fill the gap where public water systems have not kept pace with urban growth. The distribution of drinking water is also a crucial source of employment, particularly for youth.  

As such, water sachets are not only a waste problem; they reflect broader economic and environmental issues. This intersectional systems challenge is being explored through PlasticReboot, an Integrated Program funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) that seeks to advance circular solutions to plastic pollution across 15 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. The programme focuses on upstream and midstream interventions in the food and beverage sector to reduce plastic pollution at its source. 

Nigeria launched its national Plastic Reboot project on 27 January 2026, implemented by Nigeria’s National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) with support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The national project will bring together policymakers, industry leaders and other stakeholders to pilot functional alternatives and viable business models that can replace water sachets in the long run, while ensuring access to safe drinking water. According to Innocent Barikor, Director General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), what is needed is “innovation that makes Nigerians feel like they lost nothing” – in other words, something that is more circular and sustainable without compromising affordability, convenience and familiarity. 

Nigeria is home to more than 237 million people, many of whom lack reliable access to piped drinking water. Water sachets, colloquially known as “pure water,” have become part of daily life, sold by shops, street vendors and informal distributors across cities and towns. Today, it is estimated that 70 per cent of Nigerians consume at least one sachet every day, amounting to over 60 million sachets consumed daily.  

Behind the sachets is a powerful single-use plastics economy, both formal and informal. The rapid expansion of plastic packaging has outpaced waste management systems in rapidly growing cities like Abuja. Informal plastic collection networks and recycling initiatives play an important role in recovering valuable materials, but low-value plastics such as water sachets can fall outside these systems. Souleymane Adana, General Secretary of the Waste Pickers Association of Nigeria, explained that waste pickers collect materials such as PET bottles, paper and metals because they have market value. “We have not been doing much [with] pure water sachets, because [there are no] off takers for them,” he said. 

Uncollected water sachets contribute to widespread plastic leakage into the environment, which can also pose human health risks. They clog drainage systems, often contributing to floods during heavy rains and the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. 

Banning or replacing sachets without affordable alternatives risks undermining livelihoods and access to safe drinking water Continuing with business-as-usual means accepting a growing stream of plastic waste that cities and the environment are not equipped to manage. 

One of the ways by which Nigeria is trying to respond to the challenge is through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). In addition to implementing Plastic Reboot Nigeria, UNEP has also provided technical inputs to the National Guidelines for the Implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility for Plastic Packaging (established by NESREA) to support the transition toward a circular systems transformation. Key partners have been financing UNEP’s efforts in Nigeria, including the Government of Japan and the Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund. 

Supporting the circularity of plastic packaging in Nigeria, Plastic Reboot is helping identify alternative materials and new business models that could reduce reliance on water sachets while maintaining access to affordable drinking water. The lessons emerging from Nigeria may also be relevant across West Africa, including in Burkina Faso and Senegal, where Plastic Reboot is also being implemented.  

“The question is not only how to reduce plastic waste,” said Evelyn Swain, Senior Environmental Specialist at the GEF Secretariat. “It is also how to do so in a way that protects the services people depend on every day. Sachet water shows why plastic pollution has to be addressed through systems change.” 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).