Category: English

Source: APO

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Since June 2023, Cameroon has been implementing the “Healthy Food Market” project in two pilot markets in Douala: Ndogpassi and New Deido. Described as a transformational and social initiative, the project is based on scientific evidence to encourage behaviour change within the community of traders. 

“Before, we didn’t pay much attention to hygiene conditions. We used products like formalin to preserve meat and the cleanliness of our stalls left much to be desired. This can cause diseases,” admits Zakariaou Mbaimoun, a butcher at Ndogpassi market for about twenty years. 

According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, the burden of foodborne diseases is significant. Consuming food contaminated by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances such as heavy metals can cause more than 200 diseases. In the African Region, unsafe food affects over 91 million people and causes 137 000 deaths annually.

In Cameroon, more than 200 cases of food poisoning were recorded in 2024, including 35 children. Results from a 2021 pesticide residue monitoring mission in seven regions and a 2022 hygiene survey in five markets revealed that non-compliant pesticides were present in 70% of samples. Numerous poor practices in food handling, hygiene and production were also identified, which can lead to contamination throughout the food chain.

Following these findings, the “Healthy Food Market” project was introduced in a pilot phase in the two markets to encourage compliance with basic hygiene rules and prevent foodborne diseases. “The goal is to ensure progressive and sustainable improvement in food safety in markets, involving multiple sectors under the One Health approach, for holistic management of interconnected risks,” explains Dr Lusubilo Mwamakamba, WHO Regional Office for Africa’s focal person for food safety.

With financial support from Sweden, WHO is supporting the project by developing normative documents on food safety, policies and guidelines, strengthening stakeholders’ capacities in surveillance and outbreak response and advocating for the integration of food safety into health policies.

“The concept does not yet appear in public policy documents, but important work is underway to highlight the urgency of transforming food markets and aligning them with the requirements of the ‘Healthy Food Market’ project,” notes Edouard Nya, Head of the National Laboratory for Diagnostic Analysis of Agricultural Products and Inputs at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

WHO has also helped mobilize national partners through a public-private partnership. In January 2025, the Douala Autonomous Port donated sanitation equipment, enabling hygiene activities and cleaning of 26 markets in the city. WHO also trained 150 community leaders in waste management, 25 stakeholders in food safety and sensitized more than 3000 people in the two pilot markets.

“Many things have changed thanks to the ‘Healthy Food Market’ project. Agents came several times and each time they raised awareness about the consequences of our bad practices. We became aware and started changing things,” says Mbaimoun.

At its launch, the project set three specific objectives: improving governance and coordination among stakeholders, strengthening communication, education and training on good food, hygiene, and production practices to foster lasting behaviour change, and improving technical and sanitary infrastructure in markets. With the first two objectives advanced, the next stage will focus on the third. 

“Funds obtained through the public-private partnership will allow us, starting in 2026, to tackle the third objective: improving technical and sanitary facilities in markets to meet “Healthy Food Market” standards. We will also strengthen communication,” says Dr Danièle Simnoue Nem, WHO Cameroon’s Nutrition and Food Safety Officer. “Food safety is a priority for WHO, just like vaccination or epidemic control. It promotes the production and consumption of safe, nutritious food and protects against foodborne diseases.”

Most traders no longer display food directly on the ground, and cleaning frequency has increased, with each trader now required to clean their sales area before closing each evening. Waste is stored in dedicated areas and removed every two days. Some market areas have been filled to reduce flooding and mud, improving food sales conditions, especially at Ndogpassi market.

Users welcome these improvements. “Lately, our market is much cleaner. Smoked fish, vegetables and other products are no longer spread on the ground. This protects us from diseases and reassures us,” says Marie Ekemla at Ndogpassi market. Traders also pass on their knowledge to customers. “My butcher often advises me: ‘Meat that has been thawed, left at room temperature, and then refrozen can cause illness.’ These tips help me make better choices,” adds Mado Enganign.

With the “Healthy Food Market” project, traders in the two pilot markets are taking ownership of their workplaces while making them safer. “Thanks to the project, we have been trained and are better organized. We now pay attention to hygiene and safety to offer a safer market for everyone,” says Raoul Youpa Kanmani, President of New Deido market traders.

Other planned measures include providing drinking water, sanitation and wastewater drainage to strengthen the project’s impact. “The ‘Healthy Food Market’ project will soon directly contribute to creating a safer sales environment through clean infrastructure, access to drinking water, waste management and reduce diarrheal diseases,” notes Fidéline Ndewege Djeme, Deputy Director of Hygiene and Sanitation at the Directorate of Health Promotion. “This will help protect vulnerable people—children, pregnant women, and the elderly—who are most at risk of foodborne diseases.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Cameroon.

Source: APO

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With support from the Pandemic Fund, the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, through the Ministry of Health and in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, convened an International Health Regulations (IHR) Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting in Arusha. The meeting brought together key stakeholders to review progress and prioritize actions to strengthen national systems for public health emergency preparedness and response.

Held from 24 to 27 March 2026, the meeting focused on assessing the implementation of IHR core capacities for the period January to March 2026. Participants also identified existing gaps and developed priority actions for April to June 2026reinforcing Tanzania’s commitment to building resilient systems capable of preventing, detecting, and responding to public health threats.

Opening the discussions, National IHR Focal Point, Dr. Vida Mmbaga, emphasized the need for the review process to go beyond routine reporting and demonstrate real impact.

“This assessment must clearly show the impact we are making in strengthening systems that support timely prevention, detection, notification, and response to public health events,” she said.

“We must prioritize actions that deliver value for money and align with the National Action Plan for Health Security 

She noted that strengthening systems in line with the 7-1-7 target remains critical for improving both national and global health security.

Highlighting the importance of collaboration, Director of Preventive Services, Dr. Otilia Gowelle, underscored the need for inclusive, multisectoral engagement.

“Engaging all key sectors is essential to achieving meaningful impact,” she said.

“Strengthening public health emergency systems requires coordinated efforts across sectors to build and sustain all core capacities under the IHR.”

Her remarks reinforced the importance of the One Health approach, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in preventing and responding to public health risks.

Representing WHO, Dr. Faraja Msemwa, Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Cluster Lead, commended Tanzania’s continued progress and commitment.

“We appreciate the active participation of all sectors and Tanzania’s continued commitment to strengthening IHR implementation,” she said.

“Tanzania has been among the leading countries in the African region in regularly submitting the Mandatory State Party Annual Assessment reports.”

She further highlighted encouraging progress made by the country across the IHR capacities within Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar. .

“The country’s performance in SPAR and JEE assessments shows steady progress at different levels. WHO remains committed to supporting Tanzania to achieve even greater advancements in implementing the IHR.”

The IHR Technical Working Group meets quarterly, providing a structured platform to review implementation of activities outlined in the Annual Operational Plan (AOP) derived from the 5 years National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) and guides priority actions to strengthen IHR core capacities.

By fostering accountability, coordination, and evidence-based planning, the TWG continues to play a critical role in implementation of IHR Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and strengthening Tanzania’s capacity to effectively manage public health emergencies and safeguard the health of its population.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization – United Republic of Tanzania.

Source: APO

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African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (http://www.Afreximbank.com) has announced that it will hold its 33rd Annual Meetings (AAM2026) at El Alamein in Egypt, from 21 to 24 June 2026.

Against the backdrop of deepening geopolitical re-alignment and conflicts, Afreximbank will hold its 33^rd Annual Meetings under the theme “Intra-African Trade and Industrialisation: Pathway to Economic Sovereignty”, underscoring the growing imperative for African countries to harness internal capacities, strengthen regional value chains, and accelerate industrial transformation as a foundation for sustainable and resilient growth.

The meetings will bring together Heads of State, government officials, policymakers, private sector leaders, financial institutions, academia and international partners from across Africa and beyond.

Through a series of strategic dialogues and engagements, Afreximbank aims to identify priority projects and actionable programmes that will advance the transformation of Africa’s trade structure, particularly in an era shaped by protectionism, shifting alliances, and economic self-interest.

Commenting on the AAM2026, Dr George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Afreximbank, expressed his appreciation to the Government of Egypt for hosting the 2026 Annual Meetings. He said, “For the past decade, Afreximbank has laid a solid foundation for intra-African trade to take off. As we enter this new phase, we must prioritise the processing of goods to be traded under the Free Trade Agreement.”

“With the current global turmoil, marked by policy uncertainty and intensifying geopolitical tensions, Africans must look inwards for solutions relevant to their challenges. We must wean ourselves off trade in commodities, expand investment in processing, build regional value chains, and consume our products to realise the growth and shared prosperity we want.

H.E. Mr. Hassan Abdalla, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), affirmed: “As the host country of Afreximbank, Egypt is honoured to welcome distinguished delegates to attend the Bank’s 33^rd Annual Meetings. At a time of increasing global uncertainty and shifting economic dynamics, Egypt’s strategic location and economic scale position it as a key driver of regional integration and advancing continental priorities. Hosting the AAM2026 in El Alamein, reflects Egypt’s continued commitment to supporting African institutions strengthening intra-African trade and advancing the continent’s industrialization and long-term economic transformation.”

The AAM2026 will provide a unique platform for delegates to engage with high-level decision-makers, connect with partners across the value chain, gain insights into trade finance and logistics, and access capital and close investment deals. The meetings will also serve as a platform to structure partnerships and advance bankable projects across the continent.

By convening a diverse range of stakeholders, AAM2026 will contribute to advancing a shared vision of an integrated, industrialised, and economically sovereign continent.

Further information about the AAM2026 can be found https://apo-opa.co/4dxAQFB

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com

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About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) at “Stable” revised from “Rating Watch Evolving”, affirming the Bank’s international scale long and short-term issuer ratings of A and A2 respectively. Moody’s (Baa2), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), and Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

Source: APO – Report:

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The African Development Bank Group’s (https://AFDB.org/) Board of Directors has approved a $5.65 million reimbursable grant from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) to pilot the Peace Renewable Energy Certificate (P-REC) Aggregation Facility, a pioneering initiative that will, for the first time, deploy renewable energy certificates as a direct funding instrument for a portfolio of mini-grids across Africa’s most fragile and energy-poor countries.

Co-financed with the Nordic Development Fund, which committed an equivalent of $5.65 million, the $11.3 million facility will be managed by Camco Clean Energy (http://apo-opa.co/4uTPcWP), a climate and impact fund manager, and Energy Peace Partners (https://apo-opa.co/4sN9BLC) a US-registered non-profit that developed the Peace Renewable Energy Certificate label. The certificates come exclusively from small-scale mini-grid projects in conflict-affected and energy-poor communities, and are voluntarily purchased by multinationals looking to put their corporate sustainability spending where it drives the greatest social and environmental impact.

The facility will enter into long-term purchase agreements with qualifying mini-grid developers across 14 frontier countries—Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. It will provide developers with upfront cash payments in exchange for the rights to the certificates produced by the project. The facility will subsequently sell those certificates to global corporate buyers, channelling hard currency back to developers in markets where commercial financing is very limited.

Some 856,000 people across these 14 countries are expected to gain first-time access to reliable electricity as a result, roughly half of them women, through approximately 240,000 new connections and 71 megawatts of new renewable energy capacity.

The project is fully aligned with Mission 300 (http://apo-opa.co/3Q4ArjS), the joint African Development Bank and World Bank initiative to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. NDF (http://apo-opa.co/4svavwi) is contributing to the ambitious energy access targets of Mission 300 through their sizable renewable energy portfolio and as a member of the Development Partner Coordination Group.

“Lack of access to capital for rural electrification continues to be a major hurdle for universal energy access in the African continent, particularly in countries experiencing conflicts and fragility.  I am proud that SEFA is backing this innovative, first-of-a-kind facility testing a new climate finance product capable of unlocking new sources of commercial funding for private sector led mini-grids. This is the kind of market-making needed to advance Mission 300 objectives.” João Duarte Cunha, Manager, Renewable Energy Funds Division and Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa, African Development Bank Group

“Countries in Sub‑Saharan Africa facing fragile and conflict‑affected situations urgently need support and access to clean, reliable energy solutions. At NDF, we are proud to contribute to the Innovative Peace Renewable Energy Certificate (P‑REC) Aggregation Facility, which helps bring small‑scale, off‑grid renewable energy to communities with no, limited or disrupted energy access. By supporting this initiative, we also strengthen the role of Nordic climate leadership—working in partnership, through innovation and responsibility, to advance sustainable energy solutions where they are needed most.” Satu Santala, Managing Director, Nordic Development Fund (NDF)

“PAF will provide additional low-cost, non-dilutive capital to energy access projects in fragile states. In doing so, it will provide more communities with access to the benefits of clean energy, boosting jobs, opportunities, and living standards. Camco is pleased to be working with EPP, SEFA and NDF on this important initiative.” Geoff Sinclair, CEO, Camco

“The majority of people on the continent without access to electricity live in fragile and conflict-affected countries where renewable energy projects can have outsize impacts – improving health, education, safety and security outcomes. The P-REC Aggregation Facility, based on EPP’s Peace-REC label, can accelerate that transition by converting corporate climate ambition into upfront capital for renewable energy developers who would otherwise struggle to close their projects.” Sherwin Das, Managing Director, Energy Peace Partners

– on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Contact:
Frederica Lourenco
Communication and External Relations Department
Email: media@afdb.org

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states.

For more information: www.AFDB.org

ABOUT SEFA
SEFA is a multi-donor Special Fund that provides catalytic finance to unlock private sector investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. SEFA offers technical assistance and concessional finance instruments to remove market barriers, build a more robust pipeline of projects and improve the risk-return profile of individual investments. The Fund’s overarching goal is to contribute to universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy services for all in Africa, in line with Mission 300.

ABOUT NDF: 
The Nordic Development Fund (NDF) (http://apo-opa.co/4svavwi is the joint Nordic international finance institution of the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. NDF focuses on the nexus between climate change and development in lower-income countries and countries in fragile situations. Since the introduction of the climate mandate in 2009, NDF has built a track record of adding value by financing climate mitigation and adaptation projects in close interaction with its extensive network of strategic partners.

ABOUT CAMCO: 
Camco (http://apo-opa.co/4uVqkxY) is a climate and impact fund manager. With over 30 years’ experience in sustainable finance and on-the-ground value generation, Camco has supported over 200 projects in 29 countries. The company manages multiple investment platforms aimed at financing innovative solutions to address climate change and deliver positive impact in emerging markets, including the Renewable Energy Performance Platform (REPP), REPP 2, Spark Energy Services and TIDES, and is an Accredited Entity of the Green Climate Fund.

ABOUT ENERGY PEACE PARTNERS:
Energy Peace Partners (EPP) (http://apo-opa.co/4sN9BLC) leverages climate and finance solutions to promote peace in the world’s most fragile regions. Our climate-sensitive approach expands the existing toolkit for peace and development by extending the renewable energy revolution to some of the planet’s most vulnerable populations. We address the intersection of energy poverty, conflict risk and climate vulnerability to demonstrate the peace dividends of clean energy.

Source: APO – Report:

– Five New Partners Join for Sixth BAL Season Tipping Off Today in South Africa –

– BAL Games Will Reach Fans in More Than 200 Countries –

The Basketball Africa League (BAL) (www.BAL.NBA.com) today announced that a record 15 marketing and merchandising partners, including five new partners, will support the 2026 BAL season that tips off today at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa. 

New partners Amazon Web Services; FLEXX; PUMA; Qatar Foundation; and South African Tourism join returning Foundational Partners Rwanda Development Board and Wilson as well as Official Partners AB InBev, Afreximbank, Air Senegal, Hyundai, RwandAir, the French Embassy of Senegal, ServiceNow and Wave.

The BAL’s sixth season will reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories, including all 54 countries in Africa.  Returning free-to-air and pay TV broadcast partners in Africa include Canal+ (pan-Africa), Rwanda Broadcasting Agency, RTS and 2STV (Senegal), SNRT (Morocco), TV5 Monde (pan-Africa) and ZAP TV (Angola and Mozambique).  BAL games and programming will also air on NBA TV globally, the NBA FAST Channel on leading FAST platforms including Samsung, Roku and Amazon Fire TV in the U.S., select FAST platforms in Canada and Mexico, Tencent Video and Tencent Sports in China, TSN and RDS Direct in Canada, and through livestreaming on the NBA App and NBA.com for NBA ID members.

“This incredible roster of new and returning partners reflects the sustained growth and momentum around the BAL and the African sports industry more broadly,” said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall.  “We look forward to working with these amazing companies and organizations to engage BAL fans across the continent and around the world in new and creative ways throughout our sixth season.”

Below are highlights of each marketing and merchandising partners’ efforts:

• AB InBev returns as the Official Beer Partner of the BAL through its Castle Lite and Budweiser brands.
• Afreximbank will again serve as an Official Partner of the BAL4HER and BAL Future Pros programs in each host city, which provide professional development training for African youth pursuing careers in sport.
• Air Senegal returns as Official Partner of the Sahara Conference group phase from Friday, April 24 – Sunday, May 3 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco, supporting guest travel from and returning to Senegal.
• Amazon Web Services will serve as Official Technology Provider (cloud computing, cloud AI and cloud machine learning) of the BAL.
• FLEXX will serve as an Official Off-Court Lifestyle and Team Fanwear Supplier of the BAL.
• Hyundai returns as the Official Car Partner of the Kalahari Conference group phase from March 27 – Sunday, April 5 in Pretoria, featuring Hyundai Santa Fe and Hyundai Alcazar displays at the SunBet Arena and Fan Zone.
• PUMA joins as the league’s Official Outfitter, supplying all official BAL team, fan and referee apparel, including game uniforms, warm-up gear, practice wear, accessories, and branded tops for participants in the league’s social impact and player programming. 
• Qatar Foundation will serve as an Official Community Partner of the BAL by supporting a variety of social impact and court development initiatives across all three host cities.
• RwandAir returns as Official Airline Partner of the BAL.
• Rwanda Development Board returns as a Foundational Partner of the BAL.
• The French Embassy of Senegal will serve an Official Partner of the BAL School Tournament and International Basketball Day in Senegal, with more details to be announced at a later date.
• ServiceNow will serve as Official Digital Transformation Partner of the BAL and support several networking and stakeholder engagement initiatives throughout the season.
• South African Tourism will serve as Official Tourism Collaborator of the Kalahari Conference group phase.
• Wave returns as an Official Marketing Partner of the BAL, Presenting Partner of the BAL4HER Elevate Camp, the BAL Rapatak Tournament, the BAL Tournoi des Quartiers Tournament, and the BAL Court Regeneration Event, and Official Partner of the BAL Business Brunch.
• Wilson returns as a Foundational Partner and Official Game Ball Partner of the BAL.
   

– on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).

Contact:
Marie-Pierre Anamba Onana
Basketball Africa League
+221 78 637 70 62
Manamba@theBAL.com

About the BAL:
The Basketball Africa League (BAL), a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that will tip off its sixth season on March 27, 2026.  Headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, the BAL builds on the foundation of club competitions FIBA Africa has organized across the continent and marks the NBA’s first collaboration to operate a league outside North America.  Fans can follow the BAL (@theBAL) on Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/40TcHSh), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3O09i13), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4tg2HP6), X (https://apo-opa.co/4c8630K), and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4rWAFH2) and register their interest in receiving more information at www.BAL.NBA.com.