Category: English

Source: APO

“Before this support, we had a lot of difficulties accessing water. We used to fetch it from the river. It was very distant for us, and we suffered from many diseases. But now, since we’ve had water available to everyone, cholera has decreased significantly, infections have decreased a lot, too, so I’m grateful for that”. 

These words from Clementina Artur, capture the real impact of the African Development Bank’s transformative intervention in people’s lives, with the Institutional and Sustainability Support to Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Project, which started in 2015 and will be completed at the end of 2025. 

When the African Development Bank’s initiative reached these communities in Angola, it didn’t merely install infrastructure – it transformed lives for the most vulnerable communities, leaving no one behind. 

Isabel Sambovana is also another success life story. 

Her life changed completely with the installation of a latrine in her community (Sumbe).  

“Before having the latrine, I was forced to go to the grass behind the wall of my house. It was very painful because of my age. But now I have a bathroom, and it has made my life easier. With the latrine here in the yard, I don’t need to move around. I have more dignity.” 

Before this installation, people in the community were forced to defecate in the open air, increasing diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, and malaria – but now with proper sanitation, women have regained their dignity and safety.  

Now, everything has changed. Most importantly, Isabel’s latrine proved to be life changing. It spurred the community to self-build additional 301 latrines.   

A Project That Integrates and Complements Itself Like Life 

The project, set to conclude in December of 2025 after a decade of implementation, has delivered remarkable results: the seven utility companies supported by the project have made a total of more than 59,008 household water connections, reaching a total of more than 472,000 people. Seven utility companies have been legally established and received technical assistance to establish a strong financial management function, and engage the private sector in operation and maintenance; 179 women-run water kiosks set up in peri-urban areas are functioning;  three new water quality laboratories were built in three different provinces  (Cunene, Bengo and Sumbe); 11 coastal cities have developed their sanitation investment plans of which three have proceeded to investment stage and a further five have secured financial commitment, and master plans have been developed for the  provincial capitals. A social and gender inclusion strategy and an action plan for the sector have been developed. An internship program was developed that helped some 60 young Angolans to learn and gain technical experience in project management, engineering, financial management, environment, social and other relevant areas. 

The numbers tell only part of the story.  

According to project task manager from African Development Bank Eskendir Alemseged: “The project is transformative, tackling critical challenges related to institutional reform, infrastructure development, and improved service delivery across a broad geographic area in Angola. Through its comprehensive approach, the project not only provided access to clean water for an additional 472,000 people but also enhanced service delivery systems that positively impacted nearly 1.5 million individuals. This broad-scale intervention has laid the foundation for more resilient and equitable water and sanitation services across the country.” 

Women Empowered, Communities Transformed 

For women like Helena, the project has delivered more than water, sanitation and infrastructure – it has brought financial independence and empowerment.  

“I started as an intern, and now I am responsible for the microbiology department. There are four of us women and two men, and the laboratory’s job is to carry out physical, chemical and microbiological analyses of water. Apart from Sumbe, the laboratory supports some municipalities in Kwanza Sul, such as Gabela and Porto Amboim. This project has brought about a huge change in my life. Before, I was unemployed, but now I work in a fascinating area, where I gain more knowledge every day, and that is very rewarding,” she says. 

In the case of young Gilda Giza Rede, the journey starts today.  

In a group of 10 interns, she is the only girl working as an electromechanical maintenance technician at the Sumbe WWTP (Wastewater Treatment Plant). 

Just 20, she has high expectations for the role she holds and is eager to learn: “This Sumbe WWTP project will help many families in terms of disease prevention and management of wastewater, it will help farmers get access to organic fertilizer,” she says. 

Water is life – and for the African Development Bank, these words are a meaningful insight into how to continue to move forward and improve the quality of Life for the People of Angola. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Source: APO

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Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Prime Minister, Dr. Moustafa Madbouly, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Eng. Karim Badawi.

Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources offered an overview of the ministry’s key pillars for current operations and activities. Those include focusing on production and exploration activities; leveraging petroleum resources through refineries and petrochemical plants to create added value; achieving a breakthrough in the mining sector and boosting its added value; and strengthening regional cooperation to attract investments to Egypt in the oil and gas sectors, while maintaining safety, energy efficiency, and reducing emissions. He confirmed that the ministry seeks to collaborate with the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy as one team in order to provide an energy mix to drive the growth of the Egyptian economy and leverage Egypt’s strategic location for the production of hydrogen and energy trade.

The meeting also discussed the state’s efforts to secure citizens’ needs for petroleum products and to supply various state sectors, primarily the electricity sector, with natural gas. It also focused on the latest developments in exploration activities and added petroleum reserves. Minister Badawi reviewed the main achievements from July 2024 to June 2025, including an increase in added domestic oil and gas production, and the petroleum sector’s success in overcoming the natural decline in natural gas production. Moreover, the discussion covered research and exploration activities and their remarkable expansion.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources’ efforts, in cooperation with other relevant state authorities, to reduce outstanding dues to foreign partners were also tackled during the meeting. This included commitment to monthly invoice payments and encouraging partners to accelerate the pace of production and exploration.

Furthermore, the President was updated on ongoing efforts to develop the gas sector’s infrastructure through the acquisition of floating regasification units. These units have increased regasification capacity from 1,000 to 2,250 million cubic feet per day, ensuring the flexibility and continuity of gas supplies to all sectors and addressing any emergency disruptions in the supply mix.

Other issues discussed in the meeting included cooperation with Cyprus to diversify gas supplies and activate the strategy for the regional gas trading hub as well as efforts to achieve a breakthrough in the mining sector through transforming the Mineral Resources Authority into an effective economic entity; signing mineral exploitation agreements with international companies; launching mineral value-added industries; and attracting national capital into investments for mineral processing and extraction.

President El-Sisi underscored the need to further strengthen the State’s efforts to create a conducive investment environment for both foreign and national capital to boost domestic oil and gas production in order to meet development needs, reduce the import bill, and alleviate burdens on citizens. The President stressed the crucial need to focus on developing new discoveries, accelerating their integration into production, expanding research and exploration programs, and offering additional incentives to achieve further growth in the petroleum and mineral resources sectors.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Source: APO

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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), hosted a Digital Village twinning event as part of the Fostering Digital Villages through Innovative Advisory and Profitable Market Services in Africa (FDiVi) project.

The event brought together more than 130 participants, including representatives from farmer organizations, private sector partners, digital ambassadors, and officials from the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT), MINAGRI, and the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA). The gathering served as a platform for sharing experiences and best practices in leveraging digital technologies to enhance agricultural productivity, market access, advisory services, and access to real-time data and knowledge.

A key highlight of the event was a Peer Learning Session, during which members from 48 farmer cooperatives shared testimonies and best practices on how digital tools have transformed their daily lives. These stories illustrated the real-world impact of digital transformation in agriculture, particularly in improving efficiency, profitability, and market connectivity.

During a panel discussion, district authorities from Musanze, Nyanza, Ngororero, and Nyagatare reflected on the opportunities and challenges of scaling digital agriculture in rural communities. The four districts expressed their commitment to integrating the FDiVi project into local development plans and emphasized the importance of cross-district collaboration and peer learning both within Rwanda and as a model for other countries.

FAO Representative a.i in Rwanda Nomathemba Mhlanga commended the role of digital ambassadors in guiding farmers through the digital literacy journey and underscored the need for continued support from local governments.

“District and sector authorities must remain the bridge between policy and practice, between strategy and implementation,” she said.

As part of the event, outstanding farmer cooperatives were recognized during an awards ceremony.  FAO provided 99 smartphones to selected farmer organizations to support access to digital tools.

“This smartphone will transform how our cooperative accesses information, connects with markets, receives digital advisory services, and promotes our agricultural products using technology,” said Nyirabakiga Immaculée, one of the recipients.

Through the FDiVi project, FAO continues to empower rural communities by fostering inclusive digital ecosystems that drive innovation, market integration, and improved livelihoods across Rwanda.

FAO’s FDiVi project, launched in April 2024, empowers around 150 farmer groups in Malawi, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe by using digital tools such as tablets, AI‑chatbots, and social media to enhance agricultural advisory services, improve market access, and boost rural livelihoods.

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

Source: APO

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Ethiopia’s agricultural sector is going digital, with new tools offering ways to boost productivity and improve market access. In Addis Ababa, sector leaders and stakeholders explore practical steps for building a more resilient, tech-enabled farming system.

With traditional farming still widespread and digital tools often out of reach for rural communities, a symposium held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, set out to address challenges in productivity, market access, infrastructure and digital literacy. Smallholder farmers, women, youth and others who are frequently excluded from innovation efforts, received particular attention.

Organized by Orbit Innovation Hub in partnership with the International Trade Centre and Trade Ethiopia, the symposium brought together stakeholders from across the agriculture and technology ecosystems. 

Focused on real-world solutions

The one-day programme included panel discussions, startup pitches, a documentary screening and presentations on new technologies such as AI in agriculture. The event offered a platform for exchanging ideas and exploring how digital innovation can support inclusive and sustainable agricultural growth.

Orbit Innovation Hub, launched as the social enterprise arm of health tech company Orbit Health, is committed to developing the startup ecosystem in Ethiopia. “We started this because we didn’t want new entrepreneurs to face the same hurdles we did,” said COO Girum Habetewold. “Agriculture remains central to our economy. Modernizing it is essential for long-term growth.”

Support from the International Trade Centre’s Netherlands Trust Fund V (NTF V) Ethiopia Tech project has been key to turning that vision into reality. Over the past three years, the programme has provided both funding and technical guidance to help Orbit standardize the symposium format, bring in international expertise and expand its reach. What began as a local idea has become a national platform with international relevance.

Building networks and partnerships

One of the symposium’s key strengths was the range of voices in the room. Policymakers, business leaders, researchers, funders and grassroots entrepreneurs all took part. “Everyone brought their networks,” said Kiya Girma of Trade Ethiopia. “It helped connect people who don’t usually have the chance to collaborate directly.”

Trade Ethiopia, a B2B platform connecting local producers with global buyers, joined the organizing team for the first time this year. Their involvement highlighted the importance of linking agriculture, digital tools and export opportunities. “We support cooperatives and smallholder farmers in accessing markets,” Girma said. “Digital tools help them do that more efficiently and on better terms.”

NTF V played a coordinating role in bringing these different actors together, drawing on its extensive experience in supporting agricultural trade and digital innovation across Ethiopia.

Stories from the field

The symposium also presented examples of what happens when digital tools and support systems are in place. For example, a young farmer from Woliso, who attended a SEED programme workshop, secured a bank loan and bought a tractor. His story illustrates how targeted training and financial access can bring new opportunities for youth engagement and economic mobility within the sector.

Another example came from Kifiya Technologies, a company offering digital insurance services that help farmers manage risk and improve resilience. 

Speakers raised important points about the need to design tools that fit local realities, invest in digital literacy, prioritize relationships with farmers, and ensure that technology is accessible, affordable and relevant to those working in remote or underserved areas. Several panelists stressed that without strong local engagement, even the most advanced tools risk being underused or misunderstood. 

“You don’t get useful data unless you’ve built trust,” Girma said. “Technology has to work for the people using it.”

Supporting national goals

The symposium directly supports Ethiopia’s Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy, which aims to unlock greater value in agriculture through digital innovation. Orbit Innovation Hub has been an active contributor to this agenda, and NTF V has served as a key partner in making that contribution possible.

NTF V’s broader impact extends well beyond the symposium. The project helped Ethiopian agri-businesses engage in international markets, supported women-led enterprises, and increased digital access for nearly 400,000 individuals. It also brought in direct investment and improved the capacity of local support organizations, including those involved in agricultural trade.

Looking ahead

As the NTF V project concludes, Orbit and its partners are exploring how to sustain and scale the work that has been started. Plans are under way for future editions of the symposium and new initiatives that will support innovation in agriculture and beyond.

“Agriculture in Ethiopia is beginning to change,” said Habetewold of Orbit Innovation Hub. “It’s a slow process, but the groundwork is being laid. Shifting from traditional practices to data-driven, tech-enabled farming will take time, especially given the scale of the sector and the realities facing smallholder farmers. But with continued investment, strong partnerships and a focus on practical outcomes, Ethiopia is taking meaningful steps toward a more resilient and inclusive farming future.” 

The COO added that the AgriTech Stakeholders Symposium has become a clear example of how local collaboration, combined with sustained international support, can turn good ideas into action and help reshape the agricultural landscape from the ground up.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.