Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO – Report:

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23 September 2025, Technical experts from 14 African countries, multilateral development banks, development partners, and global health initiatives are convening in Johannesburg for a three-day Regional Technical Meeting on Innovative Financing for Health in Africa, co-organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa and the Global Fund. 

“We are truly delighted to host this regional technical meeting as we collectively reflect on the challenges and opportunities before us in building sustainable and resilient health financing systems for our continent. Africa is at a turning point, and innovative thinking will be essential to ensure our resolutions translate into meaningful action. By applying innovative thinking, we can ensure that health financing reforms become meaningful action that strengthens our health systems and secures equity for our people,” said Dr Percy Mahlathi, Deputy Director General, Institutional Capacity, South Africa National Department of Health. 

The meeting offers a collaborative platform for countries and partners to examine practical strategies to mobilize sustainable resources, improve alignment of financing flows, and scale up innovative mechanisms to accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC). 

“This technical meeting is an opportunity for countries and partners to share practical experiences, co-create solutions, and strengthen alignment around national health financing priorities. The focus is on concrete, evidence- based approaches that countries can adapt and scale,” said Nertila Tavanxhi, Senior Manager- Health Financing Country Support- The Global Fund).

Health financing remains a major challenge across Africa. Out-of-pocket spending accounts for about 36% of total health expenditure, and nearly half of sub-Saharan African countries depend on external resources for more than one- third of their health spending — leaving them vulnerable to reductions in external funding. 

The meeting aims to: 

• Mobilize and sustain domestic financing for health by exploring fiscal policies and innovative instruments that can expand health budgets and reduce donor dependency.
• Enhance efficiency, alignment, and impact through improved partner coordination and integration of health financing within national frameworks.
• Promote innovative approaches such as blended finance, social impact bonds, pooled procurement, and climate-health financing. 

“Strengthening health financing is not just about finding more money, it is about using resources more strategically, aligning them with country priorities, and building resilient systems that deliver for everyone”, said Dr. Adelheid Werimo Onyango, Director of Health Systems & Services, WHO Regional Office for Africa. “This meeting allows us to bring technical expertise together to generate solutions that will sustain health gains and accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage.” 

“Fiscal pressures and shifting external financing realities are testing our ability to sustain the health gains of the past two decades. Yet, this challenge also presents us with an opportunity: to rethink our approaches and mobilize sustainable, country-led, and innovative financing solutions that will strengthen resilience, equity, and progress toward Universal Health Coverage” said Ms Shenaaz El-Halabi, Country Representative, WHO South Africa. “Innovative financing is not only about new instruments, but also about new partnerships, new ways of sharing risk, and stronger commitments to align resources with national priorities.” 

Over three days, participants will engage in keynote presentations, country case studies, peer learning, and ideation sessions. The agenda highlights country-led innovations including: 

• Ghana’s Medical Trust Fund and removal of caps on VAT revenue for health insurance.
• South Africa’s pioneering TB Social Impact Bond, linking financing to measurable health outcomes. •
• Tanzania and Nigeria’s advances in pooled procurement and local pharmaceutical production. 

The meeting will culminate in the development of country ideation maps, outlining pipelines for innovative financing opportunities and a commitment to establish a regional community of practice to sustain momentum and foster ongoing collaboration.

– on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – South Africa.

Source: APO – Report:

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The World Bank Group has approved the Digital Zambia Acceleration Project (DZAP) to support the Zambian government  to increase access to, and inclusive use of, the internet and digitally enabled services. With a strong emphasis on fostering digital inclusion, the project aims to empower women and girls, persons with disabilities (PwDs), and other vulnerable communities through the use of digital public services.

Supported by a $100 million International Development Association (IDA)* grant to Zambia, DZAP is part of the second phase of of the regional Inclusive Digitalization in Eastern and Southern Africa (IDEA ) program.  Zambia joins Angola, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) in this regional effort to foster inclusive digital economies across the region.

“I am confident that DZAP will enhance digital access,  including access to e-government services for faster, more transparent public service delivery,” said Achim Fock, World Bank Country Manager for Zambia.

The DZAP will also promote high-impact digital services in sectors such as agriculture–through access to market data and smart farming tools, in the education sector through support for e-learning platforms and digital content, and in the the health sector through improved digital health records.

“The youth of Zambia are poised to benefit from this project thanks to it’s support for developing employment-ready digital skills among youth and underserved populations,” said Mehnaz Safavian, World Bank Practice Manager for Digital Development for Eastern and Southern Africa. “The project will also strengthen digital public infrastructure to improve service delivery and governance.”

The DZAP is structured around four strategic pillars :

• Affordable Broadband–Extending backbone and last-mile connectivity and enhancing the enabling environment.
• Interoperable and Secure Platforms–Facilitating digital government services and regional trade.
• High-Impact Digital Services–Supporting sectoral digitalization and digital skills development.
• Program Management and Capacity Building–Ensuring effective implementation and stakeholder engagement.

The DZAP project is fully aligned with the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Zambia FY25–29 key pillars focusing on creating more and better jobs, improving human capital, and enhancing climate resilience. It is aligned with Zambia’s vision 2030 aimed at transforming the country into a prosperous, middle-income country by 2030 through creating jobs for its population.

*The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 78 poorest countries, 40 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to the 1.3 billion people who live in IDA countries. Since 1960, IDA has provided $563 billion to 116 countries. Annual commitments have increased steadily and averaged about $34.5 billion over the last three years (FY22-FY24), with about 70 percent going to Africa. Learn more online: IDA.worldbank.org. #IDAworks

– on behalf of The World Bank Group.

Source: APO – Report:

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The World Health Organization (WHO)’s Deputy Representative to the country Hala Khudari reported on Tuesday that the outbreak, which started in July 2024 in Kassala, has spread to all 18 states of the country.

More than 113,600 cases have been registered so far and over 3,000 deaths – a “concerning case fatality rate” of 2.7 per cent.

Speaking from Port Sudan, she said that the past year saw surges in White Nile and Khartoum among other states, resulting from the impact of the conflict and increased population movement. This critical situation has been compounded by severely limited basic services such as water, food and health, caused by ongoing heavy fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection that spreads through bacteria-contaminated food and water. According to WHO, it can kill within hours when not treated, and case fatality rates above one per cent indicate “serious gaps in case management and delayed access to care”.

Conditions ripe for disease

The resurgence of cholera in Sudan has been fuelled by heavy rains and flooding, overcrowding and lack of access to clean water in displacement sites and within communities.

In the Darfur region, where cholera has been spreading since May, the number of cases continues to increase amid “severe access constraints” which are impeding the response, including inaccessible roads due to the rainy season, Ms. Khudari said. As of two days ago 12,739 cases and 358 deaths were reported in more than half of all the localities of the five Darfur states.

In certain localities in West Darfur, the case fatality rate has been as high as 11.8 per cent, she said.

Ms. Khudari explained that WHO and partners have been working to control the outbreak with a vaccination campaign in the worst-hit communities. It began last Sunday “after weeks of preparations to overcome access, transport and logistical challenges”.

The campaign aims to protect 1.86 million people in six priority localities of the Darfurs.

The WHO representative said that the “biggest challenge” in launching the campaign was to “actually get the vaccines there”. She described the difficulties in delivering the life-saving immunizations and supporting supplies via “long routes” to Nyala in South Darfur state earlier this month, amid ongoing security concerns.

El Fasher survivors

Preparations are ongoing to launch the campaign by the end of September in Tawila in North Darfur State, which hosts more than 575,000 internally displaced people, most of whom have fled from the besieged city of El Fasher.

The vaccines are being deployed in Sudan with the support of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), whose spokesperson Ricardo Pires raised the alarm over the severe risks of cholera for children.

Children under five have been “disproportionately affected”, he told reporters, and so far at least 380 have died.

Access to life-saving treatment for cholera in Sudan is limited as the almost two-and-a-half-year-old violent conflict has devastated the health system.

The outbreak comes at a time when “more than 70 per cent of hospitals in conflict-affected areas are non-operational, with health centres being damaged or destroyed during the conflict, lacking supplies and even staff, as well as facilities being often used as shelter,” Mr. Pires stressed.

The UNICEF spokesperson also underscored the impact of “relentless” attacks on the country’s power and water infrastructure which have off cut millions of people including many children from safe and clean water, forcing families to collect water from unsafe and contaminated sources.

– on behalf of UN News.

Source: APO – Report:

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The Congolese economy posted modest real GDP growth of 2.6% in 2024, marking a moderate increase in per capita income for the first time since 2016. This finding, according to the World Bank’s new Economic Update for the Republic of Congo, underscores that the progress registered has not yet translated into a significant reduction in poverty.

Entitled “Strengthen the management of produced, human and natural capital to raise living standards in the Republic of Congo “, the twelfth edition of the report calls on the State to strategically manage its debt and cash flow in order to strengthen the country’s fiscal sustainability and unleash its growth potential. It calls for protecting and expanding assets to improve people’s living standards.

The Republic of Congo has stepped up non-oil revenue mobilization and has made promising progress in public debt and treasury management reforms. However, while debt is declining, liquidity pressures remain elevated, calling for prudent cash management and additional efforts to rationalize public spending to improve fiscal sustainability.

Supported by local content policies, agricultural value chains have been strengthened, while regional demand has boosted manufacturing exports. At the same time, the contraction in oil production has highlighted the vulnerability of an economy still dependent on hydrocarbons, reminding us of the urgency of accelerating its diversification. Diversification is progressing but with limited labor absorption.

In the medium term, growth is projected at 2.8% in 2025, followed by a gradual recovery in 2026 and 2027. Lower oil prices and tighter financial conditions will test the country’s fiscal and external resilience.

The report highlights that the country has considerable assets, driven by its human and natural capital. Its forests, which cover more than 69% of the territory, store nearly 16 billion tonnes of carbon and provide essential ecosystem services. This wealth holds enormous potential: better management of natural capital, combined with greater investments in human capital, can sustainably raise wealth per capita.

“For a forest-intensive country like the Republic of Congo, an effective global financing mechanism is essential to turn carbon sequestration services into tangible benefits,” said Cheick Fantamady Kanté, World Bank Country Director for Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. “Estimating the value of these services is a critical first step, enabling policymakers, civil society, and the public at large to quantify and target the necessary compensation.”

The report recommends strengthening education and health, strengthening forest governance, and promoting local transformation of natural resources to create jobs, mobilize climate finance, and foster sustainable development.

It concludes with a call for concerted and scaled-up support from the international community to build more resilient, inclusive, and environmentally friendly growth for the well-being of all its people.

– on behalf of The World Bank Group.

Source: APO – Report:

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), through its Commission’s Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), will convene a Regional Consultation in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, from 24 to 26 September 2025, under the theme “The Future of Political Stability, Peace and Security in West Africa”.

The Bissau meeting forms part of a series of three regional consultations being organised ahead of the Special Summit on the Future of Regional Integration, scheduled for later in 2025, as directed by the Authority of Heads of State and Government at its 65th Ordinary Session held on 7 July 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria. The consultations are being held in the context of the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS, marking five decades of regional cooperation and integration.

The two sessions will take place simultaneously in Accra, Ghana, and Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, from 24 to 26 September 2025. While the Accra consultation will focus on “The Future of Democracy, Constitutional Order and Good Governance”, the Bissau meeting will address the region’s priorities on “Peace, Stability and Security”. A third consultation is planned for Freetown, Sierra Leone, from 14 to 16 October 2025, focusing on “The Future of ECOWAS Partnerships and International Relations”.

The consultations will bring together representatives of ECOWAS Member States, civil society organisations, youth and women’s groups, the private sector, technical and financial partners, as well as academics and experts. They are designed to provide an inclusive platform for dialogue on the region’s most pressing challenges, to generate concrete recommendations that will contribute to a common outcome document entitled “A Pact for the Future of Regional Integration in the ECOWAS Community”. This document will be submitted to the Authority of Heads of State and Government for consideration at the Special Summit.

This process is firmly anchored in ECOWAS Vision 2050: ‘A Community of Peoples – Peace and Prosperity for All’. It reflects the commitment of the ECOWAS leadership to place citizens at the centre of regional integration, ensuring that peace, stability and prosperity remain the guiding priorities of the Community.

– on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO – Report:

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has commenced a series of regional consultations in Senegal to advance the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda. The first meeting was held in Matam on 22nd September 2025, bringing together government officials, youth representatives, civil society organisations, and development partners to kickstart the process of developing Senegal’s National Action Plan (NAP) on YPS.

The consultations, which will also take place in the regions of Tambacounda and Kédougou, are a key step in promoting youth inclusion and empowerment as essential elements for building a safer, more stable, and prosperous West Africa. The initiative aligns with ECOWAS Vision 2050 and the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security, and reflects Senegal’s commitment to ensuring young people play a central role in decision-making and peacebuilding processes.

Declaring the meeting open, the Deputy Governor of Matam, Mr. Baba Hann, emphasised that the consultations reflect Senegal’s inclusive approach to developing its National Action Plan (NAP) on Youth, Peace, and Security. He pledged to share the outcomes with the Presidency of Senegal and urged young people across the region to actively participate and commit themselves to advancing the YPS agenda.

Mr. Constant Gnacadja, Acting Head of the ECOWAS Mediation and Coordination of Regional Political Affairs Division, represented by Mr. Arthur Obayuwana, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to promoting youth inclusion in peace and security processes across the region. He highlighted that the initiative is guided by the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF) and draws inspiration from the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250, which recognises the critical role of young people in peacebuilding and conflict prevention.

The Deputy Mayor of Matam, Mr. Ameth Gueye, welcomed the opportunity for young people in his community to contribute their views and priorities to the National Action Plan, underscoring the importance of local voices in shaping national policies on peace and security.

Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of key stakeholders, including the West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), local government officials, youth leaders, and civil society organisations. They collectively reaffirmed their commitment to working with ECOWAS and national authorities to promote youth engagement, peacebuilding, and social cohesion in Senegal.

The consultations were facilitated by the Association pour la Promotion du Leadership des Jeunes Femmes et Filles (APELJFF), led by its coordinator, Ms. Simone Diouf, with support from youth development experts. Participants engaged in breakout sessions structured around five strategic pillars of Senegal’s National Action Plan: governance, peace and security, employment, economy and technological innovation, education, basic social services and inclusion, environment, climate and energy, and communication, resource mobilisation and partnerships.

The discussions also examined critical issues such as human security and the socio-economic exclusion of young people, which have been identified as key factors fuelling vulnerability to violence and instability in the region. Stakeholders explored ways to address these challenges through inclusive policies, capacity building, and cross-sectoral collaboration.

With young people representing nearly 70 percent of West Africa’s population of over 400 million, the Youth, Peace, and Security programme is a critical regional priority. By engaging youth as active partners in peacebuilding and governance, ECOWAS and its member states aim to create pathways for sustainable development while reducing the risks of recruitment by extremist groups and other destabilising actors.

The outcomes of the consultations will inform the drafting of Senegal’s National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security, which will serve as a model for similar initiatives across the region, contributing to the ECOWAS Vision 2050 goal of building a peaceful, stable, and prosperous West Africa that is truly people-centred.

– on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO – Report:

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A delegation from the ECOWAS Commission, led by Dr. Sintiki Tarfa-Ugbe, Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, paid a working visit to the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) in Ghana.

The purpose of the visit was to assess and monitor the implementation of ECOWAS humanitarian assistance provided in response to the devastating floods of 2022 and 2023, which severely impacted communities across the Greater Accra and Eastern Regions, with Nsawam Adagyiri, Ga West, Ga South, and Weija Gbawe among the hardest hit.

In response, ECOWAS donated targeted emergency relief assistance. In partnership with the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and Abantu for Development, the intervention aimed to restore livelihoods, strengthen community resilience, and accelerate recovery for the most vulnerable households. The ECOWAS support package included emergency relief, livelihood restoration, and resilience-building interventions aimed at helping affected families recover and rebuild.

Beneficiaries carefully selected by NADMO, received food and non-food items, as well as training in essential livelihood skills such as baking, hairdressing, soap-making, and farming. At the end of the training session, each participant was equipped with start-up kits, designed to foster confidence, independence, and self-reliance. These tools empowered individuals to rebuild their lives and contribute meaningfully to their communities. Some beneficiaries present shared their personal experiences,

In his opening remarks, Major General (Rtd) Joseph B. Kuyon, Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO, stated

“ECOWAS has once again demonstrated its commitment to the ideals of its mandate and standing with Ghanaians in times of crisis,” he stated. “These interventions have produced tangible and life-changing results with strong emphasis on livelihood recovery and resilience-building.”

In response to the devastating floods in Ghana, ECOWAS humanitarian assistance reached more than 5,100 households with emergency relief, including food, clothing, mattresses, and other essentials, prioritizing vulnerable groups such as women-headed households, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

Beyond immediate aid, over 190 individuals received financial literacy and entrepreneurship training, 90 farmers were equipped with climate-smart farming techniques and modern tools, and artisans and small business owners were supported with start-up kits. Communities also benefited from 10 new boreholes, the establishment of Water and Sanitation Committees, and industrial handwashing stations in schools to safeguard public health.

To strengthen long-term resilience, NADMO enhanced its institutional capacity through training in disaster risk reduction, early warning, and post-disaster recovery, supported by a new training manual to guide sustainable disaster management practices in Ghana.

Representing Abantu for Development, Dr. Rose Mensah-Kutiw emphasized the inclusive and empowering nature of the initiative:

“This programme placed dignity and resilience at the heart of recovery, ensuring that no one was left behind.”

Dr. Sintiki Tarfa-Ugbe reaffirmed ECOWAS’s people-centered humanitarian approach, noting that 85% of funding directly supports communities through livelihoods, food aid, water, and sanitation. She stressed that ECOWAS interventions go beyond emergency relief, focusing on resilience, dignity, and sustainable work opportunities.

“Our interventions go beyond emergency relief—we emphasize livelihoods, resilience, and restoring dignity,” Dr. Ugbe added. “

Highlighting a shift from high-level meetings to tangible community projects, she commended the collaborative model involving governments, civil society, and local communities. Despite declining donor funding, she emphasized that ECOWAS remains a reliable partner in resilience, providing direct support and empowering communities across West Africa.

The event was highlighted with a powerful example of how ECOWAS initiatives restore dignity and resilience in vulnerable communities. A beneficiary, Aunty Cici, a petty trader and sole guardian of her 7yr old grandson showcased her new acquired skill in soap making. She was trained and equipped through ECOWAS support. With start-up capital, she now earns steady profits, supports her family, and rebuilds her life.

Her story is a powerful testament to ECOWAS’s mission: promoting solidarity, resilience, and sustainable recovery across West Africa. These efforts not only uplift individuals but also complement national strategies to protect citizens from climate-related disasters and economic shocks.

This field assessment mission reflects ECOWAS’ broader vision of promoting solidarity, resilience, and sustainable recovery across West Africa, while complementing national efforts to protect citizens from climate-related disasters.

– on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).