MIL-OSI – Page 58 – MIL Africa Engine

October 15, 2026

Qatar Affirms Commitment to UNHCR Strategic Partnership Through Continued Support for Humanitarian Responses

Source: Government of Qatar

Geneva | October 14, 2026

The State of Qatar emphasized that, over the past several years, it has strengthened its position as a strategic partner of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) through its continued support for humanitarian responses to emergencies worldwide.

This support has helped bolster UNHCR-led programs across numerous fields, enabling more than 9.5 million refugees, forcibly displaced people, and members of host communities around the world to access essential assistance, services, and protection.

This was highlighted in remarks delivered by Second Secretary at the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Mansouri, during the general debate at the 77th session of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), convened in Geneva.

The State of Qatar is grateful for the efforts led by UNHCR under the leadership of HE High Commissioner for Refugees Dr. Barham Salih to coordinate international efforts to protect refugees and build a better future for them, Al Mansouri said.

Al Mansouri vigorously condemned attempts to forcibly displace the Palestinian people or alter the geographic and demographic character of the occupied Palestinian territory. He called on the international community to compel Israel to halt its settlement and expansionist plans.

UNRWA must be supported, and a just solution to the issue of Palestinian refugees must be found in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions, he stressed.

Marking the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, Al Mansouri eloquently underscored the importance of strengthening international protection for refugees and upholding international law.

The State of Qatar has supported the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees and hopes that the 2027 Global Refugee Forum will provide an opportunity to renew commitments and expand partnerships, Al Mansouri pointed out.

He asserted that Qatar continues to strengthen its cooperation with the United Nations and its agencies and organizations while pursuing humanitarian and development efforts to support refugees and forcibly displaced people worldwide.

This commitment stems from Qatar’s belief that international solidarity is a shared responsibility and that protecting human dignity and meeting essential needs must remain at the core of the international response, Al Mansouri underlined.

Al Mansouri clarified that from 2012 through June 2026, the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) provided more than USD 544 million in aid to refugees and host countries, with funding distributed across multiple sectors, particularly education, health, relief, and economic growth.

The Education Above All (EAA) Foundation has recently renewed its cooperation with UNHCR to help 200,000 refugee children who are out of school gain access to education by 2028, he recalled.

Al Mansouri noted that the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) and UNHCR have completed a QFFD-backed project designed to bolster access to health care and strengthen the referral system for Syrian refugees in Jordan, ensuring that patients receive specialized and emergency health services.

Qatar Charity and UNHCR signed two agreements in June 2026, totaling approximately USD 844,808, to support more than 15,000 of the most vulnerable forcibly displaced people in Lebanon and the Middle East and North Africa region, Al Mansouri continued.

Al Mansouri further stressed that the State of Qatar has held that preventive diplomacy, mediation, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts deserve special emphasis. He affirmed that Qatar continues to leverage its diplomatic efforts to support pathways to peace and reconciliation.

This approach stems from Qatar’s belief that ending conflicts and addressing the antecedents that give rise to them offer a viable off-ramp to preventing forced displacement over the long term and creating conditions that enable refugees and displaced people to return voluntarily and rebuild their lives, Al Mansouri remarked.

For his part, HE Dr. Barham Salih thanked the State of Qatar for its partnership and unyielding support for refugees, particularly in education and in responding to emergency needs while upholding international law.

Dr. Salih hailed ongoing efforts to help refugee children enroll in school, as well as the goal of helping 200,000 refugee children who are out of school gain access to education by 2028, describing it as a noble goal.

He likewise praised the expansion of the partnership beyond the aforementioned initiative, reiterating his gratitude for the State of Qatar’s efforts to promote mediation, address the antecedents of conflicts, and maintain peace.

October 14, 2026

When false information moves faster than the facts: Rethinking government communication

Source: Government of South Africa

When false information moves faster than the facts: Rethinking government communication

By Zanele Mngadi

Government has put in place programmes and processes to ensure that the information it shares with the public is accurate, credible and verified. However, accuracy alone is not always enough to win the battle against misinformation and disinformation, finds a new study.

The study, which examined the role of social media management strategies in countering misinformation and disinformation within a national government department in South Africa, highlights the growing challenges government communicators face in the digital age. It drew on the experiences of nine communication practitioners who are directly involved in managing the department’s social media platforms.

One of the study’s key findings is that having accurate information does not necessarily guarantee that official information will be the first to reach the public or that citizens will engage with it.

Unlike unverified online content, government communication is guided by strict processes designed to ensure accuracy and accountability. Information must be verified, relevant stakeholders consulted and, where necessary, approvals obtained before any public response is issued. While these processes are essential in maintaining credibility and public confidence, the challenge, according to the study, is finding ways to respond quickly without compromising accuracy.

Misinformation and disinformation

The study also highlighted the importance of distinguishing between misinformation and disinformation. It adopted definitions used by the European Commission and UNESCO, which describe misinformation as false or misleading information shared without the intention to cause harm, while disinformation refers to deliberately false information shared with the intention to deceive. Although both can have harmful consequences, the distinction is important because each may require a different communication response.

Through semi-structured interviews with the nine communication practitioners, the study explored the strategies used to counter misinformation and disinformation, how these strategies are implemented in practice, the factors that influence their effectiveness and opportunities for improvement.

We cannot only communicate when something goes wrong

One of the study’s key findings was that countering misinformation and disinformation cannot be limited to correcting false information after it has already spread.

Participants indicated that the department uses a combination of proactive and reactive approaches, including disseminating accurate information, engaging with the public, monitoring the information environment and issuing corrective communication when necessary.

The study found that clear and consistent communication about government policies, programmes and services can help reduce the information gaps in which speculation, misinformation and disinformation are able to thrive.

The findings suggest that countering misinformation should not begin during a crisis, but should be embedded in everyday government communication efforts.

A strategy may be sound, but can we implement it quickly enough?

The research also highlighted the gap that can exist between having a strategy and being able to implement it effectively.

Communication practitioners operate within policies, guidelines, approval processes and coordination structures that are designed to ensure accuracy and accountability. Government cannot respond to an unverified claim with information that has not itself been verified.

However, the study found that limited capacity, coordination challenges and procedural delays can affect the effectiveness of the response. These internal challenges are compounded by the speed and complexity with which misinformation spreads across digital platforms.

One participant captured the challenge simply, citing:

“Slow turnaround times due to approval processes, which can allow misinformation to spread rapidly.”

The finding raises a critical question for the Public Service: how can government retain the checks and balances that protect the credibility of official communication without allowing those same processes to delay urgent responses?

The study does not suggest abandoning verification or approval procedures. Instead, it points to the need to assess whether existing processes are suited to the demands of the digital communication environment. This includes having clear mechanisms for verifying information, escalating urgent matters and securing approval when a rapid response is required. It is also important to ensure that decision-makers are available when issues arise.

While these may appear to be operational considerations, the study found that they can have a significant impact in the fast-paced social media environment. They can determine whether government engages in a developing conversation in real time or responds only after a false narrative has already gained traction.

Better tools help, but technology is not the whole answer

The study also points to the need for stronger monitoring capabilities and appropriate technology. Government communicators need to know what is being said, where conversations are taking place and when an emerging issue requires intervention.

Another participant highlighted a particular challenge:

“Closed platforms such as WhatsApp present additional challenges, as misinformation spreads in private groups that cannot be directly monitored.”

This means that even advanced monitoring tools cannot give communicators a complete picture of how misinformation and disinformation circulate. Information shared in private groups may only come to government’s attention when someone reports it or it appears on a public platform.

The study notes that technology can play an important role at a time when the volume of online information continues to grow. But technology cannot replace professional judgement. While monitoring tools can help identify emerging trends and potentially misleading content, communication practitioners must still interpret the information, understand the context and determine the most appropriate response.

One of the study’s conclusions is that strengthening technological capability must go hand in hand with strengthening the skills and capacity of the people managing government communication.

Trust matters as much as speed

Another issue that emerged strongly from the study was the importance of audience engagement and trust. Government may correct false information, but a correction will have limited value if the audience does not regard the source as credible.

One participant highlighted another important consideration: how official information is presented matters:

“A key challenge is that government messaging is often perceived as too formal and less engaging. Misinformation tends to gain more traction because it is presented in a more appealing or relatable way.”

Accuracy remains non-negotiable, but accuracy alone does not guarantee that people will notice, understand or engage with the information.

For government communicators, trust is not built only when misinformation appears. It is built through the everyday work of providing accurate information, responding to people, correcting mistakes when they occur and communicating in language that people can understand.

Publishing information is not necessarily the same as communicating it. People consume information differently and across different platforms. The responsibility is not only to make credible information available, but to make sure that it reaches people in forms that are accessible, relevant and useful to them.

A challenge for the Public Service

The research does not suggest that government is starting from scratch. Strategies, structures and communication practices already exist. Rather, the findings point to the need to strengthen and refine existing approaches.

The study recommends strengthening organisational capacity, improving coordination and response processes, enhancing technology and monitoring tools, and adopting a more audience-centred approach to communication.

The findings also reveal that misinformation and disinformation cannot be left to communication units alone. Communicators depend on programme managers, subject specialists and decision-makers to provide accurate information quickly. Effective responses, therefore, require cooperation across an institution.

The study ultimately underscores the important role of the Public Service in ensuring that reliable information remains accessible, visible and responsive to the needs of citizens.

The Public Service must be able to verify information, make decisions and communicate promptly when false claims emerge.

The responsibility remains the same: to provide the public with information that is accurate, credible and useful. What has changed is the speed at which this now needs to be done.

In an environment where false information can travel in minutes, the truth cannot routinely arrive hours or days later.

*Zanele Mngadi is the Head of Editorial and Production of Public Sector Manager magazine and Chief Director: Products and Platforms at the Government Communication and Information System. She conducted the study as part of her Bachelor of Public Administration Honours degree at MANCOSA

Matona
Wed, 10/14/2026 – 15:03

October 14, 2026

Guinée: CADRAGE BUDGÉTAIRE : Le Ministère de l’Environnement et du Développement Durable (MEDD) et le Ministère du Budget s’accordent sur le Cadre de Dépenses à Moyen Terme (CDMT) 2027-2029

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Une délégation du Ministère de l’Environnement et du Développement Durable (MEDD), conduite par le Secrétaire Général, Dr Karim Samoura, et comprenant la Direction des Affaires Financières (DAF) ainsi que l’équipe technique, a pris part à une importante séance de travail au Ministère du Budget.

Cette réunion, organisée à l’initiative du Ministère du Budget, visait à finaliser le Cadre de Dépenses à Moyen Terme (CDMT 2027-2029) du MEDD.

La session s’est déroulée dans un climat constructif. Les axes stratégiques et les programmes sectoriels ayant été validés au préalable, les discussions se sont concentrées sur l’intégration de quelques amendements techniques. Un consensus global s’est dégagé sur l’ensemble des ajustements, permettant ainsi de stabiliser définitivement le programme d’activités pluriannuel du ministère.

Les prochaines étapes porteront sur la finalisation des fiches d’actions et la consolidation de l’affectation budgétaire par programme. À l’issue des échanges, la commission Budget-CDMT a exprimé sa vive satisfaction quant à la qualité des documents présentés. Elle a accordé au MEDD un délai de quelques jours pour transmettre la version finale et consolidée du document de cadrage.

Distribué par APO Group pour Ministry of Environment, Guinea.

Media files

October 14, 2026

Burkina Faso-Pays-Bas : le renforcement de la coopération au développement au menu des échanges entre le Chef de la diplomatie Burkinabè et le Directeur du développement social au ministère des Affaires étrangères des Pays-Bas

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Le Camarade ministre des Affaires étrangères, Karamoko Jean Marie TRAORE accompagné de la Camarade ministre déléguée, Bêbgnasgnan Stella Eldine KABRE/KABORE, a accordé une audience au Directeur du développement social au ministère des Affaires étrangères des Pays-Bas, Monsieur Peter-Dereck HOF accompagné par la Chargée d’affaires de l’ambassade des Pays-Bas, Dr Margret VERWIJIK.

A sa sortie d’audience, Monsieur Peter-Dereck HOF a indiqué qu’il s’agit de sa première visite au Burkina Faso, qui vise à mieux prendre connaissance du contexte national, afin de se faire sa propre opinion sur la gestion actuelle du pays et sur les perspectives de la coopération au développement entre les Pays-Bas et le Burkina Faso.

Il est aussi question pour l’émissaire néerlandais d’écouter les autorités burkinabè sur les priorités nationales, avec pour objectif de mieux réorienter les interventions des Pays-Bas au Burkina Faso.

Saluant cette visite du Directeur du développement social du ministère des Affaires étrangères des Pays-Bas, le Chef de la diplomatie burkinabè lui a présenté le contexte qui prévalait au Burkina Faso avant l’avènement du régime en place, ainsi que les réformes mises en place ayant permis des résultats dans plusieurs secteurs tels que la sécurité, l’humanitaire, la santé, l’éducation et les infrastructures.

Sur la politique étrangère du Burkina Faso, le Camarade Karamoko Jean Marie TRAORE a indiqué que celle-ci est axée sur l’affirmation de la souveraineté, la diversification des partenariats, sans oublier que désormais notre pays est maitre de la définition des programmes et des mécanismes de leur suivi et évaluation, les partenaires étant invités à s’aligner sur les priorités du gouvernement.

Il a par ailleurs reconnu la nécessité de renforcer la coopération au développement avec les partenaires dans une approche de proximité et de dialogue, tout en saluant les Pays-Bas qui reste engagés auprès du Burkina Faso pour ce type de partenariat.

Le séjour du diplomate néerlandais a commencé par une visite d’un projet de pisciculture au barrage de Ziga, soutenu par une ONG néerlandaise et visant à accompagner l’autonomisation économique des femmes.

La coopération entre le Burkina Faso et les Pays-Bas, date de plus de 6 décennies et portent sur les secteurs comme la santé, l’agriculture et la gestion de l’eau, l’éducation, l’entrepreneuriat des jeunes et de l’autonomisation économique des femmes.

Distribué par APO Group pour Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

Media files

October 14, 2026

2e conférence des Responsables des IESR de Alliance des Etats du Sahel (l’AES) : l’harmonisation et l’endogénéisation des systèmes d’enseignement supérieur et de recherche au cœur d’un panel ministériel

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Au cours de la 2e conférence des Responsables des Institutions d’Enseignement Supérieur et de Recherche de l’Alliance des Etats du Sahel (AES) , les ministres en charge de l’enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche de la confédération AES et du Togo ont animé un panel ministériel sur le thème : « HARMONISATION ET ENDOGENEISATION DES SYSTEMES D’ENSEIGNEMENT SUPERIEUR, DE RECHERCHE ET D’INNOVATION POUR DES RESSOURCES HUMAINES COMPETENTES ET UN DEVELOPPEMENT HARMONIEUX DES PAYS DE L’AES ».

Les ministres ont principalement abordé les points relatifs à la situation actuelle du régime des études, à la prise en compte de l’harmonisation et de l’endogénéisation des systèmes d’enseignement supérieur et de recherche ainsi que les perspectives en termes de recherche dans chacun des 04 pays.

Pour le Burkina Faso, le camarade Pr Adjima THIOMBIANO a souligné que des actions ont été menées afin de contextualiser le régime des études à partir du système LMD (Licence Master Doctorat) en vue de corriger les insuffisances et de permettre d’avoir une visibilité claire dans le parcours de chaque étudiant. «Je ne dis pas que c’est le LMD qui nous a amené dans cette situation fâcheuse des retards académiques et des chevauchements des années, mais son application avait aussi sa part de responsabilité», a déclaré le Pr Adjima THIOMBIANO.

Cette relecture du LMD avait aussi pour objectif de donner des meilleures chances de mieux encadrer le parcours des apprenants mais aussi de permettre une réelle mobilité entre les structures de formation de l’enseignement supérieur, a poursuivi le ministre. Toute chose qui a permis également de régler la question des diplômes en lien avec la formation des ingénieurs des travaux et des ingénieurs de conception.

Quant à l’endogénéisation, le ministre THIOMBIANO a souligné qu’elle a été prise en compte dans le système d’enseignement supérieur de notre pays.«Nous avons relu les curricula en prenant en compte tous les acteurs du système éducatif et bien sûr en faisant un clin d’œil au burkinabè lambda, aux entreprises, et permettre de sortir des compétences directement opérationnelles », a-t-il relevé.

Pour réussir cette endogénéisation, le Pr Adjima THIOMBIANO a indiqué que l’enseignement supérieur et la recherche ont un rôle important à jouer. Pour lui , il faut trouver des moyens pour qu’il y ait une intégration parfaite entre les structures d’enseignement supérieur et de recherche.« Est-ce qu’il est normal que dans notre dispositif d’apprentissage, qu’on ne fasse pas un clin d’œil très important à nos savoirs endogènes ? », s’interroge le ministre en s’appuyant sur l’exemple concret de la pharmacopée à laquelle une bonne partie des populations fait recours pour leurs soins quotidiens.

Prenant la parole, le Pr Saidou MAMADOU, Ministre de l’Enseignement Supérieur, de la Recherche et de l’Innovation Technologique du Niger, a appelé à une meilleure harmonisation du régime des études dans l’espace AES.«C’est faisable parce qu’il y ait suffisamment d’éléments sur lequel on peut s’appuyer pour voir ce qu’on peut capitaliser », a indiqué le Pr SAIDOU.

Il s’agit pour lui, de promouvoir le savoir endogène aussi bien dans notre dispositif d’enseignement supérieur que de recherche en rapport avec les priorités nationales.

En perspective, il a appelé les Etats de l’AES à faire en sorte qu’on trouve des ressources humaines capables de répondre aux besoins de développement, économique, social et culturel de nos trois pays.

Quant au Pr Bouréma KANSAYE, Ministre de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique du Mali, il a, dans sa communication, indiqué que «l’harmonisation suppose également une connaissance des différents systèmes».

Pour lui, la dynamique engagée actuellement au sein de l’AES va contribuer à accélérer cette question des régimes des études dans son pays qui s’opérationnalise en conformité avec la vision Mali 2063 .

Laquelle vision a décrété 2025 , l’année de la culture, 2026 et 2027, respectivement des années d’éducation et de la culture , selon le Pr KANSAYE.« Il s’agit ici de faire un lien entre la culture et l’éducation, dans le sens de l’endogénéisation des savoirs dans le domaine de la formation comme dans le domaine de la recherche », a-t-il laissé entendre avant d’ajouter qu’ il faut intégrer les sciences sociales dans la dynamique que nous avons pour avoir une certaine originalité et permettre «d’avoir des recherches qui tiennent compte de ce que nous sommes, de notre identité», car «On ne peut pas prétendre se développer, se projeter vers l’avenir si nous connaissons mal notre propre histoire», a-t-il conclu.

Le camarade Pr Adjima THIOMBIANO, Ministre de l’Enseignement Supérieur, de la Recherche et de l’Innovation du Burkina Faso s’est réjoui de la tenue de cette conférence en terre burkinabè.

Il a exprimé sa gratitude à ses homologues de l’AES et du Togo pour leur participation effective qui honore notre pays et partant tout notre système d’enseignement supérieur et de recherche.

Distribué par APO Group pour Gouvernement du Burkina Faso.

Media files

October 14, 2026

Cabo Verde: Presidente da República Interina recebe Rotary Internacional

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

A Presidente da República Interina, Janira Hopffer Almada, recebeu na manhã desta quarta‑feira, 14 de outubro de 2026, o Governador do Distrito 9101 do Rotary International, Baidy Dieng, acompanhado por Neusa Silva, Assistente do Governador em Cabo Verde, e Nélido Silva, Presidente do Rotary Club Maria Pia.

Na audiência, foram apresentados os projetos que o Rotary Internacional pretende desenvolver em Cabo Verde, com destaque para iniciativas de caráter social e comunitário. O Governador sublinhou o papel das mulheres nos clubes rotários e a importância de maior articulação com municípios e instituições locais, valorizando ainda a estabilidade do país como fator que potencia o impacto das intervenções.

Por sua vez, a Presidente da República Interina destacou a necessidade de se trabalhar em parceria e promover uma forte articulação com instituições que atuam na área social, de forma a maximizar os resultados e potenciar a eficácia das ações.

Hopffer Almada manifestou a sua disponibilidade para apoiar o Rotary Internacional nas articulações necessárias e na identificação das áreas prioritárias de intervenção, reafirmando a importância da cooperação para o desenvolvimento de Cabo Verde.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Presidência da República de Cabo Verde.

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October 14, 2026

V20: Cabo Verde reforça oportunidades de financiamento para a resiliência climática e o desenvolvimento sustentável

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

Cabo Verde, enquanto Pequeno Estado Insular em Desenvolvimento particularmente vulnerável aos efeitos das alterações climáticas, encontra no V20 uma plataforma estratégica para reforçar a mobilização de financiamento climático, promover investimentos resilientes e defender melhores condições de acesso aos recursos internacionais.

Integrado no Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), o V20 (Vulnerable Twenty Group of Ministers of Finance) reúne os ministros das Finanças dos países mais vulneráveis aos impactos climáticos e visa fortalecer a cooperação financeira, promover a justiça climática e facilitar o acesso a recursos para o desenvolvimento sustentável e resiliente.

A participação de Cabo Verde no V20, desde 2025, assume particular importância face aos desafios climáticos que condicionam o desenvolvimento nacional, nomeadamente a seca, a escassez de recursos hídricos, os fenómenos meteorológicos extremos, a erosão costeira e a subida do nível médio do mar. Estes riscos afetam setores estratégicos como a agricultura, o turismo, os transportes e a gestão dos recursos hídricos, reforçando a necessidade de mobilizar recursos financeiros e técnicos para fortalecer a capacidade de adaptação e a resiliência climática do país.

Neste contexto, o V20 representa uma oportunidade para Cabo Verde melhorar o acesso a financiamento concecional, reduzir os custos de financiamento associados à sua vulnerabilidade climática e mobilizar investimentos para projetos estruturantes nas áreas da água, das energias renováveis, da proteção costeira e das infraestruturas resilientes. A participação ativa do país poderá igualmente favorecer a preparação de um Plano de Prosperidade Climática (Climate Prosperity Plan – CPP) e o aproveitamento de mecanismos como o Vulnerability to Viability (V2V) Compact, alinhando a ação climática com as prioridades nacionais de desenvolvimento sustentável.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Governo de Cabo Verde.

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October 14, 2026

Director of the Media and Communication Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Participates in a Dialogue Session Organized by the Arab Cultural House in Berlin

Source: Government of Qatar

Berlin | 14 October 2026

Director of the Media and Communication Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ibrahim bin Sultan Al Hashmi, participated today in a dialogue session organized by the Arab Cultural House “Al Diwan” in Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany.

The dialogue session addressed regional and international developments, as well as the diplomatic efforts of the State of Qatar to de-escalate tensions and enhance security and stability in the region.

During the session, the Director of the Media and Communication Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs underscored the depth of the strategic relations between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Germany, noting that these relations are based on the foundations of trust, mutual respect and constructive cooperation, as well as continuous coordination and consultation between the two countries on regional and international challenges.

Mr. Ibrahim Al-Hashmi stressed that dialogue and diplomacy gain greater importance in light of the exceptional circumstances facing the region and the escalation and growing challenges threatening regional and international security and stability. He affirmed that the State of Qatar’s diplomatic efforts are guided by the firm principle that dialogue, negotiations and peaceful means represent the best way to settling disputes, and that the continued escalation and the expansion of conflicts impose a collective responsibility to prioritize political solutions and intensify diplomatic efforts to address the root causes of crises and achieve sustainable security and stability.

October 14, 2026

IEC approves 2.65 million special vote applications ahead of Local Government Elections

Source: Government of South Africa

IEC approves 2.65 million special vote applications ahead of Local Government Elections

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) says it has approved a record 2 655 067 special vote applications ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections, representing a 131% increase compared with the 1 147 759 applications approved for the 2021 elections.

The special vote application period opened on 21 September and closed at 17h00 on 12 October 2026.

The approved applications fall into two categories: home visits for voters unable to travel to their voting stations due to physical infirmity or disability, and voting station-based special votes for voters who can physically reach their voting stations but cannot vote on Election Day.

Addressing media in Pretoria on Wednesday, the Commission’s Chief Electoral Commission, Sy Mamabolo, said the Commission had approved 678 525 home visit applications, an increase of 171 118, or 33.7%, compared with the 507 407 approved in 2021.

According to Mamabolo, KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest number of approved home visit applications, at 143 714.

“Most applications, totalling 2 426 066, were submitted through online platforms, while 171 214 manually submitted applications had been captured at IEC offices. The capturing process is being finalised, with completion targeted for 16 October 2026,” Mamabolo said.

Mamabolo said based on figures captured thus far, Gauteng has recorded the highest number of approved special votes, at 480 721, followed by the Eastern Cape, with 401 971. KwaZulu-Natal recorded 348 971, Limpopo 341 623, Mpumalanga 292 775 and the Western Cape 291 866.

The remaining provinces recorded 235 733 applications in the North West, 132 088 in the Free State and 129 319 in the Northern Cape.

The Commission’s analysis also shows distinct age and gender patterns among special vote applicants. Women account for 74% of home visit applications and 64% of voting station visit applications.

“Age data for home visits shows that voters aged 60 years and older account for 79.6% of all home visit applications, with the 70 – 79 age cohort representing the largest segment.

“The data, therefore, indicates that home visits are predominantly utilised by older voters, particularly older female voters. The voting station visits display a relatively younger and more gender-balanced profile,” Mamabolo said.

Mamabolo said Gauteng recorded the highest numbers of special vote applicants among both women and men, with 305 586 female applicants and 172 200 male applicants. The Eastern Cape followed, with 267 539 female and 137 550 male applicants.

Special voting will take place on 2 and 3 November 2026, ahead of Election Day on 4 November.

Election Results System audit

Mamabolo said as part of its preparations, the Commission provided political party contestants with access to the Election Results System from 5 – 12 October following an external and independent audit and the implementation of remedial measures.

The exercise was intended to allow contestants to test the system’s integrity, functionality, security and reliability.

Ballot paper production

Mamabolo said the printing of ballot papers is underway, with more than 66% of the 79 million ballots already printed.

“The production is expected to conclude by Sunday, 18 October 2026. The Commission has distributed the bulk of non-security election materials to local municipalities in readiness for the special voting on 2 and 3 November and Election Day on 4 November,” Mamabolo said.

Mamabolo said all 23 696 voting stations have been secured, with leases concluded for 22 659 permanent voting stations.

“Arrangements are being finalised to establish temporary infrastructure at 1 005 temporary stations and to support 33 mobile voting stations.

“The Commission has also finalised the locations of the National and Provincial Results Operation Centres (ROCs),” he said.

The Commission has encouraged voters to familiarise themselves with the voting process and make the necessary preparations to ensure a smooth experience at the polls. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Wed, 10/14/2026 – 15:47

October 14, 2026

One third of food is lost or wasted: how to help farmers cut post-harvest losses

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Abeeb Babatunde Omotoso, Senior Lecturer at Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, Nigeria and Extraordinary Senior Lecturer at Indigenous Knowledge Systems Centre, North-West University, Mafikeng, South Africa, North-West University

Agriculture in the global south remains under pressure to produce more food while responding to climate change and resource constraints. Policy responses have focused on increasing production. But what about post-harvest losses? Globally, about one-third of food produced for human consumption is estimated to be lost or wasted.

The problem was examined in a recent paper by agriculture, indigenous knowledge and food security researchers.

What are the main drivers of these losses?

Our research was based on examining 324 studies on the scale, causes and drivers of post-harvest losses across food commodities and regions of the global south.

We found that the evidence is fragmented and uneven. In addition, estimating the true scale is difficult because studies measure losses differently. They examine different commodities and stages of the value chain and use different indicators and methods. Research has also concentrated heavily on storage losses in major staples such as maize, rice and pulses. That has left evidence gaps for fruits, vegetables, roots and tubers, animal products and other foods.

But we were able to identify some patterns.

Firstly, post-harvest losses occur throughout the food supply chain, from harvesting and handling to transportation, storage, processing and marketing.

Secondly, there’s substantial variation among food groups. For example, without interventions, estimated losses were about 27.7% of cereals, 35.1% of vegetables, 25.8% of fruits and 42.9% of roots and tubers. With appropriate mitigation measures, such as improved harvesting and handling practices, hermetic storage technologies, cold-chain infrastructure, better packaging, and enhanced processing and transportation systems, these fell to about 8.2%, 7.3%, 6.2% and 11.5%, respectively.

These figures illustrate the scale of variation and the potential for reduction.

Thirdly, post-harvest losses are rarely caused by a single factor. Our study identified interconnected infrastructure, technological, environmental, financial and market constraints.

Poor roads, inadequate warehouses, limited cold storage and inefficient transport expose food to physical damage and spoilage. Inadequate drying, packaging and handling add to these losses. Climate variability increases the risk: high temperatures, excessive moisture, floods and droughts can accelerate deterioration.

What are the four biggest challenges – and opportunities?

First is measuring losses accurately. Before governments can decide where to invest, they need reliable information about where losses occur and how large they are. Standardised, region- and commodity-specific methods for measuring post-harvest losses would make evidence more comparable and help governments target resources more effectively.

Researchers, national statistical agencies, governments, international organisations and commodity-sector stakeholders should work together to develop these methods. National statistical offices, agricultural research institutions, universities, extension services and value-chain organisations can then gather the evidence through:

farm and household surveys
field-based measurement
storage and market assessments
monitoring across different stages of the supply chain.

Second is infrastructure that keeps food moving and preserves its quality. Storage facilities, rural roads, processing facilities and cold chains are not secondary agricultural infrastructure. They are part of the food-production system. The evidence shows that improved storage, drying, packaging and cold-chain systems substantially reduce losses, improve farmers’ incomes and increase access to higher-value markets.

Third is making appropriate technologies affordable and combining them with Indigenous knowledge. Not every solution needs to be high-tech. Hermetic storage (airtight sealing), solar drying, improved packaging and low-cost cooling can complement practices such as drying, smoking, salting and fermentation.

These approaches would be more accessible to smallholders when adapted to local conditions. They can be encouraged through practical demonstrations and locally adapted training. Training avenues include farmer extension services, demonstration farms, farmer organisations and cooperatives, local processors, NGOs, private-sector suppliers and digital platforms.

Fourth is finance, extension and inclusive innovation. Many smallholder farmers lack the finance and technical support needed to invest in improved storage and processing technologies. Price fluctuations and harvest gluts leave farmers with more produce than markets can absorb, increasing the losses of perishable foods before they are sold. Credit constraints can prevent farmers from adopting post-harvest technologies.

Governments and financial institutions can lower barriers through targeted subsidies, affordable loans, grants and risk-sharing machanisms. Extension services should also help farmers choose, use and maintain appropriate technologies.

Women play important roles in post-harvest handling. They need to be explicitly included in technology design, training and financing. This can be done through:

agricultural and financial policies that require women’s representation in technology design and extension programmes
improving their access to credit, subsidies and training
mandated monitoring of how men and women adopt and benefit from technology.

How could priorities be funded?

The evidence suggests that funding shouldn’t only focus on buying technologies. Public investment could support rural infrastructure, research, extension and enabling policies. Development finance could provide grants, concessional loans and guarantees for post-harvest investments. Private-sector partnerships can help with storage, processing, logistics and cold-chain services where viable markets exist.

Funding should move beyond isolated technology projects such as one-off storage or processing equipment schemes. It should support integrated programmes combining technology, farmer training, finance, market access and maintenance services. Investments should support entire value chains, linking farmers to storage, processing, transport and reliable markets. This would make post-harvest loss reduction part of broader food security, climate resilience and rural development strategies.

The central message from our research is simple: feeding a growing population is not only about producing more food. It’s also about losing less of what farmers already produce.

– One third of food is lost or wasted: how to help farmers cut post-harvest losses
– https://theconversation.com/one-third-of-food-is-lost-or-wasted-how-to-help-farmers-cut-post-harvest-losses-293555