Category: MIL-OSI

Posted on

Presidency confirms final Madlanga Commission report will be made public

Source: Government of South Africa

Presidency confirms final Madlanga Commission report will be made public

Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya has assured the public that the final report of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry will be made public.

This comes after revelations that the Commission’s interim report will be submitted to the President on Wednesday and will not be released publicly.

“The final report will be made available to the public. The Commission will advise the President on areas that are of national security sensitivity and how those areas will need to be managed. The report is incomplete and the President needs time to study it as he has not had the luxury of time to follow the proceedings of the Commission everyday,” Magwenya said on Monday in Pretoria.

President Cyril Ramaphosa established the Commission after South African Police Service (SAPS) KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, held a media briefing at which he made serious allegations that the Minister of Police and other individuals had colluded to interfere with police investigations.

The Commission is investigating allegations relating to the infiltration of law enforcement, intelligence and associated institutions within the criminal justice system by criminal syndicates.

“Some of the witnesses that have come before the Commission are going to be called back again to continue with their evidence. Some had evidence located in certain specific areas but not as broad as it was meant to be. So those witnesses are still going to be given a chance to return to the Commission and give that evidence.

“It will not be helpful for the witnesses, the Commission itself, and all of us to start getting ourselves into knots over something that has not been completed. The President has undertaken to release the final report publicly when the Commission has concluded its work, ” he said.

Magwenya was speaking during a media briefing to update journalists on the President’s programme and other topical issues of public interest.

Protection of whistle-blowers

Earlier this month, Marius van der Merwe, a Brakpan-based security industry member and former Ekhurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department official, who recently testified before the Madlanga Commission was shot multiple times in full view of his family outside their Brakpan home.

According to Magwenya, there has been extensive engagements in government on protecting witnesses before the commission or those who are to appear at the commission.

“The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development in this regard has also undertaken to engage the leadership of the media to look at ways in which witnesses can be protected and not be unreasonably and unfairly exposed to those who may seek to harm them. 

“Then there’s another aspect to this, which is the protection of whistleblowers. We have a process that’s already underway with the Protected Disclosure Bill that is currently in consultation at a technical level in government before it proceeds to cabinet,” he said.

Government is reviewing the Protected Disclosures Act (PDA) and related laws to create a Comprehensive Whistleblower Protection Framework.

This reform process aims to broaden the definition of “whistleblower” to include contractors, consultants, and members of the public; establish clear procedures for confidential disclosures; strengthen remedies for occupational detriment and clarify the obligations of employers to act on disclosures.

On whether the President will consider extending the timeframe of the work of the Commission, considering that testimonies can be a lengthy process that can last up to  two or three days, Magwenya said the Presidency is open to a discussion on the matter.

“The government and the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development have been paying particular attention on the cost aspects of this exercise. The President will then have to be advised on both the merits for an extension as well as what will be the cost implications,” Magwenya said. – SAnews.gov.za

nosihle

60 views

Posted on

Media briefing by Presidential Spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, Union Buildings, Pretoria 

Source: President of South Africa –

A snapshot of Government’s performance in 2025

December is a silly season in South Africa. It’s a season where there is a scarcity of news and whoever has an opinion about the performance of Government, publishes it on the different platforms.

Some opinions are far-fetched, some are constructive, some are critical and others are emotional.

Nevertheless, this time of the year makes for interesting reading.

In the United Kingdom, where the term originated, the silly season is associated with the summer Parliamentary recess, while in our country it refers to the shut down over the festive season.

While some opinion-makers started their assessments soon after the successful hosting of the G20 Summit in November, the majority will follow over the next few days.

Most assessments are done by media houses and the results are either a boost for a politician or a negative score with consequences to those in close proximity to a politician.

The beauty of these assessments is the safeguards in our Constitution which protects freedom of speech and the media.

In light of the scarcity of news, it is apt for Government’s voice to be heard. It is important to note that the information is voluminous and this is just a snapshot of successes.

One can rightly ask what is the yardstick we should use for Government. That is easy. The document to study is the State of the Nation Address (SoNA) and in this instance, it is the SoNA 2025 delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa in February of this year.

In his address, President Ramaphosa, announced that the Government of National Unity has adopted the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) for the period 2024-2029. The MTDP which sets out three key priorities of Government,

These priorities are to drive inclusive growth and job creation; to reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living; and to build a capable, ethical and developmental state.

The President said the immediate task was to grow our economy so that we can create jobs, reduce poverty and improve the lives of all South Africans.

The emphasis on the economy is reminiscent of the famous slogan by James Carville, a strategist in Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign in 1992 when he wrote, “It’s the economy, stupid.”

The green shoots for an economy recovery are visible. Some key indicators are:

The rand holding its own against major currencies and has breached the level of R17 to the US dollar.

GDP grew by 0.5% in the third quarter meaning that the economy is expanding. Much remains in the pipeline to achieve a higher growth rate given its centrality to attaining the country’s developmental aspirations.

Unemployment for Quarter 3 was down by 1.3 percentage points to 31.9% with the construction sector the major contributor with 130 000 new jobs out of the total of 248 000 new jobs.

Government will spend R1 trillion over the next three years on infrastructure projects.

Stability of energy supply is central to this turn around and we should be building on the successes thus far to the next level.

This year the Youth Employment Service reached the milestone of 200 000 young South Africans funded and placed into quality first-job experiences.

SA achieved its first rating upgrade in 20 years when the ratings agency, Standard and Poor upgraded the country’s foreign currency long-term sovereign credit rating to BB from BB-. In addition, the local currency long-term sovereign credit rating to BB+ from BB.

The International Monetary Fund lifted its growth forecast for the country to 1.3% in 2025 and 1.4% in 2026 from 1.1% and 1.2% respectively

Phase 2 of Operation Vulindlela is gaining traction. The results of this initiative led by President Ramaphosa to unlock growth and remove obstacles in areas that impedes on growth are starting to filter through.

Tourism is on an upward trajectory and the number of foreign visitors increased by 18% year-on-year from 2024. SA Tourism reported that most visitors were from the US (331 378), followed by the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and France.

The South African Revenue Service has collected a net revenue of R924,7-bilion by 30 September of this year. This is a year-on-year growth of R78,6-billion and an overall surplus of R18 billion against its printed estimates.

Yes, there are challenges, but Government is not afraid to confront them. Local government remains a challenge and President Ramaphosa and the Cabinet have met with seven of the nine provincial executives to address key issues in this sphere.

Accusations of corruption in the criminal justice system are before the Madlanga Commission. The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster is continuously looking at measures to fight crime and keep citizens safe.

The GNU priorities to reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living. In this regard, we are particularly seized with intervention on assisting households cope with food price volatility, as well as the measures to make public transport affordable. Rising cost of living has become a challenge in many parts of the world, as we have learnt from the G20 engagements.

In conclusion, this is not a review of Government but it is a high-level glance of successes and issues challenges since 6 February 2025.

The silly season, indeed has highlighted the need for Government to improve its communication with its key stakeholders, the people of South Africa and the media.

Furthermore, the measures introduced by the 6th Administration in 2019 are beginning to bear fruit. The focus is for the GNU to accelerate this process and ensure that the green shoots of the economic upswing gain momentum and touch the lives of all South Africans for the remainder of this MTDP period.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Posted on

Heritage, identity, and the risk of digital mimicry

Source: APO – Report:

As South Africans recently celebrated a day of communal braais and shared national pride, our digital lives inevitably mirrored our physical ones. We posted family photos, shared traditions, and celebrated our diverse cultures online. But in this outpouring of celebration, we risked exposing the very essence of our identity to cybercriminals who see our heritage not as a source of pride, but as a blueprint for manipulation.

“Heritage is not just about our traditions and history,” asserts Anna Collard, SVP of Content Strategy & CISO Advisor  at KnowBe4 Africa (https://www.KnowBe4.com/). “It’s also about an individual’s unique digital footprint that includes their personal information and cultural affiliations.” While celebrating heritage is a positive act, she warns that oversharing details online can provide cybercriminals with the ammunition they need for highly targeted attacks.

The digital shadow of a shared identity

Criminals consistently flock to where public interest is highest, and the increased social media activity around Heritage Day makes it a prime hunting ground. “The celebratory nature of Heritage Day makes people more trusting and less likely to scrutinise suspicious communications,” says Collard. “Cultural pride can override usual scepticism when receiving messages that appear to celebrate or acknowledge one’s heritage.”

This is compounded by a tendency to share more personal information during cultural celebrations, including family photos, location data, and even ancestral origins or family names. This data helps criminals build detailed victim profiles for highly effective social engineering (https://apo-opa.co/4ai7HMO) campaigns.

When ‘ubuntu’ becomes a vulnerability

Cybercriminals are adept at exploiting the cultural significance of the occasion, using traditional greetings and heritage symbols to establish a false rapport. “They leverage the strong sense of ubuntu and community spirit in South African culture to lower victims’ defences,” Collard explains.

This can manifest in several ways, from bogus charity appeals for a community project to phishing campaigns (https://apo-opa.co/3XUN3es) promising tickets to sold-out cultural events. Some scams are even more elaborate, exploiting deep-seated cultural beliefs. “Fraudsters may claim to represent traditional healers (sangomas) or deceased ancestors, promising to ‘bless’ (https://apo-opa.co/3KQS9W3) or double your money through a ritual to manipulate victims into handing over their life savings,” she comments.

Fraudsters can also use artificial intelligence to study cultural posts to impersonate community leaders or heritage groups, exploiting the trust people have in these figures. “Be especially wary of attacks that leverage personal data from your social-media accounts to create a false sense of trust,” she cautions.

Another risk is the deliberate use of “rage-bait” around culturally sensitive topics. “Rage-bait is internet content intentionally designed to provoke anger or outrage to increase engagement,” Collard elaborates. “It’s best not to comment on these posts, as they can be used as a tactic in a larger social-engineering campaign to exploit cultural stereotypes or vulnerabilities for malicious purposes.”

Building our cognitive defences

Protecting our digital identity  is not a purely technical problem; it is a psychological one. “Heritage and identity are deeply emotional topics that could bypass rational security thinking if exploited by scammers or disinformation actors,” Collard maintains. “Technical solutions alone ignore how values influence decision-making and risk assessment – we need to foster digital mindfulness and teach people how to be aware of these tactics.”

For individuals, this means:

  • Smart sharing: Review privacy settings before posting heritage-themed content. Avoid sharing specific locations, family details, or financial information that could be exploited.
  • Verification habits: Double-check heritage-related offers or invitations through official channels. Be sceptical of unsolicited messages, even if they reference your culture.
  • Digital hygiene: Use a password manager to create and manage strong, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication on all your accounts.

For organisations:

  • Run proactive awareness campaigns: Make employees aware of the specific dangers that exist online when sharing too much personal information
  • Use culturally relevant training: “Using culturally relevant examples and scenarios in security awareness training (https://apo-opa.co/48SeZ7v) is a good idea,” says Collard, as it helps make the threats more tangible and memorable.

Heritage Day should be a time to strengthen our cultural bonds, not to make us vulnerable. “By staying culturally connected while remaining digitally cautious,” Collard concludes, “we can celebrate our heritage while securing our futures, safely.”

– on behalf of KnowBe4.

Contact details:
KnowBe4:
Anne Dolinschek
 anned@knowbe4.com

Red Ribbon:
TJ Coenraad
tayla@redribboncommunications.co.za

Media files

.

Posted on

Action strategy to fast-track children’s rights and development

Source: Government of South Africa

Action strategy to fast-track children’s rights and development

Government’s newly approved national strategy aimed at accelerating action for children is one tool aimed at improving the circumstances of the country’s most vulnerable.

In his address to the nation through the weekly newsletter on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa warned that despite the gains made since the advent of democracy, nearly half of South Africa’s children still live in poverty and face high levels of abuse, neglect and poor health outcomes.

Earlier this month, Cabinet approved the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), a wide-ranging framework designed to improve the health, safety and development of children and adolescents. The strategy will be implemented through the 5th National Plan of Action for Children (2025–2030) and seeks to mobilise government, business, labour and civil society around a shared agenda for children.

“The best way to secure our country’s future is to invest in the health and well-being of its children,” President Ramaphosa said, noting that while progress has been made in reducing child poverty and mortality since 1994, significant challenges remain.

According to a recent Statistics South Africa report, child poverty declined from 69% in 2006 to 49% in 2023. However, children remain the most affected group, with nearly half living in poverty – the highest rate of any age group.

The newly approved strategy identifies 10 national priorities aligned to key stages in a child’s life, with particular focus on adolescents and children with disabilities. It follows extensive consultations with government departments, the children’s sector and children themselves, and is intended to strengthen coordination across all sectors of society.

President Ramaphosa highlighted early-life disadvantages as a critical concern, pointing to maternal undernutrition and its impact on birth outcomes, breastfeeding and child immunity. Poor nutrition in early childhood, the President said, continues to undermine children’s health, education and long-term prospects.

“This domino effect must be broken,” he said, stressing the need for early interventions to prevent children from falling behind before they even start school.

Crimes against children were also flagged as a major national crisis. During Child Protection Month in May, authorities reported more than 26 000 cases of child abuse and neglect in the 2024/2025 financial year, with the majority involving sexual abuse.

“The experience of children today will determine our nation’s social and economic wellbeing over the next twenty years,” President Ramaphosa said, warning that failure to act decisively would have long-term consequences for communities and the economy.

As part of the new strategy, government has announced the launch of a national “Hold My Hand” campaign, calling on every South African to take practical action to improve the lives of children.

The campaign urges citizens to imagine the impact if every child had “enough love, enough food, safety and brainpower”, arguing that such collective action could fundamentally change the country’s future.

Business and organised labour were singled out as key partners in the effort. 

President Ramaphosa said the private sector’s resources and logistics networks could help support under-resourced early learning programmes, while trade unions have a role to play in advocating for time and support for working parents.

The President also paid tribute to civil society organisations, health workers, teachers, social workers, child and youth care workers, as well as parents and grandparents, for their longstanding role in protecting and nurturing children.

“For the sake of our shared future, we must work together to ensure that our nation’s children and young people grow, thrive and are happy,” he said, calling for renewed commitment as the country heads into the new year. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin

50 views

Posted on

Patrimoine, identité et le risque de l’imitation numérique

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Alors que les Sud-Africains célébraient récemment une journée de braais communautaires et de fierté nationale partagée, nos vies numériques ont inévitablement reflété nos vies physiques. Nous avons publié des photos de famille, partagé des traditions et célébré nos diverses cultures en ligne. Mais dans cet élan de célébration, nous risquons d’exposer l’essence même de notre identité à des cybercriminels qui voient notre patrimoine non pas comme une source de fierté, mais comme un modèle de manipulation.

« Le patrimoine ne concerne pas seulement nos traditions et notre histoire, » affirme Anna Collard, SVP de la Stratégie de Contenu et Conseillère CISO chez KnowBe4 Africa (https://www.KnowBe4.com/). « Il s’agit également de l’empreinte numérique unique d’un individu, qui comprend ses informations personnelles et ses affiliations culturelles. » Bien que célébrer le patrimoine soit un acte positif, elle avertit que le fait de partager trop de détails en ligne peut fournir aux cybercriminels les munitions dont ils ont besoin pour des attaques très ciblées.

L’ombre numérique d’une identité partagée

Les criminels affluent toujours là où l’intérêt public est le plus grand, et l’activité accrue sur les réseaux sociaux autour du Jour du Patrimoine en fait un terrain de chasse privilégié. « La nature festive du Jour du Patrimoine rend les gens plus confiants et moins susceptibles d’examiner attentivement les communications suspectes, » dit Collard. « La fierté culturelle peut prendre le dessus sur le scepticisme habituel lors de la réception de messages qui semblent célébrer ou reconnaître le patrimoine. »

Ceci est aggravé par une tendance à partager plus d’informations personnelles lors des célébrations culturelles, y compris des photos de famille, des données de localisation, et même des origines ancestrales ou des noms de famille. Ces données aident les criminels à bâtir des profils de victimes détaillés pour des campagnes d’ingénierie sociale (https://apo-opa.co/4ai7HMO) très efficaces.

Quand « ubuntu » devient une vulnérabilité

Les cybercriminels sont passés maîtres dans l’exploitation de la signification culturelle de l’occasion, utilisant des salutations traditionnelles et des symboles patrimoniaux pour établir un faux rapport. « Ils tirent parti du fort sentiment d’ubuntu et de l’esprit communautaire dans la culture sud-africaine pour abaisser les défenses des victimes, » explique Collard.

Ceci peut se manifester de plusieurs façons, allant des faux appels de bienfaisance pour un projet communautaire aux campagnes de phishing (https://apo-opa.co/3XUN3es) promettant des billets pour des événements culturels à guichets fermés. Certaines escroqueries sont encore plus élaborées, exploitant des croyances culturelles profondément ancrées. « Les fraudeurs peuvent prétendre représenter des guérisseurs traditionnels (sangomas) ou des ancêtres décédés, promettant de ‘bénir’ (https://apo-opa.co/3KQS9W3) ou de doubler votre argent par le biais d’un rituel pour manipuler les victimes et les inciter à remettre leurs économies, » commente-t-elle.

Les fraudeurs peuvent également utiliser l’intelligence artificielle pour étudier les publications culturelles afin d’usurper l’identité de leaders communautaires ou de groupes patrimoniaux, exploitant la confiance que les gens ont envers ces figures. « Soyez particulièrement méfiants face aux attaques qui exploitent les données personnelles de vos comptes de réseaux sociaux pour créer un faux sentiment de confiance, » met-elle en garde.

Un autre risque est l’utilisation délibérée de « rage-bait » (appâts à colère) autour de sujets culturellement sensibles. « Le rage-bait est un contenu internet intentionnellement conçu pour provoquer la colère ou l’indignation afin d’augmenter l’engagement, » précise Collard. « Il est préférable de ne pas commenter ces publications, car elles peuvent être utilisées comme tactique dans une campagne d’ingénierie sociale plus vaste pour exploiter des stéréotypes ou des vulnérabilités culturelles à des fins malveillantes. »

Bâtir nos défenses cognitives

Protéger notre identité numérique n’est pas un problème purement technique ; c’est un problème psychologique. « Le patrimoine et l’identité sont des sujets profondément émotionnels qui pourraient contourner la pensée rationnelle en matière de sécurité s’ils sont exploités par des escrocs ou des acteurs de la désinformation, » soutient Collard. « Les solutions techniques seules ignorent la manière dont les valeurs influencent la prise de décision et l’évaluation des risques – nous devons encourager la pleine conscience numérique et enseigner aux gens comment être conscients de ces tactiques. »

Pour les individus, cela signifie :

  • Partage intelligent : Révisez les paramètres de confidentialité avant de publier du contenu sur le thème du patrimoine. Évitez de partager des emplacements spécifiques, des détails familiaux ou des informations financières qui pourraient être exploités.
  • Habitudes de vérification : Vérifiez les offres ou invitations liées au patrimoine par des canaux officiels. Soyez sceptique face aux messages non sollicités, même s’ils font référence à votre culture.
  • Hygiène numérique : Utilisez un gestionnaire de mots de passe pour créer et gérer des mots de passe forts et uniques, et activez l’authentification multi-facteurs sur tous vos comptes.

Pour les organisations :

  • Mener des campagnes de sensibilisation proactives : Sensibilisez les employés aux dangers spécifiques qui existent en ligne lorsqu’ils partagent trop d’informations personnelles.
  • Utiliser une formation culturellement pertinente : « L’utilisation d’exemples et de scénarios culturellement pertinents dans la formation de sensibilisation à la sécurité (https://apo-opa.co/48SeZ7v) est une bonne idée, » dit Collard, car cela aide à rendre les menaces plus tangibles et mémorables.

Le Jour du Patrimoine devrait être un moment pour renforcer nos liens culturels, et non pour nous rendre vulnérables. « En restant connectés culturellement tout en restant prudents sur le plan numérique, » conclut Collard, « nous pouvons célébrer notre patrimoine tout en sécurisant notre avenir, en toute sécurité. »

Distribué par APO Group pour KnowBe4.

Détails du contact :
KnowBe4:
Anne Dolinschek
anned@knowbe4.com

Red Ribbon:
TJ Coenraad
tayla@redribboncommunications.co.za

Media files

Posted on

President to address commemoration of Reconciliation Day

Source: Government of South Africa

President to address commemoration of Reconciliation Day

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver a keynote address at the national commemoration of Reconciliation Day, taking place at the Ncome Museum within the uMzinyathi District, in KwaZulu-Natal. 

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government will lead this year’s national event under the theme: “Reaffirming Reconciliation for Future Generations.”

This year’s theme enshrines on the call for South Africans to deepen commitment to unity, healing, forgiveness and nation-building for shared future.

The selection of the Battle of Blood River heritage site at the Ncome Museum signifies the value of cherishing unity and peace collectively as South Africans.

“The fierce battle between the Voortrekker invaders and the Zulu forces unfolded 187 years ago in 1838 and marked a historical episode that shaped differing and often divisive commemorative customs for more than a century.

“However, as a part of redressing the past injustices in South Africa, the democratic government redefined the day in 1995 as the National Day of Reconciliation onwards.

“That was a unifying effort to transform the day from a symbol of division into a transformative platform for truth, justice, dialogue, healing and a shared nationhood,” the Presidency said on Sunday.

Hosting the programme on Tuesday, 16 December 2025, at Ncome reaffirms this commitment and invites the nation to engage honestly with its complex past while advancing a future rooted in inclusion, understanding and unity, it said. 

READ | South Africans urged to deepen commitment to unity this Reconciliation Month

–SAnews.gov.za
 

 

nosihle

73 views

Posted on

Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento e São Tomé e Príncipe assinam três novos acordos de financiamento

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

O Grupo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento (www.AfDB.org) e o Governo de São Tomé e Príncipe aprofundaram a sua parceria de desenvolvimento com um novo financiamento de 18 milhões de dólares.

Assinados na quinta-feira, no Fórum de Investimento em São Tomé e Príncipe, realizado em Bruxelas, os três acordos apoiarão a energia, a agricultura climaticamente inteligente e a segurança integrada da água, energia e alimentos.

O primeiro acordo disponibiliza 7,5 milhões de dólares para a terceira fase do Programa de Sustentabilidade Fiscal e Resiliência – Financiamento Suplementar (FSERP-SF) – parte de uma operação de apoio orçamental, lançada em dezembro de 2023. Isto eleva o valor acumulado para 20 milhões de dólares a serem desembolsados diretamente no orçamento nacional. 

O programa impulsiona reformas em dois pilares: sustentabilidade fiscal e transição do setor energético. No âmbito do programa, o Governo de São Tomé e Príncipe comprometeu-se a realizar reformas cruciais no sistema de compras públicas, alfândegas e gestão da dívida.

No que diz respeito à transição energética – uma prioridade máxima no Plano Nacional de Desenvolvimento do país –, o programa financia a melhoria da governação da empresa nacional de serviços públicos, ajustamentos tarifários para recuperação de custos e uma transição acelerada para fontes de energia renováveis. Este quadro político complementa o investimento na transformação energética em infraestruturas de produção e distribuição. O Fundo Fiduciário da Nigéria (NTF), administrado pelo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento, financia esta terceira fase.

O segundo acordo de financiamento canaliza os recursos do Fundo Global para o Meio Ambiente (GEF) para o Projeto de Gestão de Extremos Climáticos para a Resiliência da Agricultura e da Pesca (PRIASA III). O objetivo é fortalecer as cadeias de valor da agricultura e da pesca, ao mesmo tempo que se implantam tecnologias resilientes ao clima para proteger os meios de subsistência contra secas, inundações e escassez de água.

Com um investimento total de 18,9 milhões de dólares, incluindo 10 milhões de dólares em financiamento do BAD e 8,9 milhões de dólares do GEF, o projeto será implementado através de três componentes: aprimoramento das cadeias de valor e benefícios socioeconómicos, redução da vulnerabilidade via tecnologias climaticamente inteligentes e capacitação, e garantia de uma gestão eficaz do projeto para a adaptação climática integrada na agricultura e na pesca.

O terceiro acordo é para um Fundo de Preparação de Projetos (PPF) de 1,4 milhões de dólares para o Nexo Água-Energia-Segurança Alimentar no âmbito da iniciativa NEW-ERA, para impulsionar o desenvolvimento sustentável nos setores de água, energia e agricultura.

Ao longo de dois anos, o fundo desenvolverá estudos críticos e planos diretores para a gestão integrada dos recursos hídricos, incluindo o desenvolvimento de uma barragem multifuncional, uma estação de tratamento de água, medidas de resiliência climática e um plano de saneamento para toda a cidade.

O PPF estabelece as bases para investimentos futuros que proporcionarão acesso universal à água potável, explorarão o potencial de geração de energia hidroelétrica e melhorarão a produção alimentar até 2030, ao mesmo tempo que reforçam a governação e a capacidade das partes interessadas. O projeto criará empregos, aumentará a resiliência do ecossistema e apoiará os compromissos climáticos do país.

O representante nacional do Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento para Angola e São Tomé e Príncipe, Pietro Toigo, afirmou: “À medida que São Tomé e Príncipe apresenta à comunidade global o seu Plano Nacional de Desenvolvimento e aborda investidores para impulsionar o seu setor privado, estes três acordos de financiamento são um sinal claro de que o Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento apoia o país como fornecedor de capital paciente e mitigação de riscos”.

A 30 de novembro de 2025, a carteira ativa do Grupo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento em São Tomé e Príncipe totalizava cerca de 89,4 milhões de dólares, distribuídos por 12 instrumentos de financiamento, com uma idade média de 4,2 anos e uma taxa de desembolso de 49,5%. A sua distribuição setorial é liderada pela agricultura (43%), seguida por operações multissetoriais (23%), finanças (17%), energia (15%) e água (2%). 

A carteira do Banco reflete uma forte ênfase na resiliência, segurança alimentar, transição energética e reformas macroeconómicas, juntamente com um envolvimento crescente na economia verde e azul e na infraestrutura financeira.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Contacto para os media:
Departamento de Comunicação e Relações Externas 
media@afdb.org

Sobre o Grupo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento:
O Grupo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento é a principal instituição financeira de desenvolvimento em África. Inclui três entidades distintas: o Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento (AfDB), o Fundo Africano de Desenvolvimento (ADF) e o Fundo Fiduciário da Nigéria (NTF). Presente no terreno em 41 países africanos, com uma representação externa no Japão, o Banco contribui para o desenvolvimento económico e o progresso social dos seus 54 Estados-membros. Mais informações em www.AfDB.org/pt

Media files

Baixar .tipo

Posted on

Grupo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento e Canadá reúnem-se para redefinir a cooperação

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

Baixar .tipo

A vice-presidente sénior do Grupo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento (www.AfDB.org), Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, recebeu o enviado especial do Canadá para África, o embaixador Ben Marc Diendéré, na terça-feira, 9 de dezembro de 2025, na sede da instituição. Um encontro cordial durante o qual trocas francas permitiram estabelecer as bases para uma relação renovada. 

“O Canadá é um parceiro e um grande apoiante do Banco. O seu país demonstrou liderança em temas como o clima, o crescimento inclusivo e também a questão da igualdade de género», declarou Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade. Também lembrou que o Canadá é um dos cinco maiores contribuintes do Fundo Africano de Desenvolvimento, a janela concessional do Grupo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento, cuja 17ª reconstituição de recursos ocorrerá em Londres nos dias 15 e 16 de dezembro de 2025.

“Acreditamos no Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento, um instrumento importante para o continente”, sublinhou Ben Marc Diendéré, presente na Costa do Marfim por ocasião da tomada de posse do presidente Alassane Ouattara. “Para além da relação que mantemos, o Canadá lançou a sua estratégia Canadá-África para reforçar a nossa cooperação com o continente. Como país, temos desafios políticos de diversificação dos mercados. Queremos ver como as empresas canadianas podem beneficiar do instrumento que é o Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento»”, acrescentou.

O enviado especial do Canadá para África abordou alguns temas que poderão, no futuro, estar no centro desta parceria, destacando as energias renováveis, as minas, o agronegócio, a saúde, o ensino e a formação técnica e profissional, a inteligência artificial, a transformação digital ou as indústrias culturais e criativas.

Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade e a sua equipa apresentaram a Estratégia Decenal adotada em 2024, bem como os Quatro Pontos Cardeais que orientam os investimentos do Banco. A vice-presidente sénior destacou os pontos fortes que permitem reforçar a parceria, nomeadamente os seminários sobre oportunidades de negócio que se realizam duas vezes por ano. Em seguida, salientou que o Fórum Africano de Investimento – cuja última edição foi encerrada em 29 de novembro e registrou cerca de 15,3 mil milhões de dólares em promessas de investimentos em 39 projetos – é uma oportunidade perfeita para as empresas canadianas.

Por fim, levantou possibilidades de parcerias, começando pelo financiamento da conceção e estudos de viabilidade de projetos, e incentivou as empresas a participar nos concursos públicos dos programas que o Banco acompanha.

O representante especial convidou o Banco a visitar o Canadá para apresentar as suas atividades ao setor privado. Os participantes da reunião concordaram em estabelecer um roteiro para lançar as bases para uma renovação do relacionamento e trabalhar juntos de maneira diferente.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Contacto para os media:
Aissatou Diallo
Departamento de Comunicação e Relações Externas
media@afdb.org

Sobre o Grupo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento:
O Grupo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento é a principal instituição financeira de desenvolvimento em África. Inclui três entidades distintas: o Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento (AfDB), o Fundo Africano de Desenvolvimento (ADF) e o Fundo Fiduciário da Nigéria (NTF). Presente no terreno em 41 países africanos, com uma representação externa no Japão, o Banco contribui para o desenvolvimento económico e o progresso social dos seus 54 Estados-membros. Mais informações em www.AfDB.org/pt

Posted on

African Development Bank and São Tomé and Príncipe sign three new grant financing agreements

Source: APO – Report:

The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) and the Government of São Tomé and Príncipe have deepened their development partnership with $18 million in new grant financing.

Signed on Thursday at the São Tomé and Príncipe Investment Forum in Brussels, the three agreements will support energy, climate-smart agriculture, and integrated water-energy-food security.

The first agreement delivers $7.5 million for the third phase of the Fiscal Sustainability and Resilience Program -Supplementary Financing (FSERP-SF) – part of a budget support operation, launched in December 2023. This brings the cumulative value to  $20 million to be disbursed directly into the national budget.

The programme drives reforms across two pillars: fiscal sustainability and energy sector transition. Under the programme, the Government of São Tomé and Principe committed to critical reforms to the public procurement system, customs, and debt management.  

On energy transition – a top priority in the country’s National Development Plan – the programme finances improved governance of the national utility, tariff adjustments for cost recovery, and an accelerated transition to renewable energy sources. This policy framework complements investment in energy transformation in generation and distribution infrastructure. The Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF), administered by the African Development Bank, finances this third phase.

The second financing agreement channels the Global Environment Fund’s (GEF) resources into the Co-Management of Climate Extremes for Agriculture and Fisheries Resilience Project (PRIASA III). The goal is to strengthen agriculture and fisheries value chains while deploying climate-resilient technologies to safeguard livelihoods against droughts, floods, and water scarcity.

With a total investment of $18.9 million, including $10 million in AfDB financing and $8.9 million from GEF, the project will be implemented through three components: enhancing value chains and socio-economic benefits, reducing vulnerability through climate-smart technologies and capacity building, and ensuring effective project management for integrated climate adaptation in agriculture and fisheries.

The third agreement is for a  $1.4 million Project Preparation Facility (PPF) for the Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus under the NEW-ERA initiative, to drive sustainable development in the water, energy, and agriculture sectors.

Over two years, the facility will develop critical studies and master plans for integrated water resources management, including a multipurpose dam development, a water treatment plant, climate-resilience measures, and a city-wide sanitation plan.

The PPF lays the groundwork for future investments to deliver universal access to potable water, explore potential hydropower generation, and improve food production by 2030, while strengthening governance and stakeholder capacity. The project will create jobs, enhance ecosystem resilience, and support the country’s climate commitments.

African Development Bank’s Country Manager for  Angola and São Tomé and Principe Pietro Toigo said: “As São Tomé and Principe presents to the global community its National Development Plan and approaches investors to power its private sector, these three financing agreements are a clear sign that the African Development Bank stands with the country as a provider of patient capital and risk mitigation”.

As of 30 November 2025, the African Development Bank Group’s active portfolio in São Tomé and Principe totals about $89.4 million, spread across 12 financing instruments, with an average age of 4.2 years and a disbursement ratio of 49.5 percent. Its sectoral distribution is led by agriculture (43 percent), followed by multisector operations (23 percent), finance (17 percent), energy (15 percent), and water (two percent).

The Bank’s portfolio reflects a strong emphasis on resilience, food security, energy transition, and macroeconomic reforms, alongside growing engagement in the green and blue economy and financial infrastructure.

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

Media files

.

Posted on

African Development Bank Group welcomes Canadian Africa Envoy for discussions to reshape cooperation

Source: APO – Report:

.

The Senior Vice-President of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade welcomed Canada’s Special Envoy for Africa, Ambassador Ben Marc Diendéré, to the institution’s headquarters. The cordial meeting was marked by frank discussions, putting the relationship between Canada and the Bank on a new footing.

“Canada is a partner and a great supporter of the Bank. Your country has shown leadership on issues such as climate, inclusive growth and gender equality,” Akin-Olugbade said. She also noted that Canada is one of the five largest contributors to the African Development Fund, the concessional window of the African Development Bank Group. The 17th replenishment of the African Development Fund will take place in London next week, on 15 and 16 December.

“We believe in the African Development Bank as an important instrument for the continent,” Diendéré. “Beyond our existing relationship, Canada has launched its Canada-Africa Strategy in order to strengthen our cooperation with the continent. As a country, we have a political commitment to market diversification. We are keen to see how Canadian companies can benefit from the African Development Bank as an instrument,” he added.

Canada’s Special Envoy for Africa discussed key themes that could be at the heart of a partnership in the future. These include renewable energy, mining, agribusiness, health, technical and vocational education and training, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and the cultural and creative industries.  

Akin-Olugbade and her team presented the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy, adopted in 2024, and the Four Cardinal Points, outlined by Bank president Sidi Ould Tah, that guide the Bank’s investments. The Senior Vice-President highlighted opportunities for strengthening partnership through business opportunity seminars that are held twice a year. She emphasised that the Africa Investment Forum, which ended on 29 November and attracted nearly $15.3 billion in investment interest for 39 bankable projects, is a perfect opportunity for Canadian companies.  

She also raised the possibility of partnerships, beginning with the financing of project design and feasibility studies, and encouraged Canadian companies to participate in calls for tenders for programmes supported by the Bank.

Diendéré invited the Bank to send its representatives to Canada in order to present its work to the Canadian private sector. Akin-Olugbade and Diendéré agreed to prepare a roadmap, which will put the relationship between Canada and the Bank on a new footing and enable them to work together more productively.  

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

Media Contact:
Aissatou Diallo
Communications and External Relations Department
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