MIL Africa Engine

Source: APO

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The World Bank Group today launched the 2025 Cameroon Economic Update, titled ‘’Cameroon’s Green Gold: Unlocking the Value of Forests and Natural Capital’’. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the nation’s recent economic developments, medium-term outlook, and the critical role of wealth accounting in assessing the country’s economic performance. The report places a special emphasis on the importance of sustainable forests and natural resources management as drivers of inclusive and resilient development.

According to the report, Cameroon’s GDP grew by 3.5% in 2024, up from 3.2% in 2023, driven by rising cocoa prices, enhanced cotton yields, and improved power supply. Average inflation declined sharply from 7.4% to 4.5% between 2023 and 2024, thanks to tighter monetary policy, price controls, and reduced import inflation. The current account deficit narrowed from 4.1% to 3.4% of GDP%, mainly due to the cocoa price surge. However, the overall fiscal deficit widened to 1.5% of GDP, compared to 0.7% of GDP in 2023, due to a slippage in current expenditures and weaker-than-expected revenues. Public debt rose slightly from 46.1% to 46.8% of GDP, with most of this increase in the form of external debt.

The medium-term outlook is moderately positive, with an anticipated average real GDP growth of 3.9% from 2025 to 2028, supported by improved power generation and increased public investment – particularly in the construction sector. Average inflation is expected to decline further, reaching the 3% CEMAC convergence criteria by 2027. However, the current account deficit is expected to increase at around 4.0% of GDP over the medium term, due to declining oil production and prices, mixed results from government industrial policies, and increased inputs as a result of higher public and private investment. While Cameroon’s external and overall public debt are expected to remain sustainable, the country faces a high risk of debt distress due to liquidity issues.

“Cameroon’s economy has demonstrated resilience amidst external shocks, yet multiple structural weaknesses – particularly infrastructure gaps – impede its potential,” said Robert Utz, World Bank Lead Country Economist and one of the report’s authors. ‘’A bold fiscal reform agenda is imperative to bridge those gaps and boost economy-wide productivity.”

The report also introduces national wealth accounting as a critical tool for policy makers to better understand Cameroon’s economic capacity to generate future income and sustain development. Although total national wealth grew from $311 billion in 1995 to $553 billion in 2020, national wealth per capita declined by 11% over the same period. Adjusted net savings (ANS) – a broader picture of a nation’s economic sustainability – was moderately negative between 2010 and 2020, suggesting that Cameroon is depleting its wealth slightly faster than it is accumulating new assets. Forest depletion accelerated dramatically after 2010, with the conversion of lowland forests for agricultural use between 2010 and 2020, five times the rate of the previous decade. At the same time, the ecological condition of Cameroon’s forests has deteriorated significantly, with satellite data showing declines in tree height, canopy cover, forest connectivity, and landscape naturalness

“To minimize the environmental impact of growth and preserve natural wealth, Cameroon could prioritize its high-value, vulnerable ecosystems and transition to a forest-based service economy, leveraging ecotourism, medicinal services with its unique flora, and forest-based knowledge,” said Cheick F. Kanté, World Bank Division Director for Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

The report underscores that to achieve its goal of becoming an emerging economy by 2035, Cameroon must diversify beyond primary commodities. With one of Africa’s most unique ecosystems, a competitive tourism sector could become a key driver of growth and employment—leveraging natural capital that few other countries can match.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.

Source: APO

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The World Bank has released a comprehensive report, “Trends and Opportunities to Advance Gender Equality in Botswana”, analyzing gender dynamics across life-cycle stages to guide policymakers, the civil society, and development partners on key challenges and opportunities for advancing gender equality. It reveals how structural barriers in education access, financial inclusion, and labor market participation disproportionately affect women and young Batswana and provides recommendations to address these barriers.

“This report offers important insights to accelerate our ongoing efforts to create a more equitable Botswana. By addressing systemic barriers such as limited access to finance, skills gaps, and societal norms, we can unlock the full potential of youth, women, and men as drivers of economic growth. We are committed to fostering inclusivity while emphasizing various roles in advancing gender equality. The Government remains steadfast in promoting equal opportunities for all Batswana,” said Honourable Lesego Chombo, Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs, at the report’s launch in Gaborone.

The report outlines five strategic priorities to address critical challenges:

(i)       Increase women’s participation in decision-making at local and national levels and strengthen gender equality under the law.

(ii)      Strengthen capacity for all-of-government gender mainstreaming.

(iii)     Reduce high rates of gender-based violence (GBV) and improve access to justice and to integrated GBV survivor support services.

(iv)     Support girls and boys to reach their full potential of human capital; and

(v)      Close wage and productivity gender gaps in entrepreneurship and employment.

“Women now account for 57% of university graduates, and Botswana has significantly expanded access to maternal health services, with most births taking place in health facilities. However, persistent gaps in women’s economic participation limit the country’s growth potential,” says World Bank Country Director for Botswana, Satu Kahkonen. “The World Bank will continue to support Botswana’s efforts to achieve gender equality and youth empowerment.  Ww have committed to do so globally in our Gender Strategy 2024–2030.”

The assessment identifies gender disparities in three key areas: human capital (health, education, social protection), economic inclusion, voice and agency. Boys face higher rates of childhood stunting and lower early childhood education access, while 1 in 10 girls becomes pregnant before the age of 20, making it the leading cause of school dropout for young women. Maternal mortality, though improved, remains high at 131 deaths per 100,000 live births, and HIV continues to disproportionately affects women, with a 26% prevalence – nearly twice that of men.

Despite educational gains, women in Botswana have lower labor force participation (63% vs 73% for men), earn less, and are concentrated in informal, vulnerable jobs. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened these disparities, with women accounting for over half of all job losses. Rural and informal women workers are especially vulnerable to climate and economic shocks, underlining the need for inclusive, resilient economic systems. Despite advancements in the legal framework for gender equality, social norms and informal barriers still limit women’s full economic inclusion. Women-are more likely to run informal businesses, have less access to finance and remain underrepresented in political leadership and traditional leadership. High rates of gender-based violence, especially among marginalized groups, are worsened by weak institutional coordination and fragmented support systems.

The assessment was conducted in consultation with the Government of Botswana, development partners, and civil society organizations, and benefits from prior research and reports.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.

Source: APO

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The Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has inaugurated a seven-member Board for the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC).

The new Board members are:

• Mr. Mike Kofi Afflu – Chairperson
• Mr. Albert Kwadwo Twum Boafo – Chief Executive
• Ms. Grace Mbrokoh-Ewoal – Ministry of Finance/Member
• Ms. Elizabeth Ama Yankah – National Security/member
• Dr. Kwasi Osei Yeboah – Member
• A representative from the Ministry of the Interior (Senior Police Officer)
• A representative from the Attorney-General’s Department

The Board has been tasked with supporting Ghana’s fight against money laundering, terrorism financing, and other financial crimes.

The FIC plays a crucial role in protecting Ghana’s financial system, especially as fraud and financial crimes become more sophisticated.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Finance – Republic of Ghana.

Source: APO

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A national dissemination workshop held on May 27, 2025, in Addis Ababa brought together government officials, health experts, and development partners to review the findings of a comprehensive assessment of Ethiopia’s electronic Logistics Management Information System (eLMIS), known as Dagu. The system is designed to enhance visibility and improve efficiency throughout the country’s health supply chain.

Opening the event, the World Health Organization (WHO) Ethiopia Dr Patrick Okumu Abok,  Team Lead, Health Emergencies Programme, commended the collaborative efforts that led to the successful completion of the nationwide assessment, which covered 251 public health facilities. The study evaluated the functionality, maturity, utilization, and impact of the Dagu system on health and nutrition commodity availability, inventory management, and decision-making processes.

The event and the nationwide assessment were funded by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), reaffirming the EU’s longstanding commitment to supporting Ethiopia’s health system strengthening and digital transformation.

 “This event marks a significant milestone in our collective effort to build a more resilient, data-driven supply chain for Ethiopia,” said Dr Patrick. “Dagu is helping health facilities deliver essential medicines, nutrition commodities and health supplies more reliably—and the data proves it.”

According to the assessment findings, 63.7% of health facilities currently operate functional Dagu systems. These facilities demonstrated improved pharmaceutical availability—with an average availability rate of 88.3% for tracer medicines—highlighting Dagu’s positive contribution to medicine access across the health system.

Despite the progress, the assessment also highlighted several challenges, including infrastructure limitations, intermittent internet access, limited management engagement, and human resource constraints, particularly in areas such as training and staff retention. The study identified that facilities with trained pharmacy heads and reliable internet access were significantly more likely to operate functional Dagu systems.

The Ministry of Health emphasised the government’s continued commitment to scaling up digital health innovations, such as Dagu, to achieve better health outcomes.

 “This assessment reinforces what we’ve known—Dagu has the potential to transform our supply chain. But it also reminds us that sustainability requires more than just systems; it requires leadership, accountability, and integration,” said Teshome Deres, senior advisor for the state minister of the Ministry of Health. “We are committed to working with our partners to ensure Dagu reaches its full potential across all health programs.”

The workshop emphasized the importance of transforming these insights into action. Recommendations put forth include:

• Strengthening infrastructure and digital connectivity at health facilities
• Institutionalizing routine performance monitoring
• Enhancing interoperability with other national health systems like DHIS2 and ERP
• Introducing legal frameworks to support mandatory system use
• Expanding Dagu’s coverage to all health programs, including those currently underrepresented such as EPI and nutrition

The event was supported in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Service (EPSS), and the Dagu Task Force, with the support from Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), ECHO, Results for Development (R4D), and WHO.

With a strong political commitment and coordinated implementation, Ethiopia’s journey toward a more efficient and equitable health supply chain continues—powered by innovation, data, and partnerships.

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

Source: APO

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In South Sudan, entrenched patriarchal norms and the effects of years of conflict continue to hinder women from participating in peacebuilding and governance. Early marriages, widespread gender-based violence, and exclusion from decision-making remain real hurdles for the implementation of their substantially increased and meaningful inclusion in matters that matter.

The slow progress does not, however, deter women in Unity State from advocating for their rights and building informal networks of influence at the grassroots level. Some, like the young teacher Elizabeth Nyatab, are prepared to play the long game – if that is what it takes.

“I encourage parents to educate their daughters, because without schooling, it will be difficult also for future generations of women to play prominent roles in decision-making, We have no choice but to break the cultural norms that confine many of us to the domestic sphere,” she said.

In fact, Ms. Nyatab made her point on behalf of a group of women leaders representing local authorities, state institutions and civil society groups. Together, they, and other similar small groups, were presenting their findings resulting from discussions on how to increase women’s real participation in peace, security and other processes of public interest.

Of much such interest are South Sudan’s first post-independence elections, another subject that sparked lively debate during a week of civic engagement activities in Bentiu, Rubkona and Rotriak/Lalop. While many saw elections as a path to legitimacy and stability, others voiced concerns about prevailing insecurity and political divisions.

“If our country wants credible elections, political detainees must be released and the army united under one national command. Conditions for the free and fair participation for all are also essential for this dream to come true,” opined Angelina Nyawuora Turoal, former Chairperson of a network of civil society organizations in Rubkona.

The dialogue sessions were conducted by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and counted on the support of its Electoral Affairs Division.

“This week of conversations made it clear that women, on the rise and challenging norms in Unity State and elsewhere, must have their voices heard. And there is more, because their words need to be acted on as well,” concluded Alexandre Marie Rose Fernande Alexandre, a Civil Affairs Officer serving with the UN peacekeeping mission.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Source: APO

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The 2025 Eritrean Community Festival in the United Kingdom was colorfully conducted on 12 and 13 July in London under the theme “Our Cohesion – Our Armour.”

The festival, in which about 2,000 nationals from various cities in Britain took part, was officially opened by Mr. Saleh Abdella, Chargé d’Affaires at the Eritrean Embassy in the UK and Northern Ireland.

Mr. Mulubrhan Berhe, Chairman of the Holidays Coordinating Committee, and Mr. Ahmed Mahmud, Chairman of the National Committee, commended all those who contributed to the successful implementation of the program and thanked the participants.

Mr. Saleh Abdella stated that this year’s festival was particularly significant as it was held at a time when the Eritrean people are focused on national development programs while confronting and foiling external conspiracies and hostilities. He also called on nationals to strengthen unity, foster deeper connections with their homeland, and enhance participation in national affairs.

Mr. Tewolde Yohannes, Head of Public and Community Affairs, also conducted a seminar for participants focusing on the objective situation in the homeland and the region. Mr. Tewolde stated that Eritrea, firmly standing by its national principles, continues to make earnest contributions to regional peace and stability.

The festival featured cultural and artistic performances, sports competitions, and children’s programs.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO

The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org), in partnership with the International Labour Organization, has launched a transformative system to mainstream youth employment, skills development, and entrepreneurship across its investments. 

The approach, called the Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System, is aligned with the Bank’s latest Ten-Year Strategy, which places Africa’s young people at the center of development efforts to maximize the impact of every dollar invested, turning demographics into a dividend. The Marker System ensures that Bank projects spanning diverse sectors, such as agriculture, transport, energy, water, and education, systematically incorporate components that enhance youth employability, foster entrepreneurship, and build market-relevant skills.

“The Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System is about ensuring Africa’s young people have a real say and active role in building sustainable economies and creating jobs – not as passive recipients of youth programs,” said Dr. Beth Dunford, the Bank’s Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development. “This transformation of Bank practices and systems is a step toward making sure our investments have a positive impact on Africa’s young women and men.” 

The integrated system has three focus areas: 

• Youth: Supporting youth-led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises through targeted investments and operational integration. 
• Skills: Expanding access to practical, market-driven training and apprenticeships to enhance career prospects. 
• Jobs: Ensuring Bank-funded projects create sustainable job opportunities, particularly by developing youth skills for employability and the promotion of youth-led businesses in priority value chains. 

Each year, around 10 to 12 million young Africans enter the labor market, which offers only three million formal jobs annually. The Bank will prioritize youth entrepreneurship and mobilize private sector partnerships to strengthen industry-oriented skills training as well as job creation over the coming decade.  

“[This initiative] is very important because it allows us to significantly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #8 that includes decent work for all,” said Peter van Rooij, Director of Multilateral Partnerships and Development Cooperation at the International Labour Organization. “It also allows the International Labour Organization to influence the Bank’s work, to support their lending that is more geared toward more job creation and better jobs in a sustainable way.”  

The Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System is modeled on the success of the Bank’s Gender Marker System and its online dashboard, which categorize Bank projects based on their contribution to gender equality and women’s empowerment. Similarly, the new system will feature an online platform enabling Bank staff and consultants to access real-time data for preparing country strategy papers, mid-term reviews, annual reports, project supervision, and reporting on youth-related skills, businesses and jobs outcomes. 

The Bank has just launched a pilot version of the Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System in readiness for the full implementation in 2026. This system will enhance data tracking, improve estimates of youth skills attainment and employment, strengthen labor market information systems, and support policymakers in making evidence-based decisions that drive meaningful change. 

The International Labour Organization provided technical support for the system’s development with financial support from the Bank’s Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multi-Donor Trust Fund. The Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System is the first deliberate action of its kind developed by a development finance institution worldwide. 

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

To learn more about the Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System, watch this video: https://apo-opa.co/3Gs3JEZ

Media Contact: 
Alphonso Van Marsh
Chief Digital Content and Events Officer 
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

Source: APO

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The results of the 2025 National School Leaving Examination were announced on 13 July.

Dr. Bisirat Gebru, Director of Standards and Evaluation at the National Higher Education and Research Institute, indicated that out of the 24,092 students, including 50% female students, who took the examination, 12.2% achieved scores qualifying them for degree programs, and 7.59% for diploma programs.

Noting that the performance gap between male and female students has been improving over time, Dr. Bisirat encouraged those who passed and qualified for college education to work hard to achieve their goals and to strictly adhere to college regulations.

Dr. Bisirat also advised students who did not achieve passing marks not to lose hope, and urged them to remain engaged in education, study diligently, and prepare for the next national examination.

It is to be recalled that the National School Leaving Examination was conducted from 17 to 23 March across the country, including at the international schools of Eritrean communities in Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Bisirat further noted that 84.1% of the examinees were regular students from Sawa Warsai-Yikealo Secondary School and technical schools, and that 3,861 students were retaking the exam.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.