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Participate in crafting a new vision for South Africa through National Dialogue

Source: Government of South Africa

Participate in crafting a new vision for South Africa through National Dialogue

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africans to once again come together and participate in crafting a new vision for the country through the National Dialogue – just as they did three decades ago when the country’s democratic Constitution was born.

The President made the rallying call in his weekly newsletter published on Monday.

“As we look with optimism to this new phase in the life of our nation, I call on all South Africans to come together once more and be part of crafting a new vision for South Africa that both speaks to our contemporary challenges and lays the groundwork for the South Africa we want to be,” the President said.

President Ramaphosa reflected on the political culture the country has built over the past three decades.

He described the political culture as “robust, participatory, continuously evolving and firmly anchored in the democratic values we hold dear”. 

“We are fortunate to live in a society with a vibrant public space and deeply engaged citizens who know that they have a voice, and more importantly, that their voice matters. It is this active participation by the people of South Africa that continues to give life, meaning and resilience to our constitutional democracy.

“Civil society in our country remains vibrant and resilient. Our Constitution safeguards freedom of conscience, thought and expression, whilst firmly entrenching media freedom as one of the cornerstones of democracy. Political contestation takes place openly and freely, reflecting the strength and maturity of our democratic order,” he said.

Furthermore, the courts “continue to serve as institutions that our people trust”, and provide “recourse for ordinary South Africans, political actors and organisations”.

“In our country, no one is above the law and scrutiny – and no individual or institution is beyond accountability. It is this commitment to constitutionalism, transparency and the rule of law that sustains public confidence in our democracy.

“These are all a credit to the constitutional order we have worked to build over the last three decades,” President Ramaphosa added.

For the people, by the people

The President – who himself is credited as one of the key architects of the Constitution – noted that at the time of drafting, “we wanted a People’s Constitution, where every South African would be able to put his or her own brick towards building the new South Africa”. 

“For nearly a year and a half, we criss-crossed the length and breadth of the country to get people’s inputs on the type of constitution they wanted to see as the supreme law of the land. Citizens of all races, ages and classes participated. We facilitated community meetings and engaged with people at their places of work and study. 

“I remember taking part in radio shows, where listeners would call in with their ideas on what should be in the constitution. The callers had a deep understanding of why human rights mattered, which was born out of their own personal experiences with injustice.

“What some of them related about their own harrowing experiences of apartheid oppression was a painful reminder of why we needed this Constitution. They spoke of unfair dismissals by employers, of being denied access to beaches, of land being taken from them and of unfair treatment at the hands of public officials,” President Ramaphosa reflected.

Thousands of submissions were received on a variety of issues with the outcome a “homegrown constitution that reflects the aspirations” of the South Africans who helped to craft it.

Writing a new story

Looking ahead, the President announced that the next phase of the National Dialogue process will soon “commence in earnest.

“We are determined that the National Dialogue should fully reflect South Africa’s racial, cultural, social, economic and geographic diversity. 

“Just as the 1994 generation played a direct role in the production of the birth certificate of the new South Africa, so too does today’s generation carry a responsibility to participate meaningfully in the National Dialogue.

“This is particularly important for the young people who will live with the impact of the decisions we make today,” President Ramaphosa.

South Africans are urged to fully engage in the 195 pilot dialogues expected to be held between June and August throughout the country.

“As we look with optimism to this new phase in the life of our nation, I call on all South Africans to come together once more and be part of crafting a new vision for South Africa that both speaks to our contemporary challenges and lays the groundwork for the South Africa we want to be,” President Ramaphosa concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

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Parliament sets busy week of budget debates, oversight and accountability

Source: Government of South Africa

Parliament sets busy week of budget debates, oversight and accountability

Budget allocations, social service delivery and government accountability will dominate Parliament’s agenda this week as lawmakers debate departmental spending plans and scrutinise government performance across a range of sectors.

The parliamentary programme begins on Monday with a media briefing by chairpersons from Parliament’s social services cluster committees. 

The engagement is aimed at providing the public with insight into key challenges facing the social development, health and innovation sectors.

Among the issues set to be discussed are concerns about the funding and capacity of social development institutions, the verification of social grant beneficiaries, health infrastructure shortcomings identified during oversight visits and developments surrounding the National Health Insurance (NHI) court case.

The briefing will also focus on innovation and research, including efforts to support youth innovators, improve transformation in the sector and strengthen research capabilities at historically disadvantaged institutions.

On Tuesday, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will consider the Division of Revenue Bill, a key piece of legislation that determines how nationally collected revenue is shared among national, provincial and local governments for the 2026/27 financial year. 

The bill plays a crucial role in ensuring that provinces and municipalities receive funding to deliver essential services.

At the same time, the National Assembly will continue its consideration of departmental Budget Votes through a series of mini-plenary debates. 

Members of Parliament will discuss spending plans for Tourism, Higher Education, International Relations and Cooperation, Trade, Industry and Competition, Basic Education, and Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

Further budget debates are scheduled for Wednesday, when the National Assembly considers allocations for Human Settlements and Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.

A key feature of the day will be a question-and-answer session with Ministers in the Justice, Crime, Peace and Security Cluster. Ministers responsible for Policing, Justice, Defence, Correctional Services, Home Affairs, International Relations and State Security will be required to respond to questions from MPs on matters relating to their departments.

The NCOP will also hold policy debates on the budget allocations for Human Settlements and Basic Education.

Attention will turn to Parliament itself on Thursday when National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza and NCOP Chairperson Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane table Parliament’s own Budget Vote.

The budget allocation will provide funding for Parliament’s constitutional responsibilities, including law-making, executive oversight, public participation and intergovernmental engagement. 

It also supports the work of MPs and political parties represented in Parliament.

The National Assembly is also expected to pay tribute to the late Ntandoyenkosi Nkosentsha Shezi, a member of the uMkhonto Wesizwe Party who served on several parliamentary committees following his election in 2024.

In addition, MPs will consider reports on oversight visits to correctional facilities and vote on two draft resolutions. One calls for an inquiry into the capacity of the post-school education and training sector, while the other seeks intervention regarding the recognition of certain traditional and indigenous communities.

Beyond the chamber debates, parliamentary committees will conduct 30 meetings during the week, dealing with issues ranging from health, education and communications to municipal governance, public finances, mining regulation and agriculture. – SAnews.gov.za

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Rugby Afrique nomme une ancienne dirigeante de NBA Africa, Aïcha Diop, au poste de Directeur de Cabinet du Président

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Rugby Afrique (www.RugbyAfrique.com), l’organe directeur du rugby en Afrique, est heureux d’annoncer la nomination d’une ancienne dirigeante de NBA Africa, Aïcha Diop, au poste de Directeur de Cabinet du Président.

Dans ce rôle stratégique, Aïcha Diop accompagnera Herbert Mensah, Président de Rugby Afrique, membre du Conseil exécutif de World Rugby et Président des Régions de World Rugby—l’organe qui réunit les présidents des six associations continentales de rugby : Rugby Europe, Asia Rugby, Rugby Americas North (RAN), Sudamérica Rugby, Oceania Rugby et Rugby Afrique. À ce titre, M. Mensah intervient à l’intersection de la gouvernance sportive continentale et mondiale, collaborant avec des chefs d’État, des ministres et des dirigeants d’institutions de financement du développement afin de promouvoir le sport comme moteur de croissance économique et de développement social. L’ensemble de ces responsabilités fait de lui l’un des administrateurs sportifs les plus influents d’Afrique.

Dirigeante internationale chevronnée, Aïcha possède plus de 18 ans d’expérience en Afrique, en Europe, au Moyen-Orient et en Amérique du Nord, alliant leadership stratégique, exécution opérationnelle et expertise de haut niveau en marketing, développement de marque et croissance des audiences. Elle a occupé des postes de direction au sein de NBA Africa et de la Basketball Africa League, Membre de l’équipe ayant contribué au lancement de la Basketball Africa League (BAL), où elle a piloté des initiatives multi-marchés, coordonné des équipes transversales et contribué à la croissance et à la visibilité de l’organisation à travers des campagnes et programmes à fort impact.

Son parcours comprend également des fonctions de direction chez IBM, où elle a supervisé des initiatives régionales sur plusieurs marchés africains, en alignant stratégie et exécution afin de soutenir la croissance des activités. Par ailleurs, elle a participé à l’organisation de grands événements internationaux dans les domaines du sport et du divertissement, notamment la Formule 1, l’UFC et des compétitions mondiales de football, et de l’écosystème global du sport renforçant ainsi sa capacité à évoluer dans des environnements internationaux exigeants et à haute performance.

Aïcha est titulaire d’un Master en Sport & Lifestyle Management de la Rome Business School, ainsi que d’une licence en administration des affaires. Son parcours académique et professionnel lui confère une compréhension approfondie des écosystèmes sportifs, des dynamiques organisationnelles et de l’engagement des publics, contribuant ainsi aux ambitions de Rugby Afrique d’élargir son influence et son impact à travers le continent.

Herbert Mensah, Président de Rugby Afrique, a déclaré : « Nous sommes ravis d’accueillir Aïcha Diop au sein de Rugby Afrique. Son parcours exceptionnel, son exposition internationale et sa compréhension approfondie des enjeux sportifs et commerciaux font d’elle un atout remarquable pour notre équipe dirigeante. Attirer des talents de ce niveau reflète notre ambition d’élever le rugby africain et de positionner Rugby Afrique comme une organisation moderne et performante sur la scène mondiale. »

Aïcha Diop a ajouté : « C’est un grand honneur de rejoindre Rugby Afrique à un moment aussi passionnant pour le développement du sport sur le continent. Sous la direction du Président Herbert Mensah, Rugby Afrique joue un rôle de plus en plus important tant en Afrique qu’à l’échelle mondiale. Les succès du rugby africain, illustrés par les victoires de l’Afrique du Sud à la Coupe du Monde de Rugby en 1995, 2007, 2019 et plus récemment en 2023, témoignent de l’immense potentiel du continent. Je me réjouis de contribuer à cette dynamique, de soutenir la mise en œuvre des priorités stratégiques de Rugby Afrique et de collaborer avec ses parties prenantes afin de renforcer le rôle du rugby comme levier d’opportunités, d’unité et de développement durable en Afrique. »

Dans le cadre de ses fonctions de Chief of Staff, Aïcha travaillera en étroite collaboration avec le Président pour piloter les initiatives stratégiques, renforcer la coordination entre les fédérations membres et les parties prenantes, et soutenir la mise en œuvre de la vision à long terme de Rugby Afrique, notamment à travers l’expansion continue des compétitions, des partenariats et de l’engagement des jeunes sur le continent.

Distribué par APO Group pour Rugby Africa.

Contact presse :
Nicole Vervelde
Responsable de la communication
nicole.vervelde@rugbyafrique.com

À propos de Rugby Afrique :
Rugby Afrique (www.RugbyAfrique.com) est l’organe directeur du rugby en Afrique et l’une des associations régionales affiliées à World Rugby. Elle regroupe tous les pays africains pratiquant le rugby à XV, le rugby à sept et le rugby féminin. Rugby Afrique organise diverses compétitions, notamment les tournois de qualification pour la Coupe du Monde de Rugby et le Championnat d’Afrique de rugby à sept, une compétition de qualification pour les Jeux Olympiques. Composée de 39 unions membres, Rugby Afrique est dédiée à la promotion et au développement du rugby à travers le continent. Le Ghana, le Nigéria et la Zambie font partie des six nations émergentes connaissant une forte croissance dans le rugby.

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Rugby Africa Appoints Former National Basketball Association (NBA) Africa Executive Aïcha Diop as Chief of Staff to the President

Source: APO

Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com), the continental governing body for rugby union in Africa, is pleased to announce the appointment of former NBA Africa executive Aïcha Diop as Chief of Staff to the President.

In this strategic leadership role, Aïcha Diop will work and support  Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa, Executive Board Member of World Rugby, and Chairman of World Rugby Regions—the body uniting the presidents of all six continental rugby associations: Rugby Europe, Asia Rugby, Rugby Americas North (RAN), Sudamérica Rugby, Oceania Rugby, and Rugby Africa. In his capacity, Mr Mensah operates at the intersection of continental and global sports governance, engaging with heads of state, ministers, and leaders of development finance institutions to advance the role of sport as an engine for economic growth and social development. These combined mandates place him among the most influential sports administrators in Africa.

A seasoned international executive, Aïcha brings over 18 years of experience across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North America, combining strategic leadership, operational execution, and high-level expertise in marketing, brand development, and audience growth. She has held senior roles at NBA Africa and the Basketball Africa League, part of the team who launched the Basketball Africa League (BAL) where she led multi-market initiatives, coordinated cross-functional teams, and contributed to the growth and visibility of the organisation through impactful campaigns and programmes.

Her career also includes senior positions at IBM, where she managed regional initiatives across multiple African markets, aligning strategy with execution and supporting business growth. In addition, she has been involved in the delivery of major international sports and entertainment events, including Formula 1, UFC, and global football competitions, and broader sports ecosystem on the continent further strengthening her ability to operate in high-performance, international environments.

Aïcha holds a Master’s degree in Sport & Lifestyle Management from Rome Business School, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Her combined academic and professional background provides a strong understanding of sports ecosystems, organisational dynamics, and audience engagement, supporting Rugby Africa’s ambitions to expand its reach and impact across the continent.

Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Aïcha Diop to Rugby Africa. Her exceptional track record, international exposure, and deep understanding of the sports and commercial landscape make her a remarkable addition to our leadership team. Attracting talent of this calibre reflects our ambition to elevate rugby across Africa and position Rugby Africa as a modern, high-performance organisation on the global stage.”

Aïcha Diop added: “It is a great honour to join Rugby Africa at such an exciting time for the sport across the continent. Under the leadership of President Herbert Mensah, Rugby Africa is playing an increasingly important role on both the African and global stage. The continued success of African rugby, exemplified by South Africa’s Rugby World Cup victories in 1995, 2007, 2019, and most recently in 2023, reflects the immense potential of the continent. I look forward to contributing to this momentum, supporting the delivery of Rugby Africa’s strategic priorities, and working alongside its stakeholders to further unlock the power of rugby as a driver of opportunity, unity, and sustainable development across Africa.”

In her role as Chief of Staff, Aïcha will work closely with the President to drive strategic initiatives, enhance coordination across member unions and stakeholders, and support the delivery of Rugby Africa’s long-term vision, including the continued expansion of competitions, partnerships, and youth engagement across the continent.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa.

Media Contact:
Nicole Vervelde
Communications Manager
nicole.vervelde@rugbyafrique.com

About Rugby Africa:
Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) is the governing body of rugby in Africa and one of the regional associations under World Rugby. It unites all African countries that play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women’s rugby. Rugby Africa organises various competitions, including qualifying tournaments for the Rugby World Cup and the Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. With 40 member unions, Rugby Africa is dedicated to promoting and developing rugby across the continent. World Rugby has identified Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia as three of the six emerging nations experiencing strong growth in rugby.

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Government condemns vandalism of road infrastructure

Source: Government of South Africa

Government condemns vandalism of road infrastructure

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has strongly condemned the destruction and vandalism of public road infrastructure and indicated that it is a criminal offence.

This follows acts of destruction and vandalism along the (R550) Heidelberg–Alberton route in the vicinity of Zonkizizwe and Palm Ridge in the City of Ekurhuleni during the ongoing service delivery protest.

Protesting community members deliberately dug up and damaged sections of the road, leading to its closure.

The MEC has appealed to communities to refrain from committing these acts and indicated that “damage, theft and vandalism of road infrastructure is clearly defined as a criminal offence under the Gauteng Transport Infrastructure Act (2001).”

“While the right to peaceful protest is constitutionally protected, as the Department of Roads and Transport, we denounce these criminal acts as reckless, unlawful, and unacceptable. 

“They endanger lives, damage much-needed public infrastructure and disrupt economic activity. These acts pose a security risk and lead to disruptions in the movement of goods, emergency services, public transport operations and broader economic activity,” she said.

The Gauteng Transport Infrastructure Act (2001) clearly defines theft and vandalism to road infrastructure as a criminal offence. 

In terms of Section 52 (d) of the Act, no person or institution, including any organ of state, may, unless authorised, damage a provincial road or any transport infrastructure, or spill fuel, chemicals, or gas on such infrastructure in a manner that may cause damage.

Public infrastructure destruction also places unnecessary financial burden on the provincial coffers through costly repairs and restoration work.

“The cost of repairing vandalised infrastructure places unnecessary pressure on public finances and delays projects intended to improve road safety and public transport services. 

“The destruction and theft of transport infrastructure is not a victimless crime. It affects every commuter, every motorist, and every community that depends on safe and reliable roads and public transport systems,” the MEC said.

The department has urged motorists to avoid using the (R550) Heidelberg–Alberton route until further notice. 

They are advised to use alternative routes until further appraisal by law enforcement authorities and technical teams assessing the situation.

Therefore, the department calls on community leaders, protest organisers, and residents to pursue lawful and peaceful engagement with government structures in addressing grievances, without endangering lives or damaging infrastructure intended to serve communities.

Road users are specifically advised to approach the area with caution or make use of alternative routes, where possible.

Diale-Tlabela has called for closer collaboration between the department, communities, law-enforcement authorities, and stakeholders to identify those responsible and hold them to account.

She has also instructed maintenance teams to secure the affected area, assess the damage, and resume restoration work to facilitate safe mobility. –SAnews.gov.za

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La Global Africa Business Initiative fait passer ses Digital and Health Action Pathways à la vitesse supérieure pour accélérer la transformation économique du continent

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

La Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI) (https://GABI.UNGlobalCompact.org) vient de faire passer ses nouvelles Digital and Health Action Pathways à la vitesse supérieure afin d’accélérer la transformation économique du continent grâce à l’identification et à la promotion de solutions aux problèmes qui ralentissent le progrès.

Convoqué en marge de l’Africa CEO Forum à Kigali, au Rwanda, le 15 mai, le GABI Solutions Lab a mis au défi certains des principaux chefs d’entreprise africains d’élaborer un plan de travail ambitieux et réalisable pour surmonter les obstacles qui freinent les progrès du continent.

« L’Afrique n’est pas confrontée à une pénurie d’idées, mais à un déficit important d’exécution et de financement nécessaire pour déployer des solutions à grande échelle », a déclaré Sanda Ojiambo, sous-secrétaire générale et directrice générale du Pacte mondial des Nations unies. « Le GABI Solutions Lab a été une session de travail ciblée au cours de laquelle des dirigeants des secteurs public et privé ont élaboré conjointement des solutions concrètes, des partenariats structurés bancables et des axes de financement viables pouvant être déployés immédiatement. L’objectif est de veiller à ce que les engagements se traduisent par des résultats mesurables et concrets à grande échelle. »

Les Action Pathways de la GABI pour la transformation numérique et la santé ont été lancés lors de l’événement Unstoppable Africa en septembre dernier par une coalition de dirigeants africains et mondiaux engagés à passer de l’idéation à l’exécution. Le Solutions Lab à Kigali a fait progresser et connecté ces deux axes, en utilisant la technologie numérique dans le domaine de la santé comme test pratique pour relever le défi plus large de l’apport de capitaux privés dans les infrastructures d’intérêt public à grande échelle. En tant que co-architectes de solutions, les participants ont travaillé sur les conditions spécifiques qui rendraient chaque défi bancable et réalisable, en s’appuyant sur des scénarios concrets présentés par des dirigeants des secteurs public et privé.

Parmi les principaux thèmes abordés figurent la manière d’accélérer les investissements dans les infrastructures publiques numériques, la connectivité, les compétences et la gouvernance afin que l’IA devienne un catalyseur du développement de l’Afrique ; la question de la réduction du délai d’adoption de solutions d’infrastructure éprouvées ; et le déploiement de modèles de financement soutenant des infrastructures numériques souveraines à grande échelle sur plusieurs marchés africains.

Caitlin Burton, CEO de la société d’IA et de robotique Zipline Africa, basée au Rwanda, a souligné la nécessité d’aller au-delà des programmes pilotes vers la mise en œuvre à grande échelle de technologies éprouvées : « Dans une grande partie de l’Afrique, l’adoption se fait toujours au rythme des cycles d’aide traditionnels et des calendriers de mise en œuvre du secteur public plutôt qu’à la vitesse du déploiement des technologies modernes. Nous avons besoin de modèles de financement, de mesures incitatives, de mécanismes de responsabilisation et de partenariats capables de compresser le calendrier d’adoption d’infrastructures éprouvées de plusieurs décennies à quelques années, et de générer une plus grande urgence d’action ».

Kate Kallot, fondatrice et CEO d’Amini, une société d’infrastructure de données basée au Kenya, a souligné l’importance d’une infrastructure d’IA souveraine et du renforcement des capacités numériques sur l’ensemble du continent : « Beaucoup de développeurs et de créateurs sur l’ensemble du continent ne disposent pas des outils ni de l’accès nécessaires pour élaborer des solutions qui reflètent les réalités locales. Le manque de données est un symptôme d’une fracture numérique beaucoup plus profonde, notamment causée par une connectivité limitée et des infrastructures disparates. Le défi consiste désormais à déployer des modèles de financement pour des infrastructures numériques souveraines à grande échelle, sur plusieurs marchés, d’une manière qui permettra aux gouvernements et aux citoyens de disposer de capacités réelles au cours des 12 prochains mois ».

Le ministre nigérian des Communications et de l’Économie numérique, Bosun Tijani, s’est exprimé sur la vitesse d’adoption de l’IA : « Sans une connectivité pertinente, des personnes qualifiées et des systèmes de gouvernance capables de soutenir l’adoption à grande échelle, nous risquons d’accumuler notre retard. Le véritable défi n’est pas de savoir si l’Afrique adoptera l’IA, mais si nous avons construit la capacité d’absorption nécessaire pour transformer nos économies et nos secteurs clés ».

Des dirigeants de la Fondation Aig-Imoukhuede, Afreximbank, Ecobank, McKinsey, PMI, mPedigree, ServiceNow, Safaricom et des Nations unies ont également répondu présent pour alimenter le débat sur la transformation.

La GABI, qui souffle cette année sa cinquième bougie, est une plateforme mondiale qui rassemble des chefs d’entreprise, des décideurs politiques et des investisseurs afin de stimuler la croissance économique de l’Afrique. L’initiative est construite sur une prémisse simple : le potentiel de l’Afrique est concrétisé lorsque l’ambition publique est en phase avec les capitaux privés, et cet objectif est atteint lorsque l’Afrique devient un acteur commercial à part entière.

Unstoppable Africa, l’événement phare de la GABI, se tiendra au Marriott Marquis à New York les 20 et 21 septembre. Suivez toute l’actualité sur la chaîne YouTube d’Unstoppable Africa (http://apo-opa.co/4nO8nOz).

Pour plus d’informations sur la Global Africa Business Initiative, visitez GABI.UnglobalCompact.org/. 

Distribué par APO Group pour Global Africa Business Initiative.

Relations avec les médias :
Ekene Nwakonobi
Ekene.nwakonobi@apo-opa.com

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Global Africa Business Initiative shifts Digital and Health Action Pathways into higher gear to accelerate continent’s economic transformation

Source: APO

The Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI) (https://GABI.UNGlobalCompact.org) has shifted its new Digital and Health Action Pathways into a higher gear in order to accelerate the continent’s economic transformation by identifying and driving solutions to problems that slow progress.

Convening on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda on 15 May, the GABI Solutions Lab challenged some of Africa’s top business leaders to develop an ambitious, actionable work plan to overcome the roadblocks holding the continent back.

“Africa does not face a shortage of ideas, but a significant gap in execution and the financing required to scale solutions,” said Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the United Nations Global Compact. “The GABI Solutions Lab was a focused working session where public and private sector leaders co-developed practical solutions, structured bankable partnerships, and unlocked viable financing pathways that can be advanced immediately.  The aim is to ensure that commitments are translated into measurable, real-world outcomes at scale,” she added.

The GABI Action Pathways for Digital Transformation and Health were launched at Unstoppable Africa last September by a coalition of African and global leaders committed to advancing transformation from aspiration to delivery. The Solutions Lab in Kigali advanced and connected those two pathways, using digital technology in health as a practical test case for the broader challenge of bringing private capital into public-interest infrastructure at scale. As co-architects of solutions, participants worked through the specific conditions that would make each challenge bankable and implementable, drawing on real-world scenarios presented by public and private sector leaders.

Among the key discussion themes were how to accelerate investment in digital public infrastructure, connectivity, skills, and governance to ensure that AI becomes a force multiplier for African development; how to reduce the adoption timeline for proven infrastructure solutions; and how to deploy financing models for sovereign digital infrastructure at scale across multiple African markets.

Caitlin Burton, CEO of AI and robotics company Zipline Africa, headquartered in Rwanda, highlighted the need to move beyond pilot programmes towards the scaled implementation of proven technologies. “Across much of Africa, adoption is still moving at the pace of traditional aid cycles and public sector implementation timelines rather than the speed of modern technology deployment. We need financing models, incentives, accountability mechanisms, and partnerships that can collapse the adoption timeline for proven infrastructure from decades to years and create greater urgency for action,” she said.

Kate Kallot, Founder and CEO of Kenya-based data infrastructure company, Amini, emphasized the importance of sovereign AI infrastructure and digital capability development across the continent, saying, “Many developers and builders across the continent lack the tools or access required to build solutions that reflect local realities. The lack of data is a symptom of a much larger digital divide, including limited connectivity and infrastructure gaps. The challenge now is how to deploy financing models for sovereign digital infrastructure at scale, across multiple markets, in a way that delivers real capability into the hands of governments and citizens within the next 12 months.”

Nigeria’s Federal Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani, spoke about the speed of AI adoption. “Without meaningful connectivity, skilled people, and governance systems that can support adoption at scale, we risk falling further behind. The real challenge is not whether Africa will adopt AI, but whether we have built the absorptive capacity required to use it to transform our economies and key sectors,” he said.

Senior industry leaders from the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Afreximbank, Ecobank, McKinsey, PMI, mPedigree, ServiceNow, Safaricom, and the United Nations were also present to drive the transformation conversation.

Now in its fifth year, GABI is a global platform that brings together business leaders, policymakers, and investors to drive Africa’s economic growth. It is built on a simple premise: Africa’s potential is unlocked when public ambition aligns with private capital — and that happens by doing business with Africa, not just in Africa.

Unstoppable Africa, GABI’s flagship event, will take place at the Marriott Marquis in New York on 20-21 September. Follow the latest developments at Unstoppable Africa – YouTube (http://apo-opa.co/4nO8nOz).

For more information on the Global Africa Business Initiative, visit GABI.UNGlobalCompact.org/. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Global Africa Business Initiative.

Media Enquiries:
Ekene Nwakonobi
Ekene.nwakonobi@apo-opa.com

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A Global Africa Business Initiative coloca as Vias de Ação Digital e de Saúde numa velocidade superior para acelerar a transformação económica do continente

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

A Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI) (https://GABI.UNGlobalCompact.org) acelerou as suas novas Vias de Ação Digital e de Saúde, a fim de acelerar a transformação económica do continente, identificando e impulsionando soluções para os problemas que atrasam o progresso.

Reunido à margem do Fórum de CEOs de África em Kigali, Ruanda, a 15 de maio, o Laboratório de Soluções da GABI desafiou alguns dos principais líderes empresariais de África a desenvolverem um plano de trabalho ambicioso e útil para ultrapassar os obstáculos que impedem o continente de avançar.

“África não enfrenta uma escassez de ideias, mas sim uma lacuna significativa na execução e no financiamento necessário para escalar as soluções”, afirmou Sanda Ojiambo, Secretário-Geral Adjunto e Diretor Executivo do Pacto Global das Nações Unidas. “O Laboratório de Soluções da GABI foi uma sessão de trabalho orientada em que os líderes dos setores público e privado codesenvolveram soluções práticas, estruturaram parcerias financeiramente atrativas e desbloquearam vias de financiamento viáveis que podem ser avançadas imediatamente.  O objetivo é garantir que os compromissos se traduzam em resultados mensuráveis e reais à escala real”, acrescentou.

As Vias de Ação da GABI para a Transformação Digital e a Saúde foram lançadas em Unstoppable Africa, em setembro último, por uma coligação de líderes africanos e mundiais empenhados em fazer avançar a transformação desde a aspiração à concretização. O Laboratório de Soluções em Kigali avançou e ligou estes dois caminhos, utilizando a tecnologia digital na saúde como um caso de teste prático para o desafio mais vasto de trazer o capital privado para infraestruturas de interesse público à escala. Como coarquitetos de soluções, os participantes trabalharam nas condições específicas que tornariam cada desafio financiável e implementável, com base em cenários do mundo real apresentados por líderes dos setores público e privado.

Entre os principais temas de discussão estavam a forma de acelerar o investimento em infraestruturas públicas digitais, conetividade, competências e governação para garantir que a IA se torne um multiplicador de forças para o desenvolvimento africano; como reduzir o prazo de adoção de soluções de infraestruturas comprovadas e como implementar modelos de financiamento para infraestruturas digitais soberanas à escala em vários mercados africanos.

Caitlin Burton, diretora executiva da empresa de IA e robótica Zipline Africa, com sede no Ruanda, salientou a necessidade de ir além dos programas-piloto e avançar para a implementação em escala de tecnologias comprovadas. “Em grande parte de África, a adoção continua a ser feita ao ritmo dos ciclos tradicionais de ajuda e dos calendários de implementação do setor público, e não à velocidade da implantação de tecnologias modernas. Precisamos de modelos de financiamento, incentivos, mecanismos de responsabilização e parcerias que possam reduzir o prazo de adoção de infraestruturas comprovadas de décadas para anos e criar uma maior urgência de ação”, afirmou.

Kate Kallot, fundadora e CEO da Amini, empresa de infraestruturas de dados sediada no Quénia, salientou a importância de infraestruturas soberanas de IA e do desenvolvimento de capacidades digitais em todo o continente, afirmando: “Muitos programadores e construtores em todo o continente não dispõem das ferramentas ou do acesso necessários para criar soluções que reflitam as realidades locais. A falta de dados é um sintoma de um fosso digital muito maior, que inclui conetividade limitada e lacunas nas infraestruturas. O desafio agora é saber como implementar modelos de financiamento para infraestruturas digitais soberanas à escala, em vários mercados, de forma a proporcionar uma verdadeira capacidade nas mãos dos governos e dos cidadãos nos próximos 12 meses.”

O Ministro Federal das Comunicações e da Economia Digital da Nigéria, Bosun Tijani, falou sobre a rapidez da adoção da IA. “Sem uma conetividade significativa, pessoas qualificadas e sistemas de governação que possam apoiar a adoção em grande escala, corremos o risco de ficar ainda mais para trás. O verdadeiro desafio não é saber se África vai adotar a IA, mas sim se criámos a capacidade de absorção necessária para a utilizar para transformar as nossas economias e setores-chave”, afirmou.

Líderes sénior do setor da Fundação Aig-Imoukhuede, Afreximbank, Ecobank, McKinsey, PMI, mPedigree, ServiceNow, Safaricom e das Nações Unidas também estiveram presentes para conduzir a conversa sobre transformação.

Agora no seu quinto ano, a GABI é uma plataforma global que reúne líderes empresariais, decisores políticos e investidores para impulsionar o crescimento económico de África. Baseia-se numa premissa simples: O potencial de África é desbloqueado quando a ambição pública se alinha com o capital privado – e isso acontece quando se faz negócio com África e não apenas em África.

Unstoppable Africa, o principal evento da GABI, terá lugar no Marriott Marquis, em Nova Iorque, a 20 e 21 de setembro. Acompanhe os últimos desenvolvimentos em Unstoppable Africa – YouTube (http://apo-opa.co/4nO8nOz).

Para mais informações sobre a Global Africa Business Initiative, visite GABI.UnglobalCompact.org/. 

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Global Africa Business Initiative.

Questões à Comunicação Social:
Ekene Nwakonobi
Ekene.nwakonobi@apo-opa.com

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Le Conseil d’Administration du Prix Al-Sumait pour le Développement de l’Afrique annonce le lauréat pour l’année 2025 ; Le prix a été décerné à une institution africaine et à un chercheur dans le domaine de la sécurité alimentaire

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Le Conseil d’Administration du Prix Al-Sumait pour le Développement de l’Afrique, présidé par Son Excellence le Ministre des Affaires Etrangères, Cheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Sabah, a annoncé que le Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo (CIMMYT) a remporté le prix Al-Sumait 2025 dans le domaine de la sécurité alimentaire, qui reconnaît les organisations dont le travail a eu un impact transformateur et salvateur en Afrique. Cette distinction célèbre les décennies de contributions scientifiques du CIMMYT à la sécurité alimentaire, à la résilience agricole et aux moyens de subsistance de millions de petits agriculteurs à travers le continent.

Selon le Conseil d’Administration, le CIMMYT, dirigé par son Directeur Général Bart Govaerts, a remporté le prix pour les contributions du CIMMYT à l’amélioration génétique des cultures de base telles que le maïs et le blé, qui ont eu un effet transformateur sur la sécurité alimentaire et la résilience des petits agriculteurs et de leurs proches. Le CIMMYT a œuvré pendant plus de cinq décennies pour transformer l’innovation scientifique en impact humanitaire réel. Grâce au développement et à la mise à l’échelle de variétés de cultures tolérantes au stress (y compris le maïs tolérant à la sécheresse et le blé résistant au climat), l’organisation a aidé les communautés agricoles à survivre et à se remettre de catastrophes, comme les sécheresses, les inondations et les épidémies de ravageurs. Rien qu’en 2025, le CIMMYT a aidé des dizaines de milliers d’agriculteurs africains à planter des cultures résilientes pour résister aux effets d’El Niño, démontrant ainsi le lien direct entre la science agricole et la réponse humanitaire.

Le Conseil d’Administration a ajouté que le CIMMYT est un lauréat distingué, et que peu d’organisations égalent son excellence et son rayon d’influence dans l’écosystème agricole africain. Sa mission, « Science et innovation pour un monde sûr en matière d’alimentation et de nutrition », est parfaitement en phase avec les objectifs du prix Al-Sumait. Les réalisations du CIMMYT en matière de recherche sur le maïs et le blé sur l’ensemble du continent représentent une contribution énorme et durable à la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle en Afrique.

De son côté, la Fondation Koweïtienne pour l’Avancement des Sciences (KFAS), qui supervise le prix, a déclaré que le CIMMYT, lauréat du prix, a démontré un impact positif à long terme et a introduit des programmes innovants pour de nombreux africains, en plus de sa réponse créative aux problèmes et défis de sécurité alimentaire.

La KFAS a également ajouté que, par le biais de ce prix, l’État du Koweït a aidé les organisations travaillant en Afrique et pour l’Afrique à se distinguer par leurs projets et programmes exemplaires et efficaces, sans parler de leur dévouement à renforcer la sécurité alimentaire des communautés à travers l’Afrique. Selon la KFAS, le prix a reçu 81 nominations de 27 pays pour l’année concernée.

Il convient de noter que le prix Al-Sumait annuel pour le développement de l’Afrique a été lancé à la noble initiative de feu l’émir Cheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, qu’Allah lui fasse miséricorde, lors du Sommet Afro-Arabe organisé par le Koweït en 2013. Le lancement du prix est venu en l’honneur du regretté Dr Abdul Rahman Al-Sumait, le médecin koweïtien qui a consacré sa vie à relever les défis liés à la santé, à l’éducation et à la sécurité alimentaire auxquels l’Afrique est confrontée.

Le prix vise à reconnaître et à apprécier les meilleures études, projets scientifiques, recherches appliquées et initiatives qui ont un impact significatif sur l’avancement des ressources économiques, sociales et humaines et le développement des infrastructures sur le continent africain.

Le cycle actuel du prix Al Sumait se concentre sur l’éducation, vise à reconnaître et à apprécier les meilleures études, projets scientifiques, recherches appliquées et initiatives à fort impact pour l’avancement du développement économique, social, des ressources humaines et des infrastructures sur le continent africain. Les candidatures seront acceptées jusqu’au 31 août 2026.

Pour plus d’informations sur les candidatures, veuillez consulter le site web du prix Al-Sumait (www.AlSumaitPrize.org) ou contacter : info@alsumaitprize.org.

Distribué par APO Group pour Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS).

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The Board of Trustees of the Al-Sumait Prize for African Development announces the award winner for the year 2025; It has been awarded to an African institution and researcher in the field of food security

Source: APO

The Board of Trustees of Al-Sumait Prize for African Development, chaired by His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Sabah, announced that Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo (CIMMYT) won the 2025 Al-Sumait Prize in the field of food security which recognizes organizations whose work has produced transformative, life-saving impact in Africa. This distinction celebrates CIMMYT’s decades of science-driven contributions to food security, agricultural resilience, and the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers across the continent.

According to the Board of Trustees, CIMMYT, led by its Director General Bart Govaerts,  won the Prize for CIMMYT’s contributions to the genetic improvement of staple crops such as maize and wheat have had a transformative effect on food security and resilience for smallholder farmers and their families. CIMMYT has worked for more than five decades to turn scientific innovation into real-world humanitarian impact. Through the development and scaling of stress-tolerant crop varieties (including drought-tolerant maize and climate-resilient wheat) the organization has helped farming communities survive and recover from shocks such as droughts, floods, and pest outbreaks. In 2025 alone, CIMMYT supported tens of thousands of African farmers in planting climate-resilient crops to withstand the effects of El Niño, demonstrating the direct link between agricultural science and humanitarian response.

The Board added  that CIMMYT is a distinguished and worthy laureate, with few organizations equaling its pedigree or scale of influence within Africa’s agricultural landscape. Its mission, “Science and innovation for a food and nutrition secure world,” aligns directly with the objectives of the Al-Sumait Prize. CIMMYT’s achievements in maize and wheat research across the continent represent an enormous and lasting contribution to food and nutrition security in Africa.

On its part, Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), which supervises the Prize, stated that CIMMYT, winner of the Prize, has demonstrated a long-term positive impact and introduced innovative programs for many Africans, in addition to its creative response to food security issues and challenges.

KFAS also added that, through this Prize, the State of Kuwait has aided organizations working in and for Africa to distinguish themselves through their exemplary and effective projects and programs, not to mention their dedication to improving food security for communities across Africa. According to KFAS, the Prize, the current year, received 81 nominations from 27 countries.

It is noteworthy that the annual Al-Sumait Prize for African Development was launched at the noble initiative of the late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may Allah rest his soul, during the Arab African Summit hosted by Kuwait in 2013. Launching the Prize came in honor of the late Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sumait, the Kuwaiti doctor who devoted his life to address the challenges related to health, education and food security facing Africa.

The Prize aims to recognize and appreciate the best studies, scientific projects, applied research and initiatives that have a significant impact on the advancement of economic, social and human resources and the development of infrastructure on the African continent.

The current cycle of the Al Sumait Prize focus on Education, aims to recognize and appreciate the best studies, scientific projects, applied research, and initiatives with high impact for the advancement of economic, social, human resources, and infrastructure development in the African continent. Nominations will be accepted until August 31st, 2026.

For more applications information, please visit Al-Sumait Prize’s website (www.AlSumaitPrize.org) or contact the following email: info@alsumaitprize.org.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS).

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