MIL Africa Engine

Source: APO

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The Government of Croatia has made its first contribution to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Algeria to assist Sahrawi refugees. Croatia’s contribution of €70,000 (US$82,000) will help WFP provide monthly life-saving food assistance to more than 133,000 vulnerable beneficiaries living in camps near Tindouf.

This donation comes at a critical time when funding shortfalls threaten assistance for one of the world’s most protracted refugee crises. WFP welcomes Croatia’s commitment and looks forward to strengthening this partnership.

In the remote desert camps near Tindouf, where Sahrawi refugees have lived since 1975, WFP’s assistance remains a lifeline. More than 80 per cent of the population relies entirely on humanitarian aid to meet their basic food needs. Through its partnership with the Algerian Red Crescent, WFP distributes monthly food rations tailored to nutritional needs, while increasingly prioritising programmes that include Social Behaviour Change (SBC) initiatives addressing malnutrition among children and pregnant women and promoting better nutrition practices.

“We sincerely thank the Government of Croatia for standing with Sahrawi refugees and for their commitment to humanitarian action,” said Aline Rumonge, WFP Representative and Country Director in Algeria. “We also extend our appreciation to His Excellency, the Ambassador of Croatia in Algeria, whose efforts were instrumental in making this partnership a reality. This contribution provides vital resources to deliver life-saving food assistance and strengthen the efficiency of our operations in the camps.”

“It is with great pleasure and honour that I welcomed my government’s decision to recognise the need to assist the Sahrawi refugees in Tindouf. This gesture reflects and confirms the excellent relationship between the Croatian Embassy and WFP in Algiers, a partnership of which I am particularly proud. I sincerely hope that this beginning of cooperation between the Government of Croatia and WFP will continue and develop successfully in the future,” said Croatian Ambassador to Algeria, Ilija Želalić.

In 2025, WFP provided more than 22,000 metric tonnes of food to 133,000 beneficiaries including 8,600 pregnant and breastfeeding women with monthly cash-based transfers to improve dietary diversity and reduce anaemia. WFP also distributed specialised nutritious food to prevent and treat moderate acute malnutrition among 15,000 children under five.

WFP Algeria is committed to expanding collaboration with both traditional and emerging government donors. WFP has supported the Sahrawi refugees in Algeria since 1986. Its operations in the country are carried out and monitored in coordination with national and international organisations to ensure food assistance reaches those who need it most.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

Source: APO

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“Africa’s livestock sector already contributes over USD 210 billion annually, yet we continue to import products we could produce ourselves. The question is whether we will seize the billion-dollar opportunity before us.” This message from Dr Huyam Salih, Director of AU-IBAR, framed the urgency of transforming Africa’s livestock systems during the panel discussion on “Resilience in the Animal Industry” at the ICC Kenya Business Summit 2026 in Nairobi. 

Her remarks highlighted a central contradiction in Africa’s development trajectory: while the continent has one of the world’s largest livestock populations, its systems remain fragmented, underinvested in, and insufficiently integrated into competitive regional and global markets.

Building Systems to Enable Transformation

The livestock panel was part of a comprehensive summit programme that addressed the structural foundations required for Africa’s economic transformation. Sessions explored sustainable agriculture, precision farming, digital trade, sustainable finance, and green infrastructure, emphasising the need to move beyond production toward integrated, market-driven systems. Speakers highlighted the importance of strengthening agricultural value chains, improving access to finance, digitising trade systems, and mobilising private investment. These discussions reinforced that Africa’s competitiveness will depend on its ability to connect production systems with efficient markets, modern infrastructure, and coordinated investment frameworks. 

Digital transformation was identified as a critical enabler, helping to reduce trade complexity, improve transparency, and expand market participation, while discussions on sustainable finance emphasised partnerships among governments, financial institutions, and investors to unlock large-scale agricultural and infrastructure investment.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).

Source: APO

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The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education have established a joint task force to align existing health training programmes with national priorities, following a high-level strategic meeting hosted by Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale and attended by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba.

The task force will map current training programmes against national health needs, recommend immediate reforms, and develop a clear implementation roadmap with defined milestones aimed at strengthening the country’s health workforce.

The engagement focused on ensuring that Kenya’s health training systems produce skilled human resources capable of delivering the constitutional right to the highest attainable standard of health under Article 43(1)(a), marking a significant step towards aligning training outputs with national healthcare demands.

Discussions also highlighted ongoing health sector reforms under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda, including the Digital Superhighway initiative, which is integrating health services nationwide to enhance service delivery and address the challenge of unqualified medical practitioners within the system.

The meeting underscored the central role of human resources for health as the backbone of sector expansion and a shared responsibility between the health and education sectors. Participants explored sustainable strategies to support training institutions in designing and delivering programmes that reflect the country’s disease burden and service delivery priorities.

Both Ministries reaffirmed their commitment to competency-based, harmonised and responsive health training, aimed at strengthening the linkage between education systems and population health needs as a key pillar in realising the constitutional right to health for every Kenyan.

The initiative is aligned with the Government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which prioritises equitable healthcare delivery and the accelerated nationwide implementation of Universal Health Coverage.

Principal Secretaries Mary Muthoni (Public Health and Professional Standards) and Beatrice Muganda (Higher Education and Research), Director-General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth, and technical heads from both Ministries also attended the meeting.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.

Source: APO

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In his welcome address, the Resident Representative highlighted the Office’s nationwide sensitization efforts across 12 districts in Sierra Leone, aligned with ECOWAS Vision 2050 and the Community’s 50th Anniversary activities. He emphasized the importance of enhancing public awareness on the role of the three Arms of the Community Regional Governance Structure, including the Court, and ECOWAS institutions, while noting the need for careful handling of issues relating to Court judgments given their sensitive and political nature.

The President of the ECCJ expressed appreciation for the warm reception and institutional support. He underscored the importance of strengthened communication and collaboration between the Community Court and the Representative Office, noting that both institutions form part of the same ECOWAS framework. He encouraged the integration of Court information materials into district outreach activities to enhance public understanding of the Court’s mandate, particularly in relation to the protection of human rights and the rule of law within the Community.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to sustained cooperation and enhanced institutional visibility in Sierra Leone.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO – Report:

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The micro-credit and saving program in Teseney sub-zone reported that last year 24.7 million Nakfa was disbursed to 1,350 customers in the sub-zone.

Mr. Tadese Mebrahtu, head of the program in the sub-zone, noted that the main objective and mission of the program is to enable citizens in remote areas to access loans and improve their livelihoods, and that many have become beneficiaries of the program.

Mr. Tadese indicated that there are about 11,498 beneficiaries of the program at individual and group levels in 51 administrative areas and about 200 villages in the sub-zones of Teseney, Golij, Haikota and Forto-Sawa, who are mostly engaged in small trade, agriculture, and livestock development.

Mr. Tadese also said that 68% of the loans have been repaid by customers and called on others to repay their loans on time, as well as on area administrators to strengthen their contribution to the effort.

Mr. Lenin Okbaselasie, a member of the program, said that sustainable training programs on financial and material management are being provided to customers and called on others to take advantage of the opportunities the program offers.

– on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO – Report:

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A potable water project constructed at a cost of about 3 million Nakfa has been put in place in Gerger administrative area, Mensura sub-zone. The project was implemented in collaboration with the public and the Government.

At the inauguration ceremony held on 12 February, Mr. Hagos Mengisteab, administrator of the administrative area, said that the project will solve the potable water problem of residents in the villages of Gerger, Werchewa, Zereftai and Intitere.

Eng. Zerebruk Tekle, head of water development in the Gash Barka Region, said that the project, which operates with a solar system, includes a 9 km water pipeline, a water reservoir, and four water distribution centers. He also called on residents to use the project judiciously to ensure its sustainability.

Mr. Tadese Gebregergis, administrator of Mensura sub-zone, on his part said that efforts are being exerted to encourage the remaining villages in the sub-zone to follow the noble initiative to address their potable water problems. He also expressed appreciation for the initiative of the development committees in Gerger administrative area.

Gerger administrative area, which is home to over 700 residents, is one of the 10 administrative areas in Mensura sub-zone and is located 27 km south-west of Mensura.

– on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.