MIL Africa Engine

Download logo

The thriving, lively rural town of Totota, Bong County will never be the same, according to women beneficiaries of the Totota Peace Hut. “This town is growing and changing in terms of mentoring and improving the attitude, skills, and public-speaking confidence of women so we can reach to that height we all aspire to acquire in life,” said Annie G. Saah, 53, member of the peace hut and Chairlady of the One Voice Group.

“Our peace hut in Totota has helped in improving the lives of women and young girls. Through this peace hut, women and girls have gained valuable skills in literacy, computer training, group and individual farming, village savings and loan scheme as well as conflict resolution and mediation outreach at household and community-levels, and I am one such example. I have my individual potatoes garden, my house-side bag garden together with a group farm. We use the proceeds for our children’s tuition and other family needs,” added Annie G. Saah.

Annie, Miatta Borbor, and nearly 50 other women meet at the peace hut on a weekly basis to support one another in peacebuilding, literacy, computer skills, petty business management, and small-scale farming. “Thanks to UN Women, Plan International, Orange Foundation, and the Peacebuilding Fund for their support in giving women the skills they need to become marketable and active contributors not just to our families but also to the community of Totota,” said Miatta Borbor, a member of One Voice Group at the peace hut.

True to Annie and Miatta’s words on the empowerment of women, in November 2024, during an indoor programme at Totota Peace Hut in Bong County, visiting Peacebuilding Commission Chair and Sweden’s Ambassador to the UN in New York, Amb. Nicola Clase and delegation witnessed a life-changing moment. Three formerly illiterate women – Mary Sheriff, Gbentelo Kennedy, and Oretha Jallah – proudly demonstrated their peace hut-acquired literacy skills by writing their names and telephone numbers on paper to the admiration of the visitors. The audience applauded them for their literacy achievements. Ma Mary Sandiman, Chairlady of Totota Peace Hut, emphasized the need to continue the peace hut: “This peace hut must continue here so more women can learn to read and write and to enhance women’s unity so women themselves can drive the change they need.”

The vegetable gardens, small businesses, the conflict mediation roles, and the computer training have all had tremendous impact on women beneficiaries by enabling them to earn money, support their households, participate in public and community discussions, and enhance peaceful co-existence among people. Rev Fahnlon A. Mulbah, Coordinator of the Orange Digital Center (ODC) within the Totota Peace Hut, underscored the life-improving results of the peace hut and the ODC on young women. “Computer literacy is a globally required skills area especially for women and girls to earn income and advertise their work on phone and on a computer.” He disclosed that Grace Pope, a resident of Totota, acquired digital skills in the application of cell phone for business and started advertizing and doing Orange Mobile Money, and then relocated to Monrovia where she’s living and working.

The empowerment and results-oriented achievements at the Totota Peace Hut was made possible through the seamless collaboration among UN Women, Plan International, Government of Liberia, Orange Foundation, and other partners with funding from the UN Peacebuilding Fund. Each organization lent its own comparative advantage, garnered resources, and provided backstopping and technical inputs to make the peace hut functional and effective.

Peace huts across Liberia have become a useful model for driving rural women’s collective empowerment. According to UN Women, the women of Liberia gained national and international acclaim as champions of peace through their mass action campaign that pressured warring factions to agree to a peace settlement in 2003.  As part of this effort, the women, under the banner “Liberian Women Mass Action for Peace”, launched the Peace Hut model in 2004 to provide a space for community women to discuss issues of peace, including ongoing community and domestic violence. Since then, the Peace Huts have evolved into a multi-faceted platform that promotes gender equality and the empowerment of women especially in rural communities.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.

Download logo

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) announced the winners of the 2025 FAO Awards, recognizing organizations from Colombia, Egypt, and the Philippines, whose work has led to outstanding progress in building more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.

On Monday, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu presented the Champion Award and Partnership Award during the 44th FAO Ministerial Conference held in Rome.

“These Awards are more than an acknowledgment of achievements – they represent FAO’s core values and aspirations. The ceremony is a celebration of possibility and hope of what happens when commitment and innovation meet the urgent call to transform global agrifood systems,” he said.

The FAO Champion Award, the Organization’s highest corporate award, which carries a prize of USD 50,000 and recognizes significant and outstanding contributions towards advancing FAO’s overall goals, was conferred to la Confederación Mesa Nacional de Pesca Artesanal de Colombia (COMENALPAC), for its tangible results across organizational, social, economic and environmental dimensions, including championing social protection measures for fishers and played a key role in drafting laws against illegal fishing, thereby improving the welfare and rights of fishing communities.

Since 2017, COMENALPAC has represented over 800 groups of marine and freshwater fishers across Colombia. Its work has contributed to the design and implementation of key legislation, including Law 2268 of 2022, which guarantees social benefits for commercial and subsistence fishers.

Through an FAO–COMENALPAC partnership, the organization has strengthened fisher communities in Tumaco by eliminating intermediaries, increasing incomes, and promoting inclusive market opportunities. It has also led to the restoration of 83 wetlands, contributing to aquatic biodiversity and more sustainable food systems. The organization was further praised for helping secure the legal recognition of more than 120,000 fishers and for its role in incorporating the concept of “Aquatic Agrifood Ecosystems” into Colombia’s National Development Plan.

In addition, within the same category, a Special Mention was also awarded to Youth Uprising, a Philippine-based non-profit organization recognized for its intense engagement of young people in transforming agrifood systems.

The FAO Partnership Award — valued at USD 10,000 and recognizing outstanding cooperation with FAO in advancing the Organization’s work by its Members — was presented to The Egyptian Food Bank (EFB), the first Egypt NGO focused on addressing food insecurity, providing support to over 24 million people through comprehensive food assistance, nutrition, and empowerment programs.

Among the EFB’s most notable initiatives are the Community Nutrition Programme, the Ramadan Food Loss Initiative, and the Resilience Index Measurement and Analysis (RIMA). EFB’s programs have benefited over 150,000 families and more than 60,000 schoolchildren. Its work also includes capacity-building for small-scale producers and support to 1,200 farmers — particularly women — promoting sustainable agricultural practices and economic inclusion.

The FAO Director-General bestowed the awards to representatives of the organizations who attended the ceremony in person.

Adriana Rocío Cadena Cancino, Director of la Confederación Mesa Nacional de Pesca Artesanal de Colombia (COMENALPAC), received the Champion Award on behalf of the organization.

Mohsen Sarhan Ali Gamal Ali, Chief Executive Officer of The Egyptian Food Bank (EFB), accepted the Partnership Award on behalf of his organization.

“These awardees remind us that transformation is already happening and must accelerate. Let us continue working hand in hand for the transformation of global agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable,” Qu added in his closing remarks, with a reference to the FAO Four Betters – better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Download logo

On the morning of July 1, 2025, Aissatou, a young mother from Diamniadio, arrived early at the health center, her two-month-old baby snuggled against her. She hadn’t come for a routine consultation—today, her child was receiving the new hexavalent vaccine.

“Before, I was afraid of multiple injections for my baby. Today, the health workers explained to me that a single dose protects against six serious diseases. It’s reassuring to know that he’ll suffer less while being better protected,” confides Aissatou, gazing at her sleeping son.

Like her child, 640,000 infants are targeted this year by the new vaccination schedule. Thanks to the introduction of the hexavalent vaccine, they will be protected against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), and poliomyelitis—all in a single shot.

Behind this apparent simplification lies a long process of preparation. The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), with technical and financial support from partners such as Gavi and the World Health Organization (WHO), led an ambitious transition. WHO in particular trained nearly 6,000 health workers, ensured rigorous cold chain management (the vaccine must be kept between +2°C and +8°C), and deployed digital real-time monitoring tools.

“Hexavalent represents a qualitative leap for us vaccinators. A single injection means faster vaccination, less crying, and above all, greater protection,” explains Aminata, a vaccinator in Diamniadio.

1.6 million doses have been positioned across the country’s 14 regions. The aim is to achieve at least 90% vaccination coverage by the end of the year. And the expected benefits are considerable: according to Ministry of Health projections, the introduction of this vaccine could halve hospitalizations for the targeted diseases by 2030.

For Dr. Badiane, coordinator of the national EPI, this reform marks a turning point: “It’s not just a change of vaccine—it’s a new paradigm. We’re simplifying the schedule, strengthening immunity, and gaining in effectiveness in the field. WHO’s support has been decisive at every stage.”

Beyond the numbers and logistics, it’s families like Aissatou’s who are feeling the change in concrete terms: less stress at each vaccination appointment, a better understanding of health issues, and above all, renewed confidence in the healthcare system.

Dr. Jean-Marie Vianny Yameogo, WHO Representative in Senegal, sees this transition as an illustration of health equity: “Introducing the hexavalent vaccine means offering every Senegalese child the same chance to grow up in good health. It’s a concrete commitment to reducing inequalities and building a fairer future for all.”

As she leaves the health center, vaccination booklet in hand, Aissatou takes a moment to smile. “I’ll be back for the other doses. My child deserves the best possible protection.”

An individual decision—but a collective step towards a healthier future.

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

Download logo

On July 1, 2025 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Maxim Ryzhenkov, held a meeting with the Minister of International Relations of the Republic of Botswana, Phenyo Butale, who is paying an official visit to Belarus.

This is the first visit by the head of Botswana’s foreign ministry to our country in the history of Belarusian-Botswana relations.

During the meeting, the parties discussed ways to strengthen political and interministerial dialogue, expand mutual trade, cooperation in the fields of agriculture and food security, healthcare, education, and the formation of a legal framework.

The parties reaffirmed their commitment to coordinate on all aspects of the bilateral and international agenda.

The ministers agreed on practical steps to intensify cooperation and confirmed their mutual interest in holding a series of bilateral events in 2025–2026.

Following the negotiations, a joint statement was signed by the foreign ministers of Belarus and Botswana, expressing their intention to strengthen multifaceted cooperation.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus.

Download logo

Seyed Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Badr Abdelatty, the Foreign Minister of Egypt, held a telephone conversation on Monday, to discuss the latest regional developments following the cessation of the Zionist regime’s military aggression against Iran.

In the conversation, Araghchi pointed to the widespread condemnation of the Zionist regime’s aggression against Iran by the international community—especially Islamic countries and key regional organizations.

He criticized the failure of two responsible international bodies, namely the UN Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency, to condemn the attacks, and emphasized the Islamic Republic of Iran’s firm pursuit of identifying the aggressor and obtaining reparations.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister welcomed the end of the Zionist regime’s aggression and stressed his country’s continued efforts to help de-escalate tensions in the region, including efforts to establish a ceasefire in Gaza.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Islamic Republic of Iran.

Download logo

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has approved a ZAR 2.5 billion (approximately $139 million) corporate loan to the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, marking the Bank’s first direct lending to a subnational entity in Africa.  

The transaction will finance critical infrastructure projects in electricity, water, sanitation, and solid waste management, directly benefiting over 6 million residents in South Africa’s economic powerhouse. 

The approval marks a transformative moment for municipal financing across Africa, operationalizing the African Development Bank’s Guidelines for Subnational Finance for the first time. The funding will exclusively support trading services infrastructure that generates revenue, ensuring sustainable debt repayment, while addressing urgent challenges in service delivery. 

“This landmark transaction, led by the African Development Bank’s Infrastructure and Urban Development Department, in coordination with the Water and Sanitation Department,  and the Power Department, signals a new era in how the African Development Bank can empower cities,” said the Bank’s Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure & Industrialization, Solomon Quaynor. “By directly financing Johannesburg, we are unlocking a scalable model for subnational lending that enables multi-sectoral infrastructure delivery and positions the Bank as a trusted partner in driving sustainable, inclusive urban development across Africa.” 

The loan will finance over 100 carefully selected projects across four vital sectors: upgrading distribution networks, installing smart meters, expanding renewable energy capacity, and connecting 3,200 new households to the grid; rehabilitating aging pipelines, upgrading treatment facilities, and reducing water losses from 46% to 37%;  and improving landfill compliance, expanding recycling facilities, and enhancing waste collection services. 

“This historic transaction demonstrates the African Development Bank’s commitment to supporting creditworthy cities as engines of economic growth,” said the African Development Bank’s Director General for Southern Africa, Kennedy  Mbekeani. “Johannesburg is not just South Africa’s largest city – it contributes 16% to the country’s GDP and serves as a gateway for investment across the continent. By strengthening its infrastructure backbone, we’re investing in Africa’s urban future.” 

The City of Johannesburg faces significant infrastructure challenges, with annual electricity losses of 30% for the past three years and water losses of 46.1%. The project is expected to create 2,869 jobs during construction and substantially improve service reliability for millions of residents. 

An additional $1.5 million grant through the Bank’s Urban and Municipal Development Fund is being sought to support municipal reforms, governance and climate-resilient planning initiatives. 

Beyond infrastructure improvements, the project will deliver significant socioeconomic benefits:  

• 592 full-time equivalent jobs, with 14% reserved for women and 23% for youth. 
• Reduced electricity and water interruptions will boost productivity for 65% of electricity and 5% of water consumed by industry. 
•  Enhanced free basic services for 160,000 indigent households.  
• ZAR 500 million in contracts earmarked for small and medium enterprises, with 40% reserved for women-owned businesses and 50% for youth entrepreneurs. 

The African Development Bank has included comprehensive safeguards in the project to assure robust monitoring and oversight, transparency, compliance, and sound financial management throughout the loan lifecycle. 

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

Media contact: 
Emeka Anuforo
Communication 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