“There are rumblings that the real reason the administration chose Ghana is two-fold: Ghana’s discovery of oil in 2008 and perhaps more importantly, the geographically, economically, and politically strategic advantage of establishing Africom’s headquarters there ... US officials have expressed alarm over West Africa’s growing role in the global narcotics trade. And Africom is being used to combat drug trafficking in Ghana and other countries in the region.”
By KEVIN J KELLEY, NATION Correspondent
Posted Wednesday, July 8 2009 at 22:45
NEW YORK, Wednesday
Nation.co.ke
The White House is touting Ghana’s democratic development as the main incentive for the two-day visit by President Barack Obama that commences on Friday.
But controversial or delicate matters – such as the US Africa Command (Africom), narcotics trafficking and Ghana’s oil deposits – will almost certainly be on the agenda for the US leader’s talks with Ghanaian President John Atta Mills.
Gerald LeMelle, head of an advocacy group in Washington, is among critics of President Obama’s emerging Africa policy who suspect that military and resource considerations factor into the choice of Ghana as the African-American president’s first destination in black Africa.
“There are rumblings that the real reason the administration chose Ghana is two-fold: Ghana’s discovery of oil in 2008 and perhaps more importantly, the geographically, economically, and politically strategic advantage of establishing Africom’s headquarters there,” Mr Lemelle, the director of the Africa Action NGO, said earlier this week.
Expressed alarm
US officials have expressed alarm over West Africa’s growing role in the global narcotics trade. And Africom is being used to combat drug trafficking in Ghana and other countries in the region.
“It is absolutely shocking what has happened – the increase in drugs,” Mary Carlin Yates, Africom’s civilian deputy, said in Ghana during a visit in March.
Ms Yates, a former US ambassador to Ghana, held talks with the country’s defence chief as part of Africom’s outreach to selected governments in Africa.
Africom is building a “screening facility” in Ghana, Mr William Weschsler, a Pentagon official focused on combating the drug trade, told the US Senate last month.
Africom is providing drug-detection equipment for Ghana’s international airport as part of a security and surveillance initiative that also involves the US Defence Intelligence Agency and American naval forces off the West African coast.
July 8, 2009
July 4, 2009
President's Desk
From the President:
October 1, 2008, marks the beginning of New JICA.
http://www.jica.go.jp/english/about/president/
This is a landmark event in the history of Japanese international cooperation. I would like to express my sincerest gratitude for the cooperation of all those involved, and as president of New JICA I am deeply aware of the gravity of my responsibilities.
Under our new system, three forms of assistance previously administered by separate agencies-technical cooperation, concessionary loans (Japanese ODA Loans) and grant aid-will be seamlessly managed by a single entity. This will enable us to provide high quality international cooperation to meet the needs of people living in developing countries.
We are also embracing a new Vision, “Inclusive and Dynamic Development”. To make this Vision a reality, we have adopted the following four Missions: (1) addressing the global agenda, including climate change, water security and food supplies, and infectious diseases; (2) reducing poverty through equitable growth; (3) improving governance, such as through reform of the policies and systems of developing country governments; and (4) achieving human security.
All people, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, or age, should be allowed to recognize the development issues they themselves face, participate in addressing them, and enjoy the fruits of such endeavors. New JICA aims to provide effective backing for such self-initiated efforts and to promote development that will result in a self-reinforcing cycle of poverty reduction and economic growth.
With the merger, New JICA seeks to further its partnerships with local
governments, universities, NGOs, private sector entities, and citizens interested in international cooperation, and we will work diligently to serve as a bridge between Japan and developing countries.
In a world where people, goods, capital, and information move across national borders rapidly and in large volumes, there will be increasing instances where we are made to realize that the problems of one country pose a threat to the entire globe. New JICA aims to work together to ensure the healthy development of our single, interdependent world and further enhance Japan’s international cooperation with the peoples’ understanding and support.
Sadako Ogata,President
Japan International Cooperation Agency
October 1, 2008, marks the beginning of New JICA.
http://www.jica.go.jp/english/about/president/
This is a landmark event in the history of Japanese international cooperation. I would like to express my sincerest gratitude for the cooperation of all those involved, and as president of New JICA I am deeply aware of the gravity of my responsibilities.
Under our new system, three forms of assistance previously administered by separate agencies-technical cooperation, concessionary loans (Japanese ODA Loans) and grant aid-will be seamlessly managed by a single entity. This will enable us to provide high quality international cooperation to meet the needs of people living in developing countries.
We are also embracing a new Vision, “Inclusive and Dynamic Development”. To make this Vision a reality, we have adopted the following four Missions: (1) addressing the global agenda, including climate change, water security and food supplies, and infectious diseases; (2) reducing poverty through equitable growth; (3) improving governance, such as through reform of the policies and systems of developing country governments; and (4) achieving human security.
All people, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, or age, should be allowed to recognize the development issues they themselves face, participate in addressing them, and enjoy the fruits of such endeavors. New JICA aims to provide effective backing for such self-initiated efforts and to promote development that will result in a self-reinforcing cycle of poverty reduction and economic growth.
With the merger, New JICA seeks to further its partnerships with local
governments, universities, NGOs, private sector entities, and citizens interested in international cooperation, and we will work diligently to serve as a bridge between Japan and developing countries.
In a world where people, goods, capital, and information move across national borders rapidly and in large volumes, there will be increasing instances where we are made to realize that the problems of one country pose a threat to the entire globe. New JICA aims to work together to ensure the healthy development of our single, interdependent world and further enhance Japan’s international cooperation with the peoples’ understanding and support.
Sadako Ogata,President
Japan International Cooperation Agency
June 26, 2009
United States Agency for International Development Teams Up with Western Union to Launch African Diaspora Marketplace
http://allafrica.com/stories/200906241056.html
24 June 2009
New Business Initiative Seeks Entrepreneurial Ideas from U.S.-based African Diaspora to Spur Economic Opportunity in Homeland.
– The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Western Union, a leading global payments network and Ecobank, the Pan-African Bank, are counting on innovative thinking and entrepreneurial ideas to help alleviate poverty in Africa. Today, the organizations launched the African Diaspora Marketplace (ADM), a business-development program that will support U.S.-based African Diaspora in creating plans for sustainable start-up and established businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa. The program will also provide grant funding to 10-20 small-and-medium businesses with the strongest proposals for boosting economic opportunity and job creation in Sub-Saharan Africa through Diaspora-driven development.
"The African Diaspora has unique insights into its home countries and the motivation to encourage direct investment into Africa," said Alonzo Fulgham, Acting Administrator of USAID. "This is an exceptional opportunity for African Diaspora in the U.S. to help alleviate the disparities surrounding Africa's economic situation." Added Fulgham, "Harnessing the strength of this population, estimated at 1.4 million strong, is critical to reducing poverty in Africa."
"This innovative model for corporate, government and nonprofit collaboration will support entrepreneurial solutions that create jobs and opportunity," said Christina Gold, CEO, Western Union. "Western Union supports migrants' investment in their home countries and also helps to power the world economy through our business model. Through this program, we can leverage Western Union's expertise on migration trends and our vast network and resources to help create lasting social and economic impact."
"Ecobank is pleased to be a partner in this initiative, as it offers an excellent opportunity for us to come together with others who are committed to the economic development of Africa," said Arnold Ekpe, Group CEO of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), parent company of the Ecobank Group. "For us, the African Diaspora Marketplace is consistent with our objective of reaching out to the millions of Africans resident abroad and encouraging their investment in Africa's future," Ekpe added.
The initiative hopes to demonstrate the impact that entrepreneurs from the world's Diaspora or migrant communities can have on development in their home countries. Throughout the program, the level of support provided to participants and the role that support may play in the development of each enterprise will be monitored. This research will help to identify best practices around the support needed to help small businesses thrive in developing markets.
Proposals must be implemented in one of the following Sub-Saharan African countries where USAID has both on-the-ground presence and potential technical assistance programs for entrepreneurs: Angola, Burundi, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
24 June 2009
New Business Initiative Seeks Entrepreneurial Ideas from U.S.-based African Diaspora to Spur Economic Opportunity in Homeland.
– The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Western Union, a leading global payments network and Ecobank, the Pan-African Bank, are counting on innovative thinking and entrepreneurial ideas to help alleviate poverty in Africa. Today, the organizations launched the African Diaspora Marketplace (ADM), a business-development program that will support U.S.-based African Diaspora in creating plans for sustainable start-up and established businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa. The program will also provide grant funding to 10-20 small-and-medium businesses with the strongest proposals for boosting economic opportunity and job creation in Sub-Saharan Africa through Diaspora-driven development.
"The African Diaspora has unique insights into its home countries and the motivation to encourage direct investment into Africa," said Alonzo Fulgham, Acting Administrator of USAID. "This is an exceptional opportunity for African Diaspora in the U.S. to help alleviate the disparities surrounding Africa's economic situation." Added Fulgham, "Harnessing the strength of this population, estimated at 1.4 million strong, is critical to reducing poverty in Africa."
"This innovative model for corporate, government and nonprofit collaboration will support entrepreneurial solutions that create jobs and opportunity," said Christina Gold, CEO, Western Union. "Western Union supports migrants' investment in their home countries and also helps to power the world economy through our business model. Through this program, we can leverage Western Union's expertise on migration trends and our vast network and resources to help create lasting social and economic impact."
"Ecobank is pleased to be a partner in this initiative, as it offers an excellent opportunity for us to come together with others who are committed to the economic development of Africa," said Arnold Ekpe, Group CEO of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), parent company of the Ecobank Group. "For us, the African Diaspora Marketplace is consistent with our objective of reaching out to the millions of Africans resident abroad and encouraging their investment in Africa's future," Ekpe added.
The initiative hopes to demonstrate the impact that entrepreneurs from the world's Diaspora or migrant communities can have on development in their home countries. Throughout the program, the level of support provided to participants and the role that support may play in the development of each enterprise will be monitored. This research will help to identify best practices around the support needed to help small businesses thrive in developing markets.
Proposals must be implemented in one of the following Sub-Saharan African countries where USAID has both on-the-ground presence and potential technical assistance programs for entrepreneurs: Angola, Burundi, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
June 22, 2009
UNESCO: Nairobi International workshop
Competencies for living and working in the 21st century: A capacity development toolkit for curriculum innovations in African Countries
22-26 June 2009
19-06-2009 - The main objective of this technical workshop is to allow for the comprehensive development of a toolkit supporting the integration of concepts and practices of preparation for life and work, Learning to Live Together, and peace education into formal and non-formal curricula. It will be a dynamic and flexible toolkit comprising of several modules and accompanying tools to aid in processes of capacity building for curriculum innovation, development and implementation. It will also integrate various contextualized experiences from different countries to facilitate international sharing and learning.
This international workshop will bring together 20 to 30 participants from 15 countries in sub-Saharan Africa (Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Botswana, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, South Africa), as well as international experts, UNESCO-IBE and GTZ/BMZ.
The workshop is jointly organized by the International Bureau of Education (IBE-UNESCO) the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) on behalf of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Ministry of Education of Kenya.
Source: UNESCO.org
22-26 June 2009
19-06-2009 - The main objective of this technical workshop is to allow for the comprehensive development of a toolkit supporting the integration of concepts and practices of preparation for life and work, Learning to Live Together, and peace education into formal and non-formal curricula. It will be a dynamic and flexible toolkit comprising of several modules and accompanying tools to aid in processes of capacity building for curriculum innovation, development and implementation. It will also integrate various contextualized experiences from different countries to facilitate international sharing and learning.
This international workshop will bring together 20 to 30 participants from 15 countries in sub-Saharan Africa (Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Botswana, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, South Africa), as well as international experts, UNESCO-IBE and GTZ/BMZ.
The workshop is jointly organized by the International Bureau of Education (IBE-UNESCO) the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) on behalf of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Ministry of Education of Kenya.
Source: UNESCO.org
June 11, 2009
Business leaders celebrate progress, pledge to invest more in Africa
11 June 2009
http://www.undp.org
Cape Town, South Africa — Global business leaders gathered today at the World Economic Forum to mark the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Business Call to Action (BCTA). The breakfast event, hosted by the Business Call to Action International Partnership, highlighted the immense opportunities for investing in Africa despite the global economic crisis.
“Although playing no part in its causes, the poorest countries have suffered as much as anyone from the global economic crisis.” said Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, UK Foreign Minister for Africa, Asia and the United Nations. “Aid, trade and investment must all play their part in driving the recovery. The Business Call to Action offers an opportunity for the private sector to help create a better, more secure future for all.”
The Business Call to Action was launched by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at a high level event for CEOs held in London on 6 May 2008. The Business Call to Action International Partnership was announced in September 2008. Partners include the UK Government, AusAid, UNDP, Clinton Global Initiative, The International Business Leaders Forum and the UN Global Compact. In its first year more than 60 CEOs signed the Business Call to Action Declaration and committed their companies to invest in ending poverty. To date, 18 companies have already launched initiatives creating thousands of jobs, establishing hundreds of small independent businesses and increasing trade with, and sourcing from, Africa and Asia.
Some companies are currently providing financial support and technical trainings to thousands of farmers and aspiring entrepreneurs in the developing world; expanding mobile money transfer services to over six million people in Africa; and supplying accurate, timely and personalized information to over a million farmers in India which has helped them increase their profit.
“The Business Call to Action builds upon the enlightened self-interest of the private sector to find financial gains while contributing to development and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals,” said Bruce Jenks, Director of UNDP’s Partnership Bureau. “At a time when global business leaders are facing difficult decisions about how to manage growing costs and dwindling profits, it is even more important for companies to boldly explore business models that include the poor in their core strategies, and take advantage of new business opportunities.”
Business leaders met in South Africa to take stock of the company initiatives and to encourage more companies to join the Business Call to Action. During the breakfast, companies celebrated the progress made so far, showcasing success stories and lesson learned. The organizers of the event, along with African ministers called on companies in Africa to sign and launch new business initiatives that promote sustainable development and combat poverty.
“We are encouraged to see this unique and bold initiative,” said Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Rwandan Minister of Trade and Industry. “Africa provides an obvious starting point because of the potential opportunities for inclusive markets development. We will welcome the initiative in Rwanda and encourage national companies to participate, and also contribute to the generation of learning and good practices.”
The Business Call to Action challenges businesses to implement concrete initiatives that apply their core business and skills in a transformative and scalable manner that will enhance growth and create wealth. This is not about encouraging more philanthropy or corporate social responsibility, but producing business ideas that are both commercially viable and help to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
“The Business Call to Action recognizes that the private sector has a vital role to play in transforming the greatest challenges of our young century —poverty, climate change, social inequity, hunger, and disease, among others— into opportunities, especially in the face of today’s troubled economic climate,” said former US President Bill Clinton. “I’m proud that my Clinton Global Initiative, whose members have made commitments valued at more than $46 billion to improve the lives of 200 million people, is a partner of the Business Call to Action. By working together, we can build a more just, sustainable, and equal world for future generations.”
Business can help improve the lives of people in developing countries by increasing investment, creating jobs and increasing skills, and developing goods, technologies and innovations.
Progress Highlights
· Coca Cola has set up 700 small distribution centers, creating 4500 new jobs.
· Diageo is investing in the development of sorghum to support its brewing operations in Cameroon by providing support to farmers as well as developing transport and storage systems.
· ASDA has significantly increased it sources of fresh produce from Africa and is investigating importing new products.
· Microsoft has launched it Students to Business Programme in Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal.
· PepsiCo has begun a pilot in South Africa on improving nutrition for children and pregnant women.
· SABMiller is on its way to doubling the amount of barley it sources from India. The initiative is benefiting around 7500 farmers.
· Standard Chartered is proceeding with training small businesses in Pakistan – conducting multiple workshops in several cities.
· Sumitomo is opening a stitching factory in Ethiopia this month that will process 3 million bed nets a year and employ 300 people.
· Thomson Reuters is providing accurate, timely and personalized information on more than 125 crop types to 400 markets in India. The programme benefits over a million farmers in India, increasing their profits and savings in losses.
· Vodafone now has more than 6 million people using its mobile money transfer service and is developing its initiative to include new services.
· Cadbury is moving to make its Cadbury Dairy Milk brand Fairtrade in the UK and is working to help 100 Cocoa Partnership communities achieve Fairtrade certification.
· MAP International has biometrically enrolled over 50,000 Ugandans in its Integrated Banking Platform and hundreds of thousands of transactions have taken place over their network of ATMs, Point Of Sale units and mobile phones.
· Ericsson’s Innovation Centre in Sub-Saharan Africa has produced a number of mobile applications that focus on solutions in health, education, agriculture and small business investments.
· Cisco Systems is currently establishing a number of Connected Community Research Centres (CCRC) in Kenya to bring a range of affordable services to the local residents. The on-line services focus on e-government, education, healthcare and vocational training.
http://www.undp.org
Cape Town, South Africa — Global business leaders gathered today at the World Economic Forum to mark the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Business Call to Action (BCTA). The breakfast event, hosted by the Business Call to Action International Partnership, highlighted the immense opportunities for investing in Africa despite the global economic crisis.
“Although playing no part in its causes, the poorest countries have suffered as much as anyone from the global economic crisis.” said Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, UK Foreign Minister for Africa, Asia and the United Nations. “Aid, trade and investment must all play their part in driving the recovery. The Business Call to Action offers an opportunity for the private sector to help create a better, more secure future for all.”
The Business Call to Action was launched by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at a high level event for CEOs held in London on 6 May 2008. The Business Call to Action International Partnership was announced in September 2008. Partners include the UK Government, AusAid, UNDP, Clinton Global Initiative, The International Business Leaders Forum and the UN Global Compact. In its first year more than 60 CEOs signed the Business Call to Action Declaration and committed their companies to invest in ending poverty. To date, 18 companies have already launched initiatives creating thousands of jobs, establishing hundreds of small independent businesses and increasing trade with, and sourcing from, Africa and Asia.
Some companies are currently providing financial support and technical trainings to thousands of farmers and aspiring entrepreneurs in the developing world; expanding mobile money transfer services to over six million people in Africa; and supplying accurate, timely and personalized information to over a million farmers in India which has helped them increase their profit.
“The Business Call to Action builds upon the enlightened self-interest of the private sector to find financial gains while contributing to development and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals,” said Bruce Jenks, Director of UNDP’s Partnership Bureau. “At a time when global business leaders are facing difficult decisions about how to manage growing costs and dwindling profits, it is even more important for companies to boldly explore business models that include the poor in their core strategies, and take advantage of new business opportunities.”
Business leaders met in South Africa to take stock of the company initiatives and to encourage more companies to join the Business Call to Action. During the breakfast, companies celebrated the progress made so far, showcasing success stories and lesson learned. The organizers of the event, along with African ministers called on companies in Africa to sign and launch new business initiatives that promote sustainable development and combat poverty.
“We are encouraged to see this unique and bold initiative,” said Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Rwandan Minister of Trade and Industry. “Africa provides an obvious starting point because of the potential opportunities for inclusive markets development. We will welcome the initiative in Rwanda and encourage national companies to participate, and also contribute to the generation of learning and good practices.”
The Business Call to Action challenges businesses to implement concrete initiatives that apply their core business and skills in a transformative and scalable manner that will enhance growth and create wealth. This is not about encouraging more philanthropy or corporate social responsibility, but producing business ideas that are both commercially viable and help to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
“The Business Call to Action recognizes that the private sector has a vital role to play in transforming the greatest challenges of our young century —poverty, climate change, social inequity, hunger, and disease, among others— into opportunities, especially in the face of today’s troubled economic climate,” said former US President Bill Clinton. “I’m proud that my Clinton Global Initiative, whose members have made commitments valued at more than $46 billion to improve the lives of 200 million people, is a partner of the Business Call to Action. By working together, we can build a more just, sustainable, and equal world for future generations.”
Business can help improve the lives of people in developing countries by increasing investment, creating jobs and increasing skills, and developing goods, technologies and innovations.
Progress Highlights
· Coca Cola has set up 700 small distribution centers, creating 4500 new jobs.
· Diageo is investing in the development of sorghum to support its brewing operations in Cameroon by providing support to farmers as well as developing transport and storage systems.
· ASDA has significantly increased it sources of fresh produce from Africa and is investigating importing new products.
· Microsoft has launched it Students to Business Programme in Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal.
· PepsiCo has begun a pilot in South Africa on improving nutrition for children and pregnant women.
· SABMiller is on its way to doubling the amount of barley it sources from India. The initiative is benefiting around 7500 farmers.
· Standard Chartered is proceeding with training small businesses in Pakistan – conducting multiple workshops in several cities.
· Sumitomo is opening a stitching factory in Ethiopia this month that will process 3 million bed nets a year and employ 300 people.
· Thomson Reuters is providing accurate, timely and personalized information on more than 125 crop types to 400 markets in India. The programme benefits over a million farmers in India, increasing their profits and savings in losses.
· Vodafone now has more than 6 million people using its mobile money transfer service and is developing its initiative to include new services.
· Cadbury is moving to make its Cadbury Dairy Milk brand Fairtrade in the UK and is working to help 100 Cocoa Partnership communities achieve Fairtrade certification.
· MAP International has biometrically enrolled over 50,000 Ugandans in its Integrated Banking Platform and hundreds of thousands of transactions have taken place over their network of ATMs, Point Of Sale units and mobile phones.
· Ericsson’s Innovation Centre in Sub-Saharan Africa has produced a number of mobile applications that focus on solutions in health, education, agriculture and small business investments.
· Cisco Systems is currently establishing a number of Connected Community Research Centres (CCRC) in Kenya to bring a range of affordable services to the local residents. The on-line services focus on e-government, education, healthcare and vocational training.
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