BUILD Africa Forum: New three-way partnership to tackle Africa’s infrastructure challenges

 BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of the Congo, December 18, 2013/ -- The BUILD Africa Forum (http://www.buildafricaforum.com) is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with the Institute for Infrastructure Studies (I.I.S.), a leading infrastructure think-tank based in London, UK and Doha, Qatar.

The BUILD Africa Forum will be held in Brazzaville, the Republic of the Congo, from the 5th to the 7th of February 2014

 The BUILD Africa Forum, together with the I.I.S. and the African Development Bank’s Africa50 Fund, have joined forces and committed their combined expertise in infrastructure investment and finance to develop solutions to Africa’s infrastructure funding gap.

The strategic relationship aims to answer the following key questions:

•          How will infrastructure investment risk profiles develop over the next 20 years and what mitigations can governments implement to incentivize investment?

•          How can infrastructure financing and delivery models be developed to attract private finance into the region?

•          How can Africa improve infrastructure delivery and avoid the costly overspends that have afflicted other regions?

Journalists form guild to help improve agriculture in Burkina Faso

Agriculture is a central part of life in Burkina Faso more than 80 per cent of Burkinabé work in the agricultural sector, mostly as smallholder farmers. But they’re isolated and they seldom have the opportunity to learn new information about cropping issues, or to share their own experiences and solutions with others.

Burkinabé journalist Inoussa Maiga is setting out to improve Burkina Faso’s agricultural communications. He initiated the formation of a guild, called the Burkinabé Association of Agricultural Journalists and Communicators (ABJCA), which was made official on May 18, 2013. He currently holds the position of General Secretary.

“ABJCA promotes an open exchange of ideas among agriculturalists, communicators and journalists that will help us to improve our knowledge of local and national issues,” says Maiga.

“Impunity breeds violence against journalists,” UN rights expert tells the UN Security Council

NEW YORK (13 December 2013) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, today warned the UN Security Council that impunity is behind growing acts of violence against journalists in the world.  

“Without paying systematic attention to all attacks against the press, without ending impunity, it is very difficult to ensure the safety of journalists,” Mr. La Rue told the Security Council during a special meeting on the protection of journalists.

“Most cases of violence and threats against journalists are not investigated and those responsible are never identified, prosecuted or tried. The sense of impunity is a main cause for the recurrence of episodes of attacks against journalists around the world,” he stressed.

Gambia: U.S. Embassy gives alert to its Citizens

BREAKING NEWS: The U.S. Embassy alerts U.S. citizens that according to a press release by opposition political parties, political rallies are planned in Serrekunda at the Buffer Zone field on Saturday, December 14, from approximately 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and in Brikama at the Eid Praying Grounds on Sunday, December 15 from approximately 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. The U.S. Department of State recommends U.S. citizens avoid demonstrations, political rallies, and spontaneous gatherings. We remind U.S. citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational without advance warning. We recommend U.S. citizens avoid Serrekunda and Brikama as possible on Saturday and Sunday. U.S. government personnel are being asked to avoid Serrekunda and Brikama on those dates as well. U.S. citizens in The Gambia should stay current with media coverage of local events and remain aware of their surroundings.

You can stay in touch and receive Embassy updates by checking the U.S. Embassy Banjul website. Current information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States or a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444 for callers from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). You can also stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook, and download our free Smart Traveler iPhone App to have travel information at your fingertips.

Dear Mr. Njie, The Christmas season and its cheerful tidings have arrived! The enjoyment found in decorating a Christmas tree cannot be denied.This year we hope to share that enjoyment with others by decorating the Christmas tree in our foyer with "Wish Stars", which will be exchanged for gifts. Sponsored by FS-Charity, a FS-student initiative, these efforts will support the "Mädchenbüro" in Frankfurt am Main by providing new books for its girls.

GAMBIA: Gov't, CSOs, other to receive US top official

Stephen Schwartz

Stephen Schwartz, director of the Office of West African Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, will be visiting The Gambia on Wednesday, December 11 to meet with government officials and members of civil society in support of the strong bilateral relationship between the United States of America and the Republic of The Gambia. 

US Embassy Banjul Office in a media release stated that  Schwartz will hold a press conference with the media to speak and answer questions about the strong ties between the U.S. and The Gambia, the purpose of his trip, and President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative. 

About Schwartz

Stephen Michael Schwartz began his assignment as director of West African Affairs on August 14, 2013.  This follows his tours as deputy chief of mission in Lusaka, Zambia and as deputy director in the Office of Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island Affairs.

“HAVING YOUR OWN ENTREPRISE REWARDS MORE”- CU Consultant Tulinabo

Mr. Aloysius Tulinabo Consultant CU-Gambia

Mr. Aloysius Tulinabo Consultant Concern Universal-Gambia (CU-Gambia) ascertain that for someone to have his or her own enterprise rewards more, by justifying his words, he said that entrepreneurship offers a greater possibility of achieving significant financial rewards than working for someone.

Making a PowerPoint presentation at a four days training (2^nd to 5^th Dec.) on Entrepreneurship for MDFT members at the Agricultural Rural Training Centre at Jenoi in the Lower River Region

He defines entrepreneurship as someone who engages in the creation of new business with the aim of achieving “success, growth and profit”.

Gambia: Entrepreneurship training is crucial to fight poverty

PS Cole giving his speech

Mr. Asheme Cole, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture has emphasized on the importance of entrepreneurship training saying that entrepreneurship training is very crucial if The Gambia as a nation want to fight the ills of poverty, through increase food production along the entire food value chains citing rice and vegetable.

Cole was addressing 60 participants-MDFT’s at the Jenoi Agricultural Training Centre in Lower River Region organised by the National Agricultural Land and Water Management Development Project best known as Nema  and is been conducted by Concern Universal-Gambia who won a bid to implement the training.

Smallholder farmers’ faces poor access to markets- Banky Njie Nema

Banky Njie Nema addressing 60 MDFT Members

The livelihood of our smallholder farmers are often constrained by poor access to markets and limited entrepreneurial skills for adding value to produce with the Nema training, MDTF’s will show vulnerable farmers how to penetrate the markets been it in The Gambia or beyond- Banky Njie Business Development Officer, National Development Agricultural Land and Water Management Project (Nema) told a gathering of 60 participants.

Nema in collaboration with Concern Universal-Gambia is conducting Entrepreneurship training from the 2^nd -5^th December, 2013 for Multi Disciplinary Facilitation Team members (MDFT’s) at Jenoi Agricultural Training Centre in Lower River Region.

After 31 years of successful work empowering smallholder farmers in The Gambia to increase their productivity, IFAD is now scaling up activities to cover agricultural areas across the whole country. A new IFAD-supported project, the National Agricultural Land and Water Management Development Project (Nema), known in the local Mandinka language as Nema – meaning “peaceful and prosperous.”

Infrastructure in Africa: AfDB Group’s Africa50 Fund partner of the BUILD Africa Forum on infrastructure in Africa

BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of the Congo, December 2, 2013/ -- The BUILD Africa forum (http://www.buildafricaforum.com) is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with the African Development Bank Group’s Africa50 infrastructure fund.

The forum will take place on February 5-7, 2014, in Brazzaville, Congo

Held under the High Patronage of Denis Sassou N’Guesso, President of the Republic of the Congo, the BUILD Africa Forum will address Africa’s infrastructure challenges by bringing leading public and private sector stakeholders to the table. The forum will take place on February 5-7, 2014, in Brazzaville, Congo.

Working together, the BUILD Africa forum and Africa50, the AfDB's single-A infrastructure delivery vehicle, will showcase innovative projects in Africa and develop a structural framework for these and other future projects.

LHDP income generating activities, improves rural farmers' livelihood

Small Ruminants Bani Kekoro village, URR

The Livestock and Horticulture Development Project (LHDP) aims to help small-scale rural producers, who are mainly women, to increase their incomes by improving the yield and quality of their horticultural and livestock products. The project also targets young people through the establishment of pilot gardens and market-oriented small livestock and poultry production units.

LHDP which is a co-financing project- the International Fund for Agricultural Development (ifad.org)  at a cost of US $8.0 million grant and the African Development Bank (afdb.org) US $4.9 million and the project is directly benefiting 10,390 households from 2010-2015. The IFAD component was approved in December 2009 and was signed and launched a national level on 15^th March, 2009. 

The project which provides practical support to the villager groups known as Kafoo-has today increased our income, reduce poverty and promote our small businesses and entrepreneurship in our local communities says Mrs. Fatou Kanteh President Bani Kekoro village, Upper Fulladu East in Upper River Region.

Slum2school leader address OYW aspiring leaders

Mr. Mohamed Camara, Nigerian ‘Delegate OYW 2013

Mr. Mohamed Camara, Nigerian ‘Delegate’ at One Young World Summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa 3rd October, 2013; Education plenary session on the topic: Compassion for the disadvantaged children in slumps says  “I am grateful for the privilege to address this dynamic audience on education. I was born into a world of absolute illiteracy; neither of my parents had a formal education.

 I had little hope of one. But motivated by my parents’ profound frustration and resulting financial difficulties, I took my studies very seriously. Eventually I got admitted into the University of Lagos on scholarship, emerged National debating and quiz champion in Nigeria, and won a scholarship to attend the prestigious Impact Your World Leadership Academy, graduating top of the class. I tell this story to people living in slums, to give them hope and inspire them to educate themselves and end poverty in their generation. However, hope is not a strategy, without action.

LHDP Support farmers’ to form Co-operative organisations countrywide

 Farmers' hands up for Co-operative organisations

     

Livestock and Horticulture Development Project (LHDP) a co-financing project-International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD.ORG), African Development Bank (AfDB.ORG) and the government of The Gambia staff are on a countrywide sensitization and awareness creation for establishment of the project beneficiaries into producer co-operatives from 27^th November to 1^st December, 2013.

LDHP is targeting horticulture and rural poultry beneficiaries that are supported by the project and the purpose of these cooperatives is to improve small holder farmers’ access to markets and to create a fair price for goods.

UN resolution on the right to privacy, a first step – UN expert on freedom of expression

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, welcomed the adoption of a resolution on the protection of the right to privacy in the digital age by the UN General Assembly, but stressed that this is a first step. “Much more can and must be done to ensure trust in the safety of communications around the world,” he said.
 
The resolution recognizes the need for States to revise their own laws and practices regarding the surveillance of communications and to establish oversight mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability for surveillance initiatives, as Mr. La Rue recommended in his latest report* to the UN Human Rights Council.

Gambia: CPA from the perspective of project staff

Written by Jorge Esteban Moreno and Alessia Bartolucci

Group Pic: Gambian Delegates (Credit: @IFAD}

Following the success of the joint Headquarters -country CPA meeting, on 7 November 2013, The Gambia team hosted a learning event on the Country Programme Approach (CPA) at IFAD headquarters taking advantage of the presence in Rome of a Gambia delegation attending the 2nd Financial Management Forum. The Gambia delegation was led by Mod K. Ceesay, Permanent Secretary II from Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs. With a room full of participants, Lamin AD Sanyang (Chairperson of the CPA and Project Director of LHDP), gave a detailed presentation on the overall, progress, achievements and lessons learned made by the team. 

The CPA comprises the four IFAD-financed on-going projects namely: RFP, PIWAMP, Nema and LHDP under the Ministry of Agriculture. The approach enables the creation of synergies between all projects and consolidates IFAD’s operations in the Gambia. Single project performance is no longer considered sufficient and the CPA ensures maximum impact of project implementation.

AfDB and African Virtual University discuss benefits of e-learning

The African Virtual University (AVU) Project very critical to the effort to improve access to higher education in Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya, November 26, 2013/ -- “We consider the African Virtual University (AVU) Project very critical to the effort to improve access to higher education in Africa and are pleased to learn that the deliberations on the integration of e-learning and open education into mainstream education programs was fruitful,” concluded Stefan Muller, Lead Economist of the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) (http://www.afdb.org) East Africa Regional Resource Center (EARC) during the first international conference African Virtual University organized from November 20-22, 2013 in Nairobi.

IFAD funded projects linking beneficiaries with rural MFIs

Group Pic: CBG, RFP, Nema/PIWAMP, LHDP, GYIN Gambia

The International Fund for Agricultural Development Project (IFAD) supported projects in The Gambia-Rural Finance Project (RFP), Participatory Integrated Watershed Management Project (PIWAMP)/ National Agricultural Land and Water Management Development Project (Nema) and Livestock and Horticulture Development Project (LHDP) together with Micro-Finance Department Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) and Global Youth  Innovation Network Gambia chapter (GYIN Gambia chapter) are on a countrywide tour linking Country Programme Approach (CPA) beneficiaries to Micro-Finance Institutions (MFIs) in their respective regions.

Frontline Extension Workers trains on IPM Curriculum

Ensa Colley M&E Nema

The National Agricultural Land and Water Management Development Project (Nema) in participation with the Plant Protection Services gathered Agricultural Extension workers, Conservation Field Assistants (CFAs), Project Staff, Focal Point Nema project, Department of Agriculture Staff etc, for them to be able to understand Integrated Pest Management (IPM) control and protection.

The training will run from 7^th to 9^th November, 2013 and is been held at Jenoi Agricultural Farmers Training Centre in Lower River Region; funded by Nema project and is been implemented by the Plant Protection Services as a Service Provider.

IFAD Director West and Central Africa Speaks

IFAD Director for West and Central Africa

Ides v.d Does de Willebois,International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Director for West and Central Africa, in an interview with reporters explained that the National Agricultural Land and Water Management Development (Nema) is being implemented with a combination of funding from IFAD, the Government of The Gambia. Additional funding are expected from theIslamicDevelopment Bank (IsDB) and the World Bank He added that all the players have timeline for funding project and here the goal is to support agricultural priorities in the country.

IFAD, CBG, SDF Organises National Microfinance Summit

The first Microfinance summit was organised in 2003, the second National Microfinance Summit jointly funded by the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) funded project in The Gambia Rural Finance Project (RFP), and Social Development Fund (SDF) organised the

summit on the theme “Building a Sustainable Microfinance Subsector for Poverty Alleviation” 30^th October to 1 November, 2013 at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.

Fourth and Final ACP Fish II Regional Monitoring workshop for the Western African region

The ACP Fish II Programme is an important cooperation tool between the European Union and the ACP (African, Caribbean, Pacific) countries aiming to reinforce fisheries management in these countries. The overall objective of this EUR 30 millionProgramme is to contribute to the sustainable and equitable management of fisheries in ACP regions, thus leading to poverty alleviation and improving food security in ACP States

The Fourth and Final ACP Fish II Regional Monitoring workshop for the Western African region –Banjul, Gambia is schedule to take place from 18-20 September 2013 at the Laico Atlantic Hotel

ACP Fish II is a demand driven Programme financed under the 9th European Development Fund aiming at strengthening fisheries management in ACP countries.ACP countries and their Regional Fisheries Management Bodies were the entities that identified the needs to be covered and supported by the Programme’s 5 components. The ACP Fish II was not conceived as a top-down initiative, it was rather a Programme that tried to respond to the requests coming from the beneficiary states and organizations, through a participatory planning exercise.

Worldwide, GIABA Director says US $700 billion money is laundered

The Inter-Governmental Action Against Money Laundering (GIABA), Director Dr. Abdullahi Shehu at a regional training workshop on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financial Terrorism (CFT) Requirements has said that worldwide estimates of the amount of money laundered annually range between US $700 billion and US $1.8 trillion about 5 percent of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

At the official opening of a two-day training workshop held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel between the 11-12 September, 2013, Dr. Shehu noted that from the available data, it can be argued that African is a net global creditor because illicit financial flows from the continent over the 30 years period 1980-2009 grew much faster than it attracted net-recorded transfers, while the net drain is about four times its total external debt.

G T Board gives strong warming to Hotels, Bars, others

The general public is hereby informed that The Gambia Tourism Board in its quest to improve quality standards of tourism establishments across the country will enforce the provisions o both The Gambia Tourism Board Act and Tourism Regulations 2011 in the up-coming 2013/2014 tourism season.

African Green Revolution Forum warns of severe finance gap in African agriculture

Green Revolution cannot materialise in Africa without a major concerted effort to secure financing for agricultural production

 

MAPUTO, Mozambique, September 9, 2013/ -- The African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) (http://www.agrforum.com) has warned that a Green Revolution cannot materialise in Africa without a major concerted effort to secure financing for agricultural production.

 

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/agrf-1.jpg

 

Photo AGRA President, Jane Karuku: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=197

 

The Forum, which ended on Friday, brought together over 200 delegates from across Africa and internationally, focused on the critical role to be played by public-private partnerships and inclusive business models in the development of Africa’s agriculture.

 

Banjul: GIABA trains West African accountants on AML/CFT requirements

The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) will organize a regional training on anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) requirements for accountants from the five English-speaking countries in West Africa. The workshop will hold from 11 to 12 September, 2013 in Banjul, The Gambia.

YJAG to hold mega fundraising dancehall show with DJ Pisces

The Young Journalists Association of The Gambia (YJAG) is to hold a mega dancehall musical show with one of the most renowned DJs in the country, DJ Pisces on 27 April 2013 at Romana in Bakau.

The fundraising is meant to gather more funds for the association to embark on more capacity building programmes for its members, the young journalists, for them to become responsible journalists in order to contribute their quota to national development of The Gambia.

AU Dept. of Political Affairs, ACDHRS meets with Gambian press

For Immediate Release 10 April 2013:  To All Media

Meeting with reporters and media editors in Banjul, The Gambia today, representatives of the Department of Political Affairs of the African Union and the African Centre for Democracy and Human RightsStudies shared their plans to engage citizens across Africa in public dialogue about human rights and the protection of personal freedoms at all levels of African societies.

Dr. Hannah Forster, Executive Director of the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, Dr. Salah HamnadSiddiq, human rights expert, Department of Political Affairs of the African Union,and Dr. AlieuBadaraSajaTaal, Senior Lecturer Department of Political Science University of the Gambia,  met with media representatives to discuss values critical to Africa’s integration and unity such as freedom of expression and freedom of association.