Kampala, Uganda | FLAVIA NASSAKA | Half of the young people in Africa feel excluded from political decision making. This is according to a latest U-report polling data released jointly by UNICEF, African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU). While an overwhelming majority of the polled young people at …
Read More »Bridging education gaps can uplift African women entrepreneurs
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Xinhua | Educational attainment gaps have limited the success of women-owned businesses in Africa, according to a report newly published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The “Women’s Entrepreneurship Report” studied data from tens of thousands of African entrepreneurs and firms to establish links …
Read More »2021 needs to be Africa’s ‘focus on the money’ year
Recent events show that Africa’s dependence on external sources of finance is no longer sustainable. It is time for the continent to develop its own lending institutions | HANNAH RYDER AND OVIGWE EGUEGU | Amid all the distress of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, progress on the African Continental Free …
Read More »African free trade bloc launches
Opportunities, Challenges, and why full implementation of the historic pact may take years ANALYSIS | THE INDEPENDENT | African countries began officially trading under the new African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on Jan.01. It is a flagship project of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 to stimulate intra-African trade. In …
Read More »China’s shaky dance with Uganda
Chinese foreign minister Wang’s visit to Africa is another missed opportunity to seal deals ANALYSIS | THE INDEPENDENT | Chinese Foreign minister Wang Yi has been on a five-nation tour in Africa that started on Jan.04 and took him to Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Botswana, Tanzania and …
Read More »Beijing proposes seven-point plan for upgrading China-Africa cooperation
Chato, Tanzania | XINHUA | The 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has achieved great success and become a new monument to China-Africa friendly cooperation, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Friday. Wang made the remarks at a joint press conference here …
Read More »AfCFTA can position African economies stronger against COVID-19
Addis Ababa , Ethiopia | Xinhua | The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement can potentially position African economies stronger in the face of future global shocks such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a senior United Nations trade policy expert said on Wednesday. Speaking exclusively to Xinhua, David Luke, Coordinator …
Read More »Covid-19 pushes African airlines to the brink
Covid-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on Africa’s airlines, but some analysts suggest that a more streamlined industry offering better services could emerge | CHARLIE MITCHELL | After gaining independence, the old saying went, African countries first needed a currency, then an anthem, then an airline. Currently, airlines – …
Read More »COVID-19 blurs Africa’s economic recovery in 2021
After lockdown, Uganda, Ghana and Senegal show early recovery signs Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | Dozens of African countries will experience subdued economic recovery next year, according to predictions shared by experts at a recent roundtable organized by the Nairobi-based Africa Trade Insurance Agency. The annual roundtable event which …
Read More »TEF, EU partner to transform economic empowerment of African women
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Africa’s leading philanthropy, Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has partnered with the European Union to identify, train, mentor and fund 2,500 young African women entrepreneurs in 2021. The partnership will disburse €20 million in the financial and extend technical support for women-owned businesses, across all …
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