Month: March 2024

Launched in 2017, the Accelerating Women-Owned Micro Enterprises programme in Southern Africa has equipped more than 2,400 women who own micro-enterprises in Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia with the skills they needed to improve their businesses.  The programme—recently renamed EntreprenHER at the official launch of Phase III on 2 February 2024 in Botswana—engaged trainers in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa to lead workshops on small business management, particularly targeted at […]

The greenhouses of the Kambuku Cooperatives stand proudly among newly planted maize fields about 23 kilometres from Malawi’s capital city of Lilongwe. The facilities stand out not just because they represent an innovative farm practice for the region, but also because they aim to address both climate change and gender-based inequalities faced by women farmers. Women constitute 70 per cent of full-time farmers in Malawi, and produce more than 80 […]

In Kenya and Zimbabwe, authorities and civil society groups are using a wide array of tactics to prevent gender-based violence. As part of UN Women’s Generation Equality Forum Action Coalition on Gender-based Violence, the Government of Kenya and the civil society organization Yes Trust Zimbabwe have each forged their own paths in reducing violence against women and girls.  Yes Trust Zimbabwe In Zimbabwe, Yes Trust has trained more than 50 […]

On this International Women's Day 2024, UN Women Sudan emphasizes the critical importance of investing in women to accelerate peace processes and enhance humanitarian responses, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Under the theme "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress," UN Women Sudan acknowledges the resilience of Sudanese women who, despite facing significant challenges, continue to advocate for peace and equality. Conflict exaggerates existing gender disparities, leaving […]

On International Women's Day 2024, we stand at a critical juncture in the journey toward gender equality in Kenya. The strides made in women's economic empowerment are commendable, yet the persistent gender pay gap and the burden of unpaid work underscore the need for relentless focus and action. As we celebrate the achievements, we must confront the realities and recommit to driving change for women and girls nationwide. The latest […]

President of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has appealed to leaders in Nigeria and across Africa to make poverty history as he outlined a compelling case for welfarist policies and people-centred development. “Given the high levels of poverty in Africa, and Nigeria, what is needed are welfarist policies that exponentially expand opportunities for all, reduce inequalities, improve the quality of life of people,” Adesina said as he […]

By NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber (www.EnergyChamber.org) South Africans don’t want to breathe clean air in the dark. Energy woes are synonymous with South Africa right now. As the country’s fleet of mostly coal-powered plants struggles to keep up with electricity demand, South Africans are enduring daily power outages that last six to 10 hours a day. With businesses and institutions struggling to function, and tension mounting among […]