The African Union has unveiled a new initiative that seeks to enhance the empowerment of women and girls on the continent. The newly announced “African Union’s Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion Initiative”, seeks to unlock USD20 billion, to enable financing opportunities and parity in employment for at least 1 million African women and youth by 2030. While unveiling the initiative, the African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson, Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa emphasised that women and youth form the biggest part of Africa's population at nearly 75 percent, yet they continually face significant socio-economic barriers that constrain their ability to contribute meaningfully to their communities, countries, and continental development. See attachement.
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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) have scaled up the Predictive Livestock Early Warning Information System (PLEWS), currently being implemented in Kenya, to Uganda to better be able to gauge and predict issues affecting cross-border dynamics. Read more from source
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Thank you to all those that managed to respond to our survey on livestock market information system. We have extended the deadline to 14th February, 2022, and would appreciate hearing from more of you. You voice matters.
Access the survey via: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H9GLTHX?lang=en
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AU-IBAR, together with the Regional Economic Communities are conducting a livestock market information systems audit.
The study seeks to:
i. Identify current and future priorities in terms of information, infrastructure, skills and technology, and related services
ii. Conduct a SWOT analysis for examining Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of existing Livestock related Market Information Systems;
iii. Assess infrastructure capabilities and knowledge resources on livestock market information systems;
iv. Undertake a knowledge inventory analysis by identifying the explicit or physical MIS
v. Identify gaps between available infrastructure and needed capacities based on regional livestock market priorities and capitalize on strengths or make improvements.
We are undertaking a participatory review to contribute to our findings and recommendations for policy decisions going forward..
Stakeholders are invited to respond to our questionnaire by 14th February, 2022.
The survey is available via: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H9GLTHX?lang=en
Further information on the study may be obtained from:
Mrs. Patricia Mweene Lumba <patricia.lumba@au-ibar.org>
Dr. Kingstone Mujeyi <kingmujeyi@gmail.com>
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Applications are open for business funding under Enygma Ventures Investment Fund, to finance early-stage women entrepreneurs in the SADC region by providing them with the holistic support they require to become investor-ready. Apply by 31st December, 2021: Read more: https://www.enygmaventures.com/
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In a consensus voting process on the 19th November 2021, the Non-State Actors Coordination Platform in Fisheries and Aquaculture 1st General Assembly selected a new bureau to serve for four years. In addition, the General Assembly endorsed the new structure of the platform. Read More
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Zimbabwe is set to benefit from a US$6,9 million project which was launched recently to combat animal trypanosomiasis, a parasitic disease transmitted by biting flies including tsetse that continue to cause serious economic losses for smallholder farmers in Africa.
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In this podcast, listen to Ms. Malebo Hellen Moepi, an expert in the Aquaculture field, and working with AU-IBAR. Learn about the status of fisheries in the African continent and how issues related to governance and growth of the fishing sub-sector are being addressed by reviewing the Fisheries Governance projects implemented by AU-IBAR. The hosts are Njoki Thuo and Wayne Wafula from Standard Media.
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In this episode Njoki Thuo and Wayne Wafula (Standard Media Group) talk to Dr. Henry Wamwayi who is a Micro-biologist and veterinarian with the AU-IBAR. The discussion focuses on a livestock disease of economic importance, PPR - Peste des Petits Ruminants also known as sheep and goat plague. PPR infected and at risk countries are home to approximately 1.7 billion heads – around 80 percent – of the global population of sheep and goats. It is estimated that this disease causes annual economic losses of up to USD 2.1 billion. Looking beyond this figure, 300 million families are at risk of losing their livelihoods, food security, and employment opportunities. Hopefully at the end of this episode you will have a better understanding of the disease, how to identify and control it in your flock once it is affected.
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Africa has about 12% of the world’s oil reserves, 42% of its gold, 80%–90% of chromium and platinum group metals, and 60% of arable land in addition to vast timber resources. Africa experienced a commodity boom during the early 2000s translating into the continent’s unprecedented growth that was only disturbed by the onset of the global financial crisis of 2008. Download and read the full press release:
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