The Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs of the ECOWAS Commission embarked on a four-day monitoring and evaluation mission to Togo from July 15th to 18th, 2024. The mission assessed the impact of ECOWAS humanatarian response to communities affected by flooding and food insecurity, as part of efforts to strengthen the ECOWAS Humanitarian Response Mechanism (EHRM).

In April 2023, the ECOWAS Commission convened a consultative workshop in Lomé to evaluate the proposals and budgets submitted by Member States for humanitarian assistance. The workshop resulted in the allocation of funds for communities affected by severe flooding and food insecurity in 2022. Consequently, Togo received $722,561 for flood assistance and $351,217 for food and nutrition support for community resilience building and recovery.

To implement these programs, the Togolese government identified the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) as a credible partner. The EHRM emphasizes the importance of Field Validation Missions (FVM) to affected communities in collaboration with government agencies and implementing partners.

The ECOWAS delegation, led by Director Dr. Sintiki Tarfa-Ugbe, held consultations with strategic partners, state actors, the World Food Program, and the ECOWAS Resident Representative to Togo. Dr. Tarfa-Ugbe stressed the need for effective collaboration to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches all affected individuals and has a significant impact on beneficiaries and communities.

During a preparatory meeting with Togo’s Civil Protection Agency, Deputy Director Mr. Wouro O. Salim outlined the itinerary and modalities for the field mission. He praised the ECOWAS Commission for its people-oriented programs that support member states in delivering good governance.

The field mission covered communities across central and northern Togo, including Anié, Sotouboua, Sokodé, and Kara. The delegation interacted with individuals and community leaders to gather firsthand accounts of the impact of the assistance on their daily lives and livelihoods.

Dr. Tarfa-Ugbe reiterated the ECOWAS Commission’s commitment to improving the living standards of its citizens and ensuring dignity for all. “This mission will allow us to engage with partners, visit the field, interact with beneficiaries, and measure the impact of the assistance. We will witness firsthand how these projects have improved their lives, resilience and recovery,” she said.

She commended the Togolese government, the Civil Protection Agency, and the ECOWAS national office for their achievements, noting an 80% implementation rate with a few weeks remaining in the six-month project timeframe. So far, approximately 2,717 households and 14,000 individuals have benefited from the ECOWAS humanitarian assistance in Togo. Dr. Tarfa-Ugbe highlighted the need for accountability, stating, “The funds are from the ECOWAS community fund, and we are all accountable to the citizens.” Dr. Sintiki also commended the selection process of the beneficiaries which cut across all groups , men, women, widows, youth, and the people living with disabilities.

The Communities celebrated the life-Changing Humanitarian Support from ECOWAS, with beneficiaries sharing their heartfelt accounts of how the humanitarian support received has profoundly impacted their lives, restoring their faith in humanity and resilience while preserving their dignity throughout their recovery process. The support included essential food and nutrition aid, as well as the provision of tractors for farm ploughing, seeds, fertilizers, and training on new agricultural techniques and technologies.

Community leaders expressed deep gratitude to ECOWAS for its timely and effective humanitarian response. This assistance is expected to significantly improve productivity and enhance food security in the region. The support has enabled farming communities to cultivate more hectares of land, leading to increased harvests and allowing them to allocate resources to other critical areas of their livelihoods

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The Permanent Representative of the Republic of Seychelles to the African Union, Ambassador Conrad Mederic, headed the Seychelles delegation to the 45th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council, which took place from 18th to the 19th of July 2024 in Accra, Ghana.

In the opening of the session, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ghana, Her Excellency Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, reiterated her nation’s commitment to furthering the goals of Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030 in her opening remarks. She stressed the importance of seizing opportunities and addressing the challenges that Africa is confronted with.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki, recognised that the operationalisation of the African Union Peace Fund and the adoption of the principle of financing African peacekeeping missions from perennial resources are part of a line of significant sectorial progress.

In his intervention, Ambassador Mederic highlighted the African Union Commission’s Report on the Union’s involvement in the G20, noting the recent permanent membership status granted at the G20 Summit. He commended the African Union for this significant milestone and applauded the focus on Climate Action as a key agenda item. The Ambassador stressed the importance of advocating for financial commitments under the Paris Agreement and for the allocation of funds for loss and damage.

Ambassador Mederic further proposed that the “Blue Economy” is added as part of a sub-component of the issue of the “Development of Bio-economy” as it similarly seeks to conserve marine and freshwater environments while using them in a sustainable way to develop economic growth.

Ambassador Mederic also had the opportunity to meet with the recently appointed Chief Executive Officer of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), Ambassador Marie Antoinette Rose Quatre, during the sideline of the Executive Council on 18th July 2024. They discussed the future steps for Seychelles in establishing its national structures as a member of this continental mechanism and how issues of great significance to Seychelles as an African Island State, like Climate Change and the Blue Economy, can be addressed through APRM Programmes.

On July 17, 2024, Ambassador Mederic was present at the commemoration event marking the 20th anniversary of the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC). This event aimed at celebrating two decades of ECOSOCC’s contributions to Africa’s development agenda, offering a platform to reflect, engage, and strategise for the future in order to achieve the African Union’s goals and the Agenda 2063.

Ambassador Mederic was accompanied to the Executive Council by the Second Secretary at the Embassy of the Republic of Seychelles in Addis Ababa Mrs. Patricia Ilunga and representatives of the Seychelles Consulate in Ghana.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism – Foreign Affairs Department, Republic of Seychelles.

Eritrean professional cyclist Biniam Girmay, a member of the Intermarché-Wanty Team, has made history as the first African cyclist to win the Tour de France points classification. This remarkable achievement is a milestone for himself, his country, and the entire African continent.

Biniam Girmay won the Green Jersey by collecting 387 points, followed by Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck with 354 points and Bryan Coquard of Cofidis with 208 points in the Green Jersey competition.

In addition to his overall win, Biniam Girmay was the stage winner of the 3rd, 8th, and 12th stages of the tour.

Upon arrival at the finishing point, Biniam received a warm welcome from all the spectators, especially from the Eritrean nationals present at the event, who chanted “Bini, Bini, Bini.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

The United Nations Global Compact and the African Union Commission will partner up on the Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI) (GABI.UNGlobalCompact.org).

Through this collaboration they will seek to amplify the impact of sustainable business practices across Africa through the UN Global Compact’s Africa Strategy which aims to build a cohort of accountable and ambitious African companies to seize the continent’s opportunities. 

This new partnership was formalized through the exchange of a Letter of Intent between H.E. Ambassador Albert Muchanga, Commissioner for Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry, Mining (ETTIM), African Union Commission and Assistant Secretary-General Sanda Ojiambo, CEO of the UN Global Compact in the presence of H.E. Fatima Kyari Mohammed, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations and Charles Abani, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Ghana at an event hosted by the Global Africa Business Initiative on the sidelines of the African Union’s Sixth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (6th MYCM) in Accra, Ghana on Saturday, 20 July 2024.

Building on the African Union-United Nations framework for the implementation of the African Union Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030), the partnership will support the next phase of Agenda 2063’s Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan (2023-2032), a comprehensive roadmap for Africa’s development. The UN Global Compact will engage businesses across the continent to support the African Union Commission’s goals and mandate.

H.E. Ambassador Muchanga emphasized the importance of the new partnership, saying, “This collaboration marks a significant advancement in our efforts to realize the objectives outlined in the African Union Agenda 2063. By partnering with the UN Global Compact, we are reinforcing our commitment to driving sustainable business and promoting economic growth across Africa. Together, we aim to create a dynamic economic environment that supports inclusive progress and empowers African nations to achieve their full potential.”

Ms. Sanda Ojiambo said, “Today’s exchange of letters presents an opportunity to strengthen the long-standing ties between the African Union Commission and the UN system through a partnership with the Global Africa Business Initiative. We share a transformative vision for the continent, where a strong and inclusive African private sector helps de-risk economies, attracts investment, and creates jobs, building more prosperous and sustainable communities. “

Under the leadership of UN Deputy Secretary-General, H.E. Amina J. Mohammed, GABI aims to reposition Africa as a business destination and opportunity for investment on the global stage while also contributing towards the African Union Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Interested participants can now register (http://apo-opa.co/3yfz3T1) to request for an invitation to attend GABI’s flagship event ‘Unstoppable Africa’ which will take place in New York 25-26 September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. For more information on the Global Africa Business Initiative, visit the website GABI.UNGlobalCompact.org.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Global Africa Business Initiative.

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