Singing, dancing, and openly voicing their gratitude: The women of Yambio have finally seen their long-standing wish for a marketplace fulfilled.

Thanks to a United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Quick Impact Project, they now have two brand new buildings suitable for their commercial endeavours.

Cecilia Peter couldn’t contain her joy. A new vegetable market had her celebrating with excitement.

“With this market, we will be able to solve our daily problems,” said Cecilia, a honey and vegetable farmer from the community. She added that the market will help her and many others improve their financial situation by increasing their incomes.

The 50,000 USD project, implemented by the self-help Women Development Organization, will serve as a trading point for the produce of the predominantly farming people of Yambio. It will provide shelter for 40 local women retailers, improve the hygiene of the foodstuffs, and contribute to the health and well-being of the larger community.

Seba William, another businesswoman in Yambio, said the facility would help boost local trade and allow them to preserve goods like tomatoes, okra, cassava, and greens.

“The structure will help us store our harvests, which used to be under the sun and would sometimes dry up and rot. Now our vegetables can be stored in a cool place as we sell them. The money will help us provide for our children’s feeding, school fees, and medical bills,” she added.

An UNMISS Human Rights Officer in Yambio, Lydia Munyiva Muthian, said it is a unique and progressive project aiming to empower local women and enable them to progress alongside men.

“A women’s vegetable market is an exceptional initiative that exemplifies the care of the people of Western Equatoria for their families, girls, and children. UNMISS pledges to continue to support the people of South Sudan to advance human rights, peace, security, and development,” said Lydia.

Almost 90% of residents in Western Equatoria State are involved in subsistence farming and honey production. A good harvest would typically yield a significant surplus of produce, but without a suitable place for households to sell their products. That is, fortunately, no longer the case.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Following the successful outing at the inaugural West African Startups Awards in Niamey, Niger in 2021, the Directorate of Private Sector of the ECOWAS Commission holds preparatory meeting from June 3rd to 5th, 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria. This is following the directive of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government to hold the Awards Annually.

While welcoming participants on behalf of Mrs. Massandjé Toure-Litse, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Dr. Tony Elumelu, the Ag. Director of Private Sector of the ECOWAS Commission highlighted that the Startup Awards ignites innovation, collaboration, and digital entrepreneurship across the West African Region.

Dr. Elumelu added that “the vision is to create an ecosystem where startups thrive, ideas find fertile ground, and collaboration transcends borders”.

The ECOWAS Commission in partnership with other stakeholders within the framework of promoting digital entrepreneurship in ECOWAS region, organized the 1st West Africa Startups Summit in Niamey, Niger Republic from 18th – 20th November 2021. Fifty-five (55) contestants participated in the competition from eleven (11) ECOWAS member states. They were awarded prizes of different categories with the top three earning USD 30,000: USD 25,000 and USD 15,000 respectively.

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

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Rachid Talbi Alami, represented His Majesty King Mohammed VI, on 04 June 2024 in Seoul, in the first Korea-Africa Summit held under the theme “The Future We Build Together: Shared Growth, Sustainability and Solidarity”.

The Summit, which was launched by Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, will be attended by over 45 African countries, who will spend two days discussing ways of developing cooperation between Korea and African states, particularly in the economic, energy and digital fields.

This event is intended to lay the foundations for close cooperation between Africa and Korea, which in 2006 announced the “Korea Initiative for African Development”, through which this Asian country affirmed its commitment to sharing its development experience with the African continent.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided agricultural equipment support to farmers operating in village cooperatives affiliated with the Municipality of Birni N’Gaouré in the Dosso region, one of the areas with the most intensive agricultural production in Niger.

As natural factors such as recent droughts and global warming have reduced agricultural production in Niger, policies aimed at strengthening the agricultural infrastructure of the country have grown in importance. The Nigerien government has prioritized industrializing agricultural production processes and supporting innovative technologies.

On the other hand, in the country, where access to agricultural technologies and mechanisation opportunities is limited, planting, harvesting and tillage activities are still mostly carried out using animal power or manual labor.

TİKA Stands With Nigerien Farmers

TİKA supports agricultural activities in Niger, one of the countries most affected by the negative effects of climate change.

TİKA provided agricultural equipment such as hand tractors and manual seed drills to farmers operating in the village cooperatives of Anniya, Yobbi, Etti, Gomni and Sourou in the Municipality of Birni N’Gaouré in the Dosso region, one of the regions with the most intensive agricultural production.

A total of 10 hand tractors and 20 manual seed drills and plows were distributed to farmers for use in agricultural processes.

Practical training on the use of the machinery was provided to the cooperative authorities to increase productivity. Nearly 200 families are anticipated to benefit from this project.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).