Indonesian Ambassador Sunarko on Tuesday (27/8) received a visit from Mr. Osama Ahmed Fadlalla Salim, Director of El-Shahba Drugs Company which is engaged in the supply and sale of medicines and medical equipment in Port Sudan.

In the meeting, the Indonesian Ambassador conveyed information regarding the implementation of the largest trade promotion in Indonesia, namely Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) which will be held on October 9-12 in Jakarta.

Mr. Osama expressed his readiness to participate in the trade mission to attend TEI 2024 which is coordinated by the Indonesian Embassy.

Mr. Osama will also use the business visit to Indonesia to explore and follow up on opportunities for cooperation with Indonesian export partners, especially for the market for medicines, medical equipment and various herbal products from Indonesia for the Sudanese market.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Khartoum, Sudan.

In Eastern Equatoria, Torit State Prison stands as a symbol of history as well as fresh challenges.

Established in 1946, the prison was designed to accommodate 150 inmates but currently 372 people are detained, including women and juveniles.

Beyond the high walls, the prison grapples with dilapidated infrastructure, severe overcrowding, food shortages, limited vocational training opportunities, and pressing sewage management issues.

A year ago, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) launched a program to enhance the health and nutrition of inmates at Torit State Prison, including lactating mothers.

“We tackled food shortages in the prison by training staff and prisoners in gardening. This empowered them to cultivate food on the prison grounds, providing a sustainable source in case of delayed supplies,” explains Hillary Sengabo, UNMISS Correction Advisor.

This initiative involves establishing thriving vegetable gardens around the prison perimeter, allowing prisoners to access nutritious food such as amaranthus, okra, bean leaves, tomatoes, and pumpkins.

“We have been growing green vegetables such as “tiger,” bean leaves, pumpkin leaves, and “nyet”; this helps us supplement the limited food provided to us. It is also beneficial for us as we can acquire skills that will assist us in reintegrating into our communities after serving our sentences,” shared Atango Jane, a female inmate.

Significant improvements have been made to the prison administration, living conditions, and food security.

“This transformative plan is not only boosting the well-being of the convicts but also nurturing hope and positivity within the prison community,” says Major General Marko Langa, the Director of Torit State Prison.

Such activities are expected to be implemented in other detention facilities throughout the state to create sustainability, improve nutrition, and reduce potential stigma, aiming to empower inmates to achieve self-sufficiency.

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

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), in collaboration with the Capricorn Foundation and the University of Namibia (UNAM), recently conducted a three-day transformative hands-on training on value addition in the Hardap Region of Namibia.

The training brought together 45 participants, including youth and women from farmsteads in Stampriet, Schlip, Bernafay, and Maltahöhe, who acquired new skills in food preservation and processing. The  smallholder farmers converted locally grown food such as carrots, tomatoes, and beetroot into value-added products such as carrot juice, beetroot juice, pickled beetroot, vacuum-packed sliced carrots, and tomato paste. 

“Growing food for everyday consumption is a necessity, but we need to look beyond the everyday,” said Tiwonge Machiwenyika, WFP Country Director Officer in Charge (OIC).  “Value addition is essential to ensure that the production of food not only enables consumption but also enables farmers to create sustainable livelihoods from the food they produce.” 

Themed “Promoting Nutrition-Sensitive and Sustainable Food Processing through Value Addition to Reduce Post-Harvest Loss and Food Waste,” the training aimed to enhance farmers capacity to increase and diversify their incomes while connecting them to market actors. Participants received value addition equipment, such as solar dryers and agricultural input to boost on-farm productivity and the usage of skills in a sustainable way. 

WFP and Capricorn Foundation have partnered since 2022 on ensuring food and nutrition security through reducing food waste and improving the nutritional value of food.

“Food loss and waste as well as the inadequate access to food, resulting in malnutrition, remains a great concern in Namibia,” said Marlize Horn, Executive Officer of the Capricorn Foundation. These are challenges that the Capricorn Foundation aims to address alongside like-minded organisations and as connectors of positive change, we are proud of our partnership with the World Food Programme.” 

The training is part of a larger effort by WFP and UNAM, which has reached over 600 smallholder famers from Zambezi, Oshana, and Oshikoto regions in 2023 with value addition and food preservation training. During this intake, participants were capacitated by GS1 Namibia on food safety, market access and product commercialization strategies, including branding, barcoding, and market research.

“At the University of Namibia, we are deeply committed to empowering our communities with practical skills that foster food security, self-reliance and drive social progress,” said Prof. Kenneth Matengu, Vice Chancellor at UNAM. “This training exemplifies the kind of impact and value we can offer our communities when academic knowledge is paired with strategic partnerships.”    

This multi-stakeholder collaborative effort represents WFP’s ongoing commitment to improving food systems value chains in Namibia, contributing to improved lives, livelihoods, skills development, and national food security. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

From August 14 to 16, Lord Collins of Highbury, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Africa, made his inaugural visit to Africa, marking a significant step in strengthening UK-Angola relations.

During his visit, Lord Collins met with President João Lourenço to discuss Angola’s pivotal role in mediating peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The UK acknowledges and supports Angola’s efforts in conflict resolution in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Lord Collins also engaged with key ministers, including Finance Minister Vera Daves and Transport Minister Ricardo Viegas d’Abreu, to highlight the UK’s commitment to trade, growth and addressing climate and sustainability challenges. His visit to the Province of Huambo included a meeting with Governor Pereira Alfredo, where he witnessed the impactful demining work of The HALO Trust, funded by the UK and Angola.

In the Province of Benguela, Lord Collins met with the Vice Governor for Technical Services and Infrastructure, Adilson Gonçalves to gain insights into the Lobito Corridor, further emphasizing the UK’s support for regional development initiatives.

Expressing optimism about the future of the UK-Angola partnership, Lord Collins stated:

“This was my first visit to Angola and Africa since my appointment, and I am delighted to be here at such an exciting time for the UK-Angolan partnership. Meeting President Lourenço and other key leaders has reinforced our shared commitment to regional stability and development.”

“I visited Huambo to understand more about the Lobito Corridor and how it will improve cross-border economic activity across the region. During my visit, I also saw how UK funding is having a positive impact on demining efforts in the country, thanks to the fantastic work of The HALO Trust, transforming land for growth.”

“I look forward to seeing the UK and Angola partnership continue to thrive and improve outcomes that benefit all of us.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of British Embassy Luanda.