The World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates Chad for having eliminated the gambiense form of human African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, as a public health problem. It marks the first neglected tropical disease to be eliminated in the country.

Chad is the first country to be acknowledged for eliminating a neglected tropical disease in 2024, becoming the 51st country to have achieved such target globally, and marking the first step beyond the midpoint to the global threshold of 100 countries set for 2030. The 100-country target is one of the four global overarching targets set by the Road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030.

“I congratulate the government and the people of Chad for this achievement. It is great to see Chad join the growing group of countries that have eliminated at least one NTD. The 100-country target is nearer and within reach” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

Sleeping sickness can cause flu-like symptoms initially but eventually causing behaviour change, confusion, sleep cycle disturbances or even coma, often leading to death. Improved access to early diagnosis and treatment, as well as surveillance and response has proven that countries can control and eventually eliminate transmission.  

So far, seven countries have been validated by WHO for eliminating the gambiense form of human African trypanosomiasis: Togo (2020), Benin (2021), Côte d’Ivoire (2021), Uganda (2022), Equatorial Guinea (2022), Ghana (2023), and Chad (2024). The rhodesiense form of the disease has been eliminated as a public health problem in one country, Rwanda, as validated by WHO in 2022.

“The elimination of the gambiense form of human African trypanosomiasis in Chad reflects our commitment to improving the health of our people. This achievement results from years of dedicated efforts by our health workers, communities, and partners. We will continue this momentum to tackle other neglected tropical diseases and ensure a healthier future for all Chadians” said Hon. Dr Abdel Modjid Abderahim Mahamat, Minister of Health, Chad.

As of June 2024, across the WHO African region, 20 countries have eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease, with Togo having eliminated 4 diseases and Benin and Ghana having eliminated 3 diseases each.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO).

The European Union (EU) held an information session titled “Grow with the European Union Finance” in Tanzania, focusing on financial opportunities for local businesses under the Global Gateway strategy. This session built on discussions from the Tanzania-EU Business Forum in February 2023, which highlighted the need for improved access to finance.

The European Union (EU) recently conducted a highly productive information session titled “Grow with the European Union Finance,” aimed at empowering Tanzanian businesses to seize numerous financial opportunities offered by the EU and its Member States under the Global Gateway strategy.

Building on the successful dialogue with the private sector initiated during the Tanzania-EU Business Forum in February 2023, this session focused on addressing one of the main obstacles identified back then: access to finance for scaling up emerging business, trade, and investment opportunities. During the February forum, several financing deals were signed between European Development Banks and local Tanzanian banks (NMB, CRDB, KCB), expanding credit offerings for Tanzanian MSMEs. Since then, the range of European financing windows dedicated to the private sector has been steadily increasing.

The primary objective of this information session was to provide concrete guidance on the available financing instruments and the process of accessing these funds. A significant highlight was the signing of a new financing tool grant contract worth TZS 11.23 billion (EUR 4 million) between the EU and the Financial Sector Deepening Trust (FSDT), aimed at promoting inclusive finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operated by women and youth.

Over 100 representatives from the banking sector, SMEs, MSMEs, and various corporate enterprises participated, emphasizing the critical demand for local businesses to connect with EU-catalyzed financiers through the Global Gateway financing tools.

Cedric Merel, Head of Cooperation for the EU Delegation to Tanzania, emphasized the EU’s comprehensive support for the Tanzanian business environment. “A conducive business environment is essential for businesses to thrive, and finance is their lifeblood,” Merel remarked, adding, “The European Union has provided a 360-degree approach to investments in Tanzania, from supporting the Blueprint regulatory reform agenda, enhancing Domestic Resources Mobilization, to strengthening Capital Markets and green and alternative finance as well as attracting international finance.”

Edward Claessen, Head of the Regional Hub for East Africa at the European Investment Bank (EIB), reinforced this message by highlighting the EIB’s significant support for private sector initiatives in Tanzania.

“Last year, Tanzania was the largest recipient of EIB support in Sub-Saharan Africa, with TZS758 billion (EUR 270 million) in new investments to support businesses through partnerships with Tanzanian banks such as CRDB, NMB, and KCB-Tanzania,” Claessen stated.

‘’Of what we have signed, EUR 166m has already been disbursed by the EIB to the banks and has been lent to over 10,000 final beneficiaries out of which over 3,000 are women-led enterprises and over 900 are blue economy enterprises and co-operatives in Zanzibar, “ he added.

The information session provided insights into the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which aims to address global challenges like climate change, health system improvements, and strengthening global supply chains. This strategy includes a variety of financial products, such as grants, loans, equity, and guarantees, designed to benefit businesses of all sizes.

A key part of this strategy is the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), which encourages sustainable investments in partner countries by offering risk-sharing tools through partner Financial Development Institutions. With up to TZS 112.340 trillion (EUR 40 billion) in financial commitment, EFSD+ aims to mobilize up to TZS 379.150 trillion (EUR 135 billion) in public and private financing worldwide to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Aside from the EFSD+, the EU also supports start-ups and early-stage SMEs through initiatives like the Funguo Innovation Programme, PesaTech Accelerator Program, and Serengeti Business Angels Network, which offer grants and investment opportunities. Additionally, EIB, the EU’s lending arm, provides credit lines to local banks, which then lend to SMEs, helping them grow and innovate.

Gasper Mdee, a representative from the Tanzanian Private Sector Foundation said financial opportunities offered by the EU are key in fostering a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Tanzania.

“In partnership with the local private sector organisations, by focusing on focusing on inclusive growth, the EU ensures that diverse segments of the population, including underrepresented groups such as women and youth, have access to the resources they need to succeed. This support not only boosts individual businesses but also contributes to the overall economic development of the country.” said Mdee.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Delegation of the European Union to the United Republic of Tanzania and the East African Community.

With the aim of enhancing the capacity of the Government to efficiently deliver social assistance programmes, including the Child Grants Programme, the Ministry of Gender, Youth, and Social Development today received two new vehicles, 10 laptops, and 20 tablets to support Ntlafatsa Bana-Improvement for Children, a component of the Equitable Lesotho programme. The official hand-over ceremony which took place on June 20, 2024, at Kick for Life grounds, was attended by the Honorable Minister of Social Development, the Ambassador of the European Union, Her Excellency Paola Amadei, and the UNICEF Lesotho Country Representative, Deepak Bhaskaran.

Under Equitable Lesotho, the Government of Lesotho, with support from the European Union and UNICEF, strives to improve the well-being and development of children under five, enhance the effectiveness of social assistance, ensure quality data and statistics, and address the needs of those living in the most vulnerable situations.

This provision of vehicles, laptops, and tablets will bolster the effective implementation of the project and enhance the delivery of social assistance programmes by addressing current transport and mobility constraints faced by the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development (MoGYSD). The Ministry has initiated a process to upgrade the National Information System for Social Assistance (NISSA) and the Management Information System for Social Assistance (MISSA) while transitioning to digital payments. Thus, the tablets and laptops will facilitate the effective operations and management of the NISSA and MISSA systems and ensure a smooth transition to digital payments.

Spanning from 2023 to 2026, the Ntlafatsa Bana-Improvement for Children programme aims to improve the delivery of the Child Grants Programme (CGP), reducing the cost of delivery by shifting towards digital payments and by better targeting support to those most in need through accurate data collection and processing. Building on the previous three phases of the programme, operating since 2007, this phase seeks to support beneficiaries to access sustainable energy, water, and nutrition services as well as birth registration. Moreover, the Ntlafatsa Bana-Improvement for Children project will enhance the National Information System for Social Assistance (NISSA) and digitalise payments to beneficiaries.

“Receiving a payment on the phone, or at the bank, will allow a single mother to spend her precious time in her occupations rather than walking long distances to receive her cash subsidy, and then walk back with fear of being assaulted on the way back home. It also means great savings for all Basotho, as the government would not need to contract services for the physical dispatching of subsidies all over the country. A click will do. We are all eager to think of the long lines we all see in front of the distribution points, as a thing of the past”, stated EU Ambassador, Paola Amadei.

NISSA, a web-based repository housing socio-economic data for 488,000 households was created and funded over 10 years ago with the support of the EU and UNICEF. NISSA is essential for targeting support to those in need and plays a crucial role in social assistance programs and humanitarian response.

Emphasizing the importance of digital transformation, UNICEF Lesotho Country Representative, Deepak Bhaskaran stated that “During this phase of our partnership, we are also supporting the upgrading of the NISSA to ensure that it functions efficiently while transitioning social grant beneficiaries from manual to digital payment systems, including mobile payments and banking services. Currently, above 13,000 beneficiaries are already receiving their payments via mobile platforms. The digitalisation of payments offers opportunities for enhanced cost-effectiveness and timely delivery of cash to beneficiaries,”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Delegation of the European Union to the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Uganda hosts 1,644,870 refugees today, and nearly 56 per cent of them have come from South Sudan, fleeing conflict and hunger. Globally, nearly half of all people forced to flee are women and girls, carrying untold stories of resilience and unseen potential. Often, the communities they escape to are also poor. Yet, they persevere, dream and break barriers in search for a better life. On World Refugee Day, meet three women who broke stereotypes and are inspiring others to do the same.

Poni Grace dreams of building her own house

Poni Grace was only 16 years old when she had to leave the only home she knew as conflict erupted in Yei, South Sudan. After a perilous journey, she and her family arrived in the Imvempi Refugee Settlement in Terego district of Uganda, where resources were scarce and opportunities seemed elusive. “Life was difficult,” shared Poni. “My family lacked basic needs. We had no way to earn an income. Imvempi is rocky, and even when you farm, the yields are poor.”

A year after arriving in the refugee settlement, Poni got married, hoping for stability and support from her husband, only to be abandoned later. Poni had to fend for herself and her two children. When she heard about the UN Women-sponsored Second Chance Education and Skills Training programme, Poni didn’t think twice. Her choice of training surprised others – bricklaying – which is usually a man’s job. People criticised her, but Poni was unperturbed. “I chose bricklaying and masonry because it earns more money than the other opportunities,” she explained.

The UN Women training programme, funded by the Government of Japan, was a turning point in her life. Today Poni is one of the few refugee women working as a mason and bricklayer in construction sites. Her workmanship is valued, and she is known for her punctuality. She earns enough to take care of herself and her children; she has joined a Village Savings and Loans group where she saves at least USD 7 every week, building a safety net.

Now, Poni Grace has a new dream – “I have constructed my own house, and my children are studying in better schools.”

Annet Luka says there’s no trade that is exclusive to men

“There is no trade that is exclusively reserved for men. What men and boys can do, girls can also do,” says Annet Luka. She is the only woman carpenter of the Omugo II refugee settlement in Adjumani district, Uganda.

Annet Luka lost her father when she was only five years old. Shortly after that, conflict in her village in South Sudan forced her family to flee to Uganda. “One of the biggest hurdles I faced was accessing education,” said Annet. “While my mother managed to support me through primary and secondary school, I had four other siblings and there wasn’t enough to support all of us.” Annet dropped out of school because her mother couldn’t afford the fees.

In January 2024, she learned about training opportunities for refugee women and girls through UN Women’s leadership programme funded by the Government of Norway. “There were a number of courses being offered, and I decided to enroll in carpentry,” explained Annet. “I chose carpentry because it’s not affected by the seasons, making it a reliable source of income.”

“Many girls in my community shy away from carpentry, believing it’s only for men. Even my mother initially disapproved,” she recalled. But Annet managed to convince her mother and made some furniture for home. “Now we have a bench to sit on as a family, something we didn’t have before.”

An astute entrepreneur, she believes that being the only woman carpenter gives her an edge for a business. She dreams of starting her own carpentry workshop and train other women and girls.

“By empowering more women in carpentry, we can work together to challenge the stereotypes and build successful careers,” she says.

From subsistence farming to making windows – Veronica Konga will not give up

Veronica Konga escaped an abusive marriage with two children. She walked for an hour every day to access a plot of land where she did subsistence farming to feed herself and her children. Making ends meet was a daily struggle.

In 2023, Veronica found a glimmer of hope in a UN Women project that would benefit refugees and host communities in Adjumani district, Uganda, and train them in vocational skills.

Adjumani hosts more than 13 per cent of Uganda’s total refugee population but faces economic challenges. Uganda’s progressive refugee policy ensures that host communities like Veronica’s aren’t left behind, thus fostering social cohesion.

Veronica chose to learn metal fabrication, not a common choice for women in the community, but she was pragmatic and astute. “There is money in metal fabrication, and a ready market,” she explained.

The impact was immediate. Even before completing the training programme, Veronica made and sold her first product – a pair of windows. The income allowed her to get medical care for her sick child.

Veronica’s struggles are far from over. In a community where access to electricity remains a luxury, the dream of starting her own business in metal work, which requires electricity, faces some hurdles. The use of generators as an alternative power source is expensive.

But now Veronica has hope, and a vision for something bigger. “I look forward to perfecting my trade,” she says, determined to start her own workshop and mentoring other women to break stereotypes and forge ahead.

UN Women’s Leadership Empowerment Access and Protection (LEAP) programme funded mainly by the Government of Norway and Japan, is running in refugee settlements in Adjumani, Terego, Yumbe, and Kyegegwa in Uganda. The programme aims to ensure that Uganda’s humanitarian and refugee response is gender-responsive and women have increased access to leadership and livelihood opportunities, in addition to protection services. Since 2022, through the “Second Chance Education” component of the LEAP programme, at least 793 women and girls have received skills training.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.