Today, a group of African multilateral institutions including members of the Alliance for African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI) paid a courtesy visit on His Excellency, Mohamed Ould Cheikh Al-Ghazouani, the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and Chairperson of the African Union to convey their support and commitment to the AU in implementing transformative initiatives to support Africa’s developmental agenda.

The Institutions present included African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Shelter Afrique Development Bank (SHAFDB), the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), Africa Risk Capacity (ARC), African Guarantee Fund (AGF), the Africa Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), African Solidarity Fund (FSA), African Guarantee and Economic Cooperation Fund (FAGACE) and AfroChampions.

The delegation was led by the Chairman of AAMFI and President of Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah, who underscored the significance of AAMFI’s establishment during President Al-Ghazouani’s tenure as AU Chair. He also underscored the role of AAMFI in advancing Agenda 2063 as a rallying platform for financing trade and development in Africa, especially under a strained international financial architecture. Considering the 2024 AU theme; Educate an African fit for the 21st Century, the meeting explored ways the continent can build the capacity of its growing youthful population, and pledged to mobilise USD 2 billion to go towards vocational training and driving digital literacy, especially amongst the youth and women.

The Institutions, which collectively represented an aggregate balance sheet of over USD 75 billion affirmed their support for the financial sustainability of the African Union.

The Institutions also reaffirmed their support to the AU in fulfilling its role as a member of the G20 and pledged to put their full weight behind the continental body towards amplifying the African voice on critical global matters, such as climate action. In this regard, the Institutions acknowledged the unique needs and priorities of Africa on climate which should be advocated cohesively on global platforms such as COP29 and COP16.

H.E. Mohamed Ould Cheikh Al-Ghazouani welcomed the backing and commitment of the Institutions to Africa, in particular their resolve to finding “African Solutions to African Problems” (ASAP) while pursuing sustainable development. He endorsed the call by President Nana Akufo-Addo for African governments to invest a minimum of 30% of their sovereign reserves in African multilateral institutions as a means of strengthening these institutions to better serve the continent. Such undertaking will also allow the Institutions to mobilise concessional resources.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance, facilitate and promote intra and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative instruments to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the AfCFTA, Afreximbank has in partnership with the African Union Commission and AFCFTA Secretariat launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement. The AFCFTA Secretariat and the Bank have created a USD 10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries to effectively participate in the AfCFTA.

At the end of December 2023, Afreximbank’s total assets and guarantees stood at US$ 37.3 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$ 6.1 billion. The Bank disbursed more than US$ 104 billion between 2016 and 2023 through various interventions for the advancement of the continent. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa1), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure, (together, “the Group”).

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

Media contact:
Vincent Musumba
Media Relations Manager
Email: press@afreximbank.com
Tel : +20 2 24564100 /1/2/3

Promotion of Cancer Awareness took the center stage at the High-level Seminar on Promoting Cancer Awareness and Advocacy Programs in the OIC African Member States (www.new.OIC-oci.org), which commenced on Wednesday 15th May 2024 in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The two-day event sponsored by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady of Nigeria, relevant OIC institutions, and international partners, focused on finding innovative approaches to prevention, early detection, and treatment of cancer in OIC African Member States. The participating First ladies, under the leadership of the First Lady of Nigeria, and stakeholders undertook to make a case for greater funding and massive efforts to cut down the infection claiming hundreds of thousands of lives, especially in the African region.

In her welcome remarks, the First Lady of Nigeria commended the OIC for organizing this important Seminar and for choosing Nigeria as a host. She further called for closer collaboration among all the stakeholders to fight the scourge of cancer.

In his speech, the representative of the OIC Secretary-General, H.E. Dr. Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs/ Science&Technology underscored the fact that the OIC General Secretariat remains committed to providing all assistance to pursue this fight against cancer till the very end. He further highlighted the need to identify, document and preserve all the available indigenous knowledge and plant species that are used in the traditional treatment of cancer in our countries.

The First Lady of Türkiye H.E. Mrs Emine Erdoğan who attended the Seminar as a Special Guest lamented the abandonment of the fundamental life lessons that have been transmitted across generations for millennia as a result of the consumption culture that this age has instilled in people. She pointed out that Asia, Anatolia, and Africa, there was once a prevalent way of life centred on healing. “In the past, medicinal practices were individualized in accordance with an individual’s temperament at healing homes situated in Anatolia along trade routes traversed by caravans which transported not only cultures but also epidemic diseases and the indigenous way of life and dietary practices that had protected them.” She said. 

The Seminar was addressed by, among others, the First Ladies of Türkiye, Sierra Leone, The Gambia; the Director General of the International Atomic Agency (IAEA), the Federal Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare and the Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives.

The First Ladies adopted the Abuja Declaration on the First Ladies’ Leadership on cancer control, which was read out by the First Lady of Nigeria and signed by all the participating First Ladies.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

African Ministers of Health, Finance and Trade, experts and development partners have adopted an approach towards the transitioning of the AfCFTA-anchored Pharmaceutical Initiative (Pharma Initiative) into the start-up Phase of the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism (APPM) ensuring continuity and keeping the momentum in advancing healthcare access, kick starting industrialization, and ensuring economic and health security on the continent.

In their recommendations drawn from the conclusion of the three day meeting in Mombasa, Kenya, the ministers agreed that the APPM, led by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) with support of Afreximbank and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) will facilitate the seamless transition of the AfCFTA-anchored Pharmaceutical Initiative into the startup phase of the APPM.

“ECA, Africa CDC and Afreximbank will also initiate pooled procurement of the products already selected under the Pharma Initiative, gradually expanding to include more products and manufacturers,” read the ministers’ resolution.

AUDA-NEPAD, they said, will accelerate the operationalization of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) to enhance access to quality, safe, and affordable medical products across the continent.

Stephen Karingi, Director, Regional Integration and Trade Division at ECA said APPM will provide a collaborating framework of common regulatory and quality standards to ensure that pharmaceutical drugs and products are effective, affordable, and safe.

“Linking this health initiative to AfCFTA and AMA presents great opportunities with a potential to change lives, reduce poverty, and contribute to inclusive and sustainable economic development for the continent,” said Mr. Karingi.

He noted that implementation of the Pharma Initiative is geared towards fostering inclusive and sustainable socioeconomic development through a single market of approximately 1.4 billion African people who continually face disproportionate impacts of diseases and high costs of  importation of critical life-saving health products.

According to Dr.  Abebe  Bayih, Acting Coordinator of the Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM), APPM, just like the Pharma initiative, will be anchored on localized pharmaceutical production, pharmaceutical pooled procurement, and a harmonized regulatory and quality standard framework,” 

Focus in the start-up phase of the APPM  will now also include Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (SRMNCH) to showcase a proof of concept in the ten African countries from the Pharma initiative; Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, and Sudan.

“A pooled procurement of a minimum of five SRMNCH medicines is an important part of the startup phase of the APPM,” he said.

“The successful execution of the SRMNCH pooled procurement in the start-up phase will provide credible and reliable evidence to Africa countries, and other stakeholders and will create the impetus for the scale up phase.”

Kwabena Ayirebi, Director, Banking Operations at Afreximbank, emphasized the importance of risk assessment and foreign currency integration in financing African healthcare.

He reaffirmed the bank’s willingness to support the initiative and move quickly to ensure its success in the area of financing and any other immediate implementation needs.

Bernard Valentin, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Seychelles highlighted the need to minimize the risk associated with falsified and substandard medicines in the African market and ensure quality, safe and affordable medicine and medical devices in Africa.

Tom Mende from Kenya’s ministry of Health said the initiative will prevent negative consequences of competitive buying and ensure compliance with public procurement laws in Kenya.

He said there is need to ensure countries have national medical record systems to fill in the data gaps on the continent and for reliable access to information.

The APPM is the result of a decision of the African Union Summit, where the Heads of State and Government recognized the need to establish the pooled procurement mechanism  under the leadership of Africa CDC and endorsed the AMSP as the platform  for the mechanism. Consequently, the AfCFTA-anchored Pharma Initiative  is now being implemented  in the APPM.  The three day meeting is jointly organized by the Economic Commission for Africa, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and partners.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

MultiChoice Africa Holdings B.V (MAH) (www.MultiChoice.com) and the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance for Uganda have announced a new cooperation agreement in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU signed today, is geared towards establishing stronger partnerships, digitalisation, enhancing the local content sector in Uganda, intellectual property rights protection and skills development within the applicable legal frameworks.  

The signing ceremony which took place in Johannesburg – for purposes of technical facilities benchmarking- was graced by the presence of Dr. Aminah Zawedde, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance.

The MoU covers MAH and its associate MultiChoice Uganda, as the local partner, and further provides for continued strengthening of future co-operation between MAH and the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance.

“I am glad to sign this MoU on behalf of the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance for Uganda,” said Dr Aminah Zawedde, the PS, Ministry of ICT and National Guidance.

MultiChoice commenced operations in Uganda 30 years ago and has been at the forefront in the provision of quality sport, education, and entertainment content.

“This MoU signed cordially here today is a step in the right direction in fostering relations between the two parties. We view Uganda as a strategic market for our commercial growth and key socio-development initiatives. The presence of the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance accompanied by the Managing Director for MultiChoice Uganda, Mr. Hassan Saleh demonstrates how the private and public sectors of the economy can collaborate for the broader benefit of the Ugandan society,” said Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng Group Executive: Regulatory&Corporate Affairs (MultiChoice Group).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of MultiChoice Group.

Press enquiries:
MultiChoice Africa
Litlhare Moteetee
Senior Manager: Corporate Communications
Mobile: +27 11 289 3000
Email: Litlhare.Moteetee@multichoice.co.za

The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance
Name: Shirley Nakyegwe
Department of Research&Development: Senior ICT Officer
Mobile: +256 773 478923
Email: shirley.nakyegwe@ict.go.ug