‘Our Africa by Merck Foundation’ is a pan-African TV program that is conceptualized, produced, directed, and co-hosted by Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com) to feature African Fashion Designers, Singers, and prominent experts from various domains with the aim to raise awareness and create a culture shift across Africa such as:  Diabetes, Ending Child Marriage, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Stopping GBV, Ending FGM and Breaking Infertility Stigma, among other social and health issues affecting the continent; Merck Foundation through their “Our Africa” TV program, has established the first ‘Fashion and Art community with Purpose’ community across Africa to break the silence and be the voice of the voiceless about many critical and sensitive social and health issues in Africa and beyond.

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany has launched their first-ever TV program – ‘Our Africa by Merck Foundation’. This first-of-its-kind TV show is set to be the voice of the voiceless and break the silence about many critical and sensitive social and health issues in Africa.

The show will be broadcasted on KTV in Kenya, every Saturday at 5 pm and repeated every Thursday at 6:30 am.

The TV program has been broadcasted on prime TV stations of many countries like BTV (Botswana) Mashariki TV (Burundi), GHOne&TV3 (Ghana), QTV (The Gambia), LNTV (Liberia), Deffi Media (Mauritius), AYV (Sierra Leone), NTV (Uganda) and ZNBC (Zambia), and it immediately captured the attention and hearts of millions of viewers across Africa. “Our Africa” TV Program will soon be broadcast on TV 3 in Ghana, Mibawa TV in Malawi, NTV in Uganda and ZTN in Zimbabwe. “Our Africa” TV Program is also currently on social media handles of Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej (Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4bvTs4f) , Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4amPPNm), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/3Wy0H7C) and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/3WvPOmQ)) and Merck Foundation (Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/3QCUaEZ), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3QFawN8), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/4adEDlY) and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4bvialw)).

Watch the Promo of ‘Our Africa by Merck Foundation’ here: https://apo-opa.co/3Uzob9U

This pan African show is conceptualized, produced, directed, and hosted by Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation to feature Fashion Designers, Singers, and prominent guests from various domains with the aim to raise awareness and create a culture shift across Africa.

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation emphasized, “I am extremely happy and proud to present our new and unique program “Our Africa by Merck Foundation’. I strongly believe that fashion and art should have a purpose beyond entertainment and looking good. They can contribute to sensitizing our communities about different social and health issues such as ending FGM, ending child marriage, stopping GBV, breaking the Infertility stigma, supporting Girl Education, Diabetes awareness and healthy lifestyle, and more. Hence, I came up with the idea of this beneficial yet entertaining TV program”.

“I invite you to watch the program on KTN in Kenya and also our social media. During the show, we will discuss and address various social and health issues relevant to Africa in a very unique way through our African Community of Fashion and Art with Purpose. It will be a first-of-its-kind interactive show, which will feature talented Fashion designers and Singers who sensitize communities through those creative work across Africa”, Dr. Rasha Kelej added.

“This program is our effort to reach out to youth and other members of our urban and rural communities with the aim to address and raise awareness about a wide range of pressing social and health issues that are relevant to our continent. I am very happy that we have already started to receive great feedback on the promo and first episode which was about diabetes and promoting a healthy lifestyle. I also received many messages on social media that everyone watched it on the TV in their countries- Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Zambia, Liberia&Sierra Leone. So, watch ‘OUR AFRICA by Merck Foundation’ TV show and be ready to Get informed, Get healthy, and Get entertained!”, added Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej.

Watch the First Episode here: https://apo-opa.co/3UxYneh

Watch the First Episode promo here: https://apo-opa.co/3UydYdH

Merck Foundation together with their partner African First Ladies have also announced Call for Applications for two themes of 2024 Edition of Awards for Media, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, Musicians/ Singers, and new potential talents in these fields from African countries. The themes of the two categories of awards are – 1) Breaking Infertility Stigma, Support Girls’ Education, End Child Marriage, End FGM, Stopping GBV and/ or Women Empowerment at all levels, and 2) Promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Moreover, Merck Foundation in partnership with African First Ladies has also released 8 inspiring children’s storybooks in three languages – English, French,&Portuguese and around 30 songs to address health and social issues by local singers across Africa. To read the Merck Foundation storybooks and listen to Merck Foundation songs, please visit: https://apo-opa.co/4adgH27

To watch “Our Africa by Merck Foundation” TV program, follow the social media handles of Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej: (Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4bvTs4f) , Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4amPPNm), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/3Wy0H7C) and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/3WvPOmQ)) and Merck Foundation (Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/3QCUaEZ), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3QFawN8), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/4adEDlY) and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4bvialw)).

Click on the link to download Merck Foundation App: https://apo-opa.co/3UTXYnW

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.

About Merck Foundation:
The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality&equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare and scientific research capacity and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website.  Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/3QCUaEZ), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/4adEDlY), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3QFawN8), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4bvialw) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/3UTDBai).

With messages from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Trade Minister Mary Ng and Premier Doug Ford – among others – the Canada-Africa Chamber’s (www.CanadaAfrica.ca) contribution to Canada was celebrated this week.

Over 150 members and invited guests attended the 30 Year-Anniversary on Tuesday 7 May 2024, with the keynote address by Joe Lombard, Vice Chairman of Hatch. Gabriel Tshitende, founder and CEO of Elephant Trade-Services DRC, as well as Founding Chair of the Chamber, Stephen Pincus, a Partner at Goodmans LLP, also addressed delegates. The historic ballroom of the National Club of Toronto was adorned with portraits of past distinguished speakers (https://apo-opa.co/44DWBwY) – commemorating addresses by leaders over the past three decades, who have included Heads of State, captains of industry and world-leading think tanks.

Paula Caldwell St-Onge, Chair of the Board, opened the 30th Anniversary, underscoring this year’s extensive programming – including but not limited to events in Toronto (https://apo-opa.co/4dz6K1F), Ottawa (https://apo-opa.co/4dAPxVA) and Sudbury (https://apo-opa.co/4ahkfAe) in Canada, as well as Nairobi (https://apo-opa.co/4ahkgnM), Kenya; Kolwezi (https://apo-opa.co/3JYfeC9), Democratic Republic of Congo; Harare (https://apo-opa.co/4ahkgEi), Zimbabwe and Cape Town (https://apo-opa.co/44y6Qmh), South Africa – in addition to the inaugural upcoming Canada-US Forum for African Partnerships in Washington, DC (https://apo-opa.co/3JVcHIM).

Mr. Gabriel Tshitende, founder and CEO of Elephant Trade-Services DRC, headline sponsor of the 30th Anniversary Program, delivered the official welcome – which included an invitation to attend the Elephant Trade Services’ February 2025 Investment Mission (https://apo-opa.co/4ahkhrQ) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This follows from the success of this year’s DRC Mission undertaken with the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business, showcasing major investment opportunities.

Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, thanked Chamber leaders for their contribution in remarks from her Ministerial Office in Ottawa.

Awards Ceremony

In recognition of their incredible support, four leading corporate members were recipients of our Major Supporter Awards. Board Chair, Paula Caldwell St-Onge, Board Director Pierre Boivin and Vice President Ateau Zola, were pleased to present the awards:

Goodmans LLP – received by Stephen Pincus (Partner)
MineAfrica Inc – received by Wayne Floreani (President) and Bruce Shapiro (co-founder)
Hatch – received by Joe Lombard (Vice Chair)
Elephant Trade Services DRC- received by Gabriel Tshitende (Founder and CEO)

“Thank you to all who have made the last 30 years a success, in addition to those who’ve pledged today to writing the story of our next 30 years,” said Chamber President Garreth Bloor.

“I am delighted to announce that the headline sponsor of our 30-year anniversary programming writes that story with us as we step into the future: Elephant Trade-Services DRC has committed to 2025 headline sponsorship of our organization,” he added.

More information on this week’s Anniversary Event can be found here (https://apo-opa.co/3UDdjId), including links to upcoming events in North America and in African markets.

For information on joining the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business, click here (https://apo-opa.co/3Uyad85).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business.

Focusing on the exchange of ideas on areas of greater collaboration between the two blocs, our country was represented by Anatolio Ndong Mba – Ambassador Permanent Representative of Equatorial Guinea before the United Nations in New York.

Words of welcome from Fatima Kyari Mohammed, Permanent Observer of the African Union, followed by remarks from Stavros Lambrinidis, EU Ambassador to the United Nations and opening remarks by Zéphyrin Maniratanga, Permanent Representative of Burundi and Chairman of the African Group during May, officially opened the Dialogue between Permanent Representatives of the African Group and the European Union before the United Nations.

Under the banner “Joining forces for an ambitious outcome of the Summit for the Future”, the two blocs exchanged points of interest focused on setting out a new agenda for peace.

Through this new programme, Africa appears to have a unique opportunity to contribute significantly to global peace and security, highlighting a restructuring of the global peace and security architecture as imperative for renewed multilateralism and global stability. A comprehensive, robust counter-terrorism perspective based on peace enforcement and a whole-of-society approach, complementary to peacekeeping. In addition to adequate, flexible and predictable sustainable funding of continental and regional peace operations through access to UN-designated contributions.

Reference was also made to politics, promoting effective conflict prevention, preventive diplomacy, mediation and dialogue. Durable cybersecurity solutions and a global regulatory system to address new perspectives on international security threats. The integration of women, the inclusion of young people and the protection of children, as well as the protection of civilians. The pre-eminence of post-conflict reconstruction and development in peacebuilding and peacekeeping. A new vision for disarmament based primarily on inclusive, multi-stakeholder defence and security governance of SSR/DDR. The implementation of the peace, security and sustainable development nexus to ensure human safety and resilience.

”The New Agenda for Peace must prioritise the empowerment of women and youth in peacebuilding efforts. This includes ensuring that they are included in decision-making processes. The NAP should include provisions to support women- and youth-led organisations in conflict-affected settings, while promoting and prioritising a participatory approach. It is important to ensure the role of women at all levels of the ecosystem, including the political, social and economic levels, while ensuring gender parity and the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and girls.

The NAP must ensure the protection of women and girls from violence in conflict situations and allow for preventive measures to protect them,” the PRs said.

Transforming global governance: Reforming the International Financial Architecture and Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and financing for development were other points extensively discussed at the dialogue meeting between the African Union bloc and the European Union bloc at the United Nations in New York City.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Equatorial Guinea: Official Web Page of the Government.

The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development has announced the Citizen Investment Plan for Beni Suef Governorate for the current fiscal year 2023/2024, as part of its ongoing efforts to disclose the citizen plan in all governorates of the Republic for the fifth consecutive year. The aim is to raise awareness among citizens about the directions and priorities of the sustainable development plan for the fiscal year 2023/2024 and its role in achieving “Egypt Vision 2030.”

Dr. Hala El Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, emphasized that the development plan pays special attention to Upper Egypt regions by applying a financing equation in directing investments based on developmental gap indicators. At the same time, there is a focus on making a breakthrough in specific provinces that have not received adequate attention before to maximize the utilization of their resources, wealth, and developmental potential. She explained that launching the “Citizen Plan” reflects the state’s keenness to involve citizens in the efforts to develop the planning and monitoring systems, aiming to achieve sustainable and comprehensive development, addressing developmental gaps between different governorates, localizing sustainable development goals, and achieving Goal 17 of the global Sustainable Development Goals, “Partnerships for the Goals.” She stressed that the citizen is the real focus of development, hence the necessity to empower them and provide them with information about the programs and developmental projects implemented by the state, adding that all developmental plans adopted by the state aim to improve the quality of life for citizens, which cannot be achieved without active community participation, in line with “Egypt Vision 2030.”

El Said pointed out that the number of developmental projects in Beni Suef Governorate amounts to 274 projects, with the value of public investments directed to the governorate under the 2023/2024 plan reaching 3.9 billion Egyptian pounds.

Regarding the sectoral distribution of public investments targeted in Beni Suef Governorate under the 2023/2024 plan, the report of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development indicated directing investments worth 1 billion pounds to the transport sector, accounting for 25.5%, followed by the local development sector with 801 million pounds, representing 20.5%. Investments in the higher education sector amount to 742 million pounds, representing 19%, while the housing sector receives 376 million pounds, accounting for 10%, and pre-university education sector 270 million pounds, representing 7%. Other sectors are allocated investments worth 710.5 million pounds, accounting for 18%, in addition to projects directed through the Egyptian Rural Development Project “Decent Life.”

The report explained that the number of villages targeted in the first phase of the “Decent Life” initiative in Beni Suef Governorate is 66 villages, with a beneficiary population of 956 thousand people, of which 48% are females. The initiative projects, which achieve all sustainable development goals, include establishing 6 social units, 12 agricultural service complexes, 14 ambulance points, 42 health units, in addition to establishing 780 classrooms, 123 schools, 4 family development centers, a rehabilitation center, 6 drinking water stations, 66 sewage projects, 8 treatment stations, 63 mobile network towers for fiber optic network connection, 29 youth centers, 12 government service complexes, in addition to establishing 26 post offices, 12 police points, and rehabilitating and lining canals over a length of 160 km, paving main and internal roads over a length of 400 km, constructing 36 irrigation bridges, and implementing 66 electricity projects for natural gas network connection.

The report further clarified that the plan aims to implement 127 developmental projects in the field of local development services in Beni Suef Governorate, 51 projects in the housing sector, with the most important developmental targets in this sector directing around 311.3 million pounds for drinking water and sanitation services.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning and Economic Development – Egypt.