The Government of the Central African Republic (C.A.R) in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), has announced a nationwide expansion of the homegrown school meals programme targeting 400,000 children across the country. The plan was announced on Friday last week by President Faustin Archange Touadera during the commemoration of Africa Day of School Feeding at Sainte Philomene primary school in Bimbo, near C.A.R’s capital, Bangui.

“Education and the wellbeing of Central African children have always been on top of our priorities. Today, I am very happy to launch the homegrown school meals programme as one of the key components of our national social protection strategy,” said President Faustin Archange Touadera.

“Together with our partners, we must break the cycle of food insecurity and malnutrition through a multisectoral and multi-actor approach integrating education, health, nutrition and agriculture with a focus on smallholder famers”.

Based on locally grown and/or sourced food from smallholder farmers and traders, the national homegrown school meals programme aims to provide safe and nutritious school meals to Central African children, increasing its coverage to 400,000 school children by 2027, up from 150,000 in 2023.

In many countries around the world, homegrown school meals have helped boost local food production and consumption, creating demand for more diverse and nutritious food while stimulating the local economy and strengthening food systems. The programme plays a vital role in building and strengthening sustainable national food systems, linking farmers with traders and school children. Furthermore, the programme is particularly transformative for women as it contributes to creating more jobs for them as cooks, food packers, quality control agents, processors and transporters.

“Homegrown school meals are a game-changer. WFP lauds the Central African Government leadership in adopting a programme that goes beyond nourishing the next generation, to creating jobs, economic growth, and longer-term development for the entire country,” said Houssainou Tall, WFP’s Country Director and Representative in CAR.

“We are committed to supporting the Government and working with partners to ensure Central African children have access to nutritious food and quality education and learning when they go to school”.

WFP has been providing school meals to 170,000 children throughout the country using either cash or imported food. The programme has helped schoolchildren and teachers focus better in class, while providing a vital safety net for families in a country where 2.2 million people or 36 percent of the population face acute hunger due to conflict, population displacement and widespread poverty.

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

Systems Applications Products (SAP) has been ordered by the Special Tribunal to pay the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) R500 million within seven days. The order stems from a settlement agreement reached by SIU and SAP on the validity of two contracts awarded by Eskom, which was upheld by the Special Tribunal.

Between 2013 and 2016, Eskom and SAP entered into two contracts for Enabling Agreement and Cloud Services Agreement worth approximately R1.1 billion. The Special Tribunal order -dated 20 March 2024- has also declared that the two contacts are constitutionally invalid and therefore set aside.

The order of the Special Tribunal is part of the implementation of the SIU investigation outcomes and consequence management to recover financial losses suffered by State institutions due to negligence or corruption. The settlement agreement does not absolve SAP or any implicated party from possible prosecution.

The SIU’s investigation found that Eskom entered into an Enabling Agreement contract with SAP for licences, maintenance, support and ad hoc services at a contract value of R1 037 045 965.50. Thereafter, SAP entered into a Sale Commission Agreement with CAD House CC, a Gupta-linked company. Furthermore, Eskom and SAP signed an agreement for Cloud services at a contract value of R21 712 514.82. Following payments from Eskom to SAP, CAD House received funds from SAP.

SIU findings revealed that the Enabling Agreement and the Cloud Services Agreement did not comply with the Public Finance Management Act, which resulted in Eskom incurring fruitless and wasteful expenditures in respect of the agreements.

The SIU was, in terms of Proclamation R.11 of 2018, authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate allegations of corruption, malpractice, and maladministration in the affairs of Eskom.

The SIU is empowered to institute civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name, to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during its investigations caused by acts of corruption, fraud, or maladministration. In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996, the SIU refers any evidence pointing to criminal conduct to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Government.

Antananarivo 22 mars, madame Rafaravavitafika Rasata, Ministre des Affaires étrangères, a reçu monsieur Aurélien Lechevallier, Directeur Général de la Mondialisation, de la Culture, de l’Enseignement et du Développement International au sein du Quai d’Orsay.

Au cours de cette rencontre, la Ministre a tenu à réitérer les sincères remerciements du Gouvernement malagasy au Gouvernement français pour sa contribution au « Basket Fund », à travers l’Union européenne. Cet appui a joué un rôle crucial dans l’organisation réussie des élections présidentielles du 16 novembre 2023, reflétant ainsi l’engagement mutuel en faveur de la démocratie et de la stabilité dans notre région.

Madagascar et la France partagent la conviction que leur collaboration peut encore être renforcée, que ce soit dans le cadre bilatéral ou régional.

Ainsi, Madagascar compte sur le soutien de la France dans la mise en œuvre des trois piliers de la Politique Générale de l’État, à savoir le développement du capital humain, l’industrialisation et la promotion de la bonne gouvernance.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministère des Affaires Etrangères, Madagascar.

His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio will today, Monday 25 March 2024, deliver the Third Annual Distinguished Lecture in African Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, USA, at 5:30 PM EDT (9:30 PM in Freetown).

During the Distinguished Lecture with the theme: “Navigating The Future: Democracy, Progressive Politics and Inclusive Development in Africa – The Sierra Leone Experience”, President Bio will share his political leadership journey and his Government’s experience in promoting sustainable development through democratic governance and inclusive leadership in Sierra Leone.

According to the Organisers, His Excellency President Bio’s choice as this year’s Distinguished Guest Lecturer is due largely to his towering  global credentials as a “passionate reformer and steward of good governance.”

His Excellency President Bio joins other outstanding Africans who had spoken at the prestigious Annual Lecture in African Studies, including His Excellency Mokgweetsi Masisi, President of Botswana, and the Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka.

The University of Pennsylvania has a rich history of notable graduates and hosts some of the most prominent thinkers and leaders from Africa, including Nigeria’s first President, the late H.E. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ghana’s first President, the late H.E. Kwame Nkrumah, and the President of Ivory Coast, H.E. Alassane Ouattara.

Please tune in for the Third Annual Distinguished Lecture on SLBC TV and all major news networks and President Bio’s official Facebook page (His Excellency Julius Maada Bio) at 9:30 PM (Freetown Time Zone).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Sierra Leone.