The March 2024 food and nutrition situation analysis indicates that almost 50 million people of the region including 31.7 million living in Nigeria, representing 16% of the whole population are food insecure and need assistance to cover their basic food needs in the current lean period. Considering this, the decision-making body of the ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve has stood up, though, availing 4,976,75 MT of cereals on technical rotation and 2000 MT under the regional solidarity modality, to support the efforts of Nigeria in handling this situation.

The Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS has donated over 2,000 Metric Tons of cereals comprising of millet, sorghum, and white maize from the Regional Food Security Reserve to the Government of Nigeria in Kano on Saturday 27th July.

ECOWAS also handed over 4976.75 tons of cereal to the Government of Nigeria as part of a technical rotation of the stocks of the Regional Food Security Reserve. Stock rotation is part of normal stock management procedures, allowing ECOWAS to regularly replace stocks that have over 2 years of storage with new ones to ensure that they are always in good quality and fit for consumption.

Handing about 7000 Metric Tons over to the Director of the Food and Strategic Reserve Department of Nigeria, Dr. S A Haruna, on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Prof Fatou Sow Sarr, congratulated the Federal Government of Nigeria for the efforts already undertaken towards curbing the current difficult food situation of the vulnerable populations. “This expression of regional solidarity stands as ECOWAS contribution in support of the various efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria. This intervention contributes to strengthen the resilience of the populations affected by the difficult food and nutrition crisis”, she says.

While receiving the stocks meant for both technical rotation and voluntary donation from ECOWAS, Dr Haruna, appreciated ECOWAS for this kind gesture to the good people of Nigeria, especially the most recent donation of 2000 MT of cereals under the modality of regional solidarity. “In view of the importance and achievements of the Regional Food security Reserve, the Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to play an active role in the sustenance and growth of the Regional Reserve and is committed to the replenishment of the 4 976.75 Metric Tons mobilized stock grain-for-grain at the next harvest time”, he promises.

This intervention occurs at the right time, in response to the call from the April 2024 RPCA meeting for urgent action to support Member States to assist more than 50 million to meet their basic food needs in West Africa during this lean period with more than half leaving in Nigeria. The ECOWAS regional Food Security Reserve also plans to support five other countries (Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger, and Sierra Leone) most affected by food and nutrition hardships during the same period.

To recall, so far, Nigeria has already benefited from the Regional Food Security Reserve about 10, 129 MT of food grains breaking down to 3,999 MT in 2020, 5,000MT in 2019 and 1,130 in 2017.

The Regional Reserve has intervened 19 times between 2017 and 2024 to support six countries in the region (Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria) for a total of more than 55,000 tons of cereals. The Regional Food Reserve also granted to Niger 205 tonnes of fortified flours in 2021 and is currently securing 230 tonnes for Nigeria to provide food supplement to pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under 59 months.

ECOWAS is grateful to the various technical and financial partners who have been supporting the operationalization of the Regional Food Security Reserve since 2016. Such partners are mostly the European Union, the French Development Agency (AFD), the Spanish Cooperation (AECID) and the World Bank.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying announces:

The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will be held in Beijing from September 4 to 6. The theme of the summit is “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future.” Leaders of FOCAC’s African members will attend the summit at the invitation of the forum. Representatives of relevant African regional organizations and international organizations will attend relevant forum events.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved today the Ethiopia First Sustainable and Inclusive Growth Development Policy Operation. This policy operation supports home-grown reforms that will ultimately help the country transition to a more inclusive economy that allows the private sector to contribute more strongly to growth. While strengthening the financial sector, expanding trade options, and improving fiscal transparency, this engagement will also boost protections for poor and vulnerable households during periods of economic change. It consists of a $1 billion grant and $500 million concessional credit from the International Development Association (IDA)*.

Reforms supported by the operation help increase the private sector orientation of Ethiopia’s economy by addressing the root causes of macroeconomic imbalances and expanding trading opportunities. The operation also supports a more sustainable and inclusive growth model through reforms to improve financial stability and financial sector competition, increase fiscal transparency, improve public spending effectiveness and the performance of state-owned enterprises, as well as expand social safety nets.

“Successful implementation of these reforms can help the country reach its full potential so more Ethiopians can thrive. Importantly, there is a strong emphasis on protecting poor and vulnerable people from the costs of economic adjustment and expanding opportunities for them to participate in the economy,” said Maryam Salim, World Bank Country Director for Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Sudan.

The operation also helps promote sustainable land and forest management and expand access to renewable energy. This will support Ethiopia in achieving its climate change goals and building more resilience to climate risks. The operation is complemented by the World Bank’s broader portfolio in Ethiopia which includes investments in health, education, social protection, energy, finance, digital, agriculture,  transport and trade logistics, water and sanitation, and urban development.

The World Bank Group is one of Ethiopia’s largest providers of development finance. Ethiopia currently receives over $2 billion in concessional financing each year from IDA with roughly half of this as grants. IDA commitments now stand at $15.5 billion, with almost $7 billion available to disburse. The International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) investment portfolio is $320 million. The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) is actively engaged with $1.15 billion in guarantees.

Looking ahead, the World Bank is committed to supporting Ethiopia’s aspiration of becoming a middle-income country. IDA expects to provide around $6 billion in new commitments over the next three fiscal years and support economic reforms through fast-disbursing budget support. IFC is planning about $2.1 billion in investments and MIGA expects to grow its engagement, including under the World Bank Group Guarantee Platform. Subject to the Board’s approval of new operations and availability of IDA resources, this implies a total financial package of over $16.6 billion in undisbursed and future commitments available over the next three years.

The World Bank Group extends its deepest sympathies to the people of Ethiopia following the devastating landslide in the Gofa Zone, which resulted in the tragic loss of life, the displacement of many people and destruction of infrastructure. We stand ready to assist Ethiopia respond to and recover from this tragedy.

* IDA was established in 1960 and helps low-income countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for its 75 client countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Since 1960, IDA has provided $552 billion to 115 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $36 billion over the last three years (FY21-FY23), with about 75% going to Africa. Learn more online: IDA.worldbank.org. #IDAworks

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.

2022 Basketball Africa League (BAL) (www.BAL.NBA.com) Champion with Tunisia’s US Monastir, Radhouane Slimani was part of the coaching staff of the Miami Heat team that won the 2K25 NBA Summer League.  The Tunisian basketball legend joined the Miami Heat’s coaching staff as part of the Africa Coaches Program, which builds on NBA Africa’s and the BAL’s commitment to building capacity and expertise of coaches from across the continent, improving the quality of the on-court product, and contributing to the continued growth of basketball in Africa.

Slimane who was selected alongside 24 other African coaches, is nine-time Tunisian national league “Championnat Pro A” winner, seven-time Tunisian Cup winner, three-time Afrobasket champion.

 “This victory holds a special significance for me. Transitioning from a player to a coach, I wanted to impart the lessons I learned on the court to my players and my colleagues. Living this experience for the second time as a part of a NBA coaching staff is amazing, every time you learn something new, you discover a new strategy and philosophy. Always the small details make the difference. It symbolizes the continuation of a legacy and the start of a new chapter in my basketball journey. It’s not just about winning, but about nurturing and guiding the next generation of champions”, Radhouane Slimane.

His journey from winning the BAL as team captain of US Monastir to shining in the NBA Summer League exemplifies his dedication, skill, and the positive impact of the Africa Coaches Program.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).