Africa-EU Pursue Renewable Energy Cooperation
The Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) reflects this shared interest and already comprises a number of specific actions and instruments that will expand the use of renewable energy, mobilise the technology expertise and innovation capacity of Europe to build expertise and capacity in Africa towards the development of the vast and largely untapped renewable potential, and help build a significant new area for industrial trade and business cooperation between Africa and Europe over the coming years.  Africa and Europe have much to gain from a joint approach to the development of renewable energy. On both continents, renewable energy plays an important role in energy supply. Both continents also share a commitment to a significant expansion of the contribution from renewable energy in the energy balance.  Recently, Africa and Europe reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the development of renewable energy during the establishment of the International Renewable Energy Agency, IRENA. A large share of IRENA’s currently 137 signatory states are from Europe (26%) and Africa (33%). Globally, EU is a world leader in renewable energy and has a strong scientific and industrial base.  Renewable energy is a key element in EU energy policies, both at the EU level and at the national level in many EU Member States. Some EU Member States actually have a substantial share of renewable energy in their energy balance. These include Sweden (40%), Finland (29%), Austria (23%) and Portugal (21%).Others like Germany and Denmark have made strong commitments (both targeting 30% by 2020)  to expanding the share of RE in their economy in the next decade.  The share of renewable energy will grow substantially in future. The EU Renewable Energy Directive, adopted in December 2008, commits the EU to a binding target of 20% renewable energy by 2020, which is more than a doubling of the current level.  For all member states, this means a substantial increase in their national commitment. Apart from the contributions to improved energy security and climate change mitigation, the Directive sees renewable energy as important for the development of a knowledge-based industry in Europe, creating jobs, economic growth, and competitiveness as well as for regional and local development opportunities, rural development, export prospects, social cohesion and employment opportunities.   A similar scope exists for Africa. Africa covers a substantial share of its energy supply from renewable energy, notably traditional biomass (predominantly woodfuels), which accounts for 70-90% of primary energy supply of some SSA countries, and hydropower, which accounts for 45% of electricity generation in SSA.   The use of biomass in open cooking fires, combined with deforestation from land clearance for agriculture, can lead to local fuel supply shortages, and the smoke is a source of many health problems; so the sustainability of biomass supply needs attention, as well as the introduction of improved cooking and heating appliances.  Furthermore, only a small fraction of Africa’s vast renewable energy potential is utilized - 7% of the hydro and 1% of the geothermal potential.  The hydro, solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal energy sources could easily cover all the continent’s current energy needs. Some African countries already cover a substantial share of their energy balance from renewable energy, such as Kenya (81%) and Senegal (40%). Several African counties, such as South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Cap Verde and Mali have adopted national targets for renewable energy, and feed-in tariffs for renewable energy electricity have been introduced e.g. in South Africa and Kenya.   At the continental level, Africa has made several political commitments to increase the utilization of renewable energy. In April 2008, participants in the International Conference on Renewable Energy in Africa agreed on a vision to scale up renewable energy development in Africa to enhance wider access to modern energy, strengthen the continent’s energy security as well as support its industrialization and socio-economic development. The Conference also adopted a Plan of Action for Scaling Up Renewable Energy in Africa. In February 2009, the AU Summit welcomed the Africa-European Union Infrastructure and Energy Partnerships, and committed to undertake to develop renewable energy resources in order to provide clean, reliable, affordable and environmentally friendly energy. Important African institutions, such as the African Development Bank stress that African countries, especially in Sub-Sahara Africa, need to make greater use of their huge, largely untapped renewable energy potential – especially hydropower, geothermal energy, solar and wind power, and more efficient utilisation of biomass. Even though the current level of investment is low, things are moving. NEPAD I-STAP has included several large hydropower investments among its priority projects. AfDB’s Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), and other AfDB programmes, are in the process of identifying priority investment projects in renewable energy, which also include small and medium scale hydro and biomass co-generation.  Countries such as South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania are developing wind farms.  Geothermal investments are increasing in the Rift Valley area of Eastern Africa. The pipeline of investments in Africa in hydropower, wind farms, solar PV and concentrating solar thermal electricity generation, geothermal power and biofuels confirms the potential for a future expansion of the use of renewable energy.   The significant renewable energy potential of both continents and the shared commitment to an increased use of renewable energy in Africa and in Europe provides a good basis for a much more intensive cooperation on renewable energy.   The current cooperation on renewable energy comprises a number of bilateral projects and programs, typically addressing capacity building, enabling frameworks and demonstrations at the national and the regional level, and a number of investments co-financed by development banks and private companies.  This includes the renewable energy investments supported by e.g. the Infrastructure Trust Fund, the Energy Facility, bilateral instruments and the European Development Finance Institutions.  The scope for renewable energy cooperation between Africa and Europe covers a wide menu of technical options, which can operate at the regional, national and local level, and covers large, medium and small-scale technologies. More specifically, the menu of technologies includes:     •Electricity generation from renewable energy, including hybrid generation and embedded generation, from solar (including Concentrated Solar Power) , water (rivers, tidal, waves), wind (including wind farms), biomass (including co-generation of electricity and heat, biogas etc.) and geothermal. •Renewable fuel production and use:  Solid, liquid and gaseous (including briquettes, ethanol, plant oil, methane and hydrogen) from renewable resources, including from biomass wastes and landfills. •Renewable energy for heating and cooling, including sustainable and more efficient use of woodfuels, solar water heating/air conditioning. •Improved active and passive building design and energy efficient architecture that is more appropriate to African climates. •Integrated systems and smart grids that enable greater use of renewable-energy based electricity. The European resource base, experience and innovation capacity provide an opportunity for Africa to learn, and to adapt technology to suit Africa’s own requirements.  Some “leapfrogging” of technology may be possible. For example investing in larger and more efficient wind turbines for grid-connected wind farm and advanced, decentralised generation of electricity and heat from biomass, which is increasingly common in Europe. Within the overall framework of the AEEP, there is scope for the programme to demonstrate stronger political commitment and provide a clearer profile and direction of the renewable energy cooperation between Europe and Africa.  The programme offers a framework for doing more, by providing a better overview, more knowledge about renewable energy resources and options, and by identifying cooperation possibilities that are presently not well developed. In particular, the programme works for a much stronger involvement of the private sector in both continents. The programme will address the financing gap between public resources and actual needs, in order to bring on board and mobilize resources from financial institutions and the private sector.Courtesy:AUKenya: Corruption Needs Change of Attitude and Credible Crusaders
Knowledge Economy: The Next Frontier for Africa
The Billionth African: Workshop
Date: 17- 20 March 2010 Venue: Imperial Royale Hotel,  Kampala, Uganda  Africa\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s billionth baby was born last year. The billionth baby could be the next generation leader of Africa…or just another mouth to feed. The current education, cultural, political, environmental and trading systems present a great challenge for the continent’s billionth baby. If the status quo is allowed to prevail, Africa risks loosing its baby by drowning as it attempts to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. The 2 day workshop will focus on how the billionth baby will become Africa’s transformational leader.  The Inter Region Economic Network (IREN) offers Communication Managers, Business Development Managers and Journalists in the Eastern Africa Region an opportunity to participate in shaping the future of the billionth African during the 8^th IREN Eastern Africa Media Training Workshop.   Topics of Discussion  The Background For the last seven years, IREN has trained over 230 journalists who cover business, development and governance issues from various independent media houses in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia Ghana and Zambia. The annual training aims at exposing media practitioners to factors that influence events in the world and to principles of wealth creation.  The 8th IREN Eastern Africa Media Training Workshop set for 17-20 March 2010, under the theme: ‘The Billionth African’ will seek to explore the life of the billionth African, the challenges it will face and the opportunities it presents for the prosperity of the continent.  2003-2009 Media Training Workshop Themes Date    Theme 2003    World Trade Organization2004    Business and International Trade2005    Property Rights in the African Context2006    Conquering poverty through Business in Eastern Africa2007    Turning Africa People into a Resource 2008    The Role of the Media in Positioning Africa in the 21st Century2009    Africa Resources Conflict: Whose Interests Does the Press Serve? Participation Criteria   The training workshop is open to all communication managers, business development mangers, journalists and other communication experts in Africa. Interested participants should send the following:–        Duly   filled application form (Click here to Down Load)–        A brief bio  Your Investment  Day Scholar Rates: Kshs 15,000 (USD 200) for the entire training. Full Board Rates (including accommodation for 3 nights): Kshs 60,000(USD 800) for the entire training.                                                                                                         Travel:  All participants to make their own travel arrangements to and from the venue.  Draft Workshop Schedule  Key Facilitator – James Shikwati, Director, Inter Region Economic Network (IREN), CEO, The African Executive   Day I Workshop 1: Education System:  Human Resource and Attitude Workshop 2: The youth: Unemployment and Migration                                                                                                     Workshop 3: Governance: The Ballot Box and Leadership Day II Workshop 4: Entrepreneurship: producer vs consumer  Workshop 5: Technology: The Internet and Cell Phone Revolution                      Visit our websites for updates – http://www.irenkenya.com/ , www.africanexecutive.com For more information contact:  Anne Mugoya The Business Development Manager, Inter Region Economic NetworkBox 135 GPO Code 00100, Nairobi Kenya,Email events@irenkenya.com or anne@irenkenya.com, Phone: 254-20-2731497The African\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Influence in the New World Part 3
In the closing years of the nineteenth century the greatest talent was that of Lewis Latimer. He was not only a draftsman, but drew up the plans for the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell was the one who invented the telephone, but the patent that had to be drawn up, all the moving parts and all of the vital parts, was done by Lewis Latimer, a Black man. Latimer also did a few other things that don\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'t make me to happy. He improved the Maxim gun that became the forerunner of the present day machine gun. He is also responsible for the florescent light. He wrote the first book on the incandescent light that you know as the fluorescent light. He worked with Thomas Edison. He was one of the Thomas Edison pioneers. While Thomas Edison created the principle of the electric light, his light went out in twenty minutes. But the man who created the filament made the light go on indefinitely. That was Lewis Latimer, and he deserves as much credit for the electric light as does Thomas Edison. And he and his accomplishments were completely left out of history. Only Thomas Edison\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s accomplishments are mentioned. Not only did African Americans invent a lot of other things, including labor-saving devices, African Americans have played a major role in getting America into space. In space medicine the leading doctor is an African American woman. The person that designed the interior of the ship, including the disposal facility, is an African American man. When they sent some astronauts up without instructing them in his method of disposal of waste matter, a near catastrophe occurred. The space buggy that they used to walk on the moon was, basically, a Black invention and so is the camera that they used on the trip to the moon. You might wonder that after all that the African Americans have contributed in making the United States comfortable, even to the coupling that hold all the weights together when trains are moving around the country, why are they having so much trouble, and why are they still having difficulty? Principally because we were not brought to the United States to be given democracy, to be given Christianity. We were brought to labor and once the labor was done, we were an unwanted population in the United States. We were a nation within a nation searching for a nationality. When we put all of us together, we are larger, in number, than all of the nations in Scandinavia put together. Their population would not be as large as the African American population in the United States alone. According to the statistics of the United Nations and the Jewish Year Book all the Jews in the world would come to less than one-half the number of African American population in the United States. Yet Israel gets more financial aid than all of the African nations in the world put together. Principally because we have not developed the political apparatus to put the right pressures on the leaders in the world to make it [otherwise] so. I see no solution for African peoples, any place in this world, short of Pan-Africanism. Wherever we are on the face of this earth we are an African people. We have got to understand that any problem faced by Africans is the collective problem of all the African people in the world, and not just the problem of the Africans who live in any one part of the world. Once we put all of our skills together, and realize that between the United States, the Caribbean Islands, Brazil and other South American countries there are 150 million African people, and the population of Africa has been counted as 500 million for over fifty years, implying that the African man has been sleeping away from home, and you know that is not true. In the twenty-first century there are going to be a billion African people on this earth. We have to ask ourselves, \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"Are we ready for the twenty-first century?\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" Do we go into the twenty-first century begging and pleading or insisting and demanding? We have to ask and answer that question and we have to decide if we are going to be the rearguard for somebody else\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s way of life, or do we rebuild our own way of life, or will we be the vanguard to rebuild our own nation. We have to say to ourselves when we look at our history, the great Nile Valley civilization, the kind of civilizations we built on other rivers, the Niger, the Limpopo, the Zambezi, the kind of civilizations that gave life to the world before the first Europeans wore shoes or had houses that had windows. We need to say to ourselves, with conviction, that ,\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"If I did it once, I will do it again.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"By John Henrik Clarke Courtesy AfricaWithin.com Jerry Rawlings: A Threat to Ghana\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Democracy?
Sudan Intrigues: Will the Center Hold?
Political Leadership Must Fight Corruption
FNF Scholarship Opportunities to the Billionth African Training Workshop
The 8th IREN Eastern Africa Media Training Workshop whose theme is “The Billionth African” is organized by The Inter Region Economic Network (IREN). The training workshop is offering business editors, feature writers, reporters on regional government in Africa, opinion and commentary writers an opportunity to participate in discussing aspects required for transformational leadership in Africa.  Eligibility Criteria Full sponsorship covers accommodation, meals, training materials and travel by bus to and from the venue while partial sponsorship covers accommodation, meals and training material only. The scholarship award will be on the basis of ‘first come first served.’Please Note :- For a brief about the 8th Eastern Africa Media Training Workshop see the link below: http://www.irenkenya.com/modules/news/index.php?new_title_id=56 Please send your applications by March 3, 2010 to:-  The Business Development Manager                Inter Region Economic Network P.O Box 135 – 00-100 Tel:- 2731497 Email- anne@irenkenya.com, events@irenkenya.com 

      Seun Adebiyi: A Future Olympian
12th Annual Africa Business Conference
Dates:   February 19th – 20th, 2010.Venue: Harvard Business School in Boston The largest African student-run conference will bring together preeminent keynote speakers, expert panellists, and over 900 students and professionals from across the globe to Harvard Business School’s campus in Boston to discuss and debate this important phase in Africa’s development.  The conference also includes prospective students’ events, a career fair, fashion show, concert and networking receptions. To secure your place and take advantage of limited discounted tickets, register now!  The early bird rates end on January 25th but tickets may sell out before then.  For more details, visit the conference website which will be updated frequently so please check it regularly.  Feel free to circulate this to colleagues and friends who may be interested in attending.  Conference Theme Details Over the last decade, Africa has gained tremendous ground in terms of economic growth and political stability, but there still remain many challenges to address.  Since the last conference, a fiber optic cable connected an ever-growing number of African countries with the rest of the world, the UK and DRC announced a partnership to rebuild the country’s road and rail systems, and the introduction of new agricultural technologies significantly increased the continent’s food production.  In 2010, over 15 African countries celebrate their 50th anniversaries of independence and the World Cup comes to South Africa.  At the same time, several of Africa’s most persistent challenges continue to attract international attention.  Violence in Zimbabwe and Uganda raised questions about the political stability of African countries, high profile Somali pirate attacks drew new attention to existing concerns about the safety of doing business on the continent, and international media coverage of refugee and health crises foster the perception that Africa is not a viable business location.  This juxtaposition presents an opportunity to think about what is next for African business and how we can actively shape its future.   With this in mind, discussion at the 2010 Harvard Business School Africa Business Conference will focus on answering questions such as: •In what sectors and geographies will businesses find growth opportunities in the next decade?•What are the biggest challenges facing African businesses and how can they be successfully addressed?•What specific policies and actions should governments pursue to support African business and development? Throughout the conference, our distinguished keynote speakers and panelists will offer their perspectives on these questions, and we hope that you will take the opportunity to engage them and your fellow conference participants in meaningful discussions about defining a new era in African business. Don’t miss this unique opportunity for learning and networking with like-minded individuals who are passionate about making a difference in Africa! For further information about the Africa Business Conference, and to register for the 2010 Conference, please visit http://www.hbsafricaconference.com/Jobs, Scholarships, Awards
The BOOST Fellowship is calling for applications from young women between the ages of 19-22years of age who have completed their High School education and would like to pursue an Undergraduate degree at their local institution.  Requirements:• The applicants must come from underprivileged backgrounds, where they would not otherwise be able to attend university.   
• The applicants must have been accepted into their local tertiary institution – proof of acceptance letter must be forwarded with the application. 
• Preference will be given to young women who want to study subjects related to Medicine, Bio-Chemistry, Engineering, Sciences, and also Business.
• Applicants must submit a personal profile and a short paragraph on what career they will pursue upon graduation .The scholarship will fund each girl\\\'s college education for all 4 years of university.  The scholarship will cover tuition, living expenses, books, costs of program administration, etc., but the total amount should not exceed US$1,100.00.  Successful applicants will be required to submit Report cards at the end of each semester. Closing date for Applications is: 19th February 2010Interested Applicants must submit their applications online to:
The Program Manager
The BOOST Fellowship
1 Walterhill Avenue
Eastlea, Harare,
ZimbabweEmail: to editor@africanexecutive.com  2.Web Developer Wanted I would to invite a quotation or proposals to any web developers out there who can do a good quality job in developing a new website. Please contact me directly through this email address: \\\"David Kiilu\\\" david.kiilu@gmail.com Regards, David kiiluI.T OfficerPeace and Development Network Trust (PeaceNet Kenya)Maalim Juma Rd, Off Denis Pritt RdP.O.Box 49806-00100Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254-20-2725270/1 Fax: +254-20-2725271 Website: http://www.peacenetkenya.org/ 3 Subject: Expression of Interest for ME Consultant, Kenya Moraa New Hope Foundation is looking for an ME Consultant to undertake a monitoring and Evaluation work. Interested consulting firms should submit their technical bid of not more than 10 pages and also their financial bid. The bid should be in a plain sealed envelop and addressed as follows: MNHF/BID/ME/2010/01 To be delivered in-hand (Hard copies) to: 1. Moraa New Hope Foundation4th Floor, Room No. 17Buru Buru Arcade BuildingNext to Uchumi Supermarket Buru Buru. By 20th February 2010 12.00 noon. 2.Soft copy by mail (Word and Excel Document only) to: moraafoundation@yahoo.co.uk Please note: Both hard and soft copy must be received by 20th February 2010, 12.00hours. 4.Event Organizer Wanted, Kenya I am looking for an independent event organizer, to assist in organizing events. Please, let them send me their portfolio or experience. This will be a contract, with a good pay/deal.Contact \\\"Okello David Otieno\\\" otieno.david@gmail.com Okello David OP.O. Box 77435-00611Nairobi, KENYAMobile1: +254-722-125005Mobile 2: +254-770-045590 5.Nanny Wanted to Work in USA I need a nanny to come to USA to babysit my  3 old son. He will be going to school but he need to have someone to stay with him after school, assist in light house keeping, homework and also play games with him. The monthly salary will be 400 dollars. So if anyone can get a visa and is willing to be a nanny .I can pay the air ticket but the person has to pay me back in installments. A working contract will be signed.  Contact: \\\"susan nyambura\\\" 6.Call for entries for the COMESA  Media Awards 2010 Journalists are invited to submit entries for the COMESA Media Awards in the fields of Print, Radio and Television Journalism. Please click here for more details.
7.DIAGEO AFRICA BUSINESS REPORTING AWARDS 2010 Launched to Celebrate African Journalismhttp://www.diageoafricabusinessreportingawards.com/2010awards/Diageo, the world\\\'s leading premium drinks business, is today launching its annual Africa Business Reporting Awards.  Initiated by Diageo in 2004, the awards encourage more prolific business journalism within Africa in a drive to increase the continent\\\'s share of voice in the international media. The number of categories has been extended with sector-specific categories to reflect the important role that various industries play in economic development.The awards ceremony will be held on 1 July, 2010 in Central London.  The closing date for entry is 26 March, 2010. Entries can be submitted online at: http://www.diageoafricabusinessreportingawards.com/The Award categories are as follows (entries can be on any platform - online, print, broadcast):Best ICT feature A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that examines any aspect of the ICT sector in a thoughtful and engaging way. This might include, but is not limited to, telecommunications infrastructure, mobile, networking, security, cyber crime, e-learning, hardware, software, Internet.Best Finance feature A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that examines any aspect of the finance/banking sector in a thoughtful and engaging way. This might include, but is not limited to, investment opportunities, retail banking, credit cards, corporate finance, mobile money, payment systems.Best Infrastructure feature A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that examines any aspect of infrastructure (physical or otherwise) in a thoughtful and engaging way. Features addressing issues of energy and transport can enter this category. This might include, but is not limited to, infrastructure development projects, aviation, oil, roads, rail, energy.Best Agribusiness / Environment feature A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that examines any aspect of agribusiness or environmental issues in a thoughtful and engaging way. This might include, but is not limited to, climate change, agriculture, food security, water management, farming, resource management.Best Tourism feature A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that examines any aspect of the tourism industry in a thoughtful and engaging way. This might include, but is not limited to, hotels, eco-tourism, travel, 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa(tm).Best use of New Media in a story A piece developed using new media (online digital photography, blogs, vodcasts, videos, podcasts or a mixture of these) that effectively supports a story about business or the economy in an African context. The topic is open, but use of new media must help deliver a fresh perspective that helps the audience engage with a story in a way not possible through traditional media alone. Entry must include a live URL.Best Business News story A news story or series of related stories delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that: Addresses a breaking news story from the time period of the awards; Answers all basic questions in a clear and balanced fashion; Demonstrates journalistic flair - a style that is engaging, though-provoking and accessible to its audience.Best Business Feature story A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that: Examines business or the economy in an African context; Provides useful background material for readers to understand relevance; Gives bigger picture and importance to Africa, as well as specific issues it might be addressing; Brings the business and economy to life, while answering the serious questionsBest Newcomer A portfolio of three features (can be across different platforms) by a journalist who has been working as a reporter for less than five years. Proof of first date of accreditation will be required. Judges will be looking for overall quality of reporting, understanding of business issues and personal insights, as well as a commitment to sustained coverage of the business and economic climate in Africa, which serves to highlight opportunities as well as challengesMedia of the Year A print publication, broadcast programme/channel , website or blog that is a comprehensive resource for  its audience providing sustained coverage of Africa\\\'s business and economic news, issues and analysis (sector-specific or otherwise).Please submit a portfolio of five articles of no more than 5,000 words each, or five broadcast programmes, of no more than 3 hours in total. In addition to quality of reporting, balanced perspective, insight and analysis, judges will be looking for style and presentation, as well as outlets that are building a reputation amongst business and investor communities as a valued source of information about Africa.Journalist of the Year A portfolio of three features (on any one or a mixture of media platforms) of no more than 5,000 words or 1 hour each. Submitted pieces can cover different topics, industries or people, or be part of a series of reportage.  As well as quality, style, presentation and a way of engaging the audience, judges will be looking for a commitment to sustained coverage of the business and economic climate in Africa which serves to highlight opportunities as well as challenges.8..EXCITING POSITIONS TO BE FILLED URGENTLY, KENYAThere are job openings for IT sales persons (willing to work in Kisumu, Eldoret, Nairobi) and Front Office Managers attached. I am also looking for chefs to start up ASAP. Any interested parties can please forward your C.V\\\'s to maureen@myjobseye.comRegards, Maureen. 9.FULL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR GRADUATE STUDY AT MASDAR INSTITUTE IN COLLABORATION WITH MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AT CARBON NEUTRAL, ZERO WASTE CITYThe MASDAR Institute of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi is pleased to announce full scholarships to highly qualified graduate students from around the world for its Fall 2010 intake.The MASDAR Institute is the centerpiece of the MASDAR Initiative, a landmark program by the government of Abu Dhabi to establish an entirely new economic sector dedicated to alternative and sustainable energy. The MASDAR Institute is a private, not-for-profit, independent, research-driven institute developed with the support and cooperation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). MIT provides assistance in recruitment of faculty members and senior administrative staff and the provision of course curriculum, amongst other matters. The Institute is located inside the world’s first carbon neutral, zero waste Masdar City which will be powered solely by alternative energy, mainly solar energy. Eighty-eight students from 22 countries were admitted into the Fall 2009 intake, all on full scholarships.The Institute offers MSc programs, and in Fall 2010 is planning to start PhD programs in science and engineering disciplines, with a focus on advanced energy and sustainable technologies. It welcomes and encourages applications from qualified students and provides scholarships to talented students who meet its high admission standards.Details of faculty profiles, current research, programs offered, course description, scholarships, and other information including an online application module is available at http://www.masdar.ac.ae/.Moeen KoaPresident, Palestine BranchIASBA Inc, InternationalMobile #: +970 599 088886Tel #: +970 2 2967417E-Mail: moeen@iasba.org10.COOPERATIVE BANK SCHOLARSHIPS We wish to bring to your attention that Co-operative Bank is awarding Secondary School scholarships to students who sat for last year\\\'s KCPE exams but are unable to raise requisite school fees to join form one.We therefore appeal to all of you, if you know of someone (parents) preferably associated (current or past) with a Co-operative Society who is in need of such assistance to contact Finnlemm offices ASAP.At this point, they need to bring the following:1) Result slip for 2009 KCPE2) Copy of birth certificate3) Form 1 admission, including fees structure4) A brief statement indicating why the nominee/family is deemed needy and the Co-operative Society with which the parent(s) is/ were associated. 5) Any other document (e.g payslip, death certificate, etc) which may aid the process.Eligibility RequirementsThe Co-operative Bank Provincial Delegates meeting, which is the Selection Committee, is looking for candidates who meet the following eligibility requirements:-a. Student must have qualified with a minimum of 350 points in the standard eight final examinations.b. Student must be from a needy family that is unable to support secondary education.c. At least one of the parents of the student must be or have been a member of a Co-operative society.d. Orphans will be eligible provided at least one of the deceased parents was a member ofa Co-operative Society.e. Sponsorship is open for both public and private secondary schools provided that the fees payable per year do not exceed the sum of KSH 50,000/-Terms of SponsorshipThe award is subject to the following terms and conditions:-a. The sponsorship will be extended to 50 students per province in year 2010.b. Out of the 50 students per province, at least 16 should comprise the girl child.c. Out of the 50 students per province, at least two form the boy and girl should, where possible compromise the physically challenged.d. Each student awarded the scholarship will be sponsored school fees, books and uniform, up to a maximum sum of 50,000/- per year.e. The sponsorship fees will be for the entire secondary education i.e. from Form one to Form four.f. School fees will be payable directly to the school and to the suppliers in case of books and uniforms.g. The scholarship will be conditional upon the sponsored student maintaining consistent good performance, discipline and conduct in the four years of secondary education.h. Children of Co-operative Bank employees, Bank delegates and Directors are excluded from participation in this programme.FINNLEMM SACCO SOCIETYWood Avenue, 1ST Flr, Wood avenue court,Off Argwings Kodhek rd, KilimaniP.O Box 67666 - 00200, Nairobi.TEL: 3865766, FAX: 3866048WIRELESS: 0202394214/2394009MOBILE: 0722607983, 0733208122E-mail: customer.care@finnlemm.comAfrica’s Elusive but Untapped Market
Last December, I attempted to come up with a strategy to increase crop production in my rural village. I persuaded the nearest farmers’ training center to come up with a flexible training module for my target group. Many rural people in Sub Saharan Africa are farmers by chance; that is, it is not a choice taken out of a menu of options.  Read moreInvestments in Agriculture Doomed without Small- Scale Farmers
A new paper in Science warns that billions of dollars promised to fund programs to boost small-scale agriculture in developing countries are unlikely to succeed in feeding the world’s increasing populations. This is due not only to increasing populations and changing       environments, but also to little “intellectual commitment” to the ubiquitous small-scale “mixed” farmers who raise both crops and animals and are the source of much of today’s food supplies and economic development.      The authors, who include scientists from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural       Research (CGIAR) and the World Bank, urge wealthy countries, which pledged US$20 billion for developing-country agriculture at the G8 summit in Italy last year, to look beyond "business as usual" investments.     “In most regions of the world, farming systems are under intense pressure. But the problems are not the same everywhere," says Mario Herrero, ILRI senior scientist and the paper’s lead author. "In the past, farmers have developed the ability to adapt to small changes, in terms of weather patterns and access to fertile land and water. But the rapid rates of change seen in many developing countries today outstrip the capacity of many to adapt." Smallholder mixed farmers, particularly in Africa and Asia, have been overlooked by donors and       policymakers because they typically cultivate small plots of land, where they grow modest amounts of staple crops such as rice and maize while also tending a few cows, goats or chickens. Yet collectively these farmers are feeding most of the world’s one billion poor people and they are the key to any efforts to intensify production in the developing world, according to the paper.      The analysis reports that small farms that combine crop and livestock production supply much of food staples of developing  countries—41 percent of maize, 86 percent of rice and 74 percent of      millet—and most of the meat and dairy products consumed in these regions as well. These so-called “mixed systems” can be models of efficient farming, with livestock providing the draft power to till the land and leftover crop residues serving as feed for animals. Moreover, the eggs,       milk and meat from livestock routinely serve as important sources of regular household income, of high-quality protein, as well as a buffer against failed harvests.      Herrero and his colleagues believe this mixed, or integrated, approach to farming offers many opportunities to increase food production sustainably in the developing world “where over the next few decades, agricultural systems, already facing a variety of stresses, will be expected to accommodate a massive population surge.” But the authors caution that realizing the potential of the crop-livestock approach will require reorienting agricultural policies to support smallholder farmers facing an array of challenges that over the next 20 years will challenge farmers’ ability to stay abreast of population growth.       These challenges include climate change, which will alter growing conditions among other factors; an explosion in demand for livestock products, particularly in Asia; and competition for finite natural resources, including water, arable land, and fossil fuels needed to produce fuel and fertilizer. But perhaps most alarming is the fact that in many regions, the various pressures are creating a situation in which the most aggressively farmed lands in the high-potential regions are  "tapped out" or close to their capacity for production.       The scientists warn that “the pressures currently acting on the intensively farmed lands of developing countries are large enough to slow and possibly end the substantial growth rates of crops seen       in recent decades.”      For example, competition for water resources looms as a “huge constraint” on rice and wheat production in South Asia, particularly in India. In the breadbaskets of Africa, exhausted soils and       the loss of agricultural lands to urbanization all threaten yields.  Meanwhile, over the next two decades, meeting rising demand for meat and dairy products in South Asia will require an additional 150 to 200 million cattle and 40 percent more pigs and poultry. Without proper planning and “smart investments”, this growth is likely to damage ecosystems and divert food crop production to animal feed, ultimately imperiling rather than   enhancing food security.      One attractive but neglected approach, according to the analysis, is to channel investments toward boo