On 28 June, a major event was organised by CLINQ GOLD at the prestigious Al Habtoor Polo Resort in Dubai, bringing together governors and ministers from more than ten African countries and the United Arab Emirates. The aim was to present the GB-CBDC, a new central bank digital currency backed by gold.
According to a report by the African Development Bank, 20% of Africans are undernourished, revealing a worrying rise in food insecurity and malnutrition on the continent. Dependence on the global food market has exposed Africa to external shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukrainian crisis.
On the occasion of World Sickle Cell Day on 19 June, it is worth remembering that this genetic disease remains a major concern in sub-Saharan Africa, with a prevalence of up to 40% in heterozygous forms and 2% in homozygous forms. What is the current state of research and treatment for this disease, and what is its economic impact in Africa?
Blood transfusion is an essential part of today’s therapeutic arsenal, whether in gynaecology, surgery, traumatology, or for the treatment of certain diseases such as sickle cell anaemia or Ebola haemorrhagic fever. Unfortunately, blood donation in Africa is still too often hampered by beliefs that limit its effectiveness.
Faced with record unemployment of 32.8%, the South African government, supported by its partners, has launched a $53 million fund to stimulate technological entrepreneurship within universities. This initiative follows on from the TIMBUKTOO initiative presented at DAVOS, aimed at countering the effects of business relocation and productivity challenges.
Investment in human capital is fundamental to economic development, and is one of the key pillars for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Building infrastructure in Africa is hampered by the complexity of raising funds from international players and development banks. Fluctuations in the international monetary system and reductions in public aid from developed countries further complicate the situation.
In recent years, the European banking sector has gradually reduced its presence in Africa, faced with significant financial losses. The 2010 crisis and the tightening of prudential rules have exacerbated this trend.
At the sixth summit between the European Union and the African Union in Brussels, the focus was on research and innovation as key drivers of development and cooperation in Africa. These areas are seen as catalysts for progress, and are vital for tackling global challenges such as climate change, population growth and economic recovery.
In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, African leaders have realised the importance of digitisation in revitalising their national economies and optimising tax revenue collection. Start-ups in search of growth are turning to investment funds, with a focus on the digital economy and financial inclusion.
The African Energy Technology Conference in Accra brought together African and international leaders to discuss the adoption of advanced energy technologies and policy integration for an equitable energy transition. Faced with an energy deficit affecting businesses and households alike, Africa is actively exploring renewable energies as a means of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In the current context of digitalisation, African nations, supported by international bodies, are placing digital development at the heart of their continental strategies, thereby catalysing the transformation of education.
Initiated by the First Lady of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi Foundation is committed to the well-being of the Congolese people. It targets the most vulnerable in particular. It focuses on four main areas: education, health, the fight against gender-based violence and the empowerment of women. These areas of intervention promote the value and freedom of women, considered essential to progress and innovation. The foundation stresses the importance of hard work, ethics, patience and perseverance in its efforts to strengthen society.
Drug trafficking is a global problem, with the WHO estimating that one in every 10 medicines in the world is counterfeit.
According to UNESCO figures, this is a major challenge: around 20% of 6-11 year-olds do not attend school, with the rate rising to 33% for 12-14 year-olds and 60% for 15-17 year-olds. In Niger, for example, the average number of years of schooling is estimated at 3, while in Mali and Sudan it is barely better, at 4. Among girls, Niger has the lowest school enrolment rate in the world, at less than 60%.
Côte d’Ivoire is preparing to host the 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 soccer tournament, proving the country’s ability to organize major sporting events such as the African Basketball Championship, the Taekwondo World Cup in 2013 and the Jeux de la Francophonie in 2017.
January 6 is World War Orphans’ Day, a reminder that every year tens of thousands of children become direct or indirect victims of armed conflict.
In just a few years, healthcare systems in Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa in particular, have undergone major transformations, with double-digit growth set to continue over the coming decades. The major issues at stake, on which tomorrow’s demographic, health and geopolitical balances depend, now place Africa at the heart of global changes in terms of food, health and the environment, explaining this ongoing investment policy. Let’s take a look at these economic prospects, boosting healthcare policy across the African continent.
This mRNA vaccine production facility, built from recycled shipping containers, should eventually employ around 100 people, on a 35,000 square meter site. This is Africa’s second mRNA vaccine plant, following an initial partnership in South Africa between biotech companies Afrigen and Biovac, supported by the WHO and the South African Medical Research Council.
Continuing its ambitious policy in the field, Djibouti is part of an increasingly qualitative African medical offering, striving to understand the challenges facing the health economy. Despite its small population, the Republic aspires to be one of the health leaders in the Horn of Africa, by becoming a pool of excellence and reference in the medical field.
While the African continent has long been plagued by the HIV epidemic, many countries have since embarked on ambitious health policies, barely slowed by the Covid episode. On this December 1st, World AIDS Day provides an opportunity to take stock of the situation, and to highlight issues that go far beyond the health and medical impact of the epidemic, to include new economic and socio-cultural implications.
Health systems in sub-Saharan Africa reflect chronic technical and human underdevelopment. A better understanding of these deficiencies is essential to bring the African health economy closer to international standards, which have been steadily rising in recent years thanks to major medical advances. This public health issue goes beyond the African continent. It is one of the major challenges of tomorrow, which the world must rise to if it is not to upset the increasingly fragile social and geopolitical balance of the world.