African Development Bank signs mega solar Energy deal to, light up Africa

BY SAMUEL NABWIISO

In a major boost for its Light up and power Africa initiative, the African Development Bank has entered into partnership with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to scale up solar energy in Africa.

The Bank and ISA will jointly support technical assistance and knowledge transfer for solar development and deployment in sun-shine rich African countries. Both parties will also develop finance instruments for off-grid solar projects, as well as large-scale solar independent power producers for African ISA member countries.

As part of the new agreement, ISA will support the African Development Bank’s Desert to Power solar initiative –through which the Bank intends to turn Africa's deserts into new sources of energy. Working with partners to develop 10,000 MW of solar power systems across the Sahel, the initiative is expected to provide electricity to 250 million people, with 90 million of these being on off-grid systems.

Under the deal Between the Bank and ISA it will enable more African states to have access to Solar energy 

The partnership agreement was sealed on the margins of the Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) held in New Delhi India recently. The Conference was co-chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and President Emmanuel Macron of France.

“This signing is an important milestone for the Bank in its efforts to lead the continent’s transformation towards sustainable energy, through the use of solar technologies, and in its bid to reach universal access to energy in Africa,” said Amadou Hott, Vice President, Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth at the African Development Bank.

Amadou Hott who signed the deal on behalf of African Development Bank  

In his opening remarks at the Conference, President Macron identified the three top priorities of ISA as the identification of solar projects, mobilization of public and private finance at scale with a focus on guarantee instruments, and transfer of innovative technology solutions and capacity building.

Prime Minister Modi underscored the need to ensure that better and affordable solar technology is available and accessible to everyone.

The joint declaration recognizes the Bank’s New Deal on Energy for Africa, its energy policy and its leadership in working with governments, the private sector, and bilateral and multilateral energy sector initiatives to develop a Transformative Partnership on Energy for Africa.

The declaration lays out areas of deeper cooperation between ISA and the Bank, including developing innovative financial instruments to reduce risks and costs associated with solar investments and to leverage climate financing and commercial co-financing and mobilizing concessional financing through the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) and other Bank-hosted funds.

About 50 countries were represented by heads of state/government and ministers including 11 African Presidents and several African prime ministers, who were joined by solar manufacturers, developers, financial institutions, green funds, innovators, start-ups and NGOs.

The International Solar Alliance initiative was launched at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in November 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former French President Francois Hollande.

The Alliance is a collaborative platform and a coalition of solar resource rich countries designed to address their special energy needs through a common and agreed approach. 32 of the 60-member countries who have joined the alliance are from Africa.

EAC secretariat under review for possible restructure

ARUSHA, Tanzania--The East African Community has embarked on a landmark Work-load Analysis and Job Evaluation exercise that could substantially alter the organizational structure of the Community.

The 15-day exercise which is being conducted by experts from the six EAC Partner States has been convened in line with the directive of the 35th Meeting of the Council of Ministers which was held on 4th April, 2017 in Arusha, Tanzania which approved the terms of reference for work-load analysis and job evaluation.

The experts are drawn from the Public Service Commissions as well Ministries of Public Service in the Partner States.

Speaking when he officially unveiled the exercise, EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko said that one of the expected outcomes of the exercise would be a new organizational structure for the Community.

Amb. Mfumukeko said that the desired structure should be flexible and decentralized to allow speedy decision-making at all levels of the Community using fewer resources.

“To explain the relationship between EAC and the Partner States, I wish to point out that the role of the Secretariat is to coordinate and not implement projects and programmes,” he added.

The scope of the meeting which has been convened by the EAC Ad Hoc Service Commission includes: Undertaking a comprehensive analysis of all positions in the Organs and Institutions; Undertaking a comprehensive analysis of the proposed structures for EAC Organs and Institutions; Proposing a new Grading Structure for the Community, and; Reviewing and updating Job Descriptions for staff in the proposed structures.

The meeting will also: determine optimal staffing levels for EAC Organs and Institutions, and; determine an appropriate salary structure for the Community.

The SG advised the experts that effectively undertaking the assignment requires proper understanding of the direction that the Community would take over the next five years as portrayed in the 5th EAC Development Strategy that was launched by the Heads of State at their 19th Ordinary Meeting held in Kampala, Uganda on 23rd February, 2018.

“The expected organization structure will assist in the implementation of the above strategy. The work-load analysis and job evaluation will cover all EAC Organs and Institutions,” he said.

In his remarks, Mr. Frank Musingiwiire, the Deputy Secretary in the Uganda Public Service Commission, on behalf the Chairperson of the EAC Ad Hoc Service Commission, emphasized that the exercise would transform the Community for betterment of EAC Citizens.

Mr. Musingwiire urged EAC Staff and other stakeholders to own the process which he said would be as transparent as possible. He called on EAC staff to prepare and actively participate in the exercise.

EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Finance and Administration, Hon. Jesca Eriyo, said that the work-load analysis and job evaluation is a continuation of the institutional review which has been ongoing at the EAC for some time.

The 19th Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State resolved that there would only two Deputy Secretaries General (DSGs), down from four, at the EAC Secretariat who shall be recruited competitively on a rotational basis.

The Summit directed the Council to follow up on the issue and conclude the restructuring of the Community. The EAC currently has four DSGs whose functional roles are: Planning and Infrastructure; Productive and Social Sectors; Finance and Administration, and; Political Federation.

Consequently, Hon. Eriyo, the DSG in charge of Finance and Administration, whose second and final term expires in April 2018, will not be replaced.

The EAC Organs – EAC Secretariat (EACS), East African Court of Justice (EACJ) and East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) – currently have a combined staffing of 314 officers, who are either established, project or short-term staff.

The Secretariat has the majority at 228, EACJ 53 while EALA has 33 members of staff.

Source East African Business Week

Kenya launches Pan African skills development programme in agriculture sector

By: XINHUA

Kenya's ministry of education in partnership with a private university and a multinational company on Tuesday launched a training programme targeting mid-level professionals working in the agriculture sector across Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Senior officials said the two year programme seeks to strengthen the capacity of Africa's young professionals to revolutionize agriculture value chains grappling with skills gap and low technology uptake. 

"We need to empower African youth with knowledge, capital, technology and innovations to enhance their contribution to revamping agriculture value chains such as storage, marketing, value addition and processing," said Zainab Hussein, the Principal Secretary in the State Department of Post training and skills development. 

Twenty mid-career professionals drawn from Sub-Saharan African countries will benefit from the two year agribusiness training program supported by AGCO Corporation, a United States-based manufacturer of farm equipment. 

The training will be conducted by Nairobi based private university, Strathmore Business School and seeks to harness the skills and entrepreneur spirit of African youth to propel the continent's agriculture transformation. 

Hussein noted that strategic deployment of youth across key agriculture value chains is key to achieve food security and economic growth in Africa.  

"This continent requires skilled and youthful workforce to modernize our food production systems. We need trained agronomists, farm managers and marketers to ensure our agriculture sector is commercially viable," said Hussein. 

Nuradin Osman, AGCO Vice President and General Manager for Africa said that skilled mid-level managers are key to re-invent farming in a continent grappling with hunger, malnutrition and abject poverty among smallholder farmers. 

"We expect the beneficiaries of the training program to contribute their expertise in critical agriculture value chains like processing, storage and marketing," Osman said. 

He revealed that 1 million U.S. dollars will be spent during the initial phase of the Pan African agribusiness training program to cater for tuition fees, content development and a modest stipend for students.  

Kenyan institutions of higher learning are keen to be part of agricultural transformation in Africa through research, training and deployment of innovations at the small-holder level. 

George Njenga, the Dean of Strathmore Business School, said that a critical pool of trained youth is key to boost the competitiveness of Africa's agriculture sector in light of rapid urbanization and growing demand for food. 

“Besides training the youth, we require policy reforms to ensure this demographic has access to land, capital and equipment in order to participate fully in agribusiness," Njenga said. 

EAC to Celebrate International Women's Day 2018

BYSAMUEL NABWIISO 

The East African Community will join the rest of the world in marking the 2018 International Women’s Day on 8th March, 2018. The event will take place at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

The International Women’s Day is held annually on March 8 to celebrate women’s achievements throughout history and across nations. It is also known as the United Nations (UN) Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace. The UN drew global attention to women’s concerns in 1975 by calling for an International Women’s Year.

The International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on the progress made in women’s rights, to call for change, and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of women’s rights. The theme for the International Women’s Day 2018 is Press for Progress; Planet 50-50 by 2030.

As provided for in Articles 121 and 122 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC, Partner States have undertaken various efforts to enhance the Role of Women in Business and Socio-Economic Development.

The EAC Partner States recognise that women make a significant contribution towards the process of economic transformation and sustainable growth and that it is impossible to implement effective programmes for the economic and social development of the Partner States without the full participation of women.

To this end, the EAC has put the inclusion of women and girls at the center of development programmes with Partner States ensuring affirmative action, constitutional and legal reforms, development of national gender policies; institutional mechanisms for implementation and accountability; economic empowerment measures, and sector-specific policies.

At EAC level the day will be celebrated at EAC Headquiters inArusha but member’s states will he holding their day in different parts of the country according to their choice.

The International Women’s day comes at time when Women in EAC member states like Uganda are facing challenges of human rights abuse raging from raping defilement and abductions which has led to other losing their lives.

Recently Uganda Accountant by the names of Susan Magara was abducted by unidentified peoples who demanded huge amount of Money before they could let her go but unfortunately she was killed by the abductees.

Not only Magara but couple of women in Uganda especially in Wakiso District have been raped and later killed by the goons.

Apart from the above mentioned challenge, most Women in the region are also facing with the problem of Economic rights especially accessing to factors of production such as land this has kept many into poverty because they have no control on land.

However, a senor Gender Officer at the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development told ChimpReports that the government of Uganda through its various programs has supported Women to overcome poverty although a lot is still needed

Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Gender is implementing the women Livelihoods program where Government is extending financial credits to Women groups at cheaper rate interest rates.

Despite all those challenges Ugandan Women are facing, the country will also join the rest of the World to celebrate the International Women’s day which will take in Mityana Municipality Mityana District. The chief guest is expected to be the head of state General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

Jumia to hold mobile phone online sales Bonanza

BY SAMUEL NABWIISO 

Jumia, the leading online shop in Uganda will be holding the biggest mobile phone sale bonanza to its Ugandan Customers.

The Mobile phone sales Bonanza will be a one week event which will start on the 19th March and ends on the 25th of the same month. 

According to Jumia Uganda Country Managing Director, Ham Namakajjo, said the weeklong event will enable Uganda access quality but cheap mobile phones on the market.

“We have partnered with trusted mobile phone distributors to offer the very best prices on Uganda’s favorite mobile phones.” Namakajjo said.

Jumia country Manager Ham Namakajjo stressing point during the press briefing

The online shop guarantees the best prices on the Mobile Week offers and will discount selected models even further during daily flash sales.

 Additionally, Jumia will unveil new and exclusive models from some of Uganda’s favorite smartphone brands, also at slashed prices

Jumia Mobile Week will be happening concurrently across the continent in Jumia’s 12 countries of operation. 

To prepare for the sale, customers are recommended to download the Jumia mobile app since it consumes less data than the website - and to sign up to the Jumia newsletter for the latest updates on the sale.