Africa in union issue 4 2015

The publication of the african union commission

AUC

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African Union Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma

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he Africa we experience today is completely different to the one of a decade ago.

Every development idea that has been accelerated, if not already actioned, proves this. Every free, fair and transparent democratic election is a victory for unification of the continent. Every coalition that is formed and every person that is uplifted, skilled or educated is an investment. For every gun that is silenced, every crop that is harvested, and every child that is fed and every woman that is emancipated, we herald and rejoice.

All this, and more, says one very clear thing to me: Africa is ready to take care of itself, is responsible and agile, and that is why this year has been such an important one for the African Union.

When we introduced Agenda 2063, we knew that so many of us would not be able to sit under the branches of the tree that we plant today but that is the whole point. It is our job as custodians of our 54 member states to ensure that we have a comprehensive plan that will guide the way Africa develops into the future and sustains. And Agenda 2063 is more than a good plan, it is a defining and broad-reaching strategic initiative that echoes exactly what Africans want for their continent.

It is true that Africa still has problems but Agenda 2063 is designed to solve those and women will be playing some of the most important roles in finding those solutions.

Empowering Women has been the AU’s theme for the year. It plays out in all our activities, it ripples through our nations like a stone thrown into water and it has been very effective indeed.

Even within the AU, women are at the forefront of ensuring change for the better, demanding ever higher levels of awareness so that women and the youth who will be tomorrow’s leaders, are given all the necessary opportunities to become valuable and treasured Africans.

We at the AU, and those who work with us, do not underestimate the scale of the transformation that is needed, but we will meet those challenges by using the agility of the youth in combination with the experience of the mature. We are developing inspirational leaders and our strategies are working.

This is evidenced by the attractive new investments, from foreign and local supporters, that speak of a growing belief in Africa, in its talents and its people. Collaboration across all sectors, across all borders and organisations continues to thrive and the AU, along with its partners, is proud to be one of the catalysts of Africa’s renaissance.

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AFRICAN ECONOMIC RESEARCH CONSORTIUM (AERC) Building Capacity for Research and Training to Inform Economic Policy in Africa

Thirty years ago, the notion of evidence-based policy making was virtually non-existent in Africa, as there was a severe shortage of well-trained locally based economists to carry out policy relevant research to inform policy making. Thus, a lot of economic policies were guided by ideology, judgment, and prescriptions coming from outside the continent, particularly from the Bretton Woods institutions. Growth in sub-Saharan Africa stagnated by the late 1970s and continued to worsen in the 1980s, due largely to inappropriate economic policies.

AERC, established in 1988, came into existence to help change this economic policy landscape. AERC’s mission then (and now) is to strengthen local capacity for conducting independent, rigorous inquiry into the problems facing the management of economies in sub-Saharan Africa. That mission rests on two basic premises. First, that development is more likely to occur where there is sustained sound management of the economy. Second, that such management is more likely to happen where there is an active, well-informed group of locally based professional economists to conduct policy-relevant research. Specifically, then, AERC’s objectives are to: (1) enhance the capacity of locally based researchers to conduct policy-relevant economic inquiry, (2) promote the retention of such capacity within the continent, and (3) encourage its application in the policy context. While the capacity challenge still remains, AERC has scored outstanding successes in all these areas, as evidenced by numerous alumni who occupy mid to highest levels of positions in policy organizations and academic institutions.

Today Africa differs sharply with what it was in the 1980s. Growth is robust, resilient and generally diversified and the continent is now one of the fastest growing regions of the world. This African growth syndrome is not accidental. It can be attributed to improved capacity for economic policy analysis on the continent, better policies, im-

proved governance and a new breed of policy makers who are evidence driven, and many of these policy makers are alumni of AERC. For instance, among the AERC alumni are over a dozen governors and deputy governors of African central banks, as well as policy advisors and policy makers at the very high echelons of governments.

The Vision of AERC is “Sustained development in sub-Saharan Africa grounded in sound economic management and an informed society”. In pursuit of its vision and mission, AERC has fostered an enduring, integrated capacity building framework that offers a diverse, yet integrated, set of products and services—research, collaborative graduate training/institutional strengthening1, policy outreach and vast network of researchers, universities and policy makers across Africa and beyond—under one roof serving as a multi-entry point for policy makers, development partners, and other stakeholders.

These three pillars have been finessed over the years to deliver high quality research informing economic policies, and to produce a critical mass of policy makers guided by rigour and evidence; and highly competent graduates largely retained on the continent. Because of their work being guided by rigour and evidence, and their knowledge and understanding of the local environment, the AERC network members have increasingly been used as a sounding board for major policy issues by national governments and multilateral institutions both in Africa and outside Africa.

The AERC research programme has contributed immensely to both knowledge generation and policy design in Africa. For instance, the AERC collaborative research project on Poverty in Africa was a cornerstone of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) for most African governments. The collaborative research project on Institutions and Service Delivery has spawned a large project by the World Bank (in partnership with AERC) on Service Delivery Indicators, which is being rolled out across the continent. Recently AERC completed Capital Flight from Africa project, and this project was the basis for the 2014 AERC Senior Policy Seminar, which was convened in partnership with United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). AERC research has also attracted the interest of respected academic publishers, such as Oxford University Press, Routledge and Cambridge University Press, as well as top international journals.

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The AERC collaborative postgraduate training involves a network of 37 universities in sub-Saharan Africa who come together, under the facilitation of AERC, to develop joint curriculum, joint enforcement of standards and joint offerings of electives in a way that allows for the leveraging of the best of capacities across these universities. By collaborating, universities can achieve more than is feasible unilaterally. Indeed, the AERC collaborative training programmes conform to best global practices, as can be seen through the placements of the graduates of the AERC collaborative programmes.

Moreover, AERC commands strong convening power in policy dialogue and research dissemination in Africa and beyond, and has emerged as a premier capacity building institution with global reach and appeal, but with a focus on Africa. Indeed, AERC has increasingly received global acclaim for its quality products and services, and is ranked highly among global development think tanks.

It is heartening to note that the AERC vision and mission are at the centre of the African Union Commission’s “Agenda 2063” on the Africa We Want. This agenda is part of a plan for Africa’s structural transformation that was agreed upon by the African Union Golden Jubilee of May 2013. On this auspicious occasion Africa’s political leadership acknowledged past achievements and challenges, and rededicated itself to the Pan African vision of ― an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena. AERC is, thus, a natural partner to the African Union, particularly in the priority area of “Agenda for Social and Economic Development in Africa”. Indeed, the new AERC Strategic Plan 2015-2020 is not only aligned to this agenda, but should contribute significantly towards the realization of outcomes for this agenda.

AERC has built considerable comparative advantage over the years and is now rated highly globally as a premier African capacity building institution. Indeed, AERC regularly partners with fledgling national research institutions and think tanks and universities in an effort to strengthen capacity building in the continent. With appropriate resourcing, these capacity building activities can be ramped up, thus enabling AERC to significantly contribute towards the goals of the African Union Agenda 2063. During the 2015-2020 Strategic Plan period, AERC will leverage existing partnerships, and build new ones in Africa and beyond, to enhance the quality and reach of capacity building as well as its policy impact. This includes strengthening partnerships with key African institutions such as the African Development Bank, UNECA, African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) and the African Union, particularly in areas of mutual interest.

As part of deepening its African stakeholder-ship, the AERC African Central Banks Governors Forum was established in 2015, with eleven African Central Banks signing the historic Livingstone declaration to become members of the Consortium with core support to AERC. The AERC African Central Banks Governors Forum is a strong affirmation of the value proposition of AERC, as the primary beneficiaries of AERC capacity building (African Governments) are taking responsibility for the sustainability of the organization. This initiative also gives greater voice to African governments and institutions in the governance of AERC. Prior to the admittance of the Governors Forum to the AERC Board, only the Government of Kenya was represented among the Institutional Board of Governors of the AERC. AERC is thus delighted to see growth in the representation of African institutions in its Board of Governors.

African Economic Research Consortium Consortium pour la Recherche Economique en Afrique PO Box 62882 – 00200 City Square, Nairobi, Kenya

Middle East Bank Towers, 3rd Floor, Milimani Road Tel: (254-20) 273-4179 / 273-4157 Fax: (254-20) 273-4173 exec.dir@aercafrica.org / communications@aercafrica.org

AERC Strategic Plan 2015–2020 The Strategic Objectives

The AERC Strategic Plan 2015–2020 builds on the remarkable successes that AERC has scored over the last quarter century, underpinned by its diverse yet integrated programmes spanning research, collaborative graduate training and policy outreach. Informed by the evolving needs and present development imperatives in sub-Saharan Africa, the strategic objectives for the 2015–2020 Strategy Plan period are to: 1.

Enhance capacity building for economic policy research and graduate training in sub-Saharan Africa.

2.

Build and strengthen national, regional and global linkages to generate high quality economic policy research and graduate training.

3.

Engage the private sector in mutually beneficial research and training activities to enhance innovation, and to deepen and broaden AERC capacity building.

4.

Enhance AERC visibility, outreach and policy engagement to maximize the uptake of AERC products in policy.

5.

Maximize mutual benefits through diversified resource base and stakeholder-ship for sustainability.

AERC has many areas of potential synergy with African Union Commission Agenda 2063, primarily through the Agenda for Social and Economic Development, which focuses on a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development. This agenda stresses on well-educated citizens and skills revolution underpinned by science, technology and innovation for a knowledge society. The agenda also strives to ensure that African economies are structurally transformed to create shared growth, decent jobs and economic opportunities for all. The agenda is directly aligned to the AERC vision and mission, as well as the AERC Strategic Plan 2015-2020 objective.

To reiterate, the AERC vision and mission are; Vision: To sustain development in sub-Saharan Africa grounded in sound economic management and an informed society. Mission: Strengthening local capacity for conducting independent, rigorous inquiry into problems pertinent to the management of African economies, through a synergetic programme combining economic research with postgraduate training in economics. This is aimed at empowering individuals and institutions in Africa to deliver innovative growth oriented policy instruments for the economic transformation of the continent, which is precisely what is called for in the AU Agenda 2063.

research@aercafrica.org / training@aercafrica.org / www.aercafrica.org

Contents

4 Foreword Dr. Nkosazana Zuma - AUC Chairperson 10 Editor’s foreword 12 Honouring Women 18 AUC Leadership 26 Mainstreaming Women and their Contribution 36 The Africa We want 40 The Sky is not the limit

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©123RF/ BUDASTOCK

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46 Does Economic growth mean growth in the standards of life?

58 Vote for peace 62 Combating future health emergencies 66 A Climate of Unity 74 Planting seeds for the future 82 Leveraging Africa’s Natural Resources 94 Africa must map new approaches to diversity

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Moving forward on Agenda 2063 No problems without solutions

Company profiles 30 88 104

Workers Life

Hotel Verde

GE Africa

PUBLISHER PUBLISHING EDITOR Grivin Ngongula grivin@primediazw.com Prime Media Network Publishing Group (PTY) 262 Voortrekker Road, Cape Town, South Africa Tel: +27 21 829 0259 Email: info@primedia.com Web: www.primedia.com

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All work published in Africa in Union publication is protected by copyright. Only with written permission from the publisher may any part of this magazine be reproduced or adapted in any form. The information provided and opinions expressed in Africa in Union publication do not necessarily represent the opinions of this publication, the publisher or the editor. The publication, the publisher and the editor cannot be held liable for damages of any kind arising directly or indirectly from any facts or information provided or omitted in these pages or from any statements made or withheld by this publication.

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Guest Editor’s note Woman to woman

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t least once a year I attend a continental conference. Each time I return to South Africa inspired and genuinely motivated by the escalation of good works. Five years ago I listened to Graca Machel at the AfDB’s annual meetings in Cote d’ Ivoire. She verbalized her irritation on the amount of time being spent talking about Africa’s issues.

The time for talking is done, was her message. It was her call for action.

It is appropriate that I mention Graca, she being one of those extraordinary African women that got the balance right. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is yet another.

These two incredibly strong women epitomize how female leaders change the dynamic of absolutely everything. This is also true of all the women in the AU! The are a large number of female commissioners at the AU, and with them teams of equally strong women.

The power of women teams is extraordinary because it is never about individual power and control, it’s always about empowering others.

This year’s AU Annual Summit theme, Empowering Women, has set the tone for the whole of the continent.

Every subject or issue being talked about includes a focus on how to elevate women, how to include them, how to engage them, but more importantly, how to prevent them from being raped, being silenced and being ignored.

I have met with many African women ambassadors of change. Some are not famous, nor would they make headlines, but in every single case, they are the grace of Africa. I am honoured to have listened to them, shared with them, and be trusted with interpreting their words, and passing them on.

Kerry Dimmer

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Year of Women Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063

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Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma’s opening speech at the 25th Summit of Heads of State and Government set the tone for a Summit that not only highlighted the weaknesses the African continent is experiencing but also offered proactive solutions to combat them. All these solutions have one goal in mind: to realize Agenda 2063’s dream of creating an ideal future for Africa.

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A prosperous and united Africa The 25th Summit of Heads of State and Government was hosted in Johannesburg in June. The Summit’s theme, “Year of Women Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063”, highlighted the role women should play in the development of a prosperous and united Africa.

During her opening speech, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, HE Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma expressed her passion for Agenda 2063 by acknowledging the progress that have been made over the past several months regarding the First 10-year implementation plan.

She also isolated the various areas where African countries are lagging behind on and called on heads of state and governments to do more to realize the common dream for the continent.

An Africa free from Ebola At the previous summit, which started in Addis Ababa at the beginning of this year, the Ebola epidemic in Western Africa was looking extremely dire. During the 25th Summit however, Dr. Zuma was able to announce that Liberia had been Ebola free for 78 days, which is an exceptional progress. She congratulated Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone’s governments and peoples for their hard work and resilience in the struggle and that this commitment should continue into Guinea and Sierra Leone to gain the same result.

She said that Africa has learned a great deal from the epidemic. “The lesson from the Ebola Virus Disease is that with African solidarity and resolve, we can find our own solutions to our challenges. The disease also exposed the weaknesses of our health systems, especially public health. As we move towards recovery, we must train more health workers, and build and strengthen our health systems and infrastructure.”

Early September the World Health Organization declared Liberia free of Ebola, which indicates Africa’s

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commitment to combatting this virus even further.

“An integrated, prosperous, peaceful and peopleorientated Africa” The xenophobic events across Africa are a particular concern Dr. Zuma underlined.

She said that it had become time for Africans to take to heart the words of Pixley ka Isaka Seme, one of the founding fathers of African National Congress (ANC), taken from his winning essay in 1906: “The African people, although not a strictly homogeneous race, possess a common fundamental sentiment which is everywhere manifest, crystallizing itself into one common controlling idea.

“Conflicts and strife are rapidly disappearing before the fusing force of this enlightened perception of the true intertribal relation, which relation should subsist among a people with a common destiny”.

This common destiny, she said should guide Africans “towards an integrated, prosperous, peaceful and peoplecentered Africa which is a dynamic force in the world”.

Dr. Zuma said that in order for Africa

to realize Seme’s dream, there are various obstacles that should be overcome. “We must believe in ourselves,” she said.

“We have to realise that the demographic dividend is possible if we adopt the right policies, manage our diversity and make every citizen feel valued and part of the driving forces for change and progress, irrespective of tribe, religion, colour or creed, and whether they are man, woman, boy or girl.”

An educated and skilled African workforce Dr. Zuma stressed that Africa should not camp at the borders of the industrial world but educate and empower the children and youth of the continent.

By investing in an African workforce that is educated in science, engineering, technology and maths and skilled in technical and vocational dexterities, there will be less precarious journeys across the Sahel and the Mediterranean sea, and terrorists, extremists and armed groups would also have trouble recruiting these educated and skilled youths.

According to Dr. Zuma, Africa’s youth

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will instead focus on creating electricity, produce food, transform economies and develop and build infrastructure, and most importantly they will “create a uniquely African continent whose economic development will not only be based on profit, but on the needs of the people, driven by the youth and women. They will create a prosperous and non-sexist continent. They will take charge of our outer space.”

In January 2016 the African Union will present the strategy for enhancing capacity and skill of Africa’s young people and women with regards to Agenda 2063.

the world and offer various vocational opportunities. Dr. Zuma announced the launch of the Decade of African Oceans and Seas. The Decade of African Oceans and Seas aims to create awareness of the prospects this industry holds for Africans and how they will be able to develop them.

Consequently, Dr. Zuma called on coastal countries, island states and countries with waterways to join in to make this decade a success. Likewise, the potential agro industries in Africa must be developed, she noted.

“Africa has many examples of indeginous and good farming practices, some of them climate smart and we must

“We have to realise that the demographic dividend is possible if we adopt the right policies, manage our diversity and make every citizen feel valued and part of the driving forces for change and progress, irrespective of tribe, religion, colour or creed, and whether they are man, woman, boy or girl.”

As a result African countries must pay attention to developing vocational and higher education. Dr. Zuma accentuated that countries should to do more to popularize the 10-year plan in the time leading up to January 2016. Africa must go the extra mile “to align our national and regional strategies and report on our recommendations on the allocation of roles and responsibilities between the RECs, the AU Commission and the Nepad Agency,” she added.

Utilizing and building the potential of Africa’s seas and land Africa’s oceans and seas are of the largest in

share these experiences, and replicate and upscale them.

“In addition, more must be done on agro-processing and businesses, as part of building our collective food security, to reverse our high food imports bill and as part of industrialisation and job creation.”

An Africa where guns are silenced Dr. Zuma touched on how women and children are the main victims of the conflicts the continent is experiencing.

African Union peacemakers and mediators are therefore determined to silence the guns within the pledged time frame of five years.

“Our resolve to silence the guns, must therefore give hope to women and children suffering from the terror of Boko Haram and Al Shabaab. Our resolve must provide renewed hope to the peoples in conflict ridden areas in Darfur, East DRC, Libya, Mali, Somalia, and South Sudan, where lives and livelihoods have been shattered,” she said.

Continental Free Trade in Africa Dr. Zuma mentioned her excitement about the 26 countries that signed the trade agreement. She said that if ECOWAS could be added to this number, there would be a total of 41 countries that have signed the agreement, which would contribute to intra-Africa trade and also enhance investment.

“In a similar vein, if we move faster on the free movement of people, goods and services, and the African passport, we are sure to see an increase in trade, as well as tourism and economic growth,” she added.

An Africa where women are key role players A main theme throughout Dr. Zuma’s talk was the growing role women are playing in taking charge in making Africa a part of the Blue economy. She mentioned how earlier this year various African women in maritime met in Angola and chartered areas of collaboration within the fishing industry. She also mentioned her delight in the large numbers of women who have attended the Summit.

Because Agenda 2063 is about its people, the continent must not exclude half of its population. The Summit’s theme of Women’s empowerment for the realization of Agenda 2063 is therefore a welcomed step in the right direction.

She concluded with a quote from late President Nelson Mandela who said that: “As long as outmoded ways of thinking prevent women from making a meaningful contribution to society, progress will be slow.

“As long as the continent refuses to acknowledge the equal role of more than half of itself, it is doomed to failure.”

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MESSAGE FROM THE IGAD EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) congratulates IGAD member states on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of this regional organisation. This is an important milestone for the entire IGAD region as we work together for the promotion of peace, for the development of our agriculture and infrastructure - while safeguarding our environment - and for the realization of our regional economic integration.

IGAD as an organisation, representing a region, has come a long way since its foundation in 1986. Initially launched as the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD) whose core goal was to tackle drought effects, the mandate of the organisation had to be expanded so as to take on broader and emerging challenges of the time.

Still, challenges remain as we face obstacles and impediments to our progress; making our choices, and the formulation of plans and visions for achieving our goals in the region, difficult.

There have been achievements in so many areas. Let me thus seize this opportunity to recall some historic achievements of IGAD as an organisation and those of our region since its foundation in 1986.

• IGAD was revitalized and its mandate expanded in 1996 to become a regional sustainable development organisation; • IGAD helped Member States to develop regional and national early warning and food information systems in response to the famine that hit the region in 1984; • IGAD cemented close working relations between its member states which led to a regional integration in the areas of infrastructure (roads, telecommunication, power-connectivity, etc.); • IGAD formulated multi-sectoral development strategies such as the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and the IGAD Drought Disaster Resilience and Sustainability Initiative (IDDRSI) to address food security and degradation of the environment as well to enhance resilience in the region;

• IGAD became one of the building blocks of the African Union in 1998; • IGAD participated in the formulation and endorsement of the African Union Agenda 2063; • IGAD worked closely with the African Union in achieving peace and security in the region and beyond the region (e.g. Peace missions in and outside the region); • IGAD participated in the development process of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the continental level; • IGAD initiated the East African Standby Force which culminated with the establishment of the East African Standby Brigade.

That said, we will not bask in our laurels. And IGAD, in close cooperation with other regional and international organisations and the United Nations agencies, is more than ever committed to supporting member states in their endeavour towards Peace, Prosperity and Regional Integration.

• IGAD contributed to the peaceful resolution of the Sudan crises with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement which led to the independence of South Sudan;

There is a long way to go and so much work ahead of us together – member states, development partners, the African Union, the United Nations system, sister regional organisations, civil society – to ensure the achievement of a peaceful, prosperous and integrated IGAD region. In this regard, I want to express IGAD’s commitment to and readiness in the realization of the AU Agenda 2063, and its 10-Year Implementation Plan, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region.

• IGAD has been spearheading the peace process in South Sudan until a peace agreement was recently reached;

IGAD will uphold peace principles and deliver peace dividends so as to make the IGAD region a prosperous and integrated region.

• IGAD has been working, with partners, on bringing peace and security back to Somalia;

Ambassador (Eng.) Mahboub Maalim, Executive Secretary

IGAD Advertorial

Organisation name:

Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)

Member states: Djibouti

Headquarters:

IGAD Secretariat, Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti

Eritrea

Executive Secretary:

Ambassador (Eng.) Mahboub Maalim

Ethiopia

Founded:

16 January, 1986

Kenya

Official languages:

English and French

Somalia

Population:

214 million

South Sudan Sudan Uganda

Photographs by Eric Lafforgue, Uma Nambiar and Foto Source

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AUC

AUC Leadership 2012 to 2016 Leadership at the AUC plays a pivotal role in achieving set objectives. These men and women have been instrumental in steering the AUC over the past decade.

H.E Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Chairperson

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H.E Mr Erastus Mwencha Deputy Chairperson

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H.E. Dr. Aisha L. Abdullahi Commissioner for Political Affairs

H. E. Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Commissioner for Social Affairs

Dr. Anthony Mothae Maruping Commissioner for Economic Affairs

H.E. Ambassador Smail Chergui Commissioner for Peace and Security

H. E. Dr. Martial De-Paul Ikounga Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology

H.E. Mrs. Fatima Haram ACYL Commissioner for Trade and Industry

H.e Dr. Elham Mahmoud Ahmed Ibrahim

Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy

H. E. Tumusiime Rhoda Peace Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture

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Secretaries General of the Organisation of African Unity 1963 to 2002

Kifle Wodajo (Acting) Took office 25 May 1963 Left office 21 July 1964 Country Ethiopia

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Diallo Telli Took office 21 July 1964 Left office15 June 1972 Country Guinea

Nzo Ekangaki Took office 15 June 1972 Left office 16 June 1974 Country Cameroon

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William Eteki Took office 16 June 1974 Left office 21 July 1978 Country Cameroon

Edem Kodjo Took office 21 July 1978 Left office 12 June 1983 Country Togo

Peter Onu (Acting) Took office 12 June 1983 Left office 20 July 1985 Country Nigeria

Ide Oumarou Took office 20 July 1985 Left office 19 September 1989 Country Niger

Salim Ahmed Salim Took office 19 September 1989 Left office 17 September 2001 Country Tanzania

Amara Essy Took office 17 September 2001 Left office 19 July 2002 Country Côte d’Ivoire

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EPWP – IMPROVING QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN GAUTENG

The quality of education that thousands of children are receiving at schools in Gauteng is improving as a result of Government’s Extra School Support Programme (ESSP).

The ESSP is part of the Government’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Social Sector programmes and is implemented in many primary schools in Gauteng.

“Since the implementation of the ESSP in 2011, we have noted an improvement in the ability of our children to grasp both literacy and numeracy at our schools. We have seen an improvement in the results of the Annual National Assessment (ANA) at the schools where the programme is being applied. Today our children are able to read and count as a result of this programme,” the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE’s) ESSP coordinator in the Ekurhuleni North Region Rebecca Moloi said.

The Programme is implemented by the GDE – as a lead department – alongside various Government Departments including Public Works, Community Safety as well as Sports and Recreation.

The ESSP is applied in Grade 1 to Grade 7 and it is implemented in a three pronged approach, i.e. homework supervision, mass sport participation and school safety. The three pronged approach to this programme ensures a holistic quality of education for thousands of school children.

The first part of ESSP is the homework supervision, which is a programme where children are being assisted with their homework

by EPWP Participants.

“We do a range of duties at the school including checking the learners’ homework diaries and ensuring that they (learners)

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actually do their homework. Where the learners struggle with a subject – we work with them to ensure that they better understand that particular subject. It must be noted however that we do not spoon-feed the children, instead we work with them,” the ESSP homework supervisor at Siphephu Primary School in Daveyton-Ekurhuleni area Yoliswa Khumalo said.

Khumalo, 31, pointed out that as homework supervisors, they also assiste learners with various activities such as reading, spelling as well as language activities.

She said that the Programme has also benefited her tremendously, particularly in relation to caring and working with children.

“The EPWP has changed my life for the better because I’m able to put food on the table with a monthly stipend that I receive. I have also learned a lot about caring for children. This Progamme has been wonderful!” she added.

Khumalo and her colleagues that do homework supervision receive a monthly stipend of R700.

The team of ESSP homework supervisors at Siphephu Primary School is led by the 23-year-old Phindile Makaringe who pointed out that there were a total of eleven ESSP practitioners at the school.

“There are six (6) homework supervisors, four (4) sports supervisors as well as 4 patrollers (safety officers) at the school.

The homework supervisors helps the learners with their homework in four main subjects, namely Mathematics, English, IsiZulu and in IsiNdebele,” she explained.

Department of Public Works Advertorial

LEARNERS

The learners at the school described the ESSP as a “great programme”.“I was struggling with English, particularly with spelling of words and synonyms. My marks were also not looking good.

But since the ESSP teachers (supervisors) arrived at our school, my spelling of words has improved. I now know more synonyms and my marks are improving,” said Thato Nxumalo, a grade seven (7) learner at the school.

She indicated that as a result of the ESSP supervisors, they had formed a debate team at the school.

Moloi pointed out that the programme focused at providing a holistic development of learners at school, while providing work opportunities to the participants.

She said that there were 34 primary schools in her region that were implementing ESSP. A rough calculation of the number of the learners at each of the school in the North Ekurhuleni region placed the number of learners who are benefiting from it at more than 40 000.

“My parents are also happy that my school work is also improving,” Nxumalo added.

The ESSP’s second and third legs are mass sport participation and school safety respectively.

A grade seven (7) learner at the school, Thabiso Mofokeng, explained that the ESSP’s mass sport participation had encouraged him to participate in several sporting codes at the school.

“As a result of my participation in gymnastics and soccer at school, I have participated in several national tournaments in both sporting codes,” he said.

Another learner who is benefiting from ESSP at the Bhekimfundo Primary School Mbali Zwane urged the Government to unleash more ESSP participants to her school.

“All my friends and classmates in Grade 3 love these ESSP teachers (participants) because they truly help us. We would like to have more of them,” she said.

A grade 2 teacher at Sephephu Primary School, Hazel Mashinini, also commended the ESSP. “These ESSP participants have made our work easier and are willing to go an extra mile to help the children. We need government to get more young people on this programme,” Mashinini added.

A parent of a grade three learner at Bhekimfundo Primary School, Nylon Mabusela also hailed the Programme.

“Parents love to see their children’s education being taken serious.

We are pleased that government has taken the education of our children serious,” Mabusela said.

The school’s principal Patricia Mahati also spoke highly of the Programme.

“We currently have 12 ESSP participants at our school. We would welcome the decision to increase this number,” she added.

She explained that the ESSP in her region had close to 400 posts for the 2014/15 financial year.

“We have 250 posts that are funded through the EPWP’s Equitable Share Grant while the 147 posts are funded through the Incentive Grant. These posts include general supervisors, sports, arts and culture assistants, homework assistants and administration assistants that are located at the district level,” Moloi said.

She added that the ESSP participants were receiving accredited training in various skills such as people’s management, Information Technology and Office Management, as well as Early Childhood and Development (ECD) training.

Moloi said that the ESSP participants were on a 12 month contract and were hired based on merit.

Criterions for the appointment of ESSP’s homework supervisors and sport supervisors include having a Grade 12 qualification. The candidate must be able to speak, write and read the language of training and must be available for four hours a day.

“EPWP: changing many lives for the better.”

For more information about the Expanded Public Works Programme go to www.epwp.gov.za

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GAP Management Advertorial

GAP MANAGEMENT Gap Management founded in 2000 is a Global Superior Facility and Property Management Company. The MD of Gap Management and his highly professional team have built this business from An SME to an international Entity.

Gap Management offers a wide range of services including cleaning; security, hygiene, industrial cleaning, access maintenance and fire prevent systems. Provide centralised 24/7 surveillance monitoring and control of critical sites with support staff on 24/7 standby. Gap Management is also hosting a Gap integrated property and facility system with superior secured access.

Our Work in Africa Theft, damage, maintenance and illegal occupants on repossessed or vacant properties are some of the problems faced by our customers.We aim to diminish these challenges with the deployment of a variety of security solutions. Once instructed to a property our experienced officials shall recommend and deploy the best possible security solution for the particular property. Such security solutions include, but is not limited to:Alarm Systems: GAP Management utilises a state of the art alarm system, which presents a complete modular wireless solution utilizing GPRS technology and operates completely independently from conventional resources such as electrical reticulation and telephone lines. All alarm system components are CSIR, ICASA and SABS approved. Each alarm system includes a gas spray device, which is connected to the control panel and activated by a variety of wireless sensors which in turn are strategically deployed throughout a building to ensure maximum protection. Each alarm system can only be deactivated and activated by GAP Management’s Control Room or Alarm Technician.

All activities recorded by the deployed sensors as well as all administration and management events are automatically logged and as such activity reports can be availed to customers. Alarm systems are maintained and monitored on a 24-7 basis by our Alarm Technicians and Control Room Operators who have all been trained in this discipline by the manufacturer.

GAP Fire: Gap Management provides turnkey fire protection and detection solutions, including design, fabrication, supply and installation. We are committed to provide professional services to our clients to complete each project to specification on time and within budget. We are registered with ASIB Accredited company. We serve major clients like DHL Bentler SA Baywest Mall Nonenesi Mall , Vwsa , Coca Cola Spicer Axie , Value Logistics Gubb / Inngs.

Guards: GAP Management guards are easily identifiable due to the national uniform dress code and are all PSIRA certified and registered. In accordance with PSIRA’s grading scales GAP Management can present Grade A, Grade B, Grade C and Grade D guards. The well trained, always neat, presentable and well-spoken guards are deployed in a variety of manners such as guarding the buildings and outer perimeter of properties, exercising access control at turnstiles or security gates and the like. As the guards do not inhabit the property they are regularly rotated.

As soon as GAP Management owned security solution was deployed at a property the property becomes the responsibility of GAP Management. Management notice boards are effected to properties as well as alarm system warning boards on qualifying properties. In addition hereto each property is equipped with an access register and in the event of an alarm system or guarded property incident logs are also deployed. Each property is inspected at minimum once every seven days in order to ensure that the property remains well secured and presentable at all times.

As soon as an instruction for the removal of a guard or caretaker is received from our client, we immediately make arrangements to do a key handover as soon as an indemnity form has been completed and signed.

Our national footprint can also assist in valuation of properties, tracing and searching of occupant information. Winner ABSA Supplier of 2014/ 2015 For any further information please see www.gapmanagement.co.za

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Š 123RF/MATTHIAS ZIEGLER

The African Union commits to mainstreaming women as the continent begins to implement Agenda 2063

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This year’s summit was held under the theme, Women’s Empowerment and Development Towards Agenda 2063.

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eads of State and Government of the 54 member states of the African Union (AU) met in Johannesburg, South Africa from 14 to 15 June, 2015. The Assembly meeting was the last in the three meetings that form the summit of the AU, which started with a meeting of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) from 7 to 8 June and moved on to the meeting of the Executive Council from 11 to 12 June, 2015.

Agenda 2063 is a fifty-year framework that sets Africa on the path to achieving integration, prosperity and peace. Its first ten year implementation plan was adopted by the Assembly. The theme of women’s empowerment and development was a common thread in all discussions since the 25th summit of the AU started on 7 June, 2015 in Pretoria.

It was carried through to the meeting of the Union’s Executive Council held from 11 to 12 June in Johannesburg, where Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, AU Commission Chairperson, announced that a gender scorecard would be launched as an instrument to monitor progress in women’s development, share best practices and hold each other accountable.

At the meeting of Heads of State and Government, the AUC Chairperson launched a campaign to consign the hand held hoe to the museum, in an accelerated effort to assist women with access to modern technology, land, credit, and extension services in order to empower women in agriculture and agro industry.

The summit theme also received the support of many prominent women including Angelina Jolie, International Actress and UN ambassador. The Assembly adopted wide-ranging decisions aimed at pushing forward the implementation of Agenda 2063. Below is a summary of the decisions, declarations and resolutions.

The Assembly adopted a declaration on 2015 Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development Towards Agenda 2063.

The declaration contains commitments to:

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Enhancing women’s contribution and benefits from formal agriculture/ agri-business value chains; Enhancing women’s access to health; Pushing forward women’s economic empowerment; Enhancing the Agenda on Women Peace and Security; Enhancing women’s participation in governance; Enhancing women and girls’ access to education, science and technology; Mutual accountability to actions and results; Strengthening the AU Commission to support delivery on these commitments.

The declaration ends with a commitment to an expedient process of translation of these economic and transformational commitments into results. On the decision on the launch of the continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) negotiations, the Assembly launched negotiations for the establishment of the Continental Free Trade Area aimed at integrating Africa’s markets in line with the objectives and principles enunciated in the Abuja Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community and requested the Continental Free Trade Area – Negotiating Forum (CFTA-NF) to organise its inaugural Meeting in 2015 and to work towards concluding the negotiations by 2017.

On the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak, the Assembly noted that the EVD outbreak emergency is over and the African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) mission is preparing for the final exit by the end of its current mandate on 18 August 2015.

The Assembly congratulated the People and Government of Liberia on being declared Ebola free by the WHO on 9 May 2015.The Assembly expressed appreciation to all Member States that contributed volunteer health workers to ASEOWA, and commended the Commission for putting in place adequate safety measures that ensured the safe return of all the volunteer health workers.

The Assembly expressed appreciation to Member States and Partners that supported ASEOWA and the affected

countries with financial and material resources and invited all Member States to participate at the highest level, in the International Conference on Africa’s Fight against Ebola being organised under the theme: “Africa Helping Africa in the Ebola Recovery and Reconstruction”, that will take place in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea from 20 to 21 July 2015.

The Assembly requested the Commission, in collaboration with Member States and Development Partners to establish an African Volunteer Health Corps to be deployed during disease outbreaks and other health emergencies.

On the report of the AIDS Watch Africa (AWA), the Assembly decided to extend the AU Roadmap on Shared Responsibility and Global Solidarity for AIDS, TB and Malaria Response in Africa from 2016 to 2020 to achieve full implementation and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen health systems and to increase domestic funding in line with the Abuja 15% target.

It called upon countries and development partners to contribute towards the 5th replenishment target of the Global Fund in order to control TB, Malaria and HIV/AIDS. Naming of African Union Garden under the name of Professor Wangari Maathai In recognition of environmental conservation and protection and in appreciation by the African Union for her contribution to the African Continent and the whole world, Assembly endorsed the proposal by the Republic of Congo to name the AU Garden under the name of Professor Wangari Maathai.

On the outcomes of the Dakar Summit on Higher Education, the Assembly requested the AU Commission to take the lead in building the African common space for higher education and research.

It requested members to, among others, strengthen their support and investment in higher education in order to develop a critical mass of high level intellectual capital, and promote youth employability through entrepreneurship skills and innovation.

The Assembly is also committed to the establishment of a team of ten Heads

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of State and Government (two from each geographic region) as African champions of education, science and technology and endorsed President Macky Sall of Senegal as the first coordinator of the group champions. On the state of progress and accelerated implementation of the decision on the Establishment of the South and Triangular Coalition in support of Africa Post 2015,the Assembly requested the Commission to organise, in collaboration with partners, the Conference of Partners of the Coalition before the end of December 2015.

On the decision of the high level committee on the post 2015 development agenda, the Assembly reiterated its call to member states to participate, at the level of Heads of State and Government, in the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD), and encouraged member states to attend, at the highest political level, the September 2015 UN Summit on the adoption of the Post 2015 Development Agenda. On the sixteenth report of the committee of ten heads of state and government on the reform of the United Nations Security Council, the Assembly reaffirmed that the Common African Position, as contained in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, shall continue to serve as the only viable option that reflects Africa’s legitimate right and aspiration to rectify, inter alia, the historical injustice endured by the Continent.

It also reiterated its call that Member States of the African Union include the issue of the reform of the Security Council among the priorities of their foreign policy while engaging with non-African Partners; in particular, to include in their statements at the United Nations General Assembly Debate the need to redress the historical injustice the continent continues to suffer.

On the decision on the election of six members of ACERWC, the Assembly appointed the following members of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) for a five year term: Mrs. Dikéré Marie-Christine Bocoum of Côte d’Ivoire, Ms. Aver

Gavar of Nigeria, Ms. Maria MapaniKawimbe of Zambia; Mr. Clement Mashamba of Tanzania; Mr. Benyam Dawit Mezmur of Ethiopia and Ms. Goitseone Nanikie Nkwe of Botswana.

On the decision on the election of three members of the ACHPR, the following three people were appointed members of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) for a six-year term: Mr. Solomon Ayele Adersso; Mrs. L. King Jamesina Essie of Sierra Leone and Mrs. Sylvie Kayitesi Zainabo of Rwanda.

On polio eradication in Africa, our historic legacy to future generations, the Assembly adopted a declaration that reaffirms the AU’s commitment to help

equally demands that Israel refrains from arbitrary arrests of Palestinians including children and women, which is an act of violation of international laws and human rights norms including the Geneva Convention on the Rights of Women and Children.

The declaration calls upon the international community to exert pressure on Israel to lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip and open the border-crossing for the movement of people and goods and respond immediately to the humanitarian situations due to this siege.

A declaration on self-reliance was adopted. It approves the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063 and its Financing Mechanism, as a step

Agenda 2063 is a fifty-year framework that sets Africa on the path to achieving integration, prosperity and peace. Its first ten year implementation plan was adopted by the Assembly. deliver a polio-free Africa as a historic legacy to children of all future generations.

The declaration encourages all the Member States of the African Union to allocate additional domestic resources to strengthen routine immunisation and disease surveillance initiatives, and closely monitor the full implementation of the 2013-2018 Polio Endgame Strategic Plan.

The Assembly adopted a declaration on the launch of the negotiations for the establishment of the continental free trade area (CFTA).

The declaration launches negotiations for the establishment of the Continental Free Trade Area aimed at integrating Africa’s markets in line with the objectives and principles enunciated in the Abuja Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community.

On the situation in Palestine and the Middle East, the Assembly adopted a declaration that calls on the international community to exert pressure on Israel to stop all settlement activities, release Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and

towards Africa’s collective vision for the level and depth of integration and development that the continent must achieve in the next 50 years. It also recalls that the summit agreed that through the African Union Foundation, a vehicle established for resource mobilisation on the continent, the AU will work with the African people, including the private sector, to explore other innovative sources for funding our Union.

The declaration reiterates the Union’s commitment to the implementation of the fast track programmes and initiatives of Agenda 2063.

In addition, the Assembly adopted a resolution on Chagos Archipelago in which it urges the United Kingdom, pending the return of the Chagos Archipelago to the effective control of the Republic of Mauritius, not to take any measures or decisions that might affect the interests of the Republic of Mauritius without the latter’s full prior involvement, in accordance with the Award of the Arbitral Tribunal and international law.

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Workers Life Company Profile

ABOUT WORKERSLIFE

Workerslife is a financial services provider for the people and families of South Africa. We provide simple, effective and innovative insurance and assurance products that meet people’s diverse needs and that safeguard their future. We started out in 1996 when we saw a need for POPCRU members, caught up in the political turbulence of the time.

They needed the security of knowing they could get insurance that would protect their families and dependants, and provide for their future.

Today, we insure more than 200 000 families from around the country, together representing more than 1 million family members and dependants.

Workerslife is a flagship subsidiary of PGC Group of Companies - a holding company incorporating its subsidiaries through main board of directors, management team and support team. Importantly, each of our subsidiaries, and their various business units, is represented in the main board. This ensures that even though our subsidiaries are operationally autonomous, they are strategically aligned to PGC Group of Companies.

OUR VISION IN AFRICA

Our mission as Workerslife is to care for and shield the workers of Africa from financial misfortune. We’ll achieve this by providing customised financial services products and a diversified investment portfolio through, Optimising customer value in order to increase our client base.

Furthermore, the Workerslife branch network includes 8 regional offices and 29 branches and reaches every corner of our country. Each branch is supported by a strong IT, operational and governance framework. Our experienced staff help customers understand their risk and insurance needs and get the cover that will provide the benefits they need when they need them.

As a forward-thinking financial service provider, we continually look for and help develop innovative risk and short term insurance products for our customers and partners that are as simple as they are effective, meeting the risk and insurance needs of South Africans now and into the future.

STAKEHOLDER RELATIONSHIPS

Workerslife tries to live by its values namely; Workers First, Simplicity, Empathy, Trust and Empowerment. These values form part of Workerslife culture and how we relate to both our employees and customers.

WHAT WORKERSLIFE CAN DO FOR YOU? You have a dream of the life you’d like to give your family, and each day you work hard to bring them closer to that dream. That’s why Workerslife Direct has a range of short term and life insurance products, as well as other value-added services that help protect you and your family financially and legally in times of need.

With Workerslife Direct you have access to affordable cover that’s tailor-made to your needs, including legal cover, funeral cover and life insurance. Speak to our experienced and caring team about a tailor-made package that will help your dreams live on.

LEGAL COVER

The high cost of lawyer’s fees often limits the amount of protection you can afford. That’s why Workerslife Direct offers cover for legal expenses – this protects and provides for you and your family (including your spouse and children) if you or they ever incur lawyers’ fees, whether for criminal, labour or matrimonial matters.

With Workerslife Direct you also get exclusive access to important legal services, including a legal advice line, assistance with drawing up standard agreements and wills, conveyancing, and help with child custody disputes, maintenance suits and winding up deceased estates.

FUNERAL COVER

We understand that the last thing you want to do is burden your family with the stress of having to raise money to pay for a dignified funeral. Workerslife Direct offers affordable Group Funeral Cover for employees, as well as Platinum Funeral Cover for those looking for a high-end product.

GROUP FUNERAL COVER

Workerslife Direct offers affordable funeral cover under its Group Funeral Cover plan. Our competitive pricing allows for the employer or affinity group to pay a premium for members, providing employees with extensive yet affordable funeral cover that provides for their loved ones in times of need.

PLATINUM FUNERAL COVER

Our Platinum Funeral Cover is our high-end funeral product offering cover of up to R60 000. Workerslife Direct also repatriate mortal remains anywhere in South Africa, so that our members are laid to rest in their rightful place. Other valueadded benefits to make this time easier for loved ones include 3 days car hire and R250 airtime.

You can visit www.workerslife.co.za for more information

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OVER 1 MILLION SOUTH AFRICANS ENJOY OUR PROTECTION. NOW IT’S YOUR TURN. Since 1996, Workerslife has been providing quality life cover products that are tailor-made around the needs of all South Africans, while over one million individuals enjoy our protection from day-to-day risks with our value-added services.

As a financial services provider, Workerslife can offer you a range of innovative risk and short term insurance products at a rate, and cover that is both comfortable and affordable.

WORKERSLIFE COMPREHENSIVE FUNERAL BENEFIT

WORKERSLIFE PLATINUM PLUS FUNERAL BENEFIT

POPCRU LEGAL ADVICE AND COSTS

With low premiums, high cover amounts for extended families over 65.

Get the best protection for your family from our Platinum Plus Funeral Benefit.

At Workerslife you also get exclusive access to important legal services.

Call us today on 0861 520 520 Looking for a specific product to suit your needs?

Please visit www.workerslife.co.za

Bigen Africa Advertorial

IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE IN AFRICA THROUGH SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

Infrastructure development has immense social and economical benefits for any country. In African countries in specific, the opportunities for infrastructure development are abundant. However, due to the continent’s troubled economy and energy policies, Africa requires development projects that have a positive socio-economic impact, and are sustainable and environment-friendly as well. Chantél Venter looks at how Bigen Africa’s projects in Africa are improving the quality of life of communities, and why this company is the answer to the continent’s development needs.

AN AWARD-WINNING COMPANY

Bigen Africa was awarded top honours in the business excellence, mentoring company of the year and best international project categories at the 2015 CESA Excellence Awards

At the recent CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards that celebrate the innovation, quality, outstanding workmanship and professionalism in the industry, Bigen Africa walked away as the winner of three categories, namely Business Excellence, Mentoring Company of the Year and Best International Project.

“The group is dedicated to ensuring excellence in its operations, changing the lives of millions of Africans and practising its creed of “doing good while doing business” on a daily basis,” said Dr. Snowy Khoza, Bigen Africa’s Chief Executive Officer. “Receiving accolades such as these are therefore very gratifying and we as a company give all the glory and honour to God Almighty,” she added.

Since 2006, Bigen Africa has remained on the Top 500 Best Managed South African Companies’ list and it has also been recognised for various other CESA awards over the years.

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE: IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE

Since its inception forty-four years ago, Bigen Africa has established itself as a leading infrastructure group with a growing presence in Africa. The company boasts nine offices in South Africa and branches in locations such as Botswana, Ghana and Namibia. Bigen Africa’s extensive value proposition, which encompasses all facets of infrastructure development processes including in-house capabilities, strategic partnerships, development finance, management consulting and engineering, allows the company to provide its customers with a comprehensive range of services.

The company also recognises the value sustainable infrastructure development in Africa has in improving the quality of life of Africans. Dr. Khoza commented saying: “With over 40 years of experience, much of it obtained on projects ensuring progressive leaps for African countries, Bigen Africa has an in-depth understanding of the infrastructure development needs experienced on the continent and is committed to supporting the African Union agenda in achieving its infrastructure development goals.”

Bigen Africa has opened offices in Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Ghana and has undertaken numerous infrastructure development projects in these countries to ensure an improved quality of life for all. Amongst these projects is the North South Carrier water transfer scheme in Botswana which entails the implementation of a 330km long regional water transfer pipeline.

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MENTORING COMPANY OF THE YEAR: INVESTING IN HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT

Bigen Africa believes in the power of people and that is why they actively invest in a formal employee recruitment, retention and development strategy. As a result the company boasts a powerful

Bigen Africa Advertorial

Bigen Africa provided the full spectrum of infrastructure services including design, planning, construction supervision, roads and access as well as structural and sanitation services on the multi use commercial, residential and industrial Luano city development in the DRC.

workforce of approximately 500 personnel.

One of the ways in which Bigen Africa develops its employees is through its Future Integrate Talent (FIT) programme that forms part of the Bigen Capacity Framework. Through these types of programmes Bigen Africa provide employees with short- and long-term mentorships, clear methodology of growth within the organisation, and so much more.

According to Dr. Khoza, human development is vital to the company. “Bigen Africa’s comprehensive strategy for developing its employees, along with its emphasis on service excellence, is a key component of successful business strategy,” she said. “This, combined with the company’s practice of building capability through effective partnerships, whether in the industry or with governments, empowers it for helping to meet Africa’s considerable infrastructure development needs.”

BEST INTERNATIONAL PROJECT: REGIONAL WATER FOR BOTSWANA

Access to clean drinkable water is one of the most critical human needs in the world. That is why Bigen Africa’s work on the 360km North-South Carrier (NSC-2) regional water transfer system in Botswana, is a project awards are made of.

According to Dr. Khoza, the Botswana government knows the valuable role infrastructure development plays in the growth and development of the national, regional and local economy.

Furthermore, they also recognise “that local content is key to ensuring a direct contribution to the growth of the national economy. As these priorities align with the business focus of Bigen Africa as well as its mission of doing good while doing business, the company is the perfect choice for this commission.”

The six-year project involves the enhanced water supply to urban, rural and industrial developments within eastern

Bigen Africa’s superior design and engineering capabilities have been proven and awarded consistently during its 44 years of operation.

Amongst its award winning designs is the prestigious Steyn City residential project. Upon completion the estate is set to include approximately 10 000 upmarket residential units.

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Bigen Africa Advertorial

Bigen Africa’ philosophy of “doing good while doing business” supports the company vision of improving the quality of life of all through the development of sustainable infrastructure solutions. This philosophy does not only drive the companies’ social investment projects, but is also put into practice on location during infrastructure development projects, where some of the employment and procurement opportunities are channelled to the local communities.

In terms of additional CSI activities, the Group donated R 1 million to various non-profit organisations such as its Botswana social partners. An amount of R120 000 was donated to a deserving Botswana charity and handed over by Chief Operations officer Anton Boshoff and Chief Financial Officer Sulette van Graan during the company’s recent fundraising golf day.

Botswana. Bigen Africa is not only responsible for the design of the project but also the construction supervision, environmental reviews, audits and inspections.

Other rural African projects the company is currently involved with include the world-class, four-star Strand Hotel in Swakopmund in Namibia, the 185 km road between Katete and Mtetezi in Zambia and the rural electrification project for EEPCo (Ethiopian Electricity Power Corporation), to name a few.

REVOLUTIONARY PROJECTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

In South Africa, Bigen Africa has been involved in a large number of projects to the benefit of the country since the early 1970s.

Two of the most interesting recent projects are the civil service work done at the prestigious Steyn City residential estate and

In line with the company’s expansion strategy, Bigen Africa opened an office in Accra, Ghana. The official office launch was attended by a host of foreign dignitaries and the office was declared open for business by South African High Commissioner to Ghana, HE Ms L Xingwana.

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the construction management work Bigen Africa will be doing during the extension of the Clanwilliam Dam. Steyn City Properties (Pty) Ltd. contracted Bigen Africa to perform all the design, documentation, procurement, construction, monitoring and all other internal and external civil services associated with the roads, storm water, sewer and water infrastructure development at the estate. Once finished Steyn City will boast 5155 town houses, 3186 apartments, 731 cluster homes, 818 freehold houses, 120 retirement units, a golf course and a clubhouse.

The upcoming Clanwilliam Dam 13 metre wall extension (from 43 – 56 metres) project will once again illustrate the diverse services the company are able to offer its clients. On this estimated five-year project the company will act as the supervising and contract management service provider.

According to Mias van der Walt, the Divisional Managing Principal of Water and Sanitation at Bigen Africa, the wall extension will ensure that an additional 70-million cubic metres of water will be able to flow to farmers downstream annually.

“Bigen Africa, with its vision of improving the quality of life of all through the development of sustainable infrastructure solutions, is thrilled to be leading this project as the local communities stand to benefit greatly from the increased water capacity. With more than 650 jobs being created for these communities as well, the company’s creed of ‘Doing good while doing business’ is also being put into practice at Clanwilliam Dam,” van der Walt added.

ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES SIGNIFICANT FOR AFRICA’S FUTURE Southern Africa’s energy shortages are a great concern and as a result renewable energy development in these areas have become critically important. As an energy services company (ESCO) registered with the Department of Energy and Eskom, Bigen Africa

Bigen Africa Advertorial

is able to offer its clients with custom energy portfolios.

Before commencing a project, Bigen Africa will perform an energy audit and work with governments and businesses in the area to ensure that the new developments are brought into line with the energy policies of the particular country.

Last year, Bigen Africa was involved in South Africa’s first “green” taxi rank, Wallacedene Public Transport Facility in Cape Town. Not only does the facility produce its own electricity through a rooftop solar photovoltaic panel system but it also harvests rain water and recycles 70% of the water used through an underground filtering system.

Dr. Khoza believes that social-economic growth in Africa is not possible unless we realise our environmental responsibility.

“Environment-friendly development practices must be our response to climate change and the risks it holds for the continent, and to ensure environmental sustainability. Responsible management of waste, land use, water conservation, pollution, emissions and energy use are significant for Africa’s future and these imperatives must impact development practices,” she said.

“DOING GOOD WHILE DOING BUSINESS”

Bigen Africa’s motto of “doing good while doing business’” reaches further and wider than the infrastructure development projects they take on to improve the quality of life of communities.

The company and its employees are also actively involved in Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives to help support the causes of non-profit organisations in South Africa as well as several other African countries. Over the past year the company managed to raise R1-million, double the amount of last year, through a charity golf day and various employee-driven projects.

For Nelson Mandela day, Bigen Africa’s employees teamed up to spread Madiba’s message of doing good for others. The Pretoria office knitted 500 scarves for the needy, the Cape Town office completed various restorations, the Durban office provided potable water to 420 families, Bloemfontein office revamped a home for mentally challenged individuals and East London’s office compile sanitary hampers for disadvantaged schools.

S-VISION 2016: BIGEN AFRICA’S BUSINESS STRATEGY

Bigen Africa’s Business Strategy entitled S-Vision 2016, according to Dr. Khoza, is aimed at enhancing the company’s African footprint through the support of their business partners and country partners.

“Bigen Africa intends to expand into East Africa, through Kenya. The growth strategy into West Africa is spearheaded through the establishment of Bigen Africa Ghana Limited with a first office registered in Accra,” she said.

The S-Vision 2016 is furthermore focused on empowering communities through access to services, reducing poverty, capacity-building and creating jobs. With a vision as noble as this, it is clear why Bigen Africa is the infrastructure development company to watch over the next couple of years.

Bigen Africa’s dynamic CEO, Dr Snowy Khoza. Dr Khoza is a seasoned executive and acknowledged strategist with remarkable business acumen honed over 25 years in senior management and directorships in the South African and public and private sectors.

She was recently recognised for her lifelong struggles, aspirations and achievements at the Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government awards where she received a Lifetime Achievement Award in the South African category.

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The Africa we all want

It all starts with one word – change. Agenda 2063 is one of the most important documents to ever be produced by Africans, for Africans.

BY OUR OWN STAFF

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n some respects its as though Africa has been waiting for centuries for a blueprint to move the continent forward. Colonists of the past brought with them imperialism and conquests, which in many cases led to resistance and foreign domination.

The Spanish, Portuguese, Italians, Belgians, Germans, French and British brought their power struggles to Africa and the interplay of all these social, political and economic forces in so many respects scrambled Africa’s true identity.

It is pertinent therefore that in its liberation, and with the introduction by the AU of Agenda 2063, finally Africa has an African solution.

Agenda 2063 is a well-considered and honourable vision. It takes into account the past but does not play the blame-game. It accounts for the present but does not dwell on the causes for any instability. What is does is guide every African, be that organization or individual,

towards a common goal so that ‘Africa will take her rightful place in the political, security, economic and social systems of global governance towards the realization of its Renaissance, and establish Africa as a leading continent.’

This is in fact what the AU has been doing for years but what it realized was that to sustain a path of peace and stability, human development and create a positive turnaround, it needed to consolidate ideas and guidelines f or radical transformation into a single document. A blueprint for change, a map of development, a bible of sorts, and thus Agenda 2063 was born.

Split into seven aspirations, Agenda 2063 paints a picture of an Africa that Africans desire it to be. It reflects shared prosperity and well-being for unity and integration, where the potential for every citizen is realized with freedom from fear, disease, oppression, and want.

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ASPIRATION ONE: A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Under this banner poverty must be eradicated in one generation; standards of living will be raised; education will be underpinned by science, technology and innovation; economic activity hubs will be developed; agriculture and human capital will be fully developed, as will the Blue Ocean economy; climate change mitigation and water resources will be motivated. Ultimately this aspiration highlights Africa’s potential to be a major contributor in a global context.

ASPIRATION TWO: An integrated continent, politically united, based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance.

Pan-Africanism is a long desired quality and goes to uniting the continent by focusing on liberation, political and economic independence. What it motivates is a development based on self-reliance and self-determination of African people. Inclusive of infrastructure development with mutually beneficial internal links, this aspiration wants to see the free movement of people, capital goods and services, both locally and abroad. High-speed railway networks, roads, sea and air transport are key to this goal, as is ICT and the digital economy.

ASPIRATION THREE: An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law.

Consideration is given to democratic values, culture, practices and universal principles of human rights, gender equality, justice and the rule of law.

This aspiration seeks to ensure that judiciaries are fair and balanced.

Institutions will be at the service of the people and most importantly that transformational leadership will impact across all fields, be that political, economic, religious, cultural, academic, and take into account the youth and women.

ASPIRATION FOUR: A peaceful and secure Africa.

This is not so much an aspiration but a necessity. Conflict prevention through

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dialogue is a commitment that by 2020 all guns on the continent will be silenced.

Peace and tolerance will be nurtured, harmony must prevail and the management of Africa’s diversity will result in positive benefits for all. Human rights, democracy, gender equality, inclusion and peace will together result in a prosperous and integrated Africa. Violent crime will

including having equal social, political and economic rights. The youth will be equally empowered to be engaged members of society and protected. All forms of systemic inequalities, exploitation, marginalization and discrimination of young people will be eliminated and youth issues mainstreamed in all development agenda’s. It is highlighted

“Africa will, by 2063, play a significant role in world affairs. It will resist any and all external interference to divide the continent and take its rightful place in global governance affairs. Africa will seek and engage with mutually beneficial partners”

not be tolerated, neither will conflict, terrorism and extremism. Drugs and human-trafficking, organized crime and piracy, for example are also accounted for.

ASPIRATION FIVE: An Africa with a strong cultural identify, common heritage, values and ethics.

By 2063 Pan-Africanism must be fully entrenched and pan-African ideals must be fully embedded in all school curricula.

Concerning itself with all the heritage and culture arts of Africa, this aspiration aims to repatriate Africa’s artefacts, honour African languages, promote a sense of common identity and focus on women and the youth as drivers of change. Africa’s spiritual and religious beliefs will be promoted as playing a crucial role in the construction of an African identity and social interaction.

ASPIRATION SIX: An Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children.

As in the previous aspiration, women must be empowered in all spheres of life,

that young African men and women will be the path breakers of the African knowledge society.

ASPIRATION SEVEN: Africa as a strong, united and influential global player and partner.

Africa will, by 2063, play a significant role in world affairs. It will resist any and all external interference to divide the continent and take its rightful place in global governance affairs. Africa will seek and engage with mutually beneficial partners, other regions and continents and will correct historical injustices through partnership with the United Nations and other stakeholders.

The seven aspirations have been determined in consultation with a wealth of input from ordinary citizens, religious groups, communities, regional and continental leaders and other committed stakeholders. This is not a blueprint of what could be, or what should be. It is not a dream statement either. Many programs have already been initiated that will ensure the realization of Agenda 2063, and the inclusion of it into national and regional development plans.

HOW DO YOU ACCESS AFRICA’S LEADING CAPITAL MARKET?

THROUGH AFRICA’S LARGEST STOCK EXCHANGE

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JSE. Driven for your growth. www.jse.co.za Johannesburg Stock Exchange

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The sky is not the limit Dr Elham Mahmood Ibrahim, the AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Development, outlines some of the projects that will change the way Africans will communicate, be transported and energised.

I

nfrastructure development is a never-ending cycle of dependency.

Without routes Africa’s trade is stumped. Without trade, economies do not reach their potential. Without economic growth, African people will remain impoverished. And so the cycle continues.

Annually many African organisations pick a theme of focus to which they dedicate and highlight their efforts for attention. Last year for example it seemed that food security and agro business was a common focus. Others over the years have embraced human resource development, education, health, poverty, climate change, peace and now, as with this year’s AU theme, women. Each of these highlights however has one very strong underlying common need: infrastructure.

Infrastructure affects everything, and impacts on everyone. You cannot however talk of infrastructure without simultaneously introducing the need for

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energy. The two might be, for many organisations, two completely different agenda’s, but for the AU it is the pairing of two hands, both belonging to Dr Elham Mahmood Ibrahim, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy.

Over the past two decades, regional economic communities (RECs) have been developing and improving regional infrastructure plans to facilitate trade and investment, and at the centre of this is a strong focus on transport infrastructure, one of the flagship projects of Agenda 2063. While it may be that much of the attention has steered towards roads, rail, and waterways, the feature of an ‘Open Sky’ has not received the attention that it deserves.

Dr Ibrahim points out that air transport, be that for goods or people, is no longer a luxury. “Developments in technology,

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regulations and policies are a reality and as such the world has become closer. Air transport is no longer just for the privileged few, it is essential today for work, business, and more so for tourism.’

There are currently 24 Open Sky policies between African nations and the benefits are obvious: economic and tourism increases for example. Last year the AU undertook a study to see how much the idea of a single air market would help economies. The results startled everyone.

With only 12 countries surveyed it was determined that 155 000 jobs would be created and 1.3-billion US$ would be added to the GDP. ‘Imagine what these figures would be if all 54 nations had an Open Sky policy between them?’ says Ibrahim. ‘The more countries that embrace a single sky network, the more the benefits increase.’

At last year’s Summit the AU announced, and discussed with African nations their readying for Open Sky and eleven countries immediately committed, and solemnized such by agreeing to begin their plans in 2017. Those countries are Benin, Cote d’Voire, Ethiopia, Egypt, Rwanda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Congo Brazzaville.

‘Competition is good for Africa,’ says Ibrahim. ‘By providing space for competition with unlimited flight options, fares become more cost-effective, it obviously satisfies needs, service levels improve and crucial country connectivity is enhanced.’

Connectivity is something Ibrahim feels strongly about, particularly ICT and ensuring it reaches rural communities.

‘Mobile technology is not expensive.

Already market sellers are using it to conduct business, but we need to expand this into the rural areas, most importantly into the education system of farming communities, where formal schooling is lacking or not up to par. ‘ One such project, Internet Exchange Points, is working towards a regional roll out of information technology bearing in mind that in most cases there are five or more service providers in any given country, each using connectivity via

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Europe or the US. ‘What we are doing is to create hubs in each country that connects all the service providers in one place to minimize costs, time, and enhance speed.’

Ibrahim’s department is very cognizant of the role women play in Africa, not just as caregivers but also as businesswomen.

Today the Internet and smart technology allows women to undertake business while attending to home and family needs. ‘Women are beginning to educate themselves through communication, and ICT is the most requested resource by this gender,’ says Ibrahim. ‘So it is that all our infrastructure projects, national and regional, focus on women in particular.

We are supporting their development.

Yet another area where women are being impacted is in the energy sector and the focus here are those in the rural areas.

‘Being in the majority in such environments, women are still collecting wood for heat but tragically, in conflict areas, this has exposed them to rape,’ says Ibrahim.

‘This puts us in the hands of those who look for regulations to control oil and gas, coal, even hydropower. Accepting that there must be global environmental regulations, Africa cannot afford to keep quiet and not raise concerns that its issues will be overlooked for the benefit of the rest of the world. Our continent suffers greatly from climate change, experiencing as we do floods, plagues and drought. Our

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negotiators will be pushing the climate change agenda to ensure Africa’s situation is taken more seriously than ever.’

Africa’s energy considerations are also being highlighted for a unique solution.

‘Some years ago when the clean energy mechanism came into play there were a number of projects that underscored renewable energy and a formula was applied to measure emissions. Those countries scoring high were penalized. The measurement and implementation systems were not easy for African countries, we don’t have the capacity to prepare the complicated documents, nor the budget, so we were hindered in applying for renewable energy projects,’ says Ibrahim.

But first Africa must supply power to itself, and all hopes are pinned on Grand Inga in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the world’s largest hydropower scheme. It is suspected that Grand Inga could ultimately produce up to 40 000 MW of electricity, more than a third of the total electricity currently produced in Africa. Highlighted as a priority project, the first two phases are not working particularly well yet, says Ibrahim. ‘The third stage will be offering 43GB, and implementation has begun with construction planned to begin in October 2016 with a five-year completion date. The Grand Inga plan is to have up to eight phases in order to use all the capacity

available from the site.

Africa is somewhat blessed to have so many different energy resources available.

Ibrahim points out that there are many new discoveries in the oil and gas sector so Africa need not only look towards renewable energy for power. ‘It would not be strategic to depend on one plan,’ she says. ‘A diversified mix is needed. Let’s use the sun and wind for renewable, expand our nuclear capabilities, but let’s also heighten our awareness of geothermal.

‘There is around 15 000 MW geothermal potential in the east Africa region, and the AU has already motivated a project to exploit this. The Geothermal Risk Mitigation facility has US$140-million available to it with interest still being expressed by other potential stakeholders.’

It was recently reported by the AfDB that Africa’s infrastructure needs equate to some US$95-billion annually. It is also believed that central African banks have some US$500-billion, let alone what is in invested outside of the continent in things like US Treasury bills. This begs the question why that money is not being used to service Africa’s needs?

‘That is what we are attempting to change,’ says Ibrahim, ‘and why having a vision that is supported by a definitive infrastructure development programme that AU member states have endorsed, is changing that landscape. Governments are beginning to feel more confident especially given that there are now numerous success stories.

‘No longer is Africa standing with a begging bowl, instead we are seeing our own investment growing. We have flagship projects underway, like the high-speed train that will connect the capital cities, especially those where economic activity is rife.

‘I think that within five years we will s ee this rail service becoming a reality.

Technology today has helped this continent move away from starting at ground zero. We are more prepared than we have ever been to develop infrastructurally and finally we have the programmes to make it happen,’ Ibrahim concludes.

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BACKGROUND The Swaziland Revenue Authority (SRA) is a semi-autonomous revenue agency, established through the Revenue Authority (RA) Act, 2008.

As a semi-autonomous entity the SRA operates within the broad framework of Government but outside of the Civil Service structures.

It has its own Governing Board appointed under the aegis of the RA Act and as such, it is similar to the many other Revenue Authorities that have been established across Africa in the last 20 years.

VISION The SRA’s vision is “to be a modernised, credible and customer centric Revenue Authority.”

MISSION Our Mission is “to provide an efficient and effective revenue and customs administration, driven by professional and motivated staff, that promotes compliance through fair, transparent and equitable application of the law.”

IMPORT TAX Swaziland is a member of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). All goods coming from outside this union are charged customs duties plus Value Added Tax (VAT) of 14%. Goods from within SACU are subject to VAT only. The VAT Act allows for zero-rating of certain goods.

INCOME TAXES The country’s income tax is progressive in nature and source based. Like in many countries, this tax is

levied on income earned by individuals especially through the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) System. This is at a rate between 20% and 33%. These rates also apply to businesses established as sole proprietors.

Companies also pay tax on their profits. This is at 27.5%.

NON-RESIDENT WITHHOLDING TAX All non-residents who earn income from a Swazi source are expected to pay Withholding tax ranging from 12.5% to 15%. Some of the main non-resident withholding taxes are: Non-resident Shareholders tax; Sportsmen and Entertainers tax; Payment of Non-Resident Contractors tax; Non-resident Withholding tax on Royalties & Management fees and Withholding tax on Repatriated income.

CONSUMPTION TAX (VALUE ADDED TAX) Most goods and services are taxes at a standard Value Added Tax (VAT) of 14%. Otherwise there are a few goods that are charged at 0% and those that are exempt.

N.B. Currency-Emalangeni (E) E1=1 South African Rand

Building 02, Mbabane Office Park P.O. Box 5628, Mbabane, Swaziland Tel: +268 2406 4000

For more information on the Swaziland Tax System, visit our website: www.sra.org.sz; Alternatively contact us at (+268) 2406 4050 E-mail: info@sra.org.sz.

RETHINKING Preamble Due to the complexity and dynamism reticent in the nature of the AU system, with its retinue of institutions and its building block integration strategy, organising and co-ordination will always demand continual attention and review. Apart from inter-institutional relationships within the AU, there are also extra-institutional relationships between AU organs and other regional and national institutions such as that of the PAP and other African parliamentary bodies. It must be noted that the PAP’s place and responsibilities in terms of the AU system should be seen in the context of an equally emergent AU. The article views these relationships as a complex phenomenon until institutional roles and responsibilities of major African stakeholders are clearly defined and operationalised towards dealing with the expected outcomes of Africanwide parliamentary democracy in whose platform the PAP was established.

Introduction At present, there seems to be no established and operationalised working organogram of the PAP representing formal responsibilities, duties and relationships in the AU system. Thus, there seems to be no agreed organisational representation of AU institutional relationships. This presents some challenges. For instance, while some representations (PULP 2007,144; ISS 2005,15) assume a closeness in the institutional relationship between the PAP and the AU decision making and executive organs in practice, the PAP is far from the decision-making axis of the Assembly/Executive Council/Permanent Representative Committee/AU Commission.

The PAP in practice is so distant from this sphere of influence, that it has to go through the PRC or the AUC to have the Executive Council’s ear. This has resulted in a lack of complimentation between the recommendations of the PAP and the decision of the Executive Council, thus compromising the advisory and consultative powers

Professor EOC Ijeoma | Chair and Head: School of Public Administration, University of Fort Hare And Dr O I Nzewi | School of Public Administration, University of Fort Hare

of the PAP as provided for in legislation.

Technical capacity of the PAP On inception, the PAP organogram showed the technocratic or expert slant of the PAP human resources needs (PAP 2005). Technocrats and experts play a crucial role in deepening integration as pointedly manifested in literature on regional integration (Haas 1961, 1970; Schmitter 1969). Schmitter (1969:162) identifies the creative talents of political elites, especially the administrators of regional institutions who take advantage of frustrations and crises, to redefine or expand tasks at the centre. The PAP organisational system as seen in the PAP internal organogram, makes provision for a functional organisational system, which should avail the PAP the knowledge and skills of expert parliamentary supervisors. However, in practice, there are challenges to implementing those, firstly, the perennial problem of weak capacity and administrative services is compounded by highly visible holdups to its institutional building, of which the PAP’s strategic plan identified as finance, legal mandate and limited access to value added information (PAP 2005a, 28). Secondly, there is the problem of the insufficient support structure for the PAP committee system, the core of decision making body in the Parliament and thirdly, the shared collective experience of the OAU over the years has spawned a value system entrenched in the legacy of

Opposite the Eastern Cape Legislature Independence Avenue, Bisho, 5601 South Africa Tel: +27 40 608 3426 Fax: +27 72 672 6276 www.ufh.ac.za/departments/publication adewafrica@yahoo.com

centralised power and rivalry between the OAU and institutions that show supranational promise (Franke 2007; Onwuka 1985). Therefore, notwithstanding the governance principles that the PAP represents, the highly statist and centralised culture of African institutional integrative experience threatens its very existence.

The Parliamentary mandate In a democracy, the core function of the legislature is to pass legislation (Cloete 1998:42). At the regional level, in particular the AU and RECs, this legislative role has not been forthcoming. Since inauguration, the PAP has

THE INSTITUTIONAL MANDATE AND REPORTING OF THE PAP made efforts towards this mandate by undertaking parliamentary tasks such as organising debates on a range of issues affecting the AU like NEPAD, APRM and migration (PAP 2005e, 2005f).

The PAP has also adopted independent positions in certain issues, especially as they relate to governance and human rights issues, as it did in the resolution on the unconditional release of Dr. Kizza Besigye, leader of the Ugandan opposition in 2006 (PAP 2006a). Additionally, the PAP has made many recommendations and resolutions on different matters to the AU interest. The issue, though, is that there is little evidence that the Executive Council or the Assembly has referenced or utilised these recommendations or resolutions as a basis for any decision making. Additionally, the PAP seems to have failed to develop an effective mechanism to obtain information from other AU institutions, especially where some, like the Executive Council and the Permanent Representative Council, are used to centralise decision making. The issue is that in reality, not only has the PAP failed to have a voice in any sort of decision coming from the Executive arm, so far, it has also not managed to make policy relevant recommendations to the Executive due to poor information sharing arrangements in the AU. Procedural challenges There are internal procedural bottlenecks which also challenge the growth of a democratic institution like the PAP. These can limit the quality of committee decisions. Decision making within the AU has over the years been by consensus building majority, but the majority vote approach is beginning to permeate into the AU structures.

Decision making in the PAP is also by consensus or a two-thirds majority as the provision of Rule 22 (8) of the PAP Rules of Procedure requires (PAP 2004). The down side of this type of decision making is that consensus building is sometimes a lengthy and negotiated process. Thus complex decisions, which have great potential for change, may be abandoned. Secondly, consensus building takes time and thus in this form, decision making may be time-consuming. Furthermore, the quorum requirement of an absolute majority for voting in Rule 22(7) of the PAP Rules of Procedure may also pose a challenge due to the absenteeism and high turnover of MPs. Additionally, the PAP’s Rules of Procedures marshals out the modalities for exercising consultative powers through questions, investigations and reports from any organ of the AU. These activities are intended for the PAP to not only provide input in policy issues, but also to be primed for constant developments in the AU. This will mean an increase in the PAP’s power of its voice, as its recommendations will always have relevance to Executive decisions. Nevertheless, this is not the case as capacity and the AU’s present institutional culture puts limitations on the PAP’s operations.

End remarks As far as the task of harmonisation and co-ordination of the AU policies by central institutions like the PAP is concerned, the fragmented structure of regional integration experiments also presents a hindrance, thus it perpetuates stumbling blocks for democratic and supranational leaning institutions, which poses a genuine obstruction to the growth and independence of the PAP. As national parliaments are considered the highest policy-making institution at the country level, the PAP deserves to play such a role at the continental level.

The PAP’s inability to execute such mandates has created a proliferation of regional and national ideas and approaches that continues to create social and economic divides among the committee of nations in Africa.

However, previous experiences with moribund regional institutions show that African members states need to commit to the strengthening of institutions such as the PAP and continue to strive to find a balance between the short-term dictates of national sovereignty concerns and the long-term commitment to regional integration for Africa’s development in the rapidly globalising world.

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Economic growth

equals standard of living in Africa?

Has recent Sub-Saharan African growth translated into improved living conditions for ordinary Africans?

BY ANDY MCKAY

H

igh rates of growth reported in many Sub-Saharan African countries raises concerns about living standards for ordinary African people, with many reporting shortages of food and healthcare. This article assesses changes in living conditions associated with these high levels of growth.

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The African growth recovery The world has woken up to what has been apparent to many of those who live or have been in Sub-Saharan Africa in the past 6-8 years or more: the very impressive recovery of economic growth over recent years.

Because of the long timescale the chart may appear to suggest that the recovery since the mid-1990s has been modest. But the whole continent’s per capita GDP grew by more than 30% over the 15 year period since 1995, and this includes some large (and small) countries

that have had negative growth over the period. Growth between 1995 and 2005 was still slower than in the first 15 years since 1960. But the rate of growth has been particularly fast since 2005, certainly exceeding that of the early postindependence period, even despite the world financial crisis in 2007-08 But what is much less well known is how much this growth has translated into better living conditions for ordinary African people. The comment is frequently made that Africans do not feel the benefits of improved economic performance “in their pocket”. If there is a concern that commodities have played an important role in this growth this may bring less benefit to ordinary people.

The recent growth recovery It is helpful to begin with a review of recent growth experience at the country level. For purposes of this article we will choose to focus specifically on Sub-

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Saharan Africa, and there to look at the 24 largest countries by population. These account for 91% of the Sub-Saharan Africa population and come from all regions of the continent. The focus here is on GDP (production) per capita, in local currency values to abstract from exchange rate issues.

Many commentators have championed Sub-Saharan Africa’s growth success, most notably Steven Radelet in his recent book Emerging Africa. He argues that there are several underlying factors, including progress towards democracy and accountability, better macroeconomic policies, reduced debt and better relations with international financial institutions, new technology, and the emergence of new generations of political and business leaders. Nowhere here are commodities singled out; commodity wealth is an important factor in growth in some cases such as Angola and Chad, but not in others such as Ethiopia and Malawi.

Morten Jerven has raised serious questions about the reliability of national accounts data, including GDP, in Africa, in his recent book Poor Numbers. Without doubt there is significant validity in the concerns raised (as seen for example in the recent high profile revision of GDP in Ghana). There may be significant questions about whether GDP is under or over-estimated in different contexts.

absolute minimum level of consumption, which in low-income countries will typically imply a struggle or failure to meet minimum nutritional requirements (among other things).

Assessing poverty and its changes is complex. It requires comparable household surveys collecting information typically on consumption to be assessed, combined with separate data to assess differences in prices over time as well as within the country. These are demanding requirements, calling for careful analysis.

The World Bank does compile poverty data in PovCalnet and World Development Indicators, but does not provide documentation to judge how the figures have been calculated or even to assess comparability of the surveys and so figures presented.

In looking at these figures the focus should be on changes in poverty levels within each country; the poverty figures themselves are not necessarily comparable between one country and another. What these figures show here is some stories of impressive and consistent poverty reduction, notably in Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda, Senegal and Uganda; poverty also fell in Mali over the

periods considered here (the two subperiods presented here, and in some other cases, are not necessarily comparable) and in Mozambique in the early period. In some cases poverty fell, but by more modest amounts e.g. Malawi, South African or Tanzania; in others such as Burkina Faso, Guinea or Nigeria, poverty fluctuated but fell overall between the first and last period. In 15 of these 18 cases poverty fell over the periods considered here, though sometimes as in Kenya for example, the reductions were very small.

How has poverty changed?

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Consider first monetary poverty, which is expected to correlate strongly with growth. Poverty is generally judged by the percentage of a population living below some

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Only in three cases did poverty increase, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar and Zambia in the 1990s, all of which were negative growth cases over these periods, explained by conflict in the case of Côte d’Ivoire and to some extent by the particular years for which the data was available for Madagascar. What this last point highlights is that monetary poverty reflects the periods for which the survey data are available, and can be volatile from one year to another, reflecting agricultural harvest, prices and other factors affecting economic activity.

In general though, these results show a consistent positive association between growth and poverty reduction; where there was growth poverty tended to fall, where there was not, poverty did not fall.

and Uganda. Others such as Madagascar or Malawi show progress for some indicators, but not others. In Nigeria, the largest and most important case of all, there seems unfortunately to be a lot of volatility and a lack of clarity about what the trends really are; this of course is a critical gap in trying to assess the picture for Sub-Saharan Africa as a whole.

This is not just a story about growth; it is also a story about more and more effective public spending, especially in education and health with aid playing an

has arisen often at a country level too, of a contrast between survey results and what is perceived to be the reality on the ground. The poverty and living standards used here are fixed absolute thresholds, which in many respects is appropriate. As time passes and countries get wealthier and more urbanised, people’s expectations rightly change.

What was accepted a generation ago is no longer tolerated, and what it means to be poor or deprived changes over time.

It is right that the populations, seeing

How strong are the links between growth and welfare change?

“But what is much less well known is how much this growth has translated into better living conditions for ordinary African people.The comment is frequently made that Africans do not feel the benefits of improved economic performance “in their pocket”.

Information on changes in living conditions are available for 21 of the 24 countries for the non-monetary indicators and 18 of the 24 for the monetary measure of poverty. Information is not available for Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo or Sudan in either case; unfortunately these include the 3rd and 8th largest countries by population in Sub-Saharan Africa. These all have very positive growth cases but it is not possible to judge the welfare impact of this.

Monetary poverty information is additionally not available for Chad, Niger and Zimbabwe.

Use of many health facilities and ownership of assets also improved, as did nutrition in many cases. Some countries have been consistently good performers across a range of measures of poverty and living conditions, for instance Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda, Senegal

important additional role. This more educated, healthier population forms a good basis for future growth in Africa.

Many of the factors identified above as being important for growth are also important for poverty reduction. This seems to be particularly important in the countries that have performed well across the board (which include the 2nd, 7th and 9th largest countries in SubSaharan Africa).

The Afrobarometer results continue to raise questions that may be seen to challenge the findings in this article.

Without doubt they report valid concerns of many Africans, about their difficulty in meeting a wide range of basic needs.

This is a common story though, which

impressive growth around them, seek to hold their leaderships to account.

There remain real concerns that growth has not been effective enough in reducing poverty in Africa, and these are very important.

But this notwithstanding, there is also much to celebrate: the period since 1995 is the first time since independence where poverty has been consistently falling and living conditions have been improving, and recent growth success has been an important factor. There is much more to do, too little is known about some very important cases; but there is a positive story of progress in improving living conditions across much of Sub-Saharan Africa.

About the author: Andy McKay is professor of development economics at the University of Sussex, where he has worked since 2006. He researches extensively on Sub-Saharan Africa, he has significant experience of providing policy advice in Africa, UK and elsewhere. {a.mckay@sussex.ac.uk}

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CENTRE FOR AFRICA STUDIES SERIOUS ABOUT

AFRICA’S

INTELLECTUAL FUTURE

A

t the Centre for Africa Studies, we are committed to Africa’s intellectual future.

We aim to deepen the interdisciplinary understanding of the burning issues related to Africa and its people wherever they are in the world. Our conceptual agenda is proudly postcolonial and critical, while our knowledge project is firmly embedded in responsive and responsible scholarship. Our academic agenda stands paramount to everything that we do where the human aspects act as the glue for our interdisciplinary work. The Centre for Africa Studies creates a space for innovative intellectual engagement and research excellence by bringing together some of the greatest African minds to help shape Africa’s new intellectuals and building vibrant international networks.

WHERE GREAT MINDS MEET We bring notable African scholars and activists to the UFS to foster vibrant intellectual debate for Africa and Women’s Day: ACHILLE MBEMBE ∙ 2009

Is Africa ready for Democracy?

MAHMOUD MAMDANI ∙ 2010

Lessons of Nuremberg and Codesa: Where do we go from here?

ALI MAZRUI ∙ 2011

Pro-democracy Uprisings in Africa’s Experience: From Sharpeville to Benghazi.

NGŨGĨ WA THIONG’O ∙ 2012

The Blackness of Black: Africa in the World today.

HENNING MELBER ∙ 2013

Africa and Africa(n) Studies: Confronting the (mystifying) Power of Ideology and Identity.

TAKYIWAA MANUH ∙ 2014

Gendered Violence and Women’s Citizenship in Africa.

ZANELE MUHOLI ∙ 2014

Exploring Born Frees through Visual Activism.

ALCINDA HONWANA ∙ 2015

Youth Protests and Political Change in Africa.

T: +27(0)51 401 3422 | info@ufs.ac.za | www.ufs.ac.za

Inspiring excellence. Transforming lives.

Inspireer uitnemendheid. Verander lewens.

SHAPING AFRICA’S NEW INTELLECTUALS Our dynamic doctoral programme inhabits an interdisciplinary knowledge space where students critically engage with diverse themes such as development, history, security, indigenous knowledge systems, higher education, international relations, gender, culture and knowledge production. We also offer distinctive master’s programmes in Africa and Gender Studies. The Africa Studies programme has a unique structure balancing the theory of Africa Studies with specialisations in development, heritage, politics and peace. The Gender Studies programme explores the interface with law, religion, environment, sexuality, security, development and history.

BECOMING A HUB FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH EXCELLENCE We are committed to a research programme that is innovative and highly productive. In 2014 alone, we published 15 scholarly articles, 15 book chapters, 2 sole authored and 3 edited books.

BOOK TITLES INCLUDE: • Treading the Water of History: Perspectives on the ANC (AISA) • Sacred Spaces and Contested Identities: Space and Ritual Dynamics in Europe and Africa (Africa World Press) • Understanding Namibia: The Trials of Independence (Hurst/ Jacana) • Peace Diplomacy, Global Justice and International Agency: Rethinking Human Security and Ethics in the Spirit of Dag Hammerskjöld (Cambridge) • Au Commencement était le Mimisme (Marcel Jousse Association)

PURSUING SPECIAL PROJECTS We actively stimulate vibrant research and development through special projects such as: • UFS/AS Young African Scholar Award (http://journals.giga-hamburg.de/index.php/afsp) • Africa Studies Book Series (Wits University Press/Brill) • Housing the Free State Indigenous Knowledge Systems Documentation Centre (NIKSO, DST) • African Identities and the Politics of Space and Othering (Africa Insight Project) • Representations of Othering and Resistance (CAS Interdisciplinary Project) • Religious Integration in South African Sacred Places informing the new South African Identity (SANPAD Project) • Heritage Resources at Sacred Sites in the Free State (National Heritage Council Project)

BUILDING INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS We establish and maintain strong and sustained interaction with international partners such as: • Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana (Legon) • Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford (UK) • Africa-Europe Group of Interdisciplinary Studies (CAS is an affiliated member of AEGIS) • African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific (AFSAAP) • African Studies Centre Leiden (ASC community members) CONTACT DETAILS: Director: Prof Heidi Hudson • E: cas@ufs.ac.za • T: +27(0)51 401 2327/3121/2614 Web: http://humanities.ufs.ac.za/content.aspx?DCode=156

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Harmonising education The Africa of the future requires a technology-rich knowledge base, with science, mathematics and innovation highlighted.

Human capacity development is crucial in order to enable Africans to take care of their own needs.

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

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or the development of human resources to be truly effective, all the peripheral systems that are planned for the continent must be harmonised. This statement by the AU Commissioner for Human Resources Science and Technology, Dr. Martial de Paul Ikounga, is far-reaching. ‘Everything depends on everything else,’ he says.

‘Without the free movement of people, and trade for example, we cannot achieve results in how we share knowledge, where we acquire it and how we use it.

‘In a harmonized education system, two students may achieve the same degree and result, however one may be defined as cum laude, the other not.

Breaking that down means that we also need to standardize quality. At our disposal are modern means of education that will ensure that conditions are completely harmonized for studying and the exchange of knowledge.’

Ikounga says this starts at the national

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Ikounga has directed experts to ensure that in defining the new strategy it must be user-friendly, reach across a continental, national and regional level, and take into account that education is open, and freely accessible to all of Africa’s children regardless of their circumstances. ‘No one will be denied access to quality education because of poverty, gender, ethnicity, culture, religion or disability,’ he said.

The workshop that is ongoing aims to ensure that whatever delivery mechanisms are applied, must correspond to Agenda 2063. Draft Zero, which will be the first framework, will be circulated to member states, the RECs and educational agencies. Their input will provide the outline for Draft One at a follow-up Validation workshop and finally through

other processes before being presented to the January 2016 Heads of State and Government Meeting.

What Africa has come to realise over the past decade is that in order to advance rapid development and bring skills up to par, an intense drive to promote science, technology and mathematical skills has to be an imperative. In signing with the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), a memorandum of understanding, Ikounga says that this will play out initially as a strengthening of linkages between the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) industries.

Furthermore the two groups will be working on the Next Einstein Forum (NEF).

NEF motivates for a strong African

‘An Africa that does not compete with the rest of the world in terms of its human capacity development, is an Africa that will continually remain dependent on the rest ofthe world.’

scientific community becoming recognised as an influential member of the global scientific community. This is building on strengthening tripartite engagements between science and education; bringing together industrial and corporate sectors; and high-level policy makers.

‘Scientific entrepreneurship, innovation and inventiveness will be the focus,’ says Ikounga. ‘We want to empower young Africans to excel in STEM innovations and this speaks directly to the aspirations in Agenda 2063.

‘An Africa that does not compete with the rest of the world in terms of its human capacity development, is an Africa that will continually remain dependent on the rest of the world.’

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level with the introduction of more e-Learning systems in both public and private educational spaces. Universities need to exchange and share curricula in order to standardise and also cross language barriers. ‘A question often posed in this regard, is that there is a risk of killing diversity if this happens but I don’t agree.

Think of an orchestra, which has a need for many instruments to play together harmoniously, it is the same thing, the end result is very agreeable.’

One of the AU instruments working to achieve harmonisation and standardisation is the Pan-African University. Its reach is across five regions in Africa comprising 10 research centres and 55 universities. ‘This obviously presents a challenge in how to overcome language issues, but the Pan African University is bi-lingual.

‘Further the University wants to be a higher education centre of excellence and has students who have the means to study, either independently or through a bursary. It is therefore an equal opportunity environment, not just for the wealthy.’

In June, Ikounga hosted a workshop for developing the Education Strategy for Africa 2016-2025. Using Agenda 2063 as an over-riding vision, Ikounga insists that there is a need for a paradigm shift in African education systems in order to empower the youth, especially girls, with ‘the appropriate competencies to become responsible citizens capable of problemsolving and innovation.

‘We must bear in mind that strategy is motivated by the team of Ten Heads of State and Government as Champions for Education in Africa. Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and partner agencies, and NEPAD have all joined with the AU to ensure that the new strategy responds to the relevance and quality of pedagogies, teaching and learning environments and school infrastructures, but will be pragmatic and inclusive in defining education.’

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Yves has advised more than 500 organisations and contributed to the development of organisation theory relating to the behavioural and structural conditions for economic value creation and competitive advantage. Turning these insights into practice with the Six Simple Rules of Smart Simplicity, he has helped CEOs with their most critical challenges, for instance, moving their companies from quasi bankruptcy to industry leadership, for transforming the business model and culture to reach new heights, or successfully managing ground breaking innovations.

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The AU’s observer missions, pre- and post-elections, are impacting, influencing and motivating for a united commitment to free, fair, transparent and credible election processes.

BY OUR OWN STAFF

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s the continent moves beyond the ‘50 year’s of democracy’ mark, the concept of democratic governance becomes more defined, settled and regulated. Africa’s political landscape is finally beginning to show signs of stability.

What the continent’s leaders are realising is that a good outcome from an electoral processes is what is required to ensure credibility and to prove the will of the people is being honoured.

As can be expected, the promotion of free, fair and fully democratic elections is a strong focus for the AU, and is highlighted in Agenda 2063. Dr Aisha Laraba Abdullahi, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, believes that peaceful elections are important indicators that peace and security are returning to the continent.

‘Elections that are peaceful are a major pre-condition for the realization of the commitment of our leaders towards Silencing the Guns by 2020.’

Strong leadership is a prerequisite in order to satisfy this mandate, particularly because they are the role models for future governance. Africa is a youthful continent, with 70% of its population below the age of 35 years; relatively, this can be an asset or a liability. Abdullahi adds, ‘The so-called youth bulge will be a liability if this group is marginalized or disempowered and this creates a propensity and vulnerability to criminal activities or extremism. If we are to truly Silence the Guns by 2020, we need to include the youth in our strategies towards the elimination of conflict.’

A further group that cannot be excluded from political activity, and just as important, are the women of Africa.

‘Bear in mind the declaration by heads of state and governments that 2015 is the year to focus on women’s empowerment.

That women constitute 50% of the continent’s population means that they should be given every opportunity to run for political offices, be part of observation missions, lead in decision- and peacemaking processes, and conflict prevention,’ says Abdullahi.

To a certain extent, the tide is turning.

Liberia has a female president and more recently Mauritius also appointed one.

More women are queuing for voter registration than men. While these are seen as tremendous advances, expediting and catalysing women to take on high level senior positions in government is still considered an imperative to achieve democratic balance. However, as Abdullahi points out, this can only be achieved with the help of men, who support and provide the opportunities.

Currently, almost all AU member states have embraced multi-party elections, 15 of which occur during 2015. Eight of those already having been conducted include Benin, Comoros, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Nigeria, Sudan, Togo and Zambia.

Reports indicate that there has been a notable reduction of voter turnout in some states. The reasons for this include lack of civil education, a reduced confidence in the electoral process, and general voter apathy. There is a further consideration that threatens peaceful

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elections, that being the citizen selection of leaders.

Abdullahi says that the current electoral climate is also still somewhat unstable: ‘Some elections continue to be a source of tension, coupled to violence, and this not only constitutes a threat to democratic processes, but can quickly

discouraging them from doing so. ‘The concern is there are grey areas in national constitutions and loopholes, so we must ensure that reforms are applied and adhered to,’ says Abdullahi.

‘We have been engaging with Burundi for over a year and have made it clear that until the conditions for peaceful credible

‘Some elections continue to be a source of tension, coupled to violence, and this not only constitutes a threat to democratic processes, but can quickly escalate to a scale that has the potential to disable the entire continent.’

escalate to a scale that has the potential to disable the entire continent.

‘This is why it is crucial to ensure the proper management of the entire electoral process by independent bodies that are equipped with adequate human and financial resources.’ The AU is such a body. It has put in place instruments, including declarations and charters, to entrench a culture of constitutionalism and rule of law.

‘The politics of bullets is being replaced with that of balance,’ says Abdullahi. Unfortunately this may not be the case in the upcoming elections for Burundi and CAR, and the AU is extremely concerned that pre-election dissatisfaction may escalate into civil conflict.

In the case of Burkina Faso, Burundi and Rwanda, where leaders are seeking a third-term, the AU has been very vocal in harmony with its partners, including the UN and regional communities, in

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elections prevail, the AU shall not observe the elections. A mediation process is ongoing and we have had a pre-election assessment team in the state since December last year.’

It is not impossible to change a leader’s challenge for a third term. Nigeria is a case in point where some years ago its citizens discouraged its President from doing so.

‘This shows just how much power the citizens really have so it’s not just a task of

the AU,’ says Abdullahi. ‘Individual citizens must be tasked to ensure the quality of democratic process continue to improve.’

Africa has a reputation for military coups Abdullahi reminds us, and this must be avoided at all costs. ‘Our citizens are more enlightened now however, and despite the number of candidates there will only be one winner. The problems usually arise when opposing candidates perceive an election as being rigged. This is why the role the AU plays in the entire electoral process is critical. We walk closely with electoral management to ensure credible transparency. Voters are kept informed so the likelihood for cheating is reduced.

‘Social media is also playing a very big role in ensuring election activity is circulated and this helps us to reduce the possibility of manipulation.’

The AU has revolutionised the way it observes elections. It is now sending its pre-election assessment teams much earlier than in the past. Those teams, now called long-term observers, are based in an electoral state for a minimum of six up to 10 weeks. Former heads of state are also appointed in an observer role for a two-week term, after which a consolidated status report is made available publically on the AU website.

With 2016 set to hold 18 elections, it will be yet another important year for democracy in Africa, and why Abdullahi pleads for parties to ratify the AU Charter and for the media to report on progress.

‘It is crucial that voter information and civil education be distributed to encourage particularly the youth and women to participate in elections. Further we need to ensure that energies are engaged, more resources invested, and skills and knowledge advanced so that all the people of Africa can unite in a democratic mindset. Hopefully one day we will have a truly United States of Africa.’

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Lessons to combat future

health emergencies The outbreak of EBOLA in West and Central Africa presented opportunities to Africa to look into the future. The Ministerial summit identified 14 lessons to prepare for future health emergencies from AU Support to the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa.

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head of the AU summit where leaders are expected to pledge more support to the Ebola response and recovery efforts, health and foreign affairs ministers discussed the immediate needs of the affected countries. Countries shared experiences and lessons learnt in health systems strengthening and financing in the context of the Ebola fight.

‘This meeting is an important opportunity to share experiences in the fight against Ebola and to provide concrete assistance to our brothers

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and sisters on their irreversible path to recovery and reconstruction’ said Hon. Dr. Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Chairperson of the Executive Council of the African Union.

The African Union Support to the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) mounted an effective response that deployed 850 volunteer health workers from AU Member States. This was a game changer that helped stem the tide of the epidemic.

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Key lessons from Africa helping Africa in the Ebola response • African Union’s political clout ASEOWA anchored on African Union’s political leverage, continental reach and networks in the region and beyond.

Technical expertise came from many Member States, regional groupings, development partners and affected countries.

• Quick humanitarian emergency response The decision to deploy was taken by the African Union Peace and Security Council within 24 hours of the African Union Permanent Representatives Council being briefed. An assessment team was on the ground within 10 days of the decision to form ASEOWA. Within less than a month, ASEOWA teams were on the ground at the peak of the crisis. Once the surge was decided in November 2014, it took less than one month to have 850 health workers in the three worst affected countries.

• Effective coordination at various levels To streamline operations, ASEOWA coordinated the operation at both continental and affected countries level. It leveraged on expertise of various countries and partners and harmonised coordination between medical, logistics and other emergency response capabilities.

• Private sector collaboration The African private sector provided the single largest financial contribution to the AU’s Ebola response. It also made available its assets and resource mobilisation expertise.

• International solidarity With the African Union taking a leadership position the international community provided significant financial and technical support including response infrastructure.

• Competent leadership The mission leadership was a mix of expertise in combating previous Ebola responses, leading complex operations across Africa and humanitarian emergencies.

• Diverse range of specialist cadres

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“The African Union and partners are strengthening their capacities to respond to emergencies and disasters. The ASEOWA response provides a working model for emergency response in Africa”

The ASEOWA volunteers included doctors, nurses, epidemiologists, lab scientists and technicians, public health officers, social workers, psycho-social experts, community mobilisers, public and communication for development experts and survivors.

• Hot zone training ASEOWA teams trained thousands of Health Care Workers in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in hot zone management and community mobilisation. Its specialists supported and assisted foreign medical teams from Cuba and China.

Field positioning Epidemiologists recruited from the African Field Epidemiology Network were deployed along the borders.

ASEOWA medics managed emergency treatment units in the three countries.

• Cost effectiveness and building local capacities ASEOWA deployed 850 health workers from several African countries, and recruited more than 4,000 local volunteers, including survivors, to work all over the affected region at a cost that was only a fraction of what other aid interventions cost.

• Applying local solutions to local problems ASEOWA teams worked with survivors, with local communities and national structures to provide solutions that worked.

• Responding to local priorities ASEOWA was flexible enough to deploy its teams to where they were needed the most, and to support the people’s priorities.

• Pan African solidarity In the spirit of Africa helping Africans, various countries seconded their

health workers to assist in the response.

• Looking into the future The African Union and partners are strengthening their capacities to respond to emergencies and disasters.

The ASEOWA response provides a working model for emergency response in Africa.

The way Africa came together to respond to the Ebola crisis strengthens its common positioning on other development planning and priorities.

For further information contact Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Information and Communication Directorate,African Union Commission, Phone +251911630631 E-mail: molalett@africa-union.org Web: www.au.int Mr. Tawanda Chisango, Social Affairs, African Union Commission Mobile +251934167052 E-mail: Chisangot@africa-union.org Web www.au.int For further information contact Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission E-mail: DIC@african-union.org Web: www.au.int Follow us Face book: https://www.facebook.com/ AfricanUnionCommission Twitter: https://twitter.com/_ AfricanUnion YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ AUCommission Learn more at: http://www.au.int

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A climate of unity While it may be a global problem, Africa is impacted more than any other continent by climate change, which is why having a united voice among AU member states will be instrumental, it is hoped, in international policy determination.

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BY OUR OWN STAFF

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increased water stress •B y 2020 some countries yields from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50% • A ccess to food will be severely compromised, and malnutrition will be exacerbated.

• Towards the end of the 21st century, projected sea level rise will affect low-lying coastal areas with large populations • The cost of adaption could amount to at least 5-10 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

•B y 2050 average temperatures are predicted to increase by 1,5 to three degrees centigrade and continue upwards thereafter.

•B y 2080 the proportion of arid and semi-arid lands in Africa is likely to increase by 5-8 percent.

•B etween 25 and 40 percent of mammal species in national parks in sub-Saharan Africa will become endangered The list is ongoing and dramatically

scary but for agriculture in particular projected reductions in yield for some nations could be as much as 50 percent by 2020. It is obvious that small-scale farmers will be the most affected and the ripple effect could bring about extreme poverty, malnutrition and food security is further threatened.

Climate change is one of the aspects in the portfolio that Rhoda Peace, the AU Commission for Rural Economy and Agriculture, manages. She provides further insight about the expected affects of climate change in Africa.

‘From 1990 Africa has recorded 152 natural disasters, the majority triggered by metrological hazards. That’s quite high and is concerning! In 2014 alone, over 6,8-million people on our continent were directly affected by 114 recorded disasters.

‘Africa is vulnerable,’ says Peace. ‘Our continent is responsible for less than three percent of total global emissions yet bears the brunt of climate change. At the Conference of African Heads of States on

©123RF/ ROBERT CHURCHILL

OP21 (Conference of Parties), also known as the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, will be taking place at the end of November into December this year. It’s aim, after 20 years of United Nations (UN) negotiations, is to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, the desired outcome of which must be to keep global warming below two degrees centigrade.

Climate change is particularly important to Africa. Not only is it a threat to economic growth, long-term prosperity and survival of an agricultural sector, no other continent will be as affected given its geographical position and its existing low levels of development.

Let us remind ourselves of the consequential impacts of climate change, and what is predicted for Africa if we do nothing to help lessen those, as reported

by UNEP. • By 2020 between 72-250 million African people are projected to be exposed to

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An African appetite for resource efficiency Africa has huge potential for resource efficiency, with business and government working across the continent to save costs by cutting consumption of power and water.

National cleaner production centres in Africa

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“There is growing demand and great excitement about the elimination of waste from industry,” says Ndivhuho Raphulu, former president of the African Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production, and director of the National Cleaner Production Centre in South Africa (NCPC-SA).

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“What we all have in common is a desire to cut costs, reduce consumption and to show that environmental responsibility is good for African business.” – Ndivhuho Raphulu

In just five years, the Industrial Energy Efficiency (IEE) project of the NCPCSA helped industry save R1,1 billion (US $78 million) and 1 340 GWh of energy, enough to power 180 000 mid-income homes for a year. Now South Africa’s experience is being used to stimulate energy efficiency across the continent, taking account of important differences between countries. Each country is at a different stage of industrial development, with different infrastructure, regulations and ideas about waste management, Ndivhuho says.

Through the IEE Project, 384 companies have saved 1 340 GWh of energy and R1,1 billion (US $78 million)

“But what we all have in common is a desire to cut costs, reduce consumption and to show that environmental responsibility is good for business.”

180 000 mid-income households could be electrified for a year from the IEE savings to date

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Climate Change (CAHOSCC), we made the decision that we must have a united front at COP21, that being in calling for a new climate regime that is legally binding and addresses Africa’s needs after the Kyoto protocol expires in 2015.’

One of the issues that this united voice will be strongly contesting at COP21 is carbon reduction. The world standard is to set carbon emission levels at two percent but Peace and her colleagues believe that Africa should be an exception with that level being set at 1,5 percent. ‘With the number of small island states Africa has, and countries with small coast lines, the affect of sea level increases will be hardest felt.’

Such identifiers come from wellestablished programmes and initiatives like the Climate Change and Desertification unit of the AU, which has been directed to empower the continent to understand the importance of climate change and what strategies and policy frameworks need to be put in place to educate and inform Africa’s population about how to adapt to climate change and counteract desertification.

‘This has to be a continental effort,’ says Peace, ‘because Africa has to start talking with one voice. Countries individually do not have a strong voice, but together we

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can work with a unity of purpose. The AU supports many organisations working in the climate change environment, even in the supply of translation services, which is crucial to the concept of unity of purpose.

‘Strategies are being put in place, as are national action plans, environmental protection, green energy, sustainable land management and sustainability plans.

Our achievements are ongoing and cover a diverse array of focus areas.’

All imperatives however, in Peace’s opinion, must be backed by science and information. ‘Obviously technology is important. It facilitates adaption and provides us with mitigation technology.’

A Limpopo River project in South Africa is a case in point. A risk capacity assessment is underway that over three to four years will generate data that help to understand the pattern of droughts.

While we may need to depend on technology the problem exists that we don’t have enough talent, says Peace. ‘I think the richest African resource should be human capacity. Unfortunately we have a brain drain, with those who have the knowledge leaving the country. You can’t have science without people who really understand, and have intimate experience of, the challenges of climate

change, as well as the experience in technology that creates effective mitigation efforts.’

Peace has to look at climate change from many different perspectives. She advocates for, amongst others, livestock, fisheries, forestry, water and all natural resources, and of course agriculture. All of these are inseparable when considering the impacts of climate change and are inter-connected in such a way that despite the extent of the work it may involve, the bigger picture is what Peace needs to focus on.

‘One of my main focus points in considering the effects of climate change, and in line with the AU Summit theme of empowering women, I am very aware that women in agricultural are one of the most severely affected,’ says Peace.

‘Think for a moment about their daily struggle,’ says Peace. ‘Apart from running households, ensuring family care and working in the fields, they are responsible to collect firework for a source of energy.

They need new sources to reduce their burden and the ill effects that come from charcoal based cooking.’

This is why women are being promoted as part and parcel of how the AU orientates its frameworks so that it can mobilize resources to help, particularly, women in agriculture. ‘We incorporate women in policy making and urge countries to design strategies that include the distribution of knowledge about climate change to the rural communities so that climate change issues can be anticipated, and measures to counteract those are understood.

‘Climate change is everyone’s problem, it is not sector-based because it affects every part of our lives. There is no individual agenda that does not speak the same language when we talk about the climate, and bear in mind that Africa is already hard hit by droughts and floods, pestilence and fluctuating weather patterns. These are not always restricted to one region either.

‘Environmental protection and education must happen now, not tomorrow, today,’ concludes Peace.

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Due to a SENTER 360 world-rst patent that is tted as standard to every SENTER 360 centre pivot, we constantly keep your SENTER 360s’ last sprinklers clean. As a result you DO NOT lose the outside hectares of your expensively planted and fertilised crop anymore as is commonly “accepted” worldwide by centre pivot manufacturers and irrigation farmers alike due to blockages during the irrigation cycle.

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Technical

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Tel: +27 18 469 1331 Email: info@senter360.co.za www.senter360.co.za

Africa’s pivot of success

A good story to tell - small-scale farmers in Plant biotechnology is playing a significant role in helping small-scale farmers improve their incomes and quality of life while employing sustainable agricultural practices. In 2013, of the 18 million farmers worldwide growing 175 million hectares of biotech crops, 90 percent were small holder farmers in 19 developing countries, according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA).

Biotechnology, while not the complete answer to food insecurity at the household level in South Africa, can help to ensure that no South African goes to bed on an empty stomach. Smallholder farmers - who make an important contribution to food production in South Africa – increasingly need better farming methods to increase their yields. In return the farmers can ensure higher incomes to better cater for the needs of their families.

Some have found the answer in growing GM maize.

Our farmers consider the main benefits of GM maize to be peace of mind, consistent increased yields, better grain quality and excellent weed control.

For example: Mrs Bubbi Aphane, Cullinan, Gauteng farms with her son, Solofelang (Solo), an agricultural student at the Tshwane University of Technology. She planted 2 hectare (ha) and commented that “I am very impressed with my maize. It looks very good and I expect a yield of more than 4t/ha. I think this is the way for smallholder farmers to go. No problems from stalk borer or weed infestations. The fact that a herbicide can be sprayed over the crop without killing the crop but destroying the weeds means a big saving on labour cost. We are planning to plant 10 hectares next year.”

Dr. Mamabolo Raphesu is a former lecturer at the Limpopo University who gave up his academic career for full time farming. He plants 120 ha of GM maize on dry land. He started farming with GM maize five years ago.

“It keeps my maize free from stalk borer infestation and weeds are easily managed with the Roundup Ready technology. GM maize is a jump starter for smallholder farmers who want to achieve food security and a better living,” says Raphesu. His average yield over the years has been 3-4t/ha For the 2013/14 season Dr Raphesu planted dry-land white maize in November 2013 and harvested in June 2014. His yield was 4-5t/ha. Dr Raphesu has great ambitions to expand his plantings to 200ha. “The problem is that at the moment I don’t have the equipment for expansion. A major problem is that I do not have title deeds on the land and no financial institution is willing to advance me any capital for expansion. This is a serious problem facing all smallholder farmers and until this is rectified we are not going to develop,” he emphasized. In addition to his crops he also has a mixture of 70 head of Simmentaler and Bonsmara cattle, selling weaners at auctions and out of hand. He is a past president of AFASA (African Farmers’

Association of South Africa) for the Gauteng Province.

Ms Tepsy Ntseoane, a former teacher and business consultant to various institutions, is the president of AFASA (African Farmers’ Association of South Africa) for the Gauteng province. She farms on 539 ha with cattle, maize, vegetables and a small piggery. She obtained the land from the government through the Land Reform Strategy. She plants 40 ha of Bt maize dry land. Her yield the past season, suffering severe drought spells, was 5.37t/ha. In 2011 AfricaBio introduced her to Bt maize. “I planted 2ha ha dry land. My yield was 7 t/ha compared to 2-3 t/ha with conventional maize, which I first planted, due to stalk borer damage. Last year my yield was also 7 t/ha. The past 2013/14 season, I planted 40 ha of Bt maize. I am so impressed with having no stalk borer damage and no weed problems that I plan to increase my plantings to 100ha. GM maize, from my own experience, is certainly the answer to food security, hunger and poverty alleviation for smallholder farmers,” says Ms Ntseoane.

Mr Frans Malela from Matlerekeng, near Groblersdal, Limpopo has been planting Bt maize since 2002. “Previously I planted conventional maize.

The stalk borer destroyed so much of my crop that my yield was only 1 t/ ha. With the Bt maize my yield has increased to 3 t/ha. This is the survival for smallholder farmers,” says Malela. “For weed control I applied Roundup PowerMAX® only once at 8-leaf stage and suffered no further weed problems. I have not suffered any harm from using Roundup Ready herbicide,” he emphasised. To help the local community and contribute to job creation, Frans hires ten labourers to harvest his maize by hand. He is also a highly successful GM cotton farmer. The past season he planted 12 ha of Bt cotton which reduced labour expenses, reduced the number of sprays – only two against sucking insects – and his yield has almost doubled.

Mr. Motlatsi Musi was introduced to Bt maize by AfricaBio in 2004. “My yield on dry land increased by 34%, from 5 t/ha with conventional maize to 6.36 t/ha for Bt maize. From the increased income I gradually extended my planting from 7 ha to the current 20 ha. My average yield over the past nine years, without any stalk borer infestation and during some critical drought periods and floods, has been 5.5 t/ha–7 t/ha. “During the 2012/13 season I planted GM white maize and my yield was 5.5 t/ha,” says Musi. “Since I have adopted Bt maize I have enjoyed a better quality of life. I believe that GM crops are the best solution for South African agriculture. What has been good for me can be good for millions of smallholder farmers in other countries. From surplus maize which I harvested, I donated six bags of mealie meal to an old age home and an orphanage in Soweto” says Musi. In 2008 he was invited by the Brazilian Council for Biotechnology Information (CIB) to address the Rural Coopaval Show held in Parana State

ABOVE LEFT TO RIGHT: Mrs Bubbi Aphane, proudly showing her first GM maize crop; Dr Raphesu in his GM maize field;Ms Tepsy Ntseoane in her stand of GM maize; Mr Frans Malela in his stand of GM maize; Mr Motlatsi Musi OPPOSITE LEFT TO RIGHT: Mr Vincent Rapeta with his increased maize yield; Mrs Florah Shilaloke in her maize field; Mrs Sophie Mabena in her maize field; Mrs Thembeni Modise and her GM maize; Mr & Mrs Buda

South Africa benefit from growing GM crops on the benefits of GM crops he has experienced. He has also addressed several European institutions on the benefits of GM crops, including the European parliament in Brussels.

Mr Vincent Rapeta from Dendron, Limpopo, has been planting conventional maize for the past 11 years. For the 2013/14 season, AfricaBio advised him to adopt GM maize. He planted half a hectare of Insect Resistant/Herbicide Tolerant white maize. His yield was 2.61 tons (=5.22 t/ ha). He also planted conventional maize as the refuge and due to the high infestation of stalk borer, the refuge yielded only 1 ton, which was also his average yield previously with conventional maize. “With the good crop and excellent yield I achieved the past season, I plan to plant 15 to 20 ha the next season,” said Rapeta.

Ms. Florah Shilaloke, Bronkhorstspruit-“GM maize is a life-saver because you don’t need a lot of money or use a lot of workers. You use a herbicide to control the weeds and the stalkborer is already controlled by the Bt. When I deliver my maize to the mill I get a better price because of its quality. Each and everyone who sees my maize field asks me where they can buy the seed. I am proud to be a Bt maize grower.”

Ms. Sophie Mabena, Bronkhorstspruit— “As a maize farmer, I need to control insect pests and weeds as they are key factors for getting better maize yields and more money from the miller down the road. I grow the GM stacked maize which is insect resistant and herbicide tolerant. This means the maize plant is not damaged by the maize stalk borer and can withstand the chemicals I use to control weeds.”

Ms. Thembeni Modise, Nigel—“I have a demonstration site on my farm where AfricaBio has planted Bt and non-Bt white maize to show maize farmers like myself the benefits of Bt maize. From this site I have seen how the technology works. Bt maize is protected against stalk borer, requires less labour and gives better yields than the non-Bt maize. In overall, I would urge my fellow maize farmers to go for Bt maize for a stalk borer protected crop and better yield.”

Mrs. Sarah Buda of Varkfontein started by growing 2 ha of GM maize.

She says,”For me Bt maize has been an advantage over conventional maize because there has been no stalk borer in my field and there has been no need to use pesticides. People worry about the impact on their health but we have cooked and eaten GM maize and nothing happened. Many people have also eaten the flour from GM maize.” Sarah says that she plans to have the entire farm under Bt maize and she is also interested in growing GM soybean. “I am encouraging other farmers to adopt this technology as we have realized good profits in growing it because farming is a business. We need money. What do you do with a crop that does not give you good returns?”

According to Dr Nompumelelo Obokoh, CEO of AfricaBio “2013 was the 18th year of successful commercialisation of GM crops. Globally, a record 18 million farmers grew GM crops and over 90% or more than 16.5 million were small resource-poor farmers in developing countries. In South Africa, about 2.9 million ha of GM maize, soybean and cotton were grown in 2013, and the country is the 8th largest adopter of GM crops.

The economic gains from Dr. Nompumelelo Obokoh GM crops for South Africa for the period 1998-20132 was estimated at US$1.15 billion and US$ 218.5 million for 2012.

All officially approved GM crops do not represent any greater health threat to consumers than their conventional counterparts. In South Africa, genetically modified (GM) crops are the most extensively tested food crops available today. They are more stringently tested than any other food in history, and are tightly regulated both before they reach the marketplace and once they are on sale. The GMO Act (1997) of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries ensures that they are at least as safe, if not safer, than conventional foods. Biotech crops have been grown and consumed for more than 18 years and people around the world have consumed billions of meals containing biotech derived foods or ingredients.

There are no substantiated scientific reports of any food safety issues, says Dr Nompumelelo Obokoh, CEO of AfricaBio AfricaBio, is a biotechnology stakeholder association established in 1999, and works with stakeholders along the value chain to ensure, safe and responsible adoption of biotechnology in South Africa and the region.

Contact details: Suite U9, First Floor, Enterprise Building, Mark Shuttle worth Street, The Innovation Hub, Pretoria, 0087 Email: info@africabio.com • Switch board: +27 12 844 0126 • Fax: +27 86 619 9399 • www.africabio.com

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Planting seeds for the future A year ago, African leaders made a commitment to fundamentally transform agriculture on the continent. There have been commitments before, over the past decade, yet agriculture remains one of the most under-developed industries on the continent, and one that hinders prosperity and food security.

BY OUR OWN STAFF

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compounds the problem, which is compounded by the threat of climate change,’ says Peace.

Animal husbandry is also dearly affected and Peace reiterates that it again boils down to the lack of marketing structures that are all connected. ‘While there may be an increasing demand for poultry, without the means to get it to market it becomes an unsustainable business.’

There are of course hundreds of initiatives in place to boost an agri economy and together they create a continental framework that is making inroads, if only to ensure that agriculture is featured as an item on all the agenda’s of Africa’s development agencies. One such organisation is the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADAP) formed in 2003 by the AU to ensure agricultural transformation, wealth creation, food security and nutrition, economic growth and prosperity. Its ultimate goal is to align diverse stakeholder interests around the design of integrated programmes that can be adapted to suit local conditions.

CAADAP has done exceptionally well, confirms Peace. ‘It has brought the world’s attention to Africa’s agricultural issues. 40

out of the 54 African nations have signed contracts with CAADAP. Agricultural investment has risen but not every nation is experiencing the 10% growth that others are largely because they had rather low budget contributions at only 1%.

‘Starting at such a low base means that should that rise to 3%, contributions have tripled, and that effort cannot be discounted. Countries do however need to put more effort into supporting such programmes and even though we are seeing agriculture being made a priority, especially within the private sector, change needs to happen quicker.

At the AU Summit last year, held in Equatorial Guinea, AU heads of state and governments signed the 2014 Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods. This commitment relates to ending hunger by 2025, and to at least halve current levels of post-harvest losses. It also included tripling African trade in agricultural goods and services, developing an agri economy, increasing the resilience of production systems, enhancing the investment in to the sector, both private and public, and a commitment to mutual accountability through the institutionalising of a system

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n 2014, credible reports from the World Bank and Nepad mention that Africa has some 33 million farms of less than 2 hectares accounting for 80% of all farms. Referred to as family farming, rural communities are best placed to optimise labour, and to enable greater land use. But, there is a hurdle that must be overcome – the lack of modern, productive farming methods, those that use science, technology and innovation in combination with indigenous knowledge.

Rhoda Peace, the AU Commission for Rural Economy and Agriculture says that an agricultural sector that is not mechanised is not a sector at all. ‘It is also incredible to think that over all these years, the hand-held hoe is still being used, largely by women. You cannot feed an entire continent with such a simple tool.

And if women decided to down those tools, Africa would shake.’

The potential expansion of an agri sector, resulting from the abolishment of the hand-held hoe by 2025, which is a mandate of the AU, would be dramatic even should just 30% of that goal be achieved. Peace says that the adoption rate of new technology is very low and combined with old seed and limited use of fertiliser, it is not surprising that the continent is unable to feed itself, let alone produce enough for export.

‘Marketing systems, for example co-operatives, are non-existent, and this is a great shame. I blame structural adjustment programs for this. Our co-operatives used to manage so many aspects of agriculture, even credit systems, so everything was automatically driven. It would be very difficult to bring them back but we do need an organized marketing system because unless individual farmers pool their products and services, they will not survive.’

With farmers operating in isolation, much produce is being wasted. ‘The rural areas do not have the luxury of cold transportation and storage. There aren’t even enough consumers in rural areas given that stores aren’t in existence and many of the farmers are growing the same produce. The lack of irrigation further

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AFRICAN WATER ASSOCIATION (AfWA)

ASSOCIATION AFRICAINE DE L’EAU (AAE)

A Leading Professionnal Organisation for the Water and Sanitation Sector in Africa Presentation

Gates Foundation (BMGF).

The African Water Association (AfWA) formerly known as Union of African Water Suppliers (UAWS) is a professional association of establishments, enterprises and utilities operating in the areas of drinking water, sanitation and environment in Africa.

Since its inception in 1980, its main objective is to develop professional capacity of members in order to achieve its vision of drinking water coverage across the continent.

2- The African Water Academy launched in 2010 dedicated to the training for leadership development in water and sanitation sector in Africa.

AfWA has over 100 utilities members from some 40 countries across Africa Projects

AfWA has sought over the years to facilitate capacity development of utilities and influence sector policy by providing sound professional viewpoints on emerging issues and engaging other actors on such issues. In the last few years, AfWA had shown leadership in implementing a wide range of capacity building programs and projects which include:

1- The Water Operators’ Partnerships for Africa (WOPAfrica) in support to water and sanitation utilities for improving quality service delivery and sector governance as well. The WOP-Africa program, a multi-donors action jointly funded since 2009 by UN-Habitat, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the African Water Facility of the African Development Bank (AWF/AfDB and on the going course by the Bill & Melinda

3- The Further Advancing Blue Revolution Initiative (FABRI) funded by USAID with specific activities on reducing non-revenue water in African water utilities; 4- The USAID-AfWA Capacity building program (AfRICap) funded by USAID WA in order to strengthen the institutional and operational capacities of AfWA in view to confirm its leadership as the African wide organization to promote change in policy and service provision ; 5- The Sanitation WOP project for reinforcing African sanitation operators on non-sewer and fecal sludge management (RESOP-Africa) funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation...

Perspective AfWA, as the unique leader of water and sanitation professionals’ in Africa, is onwards strongly positioned to positively contribute to the sector agenda setting, policy development, identifying capacity development needs, promoting innovative approaches. By doing so, AfWA is deemed to be at the upfront of the implementation of the African Head of States Sharm EI Sheikh Declaration in 2008; aiming at enhancing water and sanitation coverage in Africa in order to achieve the worldwide sound targets.

Head Office :

Av. 8 prolongée à la montée du Pont Houphouët-Boigny 05 B.P 1910 Abidjan 05 - Côte d’Ivoire Tel. : +225 21 24 04 96 - 21 24 14 43 Fax. : +225 21 24 26 29 E-mail: contact@afwa-hq.org, kaloua@afwa-hq.org Site web : www.afwa-hq.org

Creating Professionnal Leadership in Water and Sanitation Sector in Africa

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to roll out plans that will allow farmers to access finance at a low percentage.

Agriculture has to become more attractive to banks and the cost of money must come down, at least to help agricultural growth.’

Another frustration is seed harmonisation. ‘We are working with the regional economic communities to put mechanisms in place to ensure that seeds begin to flow from one region or country to another but obviously this requires well-structured moderation,’ says Peace.

‘When a farmer cannot access seeds it becomes very tempting to opt for genetically modified versions.’

The warning from Peace is that Africa has to strengthen its scientific capacity and that it will be the scientists who guide farmers and motivate for policies that determine how to identify, label and market the produce derived from genetically modified seeds.

‘The science community should also be educating the public because there is a tendency to mix pure and genetically modified seed types. If you want to increase yields we understand that one must play with the genetics but there must always remain a distinction between the two.’

Land grabbing is still being heralded as a challenge for African countries and

Peace says that that it is imperative to put in place mechanisms to ensure that land is used in a manner that is acceptable to Africans. European and American models will not work in Africa and is the reason why the AU Land Policy initiative provides guidelines for the use of land, for accessing it, and the types of land ownership that work specifically on the continent, but still comply with international protocols.

‘I don’t think the extent of landgrabbing in Africa differs that much from other continents,’ says Peace. ‘but that does not mean we are not monitoring it, working together with governments and civil society to develop sound policies.’

Overall, agriculture remains a repressed environment, but as Peace says, there is light at the end of the tunnel, especially given that women are now becoming central to the agenda to uplift the sector.

‘We want to ensure that the work of rural women is less onerous and more rewarding. Food security is something that Africa has to get right, we cannot keep importing food when we have abundance enough to take care of all our needs.

‘We need to keep pushing this agenda because it is a time-driven face that with agriculture, the more you put in, the more you get out!’ says Peace.

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of chartering, monitoring and reporting.

Peace reports that in support of the declaration the AU has put in place a strategy and a roadmap that defines strategy areas with an implementation plan. ‘I must emphasize that this strategy is a national responsibility, requiring ownership and leadership. It is also a multi-sector responsibility because it is not just the ministries of agricultural that will bring about transformation.’

Regional and continental institutions are also being engaged to supply catalytic support solutions to facilitate continental linkages and strengthen systemic strategies at national levels.

Despite awareness of the agri sector’s value, there remains the issue of limited finance, especially for small-scale farmers.

They are finding it very costly to borrow from banks. Again, women are being highlighted for financial inclusion. ‘Women must be able to access what is rightfully theirs. The banks have money but seemingly only want commercial transactions,’ says Peace.

‘We know that agriculture is the mainstay of all economies. The resources are there but it’s a challenge at a country level because there aren’t enough specific programmes for the small-scale farmer. We are constantly encouraging governments

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Mining Qualifications Authority Placing Skills in the Hands of Our Artisans

Phuti enjoys working as a boilermaker.

Her responsibilities include the creation of structures, pipes, chutes and cones using tools such as welding machines, cutting torches and griding machines. A typical day for her involves fixing machinery and ensuring her work area in the plant is running smoothly.

The working conditions can prove challenging at times, but it is these challenges that Phuti embraces and sees as opportunities. Her goal is to one day qualify as a mechanical engineer.

Artisan development is one of the key learning areas supported by the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) through its artisan learnership programmes.

This is to ensure artisans in the mining and minerals sector are equipped with the right qualifications to become productive, skilled and contribute to the transformation of the sector. The MQA is also committed to support women in mining and Phuti Selepe is one example of how the MQA supports female artisans through its artisan learnership programmes.

Phuti completed grade 12 with maths and science being her core subjects. During a career guidance event, she learned about the industry which encouraged her to consider a career in the sector. She applied for an MQA learnership to study boiler making through Palabora Copper (Pty) Ltd in Phalaborwa. She was eventually shortlisted and the MQA provided funding for her training.

She pursued an N2 qualification at an FET college and studied subjects that included maths, engineering science and platers theory. An N2 qualification is a prerequisite to enrol in a learnership and ultimately write a trade test. Phuti then participated in work based training as well as with an accredited training provider over a period of two years. She completed her practical training by applying theorical learning in her work. She is currently employed by Palabora Copper (Pty) Ltd as a Boilermaker.

Ms Phuti Selepe, MQA sponsored artisan learner

A learnership is one of the avenues a learner or employee can participate in to eventually gain a qualification.

The structured learning component and practical work experience component can only be undertaken with a training provider accredited by the MQA. As the Mining Qualifications Authority we are proud to support artisans such as Phuti through our learnerships. Her story is one of many examples of how the MQA is committed to developing skills and empowering the mining and minerals sector workforce.

For more information on MQA artisan and non-artisan learnerships, please contact the Mining Qualifications Authority on www.mqa.org.za or 011Â 547Â 2600.

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Leveraging

Africa’s natural resources

for the benefit of human development

Over the past several decades, Africa has lost its nickname as the dark continent of the world.

Nowadays it is known as the continent thriving with opportunity, and as a result of funding from institutions such as the African Development Bank, many African countries are starting to capitalise on this potential. Chantél Venter takes a look at what the Bank is doing to accelerate human development in Africa through leveraging the continent’s rich natural resources sectors.

S

ince its inception in 1967, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has contributed more than USD100-billion in loans and grants to help boost economic growth across all the major sectors. In recognising the potential of the natural resources sectors specifically, the Bank established the African Natural Resource Centre (ANRC) in 2013 to maximise rewards in these industries.

Together, the ANRC and dedicated AfDB departments focus their efforts on six renewable and non-renewable sectors namely land, water, fisheries, forestry, oil

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and gas, and mining and minerals. With the backing of the AfDB, the Centre is setting out to ensure that the countries that produce these precious resources are able to retain more of its value and utilise the revenue to endorse job creation, education, health and social services within the respective countries.

African potential Africa is the second largest continent in the world. It boasts picturesque attractions like the magnificent Masai Mara, the Victoria Falls, Mount Kilimanjaro, the

Namib Desert and exquisite fauna and flora that can be found nowhere else in the world. Apart from its natural beauty, Africa is also rich in natural resources. It produces around 78% of the world’s diamond production, 54% of its platinum, 51% of its vanadium, 40% of its chromium and 28% of its manganese, to name but a few. Yet, despite all of this abundance, many African countries remain in poverty.

The AfDB has spent the last 50 years advancing the land, water, fisheries, forestry, oil and gas, and mining and minerals sectors in a great number of

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BY CHANTEL VENTER

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countries. Today, the ANRC is amplifying the successes achieved and is actively combating the challenges facing each of these sectors.

Land: Strengthening Africa’s land rights Agriculture in Africa plays an exceptionally important role for Africans. Not only is 55% of the continent’s labour workforce working in this industry, but it is also a direct source of livelihood for people living in low income, rural areas.

Currently, this sector brings in 30% of Africa’s GDP while a large portion of the continent’s fertile crop land remains unused. The reason for this finds its origin in the complex conflicts between African countries regarding land ownership and control of natural resources.

Together with the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the AfDB developed the Land Policy Initiative (LPI) to strengthen land rights, which has led to the creation of

action plans and land commissions for Nairobi, Nigeria, Senegal, Benin, Mali and Burkina Faso.

The Banks’ ANRC initiative is contributing to the LPI by improving efficiency and acuity. The Centre, in partnership with other AfDB departments, is also seeing to the devising of policies to address tenure security, technological advances and the safeguarding of equal access for women to pastoral and wetland resources.

Water: Developing regional and continental infrustructure The water sector in Africa suffers from an economic water scarcity; therefore inadequate funds lie behind the low levels of water utilisation and not physical water scarcity. The continent is only using 5% of its water resources and it has developed just 5% of its hydropower potential. The agriculture industry uses up 80% of the water resources on the continent leaving little left to expand agriculture and other

water utilising industries.

The AfDB developed the Programme for Infrastructure Development In Africa in 2012 that will see to the development of regional and continental infrastructure. It has also approved over 167 water-related projects in the last 10 years alone to the value of USD 4.8-billion. The ANRC will now see to it that the work done by the AfDB to date is expanded across all water-using sectors and the Centre will also look into developing the potential of water-related activities that will generate income and create jobs.

Fisheries: Monitoring and combating illegal fishing The fisheries industry is not only valuable for the jobs it sustains but also for the foreign earnings it generates, nutrition and biodiversity. In Africa, fisheries and aquaculture is valued at USD 24-billion.

Yet, according to the African Union, West Africa alone loses around USD1.3-billion

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due to illegal and unreported fishing.

The AfDB has modernised regulatory frameworks, implemented control and surveillance systems, collected statistics, set up co-management structures and a series of other projects to the total of USD 383-million to improve the management of fisheries in various African countries.

The ANRC now focuses on improving the governance of fisheries in Africa in addition to utilising legal instruments to further enhance transparency in the sector.

Forestry: Focusing on diverse, valueadded products Africa is home to 150-million hectares of forestland. Sub-Saharan Africa’s population depends heavily on this sector for its livelihood and in general 20% of the jobs in Africa stem from forests and woodlands.

Although the potential for the sector is lucrative, African countries share in a mere 2-3% of its trade. In addition to this, the challenges facing the industry are quite severe. While illegal timber harvesting and trade is a substantial threat for the sector, the most concerning issue is significant deforestation as a result of unsustainable harvesting and commercial logging.

The AfDB have spent around USD1billion across 31 forestry projects in 21 countries to help conserve, manage, rehabilitate degraded indigenous forests, agro-forestry etc. Through the Bank’s ANRC initiative focus will be placed on Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) and job creation through value-added transformation of forest products Oil and Gas: Translating revenue into human development and affluence Six of the top 10 discoveries in the oil and gas sectors have been made in Africa in 2013, yet the continent is still vastly under explored compared to other continents.

The economic impact of these natural resources are paramount for its producing countries and herein lies one of the key ingredients in securing a prosperity for the people of Africa.

Currently, investors play a leading role in the long-term decisions made surrounding these resources, which can

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have a negative impact on Regional Member Countries (RMCs). And with the growth in interest from oil and gas companies to explore Africa over the next two decades, there is a dire need for RMCs to create an effective policy-driven resources development model that will translate revenue gained into human development and affluence.

Over the past 50 years, the AfDB has been providing financial management in resource-rich countries to ensure that

addressed head-on. Macroeconomic instability, poor governance, corruption and an absence of investment from the outside also contribute towards the inability to transform resources revenue into efficient economic development.

The AfDB has been involved in combating these and other problems through financing mining development projects, facilitating legal support and helping 15 countries through its Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

” Africa is estimated to have around 30% of the world’s mineral reserves. However, the continent remains largely under explored which means that this number could be undervalued. ……….. this sector will over the next 20 years contribute more than USD 30-billion every year” .

revenues are allocated to job creation, enhancing living standards, health and social services. The ANRC will focus on investment policies, licensing procedures, contracts as well as training workshops. In addition to this structures will be put in place for negotiation teams to ensure that when it comes to the mediation of these natural resources that the protection of public interest will always gain favor.

Mining and Minerals: Long-term sustainable development Africa is estimated to have around 30% of the world’s mineral reserves. However, the continent remains largely under explored which means that this number could be undervalued. According to an assessment done by the AfDB, this sector will over the next 20 years contribute more than USD 30-billion every year.

For this to happen the current problems experienced by the sector such as infrastructure shortages, inefficient legal policies and frameworks should be

The ANRC is currently developing and coordinating the African Mining Vision that includes the continent’s long-term vision for the sustainable development of non-renewable and renewable resources, which cover the development of policies, toolkits and so much more.

A bright future It is without a doubt the hard work of the AfDB over the past five decades has helped shine a new light on this beautiful continent. With this global spotlight on Africa, the large-scale investment the continent will see over the next 20 years will lead to enhanced exploration of all the known and unknown potential the continent possesses. With the ANRC and AfDB departments focusing development in supporting and enhancing the natural resources of the continent, the potential in these areas far outweigh the challenges.

With the focus being on human development through these sectors, the future looks bright indeed.

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Leading Manufacturers of HDPE Jointing Systems in sizes from 20mm to 3000mm

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Johannesburg: 19 Angus Crescent Unit 4, Longmeadow Business Estate, Johannesburg Cel: 082 828 2312 Email: michael.pretorius@stp-sa.com Email Sales: Lee-Ann Pillay - lpillay@stp-sa.com

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Extraordinary Possibilities

Hotel Verde Advertorial

Africa’s Greenest Hotel celebrates a Global first

Hotel Verde has proven to be the most innovative on the continent in terms of its sustainable practices, while simultaneously offering guests a combination of luxury, convenience and inspiration. In June 2015 Hotel Verde became the world’s only hotel to achieve a double-platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the United States Green Building Council. This provided recognition that the hotels’ design, construction and operating strategies are of international best practice.

THE FIRST PLATINUM CERTIFICATION was awarded in May 2014 for New Construction in the Green Building Design & Construction category. This established Hotel Verde as one of only 6 hotels in the world and the only hotel in Africa, to receive this accolade, at the time. The second and most recent certification was awarded for the Existing Building Operations & Maintenance of the hotel, giving Hotel Verde their double Platinum status.

The culture of sustainability is at the core of daily operations at Hotel Verde, forming part of the DNA of its staff and management. However, Hotel Verde is not only geared towards an ethical and environmentally-friendly synergy, but also towards a truly comfortable and memorable experience providing guests with far more

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than a simple hotel stay. This sophisticated four-star establishment boasts spacious, contemporary designed rooms and suites, perfect for both leisure and executive travellers. It is extremely family friendly yet simultaneously perfect for business travel. Chic, modern and boasting an eclectic and impressive collection of local art, Hotel Verde has seven full-service conferencing venues (accommodating 4 to 120 delegates), a VIP lounge and business centre, free Wi-Fi, a shuttle service which transports guests to major tourism attractions, and a 24 hour freshening up facility.

The adjacent wetland on the hotel property has been restored by planting more than 100 indigenous plants and trees. It features a 320m jogging track, eco pool and two urban beehives housing up to

60 000 Cape Honey Bees, onsite. This has created a small oasis in the heart of an industrial area, perfect for a peaceful outdoor break-away for guests and conference delegates.

Not only do double glazed windows keep rooms soundproof (there is not a hint of aircraft noise throughout the hotel), but spectrally selective glass also filters out the sun’s hot rays, significantly reducing the hotel’s reliance on conventional air conditioning. Toiletries and detergents are 100 % eco-friendly making the guest experience a healthier one. The hotel kitchen, which produces high quality meals starting with a red-eye commuter’s dream - a superior breakfast buffet served from 4.30 am onwards - grows its own herbs and vegetables, buying in all other supplies

Hotel Verde Advertorial

from as close to source as possible. A cool, lush ‘living wall’ come vertical garden separates the hotel lounge from the bar and dining area, purifying the air and creating a sense of serenity.

The hotel encourages visitors towards more eco-friendly habits through a novel incentives system. Guests are rewarded for recycling their waste, reusing towels, refraining from using air conditioning, or utilising power-generating gym equipment.

An in-house currency named a Verdino has been developed for this purpose. Verdinos can be redeemed at the 24 hour deli or hotel bar. Every Wednesday evening, the hotel observes earth hour, serving dinner by solar light and switching off non-essential lights to the sounds of live music.

LED bulbs are used throughout the facility, whilst occupancy sensors and key card activators ensure no lighting or air conditioning is used unnecessarily in rooms or public areas. All hotel appliances (such as washing machines, driers, dish washers, office equipment etc.) are energysavers. Shower water is sterilised and filtered by a state of the art grey water plant and used to flush toilets, while a 40 000-litre tank collects rainwater and subsoil drainage water for irrigation. Three wind turbines and photovoltaic panels are used to generate electricity and elevators are fitted with special regenerative drives that harness 30% of input energy, which is then fed back into the grid. The hotel also boasts a set of power generating gym equipment – the firsts of its kind for the African continent. The Hotel generates approximately 10.8% of its own energy.

This, along with many active and passive installations and considerations at the hotel, makes it 70% more energy efficient than an average Cape Town hotel of the same size.

“No one in Africa has taken the green model and philosophy and applied it as comprehensively as we have,” observes Mario Delicio, owner of Hotel Verde.

“The long term benefits and sustainability are far more important to us than any immediate gains.”

However, it has become clear that a green hotel offers much commercial viability. In comparing and quantifying

the Return On Investment (ROI) between building a green hotel versus a traditional hotel, Hotel Verde cost 1.3 million ZAR per key compared to the 1.15 million ZAR per key that it would have cost without the green technology premium. This is easily made back through the high return that is a result of green operation.

Hotel Verde gained over 20 million ZAR (approximately $2.5 million) in free local press exposure since the project commenced, experienced a reduced utility consumption cost by 70% and lowered energy consumption by 70%. Overall, the Hotel Verde green-build project resulted

in 35% lower operating costs, a 70% reduction in energy consumption, 85% waste to landfill reduction, and 35% lower water consumption.

Owner Mario Delicio saw a gap in the market to provide truly sustainable hospitality solutions that would provide the market place with a chain of world class green hotels. This saw the birth of Africa’s first truly sustainable hotel management solution, company, Verde Hotels.

“It is the strong belief of the Verde Hotels team and myself that the hotel industry has changed, and that we simply cannot build or operate hotels in the same way that we have done for the past twenty years.” said Samantha Annandale, CEO of Verde Hotels.

As a hotel management company, Verde Hotels aims to spearhead sustainable hotel management throughout Africa by offering hotel investors and developers property management packages for both new construction projects and retrofitting of existing buildings.

Projects taken on by Verde Hotels will be operated and managed by Verde Hotels through the thrivable hospitality model.

Both New Constructions and Retrofits will take on the Verde name either as a fully branded Hotel Verde or as an independent, managed by the Verde Hotels group.

THRIVABILITY

The Verde Hotels business model relies on thrivability which encompasses people, profit and the planet. Verde Hotels uses advanced, environmentally conscious construction and operational practices.

With expertise on the LEED rating system and the implementation of a hotel carbon management programme, Verde Hotels can assure the implementation of a thrivable business model.

According to Jean Russell, who published Thrivability: Breaking Through to a World that Works in 2013, thrivability is not a simple language shift from the word sustainability. There’s a significant overlap between the two concepts: “the language of sustainability is about neutralizing.

THRIVABILITY - IS ABOUT SUCCEEDING”.

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Hotel Verde Advertorial

Thrivability is at the leading edge of green hospitality, and offers innovative, pioneering, and differentiated solutions.

In June of 2015 Hotel Verde was awarded the highest accolade of a 6 Star rating in the Green Star SA Existing Building Performance tool with 82 points, a first for a hotel in South Africa, by the GBCSA. The rating received is valid for a period of 3 years in order to ensure the building is continually operated on stringent efficiency and sustainability targets.

Patrons, travellers and guests made their voices heard, early in 2015 when Hotel Verde was as voted top 1% by Travellers

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Choice on TripAdvisor.

The Team at Hotel Verde achieved all the aforementioned accolades prior to their second “birthday” in August of 2015.

IN CONCLUSION:

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) SecretaryGeneral, Dr Taleb Rifai, commented during a recent site inspection to Hotel Verde “I am very impressed by Hotel Verde and even though their environmental impact may be considered very small on a global scale, the fact that they are able to inspire their staff’s behaviours and spirit, in terms of being a leader in Responsible

Tourism, make them stand out above the rest. Coupled this with the fact that they have proven on the triple bottom line, that going green can be economically, viable, profitable and sustainable; makes Hotel Verde an inspiration for the tourism sector and the Africa continent”.

More on Hotel Verde (meaning Green in Italian) and Verde Hotels at: Website: www.hotelverde.com Website: www.verdehotels.co.za Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/hotelverdect Twitter: @HotelVerde YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ user/HotelVerde

Hotel Verde Advertorial

Strategise. Conference.

Achieve.

Full Day Conference p/p Half Day Conference p/p

R 395 R 350

Full Package incl. accommodation Single (p/night) Per person sharing (p/night)

R 1585 R 1180

Free wi-fi & business centre

Up to 120 delegates

7 conference venues

Free secure parking

Restaurant & bar area

Work escape. Kids fun.

Family love.

T&C’s Apply

15 Michigan Street, Airport Industria, Cape Town, 7490 | reservations@hotelverde.com | + 27 (0) 21 380 5500 www.hotelverde.com

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Organised By: Lead Sponsor

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Delegate Benefits 22nd Africa Oil Week Registration Fee includes: • All-day coffee/tea/luncheons inside the Safari Park Exhibition • Official Ice-Breaker Reception • Cocktails and Networking Dinners: Tuesday to Thursday • Late Night Rendezvous at Mitchell‘s Ale House all week • Traditional Beach Braai-BBQ • Free WiFi at the venue • Free Shuttles: CTICC Waterfront hotels and social functions • Access to over 120 Presentations, with Parallel Session Forums on Africa Oil & Energy Finance, Africa Exploration Technologies, Africa Local Content and Young Professionals in Africa, with Presentation download post-Conference • Entry to the Safari Park Exhibition: over 160 Stands and Exhibitors, plus displays and documentation provided by leading companies and Governments, the service and supply industry

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Managing diversity remains a key challenge across Africa. Failure to do so has, in effect, led to devastating civil conflicts in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi.

Africa must map a new approach to diversity

F

ollowing the ‘curse of Berlin’ with the notorious conference of 1884-1885, European imperial powers not only imposed artificial governance systems on Africa, but — as Ugandan academic Mahmood Mamdani has noted — also politicised indigeneity, thus sowing the seeds of many of the divisions Africa has experienced.

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More than 6 million Africans have died in a bid to defend colonial boundaries.

Africa’s post-independence leaders also did not do enough to reverse this blighted legacy and develop indigenous systems for managing diversity. Crafting federations and conceding autonomy to minority groups were rejected by most nationbuilders, who argued instead that

one-party states were the only means to avoid destabilising ethnic wars and preserve the unity they needed.

No ruling party lost power in Africa between 1960 and 1990, and only three leaders left power voluntarily. Ethnoregional differences were thus made worse by nepotism and favouritism in appointments to military, political and

©123RF/ MARKUS MAINKA

BY ADEKEYE ADEBAJO

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indigenous African cultures, values and institutions as sources of legitimacy and strength.

Traditional conflict-resolution mechanisms have thus often been neglected. Deng went on to argue that African governing frameworks must embody the soul of African nations by reflecting the essential cultural values and norms of their populations, while building on their world view.

Among solutions he proposed for managing diversity include: proportional representation systems (such as in SA and Namibia); the need for elected presidents to win 25% of votes in all regions of the

manage diversity.

A radical proposal for managing diversity would involve African leaders organising a new Berlin conference on their own continent. The original Bismarckian conference of 1884-1885 divided Africa; this one would aim to unite the continent.

While the decision to freeze the map of Africa in the 1960s may have been sensible in a sovereignty-obsessed era of unconsolidated nation-states, Africans must now master the ingenuity and imagination to craft new arrangements that better reflect their own realities.

Federations and regional trade blocs

“ African governing frameworks must embody the soul of African nations by reflecting the essential cultural values and norms of their populations, while building on their world view”

bureaucratic positions. The state became a cash cow to be milked for political patronage.

Many national armies in countries such as Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Sudan were turned into ethnic warrior enclaves in which the core consisted of kinsmen of the head of state. South Sudan’s euphoric independence in 2011 has already resulted in an ethnic-fuelled civil war.

All of these trends have complicated the management of diversity in Africa and increased socioeconomic inequalities.

Francis Deng, South Sudanese scholar and diplomat noted in 1998 that African nations had yet to craft effective postcolonial frameworks to manage their cultural diversities, promote democratic governance and tap into the wealth of

country (similar to Nigeria); all groups being represented in the public service and judiciary; protecting indigenous languages and guaranteeing minority representation in parliament; and placing constitutional term limits on presidents.

Tanzanian diplomat Salim Ahmed Salim similarly called for the use of African culture and social relations in managing conflicts.

For all its flaws, Nigeria represents an innovative experiment in managing ethnic diversity through federalism involving 250 ethnic groups, while South Africa represents an effort to manage racial diversity through democratic constitutionalism.

Viable indigenous institutions for managing conflicts and preventing them from becoming violent will, however, still need to be built across Africa. The continent’s civil society actors must thus be used more effectively in efforts to

must be negotiated, and territorial boundaries agreed to in the long term that reflect the political, socioeconomic and cultural realities of a vast continent.

After detailed planning, African leaders and civil society actors must proceed to the ancient empire of Ethiopia — the seat of African diplomacy — to reverse the scandalous act of cartographic mischief inflicted on the continent by imperial European statesmen in Berlin 130 years ago.

Africa’s ancestors must be invited to this grand diplomatic banquet, where Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah will pass on the torch of pan-Africanism to SA’s Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, so that the ‘curse of Berlin’ over Africa can finally be lifted.

• Adebajo is executive director of the Centre for Conflict Resolution and a visiting professor at the University of Johannesburg.

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SADTU VISION 2030 The 2030 Vision presents a turning point in the history of SADTU and the pursuit of NDR objectives within the teacher community. The Vision is designed to be both a truly South African and African product which is rooted in the reality of what defines an African teacher during what is now known to be the African century. For it to fully succeed, it requires not only the support of all teachers but also that of South Africans, and particularly parents.

The Vision is based on the view that we need to build a new teacher for an emerging South African society rather than simply normalize something which was never normal. The magnitude of the challenge should not be under-estimated. It requires commitment, clarity of vision and leadership from teachers as individuals, teaches as social actors, teachers as community leaders, and teachers as shapers of nations and most critically, the recipient community of our commitment.

The following pillars underpin the Union 2030 Vision for the next fifteen years: SERVICING UNION MEMBERS SADTU’s right to existence is defined by the satisfaction of its members about the organisation’s consistency in implementing what its constitution, resolutions and objectives dictate. The interest of members should therefore reign supreme in the activities and operations of SADTU. In this pillar, the union will focus on the following: • Extensive research on appropriate conditions of service for a teacher in a developmental state; • Continuous re-definition of teacher conditions of service to be commensurated with inflationary realities of the society we operate within; • Creating membership benefits that create a captured community of members thus creating a SADTU experience to be aspired for;

• Establishing membership targeted capacity building programmes that separate a SADTU member from the rest, but within acceptable national norms and standards.

CREATING A LEARNING NATION • Creating, through our classroom commitments, a nation that learns and advances its civilization; • Extensive and teacher based research on the best possible methods of teaching; • Continuous improvement of learning through the introduction of nation building learning material.

PROMOTING A DEVELOPMENT ORIENTED NATION STATE • Creating and/or participating in public awareness campaigns that define the national development trajectory for the coming fifty years; • Enhance national development awareness through the creation and/or promotion of a national value system that supports South Africa’s development trajectory; • Re-orient membership to focus on national development objectives through learning content delivered to those entrusted to our care; • Creating a patriotic cadre of teachers and learners through socially cohesive programmes.

CREATING INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS • Creating a criteria for international co-operation that is based on what defines the character of SADTU; • Promote international solidarity programmes that are based on SADTU’s core belief systems; • Establishing a continent based international relations programme that defines affiliation and/or disaffiliation to international bodies; • Creating a cross-border community of industry like-mindedness within first the SADC region and later the entire African continent.

BUILDING A DELIVERY BASED ORGANISATIONAL CAPACITY • Building a sustainable revenue base that is complementary to membership subscriptions; • Creating a SADTU village that promotes organisational excellence in all fields or required management; • Creating an organiser capacity that sustains current membership levels and/or increases them.

For more information contact: Tel: 011 334 4830 Fax: 011 334 4836 Email:sadtu@sadtu.org.za www.sadtu.org.za

INSTITUTE OF PEOPLE MANAGEMENT The largest annual gathering of HR Professionals and Business Leaders is already fast approaching. It is the Annual IPM Convention and Exhibition and it takes place in the beautiful surrounds of the North West Province, at Sun City, from 1-4 November 2015.

The theme for this year’s event is: “HR Innovation and Excellence”. We have three sub themes organizing the formal learning programme: • Emerging trends • HR Value Proposition • Good Practice HR WHO WILL BE THERE? The event attracts close on 1000 delegates, speakers and exhibitors from a range of industry sectors and organisation sizes. We are privileged also to attract a proportionately high percentage of managers and leaders to our event. It is an excellent networking opportunity, with a social programme designed to compliment the formal learning programme.

WHAT’S ON THE FORMAL LEARNING PROGRAMME? We are looking at global trends in HR and exploring the Future of Work from a range of perspectives. Other focus areas include how to lead HR in a new world order, trust as a new leadership competency, and the business of integrity. We run through landmark labour court cases and show you how to work with the new BEE codes. How reward and benefits systems incentivise behaviours in the workplace and designing reward and benefit systems for the future are also covered. We look at trends in online recruitment, social media for recruiting, social media policies in your organisation, and the rise of MOOCs in corporate learning. That’s alongside how to make learning stick, and looking at ROI for learning.

Leadership and talent nurturing for sustainable transformation, and tracking the scarcity of skills in South

Africa also appear. That’s in addition to results of the Global HR Competency Survey, and the recent Top Employers initiative insights. The last day features a panel debate on employee relations and engagement – labour relations reforms including labour broking and employment equity.

There is something on this programme for everyone!

Our sessions are a mix of plenary and workshops to equip you with the latest thinking and tools to innovate and deliver excellence in HR. To view what’s on the full programme and who is delivering sessions, visit our dedicated web page to register your booking on line: WE RECOGNISE ROLE MODELS IN HR – DO YOU? Are you a shining star or do you know one? Get them recognised!

The Annual People Excellence Awards take place at the Gala Dinner at the Convention. We invite you to send us your nominations, in the following categories: • IPM HR Director of the Year • IPM HR Team of the Year • IPM HR Practitioner of the Year • IPM HR Emerging Practitioner of the Year • IPM Business Leader of the Year For more information about the Excellence Awards and benefits, as well as application forms, click here. Closing date for nominations is 31 August 2015.

WHAT’S ON THE SOCIAL PROGRAMME AT CONVENTION? Enjoy the beautiful surrounds and the fresh air!

We have included a range of new social activities – such as an excursion to the wonderful Maze of the Lost City and a guided 5km fun walk through the spectacular Gardens of the Lost City. This provides you with a chance to explore some of the beautiful attractions at Sun City whilst meeting other delegates and enriching your network. These activities supplement the popular Golf Day on the Lost City Golf Course, the cocktail events and the prestigious Gala Dinner

where the Excellence Awards are presented.

If you haven’t booked your place at Convention, do so now. The 3 days of learning, networking, meeting suppliers and exploring the beautiful Sun City will leave you rich in knowledge, insights and experiences! Most importantly, it will equip you with the insights and know how to make an impact back in your workplace.

MORE ABOUT THE IPM The Institute of People Management (IPM) is a SAQA recognised Professional Membership body for HR Professionals. Founded in 1945, we strive to be the portal to thought leadership in people management and development. This year we celebrate our 70th anniversary.

Human Resources Institute (AHRI) in Australia. We consistently leverage global networks for the benefit of members.

The IPM is focused on continuing to enhance and expand its range of offerings to meet the needs of the Human Resources Management and Business community, so that they can deliver the outcomes we need for a prosperous future where access and inequality does not hamper our well being as it does today. It also aims to establish stronger links to public policy and play a stronger advocacy role for businesses and workers at all levels in society.

We offer Professional Membership and award Professional Designations against the backdrop of a revised Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Policy and a Code of Conduct. We offer local and globally recognised qualifications through UNISA and the HR Certification Institute.

Membership also offers a range of benefits including discounts on our leading edge programmes and courses with local and global providers. Our mentoring programme is leading the way for us to transfer skills and open networks.

All of these initiatives a sample of what we do, are aimed at accelerating transformation within our country – developing our leaders, creating and enabling access to opportunity and celebrating the resource that lies within our people.

We are a founding member of the African Human Resource Confederation (AHRC), the AU of Human Resources. Through our membership of the AHRC, we are affiliated to the World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA). We are also a sister organisation to HR professional bodies across the globe, such as the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) in USA, the Chartered Institute of People Development (CIPD) in UK and the Australian

If you would like to join us on this journey, you can find out more about what we offer and the work we do on our newly revised website at www.ipm.co.za.

You can also find us on Twitter: IPM4People Facebook: IPM South Africa and Pinterest: Rre Elijah Litheko is Chief Executive Officer of South Africa’s Institute of People Management.

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Moving forward on

Agenda 2063 Dr Anthony Motae Maruping, the AU’s Commissioner of Economic Affairs outlines the activities of Agenda 2063 that are already underway.

BY OUR OWN STAFF

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©123RF/ DIRK ERCKEN

‘T

he roadmap to the Africa we all want is Agenda 2063,’ says Dr Anthony Motae Maruping, the AU Commissioner of Economic Affairs. ‘If the plan was a symphony, I would say the composer comprises the African people, it is they who helped formulate this Agenda, along with innumerable consultations with innumerable groups from society, including media, civil society, women’s groups, the youth, faith leaders, governments, leaders of state and politicians.

‘In fact we gained input from all walks of African life, and each group promised to throw their full weight behind Agenda 2063 and contribute to its success.’

The framework document for Agenda 2063 was approved in January this year at the AU Assembly in both its popular and technical versions. The so-called popular version is an easily readable and précised document that allows for a quick understanding of what is required to fulfill Africa’s entire upliftment, with a final version published in April this year.

‘As a published document Agenda 2063 is now in a phase of implementation,’ says Maruping. ‘The AU has approved the plans for the first 10 years and has begun the process of merging the aspirations of the Agenda into national development plans of its member states, and into the

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action plans of the regional economic communities.’

Planning experts have been engaged to critically review the targets, strategies and plans. They are also responsible for monitoring and evaluating all mechanisms used to ensure that the foundations are strong enough to carry out the Agenda’s goals.

Financial options are also an ongoing discussion because, as Maruping says, it is important for Africa to finance its own development. ‘It is the right time for Africa to undertake the financing of its own projects.’

A specialised committee, comprising ministers of finance, those in charge of economic planning and affairs, central bank governors, and integration stakeholders, also came together in the first half of the year under the theme Implementing Agenda 2063: Mobilising and Financing for Development. ‘It is impressive that 74 African ministers attended this meeting,’ says Maruping. ‘Aside from the financing aspect they also discussed strategies of mobilizing partnerships.’

Implementation discussions also include a vast array of inputs from private market sectors like manufacturing, industry, trade and investment, health, education, science and technology and innovation, peace and security, democratic interest groups, agriculture, rural, transport, environment, energy, culture, and the women and youth.

Human capacity assessments and risk analysis is also being undertaken.

Scoping missions have already visited a number of African countries examining how best to integrate Agenda 2063 into existing national development frameworks. Ministers of planning are consulted for the sharing of statistics to prepare for the monitoring and evaluation process. Legislators have not been forgotten either because many of the flagship projects need sound policy frameworks to ensure economic viability.

‘Discussions such as these have already started playing out on the ground. This is not wishful thinking, it’s a concrete and

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formidable action plan. There are currently, for example, partnerships being formed to motivate some of the flagship projects.

These include a high-speed multi-national train, the Inge Dam hydro project, the concept of an Open Sky. Documents and contracts have been signed, so you can see that we are progressing.’

Yet another flagship project, an African e-University, part of the human development of Agenda 2063, has considerable subscribers, and an intensifying of science, technology and innovation has been pushed forward.

‘The question of ease of movement of Africans is gaining momentum as

says Maruping, and has established a scientific centre to cater for this. ‘There is no reason Africans can’t send missions into the universe. We have all the means at our disposal and we have highly trained people who are already working for such organisations outside of our continent.’

Annual Agenda 2063 meetings that include public and private sector stakeholders are planned because as Maruping outlines, it is now important for civil society to express itself. ‘Agenda 2063 is not just participative, it is inclusive.’

The key to ensuring success is, for Maruping and the AU, the integration of

‘There are currently, for example, partnerships being formed to motivate some of the flagship projects. These include a high-speed multi-national train , the Inge Dam hydro project, the concept of an Open Sky.’

well,’ says Maruping. ‘We hope this will culminate in the introduction of an African Passport. Rwanda is already allowing Africans in and out of its country without the need of a passport.’

The formalisation of a commodity strategy aims to promote the diversification of African economies.

‘Our economies depend on commodity trade and the up and down swings of trade prices have incredible impacts and shocks because Africa has a very narrow export base,’ explains Maruping. ‘We need to ensure that contributors to GDP are apparent and more resilient to such fluctuations.’

This goes hand in hand with the idea of free trade areas. COMESA and SADC have already signed an agreement to be a single free trade area. ‘A continental free trade area is therefore no longer a dream, it’s happening right now.’

Looking up, Africa does not want to be excluded from outer space science,

Agenda 2063 into all levels of Africa life.

‘We are mobilizing, domesticating and closing capacity gaps. We are managing risk and using monitoring and evaluation frameworks. Some of the frameworks we used in the past may have been excellent but they were talked down.

‘We are also including new systems that have never been introduced, and in terms of risk, well the risks have always been there. Agenda 2063 hasn’t motivated those, it’s just a question now of managing them better so that they don’t compromise Agenda 2063 objectives.’

Keeping Agenda 2063 alive means that it needs to be constantly referred to. ‘Communication needs to be passed onto younger generations because some of us that started this journey won’t be at the end of it,’ says Maruping. ‘We need to ensure that we use all the human capacity that we have, most importantly the youth and women.’

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GE Company Profile

Skills planning for Africa’s tomorrow needs to start today Amid rapid population growth, Africa needs to develop the skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow. New research by GE outlines a three-pronged strategy to get there.

BY JAY IRELAND The path to unlocking the potential of this demographic dividend requires investment in skills to develop infrastructure and bolster the manufacturing and services sectors. In order to build faster, more sustainable job creation, we need to consider a three-pronged strategy based on: • A stronger education system with closer links to industry; • More open and flexible labour markets and a broader talent localisation strategy pursued in partnership with global companies; and • The pipeline of skills needed to leverage the technological advances of tomorrow.

A stronger education system

Jay Ireland – President and CEO GE Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa has an unprecedented opportunity to boost growth, create jobs and improve social stability, thanks to a burgeoning population that is likely to double by 2050. Already, the region has the world’s highest proportion of people under 25. By 2025 it will be home to around a quarter of the global population aged 24 and younger.

This trend presents an incredible opportunity for the region – known as the demographic dividend.

The catch is that between 15 and 20 million new jobs will have to be created every year over the next three decades, according to the International Monetary Fund, at a time when the region already struggles to provide enough jobs and prospects.

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Firstly, our education systems need strengthening through greater investment and closer links to industry. While the labour force is large and growing, many young people remain relatively unskilled. However, this is not for lack of talented young people, nor is it a lack of companies looking for workers.

Africa’s high graduate unemployment rates signal that our education system is often misaligned with the needs of industry. In Kenya, it has been estimated that it can take up to five years for a graduate to secure relevant employment. This underscores the need for closer dialogue between schools and industry, to better align the demand and supply of skills.

More students should be steered towards STEM subjects – science, technology, education and mathematics – which are necessary to speed the development of Africa’s infrastructure. According to the UNDP, just one African college student in six will graduate with a science or engineering degree - a mere 1 percent of the continent’s university-age cohort. We can and we must do more to address this gap between supply and demand.

Labour market flexibility and talent localisation Equipping students and workers with the rights skills is the first step towards creating more jobs and better jobs with stronger skills, higher remuneration and better career prospects. Countries also need to consider the right conditions for domestic and international companies to invest at scale and remain competitive in global markets.

GE Company Profile

While meaningful progress has been made in improving the business environment, more is needed. Policymakers should focus on creating a level playing field, removing regulatory burdens and red tape, simplifying and streamlining administrative procedures and further improving transparency.

Stronger infrastructure, a better business environment and a more skilled workforce would spark a substantial acceleration in foreign investment. These advances would allow global companies to more rapidly scale up their operations and to localise production in Africa, accelerating the transfer of technology and skills.

A pipeline of skills for tomorrow It’s critical that this focus on skills development focus not only on the jobs GE Employee Working on a Locomotive. of today, but also tomorrow. Digital technologies are beginning to permeate will enable local skills to quickly adapt to the changing the industrial world, triggering a new demands of industry. industrial revolution that will transform the way we work Governments should also encourage and leverage and redefine the competitive environment for companies Africa’s entrepreneurial and innovative spirit. In Kenya, and countries. At GE, we call this the Future of Work. the mobile payments system M-Pesa has bypassed the Changes to our education and training systems should banking system, transforming financial transactions and be geared to shaping the workforce of tomorrow. This boosting economic activity. Similar thinking could be applied in other areas where lack of infrastructure is an especially acute problem, such as power generation and distribution, and healthcare.

New innovations provide a huge opportunity for Africa, because they can allow the region to leapfrog existing industrialisation models, and quickly improve our competitive position in the global economy.

For companies and individuals alike, the Future of Work brings tremendous opportunity for Africa.

It can allow the region to build a range of manufacturing and services activities that will remain competitive for decades to come, fuelling strong growth in jobs and incomes on a sustainable basis.

The key to realising this is investing in people.

GE Employees who were trained in the Assembling of Locomotive.

Jay Ireland is CEO of GE Africa

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GE Company Profile

About GE GE (NYSE: GE) is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the “GE Store,” through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry.

Quick Facts • Operating in 175 countries • Businesses include but not limited to- Power & Water, Aviation, Energy Management Healthcare, Oil & Gas, Capital and Transportation • $148 billion of revenue in FY14 • Over 300,000 employees worldwide • Over $1 billion spent on Learning and Development each year • Ranked #1 AON Hewitt Top Company for Leaders (2014) • Ranked #2 Hay Group Best Companies for Leadership (2014) • Ranked #7 Forbes World’s Most Valuable Brands (2014) • Ranked #9 Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies (2015)

GE in Africa • GE is committed to supporting the sustainable development of Africa with advanced infrastructure technologies, services and solutions.

• Africa is a very important region for GE’s growth. GE first started operating here over 100 years ago when the company opened its first African office in Johannesburg, SA in 1898.

GE Aviation An aircraft powered by GE technology takes off somewhere in the world every two seconds. Since we developed America’s first jet engine in 1942, GE has continued to drive innovation across commercial, military, business & general aviation and marine segments.

smartly and efficiently. Our innovative monitoring & diagnostic services, state of art equipment, and expert teams help meet the world’s demand for energy today and for future generations.

GE Transportation The transportation industry is moving at a furious pace, and we continue to innovate to keep the pace. GE has been building diesel engines that are more fuel-efficient without sacrificing durability and performance. In Turkey, GE introduced a PowerHaul Locomotive, the most technologically advanced, fuel-efficient and low-emissions diesel-electric freight locomotive to date. In Africa, GE provides commuter and freight rail solutions to the continent’s vast and aging rail networks.

Key Highlights in Africa • GE South Africa Technologies (GESAT), a local joint venture company between GE Transportation and South Africa’s Mineworkers Investment Company (MIC) have launched a pilot project on GE Transportation’s signaling technology for level crossing that is designed to improve rail safety for motorists and pedestrians.

• Training in Brazil for 10 NRC Engineers and in-country training for over 100 NRC maintenance and service engineers in Lagos.

• MOU with the government of Angola for the refurbishment of the current rolling stock of locomotives and for the supply of an additional 100 new locomotives to the country.

Key Highlights in Africa • GE has been supporting Kenya Airways on its fleet expansion program with 90% of its aircraft engines being powered by advanced GE/CFM engines. GE Capital is the lead leasing partner for the airline with a committed leasing exposure of $720 million. In 2012, Kenya Airways selected the GEnx-1B engines to power its entire Boeing Dreamliner fleet and the airline took delivery of 6 Boeing Dreamliner aircrafts in 2014.

GE Oil & Gas GE Oil & Gas develops technology that addresses our industry’s challenges and needs. We offer solutions that enable subsea production, unconventional resource development, LNG and petrochemical production

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USA Secretary of Transport Anthony Foxx with GE and Transnet Leadership on a recent visit to the Transnet Koedoespoort facility in Pretoria South Africa where GE assembles locomotive for Transnet and for Export into the rest of Africa.

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Navigating for tomorrow Everything we have done since our inception was with the future in mind.

For the past 20 years we have gone above and beyond even our own expectations. We are the gateway to Southern Africa and we are making inroads to position our Ports as the logistics hub of Africa. We celebrate our 20th Anniversary with our course set for the future. www.namport.com

AUC

No problems without solutions The AU Commissioner of Social Affairs, Dr Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko has a tough job. He has to deal with African issues that make headlines and usually those that affect people on an emotional and physical level. Most of these problems require finding and reacting quickly by providing humanitarian solutions that will ultimately improve the quality of life for all Africans.

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BY OUR OWN STAFF

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T

he two main issues that have kept Dr Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko and his AU Social Affairs department exceptionally busy for the past two years are migration and Ebola. Both have headlined throughout 2014 and 2015, capturing the world’s attention, and not in a positive way. But crises tend to produce emotions and Kaloko is well placed to temper those with facts and action plans.

For instance, in response to those that said the AU was slow to respond to the epidemic, Kaloko says that to the contrary he believes the AU reacted at the appropriate time.

‘Our involvement came when

humanitarian efforts were underway, such as the establishment of treatment centres, so that we could bring human resources to the efforts. Winning the hearts and minds of the people means Africans must help other Africans given the many cultural issues on the continent.

Ebola has claimed some 9000 lives with West Africa the most affected. The greatest challenges remain in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, with health systems almost completely collapsed and their economies seriously affected. Projected growth curves for the three nations have dropped significantly: Guinea from 4,5% to 1,3%; Sierra Leone from 11,3% to 6%; and Liberia from 5,9% to 0,4%.

Recovery programmes are multilayered, explains Kaloko. ‘They have to address health, water, sanitation and hygiene across all levels of control, be that peace and security, hygiene, governance, agriculture, fisheries and food security, gender, youth and social protection. In fact so vast is the programme management and monitoring that it requires an estimated USD4,75-billion to cover costs with the current funding gap standing at some USD3,93-billion.’

‘We deployed the largest number of people in West Africa and this contributed to the improvement outcomes. We are currently scaling down and bringing our people back.’

In total the AU sent 1 000 people to assist with the epidemic when initially it was meant to be some 200. Liberia received assistance from some 300 aid workers, Sierra Leone 365, and 200 plus deployed to Guinea. By March this year Guinea was claiming it was almost Ebola free. In Sierra Leone the number of cases has reduced dramatically with one case reported every three days. ‘’The AU uses mobile units that are able to deploy to area’s when needed but have scaled down to 360 health workers that are also able to backstop other health services like surgical procedures, vaccinations and other medical work,’ says Kaloko. “We are also training personnel in the areas we are operating to handle the situation once we leave but we won’t leave completely. At least 100 of our workers will remain.’

Another aspect of deployment of health workers, to which little thought has been given is the stigma attached to those aid workers, and their reintegration into their daily environment. Of this Kaloko admits not enough has been done but the AU prepares them before deployment of what they may face on their return.

‘Measures taken to ensure their own health include withdrawing the health workers from Ebola afflicted areas for two weeks prior to their return, so that they do

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not have any contact with the disease,’ Kaloko says. ‘Further we have agreements with the countries from which the workers are sourced so that on their arrival back to their homeland they are placed in quarantine for, in some cases, 21 days, or according to whatever regulations prevail.

‘Of the 860 people we have returned to home bases, there has not been one Ebola outbreak among them.’

Kaloko’s rallying for Ebola containment recently brought together heads of governments from AU members states, and key partners, calling for the strengthening of health systems in affected countries, and more particularly to mobilise human resources for health, training and capacity building so that health infrastructure and investment in public health becomes a priority.

The Ebola crisis has highlighted the need for Africa to develop what Kaloko calls ‘an early warning system’ and he is looking to motivate for a single coordination centre within the AU that will be backed by some eight regional centres. ‘The establishment of an Africa centre for disease control is critical for the continent, we must be ready to detect epidemics and should not be caught unprepared,’ says Kaloko.

To some extent migration from Africa has also be brought about by Ebola, and again is something that Africa was not fully prepared for. As Kaloko says it has impacted on the AU and its Social Affairs commission significantly. ‘Putting this into perspective you have to understand the way the AU views Africa. We see it as a young continent with a common vision among our member states. We talk about sharing experiences and upliftment., our Agenda 2063 is part of this as well.

Ultimately though what we are doing is talking about Africa’s people.

‘Consider that 60 percent of migrants fall into the youth category, which means that in terms of pushing the social development issue and our Agenda 2063, we don’t just have a problem today but for the future.’

The Permanent Representative Committee of the AU, foreign affairs councils and heads of State held

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numerous discussions at the African Union Summit in Johannesburg during June about the movement of people from one African country to another.

‘The problem requires huge humanitarian efforts to solve, says Kaloko.

‘Much of the migration comes about as a result of conflict, and the AU has been very active in brokering for peace in affected nations. Sudan is a real challenge however, with a need for extensive humanitarian aid and assistance with displaced people, especially those who relocate and find themselves exposed to Xenophobia, as we

perspective.

‘From a medium strategy point of view there are numerous activities on the go,’ says Kaloko. ‘The free movement of people for example, and Rwanda is an excellent example, where a Visa is no longer required. The economic benefits are substantial including improvements in tourism and other benefits that come from an exchange of expats from one country to another.

‘If people know that they can travel over to Kenya, for example, and find employment, they won’t need to take

“Much of the migration comes about as a result of conflict, and the AU has been very active in brokering for peace in affected nations”

have seen in South Africa.’

Recent events in the Mediterranean have escalated talks and Kaloko acknowledges with gratitude those that have rescued, and cared for, the migrants that have been saved. This leads us to African solutions.

‘We first have to look at the root cause and there are many, be that governance, political or civil issues. Whatever the reason we know that 60 percent of migrants are looking for a better life. The bottom line solution in preventing them from leaving their countries is to ensure that a nation is attractive enough that they don’t want to leave, and that is why Agenda 2063 exists: to improve the lives of all citizens.’

One of the strategies is to ensure that industrialization begins to build momentum. In Kaloko’s opinion, and the AU, this is key. ‘The best social protection you give anyone is a job. I can assure you that if by 2020 just 10% of people in Africa don’t have jobs, nobody would be presenting himself or herself to the Mediterranean. But this is the long-term

drastic measures and put their lives at risk to travel across the Mediterranean.’

The Silencing the Guns by 2020 focus is also going to be factored into the migration issue, and already in Libya the AU is talking to authorities about curbing human trafficking and smuggling. The Horn of Africa Initiative is yet another project that deals with human trafficking where one migration route is identified between the most affected countries, being Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt.

‘A border always has at least two sides, so if you are talking about human trafficking, you have to look at all the transit points, and why it is important to bring all the affected nations together to solve the problem,’ Kaloko says.

‘What you have to remember is that whatever the programme, they don’t pay out quickly, results take time to achieve.

When initiatives are compounded by interference, the solutions are further delayed. The important thing to bear in mind is that we do have African solutions, we just have to give them time to work.’