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Germany Africa Business Forum announces funds for energy startups

July 26, 2019

The Germany Africa Business Forum (GABF) announced Thursday a multimillion-Euro funding commitment to investing in German energy startups that focus on Africa.

The GABF, based in Berlin and Johannesburg, South Africa, said the funds are the first of their kind for the advocacy group seeking to advance German partnerships with the continent.

“Our initial goal is to support the investment in German companies and to start with funding allocations by the end of this year,” said Sebastian Wagner, co-founder of the GABF.

The news was welcomed by Cameroonian business leader NJ Ayuk, the CEO of Centurion Law Group based in Equatorial Guinea.
“The future of Africa’s energy industry will depend on technology and innovation. When German startups and Africans work together, we can build something unique for both our peoples,” Ayuk said. “I applaud the GABF for this well-thought-out initiative. I believe it is in line with the goals of the G20 Compact with Africa, driven by Germany.”

That compact, launched in 2017, is open to all African countries and has 12 nations participating to date. They include Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Guinea, along with Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo, and Tunisia. The compact places renewable energy and rural employment as priorities for African investment.

The GABF also launched in 2017, with a parallel vision to facilitate German investment in Africa by connecting top African business and political leaders with their African counterparts.

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based Lawyer with special focus on Business Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Entertainment and Technology Law. He is also an award-winning writer. Working for notable organizations so far has exposed him to some of industry best practices in business, finance strategies, law, dispute resolution, and data analytics both in Nigeria and across the world.

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Germany Africa Business Forum announces multi-million Euro funding commitment to investing in German-African energy startups

The Germany Africa Business Forum, whose goal is to strengthen investment ties between Germany and Africa, announced it has, in collaboration with private partners from the energy industry, launched a multi-million Euro funding commitment to investing in German energy startups that focus on Africa.

The funding commitment, which pledges funds to German startups with exposure to African energy projects, will be the first such intra-regional initiative.

“Our initial goal is to support the investment in German companies and to start with funding allocations by the end of this year”, said Sebastian Wagner, co-founder of the GABF. “Through our partners, we will immediately get involved in investing in solutions-driven German startups with pragmatic business models to solve Africa’s energy challenges through the provision of German technology and innovation”, he added.

“The future of Africa’s energy industry will depend on technology and innovation. When German start-ups and Africans work together, we can build something unique for both our peoples.

I applaud the GABF for this well-thought-out initiative. I believe it is in line with the goals of the G20 Compact with Africa, driven by Germany”, stated NJ Ayuk, a pan-African energy dealmaker, CEO of Centurion Law Group and Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, a supporter of the initiative.

Anchored in the private sector, the GABF brings together Africa’s foremost executives with German companies, investors and innovators with the aim of driving change.

Founded in 2017 as a “private for privates”, the GABF encourages German investors to consider the African continent as a profitable and important investment destination. Through a series of initiatives, the GABF draws together African business and political leaders with Germany’s preeminent innovators to develop fresh investment concepts that shape German and African business ties, as well as economic thought.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.

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Germany, Norway support Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre’s (KAIPTC) maiden ‘Kofi Annan Peace and Security Forum’

July 25, 2019

On 4 – 5 September 2019, the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), under the distinguished patronage of H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana and the Chairmanship of HE Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and Sahel (UNOWAS), will host “The Kofi Annan Peace and Security (KAPS) Forum”.

The Federal Government of Germany and the Government of Norway are providing financial support for the delivery of the forum. Billed to be an annual event, the KAPS Forum will bring together political leaders, diplomats and experts to dialogue and share ideas on the most critical evolving peace and security trends on the African continent.

The forum also seeks to deepen collaboration between KAIPTC and international organizations such as the United Nations, African Union, Regional Economic Communities, Governments, development partners, civil society organizations and the business community.

The theme for this maiden edition is ‘Peace Operations in the Context of Violent Extremism in Africa.’

Speaking at the media briefing for the KAPS Forum, H.E. Hans-Helge Sander, Deputy German Ambassador to Ghana noted that; “This Forum will provide an excellent occasion to discuss collective actions on how to strengthen a proactive international and continental effort to prevent and effectively counter violent extremism in Africa”.

The Deputy Ambassador also briefed the media on Germany’s long-standing and strong support to KAIPTC through the provision of Police and Military Advisors as well as a GIZ support mission. “Because of the already existing support the German government offers, we are delighted to support KAIPTC´s maiden edition of the “Kofi Annan Peace and Security” Forum in Accra”, he affirmed.

The Commandant of KAIPTC, AVM Evans noted that “the KAPS Forum is in memory of Kofi Annan, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations who dedicated his life to mobilizing political will to address evolving human security threats”.

Commenting on one outstanding feature of the forum, he added that “our forum will be a working forum and we will ensure that when recommendations are made, they are followed through until progress is made”.

The Forum will bring together two hundred high-level delegates including eight former African heads of state and diplomats from governmental and intergovernmental organizations (including the African Union and its Regional Economic Communities, United Nations and European Union). Security professionals and representatives from policy and research think tanks, development partners, training institutions and civil society groups have been invited and are expected to attend the forum.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.

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Merck Foundation launches first ‘Merck Health Media Training’ in partnership with the First Lady of Guinea

July 3, 2019

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany has organized their first “Merck Foundation Health Media Training” in Conakry, Guinea in partnership with H.E. Madam Djene Conde, The First Lady of Guinea and Ambassador of Merck’s “More Than a Mother” project, together with Ministry of Health and Ministry of Information and Communication to break the stigma around infertility in Guinea and rest of Africa.

Speaking on the program, the CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck More than a Mother Dr. Rasha Keleje, said that “the training program which is a part of ‘Merck More than a Mother’ community awareness Program and was organized for the first time in Guinea for local media representatives and media students”. In her contribution, the Guinean First Lady, Madam Djene Conde added that “we are happy to host this training program together with Merck Foundation”.

Highlighting the importance of the program, Dr. Kelej notes that “media plays an important role in sensitizing the society. It can help in breaking the stigma around infertility. I am delighted to initiate this important training session as I strongly believe that the media plays a significant role to influence our society to create a cultural shift. It has the capacity and ability to break the stigma around infertility in the community.” The training was addressed by The First Lady, Dr. Rasha Kelej, Hon. Amara Somparé, Minister of Information and Communication, Guinea. It was also addressed by stalwarts of media and top infertility experts.

Moreover, it provided a great opportunity for the journalists to meet the experts and also to network with each other and work as a unit to eradicate the stigma around infertility in Guinea and the rest of Africa. It was attended by journalists working for Print, TV, Radio and Online media and journalism students.

“The Merck Health Media Training program focused on international standards and media ethics for reporting sensitive issues like infertility in Africa. It was designed to benefit the journalists in understanding the infertility issues in African communities and to learn the best media practices to cover such issues” added Dr. Rasha Kelej.

Merck Foundation also announced Call for Application for “Merck More than a Mother” ‘Media Recognition Awards’ for Guinea and rest of Africa. The “Merck More than a Mother” ‘Media Recognition Awards’ were launched in 2017 with the aim to emphasize the role of media in enhancing the public engagement and understanding of infertility stigma and the need to change its social perception in African communities. The applications are invited by media professionals to showcase their work to raise awareness about infertility prevention and breaking infertility stigma in Guinea and the rest of Africa.

Who can apply? Journalists from print, online, radio and multimedia platforms from Guinea and rest of Africa. Last date of submission: Entries can be submitted till 30th October 2019.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.