IGIHE

Author: IGIHE

  • Rwanda, South Korea sign Rwf 8.7 billion grant to strengthen TVET

    The objective of the financing agreement is to strengthen the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems and structures in Rwanda and develop competent TVET graduates who can meet labor market demands.

    Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana, the Minister of finance and Economic Planning and Mr. LEE Byunghwa , the Country Director of KOICA in Rwanda signed on behalf of their respective institutions.

    Minister Ndagijimana said that technical skills have an important role in attaining increased output, reducing unemployment and poverty, as well as enhancing social development in Rwanda.

    “Rwanda’s industrial base is growing but it does not match skills available in the country. It is important that we address the skills gap to ensure that the economy continues to grow and remain competitive and this support will contribute immensely to this goal,” Minister Ndagijimana said.

    Deputy Director Myung Keun Choi said that the project builds upon the experience in the TVET sector and success of TVET Technical Assistance Pooled Fund that ended last year.

    “This support will create a comprehensive and broad system that will guide the TVET training in Rwanda to ensure the effectiveness of our intervention while sustaining the results in the long term. We have no doubt that the new project will contribute to further strengthening of the TVET sector in Rwanda,” Mr. Myung Keun Choi noted

    KOICA’s Rwanda program has since 2006 shifted from volunteer dispatch to strengthening cooperation through project and program based with priority partner states. KOICA currently has 10 on-going projects in Rwanda worth roughly US$ 32 million. Under the division of labor KOICA is active in education, agriculture, ICT and silent in urban and rural settlement.

    The technical skills have an important role in attaining increased output, reducing unemployment and poverty, as well as enhancing social development in Rwanda.

  • Global Leaders Urge South Korean Government and the UN to Correct Religious Oppression in the Name of Covid-19 Quarantine

    On August 17th, the Coalition of Caribbean Leaders for Peace (CCLP) consisting of the former and current leaders in the Caribbean including the former president of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sent a joint letter to South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.

    In the letter, they said the governments, even in response to the urgency of the pandemic, must take responsibility for the protection of human rights regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status and expressed concern about ongoing oppression against Shincheonji Church, a South Korea-based Christian denomination that suffered from the unexpected mass infection at the beginning of this year.

    Ahead of this joint letter, 11 NGOs including the European Coordination of Associations and Individuals for Freedom of Conscience (CAP-LC) submitted the “annual report for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights” regarding the inappropriately targeted discrimination against Shincheonji Church to the UN Secretary-General.

    The annual report was titled “Scapegoating Members of Shincheonji for COVID-19 in the Republic of Korea”.

    The letter briefly pointed out the facts surrounding Shincheonji and Covid-19 as follows;

    〮 Covid-19 was introduced to South Korea from China.

    〮 According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus was already prevalent in the city of Daegu before the confirmation of (Shincheonji) the Patient 31 (in Daegu).

    〮 The government’s refusal to close the border to China contributed heavily to the outbreak.

    〮 In the face of growing public discontent that the government did not impose a travel restriction on China, Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae ordered the prosecution to investigate Shincheonji.

    〮 Vice Minister of Health confirmed that the list of private identification information gathered was not much different than that collected and checked by the government.

    〮 Prosecutors have arrested the officials of Shincheonji on the grounds that the list of congregation members submitted by Shincheonji was not complete.

    By referring to the report “Factsheet on the global response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the impact on religious practice and religious freedom” by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), the joint letter reiterated that South Korea provides a vivid example of how public health emergencies can increase the risk to marginalized religious groups.

    They pointed out that the South Korean government’s silence about the current situation would set a dangerous global precedent for allowing similar persecution, violence, and harassment against other religious minorities, and strongly urged the Korean government to “step forward to an end to this discrimination.”

  • Secondary Education Should Prepare Young People for Work, says New Report Released by the Mastercard Foundation

    Secondary education that provides relevant skills to young workers will help improve productivity, particularly in the informal sector, and will play an important role in driving long-term economic growth and reducing poverty in Africa.

    “Digitization, automation, and technological advancements are already changing the nature of work in Africa. Young people must enter the workforce from secondary education equipped with the right skills. So, strategic investments into secondary education can be a big part of ensuring young people and their countries emerge from the other side of COVID-19 stronger and more inclusive,” said Mastercard Foundation President and CEO Reeta Roy, as she welcomed audiences to the Secondary Education in Africa Virtual Summit held earlier today to discuss the report findings.

    Across the continent, the youth population is growing and is expected to reach 456 million by 2050. This growth, along with improvements in the number of young people enrolling in, and completing, primary education is increasing the demand for secondary education. Enrolment is expected to double by 2030, representing an additional 46 million students at the secondary level over the next 10 years.

    This in turn requires an expansion in the education workforce. Over the next 10 years, an additional 10.8 million teachers will be needed. Ensuring high-quality teachers are in classrooms is one of the most strategic investments a country can make to enable all students to develop the skills they will need for work and as citizens of a global world.

    Reflecting on the data and findings within the Secondary Education in Africa report, His Excellency President Paul Kagame of Rwanda underscored the need for cross-sectoral partnerships to achieve the report’s proposed recommendations. “Secondary school is the critical link that prepares young people to succeed in the workplace.

    This report sets out some key principles we need to take on board to adapt our secondary education systems for the future. The report emphasizes the importance of constant innovation, driven by data and the spirit of experimentation. This is where collaboration is essential between government, the private sector, and civil society,” he said.

    In her keynote address during the Virtual Summit, which was attended by policymakers, educators, and young people, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf emphasized the importance of investing in relevant, high-quality, universal secondary education as a lever for advancing inclusion. “There is no greater driver of inclusion than a quality education. And there is nothing that can more quickly devastate hopes for the future than to have it taken away,” she said
    .
    President Sirleaf also reflected on her experiences leading Liberia through the Ebola crisis of 2014, suggesting that prioritizing investments in education would be critical to enabling Africa’s recovery from COVID-19. “After Ebola devastated Liberia, forcing us to close our schools for many months, we realized that we needed to place learning at the centre of the recovery process,” she said. “As we recover from this current crisis, it is my strong belief that collaborative partnership is key to reimagining a secondary education system that is fit for our future,” she added.

    The Secondary Education in Africa report was released on the Mastercard Foundation’s website with an accompanying report entitled “Youth Perspectives on Secondary Education in Africa” that features the views and voices of a diverse range of young people. Among them, is Joseph Opoku, who believes that “many young Africans consider secondary school to be a critical juncture in determining the road ahead,” and that “young people want a secondary education that adequately prepares them for employment and/or entrepreneurship.”

    Drawing on a wide range of research conducted by scholars in Africa and globally, the Secondary Education in Africa report offers examples of the positive change and sustained progress that has been made.

    It examines factors that facilitate reform and innovation throughout the education system across a range of areas such as curriculum, teacher training, flexible approaches, equitable access, and innovations in financing. The report supports policymakers, educators, philanthropists, and young people themselves to re-envision secondary education for the future and to consider actionable recommendations for getting there.

    Access the full report, Secondary Education in Africa: Preparing Youth for the Future of Work here.

    Access to additional resources can be found at www.mastercardfdn.org/secondary-education-inafrica/

  • Joint Letter Sent to the UN Secretary-General to Stop Human Rights Violations and Religious Oppression in South Korea

    The joint letter contained a request for recommendations to stop discrimination against Shincheonji Church, a new Christian denomination headquartered in South Korea, and a UN ECOSOC-affiliated organization named Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL).

    The representative of this letter, the director and founder of FREE WATCH AFGHANISTAN, Mobeenullah Aimaq, said that he agreed with the UN’s concern for the persecution of minorities and vulnerable groups as well as human rights violations that continue to occur in the pretext of fighting the coronavirus. To solve this problem, he proposed a joint letter to young people around the world to appeal to the international community.

    He strongly urged that the Korean Government should knock off the prosecution of Shincheonji Church and HWPL in South Korea. “Prosecuting Shincheonji Church and HWPL should be immediately stopped so that the international reputation of the government, known as a proponent of peace in the globe, will be saved,” he added.

    In the letter, they reported the several acts of unfair discrimination and oppression of the Korean government and the media against these organizations by citing the concerns of UN Secretary-General regarding “disproportionate effects on certain communities, the rise of hate speech, and the targeting of vulnerable groups”.

    According to the report, there have been over 5,500 instances of human rights abuses of members of the Shincheonji Church during this period of the ongoing pandemic. Among the cases include two female members’ death in suspicious circumstances. Many of these victims are promising young people who are now facing increased discrimination in workplaces and schools, violence at home, and even forced deprogramming.

    The letter highlights that the members of Shincheonji Church are also victims who were unfortunately infected with the virus despite following the government’s guidelines related to the pandemic.

    Furthermore, the unprecedented custody investigation against 89-years-old Chairman Man Hee Lee of Shincheonji Church and HWPL was recently determined. The charters of these two groups have been revoked by the government and they have been subject to rigorous tax investigations. Those in leadership positions within the organizations also have been taken into custody for questioning.

    In the Korea Times column titled “Can unpopular sect expect justice?”, Michael Breen, CEO of Insight Communications, referred the current investigation into Shincheonji Church as a “witch-hunt” by saying that Shincheonji is a safe target for politicians and others who comment in public since it is unpopular.

    “I’m sitting in Kigali Rwanda where had wars and genocide. And Rwanda has come out to be a country that now is sharing with the rest of the world about peace. we have learned how to have peace makers or peace forces worldwide. As a person, I would you like to contribute to initiative and effort of persuading the government of South Korea, not to persecute HWPL, or the Shincheonji Church.” Said Natty Dread, the reggae artist from Rwanda.

    In the joint letter, they urged that cases of human rights, social and religious repression, such as the ones occurring in South Korea, must be put to an end in order to build “more effective and inclusive solutions for the emergency of today and the recovery for tomorrow.”

    Natty Dread

  • StarTimes secures 4-season media rights for LaLiga Santander

    The company has secured the transmission rights of the Spanish top league, which will be broadcast in French language across its media platforms for paid subscribers in 47 territories.

    “We are delighted to have secured the broadcast rights to LaLiga Santander, one of the most prestigious football competitions in the world,” said Kristen Miao, StarTimes Sport Director. “The acquiring of LaLiga Santander shows our commitment to continuously enrich our bouquets and to provide our subscribers with premium sport content.”

    “This agreement provides an exciting new way for French speaking fans across sub-Saharan Africa to get closer to our competition,” said Melcior Soler, director of the LaLiga audiovisual department. “StarTimes has a strong presence in the region and a proven expertise in sports in general and football in particular, which will help us all to reach as wide an audience as possible.”

    StarTimes will broadcast LaLiga Santander starting from the coming 2020/21 season.

    Matches will be aired live and in HD on the StarTimes Sport channels in French as well as the StarTimes ON streaming application.

    {{About StarTimes}}

    StarTimes is the leading digital TV operator in Africa, serving 13 million DVB subscribers and 20 million OTT users in 30+ countries. StarTimes owns a 600+ channels’ content platform combining African local channels (75%) and international channels (25%, including Chinese channels 1.5%). The company’s vision is “To ensure that every African family can access, afford, watch and share the beauty of digital TV”.

    {{About LaLiga}}

    LaLiga is a global, innovative and socially responsible organisation, a leader in the leisure and entertainment sector. It is a private sports association composed of the 20 clubs in LaLiga Santander and 22 in LaLiga SmartBank, responsible for the organization of these national professional football competitions. In the 2018/2019 season, LaLiga reached a cumulative audience of more than 2.7 billion people globally. With headquarters in Madrid (Spain), it is present in 41 countries through 11 offices and 44 delegates, covering 84 countries. The association carries out its social action through its Foundation and is the world’s first professional football league with a league for intellectually challenged footballers: LaLiga Genuine Santander.

  • It is children’s festival on StarTimes

    First, with the newly launched DreamWorks channel. Exclusive to StarTimes, DreamWorks is dedicated to kids and family entertainment.

    Viewers will be taken on fantastical adventures as they come face to face with more dragons than anyone has ever imagined in Dragons: Race To The Edge; whilst over in Madagascar, the party continues with the world famous dancing lemur, in All Hail King Julien. They will join adrenaline-fueled snail, Turbo, in Turbo FAST; and follow the world’s favorite feline hero in The Adventures Of Puss In Boots.

    StarTimes’ exclusive channel ST Kids will show Detective Tabby Cat fighting against all evil forces and convey to the kids the power of persistence and courage. Girls will love Modern Academy that tells the story of student running their school TV news station in 2030.

    On CBeebies, the younger ones will see toy dinosaurs being brought to life to tell amazing stories thanks to Andy’s Dino ToyBox. The series also promotes exciting “staycation” activities, exploring local wildlife and discovering new things to do and learn. And the hit TV show Alphablocks, that helped a million children learn to read, will teach your kids how words work than the alphabet brought to life.

    Nickelodeon will bring teens magic. Just Add Magic is telling the story of three girlfriends who by breaking a spell brought back an old enemy, a teenage boy who has been missing for 50 years. LEGO City Adventures is a rollercoaster ride of fun, humor and action make this a boundless series of silliness!

    Toonami will please superhero fans with two animated series The Batman and Green Lantern where our heroes must face evil forces to keep peace and justice.

    On August 15th, ST Movies Plus will air Stuart Little 2 in which Stuart and Snowbell set out across town to rescue a friend, bringing families lots of fun and laughter.
    With Baby TV and Da Vinci, toddlers and older kids will be able to learn about the world while having fun.

    StarTimes is also broadcasting learning channels Isango TV, Prime TV, BTN TV, RTV, TV10, TV1 to make sure children that are staying home can keep learning safely.

    Vlady Terimbere, PR & Marketing Manager said: “We are very excited and kids will be too. They have plenty to watch this August with DreamWorks and other kids programs. And they will be able to learn as we have been working hard to provide local education solutions to every African family since the beginning of the outbreak.

    StarTimes is a family-oriented operator, we make sure that each member of the family can fully enjoy digital TV.”

    The party continues with the world famous dancing lemur, in All Hail King Julien.
    Viewers will be taken on fantastical adventures as they come face to face with more dragons than anyone has ever imagined in Dragons: Race To The Edge

  • NGOs in the UN and Religious Leaders Demand Correction on Repression and Violation of Human Rights against Religion in Korea

    11 NGOs including European Coordination of Associations and Individuals for Freedom of Conscience (CAP-LC) submitted a report for “annual report for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights” to the UN Secretary-General at the 44th session in the UN Assembly Human Rights Council. The report is titled “scapegoating members of Shincheonji for COVID-19 in the Republic of Korea.”

    By referring to the report from the United States of America Commission of International Religious Freedom, the report to the UN said, “Shincheonji was suffering harassment from the South Korean government and society. Although some government measures appeared to be driven by legitimate public health concerns, others appeared to exaggerate the church’s role in the outbreak.”

    “The government of Seoul locked down Shincheonji churches in the capital and some mainline Protestant groups have accused the church of deliberately spreading the disease,” it continued.

    The report stated, “The virus cannot be an excuse to violate human rights and religious liberty of hundreds of thousands of believers. Intolerance, violence, and discrimination against Shincheonji should be put to an end.”

    Religious communities initiated to issue statements to advocate improvements in the unequal treatment against Shincheonji.

    Letter of Swami Vedanand Saraswati

    “I implore the South Korean Government and other relevant authorities to immediately drop all charges and lawsuits and rather support the efforts of the Shincheonji Church in encouraging other recoverees to donate their plasma” said Swami Vedanand Saraswati, Spiritual Head of Arya Samaj South Africa.

    “Although many Countries in Africa continent where I live are practicing similar oppression to all institutions, a developed country like South Korea is unbelievable to practice such an old System left for undeveloped Countries. Parliament, Government and International Community shouldn’t only put an Eye but to react for both sides Wing and Wing agreement to end suffering.” said Mr. Aleu Goi Dimo, CEO of Supporting Volunteers Community Based Organization in South Sudan.

    Recently, Chairman Lee of Shincheonji Church of Jesus encouraged the members who recovered from the COVID-19 to voluntarily join in the donation of plasma. Around 4,000 recovered members said they are willing to donate plasma for research on a new treatment.

    He said that there has been political motives in the persecution of Shincheonji Church of Jesus and HWPL (a peace NGO) by “using us (Shincheonji), the victims of COVID-19, as their scapegoat in order to hide their own faults.” He added, “Persecuting peace organizations, religious organizations, and violating human rights must be stopped in Korea.”

  • ESP launches covid-19 recovery and resilience program for small and medium enterprises in tourism and hospitality in Rwanda

    The Komeza program, with Equity Bank Rwanda PLC as the financing partner, will provide the right combination of financial support and technical assistance to 120 SMEs, at all stages of maturity, plus their value chains, within the Tourism and Hospitality sector. The program has been established through a commitment of US$2.5 million from the MasterCard Foundation COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Program.

    While the Government of Rwanda continues to do the important work of managing the public health crisis, it is clear that the economic and social impact will be far reaching. In addition, the Government of Rwanda re-opened tourism activities across the country, promoting domestic tourism as global travel restarts with commercial flights expected to resume on 1st August.

    Rwanda Development Board’s Chief Tourism Officer, Belise Kariza said, “Rwanda’s tourism industry is adapting to create a safe environment for travelers and operators, in order to thrive in these unprecedented times. We are working with the health authorities to ensure all tourism activities resume seamlessly. The Government of Rwanda is committed to supporting private sector growth in the middle to long term.”

    Over the next year, the Komeza program will provide technical assistance and financing of up to US$50,000 per SME with support from Equity Bank Rwanda PLC.

    Incubation support will be provided to 60 start-ups through ESP’s Tourism Inc program and 50 established SMEs will benefit from the Komeza accelerator program.

    A further 10 businesses will be selected for the program through a special innovation stream that will focus on building and financing growth plans to increase their resilience and mitigate the impact of the crisis. The SMEs and start-ups participating in the Komeza program will receive technical assistance, access to grants, and guidance on debt restructuring.

    “At ESP, our programs are built to deploy the right mix of technical tools and financing to support entrepreneurs on their journey to sustainability. We understand the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and have designed the Komeza program to help them navigate this pandemic while continuing to grow their business,” said Charity Kabango ESP, Co- Founder and Director.

    Tourism has been identified as a priority sector for Rwanda to achieve its development goals. It is also one of the sectors that has been hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mastercard Foundation COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Program will expand access to financial services for micro, small, and medium enterprises, so that businesses can withstand the economic effects of the pandemic.

    “It will be a long road for entrepreneurs as they fight to recover from the COVID-19 crisis. We are committed to supporting them every step of the way with the tools and resources they need to stay in business. We believe that the right combination of financial support and technical assistance will be key to helping these entrepreneurs, not only survive the crisis, but thrive beyond it and emerge resilient,” said Rica Rwigamba, Country Head, Rwanda at the Mastercard Foundation.

    “We will continue to offer competitive financing solutions, with a dedicated and qualified team to support businesses for resilience and growth,” added Hannington Namara, Managing Director, Equity Bank Rwanda.

    As a young woman entrepreneur in the Tourism and Hospitality sector, a program like Tourism Inc. is invaluable to acquire the important skills and knowledge to help grow my business despite the current climate,” said Peace Umutoni, a participant in the Tourism Inc. program.

    ESP will be hosting an online information session on July 30, 2020 to provide interested Tourism and Hospitality entrepreneurs with further details on the program. Please click here to apply bit.ly/KOMEZA . More information on the session and on the program will be available on the ESP website: espartners.co. You can also reach out to us via email on komeza@espartners.co and through social media using the following handles: IG: @thisiskomeza FB: @thisiskomeza

  • EABC mourns Mkapa

    President Mkapa was a signatory to the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community on 30th November, 1999, alongside their Excellencies Late President Daniel Moi (Republic of Kenya) and Yoweri Museveni (Republic of Uganda).

    H.E. Mkapa will be remembered as a Pan Africanist, one of the founding fathers of the East African Community who championed for the revival of regional integration.

    He was an astute advocate for the growth of the regional private sector and was particularly instrumental in fast-tracking the EAC Customs Union Protocol and Common Market. His towering legacy in effecting social and economic policies that boosted intra- EAC trade and augmented the vital role of the private sector as the engine for social-economic growth, reigns on.

    Mkapa played a pivotal role in enforcing harmonised regional trade policies that saw a reduction in non-tariff barriers, sparking an increase in the volumes of intra-regional trade.

    H.E. Mkapa’s vibrant leadership was not only reflected in his efficacy in calming regional trade disputes but also in brokering regional peace dialogues that created a conducive business environment in Africa.

    20 years since the revival of the EAC, his vision for regional integration continues to live on. The business community will vanguard his vision for the prosperity of our beloved EAC region.

    {{Dr. Peter Mathuki, Executive Director /Chief Executive Officer
    East African Business Council (EABC)
    9th Floor Mafao House | Old Moshi Road | Arusha | Tanzania
    P. O. Box 2617 | Tel: +255 27 2520162
    Email: admin@eabc-online.com I Website: eabc.info
    EABC – The Voice of the Private Sector in East Africa}}

    H.E. Mkapa will be remembered as a Pan Africanist, one of the founding fathers of the East African Community who championed for the revival of regional integration.

  • Japan disburses USD 28 million to support nutrition improvement in Rwanda through agriculture transformation

    On August 16, 2019, the Governments of Japan and Rwanda agreed on Sector Policy Loan for Nutrition Improvement through Agricultural Transformation of USD 93 million to assist Rwanda’s effort to tackle stunting. In the Loan Agreement signed between Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), the trigger -based disbursement of the loan has been subdivided into three tranches of 40 %, 30% and 30% to be received over three years. The first tranche equivalent to 40% (36 Million USD) was subsequently disbursed in December 2019.

    Mr. MARUO Shin, Chief Representative of JICA Rwanda Office, appreciated the concerned ministries and agencies of the GoR in achieving the agreed policy actions related to the above disbursement in timely manner, despite challenges faced in the course of implementation, posed by COVID-19 global pandemic. This disbursement is timely because it would assist the GoR in mainstreaming “Nutrition” during the COVID-19 pandemic period when many urban and rural households are suffering from malnutrition.

    Despite substantial growth in agricultural production over the past 10 years, food security and nutrition remain concerns, especially looking at the vulnerability to shocks at the household level. A large share of the population remains dependent on rain-fed and subsistence agriculture. Some staple food production remains below the targeted demand for domestic consumption and is substituted by importation.

    Maintaining a healthy diet is vital during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to FAO, a healthy diet supports a strong immune system, while good nutrition is very important before, during and after an infection.

    The Program targets 12 Districts with highest stunting rates; namely Rutsiro, Rubavu, Burera, Nyaruguru, Ngororero, Nyamagabe, Nyamasheke, Gakenke, Gisagara, Gicumbi, Musanze and Ngoma District. At a decentralized level, the program has started to fill food nutrient gap in each target district and suitable nutritious crop has been identified and being promoted for production.

    Other components include making crop calendars for irrigation schemes, and nutrition public awareness campaigns. The program is expected to have a big impact in eradicating undernutrition and fighting against stunting.

    Japan disburses USD 28 million to support nutrition improvement in Rwanda through agriculture transformation