Experts have called on African countries to expedite efforts of women’s empowerment so as to realize global development aspirations in Africa.
This came as the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) hosted an expert group meeting that brought together policy specialists and academia to review its upcoming African Women’s Report on costing the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, which dwells upon achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment.
In 2015, countries adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development along with its 17 goals, including SDG 5, which the UNECA considered fundamental to the overall progress on the agenda.
“However, the evidence presented at the meeting indicates that no country in Africa is currently on track to meet any of the goals by 2030,” the UNECA said in a statement issued Friday.
The UNECA further cited a recent African Centre for Statistics data that estimated at the current pace, gender equality and women’s empowerment in Africa will only be achieved by 2094.
Sweta Saxena, chief of staff and acting director of the Gender, Poverty and Social Policy Division at the UNECA, stressed that implementing measures to achieve gender equality commitments by 2030 requires countries to first understand the additional investments required and subsequently mobilize the necessary resources to finance such actions.
“There is a strong commitment to SDG 5. But the question remains how to achieve it. This question resonates with our meeting’s theme and the upcoming edition of our African Women’s Report on Costing of SDG 5 in Africa,” the statement quoted Saxena as saying. The African Women’s Report is scheduled to be published later this year.
She said the UNECA has endeavored to demonstrate, in a practical way and with examples and case studies, how to estimate the investments needed for interventions towards achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
In their interventions, the experts recommended that African countries should adopt a multi-sectoral and integrated approach to identifying data discrepancies and mainstreaming SDG 5 across relevant departments to address existing gaps.
They emphasized the need for a common methodology for identifying investment needs for SDG 5, thereby emphasizing the importance of coordination and collaboration among stakeholders across Africa.
The expert also called on the UNECA to develop training programs to support African countries in collecting sex-disaggregated data and strengthening partnerships with stakeholders, as part of broader efforts to accelerate progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment in Africa.
Upon his arrival, Gen Kabarebe was warmly received by Maj Gen E. Nkubito, the RSF JTF Commander, who provided him with a detailed briefing on the progress achieved in their ongoing counter-terrorism operations in Cabo Delgado Province.
Engaging with the dedicated Rwandan Security Forces in the Mocimboa da Praia District, the Ministry of Defence has revealed, Gen James Kabarebe conveyed a message on behalf of President Kagame, commending them for their unwavering commitment and dedication in fulfilling their duties. He encouraged them to continue demonstrating steadfastness and strive for exceptional results in their endeavors.
Rwanda started the deployment of 1000 troops of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and the Rwanda National Police (RNP) to Mozambique on 9th July 2021, to fight terrorist groups, honoring the request of Mozambique. The troops had increased to nearly 2500 by the end of the year 2022.
The situation in the country had worsened since October 2017 when armed extremists launched an insurgency in the Cabo Delgado Province of Mozambique.
Mozambique Defence Armed Forces battled the extremists but many civilians were killed and displaced by the fighting.
Before Rwandan troops’ intervention, terrorists had killed 3000 civilians while more than 800,000 were displaced. The insecurity had also put to halt all development projects in the area controlled by insurgents.
The joint operations between Rwandan and Mozambican troops yielded big, where different regions were seized from rebels.
Responding to a question on Rwanda’s journey in the fight against terrorists in Mozambique, at a joint press conference with his counterpart of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema in Kigali this week, President Kagame said that there has been commendable progress.
“I should say, largely, the problem has been addressed in terms of large numbers of people that had been displaced being able to go back to their villages, homes and starting their activities as they should. There has been a presence of troops from SADC deployed in different parts of that area and together, security and stability has returned because of that,” he stated.
Rwandan troops are deployed in Palma and Mocimboa da Praia and sometimes cooperate with SADC forces upon available intelligence to dislodge terrorists’.
Since deployment of Rwandan troops in Cabo Delgado, security has been restored where the majority of displaced residents returned home.
Besides, businesses resumed and French company, TotalEnergies with US$20 billion investment that might be increased to US$50 billion under the Liquefied Natural Gas project, is expected to resume operations as well.
Speaking to the media this week, Kagame highlighted that economic activities are beginning to pick up owing to current efforts to stabilize the area.
“I have heard even those who were making investments there like Total [Energies] and others, are already thinking of resuming their activities. Of course, there may be one thing here and another there that needs to be put out of their way before they fully resume, but I think that is being enabled by such collaborative efforts, around the provision of security and working together with the host country. And each one playing their part, together, we are seeing a lot of progress,” he noted.
“I should say, 80% of the problem has been addressed. The 20% might be small or big depending on a number of circumstances but that needs to be cleared as well,” added Kagame.
The six-month course is part of the Rwanda National Police (RNP) capacity building programme and to equip Police officers with basic criminal investigation skills.
The Inspector General briefed the graduands on the amended Police law, which gives the RNP basic criminal investigation powers, and reiterated the need for Police investigators to effectively execute the new investigation responsibilities.
“More courses for investigators in various fields, will be conducted to fill the observed gaps in basic criminal investigations,” IGP Namuhoranye said.
He urged the new investigators to serve with integrity, discipline, commitment and to exhibit professionalism in their endeavors.
Under the new law, Rwanda National Police has the power to investigate offences relating to road, railways, and waterways accidents and traffic offences.
{{Best performers}}
Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) Gilbert Ndayishimiye was awarded as the overall best performer of the Police Basic Criminal Investigations Course.
AIP Emmanuel Nshimiyimana and Police Constable (PC) Alex Akimana were awarded as first and second run-ups.
The widespread adoption of e-commerce in Rwanda, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, has paved the way for this new venture.
RwandaMart serves as a comprehensive one-stop e-commerce platform, offering a diverse range of products and services from local sellers, manufacturers, resellers, and importers.
The company handles all aspects of the business for its vendors, including order fulfillment, shipping, and managing returns and refunds.
By venturing into e-commerce, Rwanda Post Office anticipates an increase in the number of customers seeking their existing services, particularly in parcel delivery.
Celestin Kayitare, the Director General of Rwanda Post Office, explained that their new service is designed to assist traders in packaging their products and presenting them on the website in an appealing manner before they are delivered to the international market.
“We will assist merchants in packaging their products in an attractive and pleasing manner, especially for those who want to sell their products internationally. Small and medium enterprises, in particular, stand to benefit greatly by exposing their products to potential buyers through our platform,” Kayitare emphasized.
Currently, 760 companies and vendors have already registered on RwandaMart, primarily those offering products proudly ‘Made in Rwanda’.
However, their goal is to have approximately 3,000 registered participants by the end of the year.
The initial phase of this endeavor will not involve any charges for vendors to list their products on the site, allowing them to enjoy the benefits of increased exposure.
Kayitare further revealed their vision of developing an e-commerce platform with exceptional capabilities, aiming to establish a prominent presence in East Africa. Additionally, they plan to collaborate with international companies engaged in online business, such as Alibaba and Amazon.
Richard Niwenshuti, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, expressed his enthusiasm for the platform, highlighting its role in connecting various online marketplaces. “This website serves as a unifying platform, connecting different sites and traders, thereby expediting the promotion of Rwanda’s quality products in other markets and accelerating business growth,” he stated.
Moreover, Niwenshuti emphasized that the integration of this platform with the services of the Post Office adds significant value. When customers make purchases, the Post Office automatically initiates the delivery process, streamlining the entire transaction.
It is expected that the Post Office will provide guidance to business owners and clients seeking to understand the intricacies of online commerce. The Post Office also ensures that only traders who possess the necessary skills and produce high-quality products are eligible to join the platform, ensuring customer satisfaction.
Various small and medium-sized traders, specializing in jewelry Made in Rwanda, have already experienced the benefits of RwandaMart. They have reported expanded global reach for their products, resulting in increased revenue.
Looking ahead, an application for mobile phones is in the pipeline, enabling easy access to this burgeoning market.
The development of RwandaMart began two years ago under the auspices of the German Development Agency, GIZ, and has been managed by Rwanda Post Office for the past three months.
With this new venture, Rwanda is poised to capitalize on the growing potential of e-commerce and foster economic growth in the region.
These statistics have been released in light of a significant disparity between projected and actual birth rates. While initial forecasts predicted 367,312 births, the year 2022 saw a total of 341,122 births. This notable difference brings attention to the issue of underreporting in birth registration, as the percentage of omissions decreased from 92.9% in 2019 to 84.2% in 2021.
Within this comprehensive overview of birth rates in Rwanda, the Rusizi district stands out with the highest number of births, recording 16,112 newborns, including 8,139 boys and 7,973 girls. Following closely behind are the districts of Nyamasheke and Gicumbi, with 14,978 and 14,042 births respectively.
Additionally, fertility rates have experienced a slight increase. In 2022, Rwandan women gave birth to an average of 3.7 children, compared to 3.5 in 2021.
In the capital city of Kigali, the Gasabo district takes the lead with 11,871 births, and the name “Ishimwe” emerges as the most popular choice for boys. Among girls, the name “Ineza” claims the top spot with 7,328 occurrences.
Generally, the year 2022 was marked by a celebration of life, despite the challenges associated with birth registration. Rwandans continue to express their gratitude, as exemplified by the overwhelming preference for the name “Ishimwe.”
The three-day forum, that ran through Thursday, features a series of expert panel sessions and events aimed at advancing policies and regulations, and establishing long-term connections and partnerships to promote financial inclusion through fintech.
“To emphasize the importance of accelerating our socio-economic development, especially given the large young population in Africa, we must consider the significance of inclusive fintech,” said Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema at the event.
He added that providing opportunities for African youth can be achieved by paying attention to inclusive financial technology, allowing them to innovate. “It is no longer a question on our lips because we acknowledge that financial technology and access to finance capital are of utmost importance to our quest for accelerated economic and social development to cater to our population.”
Tidjane Thiam, board chairman of Rwanda Finance Limited, mentioned that their ambition, in collaboration with the Africa Fintech Network, the umbrella body for fintech companies in Africa, is to create a leading fintech event in Africa that would act as a catalyst and an inclusive platform to accelerate the growth of Africa and its fintech industry.
Thiam believed that technology presented a unique opportunity for inclusive development and economic growth on the continent. He expressed confidence that some of the most successful companies in the world would come from Africa.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame, speaking at the event, acknowledged that financial technology is accelerating Africa’s digital transformation, with evident impact.
However, compared to the rest of the world, Kagame said Africa has produced a relatively small number of unicorns, and the majority of transactions are still done in cash.
“To sustain the gains already made, we must forge stronger partnerships and build a more equitable, accessible, and sustainable fintech ecosystem,” he said, highlighting the importance of addressing inadequate levels of broadband coverage, documentation, and financial literacy to enhance the delivery of financial services.
In a video conference, Achim Steiner, administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, said fintech provided an unprecedented opportunity to align financial systems with national development priorities.
He emphasized that giving people more choices over their money through inclusive fintech would enable them to invest in critical areas that mattered to them and future generations.
The forum attracted nearly 3,000 participants, including policymakers, investors, and industry leaders.
China welcomes the launch of the Joint Appeal given that terrorism is a significant threat facing the African continent, said Dai Bing, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. China hopes the Flagship Initiative will promote synergy among UN agencies to help Africa deal with the challenge of terrorism, he added.
Dai called for efforts to strengthen counter-terrorism capacity-building in Africa.
Practices in many African countries have proved that establishing professional security institutions can fight terrorism and maintain stability. In August last year, China promoted a Security Council open debate on strengthening Africa’s capacity-building. The council adopted a presidential statement, one of the crucial goals of which is to support Africa’s security capacity-building, said Dai. “We hope the Joint Appeal will promote the tilting of global counter-terrorism resources to Africa, focusing on increasing support for capacity-building.”
He also called for efforts to tackle the root causes of terrorism.
In February this year, the UN Development Programme released a report stating that poverty and unemployment constitute the main reasons for people in the Sahel region to join violent extremist organizations. This also applies to other regions in Africa with terrorist activities. Dai said he hoped that projects under the appeal would help improve the living conditions of people in poor areas and eliminate the root causes of conflicts.
In addition, Dai called for an objective look at the challenges facing Africa’s counter-terrorism operations, including the issue of human rights.
“With regard to human rights issues, it should be noted that the AU (African Union) and African countries have made great efforts to strengthen the capacity-building of the troops and enhance the awareness of human rights protection,” he said. “One cannot just assume that there is a problem with the protection of human rights every time the issue of counter-terrorism in Africa is mentioned. This is a kind of prejudice. Human rights cannot be used as an excuse to reduce counter-terrorism support to Africa. It is hoped that relevant projects of the Joint Appeal will pay attention to this issue.”
The Global Security Initiative proposed by China takes support for Africa’s counter-terrorism as essential. It promotes strengthening the role of the United Nations in fighting terrorism. In recent years, China has supported UN agencies such as the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism through the China-UN Peace and Development Fund.
Dai said that China would actively participate in the Joint Appeal, deepen cooperation with UN agencies under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation framework and the China-UN Peace and Development Fund, and provide more support for Africa’s counter-terrorism efforts.
The launch of the joint appeal was a side event during UN Counter-Terrorism Week.
Violent clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continued on Thursday in various areas of the capital Khartoum.
The clashes mainly took place in eastern Khartoum, north of Bahri (Khartoum North) city, and west of Omdurman city, according to eyewitnesses and resistance committees.
“The clashes renewed today in the vicinity of the Burri neighborhood, with warplanes flying over the area,” the resistance committees of the Burri neighborhood in Khartoum said in a statement.
“Cannon shells fell on several parts of Burri, and residential buildings were affected. No deaths or injuries are reported so far,” the statement added.
Eyewitnesses said the Sudanese army’s warplanes flew over the southern area of Omdurman, with intermittent clashes occurring in old neighborhoods of the city.
Violent clashes also took place in the Al-Kadaro camp in Bahri, a major camp of the army, with explosions heard there, the eyewitnesses added.
Also on Thursday, Malik Agar, the deputy chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, declared on Twitter Sovereign Council’s rejection of the initiative proposed by the African Union to resolve the Sudanese crisis, citing the suspension of Sudan’s membership in the bloc.
Agar also expressed reservations about the recent initiative from the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), saying IGAD was seeking to introduce the United Nations forces into Sudan and demilitarize Khartoum through its “occupation initiative.”
As the fighting went on, residents of Bahri were suffering from continued water shortage while those in southern Khartoum were facing food scarcity.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in its report issued on Monday that the current crisis has worsened the already dire food insecurity in Sudan, with more people possibly plunged into famine.
To scale up its response, the FAO urgently appealed for funding amounting to 95.4 million U.S. dollars to reach 15 million people in need, according to the report.
About 2.5 million people have been displaced inside and outside of Sudan since the conflict broke out on April 15, according to an update of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on Wednesday.
So far, the conflicts have left over 3,000 people dead and more than 6,000 injured, according to the Sudanese Health Ministry.
The institutions said Thursday that the risk of the deadly disease occurring in eastern Africa in both humans and livestock is high due to favorable environmental conditions and increased movement of livestock and human beings.
“During the period March-May, heavy, prolonged and widespread rains triggered severe flooding in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Western Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda creating a suitable environment for vector multiplication,” the institutions said.
They added that extensive hotspots for vector multiplication are predicted in Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia while localized hotspots are predicted in Uganda, Sudan, Burundi and Tanzania.
“The suitable conditions for vector amplification are predicted to persist in the region due to favorable forecasts for June to August,” the agencies warned, asking regional governments to enhance surveillance.
RVF is an endemic vector-borne zoonotic disease that is a threat to both humans and animals and is spread by mosquitoes.
According to experts, it is a complex disease, making monitoring of the risk and carrying out efficient control measures challenging.
Heavy rains and prolonged flooding increase habitat suitability for vector populations, leading to the hatching of RVF-competent mosquitoes (Aedes and Culex), thus influencing the risk of an outbreak.
The disease disrupts livestock industries, food security and the livelihood of the pastoralist communities, the FAO warned.
This ambitious endeavor builds upon the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has already secured USD 319 million in financing for the Rwandan government. The partnership involves the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), signaling a collaborative approach to address climate change challenges and foster sustainable development.
The initiative aligns with the global efforts to reshape the climate finance architecture, moving beyond small-scale projects towards substantial long-term investments that can make a significant impact. By capitalizing on existing mechanisms and facilitating public-private partnerships, the partnership aims to attract private climate investments and contribute to the worldwide transition to a climate-resilient economy.
The primary objective of the collaborative support is to fortify Rwanda’s response to climate change and its effects on vulnerable communities. It will further enhance the catalytic effect of the IMF’s RSF arrangement by attracting additional budget support from partners. The plan also introduces a programmatic approach for climate investments and seeks to scale up Ireme Invest, a unique investment facility dedicated to private sector green investment launched by President Paul Kagame in November 2022 at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt.
The initiative revolves around a three-pronged approach, focusing on policy reforms, capacity development, and financing arrangements. By implementing policy reforms, Rwanda aims to address challenges posed by climate change, integrate climate risks into fiscal planning, enhance public investment management’s sensitivity to climate issues, strengthen climate-related risk management for financial institutions, and bolster disaster risk reduction and management efforts.
Additionally, the partnership aims to support capacity development initiatives in Rwanda and attract and manage climate capital more effectively. It plans to consolidate and mobilize various climate finance resources for Rwanda, including programmatic budget support for green public financial management. The AFD will provide EUR 50 million in programmatic budget support, complemented by a EUR 3 million technical assistance grant. The International Finance Corporation, in collaboration with the Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA), will develop long-term investment plans for climate smart agriculture and sustainable urbanization. Moreover, Ireme Invest, the green investment facility powered by the Rwanda Green Fund and the Development Bank of Rwanda, will be scaled up to facilitate private sector investments.
To ensure the success of the initiative, the European Investment Bank is expected to contribute EUR 100 million, backed by the European Union’s support under the Global Gateway strategy. Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, the Italian Development Finance Institution, is engaged in discussions with the Government of Rwanda and the Development Bank of Rwanda to bridge public and private investments in climate finance. Furthermore, Ireme Invest private stakeholders will contribute EUR 130 million in private equity, augmenting the creation of private green assets in Rwanda and attracting future private investment.
The coordinated efforts of the partnership, along with the policy reforms facilitated by the IMF’s RSF arrangement and capacity development support, are expected to strengthen Rwanda’s resilience to economic shocks and climate change impacts. This collaboration exemplifies the power of partnerships in addressing global challenges and sets a precedent for other nations and financial institutions to explore innovative financing mechanisms and work together towards a sustainable and climate-resilient world.
Moreover, the World Bank, along with the Governments of Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Denmark, has been providing substantial financial and technical support to Rwanda’s climate resilience efforts. The support from the World Bank, specifically the International Development Association (IDA), aims to enhance Rwanda’s climate resilience, protect its natural assets, promote green finance and trade, and unlock private investments.
The announcement of this collaborative initiative has garnered positive responses from key stakeholders. The Prime Minister of Rwanda, Dr. Edouard Ngirente, expressed gratitude to the partners involved and emphasized the significance of the partnership in realizing Rwanda’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) estimated at USD 11 billion by 2030.
Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, praised the partnership as a transformative shift in climate finance provision and commended Rwanda’s long-term climate action strategy. She highlighted the collaborative approach’s potential to accelerate investment for a greener and more prosperous future worldwide.
Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in addressing the climate crisis. She highlighted the European Union’s commitment to bridging the investment gap and supporting partner countries, particularly in Africa, in their efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Urpilainen stressed the need for a multilateral approach to achieve a fair and sustainable green transition.
Werner Hoyer, President of the European Investment Bank, praised the close cooperation between the Government of Rwanda, the IMF, and international financing partners. He emphasized the strategic use of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) to amplify climate action investments, showcasing the EIB’s commitment to combating climate change and supporting sustainable development in Rwanda and beyond.
Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation, highlighted the innovative nature of the partnership, which aims to maximize public finance to attract private capital for climate-related projects. He emphasized the joint efforts to develop an investment pipeline that focuses on sustainable cities and climate-smart agriculture, fostering a resilient, low-carbon economy in Rwanda.
Remy Rioux, Director General of Agence Française de Développement, commended the cooperation between AFD and Rwanda’s financial ecosystem on climate finance. He underscored the alignment between Rwanda’s vision and the international community’s efforts to channel investment flows towards climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The partnership serves as a testament to the power of collective action and exemplifies the urgent need for international cooperation to combat climate change and build a sustainable future for all.
