August 24, 2022 – Central African Republic News Gazette

August 24, 2022

Owner of the longest standing CBI programme, St Kitts and Nevis, takes top spot at this year’s annual CBI Index

Basseterre, Aug. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Caribbean nation of St Kitts and Nevis tops this year’s CBI Index rankings for offering one of the best citizenship by investment (CBI) programmes in the world.

St Kitts and Nevis was rated against 12 other countries with operational CBI programmes, which, in 2022, include Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Cambodia, Dominica, Egypt, Grenada, Jordan, Malta, Montenegro, St Lucia, Turkey and Vanuatu.

The CBI Index, published by PWM Magazine, a publication from the Financial Times in collaboration with CS Global Partners, is a rating system designed to measure the performance and appeal of global CBI programmes across a diverse range of indicators and its purpose is to provide a rigorous and systematic mechanism for appraising programmes in order to facilitate the decision-making process for individuals considering them, and to bring value to the CBI industry

The primary methodological objective of the CBI Index is to isolate pillars that measure CBI programme features and jurisdictional desirability. The nine pillars that constitute this year’s CBI Index include: Freedom of Movement, Standard of Living, Minimum Investment Outlay, Mandatory Travel or Residence, Citizenship Timeline, Ease of Processing, Due Diligence, Family and, Certainty of Product.

The country received full marks – 10 out of 10 in the Mandatory Travel or Residence, Citizenship Timeline, Ease of Processing, Due Diligence, Family and Certainty of Product pillars.

The Mandatory Travel or Residence pillar examines the travel or residence conditions imposed on applicants both before and after the granting of citizenship.

St Kitts and Nevis, along with the rest of the Caribbean countries, does not have any travel or residency requirements for CBI applicants. This makes it easy for busy entrepreneurs to continue running their businesses and still be eligible to get their second citizenship while not having to fulfil any minimum stay requirements.

St Kitts and Nevis scored top marks for the Citizenship Timeline pillar – which looks at the average time taken for citizenship to be secured by the applicant – due to the Accelerated Application Process where for an additional fee, an applicant can obtain their citizenship within a maximum of 60 days instead of the standard processing time of approximately three months.

Ease of Processing measures the end-to-end complexity of the CBI application process. St Kitts and Nevis makes the process of obtaining citizenship easy and straightforward, the country has an official government website and a dedicated CBI unit. It has also done away with burdensome application requirements such as interviews, language, culture or history tests, proof of minimum business experience and evidence of the purchase of tangible or intangible assets.

The overall effortlessness of the application process is a particularly important component, and the promise of a smooth, hassle-free process can generate readiness to engage with a programme.

One of the areas where Caribbean nations really differentiate their programmes, is the area of due diligence. St Kitts and Nevis’ due diligence process is multi-faceted and is undertaken by the country’s CBI unit, law enforcement and external third-party due-diligence agencies from the UK and USA. This ensures that the process is stringent and comprehensive, applicants are required to provide either fingerprints or a biometric passport, police certificates from both an applicant’s country of residence as well as their country of citizenship and comprehensive supporting information in respect of an applicant’s source of funds.

The CBI Index recognises that the rise of increasingly complex family relationships is driving investors to seek programmes that allow for a more diverse range of family members to be included under a primary application. St Kitts and Nevis retains a perfect score for their family friendliness as, in addition to a main applicant, they allow the applicant’s spouse, children under 18 and over 18 in certain circumstances, siblings, parents and grandparents of both the main applicant or their spouse to be included in an application.

St Kitts and Nevis’ CBI programme is one of the oldest in the industry, having been established in 1984, it assures investors of a certainty of product. The CBI Index measures certainty across five different dimensions: longevity, popularity and renown, stability, reputation, and adaptability – aspects which St Kitts and Nevis’ programme can tick off confidently.

In the 2022 CBI Index, the Freedom of Movement pillar measures the relative strength of each country’s citizenship based on three equally weighted factors: the number of destinations to which a country’s passport allows travel without restriction, the number of prime business hubs to which it provides access, and the degree to which a given citizenship provides settlement rights in other nations. St Kitts and Nevis scored a seven out of 10 in this area as it offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 156 countries.

The Minimum Investment Outlay pillar measures one of the most practical and foremost considerations of CBI: how much capital is required for the investor to become an eligible applicant for the programme of their choosing.

St Kitts and Nevis offers one of the most affordable routes to alternative citizenship, and even though it ended its limited time offer of US$150,000 for a family of four at the end of December 2021, it did not impact its score, five out of 10, as the scores are based on minimum investments for a single applicant.

The St Kitts and Nevis CBI programme is a family-friendly route for those looking for a reputable and trusted programme that prioritises both applicants and its citizens – the stringent due diligence process upon application ensures that only honest hard-working families are approved. The citizenship can also be passed down to future generations, giving investors who want to leave a legacy, peace of mind.

Download the full CBI Index here, to get further insights into the CBI industry and a full evaluation of the CBI programmes of the 12 other jurisdictions in the rankings.

Attachment

St Kitts and Nevis Infographic

St Kitts and Nevis PR
Government of St. Kitts and Nevis
+27828215664
nandi.canning@csglobalpartners.com

August 24, 2022

TCM Lianhua Qingwen Launched in Liberia

SHIJIAZHUANG, China, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Last week, the Launching Ceremony of Lianhua Qingwen Capsules in Liberia was held in the Chinese Embassy to Liberia. The Chinese ambassador Ren Yisheng, Liberian Minister of Health Wilhemina Jallah, Defense Minister D. D. Ziankahn, Minister of State without Portfolio Trokon Kpui, senior Liberian and Chinese officials attended the event.

Ren Yisheng said that TCM is an original medical system that has been gradually formed and continuously enriched and developed by the Chinese nation in the thousands of years of production and daily life practice and the struggle against diseases, “More and more countries in the world and more and more people opt for, use and learn Chinese medicine”.

Ren congratulated the official launching of Lianhua Qingwen Capsules in Liberia, and introduced that in recent years, China’s “Belt and Road” initiative has been effectively aligned with Liberia’s “Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development”.

He emphasized that China will continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Liberia in the fields of medical care and public health, actively explore cooperation in traditional medicine including herbal medicine and acupuncture, and vigorously carry out capacity building such as training, so as to contribute to strengthening Liberia’s response to the epidemic and health challenges, improving the people’s health and well-being.

Jallah expressed her appreciation to China’s long-term support for Liberia in the medical field and extended her congratulations to the launching of Lianhua Qingwen. “Today we are also celebrating the launching of a new medicine in Liberia……I want to say thank you for this official launching of this medicine is coming at a good time, because people are coughing, sneezing all the time and they have something to drink as a medicine to make them feel better”, Jallah said.

Kpui also delivered his congratulations. “I would like, on behalf of His Excellency, George Manneh Weah, the President of the Republic of Liberia, my colleagues here and the people of Liberia, to thank you and with open arms we are welcoming the new capsules to help us mitigate the challenges, the treatment for patients”, he told.

According to information available, Lianhua Qingwen has been approved in nearly 30 countries and regions including Canada, Kuwait, Thailand, and 8 African countries including Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya.

August 24, 2022

Hantec Markets signs sponsorship agreement with Haas F1 Team through 2023 F1 season

STAVELOT, Belgium, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Hantec Markets has announced a new partnership to be the official online trading partner with Haas F1 Team before this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.

Hantec Markets operates a trading platform for CFDs, including margin trading across forex, bullion, indices, commodities and stocks. The multi-million pound contract runs through the 2023 F1 season.

Haas F1 Team currently holds seventh place in the Constructors’ Championship with 34 points.

Hantec Markets’ brand logo will adorn the Haas race car on the nose of the car, and include full branding in the Haas team garage. The Hantec logo will also be featured on the uniforms of Haas drivers Mick Schumacher and Kevin Magnussen.

Earlier this month, Hantec Markets unveiled a global rebrand campaign that included a new website (https://hmarkets.com/) and a renewed growth strategy to direct the next phase of its dynamic development. The Hantec team has introduced the #TimeToStrike hashtag to signify this time of growth at Hantec Markets.

“We’re delighted to welcome Hantec Markets and we look forward to a productive working partnership for the rest of the 2022 F1 season and beyond,” said Guenther Steiner, Haas’ team principal. “Hantec Markets provides innovation for people in emerging economic markets so that they are able to unlock their full financial potential. It’s similar to the type of collaboration that goes on in our garage. We want to provide our drivers with that type of innovation so that they can unlock the fastest car on the track.”

“Hantec Markets and Haas are both global brands that strive for speed and perfection in some of the most competitive environments,” said Nader Nurmohamed, Chief Operating Officer of Hantec Markets. “The integrity, passion and family feel of the Haas F1 Team has been the driving force behind their achievement and future goals. Hantec Markets shares this ethos and has embroidered the same in tailoring our services to our client’s needs. We strive to provide an unrivaled trading experience to our customers, with the same attention to detail and service that Guenther, and Haas brings to each race.”

About Hantec Markets
Hantec Markets offers leveraged trading on global currencies, bullion, equities and commodities, through the multi-asset MT4 and MT5 platforms. The firm’s 32 years of experience and unmatched expertise enables it to provide deep liquidity, bespoke client commission structures, customizable trading conditions and forward-thinking, adaptive innovation in an ever-changing marketplace. Hantec Markets is a subsidiary of the award-winning Hantec Group, and provides services across five different continents in seven jurisdictions. Regulated in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Jordan and Mauritius and winner of the 2021 Global Forex Award for Most Transparent Forex Broker, it is Hantec’s mission to empower financial freedom, be a partner that clients can trust and create unparalleled opportunities to audiences across the world.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1884036/Haas_F1_Team_car_with_Hantec_Markets.jpg

August 24, 2022

Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases Group Wins Multiple Hydrogen Fueling Station Contracts in California and South Korea

TEMECULA, Calif., Aug. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases Group (“CE&IG”), a part of the Nikkiso Co., Ltd (Japan) group of companies, is proud to be the recipient of multiple contracts to provide over a dozen Hydrogen Fueling Stations (“HFS”) to customers in California and South Korea. These stations, intended to be operational between Q4 2023 and Q2 2024, cover fueling stations for light-duty, heavy-duty, and transit fuel cell vehicles that need H35 and H70 dispensing.

“As an ambassador member of the California Fuel Cell Partnership (“CaFCP”) and core leader of cryogenic technology, Nikkiso is key in connecting the hydrogen ecosystem to advance the clean energy agenda,” said Peter Wagner, CEO of Nikkiso CE&IG.

“We are pleased to offer flexible and scalable commercial and technical offers where our customers need us the most: from equipment fabricator to turnkey EPC solutions,” said Joseph Pak, President of the Nikkiso Integrated Cryogenic Solutions.

The purchase orders have a combined value of almost US$60 million. Nikkiso has dedicated over 150,000 ft2 (14,000 m2) square feet of floor space to mass produce hydrogen fueling stations in Murrieta, CA, Escondido, CA, Busan, S. Korea, and Neuenbürg, Germany. Every station will be manufactured to comply with the local content requirements, including the Buy America Act for the US Hydrogen Hub market.

Starting with these hydrogen station projects, the Nikkiso Group aims to further expand their hydrogen-related business by strengthening their participation in the hydrogen supply chain and expanding into the global market.

About Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases Group
Nikkiso’s CE&IG is part of the Nikkiso Co., Ltd group of companies. Nikkiso Co. is a $1.4B public company. CE&IG comprises five distinct functional units: Cryogenic Pumps (ACD, Nikkiso Cryo), Process Systems (Cosmodyne), Heat Exchanger Systems (Cryoquip), Cryogenic Services (through 20 global facilities) and Integrated Cryogenic Solutions (providing centralized management of products and project development). In 2020, CE&IG expanded its capabilities further with the acquisition of what was GP- Strategies’ Alternative Fuels Division. This addition provides yet another major manufacturing facility in Southern California. Acknowledged as a market leader in the design, engineering, manufacturing, construction and maintenance of Cryogenic infrastructure, this facility offers full in-house capabilities from engineering & permitting through manufacturing, construction, and maintenance.

For over 50 years, Nikkiso has been a leader in the Clean Energy industry and are leading the change to a healthier world. With our hydrogen fueling technology, Nikkiso has become a leader in the evolving hydrogen revolution, including a project on the world’s first LH2 bunkering facility. For more information visit www.NikkisoCEIG.com.

For more information, please visit www.nikkisoCEIG.com and www.nikkiso.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Anna Quigley
+1.951.383.3314
aquigley@cryoind.com

August 24, 2022

Le Rwanda accueille la 11e édition du Forum africain sur le peering et l’interconnexion (AfPIF)

Cet événement annuel sert de plateforme pour l’expansion et le développement de l’internet en Afrique

KIGALI, Rwanda, 23 août 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Le Rwanda accueille pour la première fois cette année le Forum africain sur le peering et l’interconnexion (AfPIF) à Kigali. Le forum est organisé par l’Internet Society (ISOC) et l’Association africaine des IXP (AFIX) en collaboration avec la Rwanda Internet Community and Technology Alliance (RICTA). L’événement, qui se déroule du 23 au 25 août à l’hôtel Marriott, a réuni des parties prenantes de tout le continent et du monde entier, notamment Meta, Google, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Microsoft, Internet Initiative Japan Lab et Africa Data Centers, etc.

Cet événement annuel, qui en est à sa 11^e édition, sert de plateforme pour l’expansion et le développement de l’internet en Afrique. Il met en relation les fournisseurs d’infrastructures, de services et de contenus afin d’identifier les moyens d’améliorer l’interconnexion des réseaux, de réduire le coût de la connectivité et d’accroître la résilience de l’internet et l’expérience des utilisateurs locaux. Il fournit également aux participants des informations mondiales et régionales pour maximiser les opportunités qui aideront à développer l’infrastructure et les services Internet en Afrique.

L’AfPIF a été créé pour remédier au fait que la majeure partie du trafic Internet local en Afrique est échangée en dehors du continent. L’échange de trafic local par le biais de points d’échange Internet (IXP) réduit les coûts d’accès à l’Internet et les retards sur le réseau et augmente les vitesses d’accès au contenu.

Les points d’échange Internet sont des infrastructures techniques qui permettent de vivre une expérience Internet plus rapide, moins coûteuse et plus fiable en connectant plusieurs réseaux des secteurs privé, public et éducatif pour échanger du trafic Internet. Au lieu d’utiliser des voies de transit internationales coûteuses, le trafic internet est échangé localement et les vitesses d’accès au contenu peuvent ainsi être multipliées par dix.

L’AfPIF de cette année se concentre sur les dynamiques de l’interconnexion d’Internet, la diffusion de contenus et les obstacles au transit tant au niveau local qu’au niveau régional. Le forum de Kigali marque un retour aux rencontres en présentiel, qui avaient été reportées depuis 2020 du fait de la pandémie mondiale de COVID-19.

Citations :

Le secrétaire permanent du ministère des TIC et de l’Innovation du Rwanda, M. Yves Iradukunda a déclaré : « L’accès à l’Internet à haut débit et son utilisation ont un impact profond sur l’amélioration de la prestation de services dans tous les secteurs de notre économie. Aujourd’hui, l’utilisation d’Internet permet d’obtenir de meilleurs résultats en matière d’apprentissage, de soins de santé, de gestion de nos ressources énergétiques et de participation des citoyens à l’action gouvernementale.

Nous sommes donc très heureux d’accueillir cette année le Forum africain sur le peering et l’interconnexion, une rencontre qui permettra de discuter de l’amélioration de l’interconnexion des réseaux au niveau local et dans la région. »

Michuki Mwangi, technologue émérite chez Internet Society a déclaré : « Nous avons fait des progrès remarquables dans la mise en place de nouveaux points d’échange Internet (IXP) tout en soutenant la croissance des points existants. Cependant, nous n’avons pas encore réalisé pleinement l’impact de l’échange du trafic Internet aux 49 IXP répartis dans 35 pays d’Afrique. Pour y parvenir, nous tirons les leçons du rapport intitulé « Moving Toward an Interconnected Africa: The 80/20 Initiative » et mettons l’accent sur l’augmentation du nombre de réseaux locaux, transfrontaliers et internationaux qui se connectent aux IXP. Nous pensons que cela est possible grâce à une collaboration accrue entre les fournisseurs de services Internet, les opérateurs de réseaux mobiles, les fournisseurs de contenu, les réseaux de grandes entreprises et les décideurs.https://www.internetsociety.org/resources/doc/2021/moving-toward-an-interconnected-africa-the-80-20-initiative/ »

Grace Ingabire Mwikarago, directrice générale de la RICTA, a déclaré : « Nous sommes honorés d’accueillir cette conférence unique. L’importance des IXP pour contribuer au développement socio-économique global de l’Afrique ne peut être surestimée, en particulier dans des situations critiques telles que la pandémie de COVID-19. Les IXP permettent l’apprentissage en ligne et le travail à distance dans de telles circonstances. Le courrier électronique, la vidéoconférence, la communication mobile et la messagerie rendent également l’éloignement social plus supportable, dans la mesure où ils aident les gens à s’adapter à la nouvelle donne. Sans ces technologies, des milliers d’entreprises ne seraient pas opérationnelles. »

Kyle Spencer, co-coordinateur de l’Association africaine des IXP, a déclaré : « Le Rwanda est un petit pays enclavé qui a favorisé son développement économique et son indépendance régionale grâce à la combinaison d’une politique de télécommunications progressive et d’un climat des affaires favorable aux investissements. En tant que passerelle clé entre l’Afrique de l’Est et l’Afrique centrale, le Rwanda est un lieu idéal pour discuter des défis et des opportunités que présente notre région. »

Ben Roberts, directeur de la technologie et de l’innovation chez Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a déclaré : « Le peering et les échanges Internet et d’infrastructures numériques sont au cœur de la transformation numérique accélérée observée en Afrique. Il est donc essentiel que les membres de la communauté Internet se retrouvent en présentiel pour évaluer les progrès réalisés et le chemin qui reste à parcourir. Liquid Intelligent Technologies est un acteur majeur de l’industrie des TMT, et est fière d’être le sponsor platine de l’AfPIF 2022. »

À propos de l’Internet Society

Fondée par des pionniers de l’Internet, l’Internet Society est une organisation à but non lucratif dont la mission est de garantir un développement, une évolution et une utilisation ouverts de l’Internet. Travaillant par le biais d’une communauté mondiale de chapitres et de membres, l’Internet Society collabore avec un large éventail de groupes pour promouvoir les technologies qui garantissent la sécurité de l’Internet et plaide en faveur de la mise en place de politiques qui permettent un accès universel. L’Internet Society est également le siège organisationnel de l’Internet Engineering Task Force.

À propos de l’AF-IX

L’Association africaine des IXP est un groupe d’opérateurs de points d’échange Internet (IXP) issus de toute l’Afrique, unis par un besoin commun de coordination et d’échange de connaissances. L’Association vise à créer un environnement favorable pour les opérateurs IXP, à améliorer la connectivité sur le continent et à accroître la valeur de l’Internet pour tous. Fondée en 2012, l’AFIX a rejoint la Fédération Internet eXchange (IX-F) en 2014 et organise désormais le forum annuel africain du peering et l’interconnexion (AfPIF).

À propos de la RICTA

La RICTA est une organisation à but non lucratif qui représente les intérêts de la communauté Internet rwandaise. Elle a été créée en 2005 dans le but de gérer le domaine national de premier niveau .rw et le point d’échange Internet du Rwanda, ainsi que de promouvoir la localisation du contenu local. La position impartiale de RICTA lui permet d’améliorer et de promouvoir l’utilisation de l’Internet au Rwanda.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1656167/Internet_Society.jpg

August 24, 2022

WFP Ethiopia Country Brief, June 2022

In Numbers

3.2 million people assisted

USD 1 million cash-based transfers provided

USD 511 million June – November 2022 net funding requirements

36,863 mt of food assistance distributed

Operational Updates

In June, WFP provided food and nutrition assistance to 3.2 million people, including those affected by drought and floods, internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and malnourished women and children.

Relief

In June, WFP provided food and cash assistance to 1.74 million people – 51 percent of its target of 3.86 million. WFP was only able to meet half of its target due to a lack of fuel, insecurity, and funding constraints.

WFP suspended dispatch of relief assistance in the Tigray Region due to a lack of fuel supply. However, WFP provided food and nutrition assistance to 107,789 and 255,007 food insecure internally displaced people and those in host communities in Afar and Amhara regions respectively.

In the Somali Region WFP continued to provide food assistance to internally displaced people and people affected by drought during the month, but with a reduced cereal ration due to funding shortages. WFP assisted 783,776 people with 9,366 mt of food during the reporting period.

Nutrition

In June, WFP provided 2,092 mt of specialized nutritious foods for the treatment of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and the prevention of wasting to 366,685 children under the age of 5, and pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls. WFP only managed to reach 81 percent of its target of 451,655 children and women due to a lack of fuel for dispatches in Tigray as well as a shortage of nutrition commodities and resources.

Support to Refugees

WFP supported 742,000 refugees with food assistance in 24 refugee camps across Ethiopia during the month of June. Due to significant funding shortfalls, WFP was only able to provide 50 percent of the standard ration.

School Feeding

In June, WFP’s school feeding programme provided 402 mt of food to 202,857 school children with daily meals.

Fresh Food Vouchers

The Fresh Food Voucher Programme supports households with pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls, and children under the age of two, to access fresh foods and improve their dietary diversity. During the month of June, WFP provided fresh food vouchers to 90,370 women and children in the Amhara Region.

Livelihood Support

To strengthen the livelihoods of communities, WFP supported 5,745 people through its resilience building and livelihood activities in the Somali and Gambella regions. Activities included crop production, livestock development and trainings to strengthen the local market system and financial inclusion.

Source: World Food Programme

August 24, 2022

Zimbabwe: DIEM – Data in Emergencies Monitoring brief, round 4 – Results and recommendations August 2022

Abstract:

This Data in Emergencies Monitoring (DIEM-Monitoring) brief shares the results of a fourth-round field assessment conducted between March and May 2022 in Zimbabwe. It presents key findings and recommendations for humanitarian actors to utilize in planning and implementing data-driven programming to sustain farmers’ livelihoods and build their resilience to future shocks – protecting the food security of rural people in Zimbabwe.?

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) established the DIEM-Monitoring System to collect, analyse and disseminate data on shocks and livelihoods in countries prone to multiple shocks. DIEM-Monitoring aims to inform decision-making by providing regularly updated information on how different shocks are affecting the livelihoods and food security of agricultural populations. Information is collected from primary sources in the production process: producers, traders or marketers, input suppliers, extension officers and other key informants.

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

August 24, 2022

FAO enhancing capacity to monitor progress towards achieving zero hunger and improve nutrition in Angola, Mali, Senegal, and Tanzania

As African countries race against time to end hunger by 2030, improved data collection, analysis, and interpretation is critical in tracking progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG2) on zero hunger, nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture.

The accuracy and reliability of the basic data in monitoring SDGs is important for countries if they are to meet their commitment of ending hunger and malnutrition.

However, to date there are still significant data challenges to assessing progress on achieving the SDG 2.

In response, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with financial support from the Government of Japan through the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), has embarked on a project to enhance national capacities to ensure that the countries collect relevant, and timely data to produce and report on the SDG 2 Indicators.

Employing standardized tools to guide policies to end hunger

Under the project “Supporting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2.1 Monitoring by Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition information in Africa” the national data and statistics institutions in Angola, Mali, Senegal, and Tanzania, are being supported to collect, analyze, and monitor data on food and nutrition security using standardized tools whose estimates are internationally comparable to guide policies to end hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition.

Particularly, FAO is strengthening the capacities of the countries to produce and evaluate data for the two indicators – the Prevalence of undernourishment (PoU) and the Prevalence of Moderate and Severe Food Insecurity based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) – used to monitor progress toward SDG 2.

The technical assistance is contributing to improved knowledge, technical capacities at sub-national, and national level to assess, monitor food insecurity and nutrition with a view to produce evidence-based policies to end hunger and malnutrition.

Angola: Using advanced analysis to identify the most food insecure

Since March 2020, the Government of Angola through the National Bureau of Statistics (INE) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in collaboration with FAO, have conducted numerous workshops – both online and in-country – on the methodological and technical analysis of the SDG 2.1.2 Indicator; the Prevalence of Moderate and Severe Food Insecurity based on the FIES. In the most recent workshop (July 2022) participants analyzed FIES data from the recently concluded Angola National Census of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (RAPP, 2020).

A comparative analysis of the data was done drawing from the Labour Force Survey of 2019 FIES data. To better understand the results and to identify the most food insecure populations advanced analysis was done, using multiple socio-economic, demographic, and geographic variables.

Mali: Food security cannot be measured by one indicator

The main objective was to reinforce the relevant institutions capacities in the technical analysis of the SDG 2.1 Indicators. In addition to the SDG 2.1 Indicators, other pertinent food and nutrition security indicators were discussed, analyzed and results compared to the SDG 2.1 Indicators to better understand how countries can better monitor the multi dimensionality of food and nutrition security.

It was reemphasized that food security is a phenomenon that cannot be measured by one indicator. As such, the FAO basket of food and nutrition security indicators, was thoroughly discussed and data from the Household Budget Surveys of 2018 and 2020 was used for the technical analysis of the indicators.

Senegal: Establishing a joint taskforce for the SDG 2.1 Indicators

Leading food security experts from the government and its partners were trained on the application and analysis of the FIES and Food Consumption Modules in surveys of varying representativity. The training initiated and strengthened the technical capacities of the structures involved in the monitoring of SDG 2 in the use of FIES and PoU indicators. A joint taskforce was established responsible for the SDG 2.1 Indicators in the country and their use in monitoring the evolution of food and nutrition security.

A preliminary report on the evolution of food and nutrition security in Senegal was drafted using the results derived from the analysis of the Household Budget Survey of 2018 to produce not only the FIES and PoU, but a basket of comparable and relevant indicators.

Tanzania: Bringing out gender disparities in access to food

The workshop brought together technical experts working on the preliminary food and nutrition security reports for both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar. It contributed to the capacity of government experts in the analysis, interpreting of the results and report writing. FIES and PoU methodologies were revisited and a final analysis of the Household Budget Surveys of 2017 and 2019 was done, in addition to generating relevant food and nutrition security statistics using the ADePT software. The results generated during the workshop served as a basis for the preliminary food security assessments reports.

A draft comprehensive food and nutrition security report had been finalized with the most vital results being disaggregated also at gender level to get an appreciation of the gender disparities in access to food. The report will inform the country’s progress in different sectors and serve as a guide to formulate sustainable policies and interventions for addressing food and nutrition insecurity.

The agreed upon indicators will consistently be collected, analyzed, and reported on to create a reliable trend.

“The Comprehensive Food Security Reports based on the PoU and the FIES indicators will be vital in Tanzania, not only in highlighting the food security situation, but also in the Government efforts to meet other SDGs,” Mwalimu Juma from Zanzibar’s Office of the Chief Government Statistician said.

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

August 24, 2022

Flooding in Several Nigerian States and the Triple Response Structure

As many communities continue to reel under floods across the whole federation, President Muhammadu Buhari assures that the situation is under continuous monitoring and the government at the center will keep sending teams to assess the situation with a view to rendering all necessary help.

The President extends heartfelt condolences on behalf of the nation to communities in towns and villages, many of whom have lost dear relatives, suffered extensive damage to property, and endured the destruction of crops and farm lands.

While expressing his concerns over the hardships being faced by people due to this natural calamity, the President noted that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had written to each of the 36 states of the federation through the states’ respective Governors advising on the appropriate action to take in view of the gloomy forecasts of the rains this year.

The structure of the response mechanism on this issue is clear: the government at the center should step in to directly address national-level emergencies and that local government councils and the states are the first responders in all situations.

Calls for the federal government to respond to all outbreaks of natural disaster do not just display an understanding of Nigerian law.

While not a national-level emergency, the ongoing flooding is an emergency nevertheless. Nigerian lives and property are at stake. We call on governors of those states that have swung into action and engaged the necessary gear to continue with their efforts, and those that have not, to immediately face their duties of managing the flooding within their jurisdictions – that is, the job that the President, Governors and council Chairmen have been elected to do.

Each of the three tiers, the local government, the state government and the federal government has a sizeable budget at its disposal, allocated monthly precisely for dealing with these state-level natural emergencies, as well as federal agencies dedicated to doing the same.

It is not clear why some of the state governments in question are not already drawing upon those funds to tackle the current emergency, and the general population is misguidedly calling on the federal government to intervene in all situations. If those moneys are, for whatever reason, no longer available, the affected states and local councils must immediately contact the relevant authorities to explain what has happened with those funds.

Under the prevailing revenue allocation formula, 2.32 percent of derivation funds is set aside for ecology and disaster management.

Of this amount, the 36 states and the FCT get 0.72 percent, the 774 local governments get 0.6 percent, adding to 1.32 percent, leaving a balance of one percent to the government of the federation.

By the law of land, NEMA takes 20 percent of the amount allocated to the Federal Government. The North East Development Commission, NEDC collects 10 percent , the National Agricultural Land Development Authority, NALDA 10 percent, and the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, GGW 0.5 percent, leaving 0.55 of the one percent to the government at the center for ecological protection and disaster management.

The President commends the few states that are up in front, doing a yeoman’s effort averting disasters and managing same where they occur. While he gives the nation assurances that the federal government will continue to work closely with the state governments to provide all possible assistance to overcome this challenge, the President expects at the same time it must be seen as a shared responsibility. The response to emergencies must stand on the three-legged structure.

Flooding, droughts out of season, wild weather patterns are now global experiences due to climate change. No one now denies its detrimental effects in all corners of the planet.

Nigeria’s efforts led by the President have been acclaimed in Africa and globally. Instead of making headline grabbing calls, politicians should take the trouble to find out from the Ministries and state governments what steps are being taken in the face of these challenges.

Source: Government of Nigeria