By Joseph Checky Abuje Africa’s weak funding for research, poor research governance structures and weak health systems continue to hamper its place in vaccine development. Dr Borna Nyaoke-Anoke, a Senior Clinical Project Manager at the Drug for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) during a webinar seminar with African science journalists that while the researchers in…
Nelson Mandela Voted Top Influencer by Africa’s Youth
Findings from the inaugural African Youth Survey of 2020 reveal that while almost seven years since his passing, the spirit of South Africa’s ‘Madiba’ continues to loom large with young people across the African continent, with 86% of respondents believing that Mandela’s values are still relevant today. Acclaimed human rights icon and global statesman,…
COVID-19: The Africa Medical Supplies Platform response secures life-saving medical treatment
Following a successful launch of the Africa Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP) by the Chairperson of the African Union, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa on the 18th of June 2020, the AMSP has gained traction in the sourcing of supplies of medical equipment, struck new and ground-breaking partnerships…
Industrial agriculture receiving the bulk of Africa’s agricultural development funding
Money flows in agricultural development are still reinforcing damaging industrial models in Africa, according to a new report by Biovision, IPES-Food and the UK-based Institute of Development Studies. The Money Flows report looks at investments in sub-Saharan Africa with a focus on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the biggest philanthropic investor in agri-development, Switzerland,…
Royal Academy of Engineering launches Project CARE to support engineering innovation to fight COVID-19 in Africa
Five female entrepreneurs are combining their engineering and business skills in the fight against COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa thanks to funding from the Royal Academy of Engineering through its Project CARE (COVID Africa Rapid Entrepreneurs) initiative. The five are among the three Kenyans, two Nigerians, a South African and Ghanaian who have each received £5,000…
COVID-19: Pan-Africanism at an all-time high for continent’s youth, a new survey finds
While Africa Day (May 25th), the official day of the African Union (AU) marking intercontinental unity, takes place solemnly in 2020 on the backdrop of the continued outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus), a recent study of Africa’s youth has showcased continent-wide resiliency, institutional trust, cohesion and collective ‘Afro-Optimism’ in facing the challenges ahead. The results of…
An inclusive approach to sustainable agriculture
By Kalongo Chitengi For over a century the world has marked the month of March with tributes to women for strides made in elevating women’s achievements. The 2020 International Women’s Day (IWD) theme #EachforEqual reminds us that this period of celebration is also about the pursuit to live in an equitable world where women’s…
New global plan to end TB
The Stop TB Partnership launched the Global Plan to End TB 2018-2022 that calls for 2.6 billion USD per year for vital research and development of new tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic tools, new drug regimens and a new vaccine, and 13 billion USD per year for TB care and prevention. With the new Global Plan, the…