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A UNIQUE partnership between a UK-based sports agency and a sports tech organisation will pave the way for African athletes to boost their brand, raise their profile and help them secure commercial support. 

ProTouch Africa has more than 30 years of experience in working with sportspeople, clubs and federations to create strategies to help African athletes build their personal brand. 

And now the organisation has teamed up with the Athlete Media Group (AMG) which works with elite athletes at the top of their game across a number of disciplines, to combine their knowledge and create solutions so that African sportspeople can reach their potential. 

Rebecca Eliot of ProTouch, said that one of the biggest challenges facing athletes “is that of funding and that is particularly true in Africa.” 

“We understand that at first hand, having supported 26 road cyclists from six African countries – including five national champions and one African continental champions – as part of Africa’s UCI Continental cycling team for three years,” she said. 

With that in mind, ProTouch has been developing its Athlete Impact Investment Platform – Podium Pursuit – which will be the first of its kind to be owned by fans and which will help to generate funds through those fans and other brands, to support African athletes. 

The scheme will be further enhanced by the partnership with AMG – which works with scores of top athletes, Olympians and Paralympians – to help them grow their brand but also to showcase their wider interests under the company’s “powered with purpose” mantra 

Working with AMG will allow ProTouch to offer athletes a range of services including personal branding, media exposure and commercial opportunities. Rebecca said that the around 4000 top African athletes are being approached about engaging with Podium Pursuit. 

“We plan to activate their 30 million fans globally, alongside a range of brands, in the lead up to Paris 2024 and beyond,” she said. Mark Middlemas, CEO and founder of AMG, is excited about the new partnership and its potential. 

“This gives us an important footprint in the fast-growing African sports market,” said Mark, who’s current stable of athletes includes England Women’s rugby captain, Marlie Packer, double Olympic gold medallist Hannah Mills OBE and top female triathlete Sophie Coldwell. 

“We look forward to helping to create, develop and grow the personal brands of these talented athletes by bringing their powerful sporting stories to life, while creating meaningful connections for them with carefully curated brand partners.”

 

NAIROBI, Kenya July 15 – More than 10 Presidents are in Kenya for into the high-level African Union meeting taking place at the UN Headquarters in Nairobi

They are in the country to attend the 5th mid-year Coordination Meeting of the African Union, Regional Communities and Regional Mechanisms.

They include Egyptian president Abdel Fatah El-Sisi, President of Comoros Azali Assoumani, Gabon’s Ali Bongo Ondiba and president of Senegal Macky Sall who arrived late Sunday.

The ministry of Foreign Affairs ministry said Libyan Presidential Council Mohamed al-Menfi was expected as well as Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni and leaders from Botswana, Chad, Burundi (also the Chairperson of the East African Community), Algeria, DRC and Djibouti among others.

UN deputy Secretary General arrived on Saturday morning.

The leaders were received by Cabinet Secretaries and State House has said they will meet President William Ruto at the UN.

Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Zachariah Njeru was at the JKIA to receive and welcome the Head of the Libyan Presidential Council Mohamed al-Menfi while Defence CS Aden Duale received El-Sisi.

President of Comoros Azali Assoumani was received by Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi, the President of Gabon Ali Bongo Ondiba was received by Health CS Susan Nakhumicha.

Officials said the President of Senegal Macky Sall was received by Energy CS Davis Chirchir.  Capital News

Migrants who are already living in the UK are at risk of losing their rights as the Government vows to increase visa fees by at least 15 per cent to help pay for public sector pay increases, charities have warned.

Foreign NHS workers and academics will be among those hit by the new visa costs, which will see families charged thousands more per year to remain in the UK. 

On Thursday, Downing Street announced a new public sector pay offer, raising wages by at least 6 per cent for teachers, junior doctors, police and prison officers.

The pay award is set to cost the Government around £2bn, £1bn of which is to be raised by increasing the cost of visa applications.

Work visas and visit visas are to be increased by 15 per cent, while the cost of study visas, certificates of sponsorship, settlement, citizenship, wider entry clearance, leave to remain and priority visas will increase by at least 20 per cent.

The Government is also planning to increase the NHS surcharge charged to migrants in the UK from £624 to £1,035 per year. This cost is paid upfront when an individual applies for a visa and is in addition to any visa fees.

Visa costs vary depending on the type of visa a person is applying for, for example it costs £1,048 for a partner, parent or child to apply to join a family member in the UK, with this visa often having to be renewed every few years.  By Story by Lucie Heath, Microsoft Start

Photo by IANS/ Photo Courtesy 

Atotal of 5,236 suspected Mpox (monkeypox) cases and 229 deaths have been reported so far this year in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to a new report released by the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to the report, from January 1 to June 25, the majority of the suspected cases (70 per cent) and deaths (72 per cent) occurred among individuals between 0 and 15 years of age, while only 455 cases have been confirmed with PCR tests, reports Xinhua news agency.

The ongoing monkeypox situation in the DRC remains a significant public health concern that necessitates continual monitoring and response, said the report. 

The first human case of Mpox in the DRC (then called Zaire) was documented in 1970 in the Equateur province.

Prior to the ongoing global outbreak, the DRC was the country reporting the most cases worldwide, with the cases being reported in most of its provinces.

Many of these affected areas fall within the equatorial rainforest, where the virus circulates among wild animals, presumed to be at the root of zoonotic transmission events, which, however, remain largely unconfirmed.

Cases are being notified from Kwango province for the first time this year, illustrating the continuing geographic expansion of monkeypox in the country.

Over the past few years, multiple Mpox outbreaks have occurred in the DRC, mostly in rural and remote areas where many people depend on forest products for protein, including from wild animal sources.

Often, access to diagnostic services and health care is limited, which complicates disease control efforts. By IANS, The Statement

 

The African Union has kicked off a series of activities to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa popularly known as Maputo Protocol. The activities are focused on reflections on the advancements of women rights on the continent in the last 20 years with focus on the achievements, existing and emerging challenges, and opportunities to accelerate the implementation of commitments to women and girls.

As of July 2023, forty-four (44) member states had ratified the Protocol. Eleven (11) states are yet to ratify, three years after the commitment to a universal ratification by 2020. These are Botswana, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Madagascar, Morocco, Niger, Somalia and Sudan.

Lead by the African Union Commission Directorate of Women, Gender and Youth, the commemorative activities kicked off in Nairobi, Kenya on the 10-11 July 2023 setting the momentum for the year-long activities that will provide a catalytic approach to ensure the rights of women across the continent are respected.

While recognizing the tremendous achievements by women's rights movements on the continent, H.E. Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission called on all the stakeholders to remain relentless in strengthening the gender equality. She noted, “Africa's future is heavily dependent on women's rights. The promotion of women's rights will help foster a successful Africa.

The African Union Commission remains committed to ensuring gender equality and women's empowerment. We also recognize members of civil society, who despite all odds, continue to remind us of our obligations to make the Maputo Protocol a living document for the women and girls of Africa.”

Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa, observed that the 20th anniversary is yet another opportunity to amplify the voices of women, particularly those whose rights remain neglected in the gender rights process. “The laws and customs that promote patriarchy should also be looked at. This requires governments, traditional leaders, and Civil Society Organizations to come on board and ensure that the rights of women are not compromised. The issue of Female Genital Mutilation still exists and should be addressed. We should try to eliminate rules and processes that affect the rights of women. High rates of maternal

mortality, gender inequality, and digital violence are challenges faced by women. Women are also deprived in the digital world. The digital divide is an area of concern that needs to be addressed.”

H.E. Aisha Jumwa, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Public Service, Gender, and Affirmative Action, equally observed that despite the positive efforts made, the persistent challenges, including female genital mutilation and violence against women, remain. She, however, noted that progress has been made in advancing women’s rights and gender equality.

“As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Maputo Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa, I must commend Namibia, Rwanda, and South Africa for their significant progress in closing the gender gap, with over 70% achievement. I urge other Member States to take inspiration from these countries and follow suit in implementing measures to promote gender equality and women's rights. 80% of Member States, which represents 44 countries, have ratified the Protocol, I call upon the remaining countries to follow suit and ratify the Protocol.”

Awa Ndiaye Seck, UN Women Special Representative to the African Union and UNECA, noted that the ratification of the Maputo Protocol by the 44 Member States is a powerful demonstration of political will, a willingness to acknowledge that there are inequalities and that it is the responsibility of government to ensure that gender gaps as a result of inequality, are bridged. “We have witnessed the adoption of robust legal frameworks to prevent, protect and respond to violence against women as well as improved access to health services, including reproductive health and rights.

More girls and women have also enrolled in formal education institutions and have pursued innovation and technology as their career pathways. We commend the African Union for the exemplary leadership it set by prioritizing actions around maternal health, ending child marriage and female genital mutilation, addressing the impact of conflicts on women and girls, enhancing women’s role at the peace table.”

Eunice Ipingi, the President of the Pan African Women’s Organisation, while recognizing the struggle for gender equality over the years, emphasized the importance of transforming challenges into opportunities for innovative solutions to advance the advocacy of the rights of women. “The 20th anniversary of the Maputo Protocol serves as a significant occasion not only to reflect on past achievements but also as a call-to-action for all stakeholders to stand together and work towards achieving the aspirations for women on the continent.

We have made achievements made in entrepreneurship and politics across the continent, albeit with some challenges. We must also increase investments in education, healthcare, financial and economic inclusion for women and youth.”

Faiza Jama Mohamed, Africa Office Director, Equality Now, underscored the importance of acknowledging and uplifting African women, recognizing their contributions towards a more inclusive and equitable society. “We must continue to create opportunities and provide a supportive environment for women to thrive. This includes empowering women through access to education, economic resources, and equal participation in decision-making processes. It is important to identify the challenges that still exist and bring together all stakeholders to address them collectively.”

Kenya’s Senator Hon. Catherine Mumma underscored the role of legislators in ensuring the rights of women are protected and the need for collaboration to ensure

the laws relating to women empowerment are implemented and adhered to. “The Maputo Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa speaks to our language, it speaks to the content of Africa. This is a Convention that Member States should take seriously. Kenya has been the lead in implementation and has a good report to show on the progress made in the implementation of the Maputo Protocol. In the passage of the Kenyan Constitution, we domesticated the Maputo Protocol. Our article on non-discrimination clearly defines and sets out guidelines on women rights in Kenya.”

Chantal Kalumbu, from the Dynamique Nationale des Femmes Candidates (DYNAFEC) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, representing the voice of the girls, observed that Africa with the youngest population in the world and with women comprising half of this population, Maputo Protocol promises to bridge the gaps on gender inequalities.

“I want to appreciate our founding mothers who ensured the realization of the Maputo Protocol, even for those who were not yet born. To maintain the momentum of the founding mothers, as the youth, we urge member states to revise specific articles of the Maputo Protocol to make it more inclusive and to promote the rights of young women and to provide progress reports on the implementation of the Maputo Protocol.”

During the two-day meeting, the African Union also launched the African Women’s Decade on Financial and Economic Inclusion (AWD-FEI) 2020-2030 Roadmap and engage AU citizens on accelerating the implementation of the Roadmap; the AU Campaign on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls and kick-off continental consultations and negotiations on the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls; the African Leaders Compendium recognizing and celebrating outstanding women on the continent; and the Maputo Protocol Scorecard Index to accelerate accountability by member states on the implementation of the Maputo Protocol.

Prudence Ngwenya, AU Commission Director of the Women, Gender and Youth Directorate, says the year-long activities will focus on pushing for the implementation of the gender policies, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring every African woman and girl benefit from all these efforts. “We are saying it’s the 3 Ps on raising the bar on policies, partnerships and people.”

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