East Africa

East Africa

Details: East Africa; 17 December 2024; 404

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - 18 December 2024: Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) and the African Union (AU) have signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on addressing Africa’s critical housing and urban development challenges.

IEA News

The partnership which confers Shelter Afrique an Observer Status at the African Union, aligns with Agenda 2063 and underscores a shared commitment to ensuring a high standard of living, quality of life, and well-being for all African citizens.

The MOU outlines key areas of cooperation aimed at tackling Africa’s housing deficit, promoting sustainable urban development, and advancing capacity-building efforts.

With approximately 53 million housing units required across the continent and a $1.4 trillion financing gap, this partnership will leverage innovative solutions, resource mobilization, and policy development to create lasting impact.

Scope of Collaboration

The MOU emphasizes strategic collaboration in the following areas:

· Sustainable Housing and Urban Development: Joint initiatives to support environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient communities.

· Addressing the Housing Deficit: Development of strategies to reduce Africa’s housing gap and improve urban settlements.

· Capacity Building: Training programs and workshops for policymakers, developers, and stakeholders in housing and urban development.

· Resource Mobilization: Coordinated efforts to secure financial and technical resources, including partnerships with regional and international financial institutions.

· Policy Development and Advocacy: Development of conducive policies and advocacy to elevate housing and urban challenges on national, regional, and international agendas.

· Research and Technological Innovation: Collaboration on research, data collection, and the adoption of innovative technologies in housing and urban planning.

· Environmental Sustainability: Initiatives to enhance climate resilience in housing and urban infrastructure.

The agreement also includes provisions for cooperation with AU sub-bodies such as AUDA-NEPAD and the African Union Peace Fund to harmonize efforts across the continent.

Operationalization of the MOU

To ensure effective implementation, ShafDB and the AU will develop a Joint Action Plan (JAP) outlining specific activities, timelines, and review mechanisms. The collaboration may also include staff secondment arrangements and supplementary agreements to address emerging areas of mutual concern.

Ambassador Albert Muchanga, AU Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM) remarked: “We warmly welcome Shelter Afrique Development Bank as one of our strategic collaborators. Together, we shall enhance efforts to unlock Africa’s investable wealth and mobilize it towards meeting the continent’s housing deficit anchored on inclusive and sustainable urbanization.”

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Thierno-Habib Hann, Managing Director of ShafDB, said: “This MOU marks a significant step forward in our shared vision of sustainable housing and urban development in Africa. As a pan-African multilateral development bank focused on housing and urban development, we are confident that this collaboration with the African Union will scale our ability to create transformative solutions that address the housing deficit and enhance the quality of life for millions.”

Established in 1981 in Lusaka, Zambia, Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) is a Pan-African Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) dedicated to promoting and financing sustainable green housing, urban development and related infrastructure. It operates through a shareholding of 44 African governments and two institutional shareholders: African Development Bank (AfDB) and African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa-Re).

The institution is involved in financing housing and related infrastructure across the value chain, both on the demand and supply sides, through its four (4) business lines: Financial Institutions Group (FIG), the Project Finance Group (PFG), the Sovereign and Public-Private partnerships (PPP) Group, and the Fund Management Group (FMG).

The African Union is a continental organization that aims to promote unity and cooperation among African countries. Established in May 1963 as the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and later became The African Union in July 2002, the organization’s primary purpose is to achieve peace, security, and prosperity for the people of Africa. The AU has 55 member states and is headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Details: East Africa; 17 December 2024; 334

The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has raised concerns over the growing trend of minors accessing alcoholic beverages, particularly from dispensing outlets situated in petrol stations in some of Nairobi’s upscale neighbourhoods.

In a statement on Tuesday, NACADA stated that the alarming pattern has been observed in estates such as Lavington, Kileleshwa, Kilimani, and Ngong Road, where minors are reportedly purchasing alcohol without age verification.

NACADA attributed the trend to the increased reliance on mobile money transactions, which inadvertently allow minors to bypass identification checks.

“There is a dangerous assumption that anyone with access to mobile money services is above 18 years old, which is simply not the case,” Anthony Omerikwa, NACADA’s Chief Executive Officer said.

Omerikwa reminded alcohol outlets and the public of the strict provisions under The Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, 2010 designed to curb underage drinking.

As the festive season approaches, NACADA has vowed to intensify nationwide enforcement operations in collaboration with other government agencies.

The crackdowns aim to ensure compliance with alcohol control laws and protect vulnerable populations, particularly minors.

Omerikwa reiterated the Authority’s commitment to safeguarding youth from the harmful effects of alcohol abuse.

“We will not tolerate any establishment that disregards the law, especially those endangering our children by selling alcohol to minors. The responsibility to protect our youth lies with all of us,” said Omerikwa.

NACADA has urged members of the public to remain vigilant and actively report any incidents of alcohol sales to minors.

To report violations or seek assistance regarding alcohol or drug-related concerns, Kenyans are encouraged to use NACADA’s toll-free helpline 1192.

“Together, we can safeguard our youth and ensure a responsible and safe festive season for all,” said Omerikwa. Capital News

Details: East Africa; 16 December 2024; 348

Navan's Dr Mary Randles and her late husband, Dr Paddy Randles were honoured by the Wells for Life charity with a well provided to a community in Uganda dedicated to them.

Aidan Jordan of Wells for Life presented a photo album to Dr Randles at an event in the Silver Tankard. It contain photographs from the village community that received a water well dedicated to Dr Mary and Dr Paddy Randles.

Dr Paddy Randles lost patients and faced a backlash from comrades in the medical profession in the 1960's for his stance against the religious orders on corporal punishment and also the couple's crusade to stop the brutal treatment of unmarried mothers in mother and baby homes.

The citation at the recent presentation spoke of the couple's "courageous work on behalf of people who didn't have much of voice themselves". "They stood up in a very courageous way and were "brave enough to stand up to cruelty and injustice."

Also in attendance was Sinead O'Shea, the producer and director of the award-winning documentary, 'Pray for Our Sinners' which features a lot of the work of the two doctors.

Sinead spoke of how she came up with the idea for the documentary and built up an excellent rapport with Dr Mary and they worked together on the making of the film.

Dr Randles was very humble in relation to her own achievements and spoke mostly on Dr Paddy and how he stood up for children and highlighted their ill-treatment in a number of local primary schools.

Aidan Jordan explained why Wells of Life chose to honour Dr Randles in this way. "In the past whenever we have funds that haven't been donated by a particular family or individual, we get to chose who the well will be dedicated to and in the past we have honoured John Hume for his efforts at peacekeeping in Northern Ireland, Vicky Phelan, Aisling Murphy, Sean Rooney, Presidents Michael D Higgins, Mary McAleese and Mary Robinson.”

Aidan Jordan, retired St Patrick's Classical School teacher, is the Navan-based founder of the Irish branch of the Wells of Life charity

Aidan's brother Nick founded the charity in the US in 2010 and Aidan founded the Irish branch in 2018.

Aidan explains his family's involvement in the charity: "We lost our sister Joan in 2000. She was a nurse and there was a fundraiser in her memory and a school built in Uganda. Nick, who lives in the US, went out to Uganda to visit the school and realised the difficulties the people had in accessing clean water and when he went home, started the charity."

Since its inception, Wells of Life has drilled more than 1,300 wells in a rural area of Uganda, 70 of those were funded from Ireland. Each well benefits around 1,000 people.

Their first well was funded through Bishop Michael Smith who has been a great supporter of the charity. Groups and individuals also fund wells in memory of loved ones and the community of Gibbstowns and the Garvey family raised funds to mark the 100th birthday of former Gibbstown school principal, Vincent Garvey. By Ann Casey, Health Chronicle

Details: East Africa; 16 December 2024; 376

Police in Kampala have apprehended 30 individuals for engaging in unlawful demonstrations against the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).

On Sunday, 8th December, East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP)-impacted communities gathered in Kikuube district in Uganda to hold a press conference and peaceful demonstration in response to the recent claim by the Government of Uganda indicating that financing for the destructive East African Crude Oil Pipeline would come through from numerous Chinese state-owned entities by the end of December 2024.

Since September 2023, the Government of Uganda has repeatedly stated that Chinese financial institutions, including Sinosure and China Exim Bank, are expected to finance the project. However, the anticipated support from China appears to have been delayed, prompting EACOP shareholders to increase their equity stake from 40% to 52%.

However, the silence from the Chinese stakeholders regarding the claims by the Government of Uganda has raised serious concerns among the affected communities and civil society in Uganda and Tanzania. These concerns are further compounded by the significant role already played by the Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and various Chinese contractors in the operation and development of EACOP and its associated projects.

During the press conference, community leaders and impacted persons put forward clear demands for the Chinese financial and insurance actors, including Sinosure, China Exim Bank and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China to decline any and all support for EACOP, emphasising the immense environmental and socio-economic harm caused by the pipeline and its associated projects.

Impacted communities have also put out clear calls for Chinese commercial and political decision-makers to prioritise mutually beneficial developmental partnerships with their communities, with their country and with the continent as a whole- stressing the potential role that the Chinese state and its entities could play in spurring meaningful growth through the provision of support for decentralised renewable energy infrastructure and other green economic and social development initiatives.

Yesterday, 12th December 2024 , activists in Kampala and Dar Es Salaam marched to the embassies of China in Uganda and Tanzania respectively to ensure that the demands, testimony and aspirations of EACOP-impacted communities are heard and treated seriously by Chinese stakeholders who continue to consider throwing their weight behind the disastrous EACOP and its associated projects.

The campaign calls on Chinese financial institutions to respect the decision of affected people and to publicly commit to not funding this harmful project or the associated oil fields.

Quotes:

"We urgently call upon the Chinese government and its financial institutions to publicly refute these claims about funding this controversial pipeline, address outstanding human rights violation allegations against CNOOC Uganda, engage meaningfully with local communities living in the Albertine region where CNOOC operates, and explore renewable energy investments." - Balach Bakundane, Coordinator of EACOP Host Communities Organisation (EACOP-HC), Uganda

"The oil and gas sector in Uganda has been characterised by human rights violations, environmental and biodiversity destruction, and widespread land grabbing that disrupts household livelihoods. The CNOOC-led Kingfisher project has further exacerbated these issues, with reports of destroyed fishing equipment, the arrests and assaults of community members protesting these injustices, and a troubling rise in sexual and gender-based violence.

These violations are unacceptable in any society. We urge Chinese financial institutions and insurance companies to demonstrate leadership and solidarity by rejecting financing for projects that harm our communities, do not make sound economic sense, destroy the environment, and contribute to the climate crisis." - Samuel Okulony, Executive Director of Environmental Governance Institute (EGI), Uganda

"The choice is clear: Chinese entities must not replicate the exploitative and destructive agenda of the West. We marched to the embassy in Dar Es Salaam today because, like our brothers and sisters in Uganda, our communities are suffering- displaced from their lands and stripped of their livelihoods. We demand that Chinese decision makers engage with us, listen to our voices, and pursue real alternatives that prioritise people over profit." - Richard Senkondo, Executive Director of the Organization for Community Engagement (OCE), Tanzania

"Chinese state-owned institutions are at a critical crossroads: they must decide whether to back destruction, exploitation, and neo-colonial plundering, or align themselves with the growing global consensus rejecting the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). The tide is turning against projects like EACOP, with 42 major banks and 28 (re)insurance companies already distancing themselves from its devastating environmental and social impacts.

Communities affected by EACOP have been vocal and resolute in their demands for justice and an alternative developmental path. It would be both careless and reckless for Chinese decision-makers to dismiss these calls. Doing so risks not only significant reputational damage across the African continent, where trust and cooperation are essential, but also potential financial fallout from a project rife with controversy and opposition." - Zaki Mamdoo, StopEACOP Campaign Coordinator allAfrica

Details: East Africa; 16 December 2024; 263

The High Court has dismissed a petition challenging the constitutionality of the 13 members of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO).

Justice Mugambi dismissed the case ruling that the court's jurisdiction has been invoked to adjudicate a non-existent dispute.

Mugambi further noted that the court has no business in engaging in premature matters.

"The doctrine of ripeness applies in this case, this court upholds the preliminary objections and strikes out the petition in its entirety," reads the ruling.

In the case, the respondents through lawyer Arnold Oginga had argued that the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the petition adding that the doctrine of ripeness discourages the filling before a matter crystallizes into a controversy. By Dzuya Walter, Citizen