WINKER

SANDRA Chansa is well known for her hair plaiting skills. She did not complete primary education because she lost both parents at a very tender age. She ventured into hair plaiting from the age of 13. Ten years down the line, she is what the neighbourhood fondly refers to as ‘the hair plaiting machine’ because of her unrivalled skills. Recently, Sandra had an offer to travel to neighbouring South Africa and is excited about it. A Zambian woman living in that country who heard about Sandra’s skills has offered her a job in her hair salon. The incentive is free accommodation for the first five months. What Sandra does not know is that the woman who has promised her a job may be involved in trafficking young girls. Human trafficking is one of the most nagging social problems African governments are still struggling to address. It is possible that cases of human trafficking may be on the increase during the World Cup slated for June and July in South Africa. A study on human trafficking in...

Africa faces various challenges including the highest number of its people living in extreme poverty. These challenges make it hard for the continent to be on target of meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, through concerted efforts, Africa can start enjoying steady economic growth that may lead to achievement of the MDGs by the target of 2015. In view of this, The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) will be holding its Annual Meeting of Board of Governors to celebrate 20 years of capacity development, with the theme Repositioning Africa for the 21st Century: Progress, Prospects and Challenges. The meeting scheduled to take place in Paris, France from September 28th – October 1st, will include various activities that are part of the Foundation’s build-up towards its 20th Anniversary, which falls on February 9th 2011. Some of the activities include a High Level Forum (HLF) scheduled for 28-29 September that will focus on “Repositioning Africa for the 21st Cen...

category: Rights and Society, TechnologyAfrica: awards to encourage use of sustainable energy 0 Sep 23 Ashden Awards to honour African and other organizations promoting the use of sustainable energy. A UK-based charity organization promoting green energy has set awards for organizations working to reduce environmental degradation. The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy, set up in 2001 to champion for practical local energy solutions that cut carbon, protect the environment, reduce poverty and improve people’s lives, will be looking for organizations that work to reduce carbon emissions and protect the local eco-system. According to the organization’s Founder and Chair of the Ashden Awards Ms Sarah Butler- Sloss, they seek entries from inspirational and innovational local sustainable energy programmes from Africa, Asia and Latin America. The awards to be presented in London in June 2011 will have six international winners receiving US$20,000 each for programme development while the ...

http://www.newsfromafrica.org/newsfromafrica/articles/art_11961.html Thursday 23 September 2010 Africa: Continent on the Path to Achieving MDGs Report says Africa is on the right track to attaining MDG goals but challenges still abound. By Lilian Museka Africa has made steady progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), according to a report launched by the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This year’s annual report titled, “Assessing Progress in Africa Toward the Millennium Development Goals”, shows that these advances went along with bold and innovative policies. The MDGs are eight internationally-agreed targets which aim to reduce poverty, hunger, maternal and child deaths, disease, inadequate shelter, gender inequality and environmental degradation by 2015. The report indicates that’s Africa has made tremendous strides in achieving ...

http://www.newsfromafrica.org/newsfromafrica/articles/art_11960.html News and Views on Africa from AfricaLast update: 23 September 2010 h. 10:27Homepage Thursday 23 September 2010 Africa: ACBF Meeting to Reposition the Continent Meeting to discuss Africa’s 50 years of independence, challenges and opportunities. By Lilian Museka Africa faces various challenges including the highest number of its people living in extreme poverty. These challenges make it hard for the continent to be on target of meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, through concerted efforts, Africa can start enjoying steady economic growth that may lead to achievement of the MDGs by the target of 2015. In view of this, The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) will be holding its Annual Meeting of Board of Governors to celebrate 20 years of capacity development, with the theme Repositioning Africa for the 21st Century: Progress, Prospects and Challenges. The meeting scheduled to take place in P...

Africa has made steady progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), according to a report launched by the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This year’s annual report titled, Assessing Progress in Africa Toward the Millennium Development Goals, shows that these advances went along with bold and innovative policies. The MDGs are eight internationally-agreed targets which aim to reduce poverty, hunger, maternal and child deaths, disease, inadequate shelter, gender inequality and environmental degradation by 2015. The report indicates that’s Africa has made tremendous strides in achieving universal education with 76 percent net enrolment in primary education in 2008, up from 58 percent in 1999. There are close to 91 girls per 100 boys in schools in 2008, up from 85 in 1999. Under five mortality rates have dropped from 184 of 1000 in 1990 to...

Africa faces various challenges including highest number of its people living in extreme poverty. These challenges make it hard for the continent to be on target of meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, through concerted efforts, Africa can start enjoying steady economic growth that may lead to achievement of the MDGs by the target of 2015. In view of this, The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) will be holding its Annual Meeting of Board of Governors to celebrate 20 years of capacity development, with the theme Repositioning Africa for the 21st Century: Progress, Prospects and Challenges. The meeting scheduled to take place in Paris, France from September 28th – October 1st, will include various activities that are part of the Foundation’s build-up towards its 20th Anniversary, which falls on February 9th 2011. Some of the activities include a High Level Forum (HLF) scheduled for 28-29 September that will focus on “Repositioning Africa for the 21st Century...

If there is any section that largely needs ICT in Sub-Saharan Africa is the rural based community. This is because infrastructure and services for education in these parts are poorly developed. eLearning very much depends modern ICT infrastructure for it to take place, while ICT requires electricity to power this. Most rural areas however lack electricity and therefore unable to access ICT enhanced services, including eLearning. Most fixed electricity lines are concentrated in urban areas where the better part of population is most found. Also areas covered by fibre optics are largely those along the line of rail and ocean. Other areas remain disadvantaged and other means of linking such areas have to be applied. Supply of power to eLearning facilities is cardinal. Absence of power in areas not served by existing power grid is one of the big factors hindering establishment and offer of internet services in the affected areas. Currently, some power sources used in non-grid areas include...

A UK-based charity organization promoting green energy has set awards for organizations working to reduce environmental degradation. The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy, set up in 2001 to champion for practical local energy solutions that cut carbon, protect the environment, reduce poverty and improve people’s lives, will be looking for organizations that work to reduce carbon emissions and protect the local eco-system. According to the organization’s website www.ashdenaawards.org , Foundation and Chair of the Ashden Awards Ms Sarah Butler- Sloss, they seek entries from inspirational and innovational local sustainable energy programmes from Africa, Asia and Latin America. The awards to be presented in London in June 2011 will have six international winners receiving 20,000 dollars each for program development while the winner will 40,000 dollars. Butler says interest lies in African organizations working to reduce deforestation. “We look for schemes that are technically rigorou...

A new report released by the United Nations group led by World Health Organization shows a global decline in maternal deaths in the recent years. The reports released ahead of next week’s Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Summit estimates that there are 358,000 maternal deaths per year as of 2008 which translates to 260 deaths per 100,000 live births. This is a one third decline since 1990, according to the UN but adds that it is far behind the 75 percent decline called for by the UN MDG#5. “An estimated 358 000 maternal deaths occurred worldwide in 2008, a 34 percent decline from the levels of 1990. Despite this decline, developing countries continued to account for 99 percent (355 000) of the deaths. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia accounted for 87 percent (313 000) of global maternal deaths. Eleven countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan Sudan, and the United Republic of Tanzania, comp...