Latest news with #AfricanCountries
Zawya
4 days ago
- Health
- Zawya
Sustaining efforts to end mpox outbreaks in Africa
One year since World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), African countries have scaled up response measures and made progress to curb the spread of the virus. Coordinated action between governments, WHO, Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), communities and partners has helped strengthen disease surveillance, expand laboratory testing, roll out vaccination and improve treatment and care of people with mpox. Mpox remains a serious public health challenge in Africa. In the past year, 28 African countries have been affected, with more than 174 000 suspected and nearly 50 000 confirmed cases reported. Around 240 lives have been lost. However, response efforts are paying off. In the last six weeks, the weekly number of confirmed cases declined by 34.5% compared with the preceding six weeks. Over 3 million doses, almost half of the target have been delivered, more than 951 000 doses administered and around 900 000 people vaccinated with at least one dose. Thanks to sustained efforts, Cote d'Ivoire, for instance, has brought its outbreak under control after 42 days with no new cases. Angola, Gabon, Mauritius, and Zimbabwe have also gone more than 90 days without any new confirmed cases. 'Our collective efforts have been crucial in strengthening measures for an effective response,' said Dr Otim, Patrick Ramadan Programme Area Manager, Emergency Response at WHO Regional Office for Africa. 'It is critical to sustain what works, which includes rapid case detection, timely targeted vaccination, strong laboratory systems, and active community engagement.' Collaboratively, WHO and Africa CDC have developed continental Mpox Preparedness and Response Plans and co-led the implementation through continental Incident Management Support Team in collaboration with partners. 'The partnership between Africa CDC and WHO highlights strong African leadership. With limited resources, there is a critical need to be more efficient which means working as one team, with one plan budget and monitoring framework,' said Professor Yap Boum, Deputy Continental Incident Manager for Africa CDC Since August 2024, WHO has worked closely with countries to boost response capacity. Thirteen of the 22 countries with active transmission now have vaccine deployment plans, and eight are vaccinating high-risk groups and contacts. However, challenges persist. These include limited access to vaccines, competing emergencies, funding gaps, inadequate access to care, and stigma that keeps people from seeking care. Conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to disrupt response efforts. 'Our priorities for the next six months are to expand community-based surveillance in high-risk areas, continue to procure and distribute essential supplies to hotspots, support the integration of mpox response into other health programs for sustainability, support targeted vaccination and advocate for more funding for vaccine deployment,' said Dr Otim. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.
Mail & Guardian
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
A primer for the White House visit by West and Central African countries
President Cyril Ramaphosa with US President Donald Trump at the White House earlier this year. (X) A few months ago, the chairman of the Africa and Global Health Policy Subcommittee of the Now, President Donald Trump is slated to host the heads of state of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania and Senegal for a If that is the intent, the visit will provide an extraordinary opportunity for these coastal African countries to unlock tangible benefits from the As with any White House visit, the event is not without known downside risks. To mitigate some of those, the invited heads of state should identify and address any serious concerns with bilateral relations held by the Trump administration. They should also arrive with a concrete set of commercial and investment proposals endorsed by the private sector. Otherwise, they could meet the same fate as the recent South African delegation. Invited Countries The Trump administration selected a set of African countries with important similarities. One is that all of them are perceived to be of high importance in countering the spread of violent extremism on the African continent. That is because the US government is extremely concerned about the risk of violent extremism spreading into coastal West and Central African countries with Another is that none of the invited countries have been designated as having an At the same time, the Trump administration has selected a set of African countries with important differences. One is that the majority have Another is that there is a wide range of military expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product. At the low end, Liberia Yet another is that some of the countries appear to meet the stated criteria for the partial suspension of the admission of their citizens to the US. One invitee has been That raises Valuable Opportunities The White House visit will provide coastal African countries with an exceptional opportunity to expand trade and private investment with the US. The Trump administration has indicated that it is In response, the US Department of State has made commercial diplomacy a ' At the same time, the White House visit will provide the Trump administration with a timely opportunity to demonstrate that their strategic approach to African affairs is better than the strategic approaches of the Biden and Obama administrations. That will require proof points. The Trump administration will need to show that it actually has delivered on its promise to increase the prosperity of Americans through African affairs. Such proof points might include cases of new market expansion for US companies, new US investments by Africans and new reforms in African markets demanded by the private sector. In the process, the Trump administration will be looking for proof points that reinforce other whole-of-government priorities. Examples could include higher use of Good Preparation The For example, they should seek to identify and address any And, they should seek to identify and address any strategic competition concerns that the Trump administration might have about their relations with US adversaries and rivals (e.g. China, Iran, Venezuela). That includes To be clear, that is not the only lesson to be learned from the South African visit. Another is that it is critical for African heads of state to arrive at the White House with a concrete set of commercial and investment proposals that have the endorsement of US companies and investors. President Trump does not invite African heads of state over to That will signal to Trump that their governments are willing and able to strike big commercial and investment deals with the US. Unfortunately, the South African delegation failed to go down that path. It is therefore not surprising that their visit failed to significantly improve the prosperity of either Americans or South Africans. Michael Walsh is a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.
Zawya
30-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
General registration open for Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Business Expo & Conference
Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO; Chairman and CEO: ISHIGURO Norihiko; Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo) ( is pleased to announce that the official website of the TICAD Business Expo&Conference has opened for registration of participants. TICAD Business Expo&Conference will be held from 20 to 22 August 2025, as one of the Thematic Events of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9). This event will comprise four areas—Japan Fair, Africa Lounge, Event Stage, and Thematic Exhibitions—aiming to further invigorate Japan-Africa business exchanges on multiple levels. Download Africa Lounge participating country list : Download Event Stage programme document: At Japan Fair, 195 Japanese companies and organisations will be introducing their latest initiatives, products and services for the African market. Exhibits will be focused on responding to the social issues facing contemporary African society, including Transforming Infrastructure, Advancing Health Care and Sanitation Standards, and Food Value Chains, with participating exhibitors showcasing solutions based on their particular strengths. Exhibitors include many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and Japan Fair promises to bring together a diverse range of Japanese business operators, making it an attractive opportunity for any visitor. At Africa Lounge, government entities from more than 40 African countries will be presenting information on the investment environment and business opportunities in their countries. Through the event visitors will be able to learn about the diverse attractions and potential of African countries, and for Japanese businesspersons in particular, it will be an opportunity to find new contacts within African markets. At the Event Stage a total of 68 events are planned over the course of the three-day programme. The theme of the JETRO-hosted plenary session will be 'Forging a new era for Japan-Africa relations,' which will explore the latest developments at the cutting edge of rapidly changing African markets. In addition, panel discussions featuring key figures from the African financial and business sectors and a variety of other programmes on the themes of innovation, pop culture, hydrogen and renewable energy, and space are also planned, providing an opportunity to deepen dialogue and co-creation between Japan and Africa. In addition to JETRO's own programme of events, more than 40 companies and organizations are planning events where they will introduce specific case studies and initiatives through practical business sessions. At the Thematic Exhibitions JETRO will be putting the spotlight on the two themes of 'Pop Culture' and 'Innovation.' At the Innovation exhibition, Japanese companies will be introducing advanced technologies and ideas designed to transform social issues into drivers for economic growth. In particular, based on the three key phrases 'Value chain development,' 'Youth empowerment,' and 'Urban development,' models for sustainable growth based on Japan-Africa collaboration will be proposed to visitors from Africa. In addition, companies involved in Japan Tech Africa Challenge (JTAC), a programme that supports globally successful Japanese startups in opening up the African market, will also be exhibiting, showcasing their innovative technologies and business models. These include solutions that are directly relevant to local challenges, including drone and AI-powered infectious disease countermeasures, initiatives to boost agricultural productivity, plant-based leather made from discarded plant leaves, and biodegradable water retaining hydrogels for agricultural land. Through TICAD Business Expo&Conference JETRO aims to create new opportunities for partnership between Japan and Africa, and support medium- to long-term business development for Japanese companies engaged in African markets. Overview TICAD9 1. Name: Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) 2. Date: Wednesday 20 – Friday 22 August 2025 3. Organiser: Led by the Government of Japan, and co-hosted by the United Nations, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), African Union Commission, and the World Bank 4. Location: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture 5. Official website: (English) (Japanese) TICAD Business Expo&Conference 1. Date: Wednesday 20 – Friday 22 August 2025 2. Organiser/Co-Organiser: JETRO, Japan Business Council for Africa (JBCA) 3. Supported by: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs 4. Venue: Pacific Yokohama, Hall B&C 5. Total area: 10,000 m2 6. Zones: Japan Fair, Africa Lounge, Event Stage, Thematic Exhibitions 7. Visitor registration / Official website: (English) (Japanese) (French) 8. Target visitors: Government leaders, including Ministers and other senior officials from Japan and African nations, representatives from business communities and industry professionals, members of the press, etc. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). Inquiries about this press release: Business Frontier Development Division Overseas Business Development Department, JETRO (Yamada, Ishikawa) Ark Mori Building, 6F 12-32, Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6006 Japan E-mail: ticad9-jf@ Tel: 03-3582-5170 About JETRO: JETRO is a policy implementation organisation that aims to contribute to the further development of Japan's economy and society through trade and investment promotion and research on developing countries. With an international and domestic network comprising over 70 overseas offices and approximately 50 domestic operating hubs, including Tokyo Headquarters, JETRO Osaka, the Institute of Developing Economies (IDE) and regional offices, JETRO contributes to Japan's corporate activities and trade policy through surveys and studies, working agilely and efficiently to support the creation of innovation, exports of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products and foodstuffs, and the overseas expansion of Japanese enterprises.
News24
26-06-2025
- Health
- News24
Which African countries are flourishing? Scientists have a new way of measuring well-being
What does it mean to live a good life? Psychologists and social scientists have been focusing on a new idea called flourishing – a sense of well-being that goes beyond just happiness or success. It's about your whole life being good, including how you interact with other people and your community. So then, how do Africans fare when it comes to flourishing? Victor Counted is a psychological scientist whose research across 40 African countries offers a data-rich rethinking of flourishing on the continent. His findings challenge the dominant narrative that Africa is 'lagging behind' in development by showing a more nuanced picture of what it means to live a good life. The Conversation asked him more. What is flourishing? Flourishing is more than economic growth or individual happiness. It's a multidimensional state of being that reflects how people feel about their lives and how well their lives are actually going. So, it also measures people's values within their community. The idea of well-being often carries a Eurocentric emphasis on the individual – personal satisfaction, autonomy, achievement. Flourishing accounts for how whole a person is in relation to their environment. It includes the social, spiritual and ecological contexts in which one lives. So, it's not just about how one feels, but how one lives – fully, meaningfully and in a satisfying relationship with the world around us. What's the Global Flourishing Study? The Global Flourishing Study tries to measure global patterns of human flourishing. It's an ongoing five-year longitudinal study in over 200 000 participants across 22 countries. I was one of the team of global scholars brought together to examine the trends on what it means to live well across cultures and life circumstances. The study identifies six key dimensions of flourishing: Happiness and life satisfaction Mental and physical health Meaning and purpose Character and virtue Close social relationships Financial and material stability Participants rate how they're doing in each of these areas on a scale from 0 to 10. Further questions capture experiences related to trust, loneliness, hope, resilience, and other related well-being variables. Comparison of flourishing scores in five African countries highlights variations in well-being with and without financial indicators. CC BY-ND Of the 22 nations, five were African: Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Egypt. While these countries didn't top the global rankings (Indonesia and Mexico did), Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt, all reported relatively high flourishing scores, especially when well-being was considered apart from financial status. Courtesy Victor Counted Nigeria, for example, ranked 5th globally in flourishing scores that excluded financial indicators – ahead of many wealthier nations. Nigerians indicated strengths in social relationships, character and virtues (like forgiveness or helping others). However, potential areas of growth included financial well-being, housing, ethnic discrimination, and education. Overall, this suggests that while material resources matter, they're not the only thing that determines well-being. Kenya ranked 7th, Egypt 10th, Tanzania 11th and South Africa 13th. Each showed unique strengths in areas like meaning, social connection or mental health. You did a separate study on flourishing in Africa. What did you find? In a 2024 study we analysed data from the Gallup World Poll (2020–2022) to explore 38 indicators of well-being across 40 African countries. This study offered a more detailed and culture-sensitive picture of how Africans experience and prioritise flourishing. The dimensions explored were derived from both local and universal sources, allowing for regionally relevant insights. READ | 'I learned very late': Gayton McKenzie on fitness, food and mental health We found that African populations often score high in meaning, character and social relationships – despite economic hardship. This offers an important corrective to Western assumptions about well-being. Some of our key findings were: There is significant diversity between and within African countries. Mauritius consistently ranked highest in life evaluations (overall satisfaction with their lives), while countries like Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe scored lowest. East African countries such as Rwanda and Ethiopia showed strong performance in social well-being indicators (like feeling respected or learning new things daily) even when economic indicators were low. Countries in West Africa, such as Senegal and Ghana, scored high in emotional well-being, with many people reporting positive daily emotions like enjoyment and laughter. Southern African nations, despite challenges like income inequality, displayed resilience through strong community ties and cultural practices rooted in the philosophy of ubuntu. The results reinforced that flourishing in Africa cannot only be reduced to gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (a measure of the average economic output per person in a country) – nor to Western norms of success. What can African countries focus on to flourish? In my view, the path to greater flourishing lies in embracing local knowledge and investing in culturally relevant development priorities. Instead of following Western pathways—centred on individual advancement —Africa can model alternative flourishing pathways that reflect what matters most to African people. 1. Prioritise local knowledge systems African ideas about a connected society – like ubuntu (southern Africa), ujamaa (east Africa), teranga or wazobia (west Africa), and al-musawat wal tarahum (north Africa) teach people to care for each other and live in peace. These values help people live meaningful lives and can inform leadership and legislation. 2. Redefine development metrics Western development models focus on individual achievement, economic output and material consumption. GDP per capita fails to capture the everyday realities and aspirations of African communities. We should also measure things like how happy people are, how hopeful they feel about the future, how strong and resilient their communities are, and how clean, safe and dignifying their living environments are. This is not a new idea – for years development scholars have called for a shift away from narrow economic indicators toward a focus on human dignity, agency, and the real opportunities people have to pursue the lives they value. What's new is the growing availability of data and the momentum to take these alternative metrics seriously in shaping national policies and priorities. 3. Invest in education for character development Quality education is essential to unlocking the continent's potential to flourish. But Africa needs more than just academic skills and workforce readiness – it needs a strategy for intentional development of values and habits that shape how a person thinks, feels, and acts with integrity. Part of the problem lies in how the humanities – fields like history, literature, philosophy, and religious studies – are often undervalued or underfunded in education systems. But it is precisely these disciplines that nurture moral imagination, critical reflection, and civic responsibility. We need educational models that form not just workers, but whole persons – people who can think ethically, act responsibly, and lead with character in their communities. What does Africa offer the world in terms of flourishing? Africa is not waiting to be saved. Across the continent, people are building communities of care, cultivating joy amid hardship, and passing on values of unity, faith, and compassion. This is what development looks like when rooted in human dignity. Africa's flourishing goals offer an alternative vision for development—one that starts with what Africa already has, not what it lacks. These are locally emic aspirations for well-being shaped by Africa's indigenous knowledge systems, cultural values, and religious/spiritual traditions. Pursuing these goals means prioritising wholeness over wealth, community overconsumption, and resilience over the rescue. The continent has so much to offer the world: wisdom, strong community values, and ways of staying resilient and living fully even in hard times. However, many of these local insights are missing in the global science of well-being.
Bloomberg
19-06-2025
- Health
- Bloomberg
Africa Battles to Halt Cholera Cases as Funding Cuts Hurt
Health-funding cuts are wreaking havoc on many African countries' ability to gain control diseases such as cholera, according to the continent's main health-advisory body. Financial aid provided by governments of wealthier countries to developing nations to improve health outcomes had already dropped by about 70% between 2021 and 2025, Ngashi Ngongo, a principal adviser at Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a briefing Thursday.
