Latest news with #ECA
Broadcast Pro
a day ago
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Space42 secures $695.5m facility to fund next-gen UAE satellites
Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5 satellites to enhance sovereign communications capabilities across Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia. Space42, the UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company that seamlessly integrates satellite communications, geospatial analytics and artificial intelligence capabilities with global reach, has announced the signing of a $695.5m Export Credit Agency (ECA)-backed financing facility to fund the development of its next-generation geostationary satellites, Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5. The financing represents a pivotal step in Space42's strategy to establish critical connectivity capabilities across multiple orbits. The facility, arranged by Crédit Agricole CIB, Santander CIB, Societe Generale and Natixis and backed by Bpifrance Assurance Export, demonstrates the company's continued appeal to leading international banks. It will fund the satellites scheduled for launch in 2027 and 2028. The facility provides Space42 with cost-effective, long-term financing aligned with its satellite development timeline, whilst strengthening the company's liquidity position to support future growth initiatives. Andrew Cole, Chief Financial Officer of Space42, said: 'The Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5 programme is underpinned by a 17-year, $5.1bn Government contract commencing in 2026 and advances our goal to become the trusted leader in secure connectivity by providing multi-path critical connectivity solutions. This strategic pillar focuses on enhancing secure communication capabilities across defense and civil domains through multi-orbit satellite networks that ensure uninterrupted connectivity for mission-critical applications. The ECA financing structure optimises our cost of funding and provides increased financial flexibility to execute our growth agenda.' Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5 feature software-defined architecture with fully flexible payloads that can be reconfigured in orbit. This technology enables real-time optimisation of coverage, bandwidth and frequency allocation to meet evolving operational requirements across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia. The satellites will complement and eventually replace Al Yah 1 and Al Yah 2, launched in 2011 and 2012, respectively.
Zawya
a day ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) reviews help bring youth, communities into policy making process
Reviews of Sustainable Development Goal policies and progress have helped to bring young people, women, communities and marginalized groups into the sustainable development policy making and implementing process. This key message came from the 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR) Lab hosted by ECA, the Regional Commissions New York Office, and the other four Regional Commissions – ECE, ESCAP, ESCWA and ECLAC. Every year at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York, the regional commissions host a VNR lab to highlight best practices and lessons to learn from across the globe. This year's lab focused on 'Harnessing SDG interlinkages through the VNR', and brought together representatives, policy makers and stakeholders from five countries – The Bahamas, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Qatar and Uganda. Presentations by VNR representatives delved into detail on how the review process engages with stakeholders and civil society, enhances data collection and analysis, and links with ongoing and planned national development plans. Attention was also paid to local level – where implementation and impact are most important – through local reviews that link to the VNR. The countries presenting their VNRs were also clear that support from the UN Regional Commissions was extremely helpful throughout the VNR process – in providing technical advising and supporting, bringing in peer countries for exchange and learning, and providing venues through the Regional Forums on Sustainable Development. ECA looks forward to continuing and strengthening its partnerships with the other regional commissions to support countries preparing National and Local Reviews of sustainable development. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Aid won't close Africa's $1.3 trillion Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) gap
Foreign aid is no longer a viable solution for Africa's growing development needs. The continent's annual Sustainable Development Goal financing shortfall has reached $1.3 trillion, and leaders are increasingly clear-eyed about the limits of donor-driven models. At a high-level session on the margins of the 2025 UN High-level Political Forum, African leaders called for structural reforms to expand domestic resource mobilization, build regional value chains and shift away from exporting raw commodities. 'Aid won't close the gap. We must stop exporting raw materials and importing poverty,' said Claver Gatete, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). He called for greater investment in manufacturing, green industries and youth-led enterprises. More than 80 percent of Africa's exports remain unprocessed, a model he described as unsustainable. Mr. Gatete was speaking at a session organized on the margins of the 2025 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York. The event, co-hosted by the Government of Uganda and the ECA, focused on how to translate the Kampala Declaration, adopted at this year's Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD), into concrete action. Uganda's Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja said the continent was 'dangerously off track' but highlighted progress made in her country, including reductions in maternal mortality, gains in gender equality and increased national budget allocations linked to the Sustainable Development Goals. 'The Kampala Declaration is practical,' said Ms. Nabbanja. 'We're proud to host this conversation and to take it forward in terms of implementation.' Her remarks underscored a broader shift toward self-determined development. Uganda chaired the ARFSD Bureau in 2025 and has introduced measures to align domestic planning with regional and global frameworks. Despite this, debt pressures, limited access to concessional finance and the high cost of capital continue to challenge many African economies. Mr. Gatete reiterated ECA's support for the creation of an African Credit Rating Agency, arguing that current international rating practices distort risk and restrict access to affordable capital. He also called for scaling blended finance mechanisms, issuing local currency bonds and digitizing tax and revenue systems to boost efficiency and compliance. He noted that inclusive growth also depends on people-centered investments. 'We must stop viewing youth as recipients of development and start recognizing them as drivers of it,' he said, emphasizing the need for vocational training, digital skills and youth entrepreneurship. Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, said the Kampala Declaration represents more than a political commitment. 'It is not just about potential. It is about will,' she said. 'Partnership is not patronage. It must be grounded in mutual recognition and institutional respect.' She warned against 'performative partnerships' and called for better alignment between global funding frameworks and Africa's priorities. Ms. Haddadi cited progress on regional integration, including the rollout of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System and implementation of the African Union's climate finance strategy. With fewer than five years remaining to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and with the second ten-year plan of Agenda 2063 now underway, speakers agreed that declarations must be backed by systems capable of delivery. The Kampala Declaration, they said, provides a roadmap, but only coordinated action will close the gap. The event drew senior-level representation from across the continent and the UN system, including Uganda's Minister for General Duties, Justine Kasule Lumumba; UN Special Adviser on Africa, Cristina Duarte; and other experts and policymakers engaged in development financing, innovation and regional planning. 'The future we want will not be given to us,' Mr. Gatete said. 'It must be built. And we must build it now.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
Zawya
3 days ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Africa: Advancing gender responsive land governance and women's land tenure security
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is convening a high-level regional workshop to advance gender-responsive land governance across the continent. As part of the multi-country initiative on Gender-Responsive Land Governance in Africa, the July 22-23 workshop reflects a deepened commitment to transforming land governance systems to ensure that African women are empowered with secure and equitable land rights. Land remains one of Africa's most vital yet contested natural resources, central to food security, livelihoods, inclusive growth, and community resilience. For women, land serves not only as an economic asset but also as a foundation for agency, decision-making power, and social protection. Despite their indispensable role in rural economies, women continue to face structural barriers to accessing, owning, and controlling land, rooted in discriminatory norms, legal pluralism, and unequal power relations. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these disparities, underscoring the importance of secure land tenure in strengthening resilience against economic and climate shocks. In response, ECA and its partners initiated a project across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Guinea, Malawi, and Tanzania, assisting Member States in developing and applying inclusive, gender-sensitive land policies and legal reforms. The regional workshop will provide a participatory platform for stakeholders—including government actors, civil society, traditional leaders, and development partners—to validate policy outputs, share experiences, and co-create strategies to secure women's land rights. Participants will engage in hands-on training sessions grounded in AU policy frameworks, such as the Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy in Africa, and apply analytical tools to drive reform within their national contexts. Expected outcomes of the workshop include strengthened stakeholder capacities, validated national action plans, improved monitoring and evaluation tools, and reinforced political commitment to gender equality in land governance. This workshop marks a critical step toward realizing the ambitions of Agenda 2063, the Maputo Protocol, and the Sustainable Development Goals, and ensuring that land governance systems work for all Africans, especially women. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
India Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Delhi University UG seat allotment begins today, BCom (Hons) in highest demand
Delhi University will release the first seat allotment list for UG admissions 2025 today at 5 pm. All admissions are being conducted through the CSAS UG 2025 portal, and those who get a seat in today's list must confirm acceptance by July DU admissions 2025 Phase 2 of the CSAS UG process was recently wrapped up. In this phase, students had to submit their course and college preferences. Before today's list, students were shown their simulated ranks on July 15, giving them time till July 16 to tweak their year, DU received its highest number of applications yet. Around 71,642 seats are up for grabs across 79 UG programmes in 69 colleges and (HONS) TOPS THE CHARTS Among all courses, BCom (Hons) is the most sought-after with 19.9 lakh preferences, including 48,336 first-choice popular choices include BA (Hons) Political Science, BSc (Hons) Zoology, and BTech Mathematics and colleges, SRCC received the highest number of first-preference entries at 38,795, followed by Hindu, Hansraj, St Stephen's, and Miranda TRIALS AND UPCOMING ROUNDSMeanwhile, ECA trials began on July 18 and will continue till July 26. The trials span 12+ categories like music, debate, theatre, fine arts, and yoga. Hindi debate and Indian vocal music were among the first trials ECA category includes subcategories to assess specific trials are expected to start on July 25, and admissions under special quotas like ECA, Sports, and CW (Children/Widows of Armed Forces Personnel) will begin from Round 3 of seat SHOULD STUDENTS DO NEXTAll candidates must keep an eye on their DU dashboards, registered emails, and the official DU admission site for dates may vary college-wise, so checking individual college sites is also important.- Ends
