BY OKISEGERE OJEPAT Securing our food supply has emerged as an imperative in the current global Covid-19 pandemic, prompting our government’s announcements of measures to prioritise the supply of food. But as we reel economically from the current coronavirus measures, other nations, too, are reporting looming food shortages – so serious that Europe has now loosened its import requirements on fresh fruit and vegetables in order to draw more supplies. For Kenya, as the biggest horticultural exporter to Africa, this move by Europe to open its import door wider represents a rallying call for us all: and it is a…
Author: NBM CORRESPONDENT
Plan International Kenya, a child rights organisation, has partnered with Inua Dada Foundation, a community that upholds the dignity and protects the girl child in a bid to supplement Government’s efforts in creating safe spaces for women and girls vulnerable to sexual, economic and physical violence during the Covid-19 crisis. The collaboration saw over 200 young mothers in Kibra benefit from care packs that included sanitary towels, diapers, flour, cooking oil, lifebuoy, face masks and toilet papers. According to Nancy Okoth, Plan International’s girls advocacy alliance project manager, perpetrators of gender based violence are likely to use the current stay-at-home restrictions…
Development finance institution, African Development Bank Group, has appointed Nourredine Lafhel as acting chief risk officer, effectiveApril 6, 2020. It will be interesting to see how the Canadian national, who is currently the Sovereign Credit and Market Risk division manager, in the directorate of the Group Risk Management Function of the African Development Bank Group, will wade through and provide critical leadership and innovation to ensure that a high rating is maintained by the Bank. An experienced risk management professional, Mr Lafhel has more than 20 years of experience in finance and risk management, and is a proven leader in the development of innovative…
The African Development Bank, contrary to the inaccurate information that recently circulated in news articles, does not have any plans to provide support to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Project. In recent news brief to media, the bank refuted the claims in the article that had referenced a letter by a group of civil society organisations and climate change advocates asking the bank to with from the project due to its potential social and environmental damage. The Bank stated that the Nepad Infrastructure Project Preparation (Nepad-IPPF) has not provided financing to any Private Sector Company for upstream oil or…
BY JULIUS DELAHAIJE The effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continue to be felt across all sectors globally with the rise in number of positive cases increasing daily as fatalities escalate. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Ministries of Health have issued directives to stop the spread of the virus by stay-at-home and social distancing measures. Many organisations have embraced remote-work-from-home strategies as part of the Business Continuing Planning (BCP) systems to ensure client service and office support remain uninterrupted. This means that most physical offices remain deserted, relying on private security providers to continue enhancing safety and security of…
Sub-Saharan Africa’s investment banking has dropped to an estimated $128.2m in the first quarter of 2020, down 15% from last year’s strong start. This is according to Refinitiv’s 2020 first quarter investment banking analysis. Advisory fees earned from completed mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions generated $33.5m, down 38% year-on-year, while syndicated lending fees declined 47% to $35.7m. Equity capital markets underwriting fees more than tripled to reach $36.7m, a first quarter total only exceeded twice since 2000. Bond underwriting fees increased 20% to $22.3m, again the third highest first quarter fee total since 2002 Almost one-quarter of fees in the…
Of the total contribution, Sh30 million is to head towards different initiatives that are specifically designed to assist individuals and businesses get through the pandemic. This will include a psychosocial support program with which the bank looks to provide a mental wellness care centre for COVID-19 patients, health workers, and caregivers. The program is also expected to offer 24/7 counselling services. The remaining Sh20 million is to be channelled to the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund for the acquisition of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and other additional assistance for the health workers in line with the fund’s immediate priorities. According to…
Even though major tech conferences and events have been called off as a result of CIVID-19, Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (IFA) has decided to go against the tide and go on with its upcoming event scheduled for September in Berlin in. Despite the fact that the trade show is still happening, it is to adopt an innovative new concept. This is following the government’s decision to put up restrictions such as a ban on all events with more than 5,000 participants until October 24. According to its organizers, Messe Berlin and gfu, they had anticipated this development and thus had been…
The African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) Senior Policy Seminar has placed a spotlight on fragility of growth in African economies, seeking to stimulate an informed policy dialogue and related policy-making aimed at reducing identified fragile contexts and building a more resilient African economic sector. However, social and economic issues that were already highly challenging have now become exponentially more serious due to the current COVID-19 health crisis and the catastrophic effect it is having on the African economies as well as the global economy. Despite decent economic and social progress achieved in the last two decades, growth in most African…
Apptivate Africa, a company keen on employee wellness and motivation schemes through a mobile phone-based solution is using M-Kula, one of its apps, to help employers ensure their employees eat healthy meals to help boost their immunity in a bid to combat the maddening Coronavirus. “Employers around the world are grappling with COVID-19. Key to combating this challenge is prioritizing the health of their employees by ensuring our merchants provide the healthiest meals possibly to help boost the staffs’ immunity which is the main defence against the virus in addition to other measures set by our medical professionals and the…