Tag Archives: African Union Commission

AMA, Business

Africa’s Creative Heavyweights Unite to Shape a Stronger Global Story of the Continent

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Opportunity Africa launches pan-African Creative Council backed by leading communications, media and brand leaders

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, 26 March 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ – In line with Agenda 2063, the Opportunity Africa initiative has launched its Creative Council, bringing together Africa’s leading communications, media and marketing leaders to advance a narrative that contributes to building The Africa We Want.

It is a pan-African platform and movement designed to shift how the world sees Africa and how Africa sees itself, by amplifying the people, stories and institutions already shifting perceptions. It is a shared platform that brands, institutions and storytellers can align around to communicate a stronger, more unified story of Africa.

At a time when the global order is shifting and competition for capital, influence and attention is intensifying, perception matters as much as facts. For Africa, image is no longer a soft issue. It is a strategic one. The Creative Council has been established to help ensure Africa is defined by those building it.

The Council brings together senior leaders who have shaped narratives at national, regional and global levels. Their role is to guide the creative direction of the initiative, connect it to their continent-wide networks and ensure the initiative remains credible, relevant and culturally resonant across markets.

“This is exactly the kind of collaboration Africa needs to shape a narrative that reflects our aspirations under Agenda 2063 and builds The Africa We Want. In line with the mandate of the African Union Commission’s Information and Communication Directorate, this work will strengthen how we communicate the Union’s priorities and amplifies Africa’s voice. We encourage more partners to join this growing movement.” Faith Adhiambo, Communication Officer, Agenda 2063 African Union.

“It is a privilege for Africa No Filter to serve as secretariat and help steward this forward. It is unprecedented to see this level of expertise and collaboration coming together to build the narrative infrastructure Africa needs to reframe the continent,” said Moky Makura, Executive Director of Africa No Filter and co-chair of the Council.

Initial members of the Creative Council include senior leaders from TRACE, Africa Practice, the African Union, Brand South Africa, IC Publications, Alpha Media Holdings, X3M Ideas and other leading institutions across the continent.

View the campaign video here.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of Africa No Filter

About Opportunity Africa
Opportunity Africa is a pan-African movement working to reframe Africa as a continent of opportunity, progress, innovation and creativity. Convened by Africa No Filter, Brand Africa and partners including the African Union, it brings together brands, institutions, storytellers and communities to build collective momentum behind a more confident and opportunity-led story of Africa. www.opportunityafrica.africa

About Africa No Filter
Africa No Filter is an advocacy organisation working to shift stereotypical narratives about Africa and support a more balanced, dynamic and accurate understanding of the continent. Through community building and advocacy, it supports storytellers to tell richer, more nuanced stories that reflect Africa’s progress, agency and potential. Africa No Filter is a donor collaborative funded by Ford Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Luminate, Hilton Foundation and Hewlett Foundation. www.africanofilter.org

Members of the Creative Council
Addis Alemayehou – Chairperson, Kazana Group; Co-founder and CRO, Dodai
Adebola Williams – Co-founder, RED | For Africa
Leslie Richer, Director, Information and Communication African Union
Faith Adhiambo – Communications Officer, Agenda 2063
Fareed Khimani – Communications Adviser, Office of the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Kenya.
Gina Din-Kariuki – Founder and Executive Chair, The Gina Din Group
Kwame Senou – Founder, The Holding Opinion (THOP)
Malik Shaffy Lizende – Founder, 63 Inc
Moky Makura – Executive Director, Africa No Filter
Omar Ben Yedder – Group Publisher and Managing Director, IC Publications
Richard Kiplagat – Senior Stakeholder Relations Adviser, Africa Practice
Samuel Onyemelukwe – Group Business Development Director, TRACE
Sophie Masipa – CEO and Brand Strategist
Steve Babaeko – Founder, X3M Ideas
Terhas Berhe – Founder and Managing Director, BrandComms
Thebe Ikalafeng – Founder Brand Africa
Thoko Modise – General Manager: Communications, Brand South Africa
Tim Ekandjo – Branding, Marketing, Communications and Sustainability Officer, MTC Namibia
Tola St. Matthew-Daniel – Founder, Kairos & Tola
Tosin Adefeko – Founder and CEO, AT3 Resources
Trevor Ncube – Founder and Chairperson, Alpha Media Holdings

The post Africa’s Creative Heavyweights Unite to Shape a Stronger Global Story of the Continent appeared first on African Media Agency.

AMA, Health

African Leaders Call for Sustainable Malaria Financing as Progress Stalls and Funding Crisis Deepens

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The 2025 Africa Malaria Progress Report reveals 270.8 million cases and nearly 600,000 deaths. It warns of potential resurgence, as Heads of State and Government urge increased domestic resource mobilisation, call on partners to honour their commitments, and demand a renewed World Bank Malaria Booster Programme.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, 16 February 2026-/African Media Agency(AMA)/- Against a backdrop of stalled progress, declining international funding, and intensifying threats, African Heads of State and Government today issued a unified call for a new era of malaria financing at the 39th African Union Summit in Ethiopia. The African Union Malaria Progress Report 2025, presented by President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko of the Republic of Botswana and Chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), warns that without urgent action, the continent risks losing decades of hard-won gains against the disease.

Urgent action required as perfect storm intensifies
The 2025 report reveals that African Union Member States accounted for 270.8 million malaria cases (96% of the global total) and 594,119 deaths (97% of the global total) in 2024. Progress has stalled since 2015, and only five Member States have achieved the 2025 Catalytic Framework targets for reducing malaria incidence or mortality by 75%. These targets are part of the AU Catalytic Framework to End AIDS, TB and Eliminate Malaria in Africa by 2030.

The report warns that a 30% reduction in funding will result in 640 million fewer insecticide-treated nets, 146 million additional malaria cases, 397,000 additional deaths (75% among children under five), and a loss of $37 billion in GDP by 2030. Without urgent action, the report warns that malaria could resurge significantly, with cases potentially exceeding 400 million per year and deaths surpassing one million annually.

“The perfect storm of converging crises threatening malaria elimination has intensified. Official Development Assistance for health in Africa has declined by 70% in just four years, and the Eighth Replenishment of the Global Fund fell significantly short of its $18 billion target. We cannot allow these challenges to reverse decades of progress that have prevented 1.64 billion cases and saved 12.4 million lives since 2000.”
~ President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, Republic of Botswana, Chair of ALMA

A new era of financing as Africa takes the lead
In response to the funding crisis, African leaders reaffirmed their commitment to domestic resource mobilisation, innovative financing and the development of national health financing sustainability plans. The report highlights that End Malaria Councils and Funds in 12 countries have now mobilised over $200 million through public-private partnerships, demonstrating the power of multisectoral collaboration. Establishing public-private partnerships is essential for delivering sustainable financing. These partnerships can unlock new investments, propelling progress not only toward malaria elimination but also toward universal health coverage. A whole-of-society approach, engaging the private sector, philanthropic foundations, high-net-worth individuals and the diaspora through a public private health accelerator, will reinforce domestic commitments and deliver a win-win partnership.

Countries across the continent are stepping up with increased domestic financing commitments for malaria in 2025. Leaders called on global partners to honour their commitments, renew the World Bank’s Malaria Booster Programme, and align support with national strategies. The original World Bank Malaria Booster Programme (2005-2010) committed over $1 billion with transformative results. Today, African leaders are urging a renewed programme to close funding gaps, deploy next-generation tools, strengthen community health worker programmes, and build climate-resilient health systems. Investing in malaria in this way will also strengthen primary health care, making our health systems more resilient to shock and put us on a path to defeating other health challenges such as neglected tropical diseases.

“Our approach has spanned the full spectrum of what it takes to beat this disease. Tanzania has invested in world-class research and is home to the Ifakara Health Institute, where our scientists are working at the frontier of new technologies, including gene drive–an innovative approach that aims to ensure mosquitoes can no longer transmit the malaria parasite. This is African science, conducted by African researchers, addressing an African challenge.”
~ H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania

New, powerful next-generation tools gaining ground
Despite the challenges, the report highlights significant progress in deploying innovative tools. In 2025, 74% of insecticide-treated nets distributed across Africa were next-generation dual active-ingredient nets, up from just 20% in 2023. These nets are 45% more effective than pyrethroid-only nets against resistant mosquitoes.

Twenty-four countries have now introduced WHO-approved malaria vaccines for children under five, with 28.3 million doses distributed in 2025, up from 10.5 million in 2024. Additionally, WHO prequalified two spatial repellent products in 2025, marking the first new vector control intervention introduced in decades. A record 22 countries planned to implement seasonal malaria chemoprevention in 2025. The malaria innovation pipeline remains stronger than ever.

Promoting health sovereignty through local manufacturing
Leaders emphasised the importance of local manufacturing to ensure affordability, access, and supply chain resilience. Currently, Africa imports 99% of vaccines and 95% of medicines. The report highlights that Nigeria has entered into partnerships for local production of antimalarial treatments and rapid diagnostic tests, and is working to establish the first Africa-manufactured next-generation nets.

The African Medicines Agency, with 31 countries now ratified, and Regional Economic Communities are harmonising regulatory frameworks to accelerate the registration of new commodities across the continent.

“Full deployment of existing and new tools, combined with full funding, could save over 13.2 million lives over the next 15 years and boost African economies by over $140 billion. Every dollar invested in the Global Fund delivers $19 in returns. We have the tools. We need the resources.”
~ Dr. Michael Adekunle Charles, CEO, RBM Partnership to End Malaria

What must be done
The Heads of State and Government issued a clear call to action, urging all Member States to treat malaria as a central pillar of health sovereignty and economic transformation, protect and increase domestic and external funding, and fully implement the priorities of the Catalytic Framework through a Big Push Against Malaria.

Leaders called on international partners to fulfil commitments, align support with national strategies, and invest in the tools and systems that will secure a malaria-free future. They emphasised that the path ahead is challenging. Nevertheless, with determined leadership, the smart use of data, and sustained investment, Africa can bend the curve towards elimination and ensure that future generations grow up free from the threat of malaria.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of African Union

Notes to Editors: The African Union Malaria Progress Report 2025 is available for download at:  www.au.int and  www.alma2030.org

About the Africa Malaria Progress Report:
The Africa Malaria Progress Report is an annual publication prepared by the African Union Commission, African Leaders Malaria Alliance and RBM Partnership to End Malaria. It tracks progress against the AU Catalytic Framework targets, highlights challenges and threats to malaria elimination, and documents Member State actions to accelerate progress. The report is presented annually to Heads of State and Government at the African Union Summit.

About ALMA:
Founded in 2009, the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) is a ground-breaking coalition of African Heads of State and Government working across country and regional borders to achieve a malaria-free Africa by 2030. www.alma2030.org

Media Inquiries:

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AMA, Health

Biovac Officially Opens a New Product Development Facility to Manufacture End to End African-Made Vaccines

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CAPE TOWN, South Africa, 6 November 2025 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/-Biovac, a leading South African biopharmaceutical company, is launching a state-of-the-art product development laboratory at its Cape Town facility, to expand the company’s ability to develop vaccines and other therapeutics. The new laboratory will strengthen Biovac’s world-class vaccine product development capabilities, enabling it to produce vaccines for Africa from the early stages of product development to drug substance and drug product manufacturing to the end-product. It will further aid in responding to the continent’s high disease burden with locally driven solutions.

This evolution into vaccine product development reflects South Africa’s growing vaccine innovation and manufacturing capacity, strengthened by public-private collaboration.

The company currently develops, formulates, fills, finishes, and distributes vaccines used in South Africa’s childhood vaccine programme.

At inception, Biovac initially focused on distributing imported childhood vaccines in

partnership with South Africa’s National Department of Health, in support of their Expanded Programme for Immunisation. It later progressed to collaborating with multinational companies to fill and finish vaccines and is now further advancing their vaccine development capability across more technology platforms including mRNA, cell culture and the already well-established bacterial technology platforms.

The new Product Development laboratory has been realised through the support of the Gates Foundation. This will assist Biovac, South Africa, and the African continent, to be able to develop its own vaccines across multiple platforms and be better able to respond to future pandemics or outbreaks using advanced technology and state-of-the-art equipment.

The laboratory will allow multiple products to be developed simultaneously and foster innovation and intellectual property creation for vaccines targeting diseases prevalent in Africa.

The laboratory includes infrastructure for mRNA drug substance development, screening, evaluation, and manufacturing. It houses a specialised suite to formulate nanoparticles that safely encapsulate and protect mRNA, along with dedicated areas for bacterial and cell culture, cell bank storage and handling of sensitive medical materials.

The African Union Commission and Africa CDC committed in 2022 to ensuring that 60% of vaccines used on the continent are manufactured in Africa by 2040. Currently, only about 1% are produced locally; a gap this facility seeks to help close.

Biovac’s mission, is to retain and grow scientific expertise and vaccine development capacity within South Africa, to serve the Southern African Development Community and the broader African market in preventing diseases.

Biovac CEO Morena Makhoana said, “The establishment of our new product development laboratory is a major milestone for Biovac and for African vaccines and vaccine innovation. It gives us the capability to develop and test next-generation vaccines using the most advanced technology available, ensuring that Africa is not left behind in responding to current and future vaccine preventable diseases.”

Gates Foundation CEO, Mark Suzman, said “Biovac’s new product development laboratory represents a leap forward for vaccine innovation and manufacturing in Africa. For millions of people across the continent, it brings the promise of faster, more reliable access to lifesaving vaccines—developed and produced in Africa, for Africa. The Gates Foundation is proud to support this investment in local talent and infrastructure that strengthens Africa’s scientific and manufacturing capacity, promoting health equity and security across the continent.”

Deputy Minister of Science Dr Nomalungelo Gina said: “Today marks an historic milestone for South Africa, as the opening of Biovac’s new Product Development Laboratory brings us closer to our vision of achieving full, end-to-end vaccine manufacturing capability on the African continent. This high-tech facility, equipped with advanced mRNA technology and state-of-the-art research capacity, will empower our scientists to tackle diseases that are most prevalent in Africa, ensuring that home-grown innovation addresses the health needs of our people.”

“The Government of South Africa, together with partners like the Gates Foundation and the Industrial Development Corporation, remains steadfast in supporting initiatives that build robust local pharmaceutical manufacturing and enhance our preparedness for future health emergencies. The Product Development Laboratory is not just a monument to technological advancement, but a beacon of hope for all Africans, a demonstration of what is possible when vision, investment and scientific excellence come together. Let us celebrate this step forward, confident that today’s

investment in science will yield tomorrow’s health and economic security for our country and continent.”

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of Biovac.

About Biovac

Biovac, a leading bioPharmaceutical company rooted in Africa, was established in collaboration with the South African Government to revive human vaccine development and manufacturing capability in Southern Africa. Its strength lies in the strategic global partnerships that have enabled the company to be a frontrunner in vaccine development and manufacturing infrastructure building, the transfer of sophisticated technology and the enablement of scarce aseptic manufacturing skills. Biovac supplies millions of doses of vaccines per year, across South Africa and into some neighboring countries. Amongst other key projects, the company established its drug substance manufacturing capabilities through its Oral Cholera Vaccine development and commercial manufacturing project, in partnership with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), which has commenced clinical trials facilitated by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). Furthermore, as part of the WHO/MPP mRNA technology hub development led by Afrigen, Biovac is responsible for the optimisation, scale up, and industrialisation of the process. For more information, visit www.biovac.co.za.

Media Contact:

Katharine Child:

kath@resolvecommunications.co.za

083 566 7223

The post Biovac Officially Opens a New Product Development Facility to Manufacture End to End African-Made Vaccines appeared first on African Media Agency.

AMA, Environment

UN Climate Week Kicks Off in Addis Ababa to Boost Solutions and Speed Up Real-World Climate Actions

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Outcomes to feed into Africa Climate Summit and COP30 UN Climate Conference in the Amazon this November

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, 1 September 2025 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/UN News-Today marks the start of Climate Week – a milestone United Nations event to boost real-world climate solutions, and advance crucial climate issues, ahead the COP30 global climate conference in Brazil, this November.

Climate Week will bring together governments, financiers including development banks, businesses, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples, to help speed up delivery of pledges and climate actions on the ground, in African countries and around the world.

Organized by UN Climate Change and hosted by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Climate Week will feed into the second Africa Climate Summit next week – a major rallying point for African nations ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

“We are at a vital moment in the world’s climate journey. Climate Week in Addis Ababa is a chance to share and scale up real-world solutions, and help spread the real-life benefits of climate action to more people across Africa and around the world: more resilient economies, more jobs, better health and quality of life, more secure and affordable clean energy for all,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell.

“Climate Weeks aim to connect the international climate process to people’s daily lives and to real economies. At the heart of our programme is the Implementation Forum (3-4 Sept) — bringing together negotiators with implementers in governments, financiers, businesses, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples,” said UN Climate Change Deputy Executive Secretary Noura Hamladji.

With a strong focus on investment and collaboration, new Implementation Labs will focus on key challenges and opportunities, including in adaptation finance, strengthening public-private sector partnerships, scaling up agricultural, forest and food-related climate actions, and empowering communities, among many others.

A Stepping Stone for the Africa Climate Summit and COP30

The Climate Week is global in scope, but its solutions are deeply relevant to Agenda 2063 – Africa’s vision for inclusive growth, sustainability, and resilience. Climate Week in Addis Ababa has been deliberately timed to take place just ahead of the Africa Climate Summit 2 (ACS2), hosted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 8-10 September 2025.

The Summit marks a crucial moment for the continent’s climate leadership, where African leaders will advance work on climate finance, adaptation, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, green growth and community empowerment, ahead of COP30.  

Ethiopia’s Minister of Planning and Development, Fitsum Assefa, said: “This strategic alignment ensures that Africa’s climate priorities do not remain regional aspirations but are elevated into the global agenda. What we build in Addis Ababa through both the Africa Climate Summit 2 and Climate Week will strengthen implementation, unlock finance, and set the stage for COP30 and beyond. Together, these moments demonstrate that climate solutions must be locally rooted yet globally resonant if we are to build a sustainable future for all.”

“By strategically connecting Climate Week, the Climate Change and Development Conference in Africa, and the Second Africa Climate Summit, we establish a unified platform that turns dialogue into practical, scalable climate solutions and funding, fostering a resilient and green continent,” said Mosses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission.

The key outcomes of the Climate Week, including official statements linking to the Africa Climate Summit from UN Climate Change and the Government of Ethiopia, will be shared by news release in the afternoon of Thursday 4 Sept (Addis time) in English, Arabic and French, and posted on the UNFCCC website: www.unfccc.int

The Opening Ceremony & Start of the Implementation Forum (3 Sept, 09:30h EAT) will be livestreamed in English, French et Arabic with speakers to include:

1. H.E. Dr. Fitsum Assefa, Minister of Planning and Development of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

2. H.E. Taye Atske Selassie, President of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia  

3. Ms. Noura Hamladji, Deputy Executive Secretary UNFCCC

The Closing Ceremony (4 Sept, 16:00h EAT) will be livestreamed in English, French, Arabic, with speakers to include:

1. H.E. Dr. Fitsum Assefa, Minister of Planning and Development of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

2. Mr. Simon Stiell, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of UN Climate Change

More information and visuals

Learn more about Climate Week

Consult the full CW2 Agenda & event calendar (with webcast links when available)

Download visuals from the UN Climate Change Flickr Album

Download assets from the CW2 Trello board 

Follow the conversation online with #ClimateWeek2025

Follow UN Climate Change’s social media accounts:

Media enquiries: press@unfccc.int

The post UN Climate Week Kicks Off in Addis Ababa to Boost Solutions and Speed Up Real-World Climate Actions appeared first on African Media Agency.

AMA

New Podcast ‘Future of Africa’ Amplifies the Voices of African Youth Re-shaping Our World

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Launched by the African Union Youth Envoy, the United Nations Foundation, and The Elders in collaboration with The Global Dispatches Podcast. 

NEW YORK, USA 12 August 2025 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/-The United Nations Foundation today announced the launch of Future of Africa, a new podcast series that amplifies young African voices in global policy conversations. Future of Africa is co-hosted by the African Union Youth Envoy, the UN Foundation and The Elders, in collaboration with the Global Dispatches Podcast.

This limited-series podcast, presented by Kenyan media personality Adelle Onyango alongside Mark Leon Goldberg, brings together young changemakers and global leaders, exploring the global challenges and opportunities shaping the world today — and Africa tomorrow.

Through a mix of personal storytelling and policy dialogue, the podcast tackles issues ranging from climate justice and financing for development to trust in democratic institutions and the future of education. As multilateralism faces a crisis of trust and relevance, Future of Africa offers a fresh model. By platforming conversations between global leaders and young African changemakers, the series explores how human stories can disrupt conventional thinking, build empathy across borders, and forge shared purpose around urgent global challenges.

“As the world’s youngest continent, Africa holds the key to shaping the global future,” said Harshani Dharmadasa, Senior Director at the UN Foundation. “The Future of Africa podcast elevates the bold ideas, lived experiences, and leadership of young Africans already driving change from the grassroots to global platforms.”

The podcast is a signature output of the Panel of the Future, an initiative of the African Union Youth Envoy that convenes young leaders advocating for inclusive, youth-centered policymaking. Each episode pairs these emerging voices with statespeople and global policy experts in unscripted, intergenerational conversations designed to share innovative ideas and practical solutions with listeners.

“I’ve seen powerful ideas buried in reports that many people will never read. This podcast is about amplifying the voices of young Africans who are building a new future for our continent and the world,” said Chido Mpemba, Advisor to the African Union Commission Chairperson. “This series is a reminder that stories, especially when led by young people, can humanize global challenges, challenge outdated assumptions, and help reimagine how international cooperation works for the next generation.”

This podcast brings young people’s energy into direct dialogue with the institutions shaping our continent and our world. Guests include:

  • Juan Manuel Santos, former President of Colombia, Nobel Peace Prize laureate
  • Chido Mpemba, formerly the African Union’s Special Youth Envoy and currently the Advisor to the African Union Commission Chairperson focused on Women, Gender and Youth
  • Minister Serigne Mbaye Thiam, Chair of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and Minister of Education of Senegal 
  • Ms. Tina Muparadzi, Executive Director for the Education and Transitions programming platform at Mastercard Foundation’s Education, Learning & Youth Livelihood Team 
  • Ms. Graça Machel, First Education Minister of Mozambique, Co-founder of the Elders

For the full episode lineup, visit unfoundation.org/FutureOfAfrica

Season 1: Spotlight on Africa’s Global Voice

Launching on International Youth Day, August 12, 2025, the first season of Future of Africa features seven episodes:

1. Africa’s Role on the Global Stage (Aug 12)

A high-level conversation on Africa’s growing diplomatic power, inclusive governance, and how a new generation is shaping international relations.

2. Climate, Peace and Security Nexus (Aug 19)

Exploring how climate stress fuels insecurity — and how Indigenous knowledge, diplomacy, and gender equity can drive peace.

3. Global Partnerships and Delivering on Finance (Aug 26)

What does meaningful financing for Africa look like after the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development? These guests unpack real commitments, youth agency, and equitable global finance.

4. The Trust Deficit (Sep 2)

Addressing the erosion of trust in governance, this episode highlights how inclusive leadership, electoral integrity, and youth-led civic renewal are essential to rebuilding trust.

5. Educating the Next Generation (Sep 9)

From school systems to startups, this episode examines how Africa can equip young people with the skills needed to shape the future economy.

6. Women on the Rise (Sep 16)

In honor of Beijing+30, this episode celebrates women and girls leading change, and explores policy and investment as tools to unlock their full potential.

7. Vaccines, Progress, Potential (Sep 18)

This episode highlights how vaccines have transformed public health in Africa and what’s next for regional manufacturing, equity, and youth leadership in immunization.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of United Nations Foundation.

About the Podcast

Co-created by the African Union Youth Envoy and the United Nations Foundation, and produced in collaboration with The Elders and Global Dispatches, Future of Africa is a new model for intergenerational, intercontinental dialogue. It translates complex policy issues into accessible, story-driven formats that resonate with youth audiences while informing global decision-makers.

The podcast will be available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major streaming platforms. 

About the Partners

The African Union Office of the Youth Envoy (AU-OYE) works to promote, empower, and engage youth in the continent’s development through leadership, policy, and advocacy. The Panel of the Future is one of its flagship initiatives to embed youth voices in Africa’s multilateral future.

The United Nations Foundation has built novel innovations and partnerships to support the United Nations and help solve global problems at scale for over 25 years. As an independent charitable organization, the Foundation was created to work closely with the United Nations to address humanity’s greatest challenges and drive global progress. 

The Elders is an independent international non‑governmental organisation founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007. Comprising former heads of state, Nobel laureates, and human rights champions, they use their collective integrity, global standing, and moral courage to address the planet’s most urgent crises, free from national or political constraints

Global Dispatches Podcast is a long-running, award-winning international affairs show hosted by journalist Mark Leon Goldberg. With a global audience of diplomats, policymakers, and engaged citizens, it explores trends and ideas shaping the world.

Media Contact:

Amy Minnie

African Media Agency (AMA)

Amy@africanmediaagency.com

The post New Podcast ‘Future of Africa’ Amplifies the Voices of African Youth Re-shaping Our World appeared first on African Media Agency.

Lifestyle

Ethiopia’s opposition party denounces ban as threat to peace deal

Maravi Post Reporter

After it lost its status as a political party, TPLF says the ban on its activities constitutes a “serious threat” to the peace process in Ethiopia.

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has denounced the withdrawal of its political party status by the Electoral Commission, in a letter to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

The party which ruled Ethiopia from 1991 to 2018, has been plagued by internal conflicts and has strained relations with Abiy Ahmed’s government.

The party says the ban puts the 2022 peace deal that ended two years of conflict in the northern Tigray region at risk.

In November 2022, members of the TPLF signed a peace agreement in Pretoria, South Africa, with representatives of the federal government. The conflict saw federal Ethiopian forces, supported by local militias and the Eritrean army pitted against TPLF rebels.

Authorities in Addis Ababa placed Tigray under lock and key, and humanitarian aid was blocked.

Tens of thousands of people were killed while millions were forced from their homes.

Source: Africanews

https://video.euronews.com/mp4/ED/15/14/32/02/ED_PYR_1514322_20250517070815.mp4
Regional

Lack of education and mismatched skills, remain major obstacles to Africa’s development agenda –African Union

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Malawi Students
File Photo: Malawi Children playing

The African Union Commission cautions that the future of Africa’s economic growth and the future of millions of Africans, is in jeopardy, if the underlying issues that hinder development are not adequately addressed.

 

With Africa expected to double its population over the next 25 years, and the working-age population expected to grow by approximately 450 million between 2015 and 2035, the African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson Ambassador Kwesi, says it is critical to urgently address the lack of education and mismatched skills, as major causes of rising numbers of unemployment. Continue reading Lack of education and mismatched skills, remain major obstacles to Africa’s development agenda –African Union →

Malawi

Malawi’s CHREAA gets AU Commission observer status

Maravi Post correspondent

 

Malawi’s CHREAA gets AU Commission observer status

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)- The Country’s Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance (CHREAA), has been granted an African Union Commission’s status observer on Human Rights and People’s Rights.

This follows CHREAA’s successful three-year assessment, which the 60th session of the AU Commission granted in Niamey, Niger.

As an observer, CHREAA is required to present its activity reports to the Commission every two years on its activities.

The human right watchdog, is also expected to establish close relations with the Commission, through regular consultations on matters of common interest.

Civil society organizations (CSOs), are granted the status upon certifying the Commission’s Resolution 33 that defines the criteria for granting, and enjoying the status for human and people’s rights organizations in Africa.

The development has excited CHREAA’s Executive Director Victor Mhango, who said the Commission’s approval gives his organization power to promote and fight for human rights in the country.

Mhanga said the recognition will help Malawi network and exchange experiences with other countries easily, which will also give limelight on human rights issues to the country.

He therefore, lauded CHREAA’s new status as a great breakthrough. He said CHREAA had to fulfill a lot of requirements before it was granted the AU Commission observer status.

“This means that we will be part of the discussions happening at the African Commission. This is an opportunity which gives Malawi the needed exposure to learn from other countries to bring light in some of the human rights issues the nation is facing.

“There are a lot of requirements that an NGO has to meet to be granted this status. This is a breakthrough. We are the only organization from Malawi, which has been awarded the observer status in this submission,” a visibly delighted Mhango said.

Malawi has other CSOs with the observer status, including Center for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR), Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP), Malawi CARER, and the Malawi Human Right Commission.

The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (the Commission), was established under article 30 of the AfricanCharter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Charter), with the twin mandate of promotion and protection of human rights in Africa, as provided for in the Charter.

It is the primary body responsiblefor human rights in Africa in accordance with articles 75 and 76 of the Commission’s rules of procedure for non-­?governmental organizations (NGOs) granted observer

Status by the Commission may. Through authorized representatives, the NGOs may participate in the public sessions of the Commission and its subsidiarybodies.

 

Regional, Technology

AU Commission appoints High Level African Panel on Emerging Technologies

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Africa and Technology
Projecting The Future with Technology Trends And Ideas

Johannesburg, December 18th, 2016 –  The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), HE Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has made a landmark decision by appointing ten (10) eminent experts from various fields to serve on the High Level African Panel on Emerging Technologies (APET). The High Level-APET has been constituted in recognition of the need to harness both existing and emerging technologies for the economic development of Africa. Continue reading AU Commission appoints High Level African Panel on Emerging Technologies →