Category: APO-OPA

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, November 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Tigo (http://www.tigo.co.tz) announced today the first of its regular quarterly payments worth 3bn/- (US $ 1.8 million) to Tigo Pesa users.

Logo Tigo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/tigo-1.jpg

Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1065 (Tigo Tanzania General Manager, Diego Gutierrez)

This payment comes three months after the company paid a staggering profit of TZS 14.25 billion (US $ 8.64 million) accumulated in the Tigo Pesa Trust Account to become the first mobile money service in the world to pay profit to its users. Tigo Pesa has a subscriber base of 3.6 million customers.

Tigo General Manager Diego Gutierrez said “This second round of profit disbursement shows the company’s continued commitment to benefit and improve the lives of Tanzanians. The payment goes to all Tigo Pesa users including super agents, retail agents and individual users of the service.”

“The first payment was bigger due to the fact that the profit had been accumulated over a period of three and a half years. This second payment is the profit accumulated from funds held in trust in commercial banks for three months in the quarter July to September 2014,” the General Manager said.

Mr Gutierrez explained that, as before, the average return to a customer will vary based on their average daily balance in their Tigo Pesa e-wallet. This applies to super-agents, retail agents and individual customers.

The next installment for the quarter of October to December 2014 will be paid out in February 2015.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Tigo Tanzania.

For further information visit: www.tigo.co.tz or contact:

John Wanyancha – Corporate Communications Manager

Mobile: 0658 123 089

john.wanyancha@tigo.co.tz

About Tigo:

Tigo Tanzania (http://www.tigo.co.tz) is the leading innovative telecommunication company in the country, distinguished as a fully-fledged digital lifestyle brand. Offering a diverse product portfolio in voice, SMS, high-speed internet and mobile financial services, Tigo has pioneered innovations such as Facebook in Kiswahili, Tigo Pesa App for Android & iOS users, and East Africa’s first cross-border mobile money transfer with currency conversion.

The Tigo 3G network guarantees the best services to its subscriber’s in all regions across the country. Between 2013 and 2014 alone the company launched over 500 new network sites and plans to double its investment by 2017 in terms of coverage and additional capacity networks for deeper penetration in rural areas. With over 7 million registered subscribers to their network, Tigo directly and indirectly employs over 100,000 Tanzanians including an extended network of customer service representatives, mobile money merchants, sales agents and distributors.

Tigo is the biggest commercial brand of Millicom, an international company developing the digital lifestyle in 14 countries with commercial operations in Africa and Latin America and corporate offices in Europe and the USA. With the certain knowledge that only constant innovation will keep them on top, Millicom keeps creating greater shareholder value; applying their concept of “demand more” is how they do business and retain their position as digital lifestyle leaders in some of the most unique and challenging markets.

“SMILE, YOU’RE WITH TIGO”

KHARTOUM, Sudan, November 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — To help address growing humanitarian needs in Sudan, the Government of Switzerland has contributed an additionalUS $523,013 to the Sudan Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF), making the total Swiss contribution to the CHF US $1,092,916 in 2014.

“Taking into consideration the fact that the number of people in need remains at a very high level, Switzerland decided to release still before the end 2014 a second contribution to the CHF in order to help for appropriate and well-coordinated humanitarian response,”said the Ambassador of Switzerland, Mr. Martin Strub.

Switzerland’s second allocation for 2014 comes at a time where humanitarian agencies are addressing critical needs of affected people across Sudan. Since the beginning of 2014, armed conflict has left 430,000 people newly displaced in Darfur. Moreover, many parts of Sudan are facing alarming levels of malnutrition, particularly affecting children under five. Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict in South Sudan has led to over 105,000 people crossing the border into Sudan.

“A second Swiss allocation to the CHF helps agencies continue projects that address pressing and critical humanitarian needs in Sudan,” said Ali Al-Za’tari, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator. “This funding will benefit those who are most vulnerable, such as women and children, for whom healthcare and other life-saving assistance is often lacking.”

This year, the Sudan CHF has received support from Denmark, Ireland,the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The UK, Norway and Switzerland have provided second allocations, bringing cumulative contributions in 2014 to US $58 million.

GENEVA, Switzerland, November 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A leading member of Swiss based Quantum Global group’s Advisory Board (http://www.quantumglobal.ch) has today accepted a key UN post based in Vienna.

Célestin Monga, a Cameroonian national, an internationally recognized economist and currently Director of the Oxford University Press Handbook of Africa and Economics, has accepted the post of Managing Director at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) (http://www.unido.org), the UN body mandated to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development in developing countries and economies in transition.

Photo Célestin Monga: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/141127.jpg

Logo Quantum Global group: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/quantumglobal.png

Appointed last year as a pro bono member to the Advisory Board of Quantum Global group, whose work targets African private equity, investment and infrastructure interests, Mr Monga has served with great distinction.

Welcoming the appointment, Quantum Global group Founder, Jean Claude Bastos De Morais, said,

“Célestin is a distinguished international figure who has brought tremendous vision and wisdom to our work and I know that he will continue to make a remarkable contribution to global development in everything he does. We warmly congratulate him on his appointment to this crucial UN post and we are delighted that he has agreed to retain his place on the Quantum Global group Advisory Board where we benefit greatly from his intellect, experience and insights. All my colleagues here at Quantum Global group are immensely proud to be associated with Célestin.”

Célestin Monga responded saying,

“I am humbled that UNIDO’s Director-General Li Yong offered me this new opportunity. For more than two centuries, industrialization has been the main engine of growth and prosperity in the world and has helped lift out of poverty hundreds of millions of people.

However, the realization that current modes of industrialization are neither inclusive nor properly sustainable has led the Member States of UNIDO to adopt the December 2013 Lima Declaration in which they agreed to promote Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development. I thank Jean-Claude for the strong support he provided to the Oxford Handbook of Africa and Economics and the Young African Scholars Program, which have given visibility and exposure to the work of many bright African researchers.

I am grateful to my Advisory Board colleagues at Quantum Global group for their support and I look forward to continuing working with them to foster synergies between the private sector and development institutions, and advance the global agenda of employment generation and social peace.”

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of The Quantum Global Group.

For media enquiries please contact:

Group Head of Communications, Mark Morley Tel: +41 798707039

About Quantum Global

The Quantum Global Group (http://www.quantumglobal.ch) is an international investment partner and asset manager providing access to specialist advice and unique investment opportunities and consists of the following entities, Quantum Global Investment Management, Quantum Global Private Wealth, Quantum Global Alternative Investments, Quantum Global Research Lab and Quantum Global Corporate Services. For more information, visit www.quantumglobal.ch.

Célestin Monga

A Cameroonian national, Mr. Monga is currently the Director of the Oxford University Press Handbook of Africa and Economics and has held various Board and senior executive positions in academia, financial services and international development.

Among a host of professional achievements gained during a stellar career, he served on the Board of Directors of the internationally acclaimed Sloan School of Management – specifically its Fellows Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – meanwhile he has also held teaching posts at both Boston University and the University of Bordeaux.

An author, scholar and academic, he was the Economics editor for the 5-volume New Encyclopedia of Africa (Charles Scribner’s, 2007) and his published works have been translated into multiple languages. Elsewhere he has co-authored academic articles and policy reports with many of the world’s economists including Joseph Stiglitz, Robert Solow (both Nobel Prize winners), Justin Yifu Lin, Robert Barro, Olivier Blanchard, and John Kenneth Galbraith.

Célestin Monga is currently leading the Oxford Handbook project, whose contributors include Roger Myerson (Nobel Prize), Joseph Stiglitz, Jeffrey Sachs, Paul Collier, Benno Ndulu, Ernest Aryeetey, Kaushik Basu, Justin Yifu Lin, and dozens of others.

A graduate of MIT, Harvard, and the universities of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Bordeaux and Pau, Mr Monga began his career as a senior executive with Banque Nationale de Paris group.

OTTAWA, Canada, November 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Canada’s Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, the Honourable Christian Paradis, today announced that Canada is reinstituting direct development assistance to the Government of Burkina Faso.

“Now that constitutional order has been restored following October’s political instability, Canada is lifting its suspension of direct financial aid to Burkina Faso and will again provide the government and its institutions with development assistance.

‘‘We are satisfied that a legitimate and accountable civil authority is leading Burkina Faso toward what we hope will be peaceful and democratic elections in 2015.

‘‘Canadian development assistance is helping Burkina Faso to secure a future for children and youth, and to stimulate sustainable economic growth. We look forward to providing the government and its institutions with the help required to reach these development objectives in a climate of political stability and harmony.”

NEW YORK, November 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon today announced the appointment of Abdou Dieng of Senegal as the Ebola Crisis Manager for Guinea, as part of the United Nations Mission for E…

MASERU, Lesotho, November 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A technical team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Ms. Natalia Koliadina visited the Kingdom of Lesotho from November 17‒26, 2014. The team assisted the authorities with updating the near-term economic outlook and projections for the medium term.

At the end of the staff visit, Ms. Koliadina issued the following statement:

“Lesotho’s economic growth has slowed, partly because of the current political and security situation. Real gross domestic product is expected to grow by just over 2 percent in 2014/15, against 3½ percent a year ago. Construction in particular has been affected by delays in new investment—notably slow implementation of government projects. International reserves, however, have remained strong, mainly due to high government revenues from the Southern African Customs Union.

“Improving growth prospects and maintaining economic stability are the main challenges facing the government in preparing next year’s budget. Investing in physical and human capital, while sustaining ample international reserves would help address these challenges. This would require containing recurrent expenditure in the Fiscal Year 2015/16 budget, particularly on wages and salaries, and allocating sufficient resources for investment. In addition, strong budget planning and expenditure control is needed to increase the efficiency of public services. Following the upcoming elections, it will be important for government to address these challenges to ensure macroeconomic stability and inclusive growth.

“The team met with the Minister of Development Planning, Dr. Moeketsi Majoro, the Governor of the Central Bank of Lesotho, Dr. A.R. Matlanyane, the Acting Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Khosi Letsie, the Acting Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Mikia Molapo, other senior government officials, representatives of the private sector, and development partners.

“The team would like to thank the authorities for the open and productive discussions. An IMF team is scheduled to return to Lesotho in mid-2015 for policy discussions in the context of the annual consultation mandated by the IMF’s Articles of Agreement.”

NEW YORK, November 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The members of the Security Council expressed their profound concern about the deteriorating situation in Libya and its impact on regional peace and stability.

The members of the Security Council underlined that there can be no military solution to the current crisis. They expressed their full support to Special Representative of the Secretary-General Bernardino León and urged all parties to engage constructively with his efforts to resume an inclusive political process aimed at addressing the political and security challenges facing the country.

The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the escalation in violence in Libya. They noted with concern the recent attacks on public and civilian infrastructure.

The members of the Security Council strongly condemned ongoing human rights violations and abuses in Libya, use of violence against civilians and civilian institutions and public intimidation, including of United Nations personnel. They condemned attempts to intimidate and obstruct the proper functioning of Libya’s financial institutions.

Recalling resolution 2174 (2014), the members of the Security Council emphasised that the Sanctions Committee is prepared to sanction those who threaten Libya’s peace, stability or security or that obstruct or undermine the successful completion of its political transition.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya.

LOME, Togo, November 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — As part of the implementation of its annual bond issue program, the West African Development Bank (BOAD) (http://www.boad.org) is launching a bond loan issue of FCFA 40 billion through a public offering from 1 to 19 December 2014. The bond value will be FCFA 10,000 at 5.95% interest, net of taxes. Bonds may be purchased at BOAD headquarters in Lomé, at its resident missions located in the buildings of the national agencies of the BCEAO, or through WAEMU-approved MICs.(1)

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/boad-1.jpg

The funds raised in this new operation will enable BOAD to increase its efforts in support of merchant public sector and private sector projects in the West African Economic and Monetary Union.

With 26 bond lines issued as of the end of October 2014 for over FCFA 750 billion in resources mobilised since its first operation in 1993, BOAD is currently the leading non-sovereign issuer in the regional capital market. Two operations successfully conducted in January and July of this year have made it possible to mobilise around FCFA 180 billion.

Returns, safety and liquidity of BOAD securities are guaranteed based on the institution’s performance, and income from these securities is exempt from taxes and duties.

(1) Management and intermediation company

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of the West African Development Bank (BOAD).

For further information:

Directorate of Communications, Marketing

and Public Relations (DCMRP)

Tel.: +228 22 23 27 09

Fax: +228 22 23 24 38

Web: www.boad.org

About BOAD

BOAD (http://www.boad.org) is the common development finance institution of the member countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). Its missions include promoting the balanced development of its member countries and fostering economic integration within West Africa.

As of the end of October 2014, its interventions in support of the Union’s merchant sector totalled FCFA 1956 billion, or around 63% of its total commitments of approximately FCFA 3127 billion over the above period.

GENEVA, Switzerland, November 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Brazil, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Iran, Kiribati, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Philippines and Uruguay are the latest in a growing list of countries to make great strides in combating undernourishment. This includes the early achievement of the Millennium Development Goal 1 (MDG-1) hunger target – to halve the proportion of hungry people by 2015 – or the more stringent 1996 World Food Summit (WFS) target of halving the absolute number of hungry people by 2015.

FAO Director General, José Graziano da Silva, will recognize the progress made by these 13 countries by awarding diplomas to their representatives at a ceremony scheduled to take place at the UN agency’s Rome headquarters on 30 November, 2014.

Earlier this year FAO recognized the achievements of three countries while in 2013, 38 countries won recognition for having reduced by half either the proportion or the number of people who suffer from hunger ahead of the 2015 deadline-.

According to FAO estimates, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Iran, Kiribati, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico and the Philippines have now reached the MDG-1 hunger target while Brazil, Cameroon and Uruguay have also achieved the more ambitious WFS target of halving the number of hungry by 2015.

WHAT: Awards Ceremony Recognizing Outstanding Progress

in Fighting Hunger

WITH: FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva will award diplomas to representatives from the 13 countries. Expected to attend are: The Gambia’s Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy, Brazil’s Minister for , Social Development and Fight Against Hunger Tereza Campello, Cameroon’s Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Menye Essimi, Gabon’s Minister for Livestock, Fisheries and Food Security Luc Oyoubi and Mauritania’s Minister for Rural Development Brahim Ould M’Bareck Ould Mohamed el Moctar.

WHEN: Sunday, 30 November 2014, 15.00-17.00h

WHERE: Green Room, FAO headquarters

Rome, Italy | Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, corner with Viale Aventino. Metro stop Circo Massimo.

Accreditation will take place at the main FAO visitor’s entry kiosk. A valid press card or letter of assignment on company stationery, plus picture ID, required.

Website & webcast

Twitterhashtags: #hungerprogress, #UNFAO

Live tweets: @FAOnews, @FAOknowledge, @FAOpost2015

More information: FAO media office, (+39) 06 570 53625, FAO-Newsroom@fao.org

NAIROBI, Kenya, November 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — MEDIA BRIEFING INVITATION

When: 28 November 2014, 12:30 pm

Venue: Conference Room 14, United Nations Office at Nairobi

Session 1

Who: H.E. Mr. Ephraim Kamun Uganda, Minister of Water

Lawrence Simitu, Director of Water Services, Kenya

Charles Biney, Executive Secretary, Volta Basin Authority, Burkina Faso

Lenka Thamae, Executive Secretary, Orange/Senqu River Commission, South Africa

Elizabeth Mrema, Director, Division of Environmental Law and Conventions, UNEP

Over 30 Ministers and experts will identify solutions to a range of freshwater threats at the First International Environment Forum for Basin Organisations which is being held in response to the escalating depletion and pollution of surface and groundwater resources.

Fresh water is a fundamental environmental resource and essential for the sustainability of humanity, and the world’s ecosystems. However, only 2.5 per cent of all the water on Earth is fresh water, and only 1 per cent is easily available for human use.

Existing governance structures provide, in most cases, legal and institutional frameworks for meeting human water demands, but they inadequately address the control of pollution and for the protection of ecosystems key in the provision of water.

The first International Environment Forum for Basin Organizations will identify how legal, policy and institutional arrangements of basin organizations can be strengthened to effectively implement internationally agreed goals, in particular environmental goals and objectives of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs).

The forum will bring together key stakeholders in the management of freshwater basins from all around the world, such as ministers of water and the environment, heads of basins organizations, UN Agencies and other relevant international organizations, financial institutions, MEA Secretariats, civil society and academia.

Session 2

Briefing on Responses to Climate Change Impacts in Africa

Who: Abbas Gullet, Secretary-General, Kenya Red Cross Society

Hon. Dr. Wilbur Ottichilo, Member of Parliament, Kenya and Chair of the Parliamentary Network on Renewable Energy and Climate Change

Guleid Artan, Director, Climate Prediction and Applications Centre, The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)

Richard Munang, Africa Climate Change Coordinator, UNEP

Responses to the increasing threat of major climate change events in Africa – and in particular, to the recently predicted El Nino occurrence in The Horn of Africa – will be presented by a panel of decision makers, scientists, relevant technical experts from across Africa. Appropriate responses to major climate events will improve response to a range of threats and help avoid where possible water and food insecurity, disease, livestock losses, infrastructural damages and a whole range of other potential impacts.

Note: Transport to and from the UN in Gigiri will be provided. A bus will depart from Chester House at 11:30 am

Please RSVP by Thursday morning 27 November 2014 to unepnewsdesk@unep.org