Author: Padili Mikomangwa

The food security situation is critical and demands international attention–which is lagging. According to Africa News, at least 400,000 tonnes of wheat won’t be sent to Sudan by the USA as promised in 2022.

The devastating impacts of civil conflicts, insecurity, drought have crippled Sudan’s food systems. The latter is responsible for displacing at least 1.9 million people across Sudan (UN).

The recent situation report by Reliefweb on Sudan food security reinforces the current trend of concern.

According to the report, displacement scenarios observed due to political instability affect agricultural operations significantly impacts cereal and non-cereal food prices.…

As a gigantic energy superpower, Russia’s foreign direct investment (FDI) accounts for less than 1 per cent of Africa’s total FDI.

However, African Business argued that, with Russia being a small trading partner to Africa compared to the United States and China, the impact on trade would be marginal—yet few Africa developing economies such as Uganda will be more exposed.

Further, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) data show that Russia accounts for 2 to 3 per cent of Africa’s trade with the world—most of it is exports.

“Russia also accounts for 2 per cent of the world’s exports to Africa, and only 0.5 per cent imports from the continent” African Business.…

• More than 677,000 have fled Ukraine to Poland, Romania and other countries
• African students in Ukraine are facing racial discrimination at the border, reports say
• Around 20 per cent of student studying in Ukraine are African citizens
• Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February

Ukraine—as occupied with the war against Russian invasion, the European nation has been an investment partner to Africa for a while. Sadly, that relationship could be at risk as the ongoing crisis unearths troubling events detrimental to both sides, as Africans in Ukraine face hell.

The first in Europe in proven recoverable reserves of uranium ores, Ukraine is not new to African business landscapes nor productive interaction with Africa and its citizens through trade and education.

Unfortunately, the European nation broiled into war holds around 20 per cent of African citizens as international students.

Read: Corporate Apartheid Real in South Africa?

Most of the students from Africa …

UNCTAD argued that in the fourth quarter of 2021, all major trading economies saw imports and exports rise well above pre-pandemic levels of 2019.  Moreover, the report pointed out that trade in goods increased more strongly in developing countries than in developed ones. 

It is essential to realize that Africa has more to tap into the intra-African trade, standing at around $21.9 billion, according to UNCTAD. 

Further, exports of developing countries were about 30 per cent higher than during the same period in 2020, compared with 15 per cent for wealthier nations. 

The UNCTAD report argued that growth spiked in commodity-exporting regions as commodity prices increased. …

• Tourism is one of key economic sectors championed by President Samia
• At present the economy stands at 5.2 per cent
• President Samia’s administration is pinning its efforts against the backdrop of the FYDP 2021/22-2025/26

Her Excellency, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania’s 6th president, has the same dream as her predecessors did – that of making Tanzania a prosperous African powerhouse.  

Tanzania is not new to the ins and outs of development. It has demonstrated to the entire world it is up for a fight towards ascending to the top.  

In July 2021, the World Bank (WB) upgraded Tanzania’s economy from low to lower-middle-income status, indicating that Tanzania means business. 

Since President Samia took office, tackling investment hurdles, improving economic diplomacy and building joint efforts to achieve Tanzania’s development goals have rocketed her administration.  

Numbers pivot towards describing how Tanzania has worked hard to stay stable and relevant in the …

Climate change in Africa costs a lot, and climate extremes hit the region hardest. Between 2014 and 2018, roughly $5 per year, a person was the adaptation funding to each African – standing on less than $5.5 billion per year (World Economic Forum).

It is more than fair to say without financial support, climate change will probably push Africa’s impoverishment to a whole new level, as millions of Africa might be into extreme poverty by 2030.

The latter proves Africa to be at a relatively disadvantageous position as it contributes the least to global emissions and climate change. Yet, it receives minor financial support towards adaption.

READ: COP26 All Talk, No Walk

The previous 26^TH United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), dubbed “the world’s best last chance”, provided the global stage with failure.

Despite promising to double funding, high-income countries (and high global emitters) failed …

• World Bank forecast Africa’s economy to grow by 3.6 per cent in 2022
• Circular economy stand to improve job creation and the industrial sector in Africa
• Africa Agenda 2063 could be achieved swiftly by circular economy models

The circular economy is a bankable business model for Africa. It enables the realization of sustainable development in Africa, said African Development Bank’s climate change and green growth department Officer-in-charge AL-Hamndou Dorsouma, according to information from African Development Bank.

Africa’s economy could be revitalized by strategic circular economic models, especially during these recovery times, when Africa is struggling to rebuild its economy hurt by the pandemic.

The circular economy brings an airtight system, solution and framework that utilizes all economic and industrial operations to bring sustainable services and products to the market that maintain the highest value over time – to eliminate waste, reduce energy consumption and increase the durability of products.

READ: …

• Nearly 3 million signatures have been gathered to rally against Maasai eviction by a web-based movement, Avaaz
• Ngorongoro is one of the most exotic tourism attractions in Tanzania
• Tourism is one of the top foreign currency earners in Tanzania

Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation area is one of the most impactful tourism attractions. It is with no doubt this particular area is one of the reasons Tanzania stands at number four in the global rank of most naturally beautiful countries on the planet, according to the natural beauty report done by Money.

A United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Heritage site and an iconic attraction, Ngorongoro puts Tanzania at a fruitful competitive advantage.

The iconic area, which sits in the Ngorongoro Crater, has managed to co-exist with human settlements executing subsistence farming. The Maasai pastoralists have been residing in the Crater since 1959 after being relocated from their ancestral lands …

• Learning poverty is costing African young learners dearly
• Median international school fees in Africa span from US$4000 to US$10000 in Africa
• Free education in Africa is now available across most countries.

Education is the most valuable investment any country can have, but the COVID-19 pandemic places this priceless activity in a rather unprecedented position, threatening the fate of the next generation.

Various numbers and figures  make the latter clearer. According to International Schools Database, Median international school fees in Africa span from US$4000 to US$10,000 in Africa. According to a 2020 based study on 14 countries, the average spending mark on education in Africa was 4.77 per cent.

Out of 53 countries, at least more than 40 provide free education to children in Africa. These numbers are a glimpse of how education is crucial to developing economies, Africa to be specific.

Read: World Bank invests in East Africa’s vocational education…

According to the review, money supply to accommodative monetary policy measures and supportive fiscal policy during the first half of 2021/2022.

Tanzania is a nation whose economy is driven by the healthy participation of the private sector, the sector fair well amid slow times.

Credit to the private sector grew by 5.9 per cent compared with an average of 5.1 per cent from July to December 2020.…