• Across Africa, gender inequality in marriage, divorce, custody, and property rights is perpetuated by sex discrimination embedded in both legal systems and customary laws.
• Discriminatory family laws have profound impacts, increasing the risk of sexual and gender-based violence for women and girls.
• Laws in Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Sudan, and Tanzania still allow child marriage.

Discrimination against women and girls remains widespread in family laws across Africa, according to new research by Equality Now. An analysis of 20 African countries reveals that gender inequality in marriage, divorce, custody, and property rights is perpetuated by sex discrimination embedded in both legal systems and customary laws. Despite some significant legal reforms, progress has been slow, inconsistent, and hindered by setbacks, lack of political will, and weak implementation.

The report, “Gender Inequality in Family Laws in Africa: An Overview of Key Trends in Select Countries,” highlights how overlapping and …

• Kenya’s Green Jobs Potential will be key in  preserving the country’s natural heritage and combating the challenges posed by climate change.
• PS Labour and Skills Development Shadrack Mwadime warned that the transition to green economy has far reaching implications for the world of work
• Green jobs are becoming a crucial driver of sustainable development in Kenya,

Stakeholders in the environment conservation sectors are deliberating on ways to unlock Kenya’s potential as a global hub for digital work and green jobs. The government, jointly with Jacob’s Ladder Africa, International Labour Organisation, United Nations Environment Programme and United Nations Children’s Fund, are in talks in Nairobi to align government priorities with the demands of the green job market.

Kenya National Green Jobs and Skills Development Workshop, brings together stakeholders from government, academia, private sector, finance, and youth-led groups to address the critical need for green jobs and skills development in …

• About a fifth of children under 17 have received unsolicited online requests to discuss sex or sexual acts.
• Up to a third of children aged 12-17 in Ethiopia and Mozambique are sharing personal information with strangers online.
• An estimated 13 per cent of 12-17-year-olds in Kenya and Mozambique reported being threatened or blackmailed to engage in sexual activities online.
• A third of 9-17-year-olds in South Africa and over a quarter of 12-17-year-olds in Mozambique went on to have face-to-face meetings with individuals they initially met online.

Fresh reports from two of Africa’s leading child rights groups have uncovered a shocking rise in online child sexual exploitation and abuse across the continent. The African Child Policy Forum (ACPF) and ChildFund’s investigations reveal a deeply troubling trend, with children increasingly becoming victims of online predators.

These findings underscore an urgent need for robust measures to combat this growing menace and …

• Africa is experiencing growth in the export of goods and services and its economics outline promising opportunities for further growth.
• As trade volumes continue to rise and digitalization shapes e-commerce, customs, port, and border administrations must adapt quickly to ensure smooth clearance processes, accurate tracking, regulatory compliance, and timely delivery.

In today’s fast-paced world of trade, the demand for efficiency and transparency has never been more pronounced. Digitalization and cutting-edge technologies have continued to streamline trade processes fostering a more efficient trading ecosystem.

Annually, the European Commission’s Customs Union manages a staggering €3.5 trillion in goods trade, highlighting how vital it is to have smooth customs and clearance control checks. In the past decade, Africa has experienced growth in the export of goods and services and its economics outline promising opportunities for further growth aimed at facilitation and integration.

As trade volumes continue to rise and digitalization shapes e-commerce, customs, …

• Four innovators from Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, and Uganda, selected from a shortlist of 16, vie for the £50,000 (over $62,000) Africa Prize.
• Their innovations encompass recycling in construction, AI tools for healthcare and farming, and reengineered waste collection, addressing crucial societal needs.
• The three runners-up will each receive £15,000 (over $18,000), while a £5,000 (over $6,000) prize titled ‘One to Watch’ will be awarded to the most promising business among the shortlist.
• Since 2014, the Africa Prize has empowered nearly 150 entrepreneurs across 23 African countries, creating over 28,000 jobs and positively impacting more than 10 million people with their innovative products and services.

The Royal Academy of Engineering is set to host the final showdown of the 10th Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, the continent’s premier engineering accolade, on June 13, 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya. Out of an initial pool of 16 visionary innovators crafting sustainable, scalable engineering solutions …

• “Africa is like China 20 years ago, you see where China is now, so Africa is moving there,” Nael Hailemariam, Founder/CEO Chapa tells global leaders, and investors at AIM Congress 2024.
• Africa’s startup evolution is on, fueled by innovation and a youthful demographic dividend.
• This comparison of Africa to China’s meteoric rise serves as a compelling narrative for investors seeking untapped markets brimming with promise.

A panel discussion titled “The New Geographical Focus of Startups: Spreading Digital Innovation to Africa and Other Places” at the ongoing AIM Congress 2024 in Abu Dhabi has shed light on the startup evolution unfolding across Africa.

Expert speakers lifted the lid on the continent’s burgeoning potential, citing untapped opportunities that are ripe for investment. Nael Hailemariam, CEO/Cofounder of online payment gateway Chapa, captured Africa’s momentum, likening it to China’s trajectory two decades ago. “Africa is like China 20 years ago, you see where …