Browsing: Tunisia

environmental pollution
  • A new survey shows that trash disposal, including plastic waste, is the top concern for urban communities.
  • Nearly half (46 per cent) of Africans believe citizens have a big role in addressing pollution.
  • An estimated 78 per cent of Africans want their governments to do more to limit environmental pollution.

Across Africa, environmental pollution has become increasingly urgent, with two-thirds of citizens describing it as a severe community issue. From urban centers choked by trash to rural areas grappling with deforestation, the environmental challenges are as diverse as the continent.

The Afrobarometer survey reveals that trash disposal, including plastic waste, tops the list of concerns for urban communities, cited by 37 per cent of respondents across Africa.

In rural areas, deforestation takes the lead at 28 per cent. Water pollution (17 per cent), air pollution, and poor sanitation also rank high, painting a grim picture of environmental degradation across countries.…

  • The new partnership is aimed at creating quality jobs and boosting resilience to climate change. 
  • The strategy aims at improved resilience to climate change and reduced carbon emissions.
  • Agreement will enhance the resilience and competitiveness of the private sector to create jobs.

The World Bank Group has announced a new five-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF) with Tunisia that supports the government’s development plan to expand the economy and tackle climate change. The new partnership aims at creating quality jobs, and boosting resilience to climate change.

The strategy was discussed with the World Bank Group’s Board of Directors and provides direction for the Bank Group to continue playing its role as a long-term partner of the country and its people.

Tunisia Vision 2035

“This new strategy provides the basis for the World Bank and Tunisia to accelerate programs to help unleash the country’s economic potential and foster a better future for …

While Russia’s preferred visions and modes of action in the Maghreb seem to be fairly well identified, the perceptions and expectations, but also the possible reservations on the Maghreb are more rarely expressed by the leaders of these countries and little-studied at the academic level.

Perhaps we should look at this, as far as the powers that be are concerned, a concern for discretion regarding the sensitive aspects of this foreign policy component – this is particularly true for Algeria – an area on which they generally communicate little and for the academic research community in North Africa, a lack of knowledge related to the history, geography and culture of contemporary Russia.

If there is undoubtedly, on the Maghreb side and with important nuances from one country to another, a manifest interest in a development or a deepening of the partnership with Moscow, questions may remain about Russia’s objectives, especially …

  • North Africa GDP was negative -1.1 per cent (2020) and -5.1 percentage point drop over 2019
  • But the region is expected to recover pre-pandemic, propelled by oil and tourism industry
  • Vaccination is still an important element in supporting the region towards recovery

The African Development Bank (AfDB), one of Africa’s multilateral development finance institutions, has released its 2021 edition of the North Africa Economic Outlook published on November 3, noted several interesting developments, including the potential for the economy to rebound attributed to performance in oil and tourism.

The COVID-19 pandemic trapped North Africa in economic uncertainty, as growth was hugely affected, causing serious shocks in oil prices and a drop in tourism.

The bank report noted that real GDP growth was negative in 2020 at – 1.1 per cent and – 5.1 percentage point drop over 2019. This situation pulled different sorts of reactions to curb the impacts, such …

Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, Ethiopia, Zambia, Rwanda, Uganda, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.

These are the African countries set to be allowed to enter the EU territory as the borders reopen in July, according to a draft list of the countries obtained and reported by euronews.

As the European Union gets ready to reopen its borders, officials in Brussels are debating behind closed doors, the draft of two lists; one with those countries that will be accepted, and one for those which will not, as the territory struggle to meet their previously announced July 1st goal.

The euronews sources also reported that officials “could not reach an agreement”, that talks would continue and that the deadline to open the borders may very well be extended beyond July 1st, suggesting agreements will not be forthcoming in time.

Also read: Air passengers travel confidence key to salvaging African airlines

Notably, Brazil, Qatar, …

The Mercer 2020 gives the cost of living in African cities giving the most expensive and least expensive cities to live in Africa in its Cost of living survey.

The annual survey ranks cities cost of living based on the prices of goods and services such as rent, food and clothing.

The survey is mostly used by multinational organisations to set remuneration packages for their foreign-based employees.

“The Covid-19 pandemic reminds us that sending and keeping employees on international assignments is a huge responsibility and a difficult task to manage,” said Ilya Bonic, career president and head of Mercer Strategy.

According to the report, in East Africa, Kampala Uganda is the least expensive city to live in while Nairobi Kenya is the most expensive city, Kigali Rwanda takes the second least-expensive city followed by Dar-es-Salaam Tanzania.

Also Read: Cost of living to go up for EAC

The report sampled 40 …

Tunisia, one of Africa’s top exotic tourists’ destinations fate is hanging in the balance, due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic threatening the sector, as more than $1.4 billion and 400,000 jobs are at stake. (Diazepam)

According to information from Reuters, an official document showed Tunisia seeking a loan guarantee from bilateral partners to issue sovereign bonds this year.

Further, Reuters highlighted that, in a letter sent to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Tunisia’s central bank governor and finance minister said the country’s economy would shrink by up to 4.3 per cent, the steepest drop since the nation’s independence in 1956.

The IMF, which approved on Friday a $745 million loan to Tunisia to counter the consequences of the coronavirus, said a new funding programme with Tunisia could start in the second half of this year.

Hence, the size of the new programme remains unknown.

Earlier this year, …

South Africa’s trade and industry deputy minister Nomalungelo Gina and Tunisian secretary of state for foreign affairs Sabri Bachtoji have committed to strengthening bilateral economic relations in order to increase trade and investment between their two countries, the government said on Wednesday.

During a meeting in Pretoria, the two emphasised the need to establish a framework and create a conducive environment for the two countries’ business communities to work together.

“Our countries have enjoyed historically strong political ties but it is incumbent upon us to strengthen our economic ties and increase economic cooperation between our countries,” Bachtoji said.

“As the government, we need to work together in setting up a framework and creating an environment that will encourage our business communities to explore the economic opportunities that are available in both countries.”

He said a number of sectors in the Tunisian economy were teeming with opportunities that South African companies …