APO News from Africa:
Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Dr. Sahr Nasr, in her capacity, has been invited to serve as a member at the United Nations Social Impact Fund High Level Advisory Board (UNSIF-HLAB). The minister announced her acceptance to serve on the advisory board, becoming the first Egyptian and African woman on the advisory board.
To support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the role of private sector as an important source of financing for development, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-UN Social Impact Fund, was established in November 2016. The Fund will act as a unique and transparent co-investment platform where the entrepreneurs, philanthropists, governments and investors can use blended financing models to create both economic and social returns.
Dr. Nasr has been known for her advocacy efforts to unlock Egypt’s potential through private-sector-led growth, vision for new investment incentives and economic development zones. Her ties with international partners including UNDP as well as her efforts to explore new opportunities for cooperation have been globally recognized and paved the way for her membership on the UNSIF-HLAB.
Dr. Nasr will provide advice to the UNSIF to maximize its overall social, economic and policy value to the government, the UN, the financial and impact investing sectors. Dr. Nasr will extend her expertise in the implementation of the SDGs, including but not limited to the areas of small and medium enterprise (SME) development, social housing finance programmes, and women’s economic empowerment, to the UNSIF.
It is worth mentioning that Dr. Nasr also serves as the Chair of the steering committee where strong collaboration is taking place between the ministry and UNDP in areas that accelerate the implementation of the SDGs in Egypt. The Government of Egypt, and with the support of UNDP, presented its first Voluntary Review on the SDGs at the United Nations High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July, 2016. Egypt was among the 22 countries that volunteered to report on the efforts undertaken to achieve this ambitious agenda.
Distributed by APO on behalf of UN Information Centre in Cairo.
Download logo
Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
UNHCR statement on Syrians stranded between Algeria and Morocco:
UNHCR is appealing for urgent safe passage and admission for a group of Syrian refugees stranded in dire circumstances on the Algerian-Moroccan border.
Deeply concerned about rapidly deteriorating conditions for this group of vulnerable Syrian refugees, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, called today on the two countries to urgently address humanitarian needs, facilitate access to these refugees and allow them admission to safety and/or reunification with their families.
Prompt action by both governments is needed in facilitating the immediate and safe passage of the forty-one vulnerable Syrian refugees, among them children, babies and women – including at least one pregnant woman reportedly in need of urgent Caesarean section. It is a matter of life and death for this woman and her unborn child.
Moreover, the entire group of refugees is exposed to the elements and the serious threat of scorpions and snakes prevalent in this remote area. We urge Algeria and Morocco to work with us on ending this dangerous and untenable situation for these stranded desperate Syrian refugees.
The forty-one Syrian refugees have been stranded on the remote Algeria – Morocco border since 17 April 2017. Both Algeria and Morocco consider the group not to be in their respective territory, however, UNHCR calls for action to bring the group to safety on humanitarian grounds and stands ready to offer its ‘good offices’ to coordinate this life-saving evacuation.
There is a sense of urgency in this matter and we call on both governments to take instant and constructive steps to uphold international humanitarian imperatives and evacuate this vulnerable group.
Distributed by APO on behalf of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Download logo
Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
Media Announcement/ 29th AU Summit: Online Accreditation for Journalists now available:
The Directorate of Information and Communication (DIC) of the African Union Commission (AUC) hereby announces that, the online accreditation process for journalists and the media coverage of the 29th AU Summit, scheduled to take place from the 27th June to the 4th July 2017, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has been launched on the AU website: www.AU.int.
Journalists interested in covering the upcoming AU Summit should register through the following link: https://AU.int/web/en/summit/29/accreditation.
A media advisory note explaining all the detailed arrangements for media coverage of the 29th AU Summit will be posted soon on the Summit web page: http://AU.int/en/summit/29.
Meanwhile representatives of the media are kindly informed that the 29th African Union Summit is scheduled to take place as follows:
27th – 28th June 2017: 34th Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives’ Committee
Venue: New Conference Center, AUC
30th June – 1st July 2017: 31st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council
Venue: New Conference Center, AUC
3rd – 4th July 2017: 29th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union
Venue: (Mandela Plenary Hall) New Conference Center, AUC
The theme of the Summit is: “Harnessing Demographic Dividend through investments in the Youth”
Journalists are invited to cover all the public sessions opened to the media.
A detail program of the side events as well as the statutory meetings during the 29th AU Summit will be made available subsequently.
Distributed by APO on behalf of African Union Commission (AUC).
Download logo
Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
