ILO Reaffirms Commitment to Labor Justice Amid Judicial Transition

Dar es Salaam. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has reiterated its dedication to enhancing labor fairness and advancing social equity in Tanzania during a send-off and welcoming event hosted at Kazi House in Dar es Salaam.

The ceremony recognized Judge Mlyambina for his contributions within the Labor Division of Tanzania's Supreme Court and introduced Honorable Judge Kerekamajenga as the new judge assigned to the division.

It gathered delegates from the Judiciary, Government, employer and worker groups, the legal community, development allies, and the ILO, all of whom praised the departing judge's efforts and emphasized the significance of ongoing collaboration in promoting labor justice.

During the event, Caroline Mugalla, the ILO Representative for Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, emphasized the partnership between the ILO and the Judicial system in advancing fair labor practices and social equity.

"A robust labor justice system is essential for promoting fair employment and social equity. The ILO highly appreciates its enduring collaboration with the Tanzanian judiciary, which has improved access to justice, encouraged adherence to workers' rights, and helped build more inclusive and stable labor market structures," she stated.

Ms. Mugalla mentioned that the organization anticipates enhancing the collaboration to assist employees, business owners, and governmental initiatives aimed at creating a more equitable workplace environment.

She further praised Judge Mlyambina for his guidance in enhancing labor legal frameworks, highlighting his involvement in projects carried out together with the ILO, such as the release of Labor Court Division court decisions and training programs designed to enhance uniformity in handling labor conflicts.

The ILO expressed appreciation for Hon Justice Kerekamajenga, highlighting its dedication to maintaining collaboration with the Judicial branch in improving access to labor justice, boosting organizational capabilities, and assisting in the enforcement of global labor norms.

The group pointed out that the shift in leadership occurs during a period where labor markets are quickly changing because of technology advancements, environmental changes, population trends, and emerging work arrangements, emphasizing the importance of flexible and easy-to-access labor justice frameworks.

Attendees of the gathering emphasized that continuous communication between the Judicial branch, government bodies, employer associations, worker groups, and developmental allies continues to be essential for establishing robust labor market structures that encourage equity, confidence, and long-term economic progress.

The ILO restated its backing for Tanzania's Decent Work Initiative, emphasizing its dedication to enhancing labor justice systems that enforce the rule of law, safeguard workplace rights, and foster fair and inclusive job markets.

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**"Ennova: Empowering Youth Entrepreneurs – AFA's Spotlight on SMEs Day"** Let me know if you'd like a version with more emphasis on the award nomination!

The ENNOVA platform, which focuses on supporting entrepreneurs within the African Development Bank Group, has received a nomination for a "Salute to Excellence Award" from The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).

The Bank designed ENNOVA To encourage an entrepreneurial mindset among young people in Africa. The AI-driven online platform provides resources, training programs, and connections to enhance youth business ventures, improve digital competencies, and link African entrepreneurs with employment and financial support possibilities.

The leading organization for journalists and media professionals from ethnic backgrounds in America presents these awards to honor outstanding reporting and communication efforts that effectively highlight the experiences and topics related to the African and African American diaspora.

The Bank’s ENNOVA initiative and promotional campaign has been shortlisted for the Salute to Excellence Awards in the "PR and Marketing Campaigns: Cause-Related Business" category. The Bank collaborated with five organizations focused on development to introduce ENNOVA, and the communication efforts led to a 58.8% rise in service platform users within less than ten months.

Managed by the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab within the Bank’s Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Department, ENNOVA launched its initiative in February 2025 during a keynote gathering at the Sankalp Africa Summit, which is considered one of Africa's most significant events focused on entrepreneurship and sustainability. The discussion along with the Bank-sponsored exhibition stand highlighted how ENNOVA links entrepreneurs, universities, financiers, and business assistance organizations—groups committed to supporting new ventures, small businesses, and expanding enterprises to grow effectively.

The Bank's Recognition of Outstanding Achievement Awards mention a collection of Bank communications launched during the ENNOVA event and shared until the end of December 2025, including an ENNOVA explanation. videos and launch event summary video , press release exhibition stand promotion, media interaction, social media content highlighting ENNOVA offerings, a youth beneficiary blog and the ENNOVA platform itself .

View here to watch and discover additional information regarding the ENNOVA initiative aimed at young business owners.

"Being nominated for this Salute to Excellence Awards recognizes ENNOVA's role in supporting the African Development Bank Group's mission of improving skill development and employment prospects for young people and women across Africa, and turning these groups into an economic advantage," stated Dr. Martha Phiri, the Bank’s Director for Human Capital, Youth, and Skills Development.

After the event at the Sankalp Africa Summit, over a third of the approximately 1,500 participants signed up for ENNOVA.

"I learned about ENNOVA and believe it's an excellent platform since it facilitates knowledge exchange, allowing investors and entrepreneurs like me to access information all in one place," stated Nelly Ngongoro, a young entrepreneur signing up for ENNOVA.

The advancement of ENNOVA has been facilitated by supportive development partners who align with its mission to promote young entrepreneurial ventures, creativity, and employment opportunities throughout Africa. These include: the Fund for African Private Sector Assistance; the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States; Korea-Africa Economic Partnership; the European Commission; and the Swiss government.

The recipients of the Salute to Excellence Awards will be revealed at the National Association of Black Journalists Conference & Career Fair taking place in August in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

For further information regarding ENNOVA's capabilities, click here to view the program's information leaflet.

© 2026 African Development Bank. All rights reserved. Published by AllAfrica Global Media (Ants).

Tagged: Economy, Business and Finance, Africa, International Organizations and Africa, Children and Youth, External Relations

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Firefighters Fight Wildfire in Southern France

Firefighters faced multiple wildfires driven by powerful gusts across south-central France on Thursday, amid ongoing dry weather challenges after the continent's latest intense heat wave.

Home Affairs Minister Laurent Nunez stated that three fires, including two that started on the western side of the Mediterranean city of Marseille, have burned a total of 1,210 hectares (12,100,000 square meters).

Last week, the World Meteorological Organization cautioned that the extreme heatwaves which scorched Western Europe for more than seven days at the end of June could increase the likelihood of fires due to predictions of prolonged hot weather, extremely low moisture levels, and parched plant life.

The largest wildfire was raging in the Aude administrative region close to the Spanish border, having consumed approximately 900 hectares. Authorities reported that strong winds are complicating efforts of the 800 firefighters trying to contain the blaze.

At the same time, firefighters were extinguishing a minor fire in Rognac close to Marseille's airport and managed to contain another adjacent fire spanning 260 hectares in Lancon-Provence. No injuries were reported, according to local authorities.

A pungent odor of smoke lingered in the air, and pilots aboard at least one flight arriving in the city assured travelers that the scent did not originate from their plane, according to a Reuters reporter.

To the east, in Frejus—a tourist destination located in the Var region, approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Cannes—over 2,000 individuals were relocated from six campgrounds on Wednesday due to a forest fire occurring close by.

The French meteorological service has issued a warning that yet another period of intense heat might occur next week. Public health officials believe that the recent heatwave could have resulted in approximately 1,000 additional fatalities across the nation amid unprecedented high temperatures.

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Desert to Power: Key Contracts Signed for 1,373 km Transmission Line Between Mauritania and Mali

The African Development Bank observed the signing of three project execution agreements with the Manantali Energy Management Company (SOGEM), representing a significant step forward in advancing the 225 kV Mauritania-Mali Power Connection Initiative.

The agreements were finalized in April 2026 with SOGEM, the division of the Senegal River Basin Development Organization tasked with implementing significant power supply initiatives.

The 225 kV Mauritania-Mali Power Interconnection Initiative focuses on building a 225 kV high-tension electrical network connecting key regions across Mauritania and Mali, aiming to enhance the dependability of electric service, support cross-border energy exchange, and strengthen the consistency of both nations' power systems.

The acquisitions represent a major advancement in the execution of this initiative, which will aid in enhancing regional energy links and promote economic and social growth in both Mauritania and Mali.

Three pacts, finalized by SOGEM’s CEO, Julien Charles Bernard Sagna, along with the involved firms, will support the development of a 225 kV dual-circuit high-tension power line stretching from Kiffa-Tintane-Yélimané, an essential route linking Mauritania and Mali, to promote transnational energy exchange.

The event was attended by Mauritania's Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, Abdallah Ould Souleymane Cheikh Sidiya, Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Mohamed Ould Khaled, and Malinne Blomberg, Country Manager for Mauritania at the African Development Bank Group.

The contracts also encompass the building of the 225 kV dual-circuit high-voltage Tintane-Aioun transmission line, designed to enhance Mauritania's power network and increase electrical accessibility in the specified regions. Additionally, the agreements involve oversight and inspection services for the projects to guarantee adherence to technical requirements, quality benchmarks, and prompt execution of the initiative.

The initiative falls under the umbrella of the African Development Bank Group's Desert to Power Initiative which seeks to produce 10 gigawatts of solar power to bring electrical supply to 250 million individuals in eleven nations within the Sahel area, ranging from Senegal in the western part to Djibouti in the eastern section of Africa. It also supports the goals of Mission 300 - a collaborative effort between the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group, seeking to deliver power connectivity to 300 million individuals throughout Africa by 2030.

Praising the initiative as an "electric path of hope," Mohamed Ould Khaled highlighted that the project's initiation establishes the groundwork for a more unified regional power market "able to foster economic development and steadily enhance the quality of life for residents."

" The initiation of the project highlights the African Development Bank's ongoing dedication to aiding Sahel nations in attaining widespread electrical connectivity by 2030," stated Malinne Blomberg.

In total, the project aims to establish a 1,373-kilometer transmission link connecting the electrical networks of both nations. This initiative will enhance regional cooperation, enable the exchange of renewable energy—especially solar power—and contribute to widespread availability of dependable and cost-effective electricity.

In addition to its technological aspects, the initiative aims to lower expenses related to power generation, enhance energy safety, foster industrial and economic growth in the regions it serves, and gradually elevate the quality of life for residents. It is anticipated that the project will be finished by 2030.

© 2026 African Development Bank. All rights reserved. Published by AllAfrica Global Media (Ants).

Tagged: Construction, Mauritania, Mali, Economy, Business and Finance, Energy, Industry and Infrastructure, West Africa

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Angola & AfDB Launch Tech Park to Fuel Sustainable Economic Growth

The government of Angola and the African Development Bank Group officially launched the Luanda Science and Technology Park (Luanda Tech) in the capital city, as part of a $100 million initiative known as the Science and Technology Development Program (STDP), which has involved the renovation of numerous scientific institutions and the training of 1,500 science educators.

The Science and Technology Park arrives at an opportune moment, as a nation seeking development must focus on science and technology, Angolan President João Lourenço mentioned during the event. "Our aim is for this infrastructure to serve as a hub where academics, scientific researchers, businesses, and aspiring young entrepreneurs can come together. It is via education, creativity, and the potential of our youth that we will develop innovative solutions to tackle Angola's issues. This funding marks a significant move toward enhancing local research capabilities and promoting the nation's tech progress," President Lourenço stated.

The African Development Bank’s Country Representative, Pietro Toigo, stated that the collaboration between the bank and the government is prepared to establish more technological corridors throughout the nation's provinces during the project's next stage.

Toigo reiterated the Bank's dedication to Angola's young people and emphasized the importance of science, technology, and innovation in fueling the nation's economic development.

This goes beyond the introduction of a significant infrastructural facility. It marks the honoring of a national aspiration: a picture of Angola that focuses on education, inspires its young people, enhances its scientific potential, and creates fresh forces for economic variety and equitable development. Toigo said.

He stated that the Luanda Tech initiative seeks to establish an enabling atmosphere where researchers, businesspeople, students, and creators can turn concepts into practical answers, and those answers into financial worth.

The initiative has focused on developing human resources by offering 161 scholarships at global universities, along with supporting the secondary education of 1,204 girls from underprivileged communities who aim to study and work in scientific fields.

"These financial commitments correspond with Angola's National Development Plan for 2023–2027, along with the strategic goals set by Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, the President of the African Development Bank Group. He has identified, among his four main focuses—known as the Four Critical Pillars—the conversion of population trends into an economic advantage via investments in young people, training programs, and job creation," Toigo noted.

The collaboration between the Angolan government and the African Development Bank through the STDP initiative has provided 54 scientific labs at 18 high schools; educated more than 1,500 teachers, researchers, technical staff, and academic advisors, along with financing 73 research studies—almost one-third of these grants went to female participants.

Angola's Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology, Albano Lopes Ferreira stated: "The opening of the Science and Technology Park marks a significant step forward in carrying out Angola’s national strategy for science, technology, and innovation. This facility provides the necessary environment to enhance scientific studies, encourage creativity, and support economic variety via knowledge-based approaches, competitive advantage, and the creation of local solutions."

© 2026 African Development Bank. All rights reserved. Published by AllAfrica Global Media (Ants).

Tagged: ICT and Telecom, Angola, Economy, Business and Finance, Science and Biotechnology, Sustainable Development, Central Africa, Southern Africa

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Unlocking Africa’s Agro-Minerals & Natural Gas for Fertilizer Investment Growth

What Workshop titled "Unlocking Africa's Agro-minerals and Natural Gas to Boost Investments in Fertilizer Supply Chains"

Who: African Centre for Natural Resource Management and Investment (ECNR) and African Fertilizer Finance Mechanism (AFFM)

When: July 4, 2026, at 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM UTC

Where: Join us available online through this Zoom link

The African Natural Resources Management and Investment Centre (ECNR), together with the African Fertiliser Financing Mechanism (AFFM), is organizing an online seminar entitled "Unlocking Africa's Agro-minerals and Natural Gas to Stimulate Investments in Fertilizer Supply Chains for Enhanced Resilience and Food Security."

The online seminar will address one critical issue: What steps can be taken to consistently transform Africa’s local agro-minerals and natural gas reserves into materials used for fertilizers, thereby decreasing the region's expensive reliance on imports and enhancing food safety?

Referencing the research " Analysis of the agro-mineral and natural gas supply chains to enhance food security in Africa The online seminar will highlight Africa's natural resources capabilities, examine major challenges within fertilizer supply chains, and investigate practical policies and funding options. Additionally, it will offer an interactive forum to evaluate and enhance the research findings by involving prominent figures from the business world, financial institutions, and government sectors.

© 2026 African Development Bank. All rights reserved. Published by AllAfrica Global Media (Ants).

Tagged: Africa, Economy, Business and Finance, Mining, Investment, Food and Agriculture

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Empowering Health Leaders: How Rwanda’s Cebe Project Is Revamping the Nation’s Healthcare System

Many individuals in Rwanda who live with disabilities find that access to assistive devices makes all the difference between relying on others and being self-sufficient, as well as between feeling alone and having chances for growth. These transformative solutions are supported by an increasing number of trained healthcare workers committed to assisting people in recovering movement, respect, and self-assurance.

Among them is Jackline Mupenzi Gatsinzi, whose professional journey has been driven by a dedication to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.

Her path started in 2014 when she joined an Advanced Diploma program in Prosthetics and Orthotics at the University of Rwanda, motivated by a wish to support individuals in overcoming physical challenges using assistive devices. This chance was made possible by the East African Regional Center of Excellence in Biomedical Engineering and e-Health (CEBE) funded by the African Development Bank, allowing her to move from a bachelor’s degree to a master’s level. This experience improved Gatsinzi's technical abilities, expanded her knowledge, and increased her capacity to aid those relying on assistive technologies.

Following her graduation in 2017, Gatsinzi began working at the University of Rwanda as a clinical teacher within the Prosthetics and Orthotics Division, playing a role in delivering rehabilitative care and educating upcoming professionals.

This chance went beyond enhancing my academic journey; it broadened my knowledge, improved my abilities, and strengthened my dedication to supporting individuals with disabilities. Gatsinzi stated, "I now possess the resources necessary to create a more significant influence, enhancing people's lives and supporting the health and vitality of our neighborhoods."

While working with patients, Gatsinzi witnessed directly how well-designed prosthetic and orthotic equipment can change people's lives. People who had lost their ability to move found new freedom. Kids could go to school more conveniently. Adults went back to their jobs and active participation in society. However, she also realized the necessity of having more professionals to handle the increasing need for high-quality rehabilitation support.

Currently, Jackline works as a licensed prosthetist and orthotist, along with being an assistant lecturer and head of the department at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences within the University of Rwanda. She develops approaches that enhance movement and daily function for individuals living with disabilities, while also guiding and educating upcoming experts in the field. Her contributions have effects that go well beyond personal patients, influencing families, entire communities, and tomorrow’s medical practitioners.

Her narrative symbolizes a larger shift occurring within Rwanda’s healthcare system. By offering specialized education and skill-building programs, CEBE has cultivated almost 200 proficient graduates in biomedical engineering, e-health, and associated disciplines, with over 400 healthcare workers gaining hands-on experience in managing medical devices and digital health technologies. These individuals are supporting hospitals and clinics in maintaining essential medical tools, enhancing service efficiency, and ensuring that patients get prompt, high-quality treatment.

According to Peter Malinga, chief social economist at the Bank's office in Rwanda And the CEBE project task manager, the project's influence extends far beyond just training people.

CEBE is supporting the development of a new wave of well-trained biomedical engineers and digital health experts who are enhancing medical care throughout Rwanda and the surrounding area. Above all, it is establishing sustainable solutions that will elevate the standard of healthcare provided to local populations.

For Jackline, the initiative goes beyond career growth. It signifies a commitment to individuals—those who receive support and those dedicated to providing it.

"By means of initiatives such as the Centre of Excellence, the African Development Bank is cultivating a new group of experts prepared to address our continent's issues through creativity, empathy, and strength," she stated.

© 2026 African Development Bank. All rights reserved. Published by AllAfrica Global Media (Ants).

Tagged: Economy, Business and Finance, Rwanda, Health and Medicine, Innovation, ICT and Telecom, Central Africa, East Africa

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