AIDF Africa Summit, 26 - 27 February, Kenya

News & Updates

16 December 2016

[infographic] Infrastructure Resilience: Migration in sub-Saharan Africa

To celebrate International Migrants Day, on the 18th December, the Aid & International Development Forum (AIDF) has released an infographic that considers infrastructure resilience and migration in sub-Saharan East Africa. Today, record numbers of people have been driven from their homes in search of safety due to conflict, persecution, human rights violations and natural disasters. Speaking earlier this year, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon stated “We are facing the biggest refugee and displacement crisis of our time. Above all, this is not just a crisis of numbers; it is also a crisis of solidarity”

14 December 2016

[infographic] Infrastructure Resilience & Energy in sub-Saharan Africa

The Aid & International Development Forum (AIDF) has released an infographic that explores infrastructure resilience and access to energy in sub-Saharan East Africa. The African Development Bank (AfDB), whose strategy for 2013-2022 makes infrastructure development one of its five operational priorities, states that “Africa still has massive infrastructure needs” yet invests only 4% of its gross domestic product (GDP) in infrastructure, in contrast to the 14% spent by China. A projected $100 billion will be required to meet Africa’s infrastructure needs over the next decade.

09 December 2016

The Global Humanitarian Overview 2017: Record funds for record need

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in collaboration with humanitarian partners across the world has launched the Global Humanitarian Overview 2017, a consolidated appeal to support people affected by disaster and conflict around the world. The report states that for 2017, humanitarian partners will require a record US$22.2 billion to meet the needs of 92.8 million people in 33 countries. The appeal, which is the largest in the history of the United Nations, will support humanitarian efforts in some the world’s worst affected areas.

01 December 2016

Testing begins on new HIV vaccine in time for World AIDS Day

Every year, on December 1st, World AIDS Day events take place across the world to raise awareness and show support for people living with HIV, as well as to commemorate those who have lost their lives as a result of the virus.Globally there are an estimated 34 million people who have contracted the virus. Despite the virus only being identified in 1984, more than 35 million people have died of HIV/AIDS, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.

01 December 2016

Voice of America Joins Aid & Development Africa Summit 2017

John Lippman, Deputy for Language Programming, Voice of America will moderate a panel discussing latest mobile innovations to support community resilience. Dr Sharad Sapra, Director of Global Innovation Centre, UNICEF and Mathias Lardinois, Program Coordinator, Belgian Development Agency (BTC) will discuss the impact of mobile devices on development work and how to utilising mobile technology to better reach and engage communities. The panel will present case studies on mNutrition and mAgri programmes in Sub-Saharan East Africa as well as best practice and lessons learned for scaling mobile-based initiatives.

25 November 2016

World’s first malaria vaccine to be piloted in sub-Saharan Africa in 2018

The World Health Organization (WHO) has secured funding for the initial phase deployment of the world’s first malaria vaccine. The WHO has announced that the vaccine will piloted in sub-Saharan Africa with immunisation campaigns beginning in 2018. Malaria infects around 200 million people a year worldwide and killed an estimated 440,000 in 2015. The majority of malaria deaths are among children in sub-Saharan Africa.

23 November 2016

Ethiopian Government Aims to Mitigate Floods with New Dams

The Ethiopian Government is planning to construct two new dams to mitigate Ethiopia’s devastating and recurring floods. The decision comes just a few months after flash floods ravaged the country, causing as many as one hundred fatalities and displacing tens of thousands of people. The construction, orchestrated by the Awash Basin Authority of Water Resources, Irrigation (ABA) and Energy Ministry, will take place in the Afar region and is estimated to cost 11.7 billion Birr.

18 November 2016

World Toilet Day: “toilets and jobs”

World Toilet Day, observed on 19 November, raises awareness and inspires efforts to reach the 2.4 billion people living without a toilet and almost one billion people that practice open defecation. This year’s theme, “toilets and jobs”, focuses on the impact that sanitation, or the lack of it, can have on livelihoods. Toilets play a crucial role in building a strong economy. Loss of productivity due to illnesses caused by lack of sanitation and poor hygiene practices is estimated to cost many countries up to 5% of GDP.

15 November 2016

The Open Data Revolution to Achieve Zero Hunger

In today’s evolving global landscape we face complex challenges. Populations are growing, climates are changing and markets are often unstable. As the world’s population grows to around 9 billion by 2050, global demand for food, feed and fibre is predicted to almost double. The number of people at risk of hunger is likely to increase from 881 million in 2005 to more than one billion. Alongside these challenges, however, come huge opportunities.

09 November 2016

[infographic] Global Healthcare Funding

In 2014, total Development Health Assistance (DAH) amounted to $35.9 billion, a drop of 1.6% over the all-time high in DAH reached in 2013. The United States has continued to serve as the largest source of funds, providing $12.4 billion in 2014. The contribution of the United Kingdom increased 1.6% in 2014, with DAH sourced from the UK amounting to $3.8 billion. Sub-Saharan Africa continued to receive the largest share of DAH. Over 58% ($930 million) of the estimated $1.6 billion need for donor financing is for WHO’s African Region.

08 November 2016

Millions more children to be protected against disease thanks to UNICEF’s new vaccine deal

Millions more children in the world’s poorest countries will receive the pentavalent vaccination, preventing the infection of five life-threatening diseases after United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) negotiated a deal with six of its manufacturers to reduce the price of treatment by half. The price drop, now less than US$1 a dose, will allow UNICEF to buy 450 million doses which will be administered in 80 countries over the next three years.

07 November 2016

[infographic] Global Child Health and Available Healthcare in Sub-Saharan East Africa

In sub-Saharan Africa, a number of adverse conditions have placed children at high risk, including persistent and worsening poverty, an alarming pace of economic change, rapid population growth, increasing urbanisation and growing numbers of orphaned refugees and displaced women and children. The infographic was created in time for the 2nd annual Aid & Development Africa Summit.