Julie Muriuki, Adjunct facilitator and consultant at Nia Delta In February 2026, African heads of state came together at the African Union Summit and issued a presidential declaration to accelerate local manufacturing of health products, medicines, and technologies across the continent. This commitment, rooted in economic sovereignty, pandemic preparedness, and resilience marked more than a policy statement: it was an acknowledgment that Africa’s future depends on decisions grounded in evidence, science, and data. Yet making good policy work in practice requires more than political will. It requires leaders who understand how to use data wisely, partner with science communities effectively, and translate…
Author: Montage Africa
By Africanews with AP Sacks of dried cocoa beans sit unsold in homes and warehouses in the Ivorian village of Kouamé-Kouassikro, near Bouaflé, while farmers hold receipts instead of cash. A sharp fall in cocoa prices over the past year has left beans rotting in some West African warehouses, while global chocolate makers scramble for supplies and consumers seek their fix. Ivory Coast, the world’s leading cocoa producer, had to purchase an excess supply of cocoa beans from farmers in January and this week slashed the price by more than half for 2026. Agricultural worker’s unions in west Africa say…
At least 23 people have been killed in Nairobi after heavy rain overnight caused severe flooding in Kenya’s capital city. Police said about 30 people had been rescued but many others drowned after being swept into rivers – some have been electrocuted. Kenya’s military has been deployed to help people trapped inside their cars as police described widespread damage to properties as well as road closures. Several flights bound for Nairobi Airport had to be cancelled or diverted to the coastal city of Mombasa. “The torrential rains have led to significant flooding, unfortunately resulting in 23 fatalities so far, the…
By Kwabena Adu Gyamfi with AP There is something quietly devastating about watching food rot. For cocoa farmers in parts of Ghana and Ivory Coast, that is not a hypothetical, it is a reality some have faced in recent months, as beans they harvested have sat unsold, buyers unwilling or unable to take them at a price that makes the effort worthwhile. It is a jarring turn for a crop that, not long ago, seemed to be having a moment. Last year, cocoa prices surged to historic highs, briefly crossing $10,000 per tonne on global markets, a figure that made…
New career development fellowship launched to help empower women professionals to advance climate-resilient agriculture across North and West Africa Women working in agricultural research and development across North and West Africa have the chance to benefit from expert mentoring, leadership training and collaboration support thanks to a new fellowship. The fellowship was launched by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) and is implemented under the Africa-Australia Partnership for Climate Responsive Agriculture, the Australian Government’s regional initiative to support agriculture-led development in Africa. It will support women agricultural researchers from Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone to…
Nigerian authorities have suspended all pilgrimages to Israel and the occupied West Bank with immediate effect, citing security concerns linked to the escalating conflict in the Middle East. The decision was announced by the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), the national body responsible for coordinating Christian pilgrimages. In a statement, the commission said the measure was necessary to prioritise the “safety and comfort” of Nigerian pilgrims. The conflict has spread across the Middle East following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which killed the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has responded by launching attacks on Israel and US-allied…
A federal judge has cleared the way for thousands of businesses to receive refunds for tariffs that the Supreme Court struck down last month. The US Court of International Trade on Wednesday ordered Customs and Border Protection to issue refunds for levies US President Donald Trump introduced last year under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). “All importers of record whose entries were subject to IEEPA duties are entitled to the benefit” from the high court’s ruling, Judge Richard Eaton wrote. The payment process remains murky. But the trade court decision marks a setback for Trump, who has moved…
Healthcare organisations need to undertake digital transformation if they are to deliver the kind of 21st century care that modern patients expect. Digital transformation is fundamentally reshaping healthcare, shifting it to a more proactive, patient-centric and data-driven ecosystem. Driven by a range of leading-edge technologies, this shift aims to enhance patient outcomes, improve operational efficiency and make care more accessible. It is vital for healthcare businesses to undertake digitisation, says Quantin van Rensburg, CIO at Platinum Health Medical Scheme, particularly as healthcare evolves towards digitisation. “Patient information, care and treatment paths are not coordinated with a clear objective in mind. Digital transformation in healthcare…
The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund (ADF) has approved a $9.57 million grant to support countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in strengthening regional health security and emergency preparedness. Approved on 3 March 2026, the financing from the concessional window of the African Development Bank Group, will fund the Resilient Health Systems for Emergency Preparedness Project. The initiative aims to strengthen the resilience and capacity of health systems across the SADC region to respond more effectively to public health and nutrition emergencies. The project includes the training of 449 laboratory technicians, community health workers and…
the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire is hosting a regional consultation on the Future of Trade, Economic Integration and Sustainable Development in West Africa. Organized by the ECOWAS Commission, this meeting forms part of the preparatory process for the forthcoming Special Summit of Heads of State and Government on the future of the Community. Since its establishment in 1975, ECOWAS has emerged as a cornerstone of African regional integration, notably through the promotion of the free movement of persons and goods, coordinated peace and security interventions, and the progressive harmonization of economic and sectoral policies. These achievements have significantly strengthened cooperation…