Search Results

As the African vaccine independence drive gains momentum, European countries want to play a bigger role-They lead the launch of a financing vehicle out of Africa and make the bulk of the funding commitment. by Conrad Onyango, bird story agency As Africa races to be more independent in vaccine production, Europe is seeking greater control in building and scaling of local manufacturing hubs. In June, France hosted the launch of African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA) an approximately US$1 billion project geared towards making vaccines more available in Africa - away from African soil. Only 2% of vaccines in Africa are made on the continent- most of them made in South Africa, among few countries with ability to produce vaccines. The African Union wants to raise that percentage to 60% by 2040. “France and Europe have supported this ambition since 2021 with 1.3 billion euros, but we can do more,” said French president Emmanuel Macron at the Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and innovation in Paris. At the forum, European Union member countries committed to contribute more than US$ 750 million- including up to US$ 220 million from the EU budget, making them the largest contributors to the financial instrument. Other donors filling the remaining gap include Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Norway, Japan and the Gates Foundation. The African Union, represented by the leaders of Botswana, Rwanda, Senegal and Ghana, represented the continent in the launch of the financial instrument, which is backed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance — a public-private partnership that provides vaccines to developing countries. More than three years ago, Africa faced huge inequalities during the global distributions of COVID-19 vaccines, exposing its inefficiencies and vulnerabilities to pandemic shocks - where African countries struggled to access vaccines, testing equipment and treatment tools bought by richer countries in large quantities. These new funds are intended to offset high vaccine production costs, while also offering bigger incentives for manufacturers that produce priority vaccines such as those against malaria, cholera, and measles. On the sidelines of the event, African Export-Import (Afriexim) Bank and the Africa Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) committed a US$2 billion facility to the “Africa Health Security Investment Plan” which they say will complement AVMA efforts over the next decade. In a joint statement, Afrieximbank and Africa CDC said their renewed partnerships would address low investor confidence, lack of appropriate infrastructure, trade related barriers, and regulatory challenges that constrain investment in Africa's health sector. "This facility will help strengthen the manufacturing of health and pharmaceutical products in Africa through our comprehensive and existing interventions such as Project Preparation funding, Project and Trade Finance as well as Guarantees,’ said Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank. “The joint effort combines institutional and financial resources, financial tools such as equity and debt financing, guarantees, venture capital, capacity building, and risk-sharing to boost and attract more health investments in Africa,” said Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General, Africa CDC. A week before the Paris forum, Amref Health Africa Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Githinji Gitahi, raised reservations over hosting the launch in a foreign country, asserting it was sending the wrong message on Africa’s ownership and leadership of the initiative. An African venue for the launch, Dr. Gitahi said, would have provided an ideal platform to showcase existing hubs and potential local manufacturing capacities, building confidence among international partners and investors in Africa’s ability to scale up vaccine production. “Highlighting local facilities and innovations would demonstrate that Africa is ready and capable of handling such a critical initiative, fostering a sense of pride and accomplishment,” he said. Africa has been making progress in its effort to locally manufacture vaccines, with South Africa, Egypt and Senegal leading in this front. South Africa’s Biovac Institute continue to lead in fostering strategic partnerships with global pharmaceutical companies -the most recent being with Sanofi to establish the first manufacturing capabilities for inactivated polio vaccines (IPV) in Africa. Under this arrangement, Sanofi will produce the IPV in bulk, while Biovac, holding the marketing authorization, will be responsible for late-stage formulation, filling, packaging, and distribution. “We are very proud of this partnership with Sanofi, which will empower Biovac as an African manufacturer to champion polio eradication on and for the continent by bringing manufacturing of IPV doses closer to people’s needs,” said Biovac Chief Executive Officer, Dr Morena Makhoana. Egypt’s Vacsera has been expanding its facilities to increase vaccine production capacity. The company plans to open the first factory for manufacturing bird flu vaccines with a production capacity of 800 million doses per year later in 2024. This development will position Egypt as an African and logistical centre for providing the region’s needs for bird flu vaccine. In February, the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal, renowned for its yellow fever vaccine production, benefited from a partnership between Mastercard Foundation and the European Union. This partnership inaugurated the Centre for Africa’s Resilience to Epidemics (CARE) targeting to train 1,000 students in biology to predict, respond to, and prevent epidemics. “These local initiatives exemplify Africa’s commitment to build a resilient, self-sufficient vaccine supply chain, ensuring better health outcomes and fostering economic growth across the continent,” said Dr. Gitahi. bird story agency

Across continents and languages, African authors have penned captivating narratives that resonate with readers worldwide. bird story agency has compiled the following list of best-selling books and their authors in celebration of the rich landscape of African literature. Esther Musembi, bird story agency Over the past century, African writers have written about their lives, experiences, culture, history, and myths in a variety of forms, styles, and languages. They have been widely published across Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Asia. They've written in English, French, Portuguese, Arabic, Swahili, and several other indigenous languages. They wrote, and write, with exceptional originality, flair, and sincerity. From Chinua Achebe, considered to be the father of modern African literature, to Trevor Noah who is part of the new-age crop of writers; African literature continues to stay relevant and as educative as it is entertaining and enlightening. Although not exhaustive, this list puts together some of Africa’s best selling books of the past century. 1. Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe - Nigeria Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic is best known for his seminal work, "Things Fall Apart" (1958). This novel is lauded as the most widely read book in modern African literature. Things Fall Apart offers a powerful portrayal of the collision between traditional African cultures and the imposition of colonial rule through its central character Okonkwo. The novel also delves into the dynamics of gender roles within highly patriarchal societies. Due to its popularity, this book has been translated into over 50 languages worldwide. 2. Half of a Yellow Sun, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie- Nigeria An acclaimed author of novels, short stories, and nonfiction, Adichie has been called "the most prominent" among a "procession of critically acclaimed young anglophone authors who are succeeding in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature." Known for her character-driven stories, Half of a Yellow Sun (2006), explores the lives of three characters set against the backdrop of the Biafran War in the 1960s. The book won her the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2007. Other notable works include Purple Hibiscus (2003) and Americanah (2013). 3. A Grain of Wheat, Ngugi wa Thiong’o- Kenya Writing primarily in Gikuyu, Kenyan writer and academic Ngũgi wa Thiong’o works include novels, plays, short stories, and essays. A Grain of Wheat (1967), as most of Ngũgĩ's writing, explores themes of colonialism, and identity, reflecting his deep commitment to the cultural and political liberation of Africa. His notable works include the novel "Petals of Blood"(1977) and the play "Ngaahika Ndeenda" (I Will Marry When I Want). 4. Our Sister Killjoy, Ama Ata Aidoo - Ghana The Ghanaian author, poet, playwright, and academic, is renowned for her literary works that express strong feminist views. In her debut novel, Aidoo explores themes of identity, black diaspora and colonialism. Our Sister Killjoy (1977) bold in its writing explores themes such as same-gender relationships which were considered beyond their time. She won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize in 1992 with the novel Changes. 5. So Long a Letter, Mariam Bâ - Senegal So Long a Letter (1979), a semi-autobiography, is widely considered a foundational work of African feminist literature. Writing primarily in French, Bâ's works explore themes of gender, social change, and the role of women in post-colonial African societies. "So Long a Letter" delves into the life of a Senegalese woman grappling with the cultural and personal ramifications of her husband's polygamy, a stark reality of the Western African woman. This book was awarded the first Noma Prize for Publishing in Africa in 1980. 6. Cairo Trilogy, Naguib Mahfouz - Egypt Mahfouz's epic trilogy set in colonial Egypt portrays the captivating tale of a Muslim family in Cairo amidst Britain's occupation of Egypt in the early 20th century. Exploring themes of class, identity and colonialism, Cairo Trilogy (2001) is prolific in that it offers valuable historical insight amidst intense family drama. This body of work earned him Egypt’s State Literary Prize for the Novel (1957) and the Nobel Prize in literature (1988). 7. Broken Glass, Alain Mabanckou - Congo Known for his sharp wit and incisive social commentary, Alain Mabanckou's writing is deeply rooted in his Congolese origins and French language. In his most popular work heavily characterized with satire, "Broken Glass,"(2005) Mabanckou delves into the life of a Congolese teacher in a local bar who tries to document his society’s stories but fails miserably. He won the Prix Renaudot in France for another novel, Memoirs of a Porcupine (2006). 8. Nervous Conditions, Tsitsi Dangarembga - Zimbabwe Nervous Conditions was first published in the United Kingdom in 1988. It was the first book published by a Black woman from Zimbabwe in English. Set in Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe) the novel focuses on Tambu's journey as she navigates the challenges of education and identity in colonial Rhodesia. It explores themes of gender, race, and the complexities of post-colonial African society. In This Mournable Body (2020), Dangarembga returns to the protagonist of her acclaimed first novel, Nervous Conditions, to examine the broader themes of colonialism and capitalism. Nervous Conditions won Best Book of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize in 1989. 9. Burger’s Daughter, Nadine Gordimer - South Africa One of apartheid era's prominent writers, Nadine delves deeply into social, moral, and racial issues within South Africa under apartheid rule. In "Burger's Daughter,"(1979) she portrays the challenges faced by anti-apartheid activists. Despite being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for her adept portrayal of a society rife with racial tensions, Gordimer faced controversy as her most famous works were banned within South Africa for their outspoken critique of oppressive governmental structures. 10. From a Crooked Rib, Nuruddin Farah - Somalia Nuruddin Farah’s debut novel, "From a Crooked Rib" (1970), is titled after a Somali proverb: "God created woman from a crooked rib, and anyone who tries to straighten it breaks it." The novel uses the experience of a young woman in an unhappy marriage to analyse the suffering of women in Somali society. Farah's subsequent works: plays, novels, and short stories, continue to deliver strong social criticism, focusing on conflict and postcolonial identity. His works have been translated into more than twenty languages and won numerous awards, including the Neustadt International Prize for Literature. bird story agency Useful links: https://strawpoll.com/most-famous-african-writer https://theculturetrip.com/africa/articles/the-top-10-contemporary-african-writers-you-should-know

As an e-mobility company, Ghana's Wahu Mobility is working to change how vehicles impact the climate, and on growing job opportunities for the youth. Expansion plans from the women-led company target women riders in neighbouring countries. Sefakor Fekpe, bird story agency It’s midmorning in Accra and a group of bike riders are inspecting their motorcycles before hitting the capital city's busy roads for the day’s deliveries as lunchtime orders start to come in. Lawrence Akakpo removes a battery that powers his bike from its plug, fixes it to its seat on the two-wheeler, picks up his food delivery bag and moves quickly to a pick-up point where there’s an order waiting to be delivered to a client. He owns a Wahu bike — an electric-powered motorcycle that is part of a wave of electric utility vehicles impacting on job opportunities and the environment across the continent. Unsure of where to turn to after graduating from school, Akakpo came across Wahu as an opportunity to earn a living. “Sitting at home as a graduate was frustrating. Approaching companies as a job seeker or other opportunities comes at a cost. I decided to give Wahu a try and so far, I can’t say I have regretted it,” Akakpo said. Akakpo, like the other 150 Wahu riders, owes his livelihood to the vision of Valerie Labi, co-founder and CEO of Wahu Mobility. What started as a project in the northern part of Ghana with the converting regular motorbikes to electric bikes with the help of like-minded friends, birthed what is known today as Wahu Mobility. The startup describes itself as an Electric Vehicle (EV) company that manufactures eco-friendly motorcycles providing a reliable source of income for youth. “I ride almost the whole day; even at night, I enjoy riding. I make between GHC100 (US$6.8) to GHC200 (US$13.6) depending on the market. Sometimes you can go and come back with GHC40 (US$2.8) when the orders are less. I usually work with Yango but I have all the accounts such as Bolt Send and aside from that I do my private business too with the Wahu bike,” Akakpo explained. The young rider feels he has more control of his life since powering the motorcycle requires only the turning on a switch to charge the battery instead of being at the mercy of unpredictable fuel prices. Maintenance and support from the mobility company also offers riders like him much comfort. “I charge my batteries once a day which takes about five to six hours which also allows us to get some rest. Some riders have moved from using combustible motorbikes to Wahu since it's an affordable alternative that comes with jobs,” Akakpo said. Adutwum Hagar Adutwumwaa, an engineer at Wahu Mobility, originally trained in marine engineering. Her curiosity led her to Wahu, where she oversees quality checks and bike assembly. Despite joining the company just six months ago, she’s already made a significant impact. “It has been an amazing journey... I have learnt new things. Now I make batteries from recycled lithium iron cells,” Adutwumwaa said. Being the only woman among men during her study internship and national service, Adutwumwaa was happy to find other female colleagues who are also engineers at Wahu Mobility. “I was drawn to the innovative technology and sustainable mission and I have not regretted it at all.” A ride-to-own initiative is one part of the startup's mission. Different payment plans are available to meet the pockets of would-be drivers, taking away the worry of interested riders who cannot afford to pay up front. “We have GHC300 (U$20.5) weekly for 24 months, GHC400 (US$27.2) weekly for 18 months and GHC600 ($40.8) weekly for 12 months. The payment plan you want determines the initial deposit,” explained Farida Mahama, who is the company's Rider Champion Manager. The average cost per charge of the battery is GHC4 ($0.27). That can take a bike around 70 kilometres. Fortunately for the young start-up company, convincing traditional motor riders to switch to electric bikes has been easy because of the huge savings they make on fuel. “Deliveries on a petrol bike, for example, cost around US$200 (GH¢2940) to US$250 (GH¢3675) a month but e-bikes are around US$30 (GH¢441) a month and that’s a huge saving. While they save money on petrol, we also give them the opportunity to earn consistently on our platforms,” Mahama added. Every Wahu bike rider goes through special training on how to use the e-bikes before hitting the road. “Every rider has a score system using an app to check how well they ride. The system is designed to turn off the bike when unsafe riding is detected,” Labi said. Wahu also infuses technology initiatives into its operations. The factory where the bikes are assembled and maintained is solar powered and completely off-grid, creating energy efficiency and sustainability. The company is extremely particular about the impact of the business on the climate. The bikes are tracked to measure their environmental impact with every kilometere driven helping to prevent carbon emissions. “We’re the first EV company to qualify for a compliance market deal. This means that we create genuine carbon credits as a way of also registering our impact. We track every bike and calculate for every kilometre on how much carbon is being saved,” Labi explained. The environmental impact of the EV economy is getting national attention in Ghana, with institutions like the country's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ministry of Transport leading the charge. “Are Ghanaians ready for electric vehicles? The answer is yes,” said Antwi Boasiako Amoah, from the EPA’s Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation team. "But who should we target for this investment, and which vehicle types will maximize the benefits in a developing country like ours?" Amoah emphasised that the EV industry offers vast opportunities beyond job creation, with the EPA working to promote investment in the sector. “Some investors can focus on transport systems such as uber, taxis, delivery services using EVs. We offer guidance and advice on the understanding of the implications of such an investment in terms of laws, market appetite and others. We also work with other sister institutions such as the Ministry of Transport and Energy among others to cross-fertilise our ideas.” Partnership was the major breakthrough for Labi when she partnered with like-minded people to establish Wahu Mobility. Localisation was key, with Wahu aiming for a significant local content in each bike. “At least 85% every EV can be produced locally in Ghana or ECOWAS or Africa,” the co-founder said. “We started with off-the-shelf-vehicles-to-digital conversions. We’ve worked all the way to the factory that we have and we have an over 24-month program underway for localization components,” she said. However, even though the Ministry of Transport adopted an EV policy in December 2023 to support the sector and address global warming, young companies like Wahu do not qualify for the incentives. Labi also expressed disappointment at the lack of regulatory measures for innovations in product development in the automotive industry. “There’s only an automotive association for assemblers in Ghana, which means that if you’re designing a component or designing a vehicle, there’s no regulatory path for you as an innovator to get support from the government. And that’s a shortfall,” she said. However, a National Electric Vehicle Policy is expected to be rolled out in Ghana in three phases between 2027 and 2035 with the aim of achieving an EV penetration rate of about 35%. The policy includes a waiver of import duties on EVs designated for public transport and certified assembly companies will also enjoy tax exemptions on semi-knocked and completely knocked down EVs for eight years starting in 2024 and an extension of Value Added Tax exemptions on locally assembled vehicles for two more years. Currently, Ghana has some 17,000 two, three and four-wheel registered EVs, according to the Minister of Energy, Mathew Opoku Prempeh. Despite the challenges, Wahu is optimistic about its long-term goal of “turning the company into a revenue generating asset over time” and exporting to countries across Africa. “What we see in Ghana and a lot of African countries is that there’s no support for delivery riders and that is what the company seeks to change. We recently opened our office in Lomé, Togo where most of the riders are women.” Wahu also currently has partnerships across all universities in Ghana and through this initiative trains and recruits new staff. “We launch challenges at the universities and give students the opportunity to respond to these challenges and from there we often select our team. Through this, we realised Ghanaian youth are not just looking for job opportunities but a path to breakthrough. They need employers to hold their hands and co-create with them,” explained Labi. "I’m happy when I meet a Wahu rider. I'm proud to see a transition in many of their lives." Wahu hopes to be the number one producer of EVs on the continent. “It’s about building a legacy for young Africans across the world to be able to use our talents and maximise to make a positive contribution,” Labi said. Akakpo envisions owning a fleet of electric bikes to run a delivery business through savings he makes from his partnership with Wahu. “I would like to encourage the youth, especially those who are jobless, to take advantage of initiatives like this instead of staying home at all times to depend on their parents,” he said. bird story agency