Movemeback Pulse

The death of singer and activist Hachalu Hundessa on Monday 28th June 2020 sparked national protests and a blanket internet shutdown across Ethiopia. Nobel Peace Laureate, PM Abiy Ahmed previously stated that the government can shut-off the internet “forever” if it is deemed necessary to save lives and prevent property damages. Millions of Ethiopians have already endured months of the government imposed shutdown of telecommunication services in the Oromia region – begging the question, whether the government’s actions are in the interest of national security, or breaching freedom of expression and access to essential information?
 

End-to-end value chain capture

Ghana’s Cocoa Board received it's first disbursement of $200mn from AfDB of a total $600mn syndicated loan to boost cocoa productivity in the world’s second largest producer of the commodity. With the country supplying almost one-fifths of the cocoa beans used in the $100bn chocolate industry, revenues of just $2bn a year point to challenges faced by cocoa farmers. To accelerate combating issues such as child labour, poor incomes, deforestation and supply chain traceability, the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa, the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa and Belgian Beyond Chocolate have signed an MOU with the Ghanaian government.
 

High value skills development and talent repatriation

Andela is changing its business model by going completely remote, extending its African talent pool to more than 500,000 engineers, and doubling its reach through its earlier model. With the growth of the ‘gig economy’, the exponential rise in digital platforms in Africa (employing nearly 5mn people) and digital commerce estimated to benefit at least 80mn young Africans workers by 2030, expect more gig workers on the continent – an opportunity exists for African governments to nurture and support home-grown gig talent.
 

Baseline healthcare & disease protection

2nd July 2020 marked the second anniversary of Zero Malaria Starts with Me, a pan-African campaign aimed at mobilising and empowering communities to take ownership of the fight against Malaria. However, new modelling indicates that deaths caused by Malaria in SSA could double to 796,000, representing a return to mortality levels last seen over two decades ago. Delays in mosquito net distribution and indoor spraying programs as a result of lockdowns have threatened to undermine vector control. With the economic impact of COVID-19 falling most heavily on vulnerable communities, a multi-stakeholder response is required to ensure that funds channeled towards COVID-19 do not have a knock-on impact on Malaria.
 

Proportional representation in politics, business and community leadership

Gabon’s national assembly passed a law decriminalising homosexuality, a triumph for supporters and activists including the country’s First Lady, Sylvia Bongo Ondimba. This is the first step of many, with the law up for a vote in the Senate and MPs heavily divided on the topic. Across the continent, colonial-heritage laws have been applied to criminalise same-sex relationships, even though African governments, with the exception of Sudan, have prescribed to and ratified the African Charter, guaranteeing human rights for all. With same-sex relations legal in only 22 of Africa’s 54 countries, many are asking if it time for Africa to be more accepting of LGBQT relationships.
 

Access to financial services and products

The COVID-19 pandemic is a game changer for digital financial services, says IMF, reporting that digital financial inclusion is on the rise, with Ghana, Kenya and Uganda, leading in Africa. This week, McKinsey outlined how banks across Africa can take advantage of the opportunity to digitise consumer and wholesale lending, via an approach that includes implementing digital credit scoring, automated “know-your-customer” processes and fintech partnerships. However, whilst digital financial services could support an inclusive post-COVID recovery, benefiting low income households and SMEs, it could also accelerate pre-existing risks of financial exclusion, if unequal access to digital infrastructure is not addressed.

Scaleable energy access

Gambia has secured a $43mn grant from the World Bank towards the Gambia Electricity Restoration and Modernization Project aimed at improving access to solar electricity and water. Gambia - one of the continent’s smallest countries by GDP ($1.8bn), was one of the first African countries to adopt the SEforALL Action Agenda to achieve full electricity access for all by 2030, and has ambitions to be the first country in the world to provide renewable energy electrification for all public school and health facilities. With nearly 50% of its population having no electricity access, this grant should help Gambia move closer to achieving its goals.
 

Essential infrastructure, personal living-space & utilities

DR Congo celebrates 60 years of independence from Belgium

Are internet shutdowns being used as a tool of repression?