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A series of external and domestic shocks are putting acute pressure on Malawi’s macro-economy, increasing the urgency to protect essential services for the vulnerable says the latest World Bank’s Malawi Economic Monitor (MEM).

The 15th Edition of the MEM underscores significant deterioration in the government’s finances, with the deficit reaching its highest level in over a decade. For several years, spending has exceeded revenues while the country has imported more than it exports. This has been financed by increased commercial borrowing and Malawi’s debt has now become unsustainable. Malawi’s economic growth is expected to decline further due to these chronic imbalances, which have been heightened by severe weather events. The Ukraine-Russia war has added a new crisis to what was already a challenging economic climate, with rising prices for fuel, fertilizer and other commodities impacting foreign reserves and exerting pressure on inflation. 

While risks to the Malawian economy are tilted to the downside according to the MEM, the government has begun implementing critical policy reforms that are aimed to address macroeconomic imbalances and secure a recovery. However, further action is needed in three areas: i) a coordinated package of reforms to restore macroeconomic stability, ii) enhancing export competitiveness and market-oriented growth, and iii) protecting the poor and strengthening resilience.

In the context of these fiscal constraints, the Special Theme of the 15th MEM highlights the importance of deepening fiscal decentralization, strengthening the intergovernmental fiscal transfer system, and delivering quality services that reach poor and vulnerable households. The MEM shows that Malawi’s decentralization journey to date has been characterized by a system where ‘finance has not followed function’. This has resulted in uncoordinated planning and decision making over service delivery across levels of government, with sector and district processes often occurring in parallel and overlapping. This is further complicated by development partners that continue to primarily concentrate funding through fragmented, off-budget projects. For a meaningful deepening of decentralization to continue, the vicious cycle of low trust, low investment and low accountability in local government systems needs to be broken.

“At times of fiscal constraint, it becomes critical to maintain effective services for citizens and protect the poor from shocks,” said Hugh Riddell, World Bank Country Manager for Malawi. “The acute economic context provides the Government an opportunity to lock in difficult reforms to stabilize the macro while also deepening decentralization. We at the World Bank are very encouraged by the response of local governments – and citizens – to the new performance-based financing model which can serve to increase confidence in local government systems to bring more development partner resources on-budget.”

The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund (https://bit.ly/3HXs6GI) on 24 June approved a technical assistance grant of $2 million to fund research that will contribute to electricity reforms in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The grant from the African Development Fund — the concessional window of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) — will go to the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority. The ultimate objective is to stimulate cross-border electricity trade and improve energy access in the 15 countries in the region.

The project has five components. The first involves selecting electricity regulatory principles and key performance indicators from the African Development Bank’s flagship Electricity Regulatory Index for Africa (https://bit.ly/3OIAb4V) report, to be adopted by the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority. As part of this component, the project will build capacity in member countries for collecting and reporting on these indicators on a common platform.

The second component will involve conducting a study in order to update a comparative analysis of electricity tariffs and their underlying drivers across the electricity value chain of ECOWAS.

The third involves developing a centralized database management system that will provide a platform for digitally collecting relevant energy information from member countries, storing, and disseminating them on a common digital platform.

The fourth component will assess and identify project bottlenecks and risks in ECOWAS member countries and recommend a coherent approach to progressively address ground-level barriers to investment in the power sector in pre- and post-establishment phases of the regional electricity market.

The final component focuses on program management and capacity building, which will be co-financed with the Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority. All components of the project will include gender-disaggregated data.

“Ultimately, this project will facilitate regional electricity trade and help improve access to electricity,” said Solomon Sarpong, project team leader at the African Development Bank. “It will address major causes of fragility, such as infrastructure bottlenecks, youth unemployment, environmental challenges, gender inequalities, and regional development imbalances.”

Established on 28 May 1975 via the Treaty of Lagos, ECOWAS is a regional organization that promotes economic integration in the constituting countries. ECOWAS consists of 15 countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Covering about 6.1 million km2, ECOWAS has an estimated population of 360 million people.

by Jeff Kizilah

Millions of Kenyans are set to benefit from a clean solar energy solutions programme roll-out by the Ministry of Energy.

More than two million Kenyans will have access to clean energy solutions in a major government initiative to provide modern energy to traditionally marginalised areas through the Kenya Off-Grid Solar Access Project (KOSAP).

Beneficiaries will be drawn from half a million households in 14 counties namely West Pokot, Turkana, Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo, Mandera, Wajir, Garrisa, Tana River, Lamu, Kilifi, Kwale, Taita Taveta and Narok.

The Kenya Off-Grid Solar Access Project (KOSAP) is a flagship project of the Ministry of Energy, financed by the World Bank, and jointly implemented by the Ministry of Energy, Kenya Power (KP) and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), with funding from the World Bank.

The KOSAP programme targets remote and far-flung areas of the country where there is no way the traditional national electricity grid could reach.

Speaking during induction which brought together Solar system companies in Nairobi PS Dr.Kialangwa noted that, ‘KOSAP is a demonstration of the government’s commitment to not only ensure they access electricity but also adopt clean energy solutions’.

“It is a major step towards the fulfillment of the Constitutional guarantee for all Kenyans to access government services, no matter where they live,” PS Energy Hon. Dr.Gordon Kialangwa said.

The targeted counties were selected based on their classification as marginalised by the Commission of Revenue Allocation (CRA), which currently has a 23 percent rate of connectivity to electricity, compared to the national average of 70 percent.

He said the marginalised counties cover at least 80 percent of the country’s land mass, with populations sparsely distributed in the vast areas, making the construction of mini-grids and installation of standalone solar systems the most effective strategy to achieve universal access to modern energy.

Under the Projects, 400,000 households will be served with Stand-alone Solar Systems (SSS) while 111,277 households will be served with Clean Cooking Solutions (CCS).

In addition, 450 community facilities such as schools, health facilities and administrative offices and 380 community boreholes will benefit from the flagship project of the Ministry of Energy, financed by the World Bank.

A further 146 solar powered mini-grids will be constructed in the targeted counties to supply about 55,000 households with solar power.

“KOSAP is a catalyst in our quest to ensure Kenyans access electricity that is clean, sustainable and environmentally friendly. We are helping reduce over-reliance on fossil and non-sustainable biomass fuels,” added Eng. Mr. Rodney Sultan,coordinator ,World Bank finananced projects in the Ministry of Energy.

The government has scaled investments in the energy sector, ensuring those not covered by the main grid tap into alternative sources considered clean, healthier, and environmentally friendly.

KOSAP’s model is to provide incentives to solar service providers and sellers of modern cook stoves to set up sales and after sales infrastructure in the targeted counties.

This is in response to the market trends, where though the country has a very robust market for standalone solar, majority of the companies shy away from investing in the vast underserved areas, citing logistical and other operational challenges.

The project has disbursed Sh500 million to 20 private companies that are actively selling solar and clean cooking products.

Out of these, 10 Solar Service Providers (SSPs) have already received a total of Sh300 million to enable them set up sales infrastructure in 14 counties.

In additional to that , the ministry of energy has chosen 16 Solar Service Providers are currently poised to enter into contracts worth Sh450 million with the Ministry under Round Two of the funding.

KOSAP is aimed at providing electricity to parts of the country that are not served by the national grid, critical in achieving the Government of Kenya’s goal of ensuring that every part of the country has access to energy – a critical factor in reducing poverty.

Blueberry Travel has stepped up a campaign to increase its footprint in the kenyan market after its two and half years operational in the kenyan market. The airline has attractive and executive packages to Masai mara which ensures everyone can fly Blueberry from as low as twenty five thousand with two nights accommodation meals on full board and 4by 4 game drives. The travel company offers pocket friendly and convenience travel package to Diani sea resort,a one way ticket to India at a cost of USD 236 making a travel company of choice by many. Blueberry has existed for 10 years in the world market and has presence in 22 world destinations which will increase to 25 at the end of the year. speaking to journalist during the ongoing Hindu cultural day at premier club Naresh samaria Tourism manager Blueberry travel has said the company is offering a football fanatics package of 4days stay and 3nights,return airport transfers,transfer to stadium, half day Doha city tour and a football match of the year Portugal vs Uruguay st this year Doha Quatar world Cup,which is aimed at ensuring football fans across the world can enjoy watching football live from Doha.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has lauded the World Rally Championship (WRC), terming it a great motor sporting event that positively impacted the country’s economy.

President Kenyatta said since its return last year, the international motor sporting event has raised the country’s profile by attracting renowned motor sports giants.

The President spoke on Sunday afternoon when he awarded winners of this year’s Safari Rally in Naivasha, Nakuru County.

“Thank you very much for your partnership and your cooperation, and to the people of Kenya you will see this is an event that is in our blood. Let me also remind you that it is not only an event that is in our blood because of our history but it is also an event that impacts us economically and positions us globally,” President Kenyatta said.

At the same time, the President called on Kenyans to continue supporting the event not only as a sporting activity but also an economic one as well.

“An event like this is not just about the drivers and the crews, it’s also about every single person who is a participant from the hotels that are occupied, to the waiters who serve them, from those that do traffic management to those who are spectators, and those who are vendors for various items. It is an event that brings money to the pockets of wananchi.

“As we promote it, we promote not just the sport, we also promote our own economic wellbeing and that is how I would want Kenyans to view it. Don’t look at the event with small lens but rather see it in a bigger picture. Lets see it as an event which will help us prosper,” said the President.

The Head of State thanked all stakeholders who helped in bringing back the WRC to Kenya and congratulated the winners for demonstrating the true spirit of sportsmanship.

“We are here today to really celebrate the second year that we have hosted the return of the Safari Rally back on the WRC circuit. We are here to say how happy and proud we are to be together with all our partners and racing lovers across the globe as we celebrate our drivers, as we celebrate their cruise across the globe.

“Mine is to congratulate every single participant and as I said when we started, the prize is not in winning, the prize is in how you win. I want to believe that all our competitors for this year’s Safari Rally have shown us the need and the great desire for competing vigorously but acknowledging competition is not enmity and that is why we are here. To celebrate not just the winners but every single entrant, congratulations to each and everyone of you,” he said.

Movie star and ocean activist Jason Momoa was designated the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Advocate for Life Below Water today at a major conference mobilizing global support for an ocean besieged by the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and rampant pollution. 

The UN Ocean Conference, co-hosted by Portugal and Kenya and attended by thousands of ocean advocates from business, civil society and government – including several Heads of State – will advance progress on science-based solutions to ensure better management and conservation of the ocean and its resources. The conference, which is aligned to SDG 14, life below water,  stresses the critical need for scientific knowledge and marine technology to build ocean resilience, and is expected to culminate in a negotiated political declaration. 

The Aquaman actor, who has worked with Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii and rePurpose Global, described how humbled he felt to be entrusted with the responsibility to promote ocean health: “With this designation, I hope to continue my own journey to protect and conserve the ocean and all living things on our beautiful blue planet, for our generation and the generations to come.” 

The native Hawaiian with Polynesian roots, who has long championed the rights of people of island nations, described how growing up on one of the world’s most beautiful archipelagos ingrained in him a reverence for the ocean and nature that has only deepened over the years “For me, the ocean is an ancient teacher, a guide and a muse. It is also existential. Without a healthy ocean, life on our planet as we know it would not exist.” 

Momoa, who is the star of Aquaman and the upcoming sequel, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, made remarks ahead of the Youth and Innovation Forum, where he arrived on a boat to receive the Nature Baton from the UN Special Envoy for the Ocean, Peter Thomson. Momoa then handed the baton to youth representatives before they, in turn, passed it to the UN Secretary-General. The Nature Baton, a global collaboration for the ocean’s wellbeing, has shone a spotlight on the need for action to save the world’s ocean, and is a metaphor for the journey ocean champions have taken this year from Brest to Nairobi for the UN Environment Assembly, to Palau for the Our Oceans Conference, and for World Environment Day in Stockholm, on the road to Lisbon. 

 United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohamed, and the African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson, H.E. Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, on Thursday welcomed, as co-Chairs, the inaugural AU-UN Periodic Coordination Meeting.

This inaugural AU-UN Periodic Coordination Meeting provided a platform to gather momentum for the re-invigorated collaboration by the two organizations for the successful rollout of the agreed thematic priority areas for implementation in the current year 2022 and beyond to address the priorities of the African continent in light of the challenges posed by the COVID 19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine Conflict.  

The meeting reviewed the proposed matrix on the “AU-UN thematic priorities areas” drawing on the outcomes of the Africa RCP Annual Meeting held in Nairobi on 28 February and chaired by the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, as well as the AU-wide Working Group on Africa RCP held on 24 June 2021 under the leadership of the AUC Deputy Chairperson, while fine-tuning the proposed joint work plan of the respective 8 Opportunity and Issue-Based Coalitions (O/IBCs) of the Africa Regional Collaborative Platform (RCP). 

The AU-UN Annual Meeting recommitted to redouble their efforts to move forward the AU-UN Framework on the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and 2030 Agenda, and AU-UN Framework for Enhanced Partnership on Peace and Security in Africa to support African countries in fast-tracking transitions from the socioeconomic response to the challenges of COVID-19 to the longer-term recovery efforts of the African continent. In this context, African Union Commissioners and their UN counterparts from the Economic Commission for Africa, the United Nations Development Program as well as the respective departments of the United Nations Secretariat agreed on enhanced coordination to achieve the common goals of the two agendas, 2063 and 2030.

The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General and the African Union Deputy Chairperson agreed to convene the African Union-United Nations Coordination Meetings periodically and before the end of the year.

Experts have said BRICS cooperation is injecting impetus into global development and helping build a community with a shared future for mankind.

BRICS, an emerging-market group which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, represents approximately 40 percent of the global population and accounts for about 25 percent of the global economy.