SOCIAL PROJECTS
Six new projects will empower women in West Africa
Six research projects aim to rebuild socio-economic systems post COVID-19 in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal in a way that allows women to contribute fully by reducing the burden of unpaid domestic work. Selected through an open call for proposals, the projects revolve mainly around two themes: • Technologies and innovations that reduce and redistribute unpaid domestic and care work; • Childcare services for different categories of women and opportunities for scaling up. Over the next 36 months, these projects will contribute to producing evidence-based, reliable and rooted in a local context. Here is an overview of the six projects: - About improved cookstoves: the double benefit of energy efficiency and paid work opportunities This project will contribute to the large-scale adoption of cleaner cooking technologies and improved energy efficiency in Senegal. The objective is to reduce not only women's unpaid work burden but also the carbon footprint of households, while generating economic opportunities for women in the commercialization of these new technologies. Led by Gaston Berger University in Senegal in collaboration with Senegalese and American partners. - Impacts of the introduction of Guev Cooker on the economic empowerment of women in Benin and prospects and prospects for scaling up This project will contribute to the large-scale adoption of improved Guev Cooker stoves, thanks to their technological update and the analysis of the socio-economic and environmental impacts of their use in Benin. This action research will involve users of the stoves as well as local experts and public policy makers. Led by the University of Abomey-Calavi in collaboration with partners including the Ministry of Living Environment and Sustainable Development, in Benin. - Solar energy and biotechnologies for women entrepreneurs in the mangroves of Ramsar site 1017 in Benin This project will contribute to the promotion of sustainable and environmentally friendly businesses by promoting the large-scale adoption of solar cooker technology in the mangrove regions of Benin. These households will be mobilized for the three main income-generating activities carried out by women in this region, namely the production of salt, the smoking of fish and the production of compost for market gardening. Led by the University of Abomey-Calavi, in collaboration with partners in Benin. - Towards universal access to childcare services in Senegal This project will take stock of childcare services in Senegal, while documenting the impact of the availability of these services on the economic empowerment of women. The goal is to design a plan for scaling up relevant childcare models through an appropriate development policy or program. Led by the Consortium for Economic and Social Research in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Family, Women and Children, in Senegal. - Impact of social educational programs for the supervision of early childhood on the empowerment of women in Burkina Faso and in Ivory Coast. To address low access to pre-school education, Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire have invested in setting up early childhood socio-educational centers in disadvantaged communities. This project will study the impact of these initiatives and the prospects for their scaling up so as to contribute to reducing the unpaid work load of women from disadvantaged social strata in these two countries. Economic Policy Analysis from the Ivorian Center for Economic and Social Research, in collaboration with partners in Burkina Faso and the Ministry of Women, Family and Children of Côte d'Ivoire. - Emergence of a female middle class and demand for childcare services in West Africa This project will analyze the impact of economic growth on childcare needs in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal. Researchers will document how improving the provision of these services affects the unpaid domestic workload of middle-class women. The aim is to improve the provision of childcare services in a way that meets the specific needs of these women, thus enabling them to better take advantage of the professional and personal development opportunities available to them. .Led by Amadou Mahtar Mbow University, Senegal in collaboration with universities and ministries in the four target countries.
Orange reveals the winners of the 11th edition of the Orange Social Venture Prize in Africa and the Middle East during the Africa Tech Festival
Launched in 2011, the Orange Social Venture Prize in Africa and the Middle East (POESAM) rewards the best innovative projects by start-ups having a positive impact in their geographical area, and meeting the objectives of sustainable development. Through this project, Orange reaffirms its desire to contribute to the socio-economic development of the countries in which it operates, support social and environmental innovation and encourage entrepreneurship. An 11th edition which rewarded 4 projects This year, 1,679 applications were collected from all 17 countries where the competition takes place. The POESAM 2021 was divided into 2 prizes: • An international women's prize which is supported up to €20,000 and which rewards a project led by a woman or which aims to directly improve the living conditions of women; • An international grand prize which rewards three projects with social and/or environmental impact based on technological tools. The 3 projects are rewarded up to: o €25,000 for the 1st prize, o €15,000 for the 2nd prize, o €10,000 for the 3rd prize. The big winners of the international competition • During the AfricaTech Festival, organized online from November 8 to 12, 2021, the e-ceremony was held chaired by Ms. Elizabeth Tchoungui, CSR, Diversity and Solidarity Director of the Orange Group and Deputy Chairman of the Orange Foundation and M Alioune Ndiaye, Chairman and CEO of Orange Middle East & Africa who revealed the winners. For the Female Prize, the winner is: • The Mmaabo App (Botswana) - a platform where pregnant women can get support throughout their pregnancy and even after giving birth. For the International Grand Prix, the winners are: • 3rd Prize: Agrinect (Botswana) – Agrinect is a digital business that reduces the cost of marketing and transporting agricultural produce in Botswana and across Africa by connecting farmers to their target market. • 2nd prize: Kumulus (Tunisia) – Kumulus produces machines that are the size of a mini fridge and that produce 30 liters of drinking water per day using only solar energy and the humidity in the water as resources. 'air. • 1st prize: OuiCare (Cameroon) – an electronic health record that allows people to have access to their medical information at any time and doctors to have a linear reading of the state of health of their patients as well as their medical background. Years of Supporting Entrepreneurship, Responsible Innovation and Women's Empowerment in Africa and the Middle East In an African continent in full turmoil, both demographically and economically, African youth more than ever need support to undertake. Orange, a historical partner of Africa, is committed to supporting these young people by offering them the opportunity to promote themselves thanks to POESAM in particular. Making gender equality a priority, Orange is implementing concrete actions to work in this direction. One of them is the International Women's Prize included in the POESAM 2021 competition. Set up for 2 years now, this prize rewards projects directly involving women. Since the launch of POESAM in 2011, Orange has awarded around €555,000 to more than thirty winners and financed the support of more than 87 entrepreneurs by Orange experts or its partners. Social entrepreneurship in Africa and the Middle East is more than ever rooted in people's lives. This trend is confirmed by the number of applications collected within the framework of POESAM, which has increased by +124% between 2011 and 2021. Relive the awards ceremony on this link. Orange is present in 18 countries in Africa and the Middle East and has more than 130 million customers as of September 30, 2021. With 5.8 billion euros in revenue in 2020, Orange MEA is the Group's leading growth area. Orange Money, its mobile money transfer and financial services offer available in 17 countries, has more than 50 million customers. Orange, a multi-service operator, a leading partner in digital transformation, brings its know-how to support the development of new digital services in Africa and the Middle East.
Social safety net project in Cameroon: a big boost to help young people overcome poverty
YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon, March 18, 2022 – Fadimatou Garba is 31 years old, has four children and lives in Yaoundé. Her husband died five years ago, he was the single breadwinner of the family. For the young widow, feeding her children had become a daily struggle. Married very early and without a diploma, she had little prospect, and the future of her family appeared very bleak. More than 25% of the Cameroonian population lives below the poverty line, and the crisis caused by the pandemic has made matters even worse, plunging an additional 400,000 people into it. And by hitting the young hardest. Like Fadimatou Garba, many families cannot afford to eat more than one meal a day. When the social safety nets project was launched in 2004, Cameroon did not have a national social protection strategy or coordinated mechanisms to support poor populations as a priority. This operation therefore helped the country to strengthen its poverty reduction strategy and set up an effective social protection system. Across Cameroon, the social safety net project gives hope to poor and vulnerable households. It provides beneficiaries with monetary allowances or temporary jobs on public works sites. The principle: lend them a helping hand in the event of a hard blow and help them get out of poverty. “I was so happy to learn that I was one of the beneficiaries, it changed my life. The only thing I could and knew how to do was sew,” Fadimatou Garba says. "So, with the money from the allowances I received between 2017 and 2019, I first started sewing at home and then, the following year, I was able to rent a small space at the Brickyard and open a sewing workshop. COVID-19 has slowed business, but customers are now coming back, and I can afford to send my children to school and even help other orphans in the neighborhood. » The main objectives of the project are to mitigate financial risks, enable beneficiaries to undertake small productive investments or income-generating activities, and facilitate expenditure on food, education and health. It is also working to combat youth unemployment: people under 35 account for almost half of the participants in the public works program. At 33, Valentin Yokono must also provide for his family. He is raising his three children alone and caring for his 72-year-old blind mother. “Despite my diplomas, I chained badly paid jobs. I did not earn enough to send my children to school or pay for my mother's treatment. I had a hard time getting out of it, ”says the father of the family. “With the money I earned, I was able to repair my motorbike and I decided to become a driver. For the first time in my life, I could see hope for a better future. I no longer need to work from dawn to dusk, I choose my working hours and, above all, I earn enough to pay for my mother's care and the children's school fees. » By the end of 2021, a total of 177,000 families had benefited from the cash transfer scheme, while 101,000 households had been integrated into the public works program. The project also gave rise to accompanying measures, in the form of information and training sessions intended to promote the intellectual and physical development of children and to guide the start-up or expansion of income-generating activities. The future of Cameroon will depend on its ability to offer better prospects to its youth. The Cameroonian authorities and the World Bank are currently working on a new project aimed at expanding the coverage of the social protection program and increasing its support for young men and women. Two new initiatives for young entrepreneurs (self-employed or entrepreneurs) will be launched this year. They will offer the families who will benefit from them the possibility of investing in productive activities, improving the health and education of their children and escaping poverty.
Social safety net projects: 11 consultants sought to work on the generalization of electronic payments
Michelin Njoh, the Coordinator of the management unit of the social safety nets project financed in Cameroon by the World Bank, has just launched a notice of solicitation with a view to recruiting 11 consultants whose mission will be to generalize electronic payments. Because, we learn, 50% of beneficiaries encountered difficulties in being paid by Mobile Money in 2021. “ The Project experienced a lot of difficulty in this mode of payment. Indeed, the first payment began in April 2021 and ended in November 2021, because more than half of the 80,000 beneficiaries did not have a National Identity Card (CNI) to obtain a telephone number in their name", reveals the coordinator. To circumvent these obstacles, it was sometimes necessary to go through third-party Mobile Money accounts to transfer the money to the beneficiaries. Despite these difficulties, indicates the coordinator, digital payment is essential to allow monetary transfers to be carried out within a reasonable time, to quickly report information after payment, to have fewer reprographic and archiving problems, to increase financial inclusion. Reason why consultants must be recruited to find solutions to this problem. Given these difficulties encountered when paying beneficiaries, the project management unit plans to conduct a study to map the areas where digital payment will be implemented. The consultants will have to carry out in the 10 regions of the country, this mapping which will make it possible to know the localities of the 360 municipalities of the country in which the conditions of digital payment (availability of the telephone network and electricity) will be met. The duration of the contract is two months from the date of notification of the start-up service order. Said deadline for expressions of interest is set for October 13, 2022. Experimented between 2013 and 2016 in the municipalities of Soulédé-Roua (Far North) and Ndop (North-West), the "social nets" net project now extends to the whole country. It has three programs: an ordinary unconditional cash transfer program (360,000 FCFA transferred to each beneficiary over 24 months), an emergency cash transfer program (180,000 FCFA over 12 months), and a high-risk works program. labor intensity (HIMO). The project is aimed at poor households and young people aged 18 to 35 living in urban areas.
Social compliance of projects
Why take into account the social dimension of projects? Structuring projects often generate positive externalities on several levels: economic, environmental and social. These externalities are likely, if poorly managed, to cause a lack of support and a feeling of dissatisfaction on the part of the beneficiary populations. What are the challenges of controlling social impacts? o Anticipate risks by considering multi-sectoral support measures, beyond simple compensation and compensation. o Propose real strategic plans for the preservation of the environment and the socio-economic reintegration of the beneficiary populations What to do ? o Minimize the effects of these major projects on the daily lives of local populations, through adequate compensation and resettlement. o Determine and analyze the potential risks on the social balance of local populations, their ability to integrate and ensure rapid transformation and their status quo, their ability to adapt and reintegrate into a new living environment, existing potential, control and prevention of social scourges generally linked to rapid urbanization, taking into account the specific needs of socio-economic integration of vulnerable categories. National Project Social Compliance Control Brigade (BNCSP), created by Decree No. 2017/383 of July 18, 2017 organizing the Ministry of Social Affairs, what are its missions? o Development and monitoring of the implementation of the reference framework for managing the social dimension of projects; o Development and monitoring of indicators for prior social assessment and social impact studies; o Monitoring and evaluation of social and economic support plans for major structuring projects; o Monitoring-evaluation of social and economic support plans for local populations; o Monitoring of the implementation and evaluation of protection plans for vulnerable indigenous populations affected by the projects; o Monitoring of the application of national regulations and international standards in force regarding the management of the social impacts of projects; o Monitoring of compliance with the social clauses of the specifications by the promoters and contracting authorities of the projects. Clarification of concepts: Social dimension: Set of aspects relating to health, ethics, equity, beliefs, poverty, indigenous peoples, intergenerational equity; Structuring project: Development project with strong economic and social impact at scale.
$450 million in funding will help northern regions of Gulf of Guinea countries build trust, opportunity and resilience by fostering social cohesion
WASHINGTON, March 31, 2022 – More than 16 million people living in at-risk environments in northern Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Togo will benefit from a new World Bank-funded regional project . The objective is to anticipate and prevent the spread of conflicts from the Sahel, reduce vulnerability to climate change and strengthen local institutions, economic opportunities and the confidence of populations. The Board of Directors of the World Bank today approved $450 million in financing from the International Development Association (IDA)* for the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion Project (a). This new operation is based on “a regional approach for local action” to stimulate regional collaboration, socio-economic and climate resilience in the vulnerable northern regions of these four Gulf of Guinea countries. Difficulties are growing in this sub-region where multiple crises converge: exogenous threats generated by conflict, climate change and COVID-19 are compounded by the long-standing challenges of poverty, exclusion and weak governance, all of which can lead to marginalization and inequality. Lack of opportunities for young people, inter-community tensions and structural fragilities pose a growing security challenge for Gulf of Guinea countries threatened by the southward spread of the rapidly escalating conflict in the Sahel. “This project responds to the complexity of the crisis by supporting regionally integrated and coordinated solutions, security efforts, climate hazard and disaster risk management. and building state capacity,” explains Coralie Gevers, World Bank Country Director for Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea and Togo. “By working together, participating countries can save lives and focus their efforts on the region's untapped potential to foster economic opportunity in an environmentally and socially sustainable way,” adds Pierre Laporte, World Bank Chief Operating Officer. for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Scheduled over a period of five years, the project should benefit 4,600 communities located in the border areas of the northern Gulf of Guinea. It will focus on strengthening local institutions which will have a central role to play in prioritizing investments for local development and promoting social cohesion and trust. Its flexibility will make it possible to involve the most vulnerable – in particular young people and women – to better take into account their points of view and design solutions adapted to their situation while maximizing the regional impact of these interventions in the face of common challenges. The Social Cohesion Project for the Northern Regions of the Gulf of Guinea responds to requests from governments and supports their actions to strengthen community development, agriculture, youth inclusion and digital transition. It specifically targets groups of vulnerable villages in border areas threatened by conflict and climate risks, and seeks to place local investment in a regional perspective by harmonizing community development strategies in order to maximize the benefits of side to side of the border. This approach includes the establishment of a regional collaboration platform to facilitate cross-border information flows and policy dialogue. "The regional dimension is essential to promote dialogue and coordination on conflict prevention, climate and disaster risk management, and cross-border opportunities," said Boutheina Guermazi, Regional Integration Director for Sub-Saharan Africa. , the Middle East and North Africa at the World Bank. We combine it with a bottom-up and context-specific approach to select investments that create a sense of inclusion and cohesion among local populations. » This project is part of an integrated initiative for the recovery and stabilization of the most vulnerable and conflict-affected regions of West Africa. In this regard, it complements two operations approved by the World Bank in 2021, the Project for the Recovery and Development of the Lake Chad Region ($170 million) and the Community Recovery and Stabilization Project in the Sahel ($350 million). of dollars). In total, these three projects represent a commitment of $970 million for regionally coordinated and community-centered development that will enable African countries, donors and local populations to implement cross-border approaches. to counter the amplification of fragility in the region. * The International Development Association (IDA) is the institution of the World Bank that helps the poorest countries on the planet. Founded in 1960, it provides grants and loans at low or no interest to finance projects and programs that stimulate economic growth, reduce poverty and improve the lives of the poor. IDA is a leading donor to the world's 77 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Its resources concretely benefit 1.5 billion people. Since its inception, IDA has supported development activities in 113 countries. Its annual commitment volume has averaged $18 billion over the past three years, with around 54% of that amount going to Africa.
Agenda 2063 flagship projects
AGENDA 2063 FLAGSHIP PROJECTS Agenda 2063 flagship projects refer to key programs and initiatives that have been identified as critical to accelerating Africa's economic growth and development, as well as promoting our common identity by celebrating our vibrant history and culture. . Flagship projects include, among others, infrastructure, education, science, technology, arts and culture, as well as initiatives aimed at securing peace on the continent. 1. INTEGRATED HIGH-SPEED TRAIN NETWORK The project aims to link all African capitals and trading centers through an African high-speed train network, facilitating the movement of goods, postmen and people. Increased rail connectivity also aims to reduce transportation costs and decongest current and future systems. To learn more about our initiatives in the areas of transport, infrastructure and energy (Visit the Department of Infrastructure and Energy website) 2. FORMULATION OF AN AFRICAN COMMODITY STRATEGY The development of a continental commodity strategy is considered essential to enable African countries to add value, obtain higher earnings from their commodities, integrate into value chains global markets and to promote vertical and horizontal diversification anchored in the added value and development of local content. The strategy aims to transform Africa from a supplier of raw materials to the rest of the world into a continent that actively uses its own resources to ensure the economic development of Africans. Find out more about our programs to boost Africa's commodity production and trade (Visit the Department of Trade and Industry website) 3. CREATION OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA (AfCFTA) Accelerate intra-African trade and strengthen Africa's trading position in the global market. The AfCFTA aims to significantly accelerate the growth of intra-African trade and use it more effectively as an engine for growth and sustainable development by doubling intra-African trade, thereby strengthening the common voice of Africa and its room for maneuver in global trade negotiations. Find out more about our initiatives to promote regional integration and boost intra-African trade (Visit the Department of Trade and Industry website) 4. THE AFRICAN PASSPORT AND THE FREE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS Remove restrictions on the ability of Africans to travel, work and live on their own continent. The initiative aims to transform African laws, which generally remain restrictive on the movement of people despite political commitments to remove borders with a view to promoting the issuance of visas by Member States in order to enhance the free movement of all citizens. Africans in all African countries. Learn more about our initiatives to remove border restrictions and foster continental integration by promoting the free movement of Africans on the continent (Visit the Department of Political Affairs website) 5. SILENCE THE GUNS BY 2020 To achieve the goals of Agenda 2063, Africa must work towards ending all wars, civil strife, gender-based violence, violent conflict and preventing genocide. In addition, progress in these areas should be tracked through the creation and implementation of an Africa Human Security Index (AHSI). To learn more about our peacekeeping activities (Visit the Department of Peace and Security website) 6. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GRAND INGA DAM PROJECT The development of the Inga Dam is expected to generate 43,200 MW of electricity, to support the current regional power pools and their combined services to transform Africa from traditional sources of energy to modern ones and ensure access for all Africans to clean and affordable electricity. To learn more about our initiatives in the areas of transport, infrastructure and energy (Visit the Department of Infrastructure and Energy website) 7. CREATION OF A SINGLE AFRICAN AIR TRANSPORT MARKET (SAATM) and to create a single unified air transport market in Africa, to boost the continent's economic integration and growth agenda. The SAATM provides for the full liberalization of intra-African air transport services in terms of market access, traffic rights for scheduled and cargo air services by eligible airlines, thereby improving air service connectivity and air carrier efficiency. It removes ownership restrictions and provides for the complete liberalization of frequencies, tariffs and capacities. It also provides eligibility criteria for African community carriers, safety and security standards, fair competition and dispute resolution mechanisms, and consumer protection. To learn more about our initiatives in the areas of transport, infrastructure and energy (Visit the Department of Infrastructure and Energy website) 8. ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AFRICAN ECONOMIC FORUM The annual African Economic Forum is a multi-stakeholder meeting bringing together African political leaders, the private sector, academia and civil society to reflect on how to accelerate Africa's economic transformation by harnessing its vast resources to enhance development. of the African population. The forum discusses key opportunities as well as constraints that hinder economic development and proposes actions to be taken to achieve the aspirations and goals of Agenda 2063. To learn more about our economic integration initiatives and our programs to stimulate growth and private sector investment in Africa (Visit the Department of Economic Affairs website) 9. ESTABLISHMENT OF AFRICAN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS The annual African Economic Forum is a multi-stakeholder meeting bringing together African political leaders, the private sector, academia and civil society to reflect on how to accelerate Africa's economic transformation by harnessing its vast resources to enhance development. of the African population. The forum discusses key opportunities as well as constraints that hinder economic development and proposes actions to be taken to achieve the aspirations and goals of Agenda 2063. To learn more about initiatives to create African continental financial institutions (Visit the Department of Economic Affairs website) 10. THE PAN-AFRICAN ON-LINE SERVICES NETWORK It aims to put in place policies and strategies that will lead to transformative e-applications and services in Africa; in particular intra-African terrestrial broadband infrastructure; and cybersecurity, making the information revolution the basis for service delivery in the bio and nanotechnology industries and ultimately transforming Africa into an electronic society. To learn more about our ICT sector development programs in Africa (Visit the Department of Infrastructure and Energy website) 11. AFRICAN SPACE STRATEGY FOR OUTER ATMOSPHERIC SPACE The African Outer Space Strategy aims to enhance Africa's use of outer space to support its development. Outer space is of critical importance to Africa's development in all areas: agriculture, disaster management, remote sensing, climate forecasting, banking and finance, as well as defense and security. Africa's access to space technology products is no longer a matter of luxury and there is a need to accelerate access to these technologies and products. New developments in satellite technologies are making them accessible to African countries and appropriate policies and strategies are needed to develop a regional market for space products in Africa. To find out more about our programs aimed at stimulating innovation and developing science and technology (Visit the website of the HRST department 12. A VIRTUAL AND ONLINE AFRICAN UNIVERSITY This project aims to use ICT-enabled programs to increase access to higher education and lifelong learning in Africa by simultaneously reaching large numbers of students and professionals in multiple locations. Its objective is to develop relevant and high quality resources for free, distance and electronic education. (ODeL). in order to offer students guaranteed access to the University, anywhere in the world and at any time (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). To find out more about our education programs using innovative technologies (Visit the HRST department website) 13. CYBERSECURITY The decision to adopt Cyber Security as a flagship program of Agenda 2063 clearly shows that Africa must not only incorporate into its development plans the rapid changes brought about by emerging technologies, but also ensure that these technologies be used for the benefit of African individuals, institutions or nation states by ensuring the protection and security of online data. The cyber security project is guided by the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection. To learn more about our initiatives to address the growth of the Internet economy in Africa, its governance and the management of online security (Visit the Department of Infrastructure and Energy website) 14. GREAT AFRICAN MUSEUM The Charter for African Cultural Renaissance recognizes the important role culture plays in mobilizing and unifying people around common ideals and promoting African culture to build the ideals of Pan-Africanism. The Great African Museum project aims to raise awareness of the diversity of cultural, dynamic and immense assets of Africa, as well as the influence of Africa on the various cultures of the world, especially in the fields of art, music, languages, sciences, etc. . The Great African Museum will constitute a coordination center for the preservation and promotion of African cultural heritage.