FIBO Group explores the potentials and drawbacks of investments like savings, real estate, dollar deposits, and outlines the risks and rewards of Forex.



On the one hand, economic and geopolitical shocks in 2022 widen a class divide between the lower and upper classes of the population. On the other hand, crisis is always a time of opportunity. How can you save money and make it work? What investment services are available on the market today?



Of course, one of the simplest and most affordable tools is a bank deposit. What rates do banks offer for deposits in national currencies? For example, average rates in South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria are up to 8-9%. The larger and more reliable the bank, the longer the deposit period and the less flexible withdrawal terms, the lower the rate. It seems to be a guaranteed income. However, quantitative increase does not mean a qualitative one. When calculating revenues, we forget about inflation, that is, the actual increase in prices.



According to official figures for 2021, inflation is approximately 17% in Nigeria, 10% in Ghana and 4.5% in South Africa. Its level is rather an average temperature of a country’s economy. If you look at individual categories of goods, you do not have to be an economist to calculate that the price increase is higher than the indicated values. So, what will cost 10 million naira ($22 000) will cost over 11.7 million naira ($26 000) a year later. And with a one-year deposit you will have only 10.9 million naira ($24 000). It turns out that inflation both prevented you from making a profit and ate a big piece of your money.



Of course, you can invest in dollar deposits, but the de facto the situation is even worse. Such deposits are attractive only when the dollar grows against your national currency within a specific period of time that has nothing to do with the banking system. An average rate on dollar deposits is up to 1%. But vast majority of people are paid in their national currency. It means you will lose both due to inflation and due to double conversion, because in order to use the money at the end of the deposit period, you need to convert it, for example, to the South African rand.



The next most common way to invest is real estate. But firstly, you need to have a significant initial capital. Secondly, it takes a very long time to pay back the investments, which is not always suitable as a planning horizon. Real estate often is a highly illiquid tool – meaning it is not readily convertible to cash. So it is rather a liability for a &#8220;bright future&#8221;.



What remains an alternative to classic types of investment? To find the answer, you need to figure out how banks generate profits on deposits. In most cases, it is not interest on loans, because banks themselves are credited by central banks and resell these loans to borrowers. One of the main sources of the bank&#8217;s income is its own and customer asset management on the financial market. Access to financial markets is also available to private investors and it does not always require large capital.



Representatives of the investment community argue about the effectiveness of different approaches to obtaining income on the financial market. One part prefers a long term investment, the other part is committed to active speculative trade. And they are both right in their own way. Each of these approaches is suitable for different market phases. Securities are attractive when the market is growing or recovering. What do you do when markets face turmoil and there is no understanding of prospect? It turned out that many people are skeptical about the foreign exchange market and it is understandable. For some reason frustration caused by a large number of fraudsters and scam projects grew into a skeptical attitude toward the Forex market itself.



In terms of trading, it is often said that the Forex market is a big risk, but let&#8217;s compare. The S&amp;P 500 index, the benchmark of the American stock market, declined by 24.9% from January to September 2022, while the



main currency market tool, the EURUSD currency pair, declined by 13.9% over the same period. Even during a quiet period, the change in the stock price within one trading session can be 4-5% against 1% in the Forex market. The most important advantage of the currency market over the stock market is an ability to quickly redistribute assets between the tools of completely different economies of the world, which makes it possible both to save your money and to profit from it.



At the same time, we need to understand why there is a negative attitude towards the Forex industry. This industry has not been regulated for a long time, and it was easy to establish an offshore company. Offering large earnings and claiming that &#8220;forex is simple&#8221;, fraudsters lure people into their trap. Do not believe it if someone guarantees you profit, tries to impose a profitable super-system, offers huge bonuses for making a deposit and, most importantly, does not warn about risks – it is a scammer. Meanwhile, there are a number of companies that have been forming the industry for many years, working transparently and trying to provide high-quality service to their customers.



As with anything, you can&#8217;t do without knowledge of the market. At FIBO Group, based on our 24-year experience in the industry, we understand it perfectly. We help new traders in more than 30 countries to feel supported in their endeavors. Our customers get to a private club, where they meet like-minded people, and get the knowledge and practice necessary for great results. Unfortunately, most companies in the market cease providing their services right after the first deposit and a customer is left alone with the market. FIBO Group experts share their knowledge, analyze customer transactions, give feedback and corrects errors. Of course, no one will make transactions for you, but you will know the right direction. Our active premium customers have an opportunity to get cashback from paid fees and even get an interest on funds on the account.



The business of the FIBO Group forex broker is a huge ecosystem consisting of the brokerage company, liquidity providers (aggregators) and the counterparty to the transaction (for example, a bank or a prime broker). The task of a forex broker is to accept an order from the customer and transfer it to the liquidity provider, which in turn, transfers it to the counterparty – the second party in the transaction. The company earns money by charging a fee for each customer&#8217;s transaction. On the one hand, the company does not care if the customer has earned or not, but in the long term, a smart broker is interested in the customer being active for a long time, which is possible only if the customer is satisfied and makes a profit.

Screenshot 2023-01-31 at 19.46.09

Alternative Investments in 2023

Joni Zurawinski, Advocate for Equal Access to Healthcare, at Roche Diagnostics, speaks to the importance of healthcare partnerships.



Nearly half of the world’s population (47%) does not have access to diagnostic testing. Low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs) are among the worst affected, with large diagnostic access gaps leading to premature deaths. In Africa, there is also a glaring shortage of healthcare workers; for example, pathologists, with a ratio of around one pathologist for every one-million people.



According to the World Health Organization (WHO), however, between 2000 and 2018, new HIV infections in Africa fell by 37% and HIV-related deaths by 45%, with 13.6 million lives saved due to access to testing and anti-retroviral treatment. This significant impact resulted from tremendous efforts made through partnerships – between governments, development and technical agencies, implementing organizations, civil society, and the private sector.



The Global Fund partnership, one of the world&#8217;s largest funders of global health, is one of the shining examples of partnership in practice, having saved more than 50 million lives over the past 20 years and reducing death rates from HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria by more than half.



The past has shown us that progress is possible, and the challenges faced across Africa cannot be solved by any one organization alone. As WHO suggests, and the Global Fund has demonstrated, we need a diversity of partners, thought, and solutions to move ahead. Leveraging the strengths and expertise of a broad range of partners brings solutions to solve complex challenges into better focus.



When established with purpose, transparency, and trust, with an aligned mission from all parties, partnerships have proved to be robust mechanisms in delivering impact. Partnership is the core of much of the success we’ve seen so far in delivering access for patients, and will be one of the key mechanisms to saving many more lives in years to come.



<h3>Why do we need the private sector for sustainable healthcare across Africa?</h3>



The private sector typically comes with technical expertise, speed, efficiency, and the ability to stretch every dollar to create maximum healthcare impact. When resources are scarce, this can offer an immense benefit for global, regional, and local health.



With a focus on growth, private sector companies aim to build technologies and innovations, understanding how and where the technology will work best for the benefit of patients and customers. In many cases, private sector companies have extended global reach to bring diverse best practices and leverage experience from a myriad of markets.



Private sector organizations invest heavily in product research and development and these investments can have greater impact for countries when they are directed with input from a diverse set of stakeholders.



<h3>The impact of public-private partnerships in action</h3>



Public-private partnerships have historically demonstrated an impact in driving access for people who need it and in building sustainable health systems that work.



Project Last Mile brings together the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Coca-Cola Company.



This cross-sector partnership taps into Coca-Cola’s business network – one of the widest-reaching business systems in Africa – and leverages top skills and experience within the supply chain and service providers to strengthen health systems and improve the availability and reach “to the last



mile” of life-saving medicines. In 2021, the project achieved some key milestones across 12 countries in Africa, having affected more than 35 million lives since its inception in 2010.5



Johnson &amp; Johnson is among several public and private sector partners expanding access to tuberculosis treatment in LMICs and non-governmental organizations. For example, in South Africa, starting in 2015, around 50,000 courses of MDR-TB medicine have been procured for patients in need to date. The initiative also supports efforts to train health workers and raise community awareness to find the “missing millions” of undiagnosed individuals with tuberculosis.



These are just a couple of examples that demonstrate the value and impact of public-private partnerships in addressing the access challenges across Africa. I’ve seen a similar sense of community in action in my own organization.



Roche was the first company to establish a formal diagnostic access program – the Global Access Program – in 2014, together with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and other partner organizations, including USAID, PEPFAR, and the Global Fund, to support much-needed scale up for access to HIV viral load tests to monitor anti-retroviral treatment efficacy across LMICs.



The Global Access Program has since expanded beyond HIV to ensure reliable testing solutions are available to patients in LMICs, focusing on critical infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C (HBV and HCV), COVID-19, and HPV (cervical cancer).



The Global Access Program was designed to provide end-to-end, sustainable, local solutions that would go beyond providing reduced pricing of diagnostic and monitoring tests, building capacity, and strengthening healthcare systems – in particular, diagnostics infrastructure. By working together with international agencies, non-governmental organizations, and governments at the global, regional and local levels, it takes a holistic and collaborative approach to improve health system diagnostic capacity.



As part of the Global Access Program, through continued partnership, over 8 million African patients are tested annually to manage their HIV infections. Over the past 7 years, more than 11 million babies have been tested for HIV, and over 8,300 laboratory technicians have been trained. Additionally, 33 African countries have installed Roche molecular diagnostics systems, enabling reliable testing – a critical step to realizing global elimination goals.



Between 2007 and 2017, Roche contributed to several Public-Private Partnerships specifically aimed to address barriers to access and scale up of HIV viral load and early infant diagnosis across Africa. This included partnerships with UNITAID and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) to create “Turnkey Laboratories” to improve access for early infant diagnosis, where over 900,000 tests were made available, 300,000 infants were enrolled into care and treatment, leading to more than 100 laboratories across Sub-Saharan Africa offering PCR testing.



In 2012, Roche and PEPFAR announced a public-private partnership to strengthen certification programs, educational resources, and molecular diagnostic laboratory systems to improve HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, and outcomes.



Some partnerships bring together unlikely matches, but thinking outside of the usual suspects can lead to significant impact. A great example is (RED), the organization founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006 to fight AIDS and the injustices that enable pandemics to thrive. (RED) leverages big brand presence and influencers to create unique products and experiences. These all raise money for the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS.



Roche Diagnostics, was the first diagnostics company to partner with (RED), embarking on a shared mission to create greater awareness of the importance of diagnostics in fighting pandemics and to encourage continued investment in health system strengthening. Over the last 3 years, the Roche and (RED) partnership has broken new ground in shifting awareness forward with new audiences via docu-style stories that helped keep the spotlight on HIV/AIDS and the importance of diagnostics throughout the COVID pandemic.



<h3 id="h-the-continued-role-of-public-private-partnerships">The continued role of public-private partnerships</h3>



The nature of partnerships should continue to evolve, building from past successes, lessons learned, and then adapting to meet new challenges. To reach more patients, we must understand the real-world conditions in public health facilities across the continent and foster cooperation with all the stakeholders to develop new models for access.



We need a diversity of capabilities, expertise, and perspective at the table to work together to tackle complex challenges for healthcare delivery. Partnerships created with purpose and aligned along shared missions and values have demonstrated impact and have shown what can be accomplished – including with the private sector.



&#8220;If everyone helps to hold up the sky, then one person does not become tired,” said Dr. Askkari Johnson Hodari.



I am fortunate to work for Roche, an organization committed to driving access to diagnostics for all – regardless of social, economic, or geographical barriers.



At some point in our lives, every one of us has been a patient and has seen a beloved family member or friend tackle health issues. If we remain mindful of this and work together within trusted, transparent, and purposeful partnerships, we can build strong health systems that provide equal access to the care and treatment people need, no matter where they live.

JoniZurawinski_DRUCK_003

Partnerships With Purpose: The private sector’s role in building sustainable healthcare in Africa

The Future of Education in Africa



The COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected the way that education is conceived and delivered worldwide. As institutions in Africa adapt to the new learning environment and consider implications for students, faculty, and staff, technology plays a critical role in enabling successful outcomes both today and in the future.



That’s why OneConnect and Anthology have partnered to support the African education community and help more students and institutions achieve their goals. With a holistic approach to education technology that’s focused on delivering dynamic, data-informed experiences, OneConnect and Anthology are breaking down silos and connecting critical systems to open up a world of new possibilities for learning.



Blending Data with Experiences



A learner doesn’t exist inside one system alone, and neither does an institution. By bringing together data and insights across core solutions, the right technology can help educators develop a deeper understanding of students to deliver more personalized experiences tailored to meet the needs of each learner. This also helps institutions drive operational efficiencies and meet objectives around critical areas like enrollment, retention, and engagement.



Higher education leaders are nearly unanimous in their perspective on the potential impact that blending data and experiences could make. 94% globally agree that a holistic view of learner data pulled across multiple systems would benefit their team and help more students achieve their goals.



“By considering student feedback and investing in technology resources to deliver more personalization across everything from course delivery options to career services, higher education leaders can position their university to provide an experience that meets the needs of today’s learners—and those of tomorrow,” said Jim Milton, Chairman and CEO, Anthology.



“We believe that education technology solutions allow students in rural and remote areas access to the same quality of education as a child attending the best private school in the city. Furthermore, that student can interact with peers across the country and the continent; be exposed to new ideas and new opportunities, benefitting from the diversity and richness of their engagements. Our aim is to also help education institutions see that they can grow their businesses beyond brick and mortar and do so quickly – breaking down “walls” to reach students beyond their physical geography, through sophisticated solutions that make administration and teaching seamless,&#8221; said Rogers Sithole, MD of OneConnect Education.



Partnering for Progress



OneConnect delivers Anthology’s comprehensive suite of education technology solutions to institutions across the African continent. Trusted by more than 150 million learners, educators and administrators in +80 countries, Anthology offers a holistic ecosystem designed to help create an inspiring and infinite world of learning without boundaries. In partnership with the African education community, OneConnect and Anthology are shaping the future of learning through technology.



Get to know us and explore the possibilities. <a href="http://www.anthology.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.Anthology.com</a> OR www.oneconnect.co.za



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="155" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OC-Anthology-Png-02-1024x155.png" alt="" class="wp-image-57405" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OC-Anthology-Png-02-1024x155.png 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OC-Anthology-Png-02-300x45.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OC-Anthology-Png-02-768x116.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OC-Anthology-Png-02-1536x232.png 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OC-Anthology-Png-02-2048x309.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>

Together we will figure it out

Supporting The African Education Community To Achieve Its Goals

Q&amp;A with Emma Knox, CEO: Vitality Health Insurance



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Spotlight on Strategy For Health Insurance In Africa" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qfjcOn5I-4M?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



Why is Vitality Health International (VHI) embarking on an Africa strategy?



Before I answer the &#8216;why&#8217; I would like to take the opportunity to share a little more with you on the &#8216;what&#8217;.



Vitality Health International was established last year and is the most recent expansion for the Vitality group, which brings both the Vitality Health International product as well as the unique Vitality wellness program to the rest of Africa. We have launched VHI to enable us to bring this novel private health International solution and wellness program to meet the unique needs of our home continent’s people.



Vitality has more than 20 years’ experience, in 38 countries worldwide with over 27 million members – we believe that the time is right to expand our innovative, globally recognized, shared-value health International offering to key markets across our home continent.



Is your own background and experience conducive to leading an Africa strategy for VHI?



I am very excited to be part of the team bringing Vitality to the rest of Africa. My background is in healthcare, I spent 18 years at GlaxoSmithKline where the focus of my last ten years was focused on bringing much needed medicines and vaccines to sub-Saharan Africa.



In addition to this I have spent some time working with NGO&#8217;s focused on the African continent, with both Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) as well as sitting on the Board of Save the Children SA. I am passionate about increasing access to healthcare and look forward to bringing this experience to VHI. I am also surrounded by a team of exceptionally talented and experienced individuals in the VHI team, including my actuarial and medical teams who ensure we build the right product for each country and are able to offer real value to our customers.



You say you are working with local in-country partners to deliver your Africa strategy – how have you gone about selecting those partners?



Partnership is crucial to the VHI model. Every country is unique, and we need to work with leading local International businesses to fully understand this and ensure we bring a product of real value. Our partners enable us to do this. In each market we have conducted a detailed in-country review and have a selection process to find a partner who has the right combination of in-market knowledge as well as one which meets our legal and regulatory requirements and has aligned values. I believe that in any partnership the most important ingredient is aligned values, these form the basis of any strong, long-term partnership.



Which countries is VHI currently available in?



We have launched in four countries so far, Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia and the DRC. This is part of a plan to grow our footprint to more than ten countries in the next 12 months.



Ensuring that we provide long-term benefits to our clients in all markets means that we need to get the basics right – it is for this reason that we are taking a considered approach to meet all relevant in-country regulatory requirements. In addition, we have focused on the countries where we believe we can make the most impact, this is dependent on the healthcare model of the country as well as the ability for us to bring our shared-value model. At the heart of our shared value ecosystem is our commitment to create healthier people, and build a stronger healthcare system, across our home continent.



Shared-value is what underpins the Vitality offering and it is what makes our offering so different. The knowledge that looking after your health by doing the correct medical checks for your age, eating healthily and exercising improves our life expectancy and reduces illness is not new. However, we know at Vitality that often this knowledge is not enough to change human behaviour, and that having increased access to clear, relevant information and regular rewards for achieving your goals helps people make long lasting changes that impact their health.



How have you gone about deciding which VHI products are appropriate for Africa?



Vitality Health International is currently only focused on one core product &#8211; this is Health International for corporates where we offer Health International with our Vitality wellness program embedded. We believe this is the product that can make the biggest impact most rapidly.



Through the roll out of Vitality we offer employers the ability for employees to link an approved wearable fitness device to the Vitality platform, to track their physical activity. Employees on Vitality will also be able to complete online health assessments to understand their health risks and receive weekly goals to increase their physical activity levels and earn rewards with Vitality Active Rewards. In three easy steps, Vitality members can:



· Track physical activity through linked wearable fitness devices.



· Achieve weekly, personalised activity goals through the Vitality platform, and



· Earn rewards for achieving their physical activity goals.



In addition to the Health International product we have also launched another product, Travel for Treatment (T4T). Vitality Health International has partnered with Medical Services Organization International (MSOI) to enable us to do this. T4T is an end-to-end clinical concierge service for people living on the African continent who need to access healthcare in top medical destinations, including South Africa, the United Kingdom and France.



Medical tourism is a large and growing opportunity in Africa. The demand for T4T continues to grow rapidly year by year. Unfortunately, the vast majority of patients have to navigate this complex and often intimidating journey alone. An estimated two million patients, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) travelled to South Africa between 2003 and 2008, at an average of 400,000 people per annum.



WithT4T, patients get access to a range of healthcare services, at standard medical fees, from contracted healthcare facilities and providers, including dedicated case management support and cover for complications. All non-healthcare arrangements are also catered for according to the needs of the patient, including flights, transfers and accommodation. We take care of all the complex details so that patients can focus on their treatment and healing.



What is your long term vision in terms of your Africa strategy?



The Vitality Health International team are bringing the benefit of our unique wellness programme and International to the rest of Africa along with our unique T4T offering. With these offerings we are committed to bringing our shared value model to the rest of Africa through which we aim to make people, companies, and societies healthier.



Interviewed by Bronwyn Nielson, CEO, The Nielsen Network

93589DH ΓÇô 1200x628px ΓÇô 2@2x

Spotlight on Strategy For Health Insurance In Africa

A visionary leader with a zeal to transform the lives of people in Africa, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, also lovingly known as ‘Mama Africa’, has been at the forefront of the Foundation to address critical social and health issues across Africa through unique and exemplary ways. And one of the exceptional ways she is using to create community awareness about these issues is creating music and video clips together with talented young African musicians.



Merck Foundation CEO: Creating a cultural shift in Africa through Music



Egypt-born Rasha Kelej believes music and art can influence us to make the problem felt, which further stimulates emotions and leads to engagement and action. “Music has the power to touch the hearts and souls of people, bind communities, and bring about a cultural shift in society,” she says.



She used her hidden talents to produce and direct around 30 songs in English, French, Portuguese and local languages, with various local African artists to address issues like breaking infertility stigma, empowering women, supporting girls’ education, ending child marriage, diabetes awareness, promoting a healthy lifestyle, and more.



It is very impressive that besides the talents from the music industry, the President of Liberia, the former First Lady of Burundi, and the daughter of the current President of Burundi have also composed and sung songs for her Merck Foundation “More than a Mother” Campaign to break the stigma around infertility and infertile women in particular.



Kelej recently launched three interesting songs in English, French and Portuguese, to raise awareness about diabetes. The songs communicate an important message that diabetes can be prevented and managed with lifestyle modifications like going sugar-free, eating healthy, exercising regularly, stopping smoking, and limiting alcohol intake.



Creating with African Musicians



Some of the artists Kelej partnered with include Cwezi and Adina from Ghana, Wezi from Zambia, Kenneth from Uganda, Sean K from Namibia, Blaze from Mozambique, Sunita from Gambia, Tom Close from Rwanda, Suzanna Owiyo and Octopizzo from Kenya, Rozzy from Sierra Leone, Dan Lu from Malawi, Irene Logan from Liberia, Laura Beg from Mauritius – to name a few.



Another interesting song that she produced as her personal contribution to show support and appreciation for medical workers around the world during COVID-19 was ‘My White Army Song’.



It is worth appreciating that she coordinated with 11 singers across Africa to come up with this song, which was a tribute to the medical workers during COVID-19. It was for the first time that singers from 11 African countries came together in one song in three languages – English, French, and Arabic.



Merck Foundation Awards for African Talents to Raise Awareness



To encourage young talents who aspire to become singers to raise awareness through songs, Kelej has announced two song awards in partnership with African First Ladies. One is the ‘More Than a Mother’ song award for breaking the infertility stigma, supporting girls’ education, women empowerment, ending child marriage, ending FGM, and/ or stopping Gender Based Violence at all levels. And the second is the diabetes &amp; hypertension song award to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of diabetes and hypertension.



Not only this, but the awards have also been announced on these themes for filmmakers, fashion designers, media, and young talents in these fields.



“I invite African artists, media and young talents of Africa, to be the voice of the voiceless, break the silence. Send us your entries at submit@merck-foundation.com,” she adds.



Creating “Our Africa” TV program to raise awareness



This multi-talented CEO has also conceptualized, produced, directed, and co-hosted a TV program “Our Africa by Merck Foundation”, a pan African TV program that features fashion designers, singers, and prominent guests from various domains with the aim to raise awareness about a wide range of social and health issues in Africa.



The show has been receiving overwhelming acclaim from its viewers and social media followers of Kelej, for its ability to use a medium like fashion and art to address sensitive social and health issues.



The show initially released on KTV in Kenya, NTV in Uganda, and GH One TV in Ghana and ZNBC in Zambia, AYV in Sierra Leone and LTV, Liberia, immediately captured the attention and hearts of millions of viewers across Africa. “Our Africa” TV program is currently on the social media handles of Kelej and Merck Foundation.



African First Ladies as Ambassadors



Over the last five years Kelej has been working closely with more than 20 African First Ladies, who are the ambassadors of Merck Foundation to build healthcare capacity, break infertility stigma, support girls’ education and more.



She has also launched 8 children’s storybooks on these issues to sensitize children from young ages in three languages, English, French and Portuguese – another unique initiative to create a culture shift.



Making history via Transforming Patient Care in Africa and beyond



Kelej spearheads Merck Foundation’s programs that have been contributing in building healthcare capacity in Africa and beyond. They provided 1470 scholarships to young doctors from 50 countries with scholarships in more than 32 critical and underserved specialties. Merck Foundation became part of Africa’s legacy as they provided training to the first specialized doctors in many fields like Fertility, Embryology, Oncology, Diabetes, Endocrinology, Respiratory and more.



“We invite all doctors from underserved communities to apply to our scholarships on our email info@merck-foundation.com to fill health gaps in their communities,” Kelej emphasized. To follow the Merck Foundation mission, visit: www.merck-foundation.com and www.rasha-kelej.com.

Senator Dr Rasha Kelej during OUR Africa by Merck Foundation TV Show (1)

Merck Foundation CEO: Creating Songs With African Musicians to Raise Awareness

WCEF presents the world’s leading circular economy solutions with business leaders, policymakers and experts participating from around the world. In attendance in Rwanda from 6th to 8th of December was Josephine Wawira, the Communications Lead at Sustainable Inclusive Business, the Knowledge Center under the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA).



Kigali, a city that rhythms with African charm, prides itself on biodiversity that is well maintained, sprawling over green valleys and ridges, the capital of the land of a thousand hills, Rwanda. I am here for the annual World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF), and like millions of other people who have visited Kigali, I am in awe of the progressiveness of an African people who have chosen to rise from dust to glory. The streets are clean and flowers blossom along the roads; safe for your morning jog or an evening bicycle ride with provisions for both pedestrian and cycling lanes. On multiple corners sustainable buildings are coming up; some are already in existence. A city on the move towards the right direction. A direction of peaceful co-existence, a spirited art scene, an alluring business environment, delightful gastronomic experiences and an incredibly inviting culture.



Amid my deep analysis and comparison with my country Kenya, my thoughts are interrupted by the arrival of my guest, Kari Herlevi. He is the Head of Unit, Global Collaboration at the Finnish Innovation Fund – Sitra, the lead organization for the WCEF. A delightful gentleman who is driven by a bigger purpose to contribute to a better future. For Herlevi, it’s not just about the economy but also about the environment, making for an interesting side-line chat on the biodiversity topic that has captured the attention of global policymakers as well as the private sector.



As a background, WCEF presents the world’s leading circular economy solutions with business leaders, policymakers and experts participating from around the world. Hosted in the Global South for the first time in Kigali from 6th to 8th December, this year’s forum presented a unique opportunity for African countries and the world at large to transition toward an inclusive low-carbon and climate-resilient economy while tackling key societal challenges.



For this transition to happen, we cannot understate the importance of biodiversity, as it’s not only important for our co-existence with nature, but also supports our economy, civilization, and survival of the human race. At this juncture, Herlevi reflects on the gravity of biodiversity loss globally, the correlation with climate change, the dangers we face unless we take prompt action, and the opportunities we have to turn the tide. Unfortunately, biodiversity loss is more acute in Sub-Saharan Africa under the “business as usual” scenario. This is mostly driven by an increasing agricultural land use to feed a growing population. On the other hand, the primary forest cover continues to decrease, leaving Sub-Saharan Africa even more vulnerable to longer-term impacts.



Are you a threat or an opportunity for biodiversity? Herlevi asks me, and it immediately gets me wondering. How am I, you, individually contributing to this menace? Let’s take our daily consumption patterns for example.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Image-2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-57169" width="269" height="404" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Image-2.png 368w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Image-2-200x300.png 200w" sizes="(max-width: 269px) 100vw, 269px" /></figure></div>


According to a 2022 Sitra Report on Tackling Root Causes, Agriculture uses 50% of habitable land globally, of which 77% is used to farm livestock for meat and dairy consumption or to grow crops for livestock consumption. Almost half of the forest area lost in the tropics has been converted to



agriculture, chiefly for beef, palm oil and soybean production. So, every time you and I crave a beef burger, we must evaluate our contribution to the biodiversity loss and ask ourselves if it is necessary to consume it as often as we currently do.



How about the tones of clothes lying around our wardrobe unworn for years on end, yet we keep adding to the heap each passing day? And how often do our torn clothes find their way into the dustbin, more often mixed with wet waste and into the landfill? But what if we focused on quality instead of quantity? What if we bought clothes only when we need them and not because we just wanted them? What if designers and manufacturers increased the durability of the materials so we can wear them longer without wear and tear? What if we refurbished more and recycled them at the end of their lifecycle? What if the textile industry used more regenerative methods to cultivate fibres? What if we shifted our consumption behaviour and adopted more regenerative and circular models that will then transform our economies to become more resilient and unlock new growth by giving us more, from what we already have? What if?



As I write this, the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) is underway in Montreal, Canada (7 &#8211; 19 December 2022). More governments and policymakers convene from around the world to agree to a new set of goals for nature over the next decade through the Convention on Biological Diversity post-2020 framework process. But until we redefine how we produce, consume and manage the materials and products we already have; until we transition to a circular economy and implement tangible impact-driven solutions that reduce the impacts on biodiversity by reducing resource use; unless we urgently change course and start acting in conjunction with nature and not against it by starting the process of biodiversity recovery; then year on year, while all these discussions continue, biodiversity loss will keep accelerating. Temperatures will keep rising and the frequency of extreme weather experienced. The habitat will continuously degrade, and nature’s glory will deteriorate thus diminishing returns from its contribution to the people.



An hour of conversation with Herlevi goes by too fast; both of us are engraved in a global challenge that affects both our countries’ futures though from different contexts. And while varying drivers differentiate Finland, Rwanda and Kenya and so many other countries represented in the World Circular Economy Forum, we feel united by one mission, that of saving humanity from the pangs of our own doing. As we bid goodbye we remind each other of the key question, are you a threat or an opportunity for biodiversity?



Words by: Josephine Wawira

Image 1

Are you a threat or an opportunity for biodiversity?

<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">&#8220;It is in the character of growth that we should learn from both pleasant and unpleasant experiences.&#8221; &#8211; Nelson Mandela </blockquote>



Formulating Sustainable Healthcare &#8211; A Balancing Act.&nbsp;&nbsp;



&#8220;Healthcare is not just an industry; it&#8217;s an equality booster and an economy contributor,&#8221; shares Dr. Nicholas Crisp from the National Department of Health in South Africa. Formulating a sustainable healthcare model should be everyone&#8217;s priority and is a matter of national interest.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Experiences fueled by the COVID-19 outbreak became lessons of unexpected collaborative efforts, technological adaptations, and greater healthcare awareness amongst patients and healthy populations. Two years later, it is time to distill these lessons to shape a robust and sustainable plan. A plan that requires executives to find the right balance among strategic variables.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



Executive Forecast has interviewed top-level executives from the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and medical technology industries and refined what we&#8217;ve learned into essential insights. To gain a deeper understanding of these topics, click below to view our full report, including unabridged interviews with South African executives online. 



<a href="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Online-Version-for-Forbes-Africa-Reviewed-by-GE..pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DOWNLOAD FULL REPORT HERE</a>



<div class="wp-block-file"><object class="wp-block-file__embed" data="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Online-Version-for-Forbes-Africa-Reviewed-by-GE..pdf" type="application/pdf" style="width:100%;height:600px" aria-label="Embed of Embed of Online-Version-for-Forbes-Africa-Reviewed-by-GE..."></object><a id="wp-block-file--media-23fabd91-5089-4d75-92dc-7e3d06f81bf5" href="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Online-Version-for-Forbes-Africa-Reviewed-by-GE..pdf">Online-Version-for-Forbes-Africa-Reviewed-by-GE.</a><a href="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Online-Version-for-Forbes-Africa-Reviewed-by-GE..pdf" class="wp-block-file__button" download aria-describedby="wp-block-file--media-23fabd91-5089-4d75-92dc-7e3d06f81bf5">Download</a></div>

thumbnail_SA BFH_Digital Cover_1200x628

Going Back to the Future of Health 

While the African beauty industry is largely dominated by international beauty conglomerates, Belle Nubian seeks to not only challenge these statistics, but also help the continent reclaim and redefine what it considers to be true African beauty.



As beauty ideals begin to shift around the world, the demand for brands that understand the plight of African skin continues to grow.



Tapping into a billion-dollar industry that is dominated by international companies is no easy feat.



Yet, Faria Ichola already possessed a skill that would help her achieve this goal – a work ethic instilled in her by an A list American Singer.



“It was an intense experience, but as my coach and mentor, she instilled an incredible work ethic in me.”



It was during this period that Ichola was introduced to skincare solutions practiced by celebrities, and she noticed how these solutions helped maintain healthy skin.



Coupled with memories of her late mother’s entrepreneurial spirit, and her master&#8217;s in Business and Administration, it wasn&#8217;t long before Ichola set out to provide solutions to women on the African continent.



A solution for African skin concerns



Hailing from the Republic of Benin and Ivory Coast, West Africa, and struggling with her own skincare issues, Ichola sought out remedies for her woes.



In doing so, she discovered a formula that was so effective in addressing her concerns that she believed it would offer the same benefits to others.



Launched in 2016, based in New York, Belle Nubian now has 40 stores around the world, with just over 200 distributors, and an annual turnover of $10 million.



Translating to Beautiful Black, the brand emerged after Ichola was introduced to glutathione, an antioxidant ingredient gaining popularity due to its effectiveness on the skin and overall health.



After discovering that the compound was relatively non-existent in the beauty market, Ichola created a dual glutathione and vitamin C product, and began selling.



It wasn’t long before the product sold out, and as the brand grew and began introducing new products, Ichola recruited distributors that would help her sell across Africa. 60% of revenue is generated from the franchises and distributors in Europe and the USA.



In addition to helping African women embrace healthy skin, Ichola has also created opportunities for them to earn a living by distributing Belle Nubian products.



“We empower so many women who are now financially independent and happier in their marriages and in their lives. They don&#8217;t have to take any burden from men anymore. They&#8217;re free.”



Laying the Beauty Foundation



Launching a successful business is a feat that Ichola is proud of, yet she has realized that no matter how large her consumer numbers grow, it doesn’t make her immune to criticism.



Ichola acknowledges that every struggle comes with a lesson, and if she hadn’t gone through these struggles, then she wouldn’t have learned what she needed to in order to move forward.



A beauty secret revealed



Consumers often struggle with trusting brands, especially those that produce products to be used on the skin. Yet Ichola believes that her audience has no qualms about trusting her because of her candidness,



“My audience likes me because I&#8217;m genuine. I don&#8217;t pretend to be what I&#8217;m not…I share my struggle. I share my battles, and I&#8217;m transparent.”



However, it is not just the effectiveness of her ingredients or candidness that Ichola credits her success to, but also her attention to detail.



“Unfortunately, while some companies will possess all the necessary tools and resources, they may fail to meet success due to poor implementation and organization,” says Ichola.



By ensuring organization in her business, and never letting anybody discourage her, Ichola launched a successful brand that brought luxury skincare to the continent.



With plans for the brand to introduce products aimed at babies, as well as haircare, it’s clear that Belle Nubian is leaving its beauty mark on Africa – and beyond, as the company intends on expanding into real estate and finance.

IMG 2

Bringing African Luxury To Skincare

Applied Machine Learning Days (AMLD) Africa, a free Machine Learning conference, makes it possible for anyone in Africa to learn about AI and interact with world-class speakers and entities.



In 2020, AMLD Africa was founded to #DemocratizeMachineLearning in Africa. Two years later, AMLD Africa presented the African continent their second edition: an opportunity to learn, be inspired, and network with experts from multinationals (IBM, Google, Oracle, AWS), giant Moroccan companies (OCP), diplomatic and governmental entities (Ministry of the Digital Transition and administration reform) and even Turing Award Recipient (Nobel’s price in Computer Science) Yoshua Bengio.



A machine learning conference can cost up to $1000 per person per day. Conferences allow participants to not only learn state-of-the-art technologies but also connect and network with both the scientific and corporate communities.



“My hard work and my place of privilege allowed me to study in a world-renowned university, and therefore, interact with world-renowned experts. I am glad to have access to such opportunities, but is it fair to those who deserve it but can’t afford it?” questions Ines Bahej, a head organizer of AMLD Africa. That is why a group of the African Diaspora in Switzerland founded Machine Learning for Africa (MLA) to bring closer what they have to those who don’t.



What exactly is AMLD Africa?



Applied Machine Learning Days (AMLD) is a conference founded by Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in 2017. The conference expanded its reach to Africa – specifically, Ben Guerir, Morocco. From the 3rd to the 5th of November 2022, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) hosted the second edition of AMLD Africa: an impact-oriented, interdisciplinary and inclusive initiative. Despite the fact AMLD Africa literally contains the word “Machine Learning”, it is not about “Machine Learning”. It’s an invitation to discuss and assess the impact that comes with this fascinating tool and learn from applied implementations in the African continent. In fact, the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is sector-agnostic, and that is why talks were divided into different relevant tracks that impact the continent and the world. Here’s the interview of Guillaume Scheurer, the Swiss ambassador in Morocco on the importance of AI for the growth of business in general: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTz_k1Pmrh8



During a climate change crisis, AMLD Africa shed a light on Africa&#8217;s research on water resource management. In a post-pandemic era, the conference broadcasted how we can use AI in healthcare, such as in breast cancer’s detection. However, AI is not a magical wand that can transform challenges into magical solutions. We have been reminded not only of its limitations but also the need to use it ethically because “with great power, comes great responsibility.”



AMLD Africa aims to share this power and inform the responsibilities that come with it to all data enthusiasts. The impact of the conference goes beyond the walls of the venue and has reached almost 3000 participants from more than 70 countries (including 35 African Countries). Participants all over the continent not only watched the conference through their screens but even gathered in physical broadcasts organized by local ambassadors in Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, Tunisia, DRC, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, South Africa, and Algeria.



AMLD Africa is not only inclusive to participants but also to speakers. The conference has invited speakers from public and private sectors (the Minister of Digital Transformation and the Vice President of Oracle), from the academic and corporate environment (a lecturer from a Kenyan University and the Chief Transformation Officer of OCP) but also from the scientific, business, and even diplomatic sector as even the AI director of the European Commission was able to share her thoughts on Europe’s AI strategy. The conference was a strong reminder that democratizing Machine Learning is neither a private nor a public sector but will only be achieved through a global and comprehensive strategy.



What’s next?



Every ending is a new beginning, and the closing of the conference announced the beginning of an initiative that unites and inspires a continent. In a local interview, Nour Ghalia Abassi, a head organizer of AMLD Africa, gave a glance at the future steps of Machine Learning for Africa.



AMLD Africa is an African initiative, therefore the impact of the conference should not be geographically limited to a country. The association has launched several discussions about what country should host this initiative.



She strongly believes that #DemocratizingMachineLearning will not only be achieved throughout a three-day conference. We will therefore organize other initiatives that will target African researchers and job seekers. These initiatives will aim to create bridges between the public, private, and academic sectors.



Artificial Intelligence presents ethical, social, and economic challenges, but these challenges come with an undeniable opportunity to leapfrog the technological infrastructure associated with the Third Industrial Revolution. The more passionate talents benefit from easy access to technology, the more initiatives will leverage data, and the more AI could benefit our daily life. If you are wondering how that can be done, then AMLD Africa is the conference to follow.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/PB041949-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57032" width="591" height="443" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/PB041949-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/PB041949-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/PB041949-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/PB041949-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/PB041949.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 591px) 100vw, 591px" /></figure></div>

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

How Applied Machine Learning Days Impacted Africa

Read on if you want to work as an Executive Vice President at Global Trade Bank, a division of Afreximbank managing a large and diverse portfolio and boosting Africa’s trade with the world.



African Export Import Bank (the bank) was established in October 1993 by a treaty signed and ratified by African Governments. Its shareholders are African Governments and/or their Central Banks financial institutions and private investors.



Established as a multilateral organisation, its purpose is the financing, promotion, facilitation and expansion of intra-African and extra-African trade. With headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, the Bank has branch offices in Abidjan, Abuja, Harare, Kampala, and Yaoundé.



In recent years, the bank has experienced considerable growth. To build on this success, it is now implementing its 6th Strategic Plan covering the period 2022 – 2026.



The plan is based on four Strategic Pillars namely: Intra-African Trade &amp; AfCFTA Implementation; Industrialisation &amp; Export Development; Leadership in Global Trade Banking in Africa; and Financial Sustainability. One of these Strategic Pillars is being established as a division within the bank, known as the Global Trade Bank (“GTBA”).



And now, the bank has engaged the Willis Partnership to assist them with the recruitment of an Executive Vice President to provide leadership and strategic direction for the Global Trade Bank.



What would a candidate be doing in this role?



Based in Cairo, Egypt and reporting to the President &amp; Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Executive Vice President, GTBA Bank (EVP GTBA Bank) is a member of the bank’s Executive Management Forum (EXMAF) and is responsible for leading and developing a team of high-achieving professionals to manage a large and diverse portfolio of about $10 billion per year across Africa.



They will be expected to develop and implement strategies to boost Africa’s trade with the world including access to trade finance across the full spectrum of products and services. These include short-term products, such as import and export finance and other specialised trade finance facilities, including structured trade finance, forfaiting, factoring &amp; supply chain finance, commodities finance, advisory, derivatives, trade services, letters of credit, and guarantees &amp; correspondent banking. The EVP GTBA will also supervise syndications and overall asset distribution.



The EVP GTBA will spearhead the development of deep industrial knowledge in target sectors and lead the sourcing of new transaction opportunities through a broad professional network. The position is responsible for managing the entire value chain related to global trade banking including origination, due diligence, structuring/negotiating, and the closing of new transactions as well as managing all associated risks.



The EVP GTBA serves as the leader of the Global Trade Bank and as the liaison between the President and the Board of Directors, other Afreximbank business units and group support functions, investors, and other relevant stakeholders. They are expected to contribute to thought leadership and to foster a healthy workplace culture based on Afreximbank’s core values, to support professional development, staff well-being, as well as the transformation of the African continent.



What does someone need to work at Afreximbank as an Executive Vice President?



Eligible candidates for this role must be able to demonstrate they are a national of an African country (including dual citizens), have a relevant undergraduate degree and a postgraduate or professional qualification, as well as a minimum of 15 years’ relevant experience in financial and investment services – with a demonstrable track record in the banking industry at senior management level.



The candidate must also have substantial experience of leading and managing trade-related banking, coupled with strong current knowledge of the African trade environment and key trade sectors, along with strong business acumen, maturity and tact gained within multicultural environments, with experience of building successful relationships at the highest levels in government and the private sector.



Additionally, they must possess excellent communication, business presentation, and analytical skills, as well as proven stakeholder management experience coupled with strong decision-making and problem-solving skills.



Candidates can apply with a full curriculum vitae to a retained consultant Robert Baldwain, at: robertbaldwin@willis-partnership.co.uk, quoting reference DGLTR/22.



Applications sent directly to the Bank will not be considered. The closing date for applications to be received is 31st January 2023.

Afreximbank Landscape Image – Forbes Africa – (1200×628 px)

Making change in a large multilateral organization in Africa

Michelle Akande, Vice President of Global Access Financing at Pfizer outlines why building connections across the global health community and developing new solutions has never been more important, especially for Africa. 



We are living in an era of unacceptable juxtapositions. In 2015, a report about the frontiers of longevity postulated that a child born then could live to 142 years. On the other hand, life expectancy in the lowest ranked 10 countries in the world ranges only between 55 and 60 years. Even where life expectancy is getting longer, people aren’t necessarily getting healthier, which means facing many years lived in poor health.&nbsp;



Scientific breakthroughs, an important part of closing this gap, are accelerating at an unprecedented rate. However, access remains a challenge to some of the most underserved populations globally. Access is being compounded by several immediate and longer-term mega trends including the economic consequences of COVID-19, the food crisis caused by the ongoing war with Russia and Ukraine, and the triple burden of disease–often referred to as the culmination of communicable diseases, the growing epidemic of non-communicable diseases, and emerging globalization related conditions like pandemics and the impact of climate change on health.



The pharmaceutical industry will continue to be a key player in advancing scientific discoveries whilst also helping to equalize access to quality healthcare. At this inflection point in human history, that responsibility has never been more critical. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, there is an estimated gap of $370 billion annually on health spending in frontier countries, which includes African countries, if the Sustainable Development Goal target is to be met by 2030. The Global Impact Investment Network (GIIN) tells us that, of the estimated $500 billion annual global social-impact investment, Africa receives only 1.6% yet it has 23% of the global disease burden and is home to 16% of the world’s population.



Equalizing access and accelerating health equity in our changing global context requires new thinking. It requires seizing this pivotal moment and leveraging the increasing democratization and decentralization of health with those who shape it and those who fund it. It is no longer feasible just to think about interventions from the perspective of big philanthropy or government financing–even though these remain critically important.



During the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting at Davos this year, Pfizer announced ‘An Accord for a Healthier World’, a transformative initiative focused on providing our current and future patent-protected medicines and vaccines available in the US and EU to 45 low-income and lower-middle-income countries on a not-for-profit basis. The Accord is also an invitation to collaborative action with other access and health equity focused health actors. It is the first step of a long-term commitment to close the time it takes to access scientific breakthroughs in these countries, and an opportunity to leverage earlier access to innovations to support health system strengthening.&nbsp;



Under the leadership of their governments and the support of global health partners, work is already underway in the first countries to implement the Accord. Taking a patient centric approach and led by governments and with other stakeholders, the Accord is working at select facilities to identify healthcare gaps and optimize the patient journey, leading to improved health outcomes across rare diseases, cancers and rheumatic conditions. Although needs will vary across facilities and health systems, this will likely involve leveraging appropriate innovative service delivery tools, and leapfrogging approaches to close demand and supply side gaps, including the availability of efficient referral and patient navigation networks, strategically positioned diagnostic and laboratory infrastructure, treatment access and patient adherence, as well as counselling and other support services where needed. Making this transition will take resources meaning we also need to challenge ourselves in creating new, commercially viable and sustainable models for identifying and securing financial support. &nbsp;



As interest rates rise globally, currencies are devalued, and liquidity becomes more challenged, new financing will be required to close health system gaps. With over 50% of low-income countries facing the possibility of debt distress, that financing will need to be patient and transformational.&nbsp;



Such transformation is already emerging from collaborative efforts. During the United Nations 77th General Assembly, Pfizer and partners hosted the Accord House, an opportunity for government, the private sector and the global health community to discuss how best to address the health equity gap and enable greater well-being in lower-income countries. During a discussion on Health Systems Financing which was moderated by Prof. Prashant Yadav, Academic Director of the INSEAD Africa Initiative, we heard the Minister of Health for Ghana, Mr. Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, Zeynep&nbsp;Kantur Ozenci, Global Sector Manager for Health and Education at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Sebastian Ashong-Katai, Group Head of Financial Institutions and International Organisations at the EcoBank Group and Michael Anderson, CEO of MedAccess talk about agreements between Governments, Multilateral Organisations and the Private Sector that are unlocking concessionary financing for health. Likewise, partnerships between development finance institutions and commercial banks are resulting in new products with longer payback periods and lower interest rates. Health-focused funds by influential investors are also playing a critical role in catalyzing and encouraging diverse participation, whilst de-risking health investments. While smart finance solutions like volume and procurement guarantees are part of a proven solution for addressing systemic market failures.&nbsp;



This is the type of transformation that will contribute to sustainable health system improvements and improved patient outcomes–from results-based financing to repurposing sovereign debt; from decentralized finance to blended finance solutions; from risk sharing arrangements to the use of credit enhancements; and, from the organizing of remittances going back to developing markets to donor-assisted funds. The range of actors, trends and financing pathways present a unique and urgent opportunity to close the equity gap in financing healthcare and addressing the social determinants of disease. Emboldened by our purpose to bring breakthroughs that change patients’ lives, we are collaborating across these actors, leveraging these trends and instruments to enable the shared vision for a healthier world. Not only do these approaches provide an opportunity to redefine financial pathways globally, if organized optimally, they can revolutionize how healthcare is financed.



As we build on Pfizer’s presence in Africa, which dates back more than 70 years, building connections across the global health community and developing new solutions has never been more important. Health care financing has been decentralized, which means that private and public money, capital markets, corporations, individuals and more have a role to play in building sustainable equitable healthcare solutions and reorganizing funding. We must all work together to help close the health equity gap, strengthen health systems and enable better patient outcomes.&nbsp;

Female Doctor taking blood pressure on patient in a hospital

BRIDGING THE HEALTH FINANCING GAP IN AFRICA

Developed and operated by the Gauteng IDZ Development Company, the OR Tambo International Airport Special Economic Zone is competitively located at or in proximity to OR Tambo International Airport.&nbsp; In support of its competitive location, the value proposition of this SEZ is centred around the service offering of OR Tambo International. Recent statistics show that OR Tambo International continues to be a leading Airport in Africa, both in terms of passenger and cargo traffic. Specific to cargo, OR Tambo International is responsible for 84% of all air cargo traffic in Airport Company South Africa’s network. With a 95% recovery to pre-Covid air cargo throughput realised so far, it is envisaged that the Airport will continue to play a major role in the movement of air cargo.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GIDZ11-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-56974" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GIDZ11-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GIDZ11-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GIDZ11-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GIDZ11-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GIDZ11-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Leveraging OR Tambo International’s Air Cargo Capabilities&nbsp;



With its proximity to South Africa’s main air cargo centre, the OR Tambo SEZ focuses on the production and export of goods that typically move via air freight.&nbsp; These include perishable products that are time or temperature sensitive such as fresh food products and medicines as well as high value commodities such as jewellery and diamonds or even fuel cell products.&nbsp;



Taking the value chain approach&nbsp;



Access to infrastructure that supports the movement of goods manufactured at the SEZ is one thing, ensuring that there is an operating value chain to support the sector identified for location at the SEZ is another.



In support of its vision to create a globally competitive SEZ, the Gauteng IDZ has taken a value chain approach to the OR Tambo SEZ’s development. To this end, the Gauteng IDZ works to understand the proposed industries or sectors – from the input to the end market, thereby ensuring that the necessary technical and business support are located within the SEZ’s environment.&nbsp;



By doing so, nuances specific to a sector or industry are understood, ensuring that linkages central to an industry’s production processes are put in place for competitive manufacturing practices to thrive.



Tailor-made industry solutions&nbsp;



Industry insight is central to the Gauteng IDZ’s sectoral work. By unpacking the requirements of each industry or sector to be located at its SEZ precincts, the Gauteng IDZ incorporates industry-specific requirements in the design and development of all its Precincts.



This is already underway at ORTIA Precinct 1, where industry requirements on the development of a safe, secure and globally competitive metals beneficiation park have been factored into the design and operations of the Jewellery Manufacturing Precinct, also known as the JMP. &nbsp;



Positioned to become a leading diamond and jewellery manufacturing cluster in Africa, the JMP aims to leverage its proximity not just to OR Tambo International but to mineral producing countries located in Africa.&nbsp; Through this, ease of access to raw mineral inputs mined in Africa and thereafter, beneficiated and exported to global markets through OR Tambo International is guaranteed.



The cluster approach to development of the OR Tambo SEZ is also guiding work in progress for ORTIA Precinct 2 as well as the Springs Precinct, both areas that, informed by their competitive locations are positioned for the production and export of perishable products (such as medicines and fresh food products), electronics, fuel cells, capital as well as mining component equipment respectively. &nbsp;



Located in Kempton Park some 3kms away from OR Tambo International’s Air Cargo Precinct, ORTIA Precinct 2 is the perfect location for the manufacturing of perishable products exported through OR Tambo International. The Airport is within a 2-hour flight radius of the broader southern African region, covering a population of 142m inhabitants, ensuring ease of access to the SADC market.



Located some 30kms away from the Airport in Springs, Ekurhuleni, the Springs Precinct is competitively located next to a Platinum Refinery. This location makes it ideal for the production and export of Platinum beneficiated products such as fuel cells, platinum catalysts and platinum jewellery. It is also the ideal location for the production and export of mining and transport equipment components. &nbsp;



Fostering cohesion and circular development practices



Each of the OR Tambo SEZ Precincts have been designed to foster cohesion in support of circular and sustainable development practices. &nbsp;



Specific to ORTIA Precinct 1 where a Jewellery Manufacturing Precinct is under construction, stakeholders that support the value-addition and export of processed metals have been located at the Zone. These include the national regulatory agency responsible for overseeing licencing applications and approvals, a gold refinery with the capacity to refine both raw and second-hand gold, sector focused logistics companies that oversee the movement of goods to the airside as well as jewellery and diamond processing companies. Combined, the presence of all these role players ensures that the beneficiation of metals at the SEZ is undertaken in an efficient and circular manner – with reverse logistics in place to reduce, amongst others, production related costs and the risks associated with the movement of these precious goods to Airside. &nbsp;



This approach will also be applied for both ORTIA Precinct 2 and the Springs Precinct, where the design of these industrial parks will factor in the requirements central to the effective establishment and operation of the sectors at the Zone. &nbsp;



The design of the Precincts will also be underpinned by sustainable and circular development principles.&nbsp; This is key, given the role that Special Economic Zones can play in the continent’s future where more and more, manufacturing practices and the impact they can have on the environment are key to investment decisions made.&nbsp; This is also essential within South Africa’s present development landscape, where sustainable energy and water provisioning solutions are critical for effective and uninterrupted business operations.



Investment Opportunities available&nbsp;



Manufacturing investment opportunities are available at both ORTIA Precinct 2 and the Springs Precinct.



Projected to have a Gross Lettable Area of approximately 250&nbsp;000m², it is envisaged that ORTIA Precinct 2 will be the home of pharmaceutical and medical producing companies. It is also posed to be an expansion of the metals cluster development already underway at ORTIA Precinct 1. Furthermore, electronic component manufacturing as well as e-commerce solutions are being targeted for location at this Precinct.



On the other hand, the Springs Precinct has a projected Gross Lettable Area of approximately 63&nbsp;000m². In support of its competitive location next to a major metal refinery, this Precinct is earmarked to become a major fuel cells and Platinum Group Metals localization hub. The location is also being promoted for capital and mining equipment component manufacturing.



Environmental authorisation for both Precincts has been secured and planning to unlock the bulk and enablement works is already underway, ensuring that both land parcels are available for market uptake.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GIDZ-2-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-56972" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GIDZ-2-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GIDZ-2-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GIDZ-2-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GIDZ-2-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GIDZ-2-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Located in Kempton Park some 3kms away from OR Tambo International’s Air Cargo Precinct, ORTIA Precinct 2 is the perfect location for the manufacturing of perishable products exported through OR Tambo International. The Airport is within a 2-hour flight radius of the broader southern African region, covering a population of 142m inhabitants, ensuring ease of access to the SADC market.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GIDZ-3.1-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-56973" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GIDZ-3.1-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GIDZ-3.1-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GIDZ-3.1-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GIDZ-3.1-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GIDZ-3.1-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Located some 30kms away from the Airport in Springs, Ekurhuleni, the Springs Precinct is competitively located next to a Platinum Refinery. This location makes it ideal for the production and export of Platinum beneficiated products such as fuel cells, platinum catalysts and platinum jewellery. It is also the ideal location for the production and export of mining and transport equipment components.



&nbsp;

GIDZ 1

Enhancing industrial development one Precinct at a time: the OR Tambo SEZ vision

Leveraging Google’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) functionality, Deep Learning Café is helping Renergen use the data they have to streamline the process of searching for natural gas.



At the start of 2022, a <a href="https://www.bcg.com/publications/2022/role-of-gas-south-africas-path-to-net-zero">report</a> on the role of gas in South Africa’s path to net-zero carbon emissions explained that liquefied natural <a href="https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/topic/gas">gas (LNG) is an important part of South Africa’s transition away from more emissions-heavy traditional fossil fuels. But</a> only if it is affordably supplied. The report argues in favour of the importation of gas, suggesting that the possible <a href="https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/topic/exploration">exploration</a> and development of domestic <a href="https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/topic/gas">gas</a> fields is simply too complex and capital intensive. Well, until now. 



Renergen and Deep Learning Café have partnered to address this issue. A producer of helium and LNG, Renergen knows a thing or two about the costs associated with gas exploration and development. This is why they are working with Deep Learning Café, a Google Partner and solutions company that uses artificial intelligence (AI) -– Google’s Vertex AI solution in the case of Renergen -– to empower brands to better understand their business data and to help them make their operations more efficient by finding unique ways to solve the problems they face.&nbsp;



The devil is in the data



According to Khalid&nbsp;Patel, head of exploration at Renergen&nbsp;Limited, the search for any natural resource deposit almost always follows a conventional method, and this conventional approach entails significant capital expenditure upfront and occurs at risk. While these conventional methods are true and tested to determine where resources are located and estimate their quantities, this strategy is risky due to the large capital investment and risk of finding something not suitable for extraction. “Obviously, we are really interested in positive confirmations, but negative confirmations are equally as important for us,” says Patel, because this information allows them to focus their energy in areas that could bear more fruit.&nbsp;



Luckily the Renergen team inherited a large database of information but, as Simmone Du Plessis, hydrogeologist at Renergen Limited points out, data is only powerful if it is used and applied in the correct way. Rather than physically analysing all of this information themselves, Renergen enlisted the help of Deep Learning Café to create a robust set of machine learning tools that they could utilise to analyse this wealth of data and make predictions. This essentially is taking the guesswork out of their gas exploration efforts.



“It’s not only about knowing where to look, it’s also about understanding what components and bits and pieces of data are most important in determining where we needed to look,” notes Patel. Highlighting that the industry is typically quite set in its ways, especially in South Africa, he adds that there really was very little history of the use of technology in this field. For Renergen, however, this approach made sense. Having such a large and comprehensive dataset at their disposal and having a limited amount of physical resources to go out and do the exploration and analysis, it was logical for them to leverage machine learning to make more data-driven decisions. With this approach, Renergen can improve their exploration drilling – the process of drilling to solve the unknown or gather information in areas where there&#8217;s a lack of information – and their production drilling, which is the drilling they are currently doing in areas where they know there is gas; enabling them to know, with increasing confidence,&nbsp; what to expect in terms of volumes and composition. And they can even combine the two processes to cut costs.&nbsp;



For Dries&nbsp;Cronje, founder of Deep Learning Café, the challenge was to transform this geological and historic data into a clean and easy to access data set that is relevant to what Renergen is trying to achieve. The Deep Learning Café leveraged Google Cloud Platform’s Vertex AI solution to solve Renergen’s business problem in a way that is very similar to how companies like YouTube or Spotify make video and music recommendations. “Based on what they know about you, these kinds of platforms try to predict what videos and music you like or want. They categorise users with similar people with similar interests and similar habits. Like YouTube and Spotify, we are continuously learning and then using these learnings to more accurately predict where the next best areas are for exploration.”&nbsp;



Describing themselves as ‘sceptics’ around what people are selling as ‘artificial intelligence’, Patel and Du Plessis admit that they actually ran a bit of a sneaky test on the Deep Learning Café team to see if they could deliver on their promises. Patel tells the story that they sent over the database of information without telling them about any known sites. “We asked Deep Learning Café to create a preliminary model and then use this model to give us generalised and localised areas of where they think there should be gas. Based on the data they crunched, we also wanted them to show us what were the principal components that led to the determination of an area being a gas hotspot or not. And if I&#8217;m not mistaken, they were around 75% to 80% accurate on the first shot.” Du Plessis continued that given the amount of information that they provided the Deep Learning Café&nbsp; team with, anyone would expect them to be a little intimidated but they weren’t intimidated at all:. “This speaks volumes.”



For the Renergen team, it was all about de-risking their work. Du Plessis outlined that previously their strategy exposed them to human error and increased the likelihood that they might overlook patterns that AI is easily able to pick up. “Because most of our information is historical information, there was a lot of inconsistency in the data. This approach definitely shed some light on the kind of information we need to focus on moving forward and what information is most appropriate for the modelling approach we choose,” she concludes. &#8220;It has been so refreshing to see what knowledge can still be extracted from the data we&#8217;ve always had at our disposal; information that we might have overlooked, because we never really fully understood the relevance. We&#8217;ve only had a glimpse of what artificial intelligence is capable of and it’s definitely going to be a continuous learning process as the project evolves.”

Pipelines,Leading,The,Lng,Terminal,And,The,Lng,Tanker.3d,Illustration.

Artificial Intelligence-enabled Exploration Takes The Guesswork Out Of Searching for Gas

Dr Daniel M. NGAMIJE, Rwanda Minister of Health



We were all caught off guard when Covid-19 struck and all feared the worst, with Africa not being spared. At the crossroads of fragile health systems and inadequate funding for health services, the pandemic was clearly going to take a heavy toll on the African health systems and communities in general. Random observation of our global response efforts &#8211; specifically the distribution of vaccines and other items needed for prevention and case management &#8211; not only revealed the world’s failure to apply the principles of health equity, but also appealed to a self-reliant Africa in terms of health systems strengthening.



In the wake of this 3-year health crisis, Rwanda will co-host, with Africa CDC, the most important public health rendezvous at continental level, the Conference on Public Health in Africa – CPHIA. The 3-day call – from 13 to 15 December 2022 – will bring together policy makers, researchers and investors in the public health area to share experiences and build stronger public health systems in Africa.



Considering this, as much as Rwanda looks forward to learning from other countries, it is also ready to share lessons, and what is working for the country so far.



From the onset, it is worth mentioning that the CPHIA will take place in Rwanda- one of the few African countries that plans to set a vaccine production plant by 2024, an example of the country’s bold moves to make vaccine production and availability a reality across the continent.



Important policy level strategic approaches to improve health care have been at the forefront in Rwanda for quite some time. Rwanda is a pioneering country in Africa to endorse the ‘One Health’ approach in 2011, which led the country to take on a multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach to address public health challenges. Rwanda’s success in curbing incidence of tropical diseases like malaria or Human African Trypanosomiasis – recently eliminated in Rwanda – strongly finds meaning in applying this comprehensive health approach.



One-Health approach builds from a set of other success stories: those of a community whose health is preserved because they can seek – and obtain next door – treatment for malaria. A network of community health workers contributes to malaria efficient management at grassroots level as they are the first layer of Rwanda’s health system, and they considerably decongest health facilities.



The role of community health workers is not only limited to malaria intervention, but they have also been instrumental in addressing maternal and child health care. Supervised by health centers, community health workers have been doing regular follow-up visits during and after pregnancy helping check the health of mothers and children.



In addition, Rwanda has invested in improving its medical infrastructure to improve maternal and child health care. Clinical services for maternal and child health and other clinical services have been strengthened with the equipment of health facilities, the construction of maternity units, provisions of emergency transport, construction of more health facilities and creation of neonatology services, to mention a few. Hand in hand with this, the strengthening of family planning services; fighting malnutrition has also been a top priority



In the country, major programs have also been implemented to strengthen financial and geographical accessibility of health services as well as availability of drugs. These include introduction of health



insurance schemes to which adherence is now at more than 90%, increase of hospitals, availing of qualified personnel, equipment and drugs. In fact, a Human Resource Secretariat has been established in the Rwanda Ministry of Health to increase the number and build capacity of health personnel.



This progressive strengthening of systems and establishment of adequate policies has improved lives of its citizens in a variety of angles; for instance, HIV prevalence is kept at a steady 3% rate for over 15 years. Not only were new infections prevented but also those who have the virus are immediately put on treatment and today, close to 90% of them have achieved viral load suppression.



The successes of Rwanda do not happen by accident. They are a result of a visionary leadership, good governance, home-grown initiatives and result oriented institutional framework. We believe that co-hosting CPHIA 2022, Rwanda will considerably contribute to the discussions aimed at strengthening Africa’s Public Health and shaping its narrative across the world by putting emphasis on home-grown solutions to benefit all Africans.

Screenshot 2022-11-28 at 21.45.47

Sharing Rwanda’s experiences to help build Africa’s public health systems 

Dr Owusu Kizito, Founder and CEO of INVESTIGROUP is helping entrepreneurs, as well as improving business profits through tax, accounting and business consulting, as well as building affording housing in Ghana to help lower income families.



Private equity (PE) may be the best option for most businesses today as banks become more regulated and scrutinized. PE checks almost every box in the entrepreneurs&#8217; list; low-interest rates, diversification and risk mitigation, and a friendly political climate. In addition, private equity adds working capital to businesses and allows more freedom of growth, a critical aspect every small entrepreneur strives to achieve. Consequently, this is where Kizito comes in. Kizito is offering rising entrepreneurs and companies private equity to help them grow and bring their ideas to fruition.



He is the founder and CEO of INVESTIGROUP, a full-service business development group, general management, and financial consulting firm focused on small and medium-sized privately held companies. INVESTIGROUP seeks to provide on-demand, growth-oriented support to rising entrepreneurs, giving them the tools and resources to reach their full potential.



They help rising entrepreneurs implement their ideas and expand their ventures by providing the capital and expertise required to achieve this goal. The team&#8217;s experience in the business world is helping them stand out. Kizito has a Masters in Business Administration from Hawaii Pacific University, USA, and a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from the University of Phoenix. He has over 15 years of working experience in banking, financial analysis, consulting, project management, and process improvement, with a background as an analytic expert regarding the calculus of decision-making and problem-solving. INVESTIGROUP has completed several growth equity investments that saved at least ten companies from bankruptcy. They are available in the USA, Ghana, China, and Oman.



INVESTIGROUP also provides tax, accounting, and business consulting service solutions to businesses in and out of the USA. INVESTIGROUP has helped several businesses in USA and Ghana improve their profits to a range of 17-22% yearly through active engagements. They offer an INVESTIGROUP VIP program where members earn points for services and access other valuable options like trading. For example, INVESTIGROUP offers rice and sugar international trading and importation of raw and white sugar from Brazil, Thailand, and Guyana.



According to Kizito their goal is to help small and medium size businesses maximize growth, providing financial support and consultations. He also looks to create affordable housing in Ghana and other parts of Africa.



Affordable housing continues to be an urgent socio-economic concern worldwide as the average income fails to match house price increases. Ghana has a housing deficit of around 2 million units, the most affected being the low and medium-income brackets. Many people are moving to the cities in search of greener pastures which has seen most urban areas become overpopulated and increased the pressure on urban housing. Therefore, the available units sell at almost double the price making it harder for the common citizen to get suitable housing.



There is also the issue of land cost; land prices have skyrocketed as Ghana&#8217;s economy grows, and with the minimum wage, it will take years of continuous savings for an average person to afford a piece of land. Thus, Kizito and INVESTIGROUP are fast closing the gap by building affordable houses in the country. In this regard, they intend to build about 5,000 units in the next three years to help low-income families in the cities.

Author: BrandVoice Partner | Paid Program

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA