A round-up of news from around Africa, including:

Tanzania Launches a Bank aimed at Women

Tanzania has launched a bank aimed specifically at women in what officials say will be an empowering move.

Tanzania Launches a Bank aimed at Women

Tanzania has launched a bank aimed specifically at women in what officials say will be an empowering move. The bank says women need only an ID card or passport to open an account, unlike other banks which require title deeds or other proofs of wealth, while applicants need only 3,000 Tanzanian shillings ($2) in savings - much less than other banks. Although the Tanzania Women's Bank, which is based in Dar es Salaam, targets women with its services, men can also open accounts. The bank's management says it will give women expert help and advice. Officials hope there will be 200 more people coming in every day and say the Dar es Salaam branch is just the beginning of a countrywide network.

UN and EISA Implement Voter Registration Project

EISA and the UN Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) are implementing a project on Development of Sustainable Voter Registration Methodologies. The project is funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). It aims to promote development and awareness of sustainable and cost effective voter registration models, particularly in developing and post conflict countries. It will do this by analysing the relative costs, sustainability and effectiveness of low, medium and high tech approaches to voter registration.

Africa 'gravely affected' by Global Downturn

Africa has been "gravely affected" by the global economic downturn and its growth rate will halve this year due to collapsing commodity prices and a decline in donor funding, a new report has said. The 2009African Economic Outlook finds that after half a decade of above 5% economic growth, the continent can expect only 2.8 percent growth in 2009. The annual report covers 47 of the 53 African countries and is a key document that influences government policy and donor spending.

Call for Entries for 2010 Daniel Pearl Awards Competition

The Daniel Pearl Awards for Outstanding International Investigative Reporting are unique among journalism prizes worldwide in that they were created specifically to honor cross-border investigative reporting. The contest is open to any journalist or team of journalists of any nationality working in any medium. Entries must involve reporting in at least two countries on a topic of world significance. Granted by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the awards include two $5,000 first-place prizes, along with five additional $1,000 prizes. The awards will be presented at the 6th Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, in April 2010.

MTN takes Mobile Banking to Ghana

Pan-African mobile operator MTN has launched its Mobile Money offering in Ghana, allowing users in the west African country to perform a range of basic financial transactions over their phones without having to have bank accounts. MTN recently launched the same service in Uganda, Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria. According to MTN Ghana CEO Brett Goschen, making transactions via MTN Mobile Money is "convenient, accessible, safe and easy", giving "cash management freedom" to subscribers to MTN's network. The platform also allows non-MTN customers, including those without mobile phones, to transfer or receive money using the services of authorised MTN Mobile Money merchants. To make the service possible, MTN had entered partnerships with CAL Bank, Ecobank, Fidelity Bank, GTBank, Intercontinental Bank, Merchant Bank, UBA, Stanbic, and Zenith Bank in the country.

Vodacom launches ICT Innovation Unit

South African mobile group Vodacom has established a local innovation unit to identify and nurture ICT innovations from inception to commercialisation, as part of its strategy to drive innovation in African information and communication technology and services. The Vodacom Emerging Market Collaboration and Innovation (VEMCI) unit will act as an enabler for individuals, new start-ups and small businesses with innovative communication ideas and concepts, which could take years to reach sufficient economies of scale to achieve market adoption and become sustainable businesses. The collaborative initiative will offer selected entrepreneurs and small businesses access to financial, business, logistical as well as technical support and expertise to successfully take a specific idea or concept to market by following a structured business and product development life-cycle methodology. Vodacom will also introduce Vodafone's open mobile applications development platform Betavine to the South African mobile development community. It is an online open development platform and community which supports mobile application developers in stimulating ideas, building, testing and launching new applications for mobile and internet communications and services.

Women Underrepresented in Southern African Media

Women are underrepresented in Southern Africa media houses; they hit the ‘glass ceiling’ at senior management and their representation wanes in top decision-making positions. Media women are more likely to be assigned to "soft beats"; to be on non-permanent contracts and to earn less, on average, than men. These are just but some of the findings of the Glass Ceilings: Women and Men in Southern African media.

Global Fund Grants Zimbabwe $37 Million to Fight Aids

The Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria has granted Zimbabwe $37.9 million, resuming support after getting assurances from the new unity government that the money would not be misused. The fund said last year Zimbabwe's central bank had confiscated $7.3 million in 2007 meant for health programmes. The central bank has since returned the money, Global Fund officials said. The head of the Global Fund's Africa Unit, Fareed Abdullah, said the money, previously managed by the state-appointed National Aids Council, would now be overseen by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Zimbabwe. Abdullah said apart from helping in the fight against HIV/Aids, the money would also be committed to tuberculosis and malaria programmes. Tsvangirai said the grant showed increasing confidence in the unity government he formed with rival President Robert Mugabe in February in a bid to end a political and economic crisis. Zimbabwe has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world, although the rate has been coming down in recent years.

More East African Countries to Benefit from Broadband

Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania are set to benefit from affordable communications services following a US$151 million funding boost from the World Bank. The sum marks the third phase of the Africa Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (RCIP 3), which aims to connect eastern and southern Africa to reliable and high-capacity communication services. Since the project started in 2007, US$424 million has been injected into communications infrastructure for the region and, under RCIP 3, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania will receive US$20 million, US$31 million and US$100 million respectively. The region is the only one not fully connected to the world's broadband infrastructure, and has the lowest number of telephone and Internet users, as well as high tariffs. About 200 million people are dependent on expensive satellite connectivity. As a result, an international call costs about 10–20 times more than in developed countries and Internet access is about 40 times more costly than in the United States. For Malawi, the primary objective of RCIP 3 is to solve these problems by providing high-speed communications access to undersea cables running along the coast of eastern Africa. The project will also help the government to provide information and communications technology (ICT) services for public institutions and technical assistance to support the development of the ICT sector as a whole. Seacom, the first undersea cable along the eastern seaboard of Africa went live in July. The 17,000 kilometre fibre-optic cable took two years to lay and was due to be launched in June but was delayed by pirate activity off the coast of Somalia. The RCIP 3 funding was announced by the World Bank in June.

Calls for Applications to Graça Machel Scholarship Programme

The key aim of the Graça Machel Scholarship Programme is to help provide the female human resources necessary for economic, social and cultural development in the southern African region and to develop an educated and skilled workforce that can benefit the wider community. Scholarships that target women have long been recognized as an effective approach in addressing gender equality and eradicating poverty. By providing opportunities to study at postgraduate level, these scholarships aim to empower women and to equip them to take up leadership positions in order to have a direct impact in the communities, nations and region in which they live. Following in the footsteps of Graça Machel, these female scholars will be positive role models for other women. The Graça Machel Scholarship Programme will provide a minimum of 60 postgraduate scholarships to female students from Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe in both South Africa and the UK. The majority of the scholarships will be for study in South Africa. One of the key concerns of Mrs Machel is giving a voice to rural women and the scholarship is therefore aimed at empowering rural women. The Graça Machel scholarship is for women who have experienced significant struggle in their life and who have sought to overcome those barriers, be they related to gender, disability, poverty, age or racial discrimination. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate clearly how their application fits within this vision of empowerment. The deadline for applications is 10th December for study in the UK (courses starting in September/October).

The 2009 MILEAD Fellows Institute

The Moremi Initiative proudly announces the 2009-2010 MILEAD Fellows. The MILEAD Fellows were selected through a highly competitive selection process and criteria, including their outstanding leadership potential and demonstration of commitment to the advancement of women in Africa. The 26 selected fellows represent some of Africa's most extra-ordinary young women leaders with the courage and commitment to lead/effect change in their communities. The 2009/2010 Fellows representing regional diversity, coming from 22 African countries and the Diaspora, and include emerging young women leaders engaged in actively leading change on critical issues including women's health, HIV/AIDS, economic justice, community development, political participation, and environmental justice.

Brazil and South Africa Development Agencies Sign Deal

The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has signed a co- operation agreement with its Brazilian counterpart Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES) that will see the companies share information on projects. The agreement is the culmination of a four-year informal relationship between the two state owned development finance companies. It could also lead to joint financing of projects and financial product and policy development, the IDC said. The companies would share information on projects of common interest. These included activities in sectors like the automotive and components, alternative-fuelled vehicles, aeronautics and components, energy generation, food processing and agribusiness, pharmaceuticals and minerals beneficiation. The co-operation was in line with the company's support of South Africa's national industrial policy framework and the industrial policy action plans "which are aimed at supporting capital and transport equipment and metals fabrication, motor vehicles components and accessories, chemicals plastics and pharmaceuticals, forestry, pulp, paper and furniture, among others," the IDC said. The company said the agreement would also help it to fulfil its wish to develop new industries. These would include the biofuels industry, an area in which Brazil leads and in which BNDES was active.

NEPAD and the Goethe-Institut Sign a Co-operation Agreement

NEPAD Secretariat and the Goethe-Institut today in Johannesburg signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate in the implementation of projects and activities of common interest, and to pursue other forms of cooperation. Such projects may include applied research on African culture and education issues; research in support of culture education training methodologies; knowledge management; new and improved project management and evaluation techniques as well as design and development of training and capacity-building-related activities. Culture is one of the seven focus areas of the African Union's Plan of Action on Education for Africa (2006 - 2015) which aims at ensuring the mainstreaming of culture into all AU priorities; the use of education for entrenching peace, justice and equity as well as the empowerment of men and women. It also emphasizes the role of education in re-establishing the dignity of Africans, and engendering pride in positive African values and heritage. NEPAD's mandate is to promote sustainable political and socio-economic development on the African continent, which Goethe-Institut supports by promoting through deeper understanding between cultures, capacity- building seminars, workshops and dialogue rooted in partnership. It is present in 26 African countries.

Burundi and Ethiopia to Sign CAADP Compact

Agricultural experts, policymakers and representatives from Africa and the international community will convene in Bujumbura and Addis Ababa from August 24-25, 2009 and August 27-28 2009 respectively, for roundtable discussions leading to the signing of the NEPAD's Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) Compacts. The purpose of the CAADP roundtables, to be hosted by the Governments of Burundi and Ethiopia in conjunction with COMESA, is to reach consensus among key stakeholders on the countries' agricultural development agendas, forge the necessary partnerships to implement them and secure commitments and resources from partners to make the necessary investments. CAADP's agenda reflects a fundamental shift in the way Africa's leadership looks at agriculture and its potential contribution to ending poverty and hunger. The program is the centerpiece of efforts by African countries to achieve growth and poverty reduction in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Dr. Muyunda, who is Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa CEO, said concluding the CAADP Compacts is the surest way to ensure that the COMESA region reaches MDG1 of halving poverty and hunger by 2015. CAADP was established in July 2003 and its overall goal is to "Help African countries reach a higher path of economic growth through agriculturally-led development, which eliminates hunger, reduces poverty and food insecurity, and enables expansion of exports." CAADP is the highest policy level framework for the development of agriculture in Africa. COMESA has the mandate to implement the CAADP agenda in Eastern and Southern Africa. While the majority of the citizens of COMESA derive livelihood from agriculture, the sector's overall productivity is low. The main challenges to enhanced agricultural development and competitiveness in COMESA are market-related challenges, technological obstacles and policy constraints that lead to low agricultural productivity resulting in food insecurity. Burundi and Ethiopia will be the second and third countries respectively, in the COMESA region to sign the CAADP compact after Rwanda, which signed in March 2007.

South Africa aims to Grow African Tourism Market

With African land arrivals making up almost 75% of foreign arrivals to South Africa, Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk says the importance of African visitors should not be underestimated. These include visitors from Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. According to Van Schalkwyk, the majority of visitors from SADC countries travelled to South Africa for shopping, to visit friends and family, and for general holiday purposes, contributing significantly to the South African economy. Van Schalkwyk pointed out that while global travel markets were feeling the pinch of the economic recession, arrivals from Africa continued to grow, outperforming arrivals from the UK and the rest of Europe combined. In 2008, more than seven million people from SADC countries visited South Africa. Statistics from April this year show that arrivals from the Africa land markets numbered 665,318 visitors so far in 2009. Of these, 491 601 were from Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho and Botswana. Arrivals from Mozambique in 2008 were in excess of 1.2-million visitors from Mozambique. The total foreign direct spend by visitors to South Africa from African land markets amounted to more than R43-billion last year, up from just over R35-billion in 2007.

ICF Announces Project to Harmonise Commercial Laws in East Africa

The Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) has announced a project in partnership with the member states of the East African Community (EAC) to harmonise commercial laws within the region. By establishing a synchronised legal framework for all EAC partner states, the private sector will benefit from improved access to financial services. This will increase cross-border investments and bring the EAC another step closer to total economic integration. The project is in partnership with the East African Community Secretariat (EACS) and will be implemented in two phases over a period of 12 to 15 months with the end goal of establishing a common legal system across Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. The project will focus on harmonising key commercial laws in the region, prioritising those that support the implementation of the Customs Union, the establishment of a Common Market, and a common investment regime. The project will build on the EAC's continued efforts to improve the region’s investment climate by transforming the relationship between member states from one of mere co-operation to fully fledged integration. Success achieved to date includes the establishment of the Customs Union, which is expected to reach its threshold as a fully functional duty free region by January 2010. The project's first phase will comprise a review of all commercial laws currently operational in the EAC and the prioritisation of those to be harmonised. The second phase will entail the drafting of three legislations to be implemented by the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) and the Parliaments of EAC member states. The new project will focus on creating a common structure amongst the EAC member states, and will focus on nine areas of commercial law. ICF is the only pan-African body, based in Africa, explicitly and exclusively focused on improving the continent's investment climate.

South Africa's NEF Invests R50m in SunSpace

South Africa’s National Empowerment Fund (NEF) has announced a R50 million deal to finance Sun Space and Information Systems (SunSpace), the country's only manufacturer of satellite systems. The deal, which is in line with the NEF's mandate to promote broad-based black economic empowerment (BEE), is one of a series of recent investments aimed at rapidly increasing black participation in strategic industries and enterprises. In the past four years, the NEF has disbursed over R1 billion in several strategic areas including transportation and construction. According to NEF chief financial officer Andrew Wright, the SunSpace investment stems from an application to help give the group a more effective capital structure. SunSpace was developed from the University of Stellenbosch's SunSat programme, which makes high value small and medium-sized satellite systems for the local and international aerospace market. The group, which operates from Stellenbosch, designed the first locally developed SunSat satellite that was launched by US space agency Nasa in 1999. It also designs and develops support equipment and ground applications for satellites. The transaction includes a possibility of the NEF becoming a 30 percent shareholder in SunSpace within the next 5 years, possibly increasing the company's black ownership status to a 55 percent controlling stake.

Zuma Launches Plan to Boost Farming

The South African government had pledged more than R2,6bn in conditional grants to provinces, which would in part be used for agricultural infrastructure, according to President Jacob Zuma. The funds will also be used for training and advisory services, marketing and the upgrading of agricultural colleges. Former homeland areas look set to become a central focus of the state's rural development programme. The new administration came to power in part on a ticket of speedier rural development, which the African National Congress has identified as one of the five priorities of the state's medium-term strategic framework. In his state of the nation speech in June, Zuma said he would develop and implement a comprehensive rural development strategy linked to land and agrarian reform as well as food security. The creation of a Department of Rural Development and Land Affairs to drive the state’s reform programme was, he said, central to implementing the strategy.

Sierra Leone Government Announces Registry General Project to Boost the Local Investment Climate

The Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) has announced a new registry general project, in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone, to modernise the Office of the Administrator and Registrar General (OARG). The project will convert the OARG into a one-stop shop for all business related administrative processes, dramatically reducing the time and costs associated with doing business in the country. The OARG, based in Freetown, is responsible for the registration and administration of all activity requiring registry by law, including both land and business registration. The office provides a valuable source of revenue for the Government and, as such, is critical to the wider economic growth potential of Sierra Leone. The new project aims to streamline and digitalise registry procedures in the OARG; increasing efficiency, reducing delays and lowering the costs of commerce. These improvements are crucial to attract both foreign and domestic investors, and particularly the country's SME sector, who can often be deterred by the high cost and time implications of doing business in the region. The modernisation of the OARG is the fourth ICF funded project in Sierra Leone and forms part of the Government's ongoing bid to improve the country’s investment potential. These ICF funded projects include a land administration improvement project; a two-year air transfer project to improve connections for passengers between Freetown and the international airport; and a project that supports the fast track commercial court in Freetown and will improve the efficiency of Sierra Leone’s commercial justice system. The results of these existing projects are already being delivered, and have contributed to Sierra Leone increasing its ranking in the World Bank's Doing Business Report from 169 in 2008 to 156 in 2009.

South Africa and Angola to Co-operate on Oil

South Africa and Angola have signed a raft of agreements, including an agreement on cooperation in the oil sector, following a two-day visit to the resource-rich country by President Jacob Zuma and a powerful South African government and business delegation last week. The oil cooperation agreement will allow South African state oil company PetroSA and Angola's Sonangol to work together on oil exploration, refining and distribution projects. Angola, Africa's biggest oil producer, has only one refinery, in the capital Luanda. It currently imports a great deal of its refined gasoline. Dos Santos hailed the visit as the start of a new era of co-operation between Africa's biggest economy and its biggest oil producer. He said Angola needed South African expertise to help rebuild the infrastructure destroyed during a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002. Zuma and Dos Santos also discussed the supply and distribution of electricity from the Democratic Republic of Congo's Inga hydroelectric plant, and other regional infrastructure projects to facilitate business. The two countries also signed air services and diplomatic consultation agreements, as well as memorandums on trade, industry, commerce, housing, and sport and recreation. It was further agreed that a bi-national commission would be established to coordinate political and economic relations between the two countries. Both leaders added that they would discuss ways of cooperating on peacekeeping efforts in Africa through the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Angola and South Africa have two of the biggest military forces in Africa. Zuma said the agreements would help to change the economic landscape of southern Africa.

GlobalGiving, Intel and CARE to Support Quality Education in Egypt

In the spirit of "back to school," GlobalGiving and Intel have announced they are working with CARE on the first project being supported by the Technology for Education Fund. Through a $45,000 grant from the Fund, CARE will deliver new technology and training to teachers and approximately 13,000 students-more than half girls-living in rural Egypt. The grant to CARE represents the official launch of the Technology for Education Fund. The Fund campaign aims to raise a total of $100,000 to support programs in developing countries that will use technology to enhance the quality of education. To date, Intel has contributed $50,000 to the Fund, and hopes to attract additional donors interested in supporting high-impact educational initiatives in impoverished communities. GlobalGiving, the leading marketplace for philanthropy, is providing the online platform through which donors can support the Fund as an incentive, Intel is offering $15,000 to match - dollar for dollar - individual donations to the Fund through the end of 2009. CARE, with the support of the Egyptian Ministry of Education, will be working with 20 schools in rural Egypt to deliver mobile computer carts equipped with 25 Intel powered classmate PCs, bringing the student/computer ratio to approximately 1:1. The increased access to computers will enhance students' reasoning and analytical skills and support extracurricular activities such as developing social networks online. In addition, the equipment and training will enable girls to connect with each other, learn to engage in civic action projects, expand their social networks and increase their leadership skills. GlobalGiving is the leading Internet-based network for peer-to-peer philanthropy.

VillageReach, Foundation for Community Development and Oasis Fund Announce Strategic Investment in Mozambique Social Business

VillageReach, the Seattle-based social enterprise that increases access to healthcare for remote last mile communities, and the Foundation for Community Development (FDC), a Mozambique non profit that strengthens the capacities of underprivileged communities, have announced that the Oasis Fund, a European commercial investment fund specializing in social entrepreneurship, has committed a $1.375 million investment in VidaGas, a VillageReach-FDC-owned propane energy company. The announcement was made at SoCap09, the annual conference bringing together a unique mix of the world's top social innovators, investors and entrepreneurs to discuss social business development practices and opportunities. The Oasis investment is a landmark transaction that will enable VidaGas to expand its customer base and energy service offering to significantly impact people in remote areas of northern Mozambique. Established in 2002, VidaGas was created to support the health system improvement program developed by VillageReach and FDC. The program has served more than 260 health centers and a population of over 5 million in remote communities in Mozambique. Propane enables the provision of critical health services, including vaccinations, equipment sterilization and night-time birthing. Without reliable energy supply from VidaGas, equipment failures and lack of inventory would have continued to negatively impact the health system. More than 80% of Mozambique's population is rural and depends on charcoal and wood for basic cooking and heating in the home. Only 8% of the country is connected to the electrical grid. Clean, affordable propane from VidaGas provides a compelling alternative to burning charcoal and wood, which causes indoor air pollution. By responding to the needs of the public health system and the greater communities it serves, VidaGas has grown over 500% since its first year. Today, VidaGas is the largest propane distributor in northern Mozambique, providing 240 tons of propane in 2008 to the government health system, the hotel and tourism industries, small retail businesses and a growing number of households. Oasis Fund is a Luxembourg investment fund which finances innovative, growth stage, commercially viable enterprises that deliver basic goods and services that improve the lives of low-income communities.

Global NGO Refugees United Announces That SAP Will Donate Technology to Help It Run More Efficiently

Refugees United, an "NGO 2.0" organization making innovative use of technology to help people in need, has announced that SAP AG has made a commitment to donate software and expert assistance to the organization. Refugees United offers the more than 42 million refugees worldwide a free, anonymous, Web-based database and search engine designed to help displaced family members reconnect with each other. As a first step, SAP has provided Refugees United with an on-demand solution for small businesses that will help the organization run its daily operations more efficiently. Solutions from SAP will allow Refugees United to more efficiently scale its operations and mission, and to become an even faster and more agile organization. System Innovation Consult will assist Refugees United in implementing the SAP(R) solution.

India the Biggest Buyer of South African Coal

India was again the single biggest buyer of South African coal in August, lifting 1.3 million tonnes from Richards Bay Coal Terminal, 22 percent of total August 5.5 million tonnes exports, industry sources said. Throughout this year India has taken 22-34 percent of South Africa's monthly exports, so far around 11 million tonnes. South Africa is expected to export 60 million tonnes in 2009, down from 67 in 2008.

Standard Bank sees China Profits Doubling in 2010

Standard Bank Group, Africa's biggest bank by assets, expects its profit in China to double next year, benefitting from the growing economic ties between Africa and the world's third biggest economy. The African bank, in which Industrial and Commercial Bank of China holds a 20 percent stake, is working with ICBC on 60 deals on the African continent, covering the mining, oil and gas and mineral sectors. One in five of those deals are expected to close in the next 12 months, according to the company.