http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com Good news stories from and about Africa Thu, 09 Dec 2010 08:33:56 EST en http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/tech/the-kenyan-mobile-money-ecosystem/
[This is a guest post by Ben Lyon of Kopo Kopo, and recently of FrontlineSMS:Credit, who I consider to be one of the leading experts on mobile money, banking and payments in Africa. Kopo Kopo aims to make the integration of microfinance and mobile money as affordable as possible by offering a software-as-a-service that connects m-money transaction data to customer accounts in a range of common loan management systems. You can follow Kopo Kopo on Facebook and Twitter.] ]]> Thu, 09 Dec 2010 09:33:56 EST GNaAfrica Tech 1 http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/tech/the-kenyan-mobile-money-ecosystem/ http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/health/new-vaccine-set-to-wipe-out-deadly-meningitis-in-africa/
The first vaccine designed specifically for Africa, MenAfriVac is expected to help health workers eliminate meningococcal A epidemics in the 25 countries of the meningitis belt, stretching from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a news release. ]]> Wed, 08 Dec 2010 09:43:12 EST GNaAfrica Health 1 http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/health/new-vaccine-set-to-wipe-out-deadly-meningitis-in-africa/ http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/good-governance/africa-can-feed-itself-within-a-generation-1/
Research into new crops resistant to heat, droughts or floods, better support for small-scale farmers and greater involvement by national leaders in setting policies in sectors from transport to education were needed, it said.

"Africa can feed itself. And it can make the transition from hungry importer to self-sufficiency in a single generation," said an international study led by Harvard University professor Calestous Juma.

About 70 percent of Africans are involved in agriculture but almost 250 million people, or a quarter of the population of the poorest continent, are undernourished. The number has risen by 100 million since 1990. ]]> Thu, 02 Dec 2010 09:18:55 EST GNaAfrica Good Governance 1 http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/good-governance/africa-can-feed-itself-within-a-generation-1/ http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/health/hiv-free-generation-achievable-unicef-says/
A report by the U.N. children's fund UNICEF found that millions of women and children, particularly in poor countries, fall through the cracks of HIV services either due to their gender, social or economic status, location or education.

While children have benefited from substantial progress made in the fight against AIDS, it said, more must be done to ensure all women and children get access to the medicines and health services designed to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission.

According to latest United Nations data, 370,000 children were born with HIV in 2009, the vast majority of them in Africa -- the region that bears by far the highest AIDS burden. ]]> Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:29:44 EST GNaAfrica Health 1 http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/health/hiv-free-generation-achievable-unicef-says/ http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/health/vaccine-alliance-says-5-in-1-vaccine-cost-to-fall/
The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization said that thanks to increased demand for the pentavalent, or five-in-one vaccine and a reduced price offer by an un-named emerging market vaccine manufacturer, the average price will drop to $2.58 next year compared to the current average price of $2.97.

This represents a decrease of 30 percent over the last seven years, GAVI said in a statement.
The pentavalent vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib), and hepatitis B, is routinely given to children in wealthy nations but price has kept it out of the reach of some poorer nations. ]]> Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:22:02 EST GNaAfrica Health 1 http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/health/vaccine-alliance-says-5-in-1-vaccine-cost-to-fall/ http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/health/aids-pandemic-decline-in-africa/
UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibe, loses no time in announcing the good news.

"Today, we can say with confidence and conviction, that we have broken the trajectory of the AIDS pandemic," Sidibe said. "Less people are becoming infected. Less people are dying. New infections have fallen by nearly 20 percent in the last 10 years." ]]> Mon, 29 Nov 2010 09:34:40 EST GNaAfrica Health 1 http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/health/aids-pandemic-decline-in-africa/ http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/business/africa-growth-seen-at-6-pct-in-2011/
"I think next year Africa will be growing at six percent. In sub-Saharan Africa it will be six and a half percent," he told Reuters in an interview, adding "Africa is coming out of the (global financial) crisis stronger; it's developing a strong relationship with emerging markets."

He said the bank was likely to borrow $3 billion to $3.5 billion on international markets in 2011. ]]> Fri, 19 Nov 2010 09:38:33 EST GNaAfrica Business 1 http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/business/africa-growth-seen-at-6-pct-in-2011/ http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/health/texting-saves-lives-of-hiv-patients-study-confirms/
Findings from the first scientific trial on the link between mobile phones and HIV treatment outcomes - conducted in Kenya by scientists from Canada, Kenya and the United States - are reported in The Lancet this week (9 November).

So far there has been limited field data about the use of mobile health technologies to improve patient outcomes in developing countries - and there are no published clinical trials. ]]> Mon, 15 Nov 2010 09:55:32 EST GNaAfrica Health 1 http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/health/texting-saves-lives-of-hiv-patients-study-confirms/ http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/travel/somali-pirates-free-uk-couple-paul-and-rachel-chandler/
Paul, 60, and Rachel Chandler, 56, from Kent, were seized from their yacht off the Seychelles in October 2009.

Mrs Chandler said: "I'm enjoying being free". The couple said they were fine, but will undergo medical checks.

On release they were taken to Adado, then Mogadishu, and have now arrived in Kenya. The BBC held off reporting the release due to an injunction.

It observed the terms of the order obtained by the Chandlers' family which was intended to stop news organisations covering their release until they were safely out of Somalia. ]]> Sun, 14 Nov 2010 13:07:34 EST GNaAfrica Travel 1 http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/travel/somali-pirates-free-uk-couple-paul-and-rachel-chandler/ http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/sport/bbc-sport-football-nigeria-clinch-sixth-awc-crown/
A late flurry of goals helped the Super Falcons to seal their sixth title.
The brave Guinean ladies were undone by two own-goals that robbed them of the chance of retaining the title. ]]> Sun, 14 Nov 2010 13:03:01 EST GNaAfrica Sport 1 http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/sport/bbc-sport-football-nigeria-clinch-sixth-awc-crown/ http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/green/kenya%E2%80%99s-first-carbon-exchange-ready-to-launch-business-news-african-business-review-1/
Being developed by the Ministry of Finance and assisted by carbon trading consulting company Bea International, the exchange will be known as Nairobi Climate Exchange. It will be the first of its kind on the continent and will facilitate trading in carbon credits for other African countries. It is expected to be open for business by the middle of next year.

Scientists say carbon dioxide is among the primary gases causing climate change and such exchanges are one way to offset carbon emissions. ]]> Sun, 14 Nov 2010 12:46:59 EST GNaAfrica Green 1 http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/green/kenya%E2%80%99s-first-carbon-exchange-ready-to-launch-business-news-african-business-review-1/ http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/business/businessday-zimbabwe-economy-to-grow-but-reforms-still-needed-%E2%80%94-imf/
The economy, battered by hyperinflation in 2008, grew 5,7% last year — the first time in a decade . ]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:53:29 EST GNaAfrica Business 1 http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/business/businessday-zimbabwe-economy-to-grow-but-reforms-still-needed-%E2%80%94-imf/ http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/sport/9-out-of-10-for-south-african-world-cup-sepp-blatter/
As compliments continued to pour in for South Africa on Monday 12 July 2010, Blatter called on the country’s people to use the success of the World Cup as an example of what the African continent can achieve.

South Africa silenced pessimists as it ended what has been a close to perfect tournament with a spectacular closing ceremony to round off the first soccer World Cup on African soil. The world congratulated South Africa and there is no doubt the encouragement has boosted the country’s credibility.

“You have shown the world that you can achieve anything and its time now that you show the rest of Africa that it can achieve anything… there were many pessimists in the beginning but as I always said it is a question of trust and confidence and we trusted South Africa and they have delivered,” Blatter said at a post-tournament press conference. ]]> Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:34:26 EDT GNaAfrica Sport 1 http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/sport/9-out-of-10-for-south-african-world-cup-sepp-blatter/ http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/health/safer-sex-by-africas-young-drives-hiv-rates-down/
The prevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS is falling among young people in 16 of the 25 countries most affected by the disease, a study by UNAIDS found, with many of them on track to hit a 25 percent reduction target in HIV/AIDS rates in 15- to 24-year-olds by the end of the year.

"Young people have shown that they can be agents of change in the prevention revolution," the report said. ]]> Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:25:17 EDT GNaAfrica Health 1 http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/health/safer-sex-by-africas-young-drives-hiv-rates-down/ http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/ngo-charity/un-agency-allocates-funds-for-orphans-and-vulnerable-children-projects-in-lesotho/
The groups – World Vision Lesotho and Sentebale – will use the funds for projects that contribute to the achievement of Lesotho’s vision for a society in which all vulnerable children are free from discrimination, live in dignity and have their rights and aspirations fulfilled.

The agreement signed last week falls under the overall umbrella of the Government of Lesotho, European Commission and UNICEF’s Orphan and Vulnerable Children's (OVC) Programme (2007-2011), which seeks to empower 60,000 such children to cope with their challenging circumstances through interventions such as education, health, psychosocial assistance, life skills, food and nutrition and social protection. ]]> Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:21:41 EDT GNaAfrica NGO/Charity 1 http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/ngo-charity/un-agency-allocates-funds-for-orphans-and-vulnerable-children-projects-in-lesotho/ http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/business/mozambique-to-build-new-bridge-over-the-zambezi/
It will allow access to the inland province of Tete, and some of the world's largest coal deposits.

Construction of the bridge by a consortium of Brazilian and Portuguese firms is expected to start next week.

At present trucks have to cross the existing Samora Machel bridge one at a time, leading to peak time tailbacks of several miles. ]]> Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:25:11 EDT GNaAfrica Business 1 http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/business/mozambique-to-build-new-bridge-over-the-zambezi/ http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/business/the-world-cups-impact-on-south-africas-economy-1/
"Economically, the tournament has been a success,” said South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma this week at the Investec global investment conference in Cape Town. “We can safely say that we have good returns on our investment, which includes R33-billion spent on transport infrastructure and on telecommunications and stadiums.” President Zuma said the benefits of the tournament to South Africa included 66,000 new jobs in construction and R1.3-billion spent on safety and security, including the recruitment of 40,000 police officers. ]]> Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:47:47 EDT GNaAfrica Business 1 http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/business/the-world-cups-impact-on-south-africas-economy-1/ http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/green/renewable-energy-and-energy-efficiency-centre-for-west-africa-opens-with-unido-support/
PRAIA, Cape Verde, 6 July 2010 – A new regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) opened in Praia today.

It will help develop renewable energy and energy efficiency markets in West Africa, in policy and capacity development and quality assurance, in designing financing mechanisms, and implementing demonstration projects with potential for regional scaling-up.

ECREEE is a specialized agency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It is supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Governments of Austria, Cape Verde and Spain. A special partnership between Brazil and ECOWAS will help support the activities of ECREEE, and open up opportunities for South-South cooperation and technology and know-how transfer. ]]> Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:27:14 EDT GNaAfrica Green 1 http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/green/renewable-energy-and-energy-efficiency-centre-for-west-africa-opens-with-unido-support/ http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/tech/south-africans-create-%E2%80%9Cmobile-doctor%E2%80%9D-application-/
While it will fill a large gap in terms of availability of basic health information, and will help to educate and improve the lives of many people, the developers have warned that Afridoctor should never take the place of a visit to a health professional, if this is at all possible.

The application, conceived by Werner Erasmus, saw off competition from over 125 entries to take first prize in Nokia’s Calling All Innovators Africa 2009 competition at the end of last year, netting its developers R644 000 (US$85 000). The competition called for applications relevant to South African and African mobile users. ]]> Tue, 06 Jul 2010 07:17:50 EDT GNaAfrica Tech 1 http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/tech/south-africans-create-%E2%80%9Cmobile-doctor%E2%80%9D-application-/ http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/health/highly-nutritious-green-cakes-could-save-lives/
"It's as close as we will get to a miracle food," said Mahamat Sorto, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) officer managing the project. Aid agencies see the plant as a possible cheap solution to global malnutrition.

Health food stores in rich countries have promoted spirulina as an energy-enhancing supplement, but it has been eaten for centuries in various parts of the world. ]]> Tue, 06 Jul 2010 07:12:44 EDT GNaAfrica Health 1 http://www.goodnewsaboutafrica.com/health/highly-nutritious-green-cakes-could-save-lives/