This week’s most important headlines out of and about Africa.
In this week’s news, nominations for the African Union Commission are underway and the tech-savvy generation who are emerging from the African continent.
Gelllilla Gebre-Michael | Africa Agenda
Amina Mohamed is a nominee for the next African Union Commissioner.
Cabinet Secretary of Foreign Affairs Amina Mohamed is nominated to be Chairperson of the African Union.
Policies regarding the AU and World Bank partnership will be asked of the potential candidates. Agaipto Mba Mokuy of Equatorial Guinea, Abdoulaye Bathily of Senegal, and Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi of Botswana are also nominated to be the next African Union Commission.
AU’s partnership with the World Bank is to end extreme poverty across the globe by 2030. So far, Tanzania, Cambodia, Peru, Brazil, and Mali have all worked to reduce economic inequality significantly. The World Bank has studied to identify how to improve access to essential services without damaging growth as a high impact strategy. Long-term development prospects and good macroeconomic management help to support well-functioning labor markets.
Global corporations and start-up companies seek Africa for software development skills.
Gelllilla Gebre-Michael | Africa Agenda
Students gather during a mentoring session.
The African continent is a global hub for innovation. This tech-savvy generation emerging from the continent is pushing global companies to invest in the booming mobile technology. US corporation Intel has mentor programs to encourage young girls and women how to familiarize themselves with computers.
The innovation is encouraging app-mentors to teach young girls how to code. In Kenya, a group of students worked together to develop a public transportation application. High school student Caroline Wambui worked with her mentor Damaris Muteti to develop an app that will notify you if you are eligible to donate an organ and to check the medical requirements of the patient in need.
This mentorship is meant as a way to increase computerization throughout the country. A World Wide Web Foundation study found that only 20% of women from Nairobi’s poorer neighborhoods are even connected to the internet.
