The African Development Bank Group unveiled its new Ten-Year Strategy 2024–2033 today, a blueprint to confront Africa’s pressing challenges and to help put the continent firmly back on track towards sustained economic growth and prosperity.

Unveiling the strategy during the Bank Group’s Annual Meetings in Nairobi, Kenya, African Development Bank Group President Akinwumi Adesina said, “As Africa’s premier development finance institution, and Africa’s solutions bank, we are acutely aware that the next decade will be decisive in transforming the continent. Therefore, as we celebrate 60 years of making a difference in the countries and lives of the people of Africa, we remain resolute in our determination to accelerate the support we provide to African countries.”

The aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in heightened food insecurity and a burgeoning debt crisis across Africa. At the same time, the impacts of climate change are intensifying and accelerating, alongside a surge in conflict and political instability. Compounded by a youthful demographic outpacing job creation, Africa is witnessing a significant exodus of its future workforce seeking opportunities abroad.

The strategy, approved by the Board earlier this year, sets out decisive and urgent actions the Bank will take to support African countries navigate the unprecedented global and regional challenges. These actions will build on Africa’s multiple unique assets and reignite momentum towards achieving the African Union’s Agenda 2063(link is external) and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, ultimately fostering lasting growth.

Central to the 2024–2033 strategic vision is the belief in Africa’s vast potential for societal and economic transformation. By leveraging the youngest and fastest growing workforce in the world, rapidly growing urban markets, the wealth of natural resources and vast clean energy potential, Africa stands poised to drive sustainable growth and make significant contributions to global solutions over the next decade.

Read Also: AfDBAM2024: African nations urged to enhance private sector financing for tertiary education

“The Ten-Year Strategy outlines how the Bank will invest in Africa’s best asset: its vibrant young men and women. Africa’s population, which is the fast growing in the world, presents the continent with an unparalleled demographic window of opportunity,” Adesina said.

The new strategy articulates a vision of a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and integrated Africa, underpinned by two key objectives over the next decade: accelerating inclusive green growth and fostering prosperous and resilient economies. With an emphasis on sustainability, the Bank will strive to balance environmental concerns, equity, and economic advancement.

Building upon the past decade of successful High 5 implementation, the Bank aims to accelerate and scale up its efforts, focusing on transformative projects with far-reaching impacts. To optimise results while managing risks, the Bank will streamline its operational model for increased agility and effectiveness. The Bank’s High 5 operational priorities listed below, are integral to achieving these objectives:

• Light up and power Africa: Promote universal access to modern and affordable energy.
• Feed Africa: Ensure food security through agricultural transformation.
• Industrialise Africa: Catalyse manufacturing as a critical driver of job creation.
• Integrate Africa: Foster regional integration and value chains for a more cohesive economy.
• Improve the quality of life: Enhance living standards, particularly for women and youth.

Key cross-cutting priorities include promoting gender equality, investing in young people, responding to climate change, and investing in climate action, supporting fragile states, and promoting good governance and economic stability.

The Bank sees the pivotal role of the private sector in driving Africa’s transformation. Over the next decade, it will strengthen collaboration with the private sector, prioritising investments in firms, value chains, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises especially those led by women and youth.

The magnitude and urgency of the challenge will require greater resources than before. The Bank pledges to mobilise resources from diverse sources, including domestic revenues and private finance. It aims to triple private-sector finance by 2033 while bolstering its financing capacity through innovative mechanisms. In response to calls for Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to maximise the potential of their balance sheets, the Bank will pursue various options to boost its financing capacity over the life of the Ten-Year Strategy. Measures include the Sustainable Hybrid Capital, Risk Transfers and re-channeling of significant portions of the International Monetary Fund’s Special Drawing Rights through Multilateral Development Banks.

The Strategy outlines how the Bank will answer the call for MDBs to scale up urgently their efforts to respond to the priorities and significant ambitions of African countries and tackle global and regional challenges affecting the people of Africa. MDBs are essential to addressing the immense global and regional challenges the world faces. They are a valuable source of low-cost finance, technical knowledge, and policy advice for emerging and developing countries.

Highlights of the Strategy:

• Investing in women and young people: The Ten-Year Strategy outlines how the Bank will invest in Africa’s best asset: its vibrant young men and women. Africa’s population, which is the youngest and fastest growing in the world, presents the continent with an unparalleled demographic window of opportunity. The Bank will address disparities and promote inclusivity by empowering women and youth, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to sustainable economic growth and prosperous societies.
• Climate change adaptation: Recognising Africa’s vulnerability to climate change, the Bank will promote low-carbon development pathways aligned with the Paris Agreement while safeguarding biodiversity and nature.
• Supporting fragile states and building resilience: Amid rising conflicts, fragility, and political instability in Africa, the Bank will intensify efforts to assist fragile countries. Special attention will be given to tackling cross-border challenges and reducing the isolation of landlocked and remote areas.
• Promoting good governance: The Bank emphasises the importance of economic governance, including domestic resource mobilisation, transparent financial management, and anti-corruption measures. Sustainable debt management practices will also be prioritised to ensure long-term economic stability.

Read the Ten-Year Strategy 2024–2033 here

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has presented essential items to support the upkeep of immigrants at Krisan Refugee Camp at Krisan Town, in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.

The items consist of 100 bags of 25 kilograms (kg) rice, 25 cartons of canned fish, 100 carton of cooking oil, 100 buckets of tomato paste, 500 pieces of mosquito nets as well as 500 students’ mattresses and 300 bags of sachet water. “All these items are coming from the contributions of individuals from our branches in Ghana, Africa and across the world through our Humanitarian Aid,” President Christopher L. Morgan, of The Churches of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Ghana Cape Coast Mission explained. 

Also, he said: “We give 10 percent of our tithes to the Church and we believe in alms, fasting, prophesying of faith and great pilgrims among others. We offer support to help and bless all God’s children, we do what the Saviour Jesus Christ will do and I am honoured to be here with my wife Christine Morgan, to present these items.”

Church of Jesus Christ donation to Krisan Refugee Camp

He mentioned that the missionaries of the Church, have been of great support to the camp and prayed all who contributed to this worthy course will be blessed abundantly. “We believe these items will make you stronger as well as the communities stronger. We pray these items will be a blessing upon you and we will encourage you to share with others for God to give us more,” President Morgan said.

Emmanuel Akonful, Krisan Refugee Camp Manager was grateful to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for the support. “The Church has been supporting the camp for some time now and I urge other organizations to follow suits for the immigrants to have a comfortable life,” he said.

He explained that the camp was set up in 1996, with some immigrants from Liberia following the conflict that distabilised the country. They settled at a town called Sanzule in the Ellembelle District and within three months, they moved to their present location at Krisan. “Currently, the refugees here are about 900, coming from 16 African countries such as Togo, Sudan, Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone among others. They are funded by the Government of Ghana, partnered by the United Nations and other organizations,” he further explained.

Like any other settlement, he said there has been a cordial relationship with the host communities. There are schools here, a clinic, a Police Station as well as a community centre that makes their lives lively.

However, he said the camp is in need of additional shelter, a library, and related amenities. “With the conflicts ranging in Sudan, Congo and other counties in the sub-region, there are refugees trooping in here. Therefore, we are appealing to cooperate organizations, church bodies as well as some philanthropists to support us from time to time since government alone cannot shoulder all the responsibilities,” Mr. Akonful added. 

Church of Jesus Christ donation to Krisan Refugee Camp

American Express and Ecobank Group, the leading pan-African financial services Group, announced an agreement to significantly expand American Express Card acceptance in twenty-one countries across Africa.

Through this agreement, American Express Card Members will be able to use their Cards in twelve new countries: Burundi, Central African Republic, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Niger, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Togo. Additionally, the number of merchants accepting American Express Card payments will increase in nine further countries where American Express acceptance already exists: Cape Verde, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Nigeria, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.  Acceptance in these countries will be rolled out over the next 12 months.  Ecobank will also provide ATM acceptance for American Express in all countries where they operate in Africa (with the exception of Cape Verde).

The agreement, which was announced at the African Development Bank Group Annual Meetings 2024, will strengthen the American Express global network by increasing the number of locations where American Express Card Members can use their Cards in Sub-Saharan Africa. The agreement will also enable merchants to attract business from a new customer base of American Express consumer, business and corporate Card Members in Africa and around the world.

“We are delighted to welcome American Express to our network, reinforcing our commitment to offering innovative payments solutions for customers across Africa,” said Jeremy Awori, CEO of Ecobank Group. “This agreement will benefit American Express Card Members, providing them with greater choice and will help merchants to grow their businesses. It also highlights the scalability of Ecobank’s unrivalled borderless banking ecosystem and network across Africa.”

Mohammed Badi, President of Global Network Services at American Express, commented: “This agreement with Ecobank is a major milestone for American Express acceptance across Africa as it will expand our presence in sub-Saharan Africa to 42 countries from 30 at present. With Ecobank’s support, we look forward to providing merchants in these countries access to higher-spending American Express Card Members both in Africa and from around the world.”

This collaboration aligns with Ecobank’s Growth, Transformation and Returns strategic agenda. Ecobank is committed to offering its retail customers innovative and easy-to-use financial solutions through its unified banking platform across Africa.

So, you’re thinking about growing your own marijuana at home? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Growing cannabis can be a fun and rewarding hobby, not to mention a great way to ensure a steady supply of high-quality bud. But before you start planting seeds willy-nilly, there are some important things to keep in mind.

What Does the Law Say?

First things first, if you’ve got a plan to grow marijuana, make sure growing it is legal where you live! Laws vary widely by location. In some places, it’s totally legal to grow a few plants for personal use. In other areas, growing even one plant could land you in serious trouble. So do your research and understand the risks before you start cultivating cannabis.

Where Are You Going To Grow Your Plants?

Now that you know it’s ok to start your hobby legally, you’ll need to set up your grow space. If you’re a beginner, a small grow area that’s easy to control, like a closet or small tent, is a good idea. Make sure your space is clean, light-tight, and well-ventilated.  Invest in some basic equipment like grow lights, fans, and perhaps a carbon filter to manage odors.

What Plants Should You Grow?

Next up, you’ll need to decide on your plants. Novices should consider starting with clones or seedlings rather than seeds, as they can be a bit easier. Feminized seeds are also a good option to ensure your plants are female (male plants don’t produce buds). There are countless strains to choose from with different flavors, effects, and growing characteristics. Do some research to find a strain that appeals to you and suits your grow setup.

Dial In Your Growing Conditions

To grow quality bud, you’ll need to master a few key environmental factors:

Light – Cannabis plants need lots of bright light, especially in the flowering stage. Most growers use powerful grow lights like LEDs or HIDs. Make sure to keep lights at the proper distance to avoid burning your plants.

Temperature – The ideal temperature range is 70-85°F when lights are on, and 10-15°F cooler when they’re off. Use fans, AC, or heaters to maintain proper temps.

Humidity – Seedlings and young plants prefer higher humidity around 60-70%. Dial it down to 40-50% by the late flowering stage to prevent mold and boost resin production.

Airflow – Good airflow strengthens stems and helps prevent mold and pests. Set up fans to gently rustle plant leaves.

How Much and What Do I Feed/Water the Plants?

How you water and feed your plants has a big impact on their growth and health. Overwatering is a common mistake – wait until the top inch of soil feels dry, then drench until a bit of water runs out the bottom of the pot.

Cannabis plants are heavy feeders, so you’ll need to feed them nutrients regularly. Use a marijuana-specific nutrient line and follow the instructions. It’s better to slightly underfeed than overfeed and burn your plants. Flush with plain water for the final week or two before harvest to improve flavor.

Harvest Time!

After a few months of hard work, it will finally be time to reap your rewards! Most strains are ready to harvest about 7-10 weeks after forcing flowering. Use a jeweler’s loupe or microscope to examine the trichomes (sticky glands on buds). Harvest when they turn milky white and amber.

Carefully cut down branches, trim off leaves, and hang buds to dry until stems snap instead of bend. Finally, cure buds in airtight glass jars for 2 weeks up to a few months to enhance taste and potency. Then, sit back and savor the fruits of your labor!

Growing cannabis has a bit of a learning curve, but it’s a fun and fascinating hobby. By starting small, doing your research, and paying attention to your plants, you’ll be well on your way to producing a stellar stash.

Affiliate marketing is becoming a popular way of doing business on the Internet, providing owners of news sites, blogs, YouTube channels, pages on social networks or groups in messengers with the opportunity to monetize their resources. It allows you to obtain additional sources of income and, therefore, attracts many entrepreneurs.

Affiliate marketing plays a vital role in the betting industry, moving the industry forward. This is confirmed by numerous thematic resources and conferences, where you can find useful tips, recommendations for beginners and find out the answer to the question is bet an investment?

In this article, we will discuss the benefits of the 1xBet affiliate program, an effective tool for increasing income.

Functionality

1xPartners offers all the necessary tools for effective work:

• creating an affiliate link in one click
• promo code generation
• creating a sub-affiliate link
• access to current promo materials

User-friendly interface and quick access to information

When entering the personal account, the partner immediately sees on the main page the amount of funds available for withdrawal, earnings for the current month and total income for the entire period of cooperation. All this information is presented clearly and does not require additional actions or pressing buttons.

Statistics and reports

The 1xBet affiliate program provides online statistics and detailed reports for the selected period. Information helps you track your performance and analyze data to improve your income. Partners also have access to reports on referred players, including information about where players came from and what bets they made.

Transparent conditions and high profits

Affiliates can easily check the percentage and validity period of the current commission in their personal account, which helps them better plan their work and income. 1xPartners guarantees its participants a lifetime commission – up to 50% of the bets of each attracted player.

1xPartners members have unlimited earnings, and various collaboration models, including RevShare, CPA and hybrid, allow them to choose the best terms to suit their goals and strategies. The profit of the most successful 1xBet partners in February 2024 reached $16,000, and the average monthly income of partners in 2023 was $500-800.

How to become a member of 1xPartners?

To start cooperation with 1xBet, you need to follow a few simple steps:

1. Register on 1xPartners.
2. Receive confirmation of your request by e-mail.

Thousands of African entrepreneurs have already participated in the program, are running successful online businesses and have taken their income to a new level with 1xBet.

Join 1xPartners and start the path to prosperity together with a reliable company!

The digital revolution has left no stone unturned, and sports betting is no exception. Online darts betting platforms have become increasingly popular, offering enthusiasts a convenient and accessible way to place bets. The convenience of betting from home or on the go, coupled with the ability to watch live streams and access real-time statistics, has made online platforms a preferred choice for many.

How Online Platforms Have Changed the Landscape

1. Accessibility and Convenience: Online platforms have made it easy for fans to place bets anytime, anywhere. Whether you’re at home, at a pub, or even at the venue, you can access a plethora of betting options with just a few clicks.
2. Variety of Betting Markets: Unlike traditional bookmakers, online platforms offer a wide range of betting markets. From outright winners and match results to more specific bets like highest checkout or total 180s, the options are extensive.
3. Live Betting and Streaming: One of the most significant changes is the ability to place live bets while watching the match in real-time. Many platforms offer live streaming services, allowing bettors to watch the action unfold and make informed decisions based on the live performance of players.
4. Enhanced Data and Analytics: Online platforms provide detailed statistics and analytics, helping bettors make more informed choices. From player form and head-to-head records to in-depth match analysis, these tools are invaluable for serious bettors.

Tips for Choosing the Best Online Betting Sites

With numerous online betting sites available, choosing the right one can be daunting. Here are some key factors to consider:

1. User Interface

A user-friendly interface is crucial for a seamless betting experience. Look for platforms that are easy to navigate, with clear menus and intuitive design. A cluttered or confusing interface can lead to mistakes and frustration.

2. Betting Markets

The best platforms offer a wide variety of betting markets. Ensure the site covers all major darts tournaments and provides diverse betting options, from simple match bets to more complex wagers like handicaps and over/under bets.

3. Odds

Competitive odds are essential for maximizing potential returns. Compare the odds offered by different platforms to ensure you’re getting the best value. Some sites may offer better odds on specific markets, so it’s worth shopping around.

4. Bonuses and Promotions

Many online betting sites offer bonuses and promotions to attract new users and retain existing ones. Look for welcome bonuses, free bets, and ongoing promotions that add value to your betting experience. However, always read the terms and conditions to understand the wagering requirements and any restrictions.

5. Customer Service

Reliable customer service is a must. Choose platforms that offer multiple contact methods, such as live chat, email, and phone support. Check reviews and testimonials to gauge the responsiveness and helpfulness of the customer support team.

6. Security and Licensing

Ensure the platform is secure and licensed by a reputable authority. Look for SSL encryption to protect your personal and financial information. Licensed platforms adhere to strict regulations, ensuring fair play and reliable payouts.

Responsible Betting and Using Reputable Sites

While the convenience and excitement of online darts betting are undeniable, it’s crucial to bet responsibly. Set a budget and stick to it, avoiding the temptation to chase losses. Online platforms often provide tools to help you manage your betting, such as deposit limits, self-exclusion options, and activity tracking.

Using reputable sites is paramount. Research the platform’s reputation, read user reviews, and check for any complaints or issues. A reputable site will have a transparent operation, clear terms and conditions, and a strong commitment to responsible gambling.

Conclusion

The rise of online darts betting platforms has revolutionized the way fans engage with the sport. These platforms offer unparalleled convenience, a wide range of betting markets, and invaluable data and analytics. However, choosing the right site is crucial for a safe and enjoyable betting experience. Prioritize user-friendly interfaces, competitive odds, generous bonuses, robust customer service, and, most importantly, security and licensing. By following these tips and betting responsibly, you can enhance your enjoyment of darts betting while minimizing risks. Happy betting!