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Parliament’s press service will host a technical briefing on Thursday at 11.00 for media on how to follow and cover the 6-9 June European elections.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Almost 400 million women are household biomass producers.  They constitute the largest, and largely invisible, workforce in our global energy system. Credit: Joyce Chimbi/IPS

By Philippe Benoit
PARIS, Feb 19 2024 (IPS)

The International Energy Agency (IEA) held its annual ministers meeting last week in Paris, marking the 50th anniversary of the world’s leading energy organization. Critical topics on the agenda included energy security issues linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, as well as advancing a clean energy transition to meet global climate change goals.

Far from Paris lives Aïcha Bonou N’Donkie, an 18-year-old from a village in Burkina Faso whose shoulder shimmy dance move has caught the attention of millions, including media outlets around the world. A YouTube video featuring her “Aïcha tremblé” has had over 14 million views.  But Ms. N’Donkie wasn’t a professional dancer.  Rather, the day she first gained attention with her dance move began with the much more mundane chore of gathering firewood used for cooking.

And in this, Ms. N’Donkie is, according to a recent report I co-authored (with Siyuan Ding) for Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, one of almost 400 million women household biomass producers.  They constitute the largest, and largely invisible, workforce in our global energy system.

While much of the attention regarding the energy sector is paid to the workers (predominantly male) who labor in the oil and gas, coal and electricity businesses, these women biomass producers are the providers of the primary source of energy for millions of families: household biomass, which is used for the most essential of human needs, eating.

While there has been progress in expanding the use of clean cooking technologies, universal access remains far off … and analysts point to the ongoing use of household biomass for years to come, notably in Sub-Saharan Africa where poverty remains a key barrier

There are an estimated 2 billion people who rely on traditional cooking methods fueled by biomass such as firewood and animal waste. They live in the poorer regions of the world, mostly in the rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa and developing Asia. In notably much of Sub-Saharan Africa, women are the primary providers of this energy.

Our preliminary analysis indicates that there are 190 million women (and girls) household biomass producers in Sub-Saharan Africa and a nearly equivalent amount in developing Asia, with 7 million in Latin America and the Caribbean.

By comparison, the IEA estimates that there are about 40 million people working in the formal energy production and distribution subsectors. We often see their pictures: workers in hardhats at oil drilling wells, emerging from coal mines, in cranes fixing transmission lines, or walking on roofs installing solar panels.  They are an important part of our economic landscape, who have received increasing attention amid the discussions about the clean energy transition.

There is much less discussion and are far fewer pictures of women household biomass producers, like Ms. N’Donkie, whose labor can involve collecting and carrying loads of wood that weigh 50 pounds or more, and who spend up to 10 hours or even in some regions, 20 or more hours per week in this work.  While women carrying bundles of firewood on their backs may not conjure the usual images of energy’s labor force, they are a very important part of the global energy landscape, providing a principal source of energy for an estimated 200 million families.

To date, much of the discussion of this labor has occurred in the context of the effort to provide universal access to clean cooking technologies (under United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #7).

This involves notably replacing firewood, etc. with cleaner and more modern cooking technologies, which in turn would go far to obviate the need for the time-consuming labor of collecting and preparing fuelwood and animal waste for burning in traditional stoves. The clean cooking discussion is, however, also inherently tilted to women as consumers rather than producers.

While there has been progress in expanding the use of clean cooking technologies, universal access remains far off … and analysts point to the ongoing use of household biomass for years to come, notably in Sub-Saharan Africa where poverty remains a key barrier.  Accordingly, we estimate in our report that there are likely to still be 200 million or more women biomass producers in 2030.

And so, the question – and challenge – remains as to what can be done to improve the conditions for these women energy producers.

Part of the response is more research to better ascertain their circumstances and, importantly, their wants. Understanding the varied preferences of these millions of women will require time and resources, not only because of their numbers, but also because of the diversity of the situations they labor in and the overlapping challenges that many face of poverty, gender discrimination and, for some, marginalization (including, as refugees). This granular information is needed to develop effective and context-adapted solutions, an important lesson from the clean cooking effort.

As the international community — including through COPs, the IEA and the World Bank — looks to advance a low-carbon future, it is important, in parallel, for the specialized energy and development communities to explore what can be done now to improve the lives of these women given their central role in the global energy landscape.

While, for arguably serendipitous reasons, we can today better see the talented Aïcha Bonou N’Donkie, there are hundreds of millions of women energy producers who remain largely invisible to too many. Seeing these women and understanding them better is a critical step to developing programs to help them to improve the quality of their lives in the face of the poverty and other challenges they face.

Philippe Benoit is managing director at Global Infrastructure Advisory Services 2050. He previously held management positions at the World Bank and the International Energy Agency.

A Adjago, une localité de l'arrondissement de Tangbo-Djèvié, dans la commune de Zè, le corps en état de putréfaction d'un homme a été découvert.

Découverte macabre à Adjago, dans la commune de Zè. Le corps sans vie d'un homme a été découvert le weekend écoulé dans un état de décomposition. La victime selon les témoins, aurait été aperçue en vie 4 jours avant la découverte. Depuis ce jour, personne n'a eu de ses nouvelles. Le corps découvert selon nos sources, ne présentait aucune lésion. Les causes de la mort ne sont pas connues.

Dans un communiqué officiel sur son site, la Confédération Africaine de Football a confirmé le tirage au sort du tour préliminaire de la CAN 2025 pour ce mardi 20 février 2024. L'instance faîtière a profité pour dévoiler les 8 nations qui joueront cette phase.

Selon la CAF, le tirage au sort aura lieu à 12h00 GMT. Le tour préliminaire de la Coupe d'Afrique des Nations TotalEnergies, Maroc 2025 se déroulera avec les huit (8) équipes les moins bien classées selon le classement de la FIFA : Somalie, Djibouti, Sao Tomé, Tchad, Maurice, Soudan du Sud, Libéria et Eswatini.

Pour rappel, les matches se disputeront en aller-retour pendant la fenêtre FIFA du 18 au 26 mars 2024. Les quatre (4) vainqueurs du tour préliminaire rejoindront les 44 équipes exemptées pour la phase de groupe des éliminatoires.

J.S

Au terme des travaux d'une Assemblée générale élective vendredi 16 février 2024 à l'amphi HOUDEGBE, l'Union nationale des scolaires et étudiants du Bénin (UNSEB), a élu un nouveau bureau exécutif au niveau de sa section de l'Université d'Abomey-Calavi. Oladélé YENOU préside le nouveau bureau exécutif composé de 11 membres.

Composition du nouveau bureau
– Président : Oladélé YENOU

– Vice-Président : Gaël SONON (ADJARRA)

– Secrétaire Général : David ALLOKPON GUEZO

– Secrétaire Général adjoint : Malik SOUNOUVI (ADJARRA)

– Trésorier Général : Thierry HOUSSOU (ADJARRA)

– Trésorier Général Adjoint : Jean-Eudes GNINOU

– 1er Organisateur : Prince Babatoundé FASSINOU

– 2ème Organisateur : Pascal Caspatel BOKO

– 3ème Organisateur : Joseph TCHANGO

– Responsable Chargé des Affaires Sociales Culturelles : Épiphanie HLUITI

– Responsable Chargé des affaires Sportives : Rudy Fandonougbo ATTANKPON

Two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, this Working Paper examines repercussions in Africa and on German Africa policy, analysing to what extent they are in continuity with trends that preceded the war and to what extent they represent a break with past patterns. Has the Ukraine war turned out to be a sea change for Africa and German Africa policy, too?

Two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, this Working Paper examines repercussions in Africa and on German Africa policy, analysing to what extent they are in continuity with trends that preceded the war and to what extent they represent a break with past patterns. Has the Ukraine war turned out to be a sea change for Africa and German Africa policy, too?

Two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, this Working Paper examines repercussions in Africa and on German Africa policy, analysing to what extent they are in continuity with trends that preceded the war and to what extent they represent a break with past patterns. Has the Ukraine war turned out to be a sea change for Africa and German Africa policy, too?

La banque mondiale de l'Afrique, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, a été annoncée comme le sponsor officiel de la 4ème édition du Forum des mines et du pétrole de la CEDEAO (ECOMOF 2024) qui se tiendra au Palais des Congrès de Cotonou, au Bénin, du 22 au 24 février 2024.

En tant qu'institution financière de choix, avec une présence dans 20 pays africains et une implication active dans des projets de développement continentaux majeurs, UBA est le partenaire privilégié de l'événement, soulignant l'engagement de la banque pour la croissance de l'industrie minière et pétrolière dans la sous-région, mais aussi pour le développement économique de l'Afrique dans son ensemble.
Le président du groupe UBA, Tony Elumelu, prononcera le discours principal lors de la cérémonie d'ouverture de cet événement important.

M. Elumelu, qui est également président du groupe Transcorp et qui a des intérêts importants dans le domaine de l'énergie et de l'électricité, s'exprimera sur le thème : "Ressources et technologies géo-extractives : quelles stratégies de mise en commun pour la création de valeur en Afrique de l'Ouest ?
Son discours devrait souligner les efforts croissants du Groupe UBA pour soutenir et développer le continent africain par le biais d'investissements stratégiques dans les secteurs clés de l'exploitation minière et pétrolière.

Sous l'égide du Président de la République du Bénin, Son Excellence Patrice Talon, et du Président de la République Fédérale du Nigeria et Président en exercice de la CEDEAO, Son Excellence M. Bola Tinubu, le Groupe UBA réaffirmera lors du forum son engagement à soutenir le développement économique et social à travers le continent.

L'objectif d'ECOMOF 2024 souligne l'importance de transformer les secteurs minier et pétrolier en piliers économiques en formulant des politiques attrayantes pour les investisseurs, ce qui est essentiel pour la contribution substantielle de ces secteurs aux produits intérieurs bruts (PIB) des États membres de la CEDEAO.

Le groupe Transnational Corporation (Transcorp Plc) - un conglomérat diversifié avec des investissements stratégiques dans divers secteurs, y compris l'électricité et l'énergie - participera également activement au forum.

Les principaux responsables du groupe UBA et de Transcorp Plc, notamment la Directrice générale de UBA Africa, Abiola Bawuah, le Directeur du Groupe UBA, Corporate and Energy Bank, Ebele Ogbue, et le président/directeur général du groupe Transcorp, Owen Omogiafo, participeront activement aux discussions et aux groupes de discussion en marge de l'événement.

Prévu pour attirer plus de 2 000 participants de divers secteurs, y compris des représentants des industries minières et pétrolières, des fonctionnaires, des investisseurs internationaux et nationaux, des experts de l'industrie, des délégués de la CEDEAO et des organisations internationales, ECOMOF 2024 promet d'être une plate-forme importante pour le dialogue collaboratif et la construction de partenariats.
United Bank for Africa est l'un des plus grands employeurs du secteur financier sur le continent africain, avec 25 000 employés à l'échelle du groupe et au service de plus de 35 millions de clients dans le monde. Présente dans 20 pays africains ainsi qu'au Royaume-Uni, aux États-Unis d'Amérique, en France et aux Émirats arabes unis, UBA fournit des services bancaires aux particuliers, aux entreprises et aux institutions, en favorisant l'inclusion financière et en mettant en œuvre des technologies de pointe.

Certains l’appellent l’arbre à pharmacie ou l’arbre de vie. Il a pour nom scientifique adansonia digitata. Mais il est populairement connu sous le nom de baobab. C’est un arbre qui pousse en Afrique principalement.

Alfred FAGNON, ancien chef d'arrondissement d'Adjohoun-centre n'est plus. Il a été assassiné dans son domicile dans la nuit du samedi 17 au dimanche 18 février 2024.

Drame à Adjohoun, dans le département de l'Ouémé. Des individus mal intentionnés ont ôté la vie à un élu local dans la nuit du samedi 17 au dimanche 18 février 2024. Il s'agit selon nos sources, de Alfred FAGNON, ancien chef d'arrondissement d'Adjohoun-centre. Ces individus dont l'identité reste à découvrir auraient usé d'armes blanches pour lui assener des coups en son domicile à Fifadji. Le corps sans vie a été découvert au petit matin du dimanche 18 février, et déposé à la morgue de la localité.
Les raisons ayant conduits ces individus à poser cet acte restent pour l'heure inconnues. Nos sources renseignent qu'après avoir commis leur forfait, qu'ils n'ont emporté aucun objet. Une enquête est ouverte.

F. A. A.

La Communauté Economique des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (CEDEAO) tiendra un sommet extraordinaire samedi 24 février 2024 à Abuja (Nigeria).

Les Chefs d'Etat des pays membres de la Communauté Economique des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (CEDEAO) examineront la situation politique et sécuritaire de la sous-région, samedi 24 février 2024 lors d'un sommet extraordinaire à Abuja au Nigeria.
La situation au Sénégal, le retrait du Mali, Burkina et du Niger de la CEDEAO annoncé en septembre dernier feront également objet de discussions lors de ce sommet extraordinaire. De sources proches de l'organisation, la CEDEAO tient à ce que ces trois Etats du Sahel restent au sein de l'Union.

La CEDEAO réexaminera sa position en ce qui concerne les sanctions prises contre le Niger à la suite du coup d'Etat de juillet 2023. Plusieurs chefs d'Etat membres de l'organisation dont le béninois Patrice Talon et Faure Gnassingbé du Togo plaident la levée des sanctions au regard de ses conséquences sur l'Etat du Niger voire sur les relations avec les autres pays membres.
M. M.

Le président de la République Patrice Talon a nommé Izou-Deen Ibrahim en tant que membre du Conseil électoral de la Commission électorale nationale autonome.

Nomination d'un nouveau membre du Conseil électoral. Il a nom Izou-Deen Ibrahim. Désigné par les magistrats, il a été nommé par le Chef de l'Etat en remplacement du magistrat Nicolas Luc Aurélien Assogba. Ce dernier désormais membre à la Cour Constitutionnelle assure les fonctions de vice-président. Le nouveau membre est appelé à poursuivre le mandat en cours pour le reste de sa durée. Il doit prêter serment devant le président de la République et le bureau de l'Assemblée nationale.

A.A.A

L'Agence Nationale des Transports Terrestres (ANaTT) veut renforcer son personnel. Un appel à candidature est lancé pour le recrutement des informaticiens, divers agents d'appui, de chargé de communication, de conducteur de véhicule administratif, et d'agent de liaison.

Lire l'intégralité de l'avis de recrutement

As a result of Russian aggression against Ukraine since February 2022, an overarching trend in German development policy in Africa has greatly accelerated: Geopolitical and geo-economic issues have become much more prominent. This applies to the context of devel-opment policy, which is now heavily dominated by geopolitical issues: socio-economic problems in partner countries are exacerbated by the global economic consequences of the war. It also applies to the question of how development policy itself can contribute to shap-ing this context and reduce negative implications of the aggression. Can development cooperation be used to make partner countries more resilient in the area of food security and thus reduce dependence on Russia? How can development cooperation help in countering  misinformation in African partner countries? German development cooperation creates regular opportunities to discuss the Russian aggression against Ukraine with partner countries as well as with African regional and continental institutions. Partners in Africa often  emphasize their sovereignty to align with multiple external actors, including Russia. These recent trends apply not only to German, but also to European development policy, the approaches of other bilateral European actors and, more broadly, to the activities of non-European Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.

As a result of Russian aggression against Ukraine since February 2022, an overarching trend in German development policy in Africa has greatly accelerated: Geopolitical and geo-economic issues have become much more prominent. This applies to the context of devel-opment policy, which is now heavily dominated by geopolitical issues: socio-economic problems in partner countries are exacerbated by the global economic consequences of the war. It also applies to the question of how development policy itself can contribute to shap-ing this context and reduce negative implications of the aggression. Can development cooperation be used to make partner countries more resilient in the area of food security and thus reduce dependence on Russia? How can development cooperation help in countering  misinformation in African partner countries? German development cooperation creates regular opportunities to discuss the Russian aggression against Ukraine with partner countries as well as with African regional and continental institutions. Partners in Africa often  emphasize their sovereignty to align with multiple external actors, including Russia. These recent trends apply not only to German, but also to European development policy, the approaches of other bilateral European actors and, more broadly, to the activities of non-European Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.

As a result of Russian aggression against Ukraine since February 2022, an overarching trend in German development policy in Africa has greatly accelerated: Geopolitical and geo-economic issues have become much more prominent. This applies to the context of devel-opment policy, which is now heavily dominated by geopolitical issues: socio-economic problems in partner countries are exacerbated by the global economic consequences of the war. It also applies to the question of how development policy itself can contribute to shap-ing this context and reduce negative implications of the aggression. Can development cooperation be used to make partner countries more resilient in the area of food security and thus reduce dependence on Russia? How can development cooperation help in countering  misinformation in African partner countries? German development cooperation creates regular opportunities to discuss the Russian aggression against Ukraine with partner countries as well as with African regional and continental institutions. Partners in Africa often  emphasize their sovereignty to align with multiple external actors, including Russia. These recent trends apply not only to German, but also to European development policy, the approaches of other bilateral European actors and, more broadly, to the activities of non-European Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2023 - EP

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2024 - EP

MUNICH/VALLETTA, 19 February 2024 — The Chair-in-Office of the OSCE, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta Ian Borg, participated in this year’s edition of the Munich Security Conference. The Munich Security Conference brings together global leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss pressing international security challenges. 

In a series of productive meetings at the margins of the Conference, the Chair-in-Office met with various distinguished representatives of OSCE participating States including President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Tanja Miščević, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organization of the Holy See Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania Igli Hasani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liechtenstein Dominique Hasler, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Ilia Darchiashvili, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Andorra Imma Tor Faus and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova Mihai Popșoi.

The Chair-in-Office also met with Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz ahead of his visit to Pristina.

Throughout these discussions, Minister Borg shared the Maltese Chairpersonship's commitment to safeguard the principles set out in the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris with a vision for strengthening resilience and enhancing security across the OSCE region.

During the Conference, the Chair-in-Office also participated in a panel discussion at which he shared insights on the role of neutral countries within the international context. “From a neutral country's perspective, diplomacy is not merely a tool of foreign policy but a core principle that guides their interactions on the global stage. In Malta’s case, our steadfast commitment to dialogue and diplomacy underpinned our decision to step in as OSCE Chair-in-Office at the eleventh hour while also serving in the UN Security Council,” said Minister Borg.

As peace remains threatened in a world marked by evolving geopolitical dynamics, complex security threats, and global uncertainties, the OSCE Chair-in-Office's participation at the Munich Security Conference reaffirmed the Organization's commitment to upholding the principles of cooperative security.

Chair-in-Office, Minister Borg, emphasized that “the OSCE continues to provide a platform for dialogue, promoting stability and cooperation, and enhancing security in and between its participating States. The Maltese Chairpersonship of the OSCE encapsulates our commitment to strengthening the Organization’s resilience and capabilities to respond effectively and flexibly to the evolving security landscape.”

The Chair-in-Office’s participation at the Conference ensures that the OSCE’s unique approach to security is integrated into international security discussions, promoting a more inclusive and effective dialogue on peace and stability. With this comprehensive concept of security encompassing the politico-military, economic and environmental, and human dimensions, the OSCE remains a crucial forum for dialogue and consensus-building among its participating States.