SEED South Africa Symposium 2015

From the 26-28th May 2015, AFSD -SA had the privilege of being invited to the 2015 SEED South Africa Symposium. 

SEED is an initiative, founded by the UNEP, UNDP and IUCN to help small grassroots enterprises in developing countries to enhance their social, environmental, and economic benefits. 

AFSD -SA' s Barberton Project was selected as one of 5 candidates to represent the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as part of their Small Grants Programme (SGP). 

 AFSD -SA was awarded a grant of $50 000, to conduct a project focussing on the economic empowerment of women, capacity building of school learners and reduction in electricity usage. This project was conducted within the parameters of renewable energy. 

The theme of the  symposium was Entrepreneurship: A solution for climate change and green growth. It took place over 3 days, at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Johannesburg.   

AFSD -SA was asked to set up a small exhibition stand, in the symposium’s "Marketplace", along with the other 5 candidates.

Apart from the valuable input from the symposium, a number of additional relationships with formed with a professor from UJ, a member of government from the Free State and an SED strategist from the Eastern Cape.

 The input from the symposium was really valuable, and AFSD considered it a tremendous privilege to have been invited to this prestigious event. 

Understand the Big Picture of Development at WEF MENA 2015 - The MasterCard Center for Inclusive Growth

Decision-makers at WEF MENA are working for change against the backdrop of a historic transition between development models

As regional and world leaders meet in Jordan on the Dead Sea for the three-day World Economic Forum Middle East and North Africa, all will be conscious of the need to address youth economic opportunity. This year will mark the five-year anniversary of the Arab Spring, which began with the first protests in Tunisia in December 2010. Accelerated by social media, the frustrated economic and political aspirations of youth across the region would go on to unseat governments as far afield as Egypt and Yemen. Five years later, gains have been made, but important work remains to be done.  Read more...

AFSD conducts Community Needs Scan

AFSD conducted a comunity needs scan in the towns of Hopetown and Douglas. We are always amazed at the resilience of the people that we meet and talk to. See more...

An amazing person, creating hope and providing jobs

Our MD reports back on the 2015 Spring Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund

Despite the End of the Commodity Boom, African countries can sustain their economic rise. Read more...

See more of the panel discussions...

Africa Rising

Read the results of Global LEAP energy efficient appliance survey

the Global Lighting and Energy Access Partnership (Global LEAP) initiative – a Clean Energy Ministerial initiative led by the U.S. Department of Energy and in which the United Nations Foundation is a partner – recently conducted an online survey to better understand the global market of off-grid clean energy system-compatible appliances. The goal of the survey was to help market actors throughout the energy access value chain make better informed decisions regarding off-grid appliances, from investment and policy interventions, to manufacturing and procurement.  Read more...

Between 18 December 2014 and 13 January 2015, a total of 239 energy access professionals, many of whom were Practitioner Network members, identified the top five household and healthcare appliances that they think will inspire the greatest off-grid consumer demand over the next 3 to 5 years, and that they think are likely to drive the greatest energy access (e.g., socioeconomic or environmental) benefits. 

The survey shows that, for off-grid household and small enterprise applications, LED room lighting appliances, mobile phone charging banks, televisions, radios, refrigeration, fans, and solar water pumps are the appliances with the highest likely demand, in that order. For healthcare and clinical applications, refrigeration, sterilizers/auto-claves, patient monitors, and portable ultrasound machines are consistently ranked as the top four off-grid clinical appliances in terms of anticipated demand and potential impacts.

A brief history of Bretton Woods System

By M.J. Stephey, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008

  

Since the end of World War II, the U.S. dollar has enjoyed a unique and powerful position in international trade. But perhaps no more.  Read more...

Alfred Eisenstaedt / Time & Life Pictures / Getty

Delegates attend the Bretton Woods conference in July of 1944 at the Mt. Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire

4 Tactics for increasing investment in renewable energy

IFC (@IFC_org) tweeted at 3:10 PM on Wed, Aug 06, 2014: 4 tactics for increasing investment in renewable energy.

Our MD is invited to to attend the 2015 Spring Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund

We are pleased to inform you that you have been registered to attend the 2015 Spring Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and to participate in the Civil Society Policy Forum (CSPF) that will be held during the week of the Meetings.

Really good article by McKinsey

From liability to opportunity: How to build food security and nourish growth

How can public institutions, development agencies, investors, researchers, and producers work together to build a food sector that propels economic growth, meets demand, and helps to maintain social stability?  Read more...

Here's an extract from the book I'm reading...

the self made billionaire effect by mitch cohen and john sviokla

http://www.berea.edu/grow-appalachia/history-goals/

“Here’s what I wanted to do,” said DeJoria. “Step number one was I would pay for seeds, fertilizer, equipment, as well as agricultural extension educators and volunteers to actually go out there and teach people how to farm. The goal of phase one was, you will feed yourself, your family, anyone destitute around you and be able to can for the winter so you can have food year- round. 

Phase two is you grow more vegetables— now you know you can do it— so you’re taken care of, your family is taken care of. The extra you grow you can sell at farmer’s markets or to local grocery stores as locally grown produce. Now you have some income, all right? Phase three is, once you have an income, teach someone else to do what you did. I’ll buy the extra seeds and inputs and all that and you pass along what you learned to others. If I have fifty thousand families I could affect directly and each of them teach two others, that’s a hundred and fifty thousand people getting to be self- sufficient and eventually making enough money off the gardening and the produce where they don’t need the food stamps anymore.” 

Grow Appalachia launched officially in 2010. In its first year, the venture grew 120,000 pounds of food for more than 2,800 people. In the second year those numbers expanded, despite a difficult growing season, to 134,000 pounds of food for 3,694 people, and created a total of more than seventy full- and part- time jobs. In its third year, 2012, Grow Appalachia produced 320,000 pounds of produce for 9,000 people. From nothing to 320,000 pounds is an impressive feat, the result of Empathetic Imagination made real by a Producer who had the original vision and a Performer collaborator with whom he is helping him execute.

Dale Quaker

Eros School and the MDG's

Eros school is a school for learners with special education needs, ranging from Cerebral Palsy to epilepsy and learning disabilities. We cater for learners from Pre-Grade R to Grade 9. We have a hostel which can accommodate up to 160 learners. We have had learners in our hostel from all over the country for example Transkei and Namibia. Our hostel also caters for those learners from socially disadvantaged background, who, are in need of lodging and care.  Read more...

the GEF, Expanded Constituency Workshop in Windhoek, Namibia

Lots to be learnt with the GEF 6 replenishment. Some amazing tools designed by the GEF to simply the application process.  See more...

Team SA engaged and had fun while working through the various cases. 

3rd CELAC Summit, Belen, Costa Rica, 28th January 2015

Key Remarks by Army General Raul Castro Ruz, President of the Councils of State and Ministers of the Republic of Cuba at the 3rd CELAC Summit, Belen Costa Rica, January 28, 2015.

... Africa, where our peoples have their roots, needs no advice or interference but the transference of financial resources, technology and a fair deal. We shall always defend the legitimate rights of those nations alongside which we fought colonialism and apartheid, and with which we have today fraternal relations and cooperation. We shall never forget their unshakeable solidarity and support.  Read more...

Fidel Castro Sends Message to University Students

Cuba, January 27, 2015. Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro has sent Cuban university students a message stressing the development of the country's education over the past 56 years.

For my Federation of University Students classmates

Dear compañeros,

In 2006, as a result of health issues which were incompatible with the time and effort required to fulfill my duties – which I myself assumed when I entered this University September 4, 1945, 70 years ago – I resigned from my official positions.  Read more...