To preserve our home, practice the “three Rs”

Environmental issues have now become a regular topic of discussion.  It’s not unusual to hear people ascribe changes in weather patterns to global warming and so on.  It is generally agreed that more needs to be done to protect the environment and sustain it for the good of man and all other species.  

This year the theme for Earth Day is Environmental and Climate Literacy.  According to the Earth Day network, education is the basis for progress and there’s a need to build a community that understands the concept of climate change and the threat it poses to the earth.  As part of our contribution to the climate literacy campaign, here are some reasons why taking care of the earth and by extension our environment matters.

Preparing young Nigerians for leadership

A year ago, 45 young Nigerians from various parts of the country were selected to participate in President Obama’s first ever Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).  The White House developed this program in recognition of the critical and increasing role that young Africans are playing in strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth, and enhancing peace and security on the continent.  Those selected participated in the Mandela Washington Fellowship, a six-week academic and leadership program focused on business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, and public management at select U.S. universities.

Be a Part of History! U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit and YALI 2014

You can be a part of history in the upcoming weeks!  To build on the U.S. Government’s commitment to Africa’s security, democratic development, and its people, President Barack Obama will host two, first-of-its-kind summits in Washington, DC - the YALI: Washington Fellows Presidential Summit (July 28 to July 30) and the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit (August 4 to August 6).

Power Africa Off-Grid Challenge – Round II

The Challenge is Clear – The Time is Now

Power Africa has brought all corners of the US Government together to tackle a challenge of monumental proportions with the potential to reap substantial development dividends.  Power fuels economic growth, it also lights homes so children can study at night, illuminates clinics saving lives at childbirth, and chills medication to ward off unwanted disease.  This is one development battle that, if we come together, we can win.

Most have concentrated on the BIG energy gains – setting sound policy environments, facilitating power plant transactions and paving the way for utility companies to deliver energy for industry and growing urban centers.  Yet, as we know, more than 60% of Africa is home to rural communities who not only are not served by the grid today, but are unlikely to be reached anytime soon.  What does Power Africa mean for these communities?

We believe that Africa’s energy entrepreneurs are in the process of inventing the answer to this question.  All across the continent we are seeing entrepreneurs and communities come together to create new ways of generating and delivering renewable energy while making it available and affordable to remote households, schools, clinics and local industries.

To spur this wave of innovation, the US African Development Foundation (USADF) has teamed up with General Electric Africa and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to launch the Power Africa Off-Grid Energy Challenge. This business plan competition will provide $100,000 awards to 100% African-owned and managed companies that are inventing innovative business solutions to meet the power needs of rural communities.  Eligible countries include:  Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. The challenge was kicked off on May 7th,  with applications due by June 20th, 2014  Awards will be granted before October 1st, 2014.  For more information on applying, check out http://www.usadf.gov/offgrid/PowerAfricaChallenge-Round2.htm

There are a growing number of technologies already available and each year, the costs of renewable energy are coming down.  The question now remains – who can make this commercially and sustainably accessible to  the millions of homes, clinics and schools that need electricity to function – not to mention the tens of thousands of small businesses who need energy to scale?

This current round of the Off-Grid Energy Challenge builds on the successful first round, conceived and executed by USADF and GE Africa in 2013. Initially open only in Kenya and Nigeria, the call for proposals was met with submissions from nearly 150 applicants, culminating with  six dynamic winners:

• Solar World (E.A.) Ltd. will construct 5 solar-powered water points to address provide water and electricity to pastoralists in the semi-arid lands in northern Kenya
• Afrisol Energy Ltd. will utilize bio-digesters to produce electricity and biogas for small businesses in Nairobi’s urban slums
• Mibawa Suppliers will expand its delivery of pay-as-you-go lighting and chargers to households in rural parts of western Kenya
• TransAfrica Gas and Electric will power stand-alone cold storage facilities with solar photovoltaic systems for farmers and fisherman in Jos, northern Nigeria
• GVE Projects Ltd. will electrify 24 off-grid communities using metered solar photovoltaic micro-grid and portable rechargeable battery systems, targeted to customers’ demands
• Afe Babalola University will investigate hydro-electric and solar system to serve students and faculty, and the neighboring community of 10,000+, who currently rely on diesel generators 

This is a development opportunity waiting to happen.  The Challenge is on, the clock is ticking.  USADF, GE Africa and USAID stand ready to support this next round of innovators and meet this challenge head on. The time is now!

What's Happening Now and What's Next: The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)

Ambassador Froman and African officials hear
from an African businesswoman about diverse export
products including Shea butter and cassava flour.

Shea butter, clothing, and countless other African products that make their way to U.S. store shelves. American ingenuity building bridges - literally - across the African continent, with skills training for workers to boot. These are success stories of America's trade and investment relationship with Africa, all highlighted at the AGOA Forum in Addis Ababa.

After helping to open the 12th AGOA Forum and bringing a message from President Obama to the assembled government officials, private sector and civil society delegates today, Ambassador Froman formally launched a major review of AGOA, aimed at building on successes and addressing challenges with the U.S. preference program that allows substantially all goods from 39 African countries to enter the U.S. market duty-free.

American Scholar Finds Art, Love, Connections in Nigeria

On the bustling streets of the mainland Lagos neighborhood of Palmgrove, the children know her as Mama K.

American scholar Karen Marguerite Wilson-Ama’Echefu first came to Nigeria as a Fulbright Scholar in mid-2011. After earning her PhD in American history from the University of California, Riverside in 2007, Wilson-Ama’Echefu, who is also a singer and storyteller, set out to explore the reflections and roots of African American diasporic culture in African culture in Nigeria and Ghana over the 9-month duration of her grant.