Latest news with #SDGs
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Business Standard
32 minutes ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Blended finance in India: Scaling up needs regulatory clarity and capital
The UN Financing for Development conference offers a pivotal platform to reimagine blended finance for the decade ahead Kartikeya N Desai Listen to This Article As the world's finance ministers, business leaders, fund managers, and foundations convene in Spain for the fourth UN Conference on Financing for Development (FFD), a harsh reality looms large: We are alarmingly off-track, to the tune of $4 trillion, to meet the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Official development assistance (ODA) has been stagnant, and there have been body blows like the reduction by about 80 per cent of the American ODA budget, and the recent withdrawal by the Trump administration from the FFD4 process itself. In this environment, mobilising private capital at scale is essential to achieve the SDGs. This
TimesLIVE
7 hours ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
UJ ranked best university in sustainable development in Africa
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has been ranked as the best university in sustainable development in Africa and 23rd in the world. This is according to the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Ratings, which assess universities against the UN's sustainable development goals (SDGs). Western Sydney University in Australia was ranked number one in the world for four consecutive years, followed by Manchester University. The University of Pretoria came in at number 63 in the world. UJ is now ranked among the top 30 universities in the world out of 2,318 institutions evaluated. It ranked in the global top 100 for ten SDGs, with three in the top 10. This includes ranking number two in the world for SDG 1 (no poverty); number four for SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth); and number four for SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals). UJ vice-chancellor and principal Prof Letlhokwa Mpedi said this was a testament to the university's commitment to reimagining higher education as a driver of change. 'These results not only underscore UJ's steadfast commitment to sustainable development, equity and impactful partnerships but also highlight the university's growing influence in tackling global challenges through research, teaching and community engagement,' Mpedi said. 'Our ranking reflects the focused efforts driven by our strategic plan 2035, which is built on three key pillars: societal impact and sustainability, global footprint and partnerships, and technology for the future. These pillars guide our trajectory over the next decade and underpin our dedication to creating a more just, equitable and sustainable future for all.' In a separate global ranking, the university was named the third best university in South Africa after the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). 'Together, the two results signal UJ's rising reputation and consistent excellence across multiple global performance metrics.'
Daily Maverick
8 hours ago
- General
- Daily Maverick
University of Johannesburg secures spot in Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings' global top 30
University of Johannesburg Vice-Chancellor Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi said the prestigious rankings 'measure a university's contribution towards the realisation of sustainable development; it is the impact we have as a university on people'. The University of Johannesburg is now the leading sub-Saharan Africa institution in addressing global challenges through the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is according to the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings. The University of Johannesburg's (UJ) strong performance in the 2025 rankings, climbing 13 places from its 2024 position of 36th to an outstanding 23rd place globally, highlights its excellence in areas such as environmental sustainability, social inclusion, economic growth and global partnerships — affirming its role as a transformative force in higher education. The university is now ranked among the top 30 universities in the world out of 2,318 institutions evaluated. UJ also performed well in the individual SDG top 10s, taking second place for SDG 1 (no poverty), fourth place for SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and joint fourth for SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals). 'We want UJ to be the best university for the world' Daily Maverick spoke to the UJ Vice-Chancellor Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, who said this milestone was not easy to attain; however, it showed the impact that the university had on people from different communities in South Africa. Mpedi gave examples of some of the work done. 'Through the UJ societal impact project in Limpopo, we adopted villages and a high school, working with generous donors. We are addressing food insecurity. 'We've got carriages that we have set up there, helping gogos, but there are children in a high school called Hanyani High School; they leave home at 4am to be at school at 8am. We have assisted with internet and water,' said Mpedi. Another example included work done in the Eastern Cape. 'There's a village where we set up hydro panels. There was a water issue, and through these hydro panels we harvest water from the atmosphere; these hydro panels harvest 8,000 litres of potable water,' said Mpedi. Speaking about eradicating poverty, Mpedi said challenges such as poverty, hunger, and unemployment must be dealt with by coming up with new solutions. 'Many of our students are the first generation to come to varsity, and student hunger is a big issue. We have a feeding programme for our needy students, and it's not a lousy meal. It's like Cheesy Rice and peanut butter, and we work with generous donors; also, the university invests some of its money… 'We've got lots of free land that is not being used. The aim is to show people that you can grow your food,' said Mpedi, who has held several senior academic and leadership positions. He served as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Law, followed by his appointment as Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic. Since 2023, Mpedi has been the vice-chancellor and principal of the university. For the Impact Ranking achievement, he thanked the students and his staff who had worked brilliantly. 'I would say to them, 'Thank you so much. The hard work is making a huge difference out there. It's giving people hope.' We are transforming lives,' said Mpedi. Among other African universities that have made it to the top 100 is the University of Pretoria, which is now ranked 63, down from 42. Nigeria's Afe Babalola University is in joint 84th position, up from the 101-200 band. DM
Broadcast Pro
8 hours ago
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Orange partners with Huawei to deploy 5G in Egypt
As 5G networks begin to take shape, both companies remain dedicated to transforming Egypts digital landscape and creating new opportunities for businesses and consumers alike. Orange Egypt and Huawei have announced a landmark partnership to deploy cutting-edge 5G technology that will be a catalyst for emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, AR, and VR, enhancing user experiences and creating new business models and smart ecosystems in areas such as smart cities, IoT and beyond. This strategic alliance highlights both companies' shared vision to advance Egypt's digital transformation, providing advanced connectivity solutions to consumers and businesses alike. As part of the partnership, Huawei has already provided its latest state-of-the-art network solutions, including its advanced Massive MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology for Radio Access Networks (RAN), ensuring optimal service quality and superior network performance and spectral efficiency. This cutting-edge solution enhances the 5G network's performance, providing ultra-fast data speeds and seamless connectivity even in high-density environments. Huaweis Massive MIMO solution represents a leap forward in wireless communication, utilising advanced beamforming and spatial multiplexing techniques to significantly expand network capacity. This innovation allows Orange Egypt to optimise spectrum utilisation, offering more bandwidth to consumers and improving service quality for demanding applications such as 4K/8K video streaming, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR). The rollout of 5G services in Egypt will enable businesses to unlock new levels of productivity, efficiency, and innovation. With ultra-high data rates, ultra-low latency, and extensive connectivity. In line with global efforts to reduce energy consumption and minimise carbon footprints, Huawei introduces its pioneering 0 Bit 0 Watt energy efficiency platform. This platform is designed to optimise energy use in 5G networks by intelligently managing power consumption without compromising on network performance. Through AI-driven energy optimisation algorithms, the platform enables Orange Egypt to significantly reduce operational costs while supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of reducing emissions and conserving energy. This breakthrough innovation represents a major step towards energy-efficient 5G deployments across Egypt and the region. Under this agreement, Orange Egypt and Huawei will also deploy Huaweis E-band microwave technology, which enables ultra-high throughput and low-latency wireless backhaul solutions. This solution is ideal for high-demand urban areas and rural locations where traditional fiber optic cables may be difficult to deploy. The E-band microwave technology ensures that Orange Egypt can offer a reliable and high-speed 5G experience across the country, connecting more people and businesses to the digital economy. Dr. Ayman Amiri, Chief Technology & Information Officer for Orange Egypt, said: 'We are excited to deepen our partnership with Huawei and bring innovative 5G solutions to Egypt. The integration of Massive MIMO, the energy-efficient 0 Bit 0 Watt platform, and E-band microwave technology will not only enhance the capabilities of our network but also set the foundation for smart cities, IoT development, and new digital services that will transform Egypt's telecommunications landscape.' Mohamed Youssef, Key Account Executive at Huawei Egypt, added: 'We are committed to collaborate with Orange Egypt in their 5G journey and bringing to life the future of connectivity. With our advanced 5G solutions, we are enabling the next generation of mobile networks to deliver faster, more reliable, and energy-efficient services. This partnership underscores Huaweis dedication to helping operators meet the growing demand for high-speed, sustainable connectivity.'
The Star
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Sarawak developing statewide sustainability roadmaps, to implement UN's Sustainable Development Goals
KUCHING: Sarawak is developing sustainability roadmaps for all 27 local authorities across the state to implement the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) at the local level. Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said local authorities were developing the roadmaps with Urbanice Malaysia, an agency under the federal Housing and Local Government Ministry. "We want to see sustainability roadmaps for city, municipal and district council levels. "All this will be localised because we cannot expect to have the same SDG goals as London, Beijing or Washington. We are all different," he said on Friday (June 20). Dr Sim was speaking to reporters after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Urbanice and three local councils - Padawan Municipal Council, Kota Samarahan Municipal Council and Sarikei District Council - for the preparation of their SDG voluntary local review report. He said the sustainability roadmaps would help set the standard for local authorities to compare their progress with other cities. This, Dr Sim said, would help identify any gaps that need addressing or areas for improvement. He added that the voluntary local review by the three councils would allow them to look at their gaps in implementing the SDG. "The gaps can be due to local challenges in certain areas of Sarawak, such as places where we are still reaching out to supply electricity and clean water. "We're also looking at parameters such as the difference between urban and rural poverty," he said. Urbanice chief executive officer Norliza Hashim said Sarawak had achieved 58% progress in localising the SDG, above the national average of 43%. "This is the overall achievement of all the local authorities in Sarawak, based on data we got from the Statistics Department, the state government and the local authorities themselves," she said. Norliza also said Sarawak was the first state to evaluate the localisation of SDGs by all its local authorities simultaneously. "This is a good commitment. Then you can take action at the state level, not just at the local level, because you see the results as a whole," she said.
