Latest news with #civilSociety
Zawya
an hour ago
- Business
- Zawya
Togo: African Development Bank strengthens partnership with civil society
The African Development Bank ( held its first-ever Civil Society Open Day in Lomé, Togo, on 3 June. The event brought together representatives from the Togolese government, around 30 national and international civil society organisations (CSOs), and Bank staff — all committed to strengthening development partnerships in Togo. The key personalities at the event all emphasised this shared vision. Opening the event, Stéphane Akaya, Secretary General of Togo's Ministry of Economy and Finance, stressed the importance of civil society: "This open day with the African Development Bank reaffirms our joint commitment to inclusive and transparent progress. We are seeking to strengthen a tripartite partnership, where civil society is engaged from conception through to evaluation in order to ensure effective, people-centred development." Seconding Mr Akaya's point, Wilfrid Abiola, Head of the Togo Country Office of AfDB Group, said: "The African Development Bank Group remains committed to strengthening collaboration with Togolese civil society, which is a key player in sustainable development.' The CSO Open Day in Lomé aimed to strengthen collaboration between the Bank and civil society by sharing information on the Bank's development operations and projects in Togo. It also sought to encourage dialogue on the role of CSOs throughout the project cycle — from planning and preparation to implementation, supervision, and completion. "We are keen to strengthen our partnership with civil society organisations in Togo, encouraging open dialogue and promoting their full participation in the projects that we support," Zeneb Touré, Head of the AfDB's Civil Society and Community Engagement Division, said. Minemba Traore, Senior Civil Society Officer for West Africa at the Bank Group, shared information on the institution's engagement with CSOs, while Ndey Oley Cole, Senior Programme Officer in the AfDB's Gender, Women and Civil Society Department, presented a summary of the exchanges. Key outcomes and next steps from the discussions included: Greater involvement of civil society: CSOs will be included in all phases of development projects. Creation of a formal dialogue platform: The Bank, government, and CSOs will work together to establish a permanent forum for ongoing consultation. Capacity building for CSOs: Training will be provided in project monitoring and evaluation, proposal writing, and market access strategies. Improved communication: The Bank will share information on its activities in Togo in a more dynamic and accessible way, better meeting the needs of partners and the public. Promotion of social inclusion and diversity: Efforts will be made to ensure greater participation of young people and women in development initiatives. Development of a detailed action plan: Concrete deliverables and clear deadlines will guide follow-up and ensure effective implementation of commitments. The Open Day laid the foundations for closer partnerships, which can provide spaces for exchange, consultation and collaboration between the Bank, CSOs and other stakeholders in Togo. Such an approach will enable the AfDB to better understand local priorities, discuss partnership opportunities and receive input from civil society on the projects that it finances in Togo. The initiative is aligned with the Bank Group's Civil Society Engagement Action Plan 2024-2028, which was approved last year. Under Pillar 3 of this action plan, particular attention will be paid to strengthening dialogue with civil society organisations in the countries where the Bank works. Holding of civil society open days in regional member countries of the Bank is a key mechanism for operationalising this commitment. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB). Link to photo album:
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Niger says it will nationalize a uranium venture operated by France's Orano
DAKAR, Senegal — Niger's government said Thursday it would nationalize the Somaïr uranium venture operated by French company Orano and accused it of taking a disproportionate share of the uranium produced at the site. The announcement comes as military authorities in the west African country tighten their grip on foreign companies and civil society. Tensions have simmered for months between Niger's military government and the French company, and relations between Niamey and Paris have deteriorated.
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Kathy Wang's novel is an antidote for our global dissatisfaction
On the first page of 'The Satisfaction Café,' Kathy Wang writes, 'Joan had not thought she would stab her husband.' I've just met Joan, but I already like her spontaneous style. And it turns out, she's not really such a menace to civil society — or even to husbands. But don't push her too far.
Reuters
4 hours ago
- Reuters
Collapse at coltan mine in eastern Congo kills 12, sources say
KINSHASA, June 20 (Reuters) - A collapse at the Rubaya coltan mine in North Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, has killed at least 12 people, a mining source and a civil society source said on Friday. The sources said that dozens more escaped from the artisinal mine when it collapsed on Thursday. The reasons for the collapse were not immediately clear. Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seized control over the mine last year.
Tahawul Tech
17 hours ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Cloudflare celebrates the 11th anniversary of its iconic free cybersecurity program Galileo
Cloudflare commemorates the 11th anniversary of Project Galileo, its flagship initiative delivering free cybersecurity protection to at‑risk public‑interest organizations across the globe. Since launching in June 2014, the program has defended journalists, human‑rights groups, independent media, environmental activists, and others working on the frontlines of democracy, civil society, and environmental justice. Highlights of Project Galileo's Eleventh Year: An interactive Cloudflare Radar report providing insights into the cyber threats faced by at-risk public interest organizations protected under the project. An expanded commitment to digital rights in the Asia-Pacific region with two new Project Galileo partners. New stories from organizations protected by Project Galileo working on the frontlines of civil society, human rights, and journalism from around the world. Tracking and reporting on cyberattacks with the Project Galileo 11th anniversary Radar report To mark Project Galileo's 11th anniversary, Cloudflare published a new Radar report that shares data on cyberattacks targeting organizations protected by the program. It provides insights into the types of threats these groups face, with the goal of better supporting researchers, civil society, and vulnerable groups by promoting the best cybersecurity practices. Key insights include: A growing trend in DDoS attacks against these organizations, becoming more common than attempts to exploit traditional web application vulnerabilities. Between May 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, Cloudflare blocked 108.9 billion cyber threats against organizations protected under Project Galileo. This is an average of nearly 325.2 million cyber attacks per day over the 11-month period, and a 241% increase from our 2024 Radar report. Journalists and news organizations experienced the highest volume of attacks, with over 97 billion requests blocked as potential threats across 315 different organizations. The peak attack traffic was recorded on September 28, 2024. Ranked second was the Human Rights/Civil Society Organizations category, which saw 8.9 billion requests blocked, with peak attack activity occurring on October 8, 2024. Cloudflare onboarded the Belarusian Investigative Center, an independent journalism organization, on September 27, 2024, while it was already under attack. A major application-layer DDoS attack followed on September 28, generating over 28 billion requests in a single day. Many of the targets were investigative journalism outlets operating in regions under government pressure (such as Russia and Belarus), as well as NGOs focused on combating racism and extremism, and defending workers' rights. Tech4Peace, a human rights organization focused on digital rights, was targeted by a 12-day attack beginning March 10, 2025, that delivered over 2.7 billion requests. The attack saw prolonged, lower-intensity attacks and short, high-intensity bursts. This deliberate variation in tactics reveals a coordinated approach, showing how attackers adapted their methods throughout the attack. The full Radar report includes additional information on public interest organizations, human and civil rights groups, environmental organizations, and those involved in disaster and humanitarian relief. The dashboard also serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and advocates working to protect public interest organizations worldwide. Global partners are the key to Project Galileo's continued growth Partnerships are central to the success of Project Galileo. Cloudflare relies on a network of 56 trusted civil society organizations around the world to identify and support groups that would benefit from its cybersecurity protection. With the help of these partners, the company continues to expand its reach, delivering vital tools and resources to communities most in need of digital defense. Continuing Support for Vulnerable Groups Worldwide In 2025, many of Cloudflare's Project Galileo partners have faced significant funding cuts, impacting their ability to support communities, defend human rights, and uphold democratic values. Amid these financial and logistical challenges, maintaining protection for these essential services has become more critical than ever. Cloudflare expresses gratitude to its civil society partners who continue to play a vital role in identifying at-risk organizations in need of support. Together, they are working toward a more secure, resilient, and open Internet for all. To learn more about Project Galileo and its global impact, visit Project Galileo case studies can be found here.
