Search
Viewing 1875 to 1890 of 2463 news
-
How Congolese refugees can bring economic opportunity to Uganda
Hanna DEKERK | 05/07/2018
On the occasion of World Refugee Day, Enabel’s Support to Skilling Uganda project together with the Embassy of Belgium and the European Union Delegation to Uganda, organised a seminar on "Early Development Preparedness and Response to the Expected DRC Refugee Influx in Uganda". The idea for the seminar stems from a recent scoping study by the International Refugee Rights Initiative on the Congolese refugee influx to Uganda, which assessed the current displacement dynamics in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The study confirmed a high probability of continued violent conflicts, resulting in a large-scale exodus of Congolese refugees in the following months and years. These vulnerable people will search for protection, access to basic services and livelihood opportunities in neighboring countries such as Uganda. Therefore, the seminar explored ways to ensure that DRC refugees can be woven into the Ugandan socio-economic fabric, hereby focussing on a close collaboration between humanitarian and development partners. The seminar consisted of two panels, with the first one focusing on stability and security issues of the expected influx, and the second one on the economic integration of these Congolese refugees. According to Niels De Block, International Skills Development Expert at Enabel, ”Refugees don’t have to be a burden. They can bring economic benefits to Ugandan society provided that their economic integration is encouraged. By being economically active and entrepreneurial, refugees often push economic growth which then stimulates job creation for the host community.” Eminent researchers, such as Dr. Naohiko Omata (Refugee Studies Center of the University of Oxford), and Dr. Nassim Majidi (Sciences Po’s Center for International Studies), fueled the discussions with keynotes. At the closing round table Belgian ambassador to Uganda, Hugo Verbist, concluded that “In addition to formal education, we should focus on training the youth in refugee and host communities. They need to be skilled, on the work floor or elsewhere, in trades that will facilitate their entrance in the labor market.”
-
Bilan de la première année d’exécution des conventions de subsides PAIOSA
Jean-francois DETRY | 05/07/2018
Entre septembre 2016 et avril 2017, le PAIOSA a signé 10 conventions de subsides avec différents partenaires actifs dans le secteur agricole au Burundi. A l’issue d’une première année d’exécution de ces conventions, le PAIOSA a réuni ses partenaires au cours d’un atelier de 2 jours pour dresser conjointement un bilan de l’état d’avancement des activités et échanger sur les difficultés rencontrées et les solutions arrêtées, aussi bien sur le plan technique que sur le plan administratif et financier. L’atelier visait 1) à partager les réalisations entre tous les acteurs pour améliorer la synergie et la mise en cohérence des différentes actions contribuant à l’atteinte des objectifs globaux du programme PAIOSA, 2) à préciser les modalités de consolidation / clôture des interventions pour garantir au mieux la pérennisation des acquis après les conventions PAIOSA et 3) à produire des recommandations visant à améliorer / faciliter l’outil « conventions de subsides ».
-
Grassroot mediators: how Vietnam promotes mediation through music, drama and knowledge contests
Erwin DICKENS | 05/07/2018
knowledge contestvisit us at www.facebook.com/hatinh.ralg.1
-
Grassroot mediators: how Vietnam promotes mediation through music, drama and knowledge contests
Erwin DICKENS | 05/07/2018
drama contest on domestic violence
-
Grassroot mediators: how Vietnam promotes mediation through music, drama and knowledge contests.
Erwin DICKENS | 05/07/2018
On July 2nd, 2012, at the meeting hall of Son Ham Commune, Huong Son District, Ha Tinh province, Vietnam, the Department of Justice with support of Support for responsive accountable local governance project in Ha Tinh have organized a “Good Commune Mediators” contest. A contest is a very popular format to promote important social topics. In total 103 teams will participate in the contest during the months of July and August. Each commune sends a team to compete in three disciplines: the music for sensitisation, indepth knowledge of mutiple on social issues and drama to present social issues. The aim of the contest is to enhance the understanding the legal provisions on mediation at grassroots level, display and promote the skills of reconciling conflicts, disputes and law violations. Up to date, 3 contests have been organised with the cheerful atmosphere and attracted a full house each time! music contest
-
Closing of the ECIB Work-Based Learning Program
Laura SCHILLEMANS | 02/07/2018
Last week, Enabel celebrated the closing of the ECIB Work-based Learning Program in Palestine in two workshops held in Gaza and the West Bank. The Enhancing Capacities for Institution Building (ECIB) Program, implemented by the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel) on behalf of the Belgian Development Cooperation, aimed to counter the high youth unemployment in Palestine by creating a better match between the skills offered by TVET institutions and those demanded in the labor market. ECIB achieved this by supporting the integration of the Work-Based Learning (WBL) apprenticeship schemes in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Palestine. Additionally, specialized Continuous Vocational Education and Training (CVET) courses were organized in close collaboration with the private sector. Between 2014-2018, ECIB helped to implement 82 WBL and 42 CVET initiatives in 53 TVET institutions in the West Bank and Gaza in a variety of vocations. In total, 2939 trainees participated in these initiatives and 2267 trainees were supported with scholarships, with 49% of trainees coming from a disadvantaged area (Area C, seam zone, refugee camp, East-Jerusalem or Gaza), 45% from a poor background and 35% were women. Each of these initiatives has known many success stories of graduates finding employment because of the new skills they developed during the courses. The program has been considered a huge success by all stakeholders and Enabel was happy to present the final results and products of the program in the presence of the Head of the Belgian Cooperation in Palestine, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Ministry of Labour and the Private Sector Federations to the participating TVET institutions, sector federations, international agencies and graduates. We would like to thank all our stakeholders for participating in this program!
-
Festival for children in Beit Leqya
Laura SCHILLEMANS | 02/07/2018
The Joint Services Council for Planning and Development of Beit Leqya - Kharbatha Al-Misbah celebrated Eid Al Fitr with a festival for the children of the community. Numerous activities were organized: a live show with clowns, a bubble show and the distribution of toys and gifts to the 500 children who attended the event. The Joint Service Council regularly organizes social activities for the community to get to know the council and its services, to promote mutual and voluntary work and to enhance the communication with the citizens.
-
Lancement officiel du projet SANITA (villes propres) en Guinée
Guido COUCK | 29/06/2018
Joachim Lamah, secrétaire général du ministère des finances, et Elizabeth Peri, conseillère politique de la délégation de l'UE à Conakry - Photo: Enabel/Colin DelfosseConakry, 22 juin 2018 - Cérémonie de lancement du projet SANITA - Villes propresLa croissance démographique rapide de Conakry et de Kindia n’est pas accompagnée des infrastructures et services indispensables à une vie urbaine saine. La gestion des déchets solides y est particulièrement problématique. Un système de collecte des déchets est présent, mais il n’est que partiel, certains quartiers n’étant pas couverts, faute d’accessibilité adéquate pour certains. Face à cette problématique, l’Union Européenne et le gouvernement guinéen ont intégré l’assainissement urbain comme secteur de concentration dans le Programme Indicatif National (PIN) du onzième Fonds Européen de Développement (FED). Il vise à améliorer le cadre stratégique et institutionnel du développement urbain aux niveaux national et local en renforçant les capacités institutionnelles, la planification urbaine nationale, ainsi que la planification de la ville de Conakry. SANITA –villes propres– vise particulièrement à professionnaliser la filière de gestion des déchets solides afin de mettre en place un système de gestion performant et durable pour la ville capitale. Il aborde l'assainissement liquide et le désenclavement des quartiers à travers le développement d'infrastructures telles que voiries tertiaires, réhabilitations et extensions du réseau pluviale… SANITA, mis en œuvre par l’agence belge de développement, vise, pour un budget de 35 millions d’euros, l’amélioration du système de collecte porte-à-porte des déchets de quartiers prioritaires de Conakry et de Kindia en s’attaquant à la partie amont du système, soit du foyer jusqu’aux points de regroupement des déchets. Pour Conakry, le transport jusqu’à la décharge et la gestion de cette dernière ne rentrent pas dans le cadre de l’intervention, étant sous la responsabilité du gouvernement guinéen. Au vu de la spécificité de chacun des contextes, des stratégies différentes sont proposées pour Kindia et Conakry. Pour cette dernière, des investissements relatifs à la voirie, au drainage des eaux pluviales et à la gestion des points de regroupement sont intégrés. Dans la capitale, le programme s’articule autour de trois phases. La phase d’urgence prévoit des interventions impératives sur les points noirs (décharges sauvages). La première phase inclut un travail sur les points de regroupements existants opérationnels prioritaires (sur les cinq communes), ainsi que des actions de désenclavement de certains quartiers prioritaires dans les communes de Kaloum, Dixinn et Matam), qui seront sélectionnés en concertation avec les autorités locales. Cette phase sera finalisée par le schéma directeur des déchets solides de Conakry. La deuxième phase mettra en œuvre les actions prioritaires de cette étude ainsi que le désenclavement des quartiers prioritaires principalement dans les communes Ratoma et Matoto (avec possibilité de continuer des actions dans les trois autres communes). Le service de collecte des ordures étant peu performant et l’adhésion de la population étant basse, beaucoup des fossés et drains existants sont obstrués par les déchets, ce qui fragilise les routes, crée des inondations et ravines et constitue des endroits d’insalubrité propices aux risques sanitaires. Afin de répondre à ces manquements, un volet de sensibilisation de la population et d’appui institutionnel, d’une part, et la réalisation de voiries et de réseaux de drainage, d’autre part, sont prévus comme étant partie intégrante de la stratégie de gestion des déchets solides de Conakry. Un appui organisationnel aux PME en charge de la gestion des déchets est également inclus. Il importe en effet que le fonctionnement des services de collecte soit optimisé et qu’il soit assumé par un mécanisme de financement autonome et pérenne, sur le principe de pollueur payeur, basé sur un montage impliquant les pouvoirs publics et la société civile. Afin de maximiser la diminution du volume de déchets transférés à la décharge, des actions, pilotes puis à échelle plus grande, de tri, recyclage, de transformation des déchets appuieront le système des déchets, les PME et les pouvoirs publics. Afin d’assurer la cohérence de l’ensemble de la filière de gestion des déchets, l’intervention appuiera la réalisation d’un schéma directeur des déchets, tout en tenant compte de la planification urbaine. SANITA - Villes propres est financé par le onzième FED de l’EU, mis en œuvre par l'agence belge de développement en synergie avec l’Agence Nationale de l’Assainissement et la Salubrité Publique (ANASP) et la Direction de l’Aménagement du Territoire et de l’Urbanisme (DATU).
-
Future perspectives
Erwin DICKENS | 29/06/2018
A short briefing by the national project assistant director on the future perspectives.
-
CDPR support for public investment management
Erwin DICKENS | 29/06/2018
This video talks about how Enabel through CDPR supported the process of improving public investment in Vietnam.
-
how does the public investent law makes a difference in your daily life
Erwin DICKENS | 29/06/2018
Improving governance and a new Public Investment Law might seem far away from people's daily business. In fact it is quite the opposite: this video is an example of what has really changed
-
Planning Reform makes a difference every day life.
Erwin DICKENS | 29/06/2018
A short video on Public Investment management before the new Planning and Investment Law (PIL) came into effect. The new PIL makes a strong link between planning and budget on one hand and on the other it defines clearly responsibilities within the different levels of Government.
-
The Water Supply System in Tomanine: One Year Later
Anke VANDEVELDE | 26/06/2018
Last year, Enabel joined Governor Stella Pinto at the inauguration of the water supply system in the village of Tomanine in Guijá district in honour of World Water Day. One year later, a delegation of Enabel and two delegates from the Mozambican government returned to see how the community is dealing with the water supply system constructed by the Enabel Gaza project. Upon arrival in the town of Tomanine, the manual pump that was used so frequently before Enabel’s intervention appeared to be completely out of use, an observation that was confirmed by the community. There also seemed to be more livestock in the village, which could be a consequence of the availability of drinkable water. Furthermore, the community members became more and more interested in having water taps even closer by home. A Mozambican private company was appointed for the installation of these taps. The private “family” water taps are shared between approximately ten families and managed within themselves by a small committee who keeps track of every family’s consumption. Apart from this kind of taps, the company has also started with installing water taps in a private house for one family only, which is the type of tap we are familiar with. The price for the tap water is very affordable: approximately 50 eurocents per m³ with a fixed minimum payment of 85 eurocents. Since the start of this initiative in June 2017, 160 of these private “family” connections were installed, as well as 12 private house taps, bringing the total to 172 private (family/house) connections. However, due to lack of payment the management of the water network shut down the water supply for these private users. For the families this clearly marked a break with the past, as this time payment backlog would not be tolerated anymore. Furthermore, the appreciation of easy access to water by the families led to an agreement to restart the water supply in return for reliable payments. Currently, the company is preparing the installation of 85 new private (house) connections. These family and house private water taps make up two out of four possibilities for the community to obtain drinkable water. There are still two community fountains, open to any community member of which the sale is managed by a small Water and Sanitation Committee. Lastly, there is a water fill station for trucks: the truck pays at the station and sells the water in surrounding villages where there is no clean water. The delegation held a final stop in the village of Chinhacanine where Enabel is building a similar construction to the one in Tomanine. There are two tanks of 150 000 liter each and an elevated tank on 20 meter height with a content of 60 000 liter. The latter will provide water to the people living in the higher areas. Moreover, the water network will supply to the private network (such as the hospital and other private suppliers), which currently has troubles with water cuts and low-quality, even undrinkable water. The mixture with the new water supply network will ensure an automatic 24/7 supply of drinkable water, as the fusion with the high quality water of Enabel’s project will turn the “private” water clean and drinkable. The water will be provided from three wells and will be distributed to the community through taps: per ten families there will be one tap. In the end 12,000 people will benefit from drinkable water, although the project is struggling with some delays. Therefore, the project is putting a lot of effort in community outreach by providing information, working and talking with the inhabitants thus preparing them for the new supply systems. This social aspect is taking more time than expected, but is nevertheless very important. The visit to Tomanine showed some of the success and sustainability of the Water Gaza project. The increasing demand for private connections demonstrates that families in Tomanine strongly value easy access to drinkable water. This is facilitated by the very reasonable prices of the new water supply system. The project puts considerable emphasis on its sustainability, by ensuring the partnerships with local companies, communities and government. Lastly, access to drinking water, incorporated in Sustainable Development Goal 6, has improved the general livelihood of these families, with a positive impact on health[1] (SDG 3) and on the production of livestock in the village (linked to SDG 1: zero poverty, and SDG 2: zero hunger). [1] The consumption of salty water can cause dehydration and kidney infections. Moreover, this salty groundwater can damage the pipe and pump system and the erosion of the water supply system might cause metallic parts to enter the water, causing cancers, cardiovascular diseases and many other health issues.This article was written by Anke Van de Velde with the valuable input of Hélder Cumbi and revised by Evert Waeterloos.
-
Joint Action of Enabel and Mozambique Guarantees Access to Drinking Water through Affordable Clean Energy (Sustainable Development Goals 6 + 7)
Anke VANDEVELDE | 26/06/2018
The first battery-free solar-powered desalination unit on the African continent On the 28th of May 2018, the construction of the first desalination system built by Enabel was completed. Enabel, in cooperation with the Brussels’ Region Environment Fund (IBGE-BIM), started earlier this year with the installation of desalination systems in 6 different communities in Mozambique’s Gaza province, where the water sources are too saline for drinking. Through an innovative process groundwater is filtered using solar power without having to use a battery to store the energy, making this the first battery-free solar-powered brackish groundwater desalination unit in Africa (see below article for technical information on the process). Two international companies with Mozambican branches were chosen to install the water supply network and taps, as well as to carry out further operation, maintenance and management. Every district has one operator (six in total) and there is one general manager in Chokwe to respond to problems or questions. On the 28th of May the community of Manhiça tested the quality of the water and the public taps for the first time. With some reluctance the community opened the taps and tasted the water, which was followed by a positive reaction by the village chief and all the people present. In that same last week of May, during the annual meeting of the water and sanitation sector, the government of Mozambique reiterated its commitment to provide drinking water to the entire Mozambican population by 2030, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 6 targets to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water, as well as adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all by 2030. It is estimated that in Mozambique 55% of the population currently have access to water: 43% in rural areas and 77% in urban areas. Last year, 80 water supply systems and 3,000 manual pumps were built in the entire country. The Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources stated that in 2018 the construction of more than 140 water supply systems is planned. Special attention will be given to desalination systems given the presence of mostly unclean and brackish water in Mozambique. With a long and strenuous road ahead to achieve SDG 6, Mozambique can count on strong cooperation partners such as Enabel for support, expertise, and innovative solutions. The Water Gaza project of Enabel entered its last phase and will complete all activities at the latest beginning of 2019. Thanks to the project 23 water supply systems have been built in the Gaza Province, benefitting 51,000 people, which is around 23% of the rural population in the districts of Northern Gaza. Furthermore, Enabel has put a strong focus on digitisation, leading to the recognition of Gaza as the first province in the whole of Mozambique with a complete and reliable database on water infrastructures (Akvo Flow Database). Lastly, innovative solar-powered desalination units are being built in five other towns similar to Manhiça in order to provide the population with drinking water close to home. Desalination has shown to be a viable solution for rural areas in Mozambique, where sometimes up to 70% of the water sources are too salty to safely drink. Enabel has played an important role in advocating these innovative technologies and has provided the Mozambican government with a successful pilot case with its Water Gaza project. Furthermore, Enabel worked strongly on guaranteeing the sustainability of the project by training local staff, as well as contracting Mozambican private companies for the management of the water supply systems and the distribution. Enabel involved the Mozambican government from the start by encouraging new innovative solutions for the water supply issue in Mozambique. Through the use of solar panels the project has even made an innovative link with SDG 7, promoting affordable and clean sustainable energy for all. The new projects of Enabel in Mozambique specifically focus on SDG 7, as they aim to increase access to renewable electricity in rural areas through capacity building of the Ministry of Energy (CB MIREME project) and investments in renewable energy systems (RERD II project). In conclusion, the Water Gaza project is a small, but important step in Mozambique’s road to achieving SDG 6 and will benefit the general livelihood of the target communities in Northern Gaza. Technical info on desalination with solar energy without use of a battery The groundwater is pumped through two different kind of filters: the first one filters out the suspended solids (e.g. sand particles), while the second one further pre-treats the brackish water. In a third phase this pre-treated water will be transferred through a pump under pressure which stows the water through membranes of reverse osmosis. Such membranes reject most of the dissolved salts and produce drinking water with a salt concentration of less than 400 uS/cm. The drinking water is stored in elevated water tanks, while around 25% of the water is rejected in a separate basin. This entire process is powered by solar panels without the use of a battery. This is made possible by a simple and patented device that stores pressurized water, allowing pressure variations up to 90% power swings during production. In addition, rotary positive displacement pumps (more than 92% output of water) are used instead of centrifugal pumps (with output limited to 50 to 60%). Moreover, energy is recuperated from the concentrates by recirculating it through a recuperator through the membranes. Both innovative adjustments reduce energy consumption with almost 60% and optimise the lifespan of the membrane (5 to 7 years).This article was written by Anke Van de Velde with the valuable input of Hélder Cumbi and revised by Evert Waeterloos.
-
INSERTION DE 26 LAURÉATS DANS LE SITE AGRO-INDUSTRIEL DE MILUNA
Michael MALEMBA | 25/06/2018
Depuis le début du mois de juin, 25 diplômés de l’enseignement technique ont débuté un stage de professionnalisation sur le site du complexe agro-industriel de Miluna. Ce stage, d’une durée de 3 mois leur permettra d’améliorer leur employabilité en confrontant leurs compétences souvent trop théoriques dans le cadre d’une mise en situation réelle de travail. Ce projet novateur dans la province du SUD-UBANGI a été rendu possible grâce à un partenariat conventionné entre l’entreprise Miluna et le programme de l’Agence belge de Développement Enabel active dans toute la province. Cet accord équilibré permet aux stagiaires de disposer d’un logement décent, d’un accès aux soins de santé, à une cantine et de bénéficier d’une formation professionnelle complémentaire de qualité. Intégrés à des postes de travail sous le tutorat d’ingénieurs et de chefs d’équipes, l’acquisition de compétences pratiques additionnelles leur permettra de briguer des fonctions à responsabilité au sein de la plantation ou à se positionner comme chef d’entreprise agricole dans leur milieu d’origine. Equipe EDUMOSU
