Women's Month: Successes and challenges Technology to fight fall armyworm
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A magazine of the UN in South Africa
Vol. 2, Issue 1. May-August 2019
Women’s Month: Technology to fight Durban xenophobic
Successes and fall armyworm attack victims
challenges InFocus 1
assisted
A magazine of the UN in South Africa - April 2019
A magazine of the UN in South Africa
Vol. 2, Issue 1. May-August 2019
Publisher
Nardos Bekele-Thomas,
UN Resident Coordinator
6
Editorial Advisory Board
UN working with Zeenat Abdool (UNIC)
Markku Aikomus (UNHCR)
government to make gender Ethel Maringa (RCO)
Ziyanda Ngoma (UNFPA)
equality a reality by 2030 Sudeshan Reddy (UNICEF)
Masimba Tafirenyika (UNIC)
CONTENTS
also in this issue...
Editorial Team: UNIC Pretoria
Contacts:
The Editor, UNIC Pretoria
P.O. Box 12677, Tramshed, Pretoria, 0126
4 Refugees suffer from xenophobic attacks Tel: +27-12-354-8509; Fax: +27-12-354-8501
Email: info.pretoria@unic.org
6 UN working with government to make gender equality a Website: www.un.org.za/magazine/current-issue
reality by 2030
InFocus is published in English by the United Nations in South
8 Car charging stations launched in Pretoria Africa. Its contents do not necessarily reflect the views of the
9 UNICEF urges employers to allow breastfeeding at work United Nations. Articles from this magazine may be freely reprinted.
Copyrighted photos may not be reproduced.
10 Ban Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
EDITORIAL NOTE
12 Fighting the fall armyworm with IT
13 Improving collaborative governance in Northern Cape
14 Building a green economy by promoting eco-
entrepreneurship
15 Third PAGE Ministerial Conference calls for greener and
In this edition of InFocus, a magazine of the United Nations
inclusive growth system in South Africa, we feature some of the major
events and activities that dominated the UN’s calendar
16 Unlocking opportunities for women-owned businesses
over the past few months. We reprint an op-ed penned
17 National Action Plan to combat racism launched by Nardos Bekele-Thomas, the UN Resident Coordinator
18 Boosting dialogue on the Fourth Industrial Revolution in South Africa and Anne Githuku-Shongwe, the UN
19 UN pledges support to floods victims Women South Africa Multi-country Office Representative,
to commemorate the beginning of the women’s month
20 SADC report on population and development launched
(August) in this country. Among some of the activities was
21 Young people advocate for sexual and reproductive the visit by a UN team led by the Resident Coordinator to
health and rights
flood victims in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces.
22 United Nations pledges support to a Human Rights Plan The UN donated food and non-food items and offered to
on HIV/AIDS assist the affected communities to engage in sustainable
24 South Africa Learns to Love Forests self-help projects. We also feature a piece by UNHCR,
25 Go-Goals SDG board game: Fun meets education the UN Refugee Agency, on its efforts in assisting more
than 50 refugees who were left homeless and without any
26 UNIDO launches SADC Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency Status Report support following recent xenophobic attacks in Durban. To
highlight the importance of breastfeeding, we run a story on
27 Agreement to step up cooperation on forced
displacement signed a media roundtable discussion organized by UNICEF, the
Department of Health and the University of Stellenbosch to
28 A healthier learning experience for children
raise awareness among employers on the need to support
29 Workshop on the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of mothers to breastfeed.These and several other stories from
Discrimination Against Women UN agencies give a synoptic view of the organization’s
30 Staff Profiles work in South Africa in collaboration with partners from the
31 UN encourages mental health care of staff and their government, civil society and the private sector. Please feel
families free to send us your feedback.
InFocus 2 A magazine of the UN in South Africa - April 2019
United Nations in South Africa Country Team
Lola Castro Brian Chirombo
Nardos Bekele-Thomas, United Nations
Resident Coordinator in South Africa
Francesco Pierri Joni Musabayana Lily Sanya Abigail Noko Mbulawa Mugabe
Dr Ayodele Odusola Cecilia Kinuthia-Njenga Anne Githuku-Shongwe Beatrice Mutali Valentin Tapsoba
Masimba Tafirenyika Sanjay Wijesekera Khaled El Mekwad Zhuldyz Akisheva Carlton Mukwevho
InFocus 3 A magazine of the UN in South Africa - April 2019
Refugees suffer from
xenophobic attacks
Matabishi Kasese (left) and Robert Mafikiri (right) were affected by the xenophobic attacks in Umlazi township in Durban, South Africa.
© UNHCR/Pumla Rulashe
Left homeless and without any demonstrated meant big trouble!” would know who they were looking
support, 53 refugees who faced A series of questions ran frantically for,” she says, adding that she and her
recent xenophobic attacks in a Durban through the Congolese refugee’s mind: husband were then forced out of the
township are struggling to rebuild their what do they want from my husband? house.
lives writes UNHCR’s Pumla Rulashe. What has he done? What could have
happened to bring all these people to Their Congolese neighbor, Matabishi
When 26-year-old Esperance Zawadi my door so early in the morning? Kasese, 29, was also confronted with
opened the door to loud, insistent the same accusations and then bundled
knocking in the early morning on the The men jostled for positions to take a into the boot of a car with his brother
last day of March, she had no idea it good look at Zawadi’s husband as he before being driven off to an unknown
was the start of a sequence of events came to the door. Zawadi explains that location. Zawadi managed to escape
that would change her life and that they were looking for a short, dark- and ran towards a nearby taxi rank.
of the refugee community in Umlazi skinned, dreadlocked foreign national
Township’s Philani section in Durban. who had allegedly murdered a member “I didn’t want to leave my husband,
A group of over 20 men and women of their community the previous night. but he forced me to leave for the safety
ordered her husband to the door. “I of the city,” she says adding that he
immediately felt faint with fear,” she “Their leader announced that it wasn’t promised to find her if he survived.
recalls. “The attitude and anger they my husband but as foreigners, we Zawadi’s husband, Kasese and his
InFocus 4 A magazine of the UN in South Africa - April 2019
brother say they were subjected to UNHCR’s Senior Operations Manager in includes a contribution towards
beatings punctuated with orders to Durban. “Their protection rests primarily payment of rent for a limited period. It
reveal the whereabouts of the man the with the South African Government.” also includes the provision of income
attackers were after. generating equipment such as scissors,
She adds that part of their protection hair and shaving clippers which were
A breakaway group of the irate mob includes the issuance of Section 22 and
lost during flight. Families are receiving
would continue their search and seizure 24 asylum seeker and refugee permits
between US $240 (R3,400) and US
of refugees and asylum seekers in respectively, both of which grant the
Philani. They rushed towards Robert holders of these documents the legal $520 (R7,300) depending on the
‘Gift’ Mafikiri’s barbershop. The right to work and study, as well as the number of children.
Congolese refugee took one look at protection of their fundamental human
the approaching mob and ran for his rights which are enshrined in the South UNHCR has spent close to US$3,000
life. Short, slim, dark-skinned and African constitution. (R42,000) on the refugees’ immediate
dreadlocked, he fit the profile of the needs with the reintegration package
wanted man they were looking for. UNHCR and several other humanitarian “most likely to run into the thousands,”
Eventually cornered and captured, he organizations are using community- says Ms. Hogg.
was beaten unconscious and dumped based meetings with key government
in a remote location on the outskirts of departments, including the Department
Since the attacks, refugees have been
Umlazi. of Homes Affairs, the Department of
accommodated at Haven of Hope, a
Arts and Culture, Community Safety,
News of the attack spread fast forcing the South African Police Services and shelter in Durban’s central business
53 Congolese and Burundian refugees, the KwaZulu-Natal Council of Churches district. They are adamant that they
including eight school-going children, to re-engage on the importance of a will not return to Umlazi township
to flee to the Refugee Social Services sustained public education campaign and many are looking for affordable
(RSS), which works with UNHCR, the on the plight and rights of refugees. accommodation elsewhere.
UN Refugee Agency in Durban. Both
organizations carried out the verification “Strong commitment and a concerted “We are too traumatized,” says Mafikiri,
of the displaced refugees, drawing in effort to address the problems giving who adds that people he has met from
the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) rise to xenophobic violence is required Philani after the attacks are shocked to
to assist with the re-issuance of permits from all stakeholders in general,
see him alive.
lost as they fled. particularly the Government,” adds
UNHCR’s Ms. Hogg.
“Refugees and asylum seekers have “Others jeer at us from taxis and buses,
often been targeted in South Africa To help the survivors of the attacks get telling us that if we return, they’ll be
amid an economic downturn as back on their feet, UNHCR is sourcing waiting for us,” he laments. “I can’t in
communities blame their struggles financial support for the implementation all honesty be expected to return there
on foreigners,” says Madalena Hogg, of a reintegration package which after I stared death in the face.”
InFocus 5 A magazine of the UN in South Africa - April 2019
UN working with government to make
gender equality a reality by 2030
By NARDOS BEKELE-THOMAS AND
ANNE GITHUKU-SHONGWE
Nardos Bekele-Thomas Anne Githuku-Shongwe
“WE SHALL not rest until we have As the UN, we are working closely and expenditure, on women’s
won for our children their fundamental with the government to make gender empowerment and gender equality
rights of freedom, justice and equality a reality by 2030 – the year by within their oversight functions.
security.” which countries are expected to have
achieved Sustainable Development It also means increased public
These are the last words of the petition Goals. investment in gender equality and the
delivered by the thousands of women empowerment of women and girls.
who marched to the Union Buildings in With compelling evidence that
Pretoria in 1956. gender inequality extracts enormous Women bear the brunt of poverty,
economic and human development unemployment and inequality. The
During Women’s Month, as South costs, our first big solution is to ensure most recent quarterly labour force
Africa marks 25 years of democratic all government planning, spending, survey from Statistics SA confirms this
freedom, it becomes evident that it investment and accountability picture: 31.3% of women are out of
takes a committed generation to make processes are geared towards gender work compared to 27.1% of men.
a difference for the ones to come. equality and women’s empowerment.
The higher unemployment rate for
It also takes committed partners – The government’s approval in March women is further compounded by the
government, civil society, the private this year of the Framework on Gender fact that many women do unpaid work
sector and development partners Responsive Planning, Budgeting, as caregivers in the home and work in
– to make bold decisions that will Monitoring Evaluation and Audit, informal sectors, both of which leave
transform the lives of women and means Parliament and provincial women vulnerable to unfair wages and
girls. legislatures must include performance, discriminatory practices.
InFocus 6 A magazine of the UN in South Africa - April 2019
It is critical that the institutions and implementation of the summit’s combining them with the ingenuity
structures that perpetuate gender outcomes has begun. of young people, we can co-create
inequality and injustice within the opportunities to empower young
economy are transformed. For Addressing negative norms and people.
example, public procurement stereotypes must be at the core of
expenditure alone amounts to prevention strategies, in addition to Co-ordinated investments in
approximately R1.2 trillion yet less rapid response to new and ongoing adolescent health and well-being,
than 10% of that goes to women- cases. in education and in appropriate
owned businesses. skills development are among the
The 2030 Sustainable Development best investments to achieve the
Imagine what changes we could Agenda aspires to peaceful, just Sustainable Development Goals and
see in job-creation, GDP growth, and inclusive societies to underpin to provide high economic and social
and investment if women accessed sustained development. returns.
procurement opportunities equally. In South Africa forms of insecurity
threaten women and girls daily, In June, the UN launched Generation
We must also direct our attention including sexual and domestic Equality, a campaign to mark next
towards building the capacity of violence, human trafficking; year’s 25th anniversary of the
women entrepreneurs – especially food insecurity; forced internal Beijing Platform for Action and the
micro-entrepreneurs – so they can migration; harmful cultural practices 5th anniversary of the Sustainable
participate in critical value chains such (including child marriage and forced Development Goals. The campaign
as agriculture, energy, infrastructure marriage); and targeted violence calls for urgent and well-resourced
and manufacturing. In South Africa, and discrimination against (non- action from governments, the private
for example, the agricultural sector heterosexual) LGBTIQA communities. sector and civil society to close the
contributes nearly 30% to GDP but gender gap.
less than 1% comes from women The UN has supported the National
farmers. Action Plan on Women, Peace and We have seen what South Africa has
Security to address these challenges been able to achieve in 25 years.
Yet research from the UN Food and and ensure that women participate
Agriculture Organisation shows that if and lead in peace-building. As we head for 2030, let us meet
women farmers had the same access the campaign’s demands: equal pay,
to resources as men, the number of All our efforts must put young people equal sharing of unpaid care and
hungry people in the world could be at the fore – young people are the domestic work, an end to sexual
reduced by up to 150 million. reason for the push for equality now. harassment and violence against
They constitute a tremendous and women and girls, health-care services
Equally important is that we must essential asset worth investing in that respond to women and girls’
continue to emphasise the need to to secure a future where inequality needs, and equal participation in
prevent and end violence against does not exist. At the same time, girls political life and in decision-making in
women and girls. The UN is and young women face incredible all areas of life.
encouraged that following the National and disproportionate challenges,
Gender-based Violence Summit in including access to quality education, The UN stands ready to support South
November last year resulting from health care or decent work. By Africa in accelerating its efforts to
#Thetotalshutdown a year ago, harnessing our collective efforts and realise equality in this generation.
We cannot rest until we have won for
our children an equal future.
This piece was first published in The
Independent and The Saturday Star on
2 August 2019.
Bekele-Thomas is the UN resident
co-ordinator in South Africa and
Githuku-Shongwe is the UN Women
South Africa Multi-country Office
representative.
InFocus 7 A magazine of the UN in South Africa - April 2019
Car charging stations launched in Pretoria
T
wo new electric vehicle
charging bays were recently
installed at the municipal
headquarters of the City of
Tshwane in Pretoria. The charging
bays, sponsored by the United
Nations Development Organization
(UNIDO), were launched by the
Executive Mayor, Councillor Stevens
Mokgalapa, at an event which
coincided with the city’s celebrations
of Earth Hour under the theme,
Change the Way We Live.
As part of its membership of the C40
Cities Climate Leadership Group, the
City of Tshwane signed the Clean
Bus Declaration, which commits
it to having 40% of its bus fleet
converted to clean technologies by Officials from UNIDO and the City of Tshwane at the launch of the two UNIDO-sponsored
2020. To achieve this, the city is in the electric vehicle charging bays at Tshwane municipal headquarters.
process of installing charging stations
throughout the city. impact of this mode of transport on address sustainable transport in South
the environment. Africa and other developing countries
In his address at the launch of such as China and Malaysia.
the parking bays, Cllr. Mokglapa He explained that UNIDO’s
explained that the intention was to sponsorship of the charging stations South Africa’s Green Transport
have charging points throughout the was in line with the organization’s Strategy aims to reduce emissions in
city and particularly at locations partnership with local municipalities
such as shopping centres where road transport, and the introduction
and the Department of Trade and of electric vehicles is an important
parallel activities can take place while
Industry to support sustainable contributor to achieve the country’s
commuters charge their vehicles. The
and clean transport policies and emission reduction targets by 2050.
city already has two solar charging
demonstrate technologies for the
stations, one at the Centurion
transition to a lower carbon and
Municipal Complex in Lyttelton The widespread and coordinated
and the other at the Police Station circular economy.
installation of public electric vehicle
in Bosman Street. These charging
stations are open to the public as charging infrastructure is crucial to
“We are here today to celebrate a
part of the city’s commitment to partnership with the City of Tshwane meeting the needs of vehicle owners
facilitating and implementing electric through our Low-Carbon Transport who travel relatively long distances.
vehicle infrastructure. Project,” said Mr. Kassier. The Low- Mr. Kassier said that where elec-
Carbon Transport project is funded tronic-vehicle installations are linked
UNIDO’s Conrad Kassier mainly by the Global Environment to the national grid, renewable energy
congratulated the City of Tshwane on Facility and enables UNIDO and its technologies such as rooftop solar
its proactive role in introducing electric project counterpart, the SA National were a wise investment and a reliable
vehicles to demonstrate the positive Energy Development Institute, to way to charge electric vehicles.
InFocus 8 A magazine of the UN in South Africa - April 2019
UNICEF urges employers to
allow breastfeeding at work
and to encourage further online
dialogues. “This campaign is
important because it gives advice
to mothers about the first 1,000
days, which is a crucial time in the
development of the child,” explained
Dr. Bamford in her address.
Ann Behr, also from the health
department, spoke about the
Workplace Toolkit which is a guideline
for organizations on breastfeeding.
The toolkit is expected to help
South Africa reach the World Health
Assembly target of at least 50%
of infants under six months of age
being exclusively breastfed by year
2025. Currently the figure is at 32%.
“In a breastfeeding policy review,
out of 100 respondents from 32
organizations, only eleven had a
workplace breastfeeding policy; while
M
just five had a written policy providing
any employers in South on the need to support mothers to
breastfeeding breaks for six months,”
Africa know little about the breastfeed.
breastfeeding provisions as noted Ms. Behr.
stated in the country’s law on the Dr. Lesley Bamford from the health
basic conditions of employment. Lynette Daniels, a PhD student on
department gave a brief background
The law—the Code of Good Practice breastfeeding at the University of
of the work by the government
on the Protection of Employees Stellenbosch, presented the latest
through their Side by Side Campaign
During Pregnancy and After the which aims to ensure that children
Birth of a Child—includes guidelines receive care and protection they
that promote breastfeeding in the require to reach their full potential.
workplace and makes provision for Supporting breastfeeding is one of
two 30-minute breastfeeding breaks. the core mandates of this campaign
and it provides weekly information
Despite the existence of this law, few through national radio programmes,
employers and workers are aware including drama and talk-shows to
of the code, and most workplaces millions of listeners.
usually lack facilities that allow for
breastfeeding or the expressing This is supported by community
and storing of milk. Against the dialogues, booklets for new parents
background, UNICEF and the National and caregivers with a national website
Department of Health in South Africa being promoted through all the
engaged in a media roundtable to materials. Social media is also being
raise awareness among employers utilized for information dissemination Breast feeding campaign poster
InFocus 9 A magazine of the UN in South Africa - April 2019
findings on support for breastfeeding As a result, more focus is placed on on how the workplace could be
in the workplace. Key to the findings work and targets. There is also a lack made conducive to breastfeeding,
was that support practices were of funding to provide breastfeeding and the steps employers and
limited and inadequate. This is mainly space and resources. Support for colleagues could take to encourage
due to a variety of factors, such as breastfeeding in the workplace is
breastfeeding. Some of these include
the lack of private space and time limited and there is widespread
for expressing breastmilk, as well as ignorance about the rights of establishing breastfeeding support
negative and unsupportive attitudes employees.” groups and employers providing time
from co-workers and supervisors. Ms. and space for new mothers to nurse
Daniels explained that “employers do A roundtable discussion followed or express milk.
not consider breastfeeding a priority. the presentations which focused
Dr. Alison Feeley, the UNICEF South
Africa Nutrition Specialist, reminded
participants that breastfeeding in
the workplace must be treated as
a norm, noting that many mothers
know the benefits of breastfeeding
but choose not to breastfeed as they
need to return to work. “Returning to
work should not stop a mother from
initiating and sustaining breastfeeding.
We need to establish how we can
support the mothers who struggle to
breastfeed. Workplaces are important
Editorial roundtable panelists pose with baby-shaped boards. ©UNICEF/Mojapelo in doing this,” she said.
Ban Electronic Nicotine Delivery
Systems pose a real menace to young
South Africans
T
obacco kills more than 42,000 the electronic nicotine delivery system among younger age groups in some
South Africans annually, either (ENDS), of which e-cigarettes are the countries with unrestricted access.
directly through tobacco- most common—a 2016 South African Unless something changes, like
related diseases, or indirectly through survey reported they were used by curbing their availability to young
exposure to second-hand tobacco 3% of men and 2% of women. people, this is likely to be the path
smoke. Several approaches have The electronic nicotine delivery South Africa will tread in the coming
been adopted to curb the tobacco system typically heats a liquid years.
epidemic, including regulatory, containing nicotine and other
legislative and through taxes. chemicals to produce a nicotine- Nicotine delivery systems are
infused aerosol, which is inhaled by currently unregulated in South Africa
In several countries, alternative users. This delivery system contains and freely available, without any
products, which are claimed to a wide range of flavours and are regulatory limitations. This must be
reduce tobacco related risks have attractively designed to lure younger stopped if we are to prevent youth
been introduced. One such product is users. This has fuelled an epidemic uptake, using measures such as
InFocus 10 A magazine of the UN in South Africa - April 2019those proposed in the South African
government’s Control of Tobacco
Products and Electronic Nicotine
Delivery System Bill.
The nicotine delivery system may
be less toxic than conventional
cigarettes, but they do pose health
risks both to users and non-users,
including potential effects on the
developing brain and addiction from
exposure to nicotine.
Recent surveys in both the USA and
Europe have shown rising use of
ENDS among young people, which is
a serious cause for concern. Evidence
shows that young people who
experiment with ENDS are more likely
to go on to smoke cigarettes and
become nicotine addicts. Given that
most tobacco use is established in
adolescence and the association (not
causal) between ENDS use in youths
and tobacco use, everything possible
should be done to deter the use of
such products at the earliest stage.
“ Tobacco threatens us all” poster
Since ENDS were introduced to the
global market in 2003, they have In line with global recommendation,
tobacco products (dual use). To date
gained so much ground that global no electronic nicotine delivery system South Africa should consider
sales are expected to reach US$26.8 has been approved for sale as a prohibiting or regulating ENDS, aiming
billion by 2023. The tobacco industry cessation aid. to protect non-tobacco consumers
is now actively seeking to expand
and bystanders, while challenging
sales of new products like ENDS in Currently, around 30 countries ban unproven health claims by the
low- and middle-income countries. ENDS globally and they are regulated tobacco industry.
Concerned at the effects on young in about 80 others. In South Africa
people, some countries that initially and elsewhere, they remain largely
opened their markets to electronic Regulation through appropriate
unregulated.
nicotine delivery systems are now legislative and fiscal policies is a
introducing regulatory and tax priority, given the risks these systems
Given the unclear evidence on harm,
measures to prevent surges among may pose to future generations. WHO
the increased use of ENDS by young
youth in nicotine use. therefore warmly endorses efforts
people in some jurisdictions and the
need to protect non-smokers (about to press on with the government’s
Some studies link ENDS use to 80% of the global population), a Control of Tobacco Products and
smoking cessation, but others precautionary approach is justified. Electronic Nicotine Delivery System
contradict this and suggest they WHO does not recommend ENDS as Bill without further delay. This
attract new users, especially the a cessation aid, and instead advises legislation applies lessons learned
young. Currently, there is not enough smokers to use proven and approved elsewhere in the world and will
evidence to support the use of ENDS approaches. Non-smokers, minors help South Africa to avoid a youth
as smoking cessation aids, and most and pregnant women should never epidemic by ensuring zero exposure
people use them in addition to other use ENDS. to nicotine.
InFocus 11 A magazine of the UN in South Africa - April 2019Fighting the fall armyworm with IT
of international experts, developing regional and national
plans of action and identifying the current knowledge gaps
and priorities.
The Director of Plant Health at the Department of
Agriculture, Alice Baxter, thanked FAO for its timely
intervention which, she said, further strengthens their
partnership in efforts to end hunger. The gesture would go
a long way in improving understanding, and ensuring the
timely reporting, of the fall armyworm detections across
South Africa.
The menace caused by the fall armyworm has rapidly
Francesco Pierri (left) flanked by Winston Makabanyane, Alice Baxter
spread across sub-Saharan Africa, infesting tens of millions
and Jan Hendrick Venter from Department of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries. of hectares of maize, sorghum and millet. The armyworm
flies nearly 1,000 miles in just 30 hours and can easily
W
ith the fall armyworm wreaking havoc in South migrate to neighboring countries. The female moth can
Africa and the rest of Southern Africa, the Food lay up to 1,000 eggs in her lifetime and in its larvae stage,
and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently can cause significant damage to crops, if not managed
handed over eleven Tablets and a box of fall armyworm properly. It has a taste for maize but also feeds on more
kill strips to the Early Warning System Division of South than 80 species of plants including rice, sorghum, millet,
Africa’s Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural sugarcane, vegetables and cotton. In sub-Saharan Africa,
Development. over 200 million people depend on maize for food security,
as it is a staple cereal grown by farmers.
The kill strips, which were presented to the head of
the Early Warning System Division by the FAO Country The fall armyworm poses a serious threat to Africa’s
Representative, Francesco Pierri, are used to kill the male food security and although there are solutions, remedial
moths of the fall armyworm and have proven effective action differs from region to region. So far, the infestation,
throughout Africa in reducing the number of the male which started in 2016, has been contained in some areas
population. FAO rolled out a mobile phone app, the but none of the measures taken so far is long-term or
Fall Armyworm Monitoring and Early Warning System sustainable. However, innovation and technology are
(FAMEWS), to help farmers and extension workers collect crucial in finding solutions to mitigate the risk of decreasing
and record information when scouting fields and checking
food security in Africa. The value of small innovations, such
pheromone traps for the fall armyworm.
as mobile apps, means that farmers can start tackling the
issue before it’s too late.
The mobile application is now available for download
on Google Play Store and has incorporated Nuru, a
The time for eradication, however, has long passed and
programme that uses machine learning to identify fall
armyworm damage on maize leaves. The Tablets are scientists, NGOs, and governments are now focused on
loaded with the FAMEWS app to enhance reporting as part control. For some, this means chemical pesticides, but
of surveillance efforts. these are expensive and many smallholders do not know
how to safely apply the chemicals, making them a threat
“FAO continues to help member countries to better to human and environmental health, including the survival of
equip themselves against this threat, monitor it, take other insects and their predators. In order to better control
necessary early action and draw on lessons learned the fall armyworm, maize farmers in Africa, most of whom
from other regions,” said Mr. Pierri, speaking at the are smallholders and grow the crop for subsistence, need
hand-over ceremony. FAO, which works closely with to learn how to identify the fall armyworm and its damage, a
governments in responding to pests menace, further task that can challenge even trained extension workers.
assists in strengthening the capacity of the community
InFocus 12 A magazine of the UN in South Africa - April 2019Improving collaborative governance in
Northern Cape
E
ach day South Africa is faced tone for the dialogue and served
with graphic demonstrations as a reminder of government’s
of how poor service delivery commitment to its citizens.
affects communities. The need for
constant improvement is always “Policy is a statement of intention
present. Early this year, municipal through which we, as government,
councillors gathered to attend a commit ourselves and tell the
communities that they can hold us
dialogue on collaborative governance
accountable,” Collen Rammule,
and inclusive public participation
the acting specialist for policy and
organized by the United Nations
research at SALGA told participants
Development Programme (UNDP).
during his presentation.
respond to challenges raised by
The UNDP heard first hand as The challenges of communicating the councillors, UNDP presented
municipal councillors expressed on time, delayed responses to the Personal Premier, a project
concerns about their relationships communities’ needs as well which uses technology to improve
with the various communities as inconsistent planning and communication between citizens
they serve in the Northern Cape reporting were among some of and government. The Personal
Province. The dialogue was one of the issues raised by the municipal Premier provides a platform for
the national- and provincial-driven councillors. Members of the citizen-generated data which will
initiatives of the South African Local Northern Cape Provincial Legislature enable municipalities to improve their
Government Association (SALGA) made presentations on petitions communication with the communities
aimed at supporting local structures management and shared with they serve and use the data to
to promote and implement inclusive participants the challenges they faced improve planning and reporting.
public participation. Presentations with delayed responses to petitions. UNDP hopes this project will reduce
outlining the different levels of public the number of violent service delivery
participation (inform, consult, involve, In an effort to identify solutions, protests as the rationale behind
collaborate and empower) set the enhance communication and the project is that service delivery
protests are a symptom of poor
communication.
The dialogue challenged the
municipal representatives to explore
how they can better listen to the views
of young people as they improve
their practice of inclusive public
participation. The role of traditional
leadership as an important aspect
in enhancing inclusive governance
and public participation was also
highlighted and noted as an area that
will require more discussions. UNDP
is of the view that Northern Cape
Province is fertile ground for testing
the concept and to this end, will work
Participants at the governance workshop.
closely with SALGA.
InFocus 13 A magazine of the UN in South Africa - April 2019Building a green economy by promoting
eco-entrepreneurship
By THOMAS MERTENS
F
or any country to prosper, opportunities exist for micro, small sectors are able to identify green
the development of strong and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs) business opportunities.
infrastructure is essential. in the supply and improved economic
To this end, the European Union value of waste feedstock. Towards the By supporting private sector-led
launched the SWITCH Africa Green end of 2019, Fetola will launch a new inclusive green growth and developing
(SAG) programme, a pilot initiative to biomass economy incubator that will green businesses and eco-
promote green economy in six African aim to enable 25 MSMEs to seize the entrepreneurship, the SAG programme
countries of Burkina Faso, Ghana, opportunities presented by this new aims to encourage countries to
Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa and industry. transition towards an inclusive green
Uganda. The EU-funded programme economy. As a result, the programme
is implemented in partnership with the One of its targets are the MSMEs also supports the achievement of
United Nations Environment (UNEP). within the building industry, where the Sustainable Development Goals
Clay Brick Association of South Africa (SDGs) on reducing poverty,
As part of the SAG programme, a joint and EcoMetrix Africa and Partners protecting the planet and promoting
project managed by Fetola, a local for Innovation are implementing a prosperity.
company, SkyNRG, an Amsterdam- SAG project to promote inclusive
based entity that supports sustainable sustainable practices in the clay brick One of the expected benefits of the
aviation fuel, and the World Wide sector. The aim is to empower MSMEs SAG programme is the development
Fund for Nature (WWF) is developing to transform their production practices of a new cadre of eco-entrepreneurs
a waste-based sustainable aviation and implement sustainable building in South Africa. According to head of
fuel industry in South Africa. The practices, including monitoring and UN Environment in South Africa and
first phase of the project has shown reporting. The project will also include the Regional Programme Coordinator,
that there are viable and sustainable the informal small-scale brick-making Cecilia Njenga, “Eco-entrepreneurs
biomass waste streams available to sector that so far has not been are key actors for innovation,
support the production of bio-jet fuel addressed. promoting resource efficiency and
in the Sasol process. better productivity and generating
The second phase of the SAG new products and services to satisfy
The next phase will see the setting programme will target three key human needs, generate green
up of a biomass-based SAG supply sectors: transportation, building and jobs and increased incomes, while
chain pilot. Along the value chain, agriculture so that MSMEs in these protecting the environment.”
Informal clay brick production. Informal clay brick production.
InFocus 14 A magazine of the UN in South Africa - April 2019Third PAGE Ministerial Conference calls for
greener and inclusive growth
T
he Third Partnership for Action offer support to countries on the The Cape Town conference featured
on Green Economy (PAGE) inclusive green economy to ensure a series of global events around the
kicked off in Cape Town, South proper coordination and to avoid Green Economy. It opened with the
Africa, early this year amid heightened duplication. Green Economy Coalition Global
interest in efforts to pursue greener Meeting where delegates debated
and more inclusive growth across the South Africa became a PAGE partner and made policy recommendations
world’s economies, under the theme: country in March 2015. Since to achieve equitable, inclusive, and
Advancing Inclusive and Sustainable then, PAGE continues to support people-focused economies. This was
Economies. and strengthen the cooperation, followed by a lively media debate
coordination as well as to provide the under the theme “What makes your
The ministerial conference, which capacity that is required to implement country wealthy?” organized by the
was attended by more than 500 the country’s transition to a low-
Green Economy Coalition and the
delegates representing governments, carbon, resource-efficient and pro-
Green Growth Knowledge Platform in
the private sector and the civil society employment development path. In co-
partnership with CNBC Africa.
from over 50 countries, provided a hosting the 3rd Ministerial Conference
platform for conversations about how with PAGE, South Africa, through the
to develop inclusive green economies Department of Environmental Affairs, The 3rd PAGE Ministerial Conference
based on sustainable production and became the first partner country to paid tribute to South Africa’s
consumption. Delegates explored host the conference. former Minister of Environmental
ideas on how to mainstream natural Affairs, Edna Molewa, who had
capital in policies and strategies, The conference outcome document passed away a few months
how to prepare for the future of work “Cape Town Action Pathways Towards before the conference. She was
and how to innovate and promote 2030” highlights the following: acknowledged for her instrumental
green finance and green industries. leadership and contribution in
The answers to these ideas will form • The need to reinvigorate our moving environmental affairs from
the bedrock for a better and more economies, shifting from linear the margins to the mainstream of
sustainable future for all. economic models of production, economic and social development,
consumption and investment nationally and internationally. The
PAGE was launched in 2013 as a towards circular economies; conference provided an inspiring
response to the call at the United • The importance of anchoring environment which saw delegates
Nations Conference on Sustainable green strategies and policies reflecting, discussing and working
Development Rio+20 to support in long-term development to solve the urgent challenges of
countries to embark on greener and frameworks; collective concern, addressing climate
more inclusive growth trajectories. • The focus on economic, social change through a just transition to
By placing sustainability at the heart and political inclusion to ensure environmental sustainability by lifting
of economic policies and practices, that no one is left behind in millions out of poverty, securing
PAGE works with countries to foster accessing equitably the benefits
decent work for all, especially young
economic growth, create incomes and and opportunities arising
people and reducing inequality.
jobs, reduce poverty and inequality, from economic, social and
and strengthen the environmentally environmental progress;
sustainable foundations of economies • The element of the Future of Achieving the goals of the conference
to advance the 2030 Agenda for Work in a changing climate, for is not going to be an easy task. But as
Sustainable Development. PAGE which we must re-organize our noted Guy Ryder, the Director-General
brings together five UN agencies—the economies towards a greater of the International Labor Organization
UN Environment, the International resource efficiency, sustainability in his keynote address quoting Nelson
Labour Organization, the UN and resilience; and Mandela: “It always seems impossible
Development Programme, the UN • The importance of strengthening until it’s done”. The conference
Industrial Development Organization partnerships and multilateralism showed that it can be done as nations
and UN Institute for Training and to sustain a collective vision take meaningful action that impacts
Research—whose combined to transform economies and the lives of people in an inclusive
mandates, expertise and networks societies. manner.
InFocus 15 A magazine of the UN in South Africa - April 2019Unlocking opportunities for
women-owned businesses
W
hile the South African public of a dialogue for women-owned considered when formulating policies
procurement accounts for businesses from the district level at both national and provincial levels.
about R1.2 trillion (US$86 to engage with key government There was also an emphasis on the
billion) of its gross domestic product, departments, including the National need for entrepreneurial activities to
women-owned enterprises still Treasury, the Department of Social have an impact at community level.
receive only an estimated 9% of Development, the Department of Some of the issues raised included
the total spend annually. While it is Cooperative Governance and Traditional localising businesses at community
still slow, South Africa still performs Affairs’ Local Economic Development, level; ensuring that commercial banks
better that the average 1% in women business owners from KwaZulu- understand the challenges of women-
developing countries. According to Natal districts and Nedbank. owned businesses and making
a study conducted by Development sure that banks’ corporate social
Economics in 2018—in the next five “We are who we are today because investment programmes are aligned
years—women-owned businesses of women entrepreneurs who traded to community challenges.
in South Africa have the potential in Tupperware, Avon, stokvels
to unlock more than R175 billion (savings clubs) and tuckshops,” Zola At the end of the dialogue several
(US$12.5 billion) a year and create Shabangu, the Chief Executive Officer resolutions were adopted including
nearly 100,000 jobs. of Intsika Women in Business said in a decision to have a formal protocol
her opening remarks, thanking women between Intsika Women in Business
In commemorating this year’s entrepreneurs who had paved the way and the Provincial Treasury that
International Women’s Day, the UN for others to succeed in business. would ensure women can access
Women South Africa Multi-Country “A big applause to the millions of procurement information. Intsika
Office (SAMCO) teamed up with unsung heroes who brought us here”. Women in Business will collaborate
Intsika Women Business Association The discussions identified mining, with partners who participated in
in the Kwa-Zulu Natal Province the ocean economy, energy, ICT, the dialogue to ensure that the
to emphasize the importance of agriculture, transport and logistics as resolutions are converted into
unlocking business opportunities sectors that women should explore to concrete actions. Following the
for women. The initiative is part expand their market share. Key issues dialogue, a pledge was signed, as
of SMACO’s flagship programme, raised included the need for frequent part of the IWD commemoration,
Stimulating Equal Opportunities platforms for networking and learning between Intsika, UN Women, the
for Women Entrepreneurs. Under such as the International Women’s Department of Social Development,
the programme, SAMCO works Day Dialogue; access to finance for the Department of Economic
with governments, UN entities, women-owned businesses; access to Development and Strauss Daly. All
the private sector, civil society and business opportunities in high revenue partners committed to consciously
women entrepreneurs to influence sectors such as renewable energy, and proactively increase participation
procurement policies so that they agriculture and waste management; of women in the South African
are designed to deliver on several and ensuring women’s ideas are economy.
Sustainable Development Goals.
These targets include promoting
development-oriented policies
that encourage the growth of
entrepreneurs; increasing the
number of youth and adults who
have relevant skills for employment,
decent jobs and entrepreneurship;
and enhancing the use of technology International Women’s Day 2019 commemoration with Intsika Women Business
to promote women’s empowerment. Association in KwaZulu-Natal.
The commemoration was in the form
InFocus 16 A magazine of the UN in South Africa - April 2019National Action Plan to combat
racism launched
E
arly this year, after extensive the plan in collaboration with the who live in it are not just entitled to
consultations, South Africa relevant stakeholders. equality, but experience equality in
published its National Action their daily lives.”
Plan to combat racism, racial In his forward to the plan, President
discrimination, xenophobia and Cyril Ramaphosa said, “The time has The plan sets out measures over
related intolerance. With the passing come for us to shed all shackles of an initial five-year implementation
of national elections in May 2019, the prejudice and discrimination so that period (2019-2024), and both the
new government is now expected to we can fulfil the promise of building parliament and the executive will have
proceed with the planning, budgeting a united, non-racial, non-sexist and oversight roles to ensure its effective
and costing of measures to implement prosperous country in which all implementation. The governance
structure put in place to guide the
action plan is drawn widely from
government departments, Chapter 9
institutions, civil society, academia/
research institutions, as well as other
sectors such as media and business.
Moreover, the South African Human
Rights Commission has a role in
monitoring and evaluating progress.
At the launch, messages of support
were delivered by the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner’s
Regional Representative for Southern
Africa, Abigail Noko, as well as the
Deputy Regional Representative of the
UN High Commissioner for Refugees,
Leonard Zulu. Both UN agencies had
been active stakeholders throughout
the consultation process.
The then Deputy Minister of Justice
and Constitutional Development, John
Jeffery, delivered the keynote address
and spoke of how South Africa
still suffers from the division of two
nations: rich, white South Africa and
poor, black South Africa. The deputy
minister stressed that the launch of
the plan was only a beginning, and
that the efforts of the entire society
were needed in implementing it,
including civil society, trade unions
and schools among others.
InFocus 17 A magazine of the UN in South Africa - April 2019Boosting dialogue on the
Fourth Industrial Revolution
of tailoring university curricula
to prepare the youth for the 4IR,
saying that in addition to technical
abilities, students will need soft
skills, including the ability to work in
heterogeneous teams.
She also stressed the importance
of government, academia and
industry working together to prepare
the youth for the new reality. A
current example is an initiative
Prof. Roula Inglezi-Lotz (UP), Weza Moss (AIDC) and Lauren Hermanus (Adapt) between Telkom, the local telecom
T
company, and the universities of the
he United Nations Industrial of the South Africa Regional Office, Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and
Development Organization Khaled El Mekwad, stressed that Fort Hare, focusing on how South
(UNIDO) brought industry and innovation, knowledge sharing and Africa should respond to the 4IR.
academia experts together for a multi-stakeholder partnerships are
panel discussion during the 11th key to developing countries to unlock Echoing Inglesi-Lotz’s thoughts,
Africa Energy Indaba in Sandton. the potential of 4IR technologies Weza Moss, the Chairman of the
Focusing on the opportunities and to achieve the SDGs. He also Board of the Automotive Industry
challenges stemming from the noted that the concept of the 4IR Development Centre, called for
Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is currently gaining momentum in industry to “invest in technical
in the context of the Sustainable South Africa, pointing to President and vocational education and
Development Goals (SDGs), Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent State of training colleges. “This will enable
the discussion was another the Nation address when he said them to provide the youth and
example of UNIDO’s convening the country had “a choice between the unemployed with upskilling
function in support of knowledge being overtaken by technological opportunities in line with the sector’s
transfer, networking and industrial change or harnessing it to serve our current and future requirements.”
cooperation. development aspirations.”
“In South Africa, UNIDO has been “To embrace this digital revolution,
The 4IR will impact the way everyone engaging with the Department policy and institutional development
works, lives and interacts, affecting of Trade and Industry and other needs an aesthetic sensibility, or a
industrialized as well as industrializing stakeholders on structuring creative, adaptive approach. The
economies. It has the potential to interventions on the 4IR based on its policy needs to be part knowledge-
enhance productivity and generate expertise, experience and lessons making, part art and part ethics and
economic growth, ultimately resulting learned from other countries,” said work not only with what has been,
in better social welfare. However, the Mr. El Mekwad. but with what is yet to come. This
ability of countries to benefit from its must be embedded in democracy,
potential will be determined by the One of the panelists at the gathering, as ongoing engagement to reach a
capacity to innovate and adapt to Roula Inglesi-Lotz, an Associate dynamic political consensus,” said
new technologies, and there is a risk Professor at the University of Lauren Hermanus, the Director of
of a widening of the development Pretoria’s Department of Economics, Adapt. “If we are successful, this
gap. said that life-long learning is crucial digital revolution, like the industrial
to adapting to the “technology revolutions before it, promises jobs,
In his welcoming address, the tsunami” that the world is facing. increased living standards and better
UNIDO Representative and Head She emphasized the importance health for more people.”
InFocus 18 A magazine of the UN in South Africa - April 2019UN pledges support to floods victims
By ZEENAT ABDOOL
grapple with the after-effects compounded by their poorly built
of Cyclone Idai that hit parts of homes on the most vulnerable
Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe and piece of land—the river banks.
South Africa. There are fears that as Though illegal, hundreds of homes
climate change rears its ugly head are located near the banks of
and global warming becomes a stark rivers and underlying areas which
reality, natural disasters are bound to increases their vulnerability to the
increase. consequences of natural disasters.
UN Resident Coordinator Nardos Bekele- Many refused to leave despite what
Thomas handing over items for victims of the The UN in South Africa team visited had happened.
devastating floods in Durban. some of the affected areas in
KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape “And, it’s likely to only get worse in
“I visited the office briefly for the
provinces pledging support and the coming years as global warming
first time since my operation today
solidarity with the leadership and the and the reality of climate change kicks
thinking it would comfort me, but it
people affected by the floods. The in with full force,” says Eric Apelgran
didn’t,” Fatima Asmal, the owner of a
organization donated sleeping mats, from the eThekwini Municipality. He
local non-governmental organization,
blankets, dignity packs and torches adds that “previously, the island of
wrote in a Facebook post about 24
to the municipalities assisting those Madagascar would act as a buffer
year-old Saleh, one of the 70 people
affected who are either in community to the KwaZulu-Natal coastline.
killed in severe floods early this year
shelters or have returned to what However, cyclones and other weather
Kwazulu-Natal and Eastern Cape
is left of their homes in the affected patterns are coming through the
provinces of South Africa.
areas. Flash lights, though small and coastline and the Madagascar
often deemed insignificant, were channel thus affecting coastlines
“I thought of the numerous times he
some of the necessities as families across Tanzania, Mozambique,
had come by - to fetch Amr’s (my
narrated how the severe rains and Malawi, Zimbabwe and South
son) gym bag when he was taking
subsequent flooding resulted in Africa.”This doesn’t bode well for
him from tuition to gym to chat. He
sat there cracking one joke after the power outages and family members residents that reside on the river
another, eating naan katai (Indian were unable to locate each other. banks and vulnerable areas around
biscuits) and drinking tea. Sometimes Some explained was that was how rivers and streams. The Resident
he messaged wanting to pop by and children and their parents were Coordinator of the UN in South
I told him we were busy - I regret washed away as water filled homes. Africa, Nardos Bekele-Thomas, says
every one of those times now,” that “policies need to be developed
wrote Fatima. Saleh was planning to and implemented to prohibit any
get married and often volunteered housing near these volatile areas.”
his services to the NGO based in
Durban. He was known as a “friend, The UN technical team also visited
confidant and big brother” and met Port St. Johns in the Eastern Cape
his death after the floods uprooted a Province to assess the damage
pole that fell upon his home. in that area that was also hard
hit by the floods. A rapid needs
Destruction caused by floods in Durban.
Saleh’s death is one of many tragic assessment was conducted to assist
stories that a United Nations team the people and their leadership with
heard about in the aftermath of The families most affected by the to prevent further damage, despair
the floods. The tragedy came as flooding live in already stressed and destruction from future natural
southern Africa’s coastline countries socio-economic circumstances disasters.
InFocus 19 A magazine of the UN in South Africa - April 2019You can also read
