| EMERGING MARKETS REVIEW | Connected Post-Harvest Logistics |
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September 3rd, 2019
This newsletter is inspired by my latest research analysis report on Connected Next Generation Post-Harvest Logistics in Emerging Countries.
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TECHNOLOGY
BOEING 702 SATELLITE BRINGS AFFORDABLE BROADBAND TO AFRICA, ME AND EUROPE
August 7, 2019 - Logistics Update Africa
According to Logistics Update Africa, the Boeing-built AMOS-17 satellite for service provider, Spacecom, has been launched with the purpose of providing TV, Internet, and data services to underserved areas of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. AMOS-17 features capabilities as fixed and steerable beams, and provide support for long-term customers as well as for short-term spikes in bandwidth demand as may be the case in times of natural disasters.
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CLIMATE CHANGE
DRIED-UP PASTURES PUSH MAASAI TO MIX CATTLE WITH CROPS
August 2, 2019 - Business Daily
The Business Daily is reporting that the centuries-old practice of herding livestock for the Maasai nomadic tribespeople in Kenya is seeing some changes due to recent extreme weather changes. According to the article, for one Maasai herder, last year's severe drought in southern Kenya's Kajiado County saw his herd reduce from 180 animals to less than 80. As climate change linked droughts and a housing boom continue to destroy pastures herders rely on to feed their livestock, many are turning to agriculture for extra income.
https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/news/Dried-up-pastures-push-Maasai-to-mix-cattle-with-crops/539546-5220406-r2xk1s/index.html
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INVESTMENTS
INFRACO AFRICA, POWERGEN INK $6.9 MN PACT FOR SIERRA LEONE MINI-GRID PROJECT
August 31, 2019 - Logistics Update Africa
Logistics Update Africa is reporting that project company, Off-grid Power, will develop a portfolio of solar mini-grids in Sierra Leone as part of an agreement reached between InfraCo Africa and PowerGen. A $6.9 million project, it is destined to provide electricity service up to 41 remote communities of homes and businesses as part of a wider effort led by the Sierra Leone government to address the shortage of electricity in rural areas. The project is slated to begin by the end of the year and begin operations in 2020.
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ECONOMY
THESE TYPES OF COMPANIES WILL CUT JOBS BECAUSE OF AUTOMATION
August 11, 2019 - BusinessTech
BusinessTech reports that artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are set to cause huge amounts of job losses in South Africa. Automation is coming to a number of industries and a call is being made that the country needs to prepare its workers as many jobs are expected to disappear.
https://businesstech.co.za/news/technology/332407/these-south-african-companies-will-cut-jobs-because-of-automation/
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LEADING THINKERS
THE FUTURE OF WORK IN AFRICA: MAKING PRODUCTIVE INVESTMENTS FOR MORE AND BETTER JOBS
July 25, 2019 - World Bank
In a World Bank blogpost, authors Mark Dutz, Jieun Choi, and Zainab Usman make the case that African governments need to prioritize investments in several areas if they wish to reap the benefits of the changes digital technologies are set to bring. They argue that Sub-Saharan Africa appears to face serious challenges in terms of very low levels of human capital for its young and fast-growing generation - as much as 60% unskilled adults who need a job. The good news, the authors note, comes potentially in the forms of jobs creation through efforts as local manufacturing of electrical appliances, learning and developing skills in the process, and helping firms grow, among others. To this end, the authors offer three investment recommendations for African governments to consider.
https://blogs.worldbank.org/africacan/future-work-africa-making-productive-investments-more-and-better-jobs?cid=ECR_TT_WorldBank_EN_EXT&hootPostID=2c71fb21644a75c2409e7ddb91bf493b
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