Africa Centre

• Under the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative (SBCCI), the Government of Canada is strengthening the capacity of Black-led and Black‑serving community-based organizations across the country by bringing decision-making closer to Black communities to better meet their needs and priorities.
• The National Funders network, which includes Tropicana Community Services, Africa Centre, Black Business Initiative and Groupe 3737, has launched a call for proposals under SBCCI whose application period begins today and remains open until December 15 at 11:59 EST.
• In recognition of this UN initiative, since 2019, over $175 million has been invested through the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative to celebrate, share knowledge and build capacity in Canada's vibrant Black Canadian communities.
• Through it, the Government of Canada has provided the Foundation for Black Communities (FFBC) with an endowment of $200 million.

• African countries are estimated to lose US$17 billion each year to illegal logging.
• Illegal logging is most prevalent in the continent’s tropical rainforests.
• Illegal logging has negative environmental effects that weaken human security.
• Firstly, illegal logging amplifies threats posed by organised criminal groups and violent extremist organisations.

The knock-on effects

• It identifies and tracks criminal networks, state-embedded actors, foreign actors and “mafia-style” armed groups that are locally well known and that control territory.
• The work of these groups has several knock-on effects.
• Violent extremism and insurgency: The illicit timber trade fuels conflict and instability by providing resources for violent actors.
• In Senegal, the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance recently funded its insurgency through the illicit logging of rosewood.

Solutions

• Guinea-Bissau, the DRC and Kenya have controversially ended moratoria on logging.
• It’s easy to get around a moratorium when state security and justice systems do not operate transparently.
• A moratorium can even harden criminal networks without addressing the corruption and livelihood challenges that facilitate illegal logging.
• The Kenya Forestry Service is pioneering an app for officers to use satellite data in community-based initiatives.

Bridging gaps

• For example, in Gabon, civil society has pressured the government for greater transparency in logging contracts.
• Civil society also builds economic resilience to illegal logging.
• In Tanzania and the DRC, civil society has enhanced community control over land management and made legal livelihoods in the logging sector more feasible.

Key takeaways

• External oversight is a key part of countering illegal logging.
• It works best where civil society is strong.
• Inspectors general, specialised prosecutors and independent anti-corruption bodies can help expose the kingpins organising illegal operations.

• The GSMA will work closely with Africa CDC on HealthConnekt Africa, a bold new initiative to connect all health facilities and workforce in Africa to the internet by 2030.
• The partnership between GSMA and Africa CDC is expected to contribute to realising this vision.
• "We look forward to working with members of the GSMA to bridge the digital divide that still limits the reach and impact of our health workforce."
• "While mobile growth across the region has been phenomenal over the past two decades, more needs to be done to harness the power of the technology across Africa's healthcare sector."

• Under the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative (SBCCI), the Government of Canada is supporting Black-–led and Black –serving community-based organizations across the country by bringing decision-making closer to Black communities to better meet their needs and priorities.
• "The Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative was created to work alongside Black communities to build the capacity of Black-led and Black-serving community-based organizations and support the important work they do to promote inclusiveness.
• By working with the SBCCI national funders network, we're ensuring investment decisions are made by Black communities for Black communities.
• "The Black National Funders Network continues to make history as we make this announcement of additional funding for the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative (SBCCI), this Black History Month," said Raymund Guiste, Executive Director, Tropicana Community Service Organization.