While Ethiopians were gearing up to celebrate Orthodox Christmas, many people around the world witnessed the test on Democracy in the United States of America. Images of conflict, rage and “insurrection” had us all still and perplexed about the situation of the country and as a branding company, we discussed about the US image and how the rest of the world will now interact with the US. At an event I participated, a high profile business leader in Africa stated “we are disappointed in America because all this time we have been promoting your governance structure and now it's being questioned” especially when African countries now have options on governance models.
What needs to be emboldened in this saga is that America came out a winner. The United States of America demonstrated to the world that democracy will always prevail and that opposition should not mean enemies but rather contenders to move the country forward. From a brand marketing perspective, we trust that this country of immigrants will remain a land of opportunity as shown by the Biden Administration appointment of individuals from all walks of life, and for Africa, we have:
Adewale Adeyemo is the first 39 year old African-American from Nigeria who is a strong advocate of multilateralism to be appointed Deputy Secretary of the Treasury.
Osaremen Okolo is a 26 year old Nigerian - American to be appointed as Covid-19 Policy Advisor.
Yohannes Abraham is an Ethiopian- American and former Obama administration staff, who will now serve as a Chief of Staff and Executive Secretary at the National Security Council.
TAKING STOCK OF AFRICA’S 2021 ELECTIONS
Five countries undertaking elections this year are facing armed conflict (Chad, Ethiopia, Libya, Niger, and Somalia). The legitimacy these leaders may gain by winning popular endorsement can be a powerful tool for navigating these conflicts. Conversely, perceptions that entrenched leaders cannot be removed constitutionally via the ballot box will likely only fuel the grievances that lead to more violent forms of confrontation. Read More
US-Africa Engagement
USAID Weekly: December 18, 2020
Here are some USAID funds allocated for Africa.
- USAID delivered $20 million in wheat to the Sudanese people in response to historic floods and COVID-19.
- USAID is providing $100 million to help the people of Madagascar during a devastating drought.
- In Sierra Leone, USAID is installing handwashing stations to help fight COVID-19.
DFC FINANCING TO ADVANCE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN WEST AFRICA, THE SAHEL REGION
U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has signed a $14.75 million loan portfolio guaranty with Stichting Cordaid and its impact investment firm, Cordaid Investment Management, to support lending to small and medium enterprises in West Africa and the Sahel to help foster stability and economic growth. (...) DFC provided the guaranty alongside $2 million in first loss grant capital from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s West Africa Trade and Investment Hub through DFC’s new Mission Transaction Unit, which works with local USAID missions to support investment in developing markets. Read more
DFC VISITS MOROCCO TO EXPLORE PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT
In December, Boehler visited Morocco and announced the opening of a Prosper Africa office, signed an MOU with the Government of Morocco to invest $3 billion over the next four years for projects in Morocco and with Moroccan partners in Sub-Saharan Africa, and launched the 2X MENA initiative—supporting DFC’s broader 2X Women’s Initiative and the Administration’s Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative (W-GDP)—to catalyze $1 billion of investments in projects that advance women’s economic empowerment in the Middle East and North Africa. Read more.
DFC APPROVES OVER $2.1 BILLION IN NEW INVESTMENTS FOR GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT
To help developing countries withstand the economic impacts of the pandemic, DFC approved a $50 million loan to establish the DFC-MASSIF COVID-19 Response Co-Financing Facility. This first of its kind facility – established in partnership with the Dutch development finance institution FMO – will provide loans for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in some of the toughest markets facing COVID-19 related liquidity constraints, with a focus on businesses in lower income countries. DFC also approved two new transactions under DFC’s Rapid Response Liquidity Facility, a $93.8 million loan to Sudameris Bank and a $150 million loan to SA Taxi Impact Fund. Read more.
Diaspora and Our Participation
The Nigerian in the Diaspora Organization (NIDO) invited the Managing Director, Rahel G, to join the esteemed panelists to discuss about Africa post-COVID. As a cross-cultural brand marketing firm, the outcome of our participation is to be able to promote cross-border solutions in regards to institutional building, country image strategies and small business capacity building as well as FDI/DDI.
News Flash
Afrolehar Branding just signed an MOU with a South African company, TPN training and recruitment, to provide agricultural and construction trainings primarily to women and youth.
Interesting Articles
WHAT CAN AFRICA EXPECT FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION?
There are also expectations that Biden will reverse Trump’s blocking of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment as head of the World Trade Organization. If so, she will bring a renewed sense of focus to the beleaguered trade body. For the first time in its history, the WTO might start considering the global south. She isn’t only poised to put fair vaccine distribution on the WTO’s agenda, but could even boost the call by South Africa and India to temporarily loosen intellectual property rules to make vaccines more affordable in the global south – a fight that goes back to the HIV pandemic. Read more
AN AFRICA ROADMAP FOR BIDEN
At the strategic level, the US should offer a new vision for its approach to the continent, shifting from a focus on geopolitical stakes and countering China, which led to disastrous results during the Cold War, to a true partnership based on mutually beneficial business relationships and delivering visible results. That means going beyond meager bilateral projects that aim only to plant an American flag. For example, the US should take a leadership role in ensuring that COVID-19 vaccines quickly make their way to Africa. This would be consistent with Biden’s priorities and send a strong signal that the era of benign neglect is over. Read more
WHAT JOE BIDEN'S AFRICA STRATEGY MIGHT LOOK LIKE
First of all, it is impossible to compete with the Chinese (and Iranians, Russians, Turks, etc.) when one is not even on the field. Secondly, attempts to steer sub-Saharan Africans away from rivals through messaging about, say, the Chinese government's ulterior motives, may come off as hollow if Americans are acting no differently. It also may be true that the United States government has been overly focused on security matters and providing security assistance. The security assistance is not a bad thing, but there may be more productive ways of investing in other countries' institutions and societies. Read more
BIDEN, DEMOCRACY, AND AFRICA
Last year in Africa, electoral outcomes often did not reflect African aspirations. Such was the case in Guinea, Tanzania, Burundi, and elsewhere. Moreover, the 2020 Ibrahim Index on African Governance has found that the public perception of overall governance is at its lowest in over a decade, and the pace of deterioration has nearly doubled over the last five years. Read more
BIDEN ALREADY HAS AFRICA’S EARLY GOODWILL, HERE’S HOW TO DELIVER ON ITS PROMISE
Antony Blinken, the secretary of State-designate, promised to “engage the world as it is and not as it was.” China, $15.6 trillion economy is a “fact on the ground” in Africa with a 20-year head start. A little under two weeks ago, China unveiled a white paper on development, making the BRI a central pillar of its foreign policy. The idea that American diplomats can continue to engage the world without an answer to the BRI is self-deluding. In Africa, for example, there is an annual $68 billion to $108 billion infrastructure finance gap—financing for that infrastructure will have to come from somewhere. Read more
Fun Facts
 |
 |
|
The first democratic forms of government are thought to have developed during the 6th century B.C., and Cleisthenes, a statesman from Athens, is considered the Father of Democracy. The top 25 richest countries in the world are democracies and in the US, the word democracy does not appear anywhere in the text of the Constitution. While you have to be 18 to vote in America, other countries' rules vary as 16 is the minimum voting age in Brazil, Scotland, Switzerland, Argentina, Austria, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Cuba.
|
Most leaders in Africa are replaced by ballots, not bullets: While in the 1960s and 1970s approximately 75% of African leaders were ousted through violent means (coup d’etats, rebellion), in the period of 2000-2005 this number dropped to 19%. Since 2000, only 14 of 51 states have seen power transferred between political parties, and it is noted that elections are sometimes expensive, for example the costs of the 2007 elections in Kenya (messy, violent – see pic) were US $13.74 per registered voter (or US $29 per cast ballot).
|
OUR SERVICES
Contact us for your Brand Marketing needs ranging from Country Branding strategies, Go-to Market Advisory , CSR Program Design and Diaspora Outreach. We also offer services including but not limited to technology, program development, content writing, digital diplomacy, media relations and multimedia productions.
While kasook is being redesigned, our current Tech Brands are www.agrifrica.com and www.brandmoiahora.com.
Copyright laws apply
