Call for applications: Short-term courses in Europe

Are you looking for opportunities to study abroad on a short-term basis? The Netherlands Education Group has got you covered. Apply to one of their short term programs in Europe.  

Details: https://bit.ly/2AE1JY9 #studyineurope

The National Bank of Angola (BNA) presents new Kwanza banknotes without the face of the former President, José Eduardo dos Santos

The National Bank of Angola (BNA) holded a press conference on Tuesday in Luanda to present the new Kwanza bank note family "2020 series", at a time when the national currency has already depreciated 16.9 and 17.2 percent, respectively, against the dollar and euro since the beginning of the year.

Angola is to have as from July 30 a new series of banknotes (2020 series) made of polymer, which resembles to plastic, announced Tuesday the governor of the National Bank of Angola (BNA), José Lima Massano.

The governor explained that the new banknotes would enter into circulation gradually as from July 30, with the integration of 200 Kwanza (AKz) banknotes, being 500 kwanzas introduced in September, 1,000 in October and 2,000 in November.

Currently, Massano said, despite of the legal provision, the AKz 10,000 banknotes are not expected to enter into circulation unless it proves absolutely necessary. The entry into service will be progressive in order to allow knowledge of its characteristics and ensure that it is available in national territory, the BNA governor said. The new banknotes will coexist with the existing ones of 2012 series until December 31 of 2021.

The BNA, Massano said, will publish the timetable for the withdrawal of the older banknotes; in the meantime, the current coins will remain in circulation without any change. José Lima Massano explained that with the polymer banknotes there is the possibility of better usage and financial savings in the management of currency circulation.

 "No less important is the fact that the new substrate is recyclable, making them more environmental friendly", Massano said.

The face of the former head of State, José Eduardo dos Santos was removed from the banknotes

As a new feature, in the 2020 series, the sphinx stamped on the banknotes now only has the face of the first President of Angola, António Agostinho Neto, unlike the current which also includes the former head of State, José Eduardo dos Santos. 

Approved by the National Assembly in January this year, the new notes, with face value of 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10000 kwanzas, were also illustrated with the natural wonders of Angola.

On the 200 note are the Black Stones of Pungo to Ndongo (Malange), the 500 note features the Tundavala Cleft (Huila), the 1,000 - the Central Plateau (Huambo), the 2,000 - the Leba Mountain (Huila), the 5,000 - São Salvador of Congo Cathedral (Zaire) and the 10,000- to Zenzo Caves (Uige).

The new Kwanza banknotes will be safer, with characteristics that make it difficult to forge them, according to guarantees given by the governor of the BNA, José de Lima Massano.

The banknotes will have polymer (plastic) substrates that will make them more resistant and have greater durability than paper banknotes in circulation.

With the current paper banknotes, the state spends 30 million US dollars to maintain the Kwanza in circulation every two years.

The new Kwanza series will cost the same, but will be maintained every four years.

In this operation of issuing new banknotes, according to José de Lima Massano, the BNA planned to spend USD 30 million, the same amount used for the sanitation (replacement) of the banknotes in circulation in the country.

The introduction of the new banknote family will be progressive, particularly those with a higher denomination and will only be issued and put into circulation when economic development conditions so advise, he explained at the time.

Angola: Media minister re-inaugurates ANGOP editorial office. ANGOP bets on multimedia content

The Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technology and Media, Manuel Homem, re-inaugurated on Tuesday, in Luanda, the National and International Editorial Office of the Angola Press Agency (ANGOP), which has a modern office and new technological means.

ANGOLA NEWS AGENCY (ANGOP

Covid-19: Angola detects 33 new infections and two deaths

At least 33 new positive cases of covid-19 and two deaths have been detected in the last 24 hours in Angola, bringing the total in the country to 386 and 21 respectively.

Speaking to journalists during the daily covid-19 update briefing on Tuesday evening, the Health minister said 28 cases have been detected in Luanda and five in northern Cuanza Norte province, about 200 kilometres away.

According to Sílvia Lutucuta, five of the cases are of local infection and 28 of unknown links. Nine patients have recovered.

Angola’s covid-19 records show 386 infections, 21 deaths, 117 recoveries and 248 active patients.

The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) mini grants 2020

The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) mini grants 2020 for African feminist change-makers

Application Deadline: August 10th 2020 

https://bit.ly/3gA2BMW

The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is a grantmaking foundation that supports local, national and regional women’s organisations working towards the empowerment of African women and the promotion and realisation of their rights. By specialising in grantmaking and focused, tailored movement-building programmes, we work to strengthen and support the work of African
women’s organisations.

By amplifying and celebrating African women’s voices and achievements, the AWDF supports efforts that combat harmful stereotypes, and promote African women as active agents of change. AWDF’s work is guided by its five year strategic plan Shaping the Future (2017-2021). Under this plan, AWDF funds work focusing on three themes:

Body and Health Rights
Economic Security and Justice
Leadership, Participation and Peace

Requirements

AWDF was founded to support the leadership and agency of African women in transforming society towards equality and justice. In that light, under its main grants programme, AWDF supports African women’s organisations that meet the following criteria:
• Women-led, with a majority women staff and board
• A stated commitment to supporting women and/or advancing women’s rights/ gender equality in their mission/vision
• Organisations registered in any African country, and working at the local, national, subregional or regional African levels. (Note that AWDF is not able to transfer funds to organisations based in Sudan, South Sudan or Somalia. However, we are able to support organisations based in other African countries that are implementing initiatives in these countries).