🔅 Hairdressers to the Rescue: The Mental Health Counsellors in Africa
Plus: The unintentional green revolution, Madagascar coup allegations, Africa is the next frontier for sustainable aviation fuel, And more.
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Malawi
Money Matters
🟢 Nigerian SE: 71,284.56 (+0.11%)
🟢 Johannesburg SE: 75,241.41 (+0.67%)
— Ghana SE: 3,169.90 (0.00%)
🔴 Nairobi SE: 92.35 (-0.13%)
🟢 US S&P 500: 4,554.27 (+0.08%)
🟢 Shanghai Composite: 3,029.67 (+0.26%)
*Data accurate as of the close of markets across the continent
Brief & Bright: Africa's Top Five
Hairdressers to the Rescue: The Mental Health Counsellors in Africa
Hair salons are more than just a place to get your locks styled—they're also becoming a hub for mental health support in West and Central Africa. With a shortage of mental health professionals in the region, hairdressers are the latest to be trained (after nurses, general practitioners, and even grandmas) in spotting signs of distress and providing a safe space for clients to open up. Ingenious, really, when you think that salons are a safe haven for women and visits are pretty affordable, especially compared to accessing a therapist. WHO classifies Africa as the region with the highest suicide rate in the world yet some of the lowest public expenditures on mental health. With an average of 1.6 mental health workers per 100,000 people (compared to the global median of 13), it's a great idea to have hairdressers step in to help fill the gap.
Mario Macilau’s Award Winning Pictures
Mario Macilau, from Mozambique, has just won the James Barnor Prize, which supports up-and-coming photographers from Africa and the African diaspora. His work focuses on traditional religions, street children, and the country's relationship with its former colonizer, Portugal. From rituals involving animal sacrifices to street children building their own homes, these photos will make you see Mozambique in a whole new light. Take a look at them here.
Africa: The Next Frontier for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
The EU is searching for clean jet fuel projects to back in Africa as part of its Global Gateway infrastructure fund. The EU’s plan to dedicate half of its 300 billion euro fund to Africa (which aims to counter China's Belt & Road Initiative) has already seen renewable plants, green hydrogen initiatives, vaccines, and education projects being supported. Now, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is the next project on the horizon. The 4 million euro capacity-building project is set to support SAF feasibility studies and certification in 11 African countries and India. There’s a lot of potential for Africa’s vast swathes of agricultural land to be used to produce SAF. However, infrastructure, refining capacity, and inadequate regulations are all potential obstacles to these projects getting off the ground. Companies like Eni, Sasol, Linde, and Topsoe are forging ahead with African SAF and biofuel investments, and the African Civil Aviation Commission wants SAF production to launch in at least two African countries within a few years. South Africa, Kenya, and Ethiopia are likely candidates.
Madagascar's Election: Two Officers Charged with Inciting Rebellion
Madagascar's top prosecutor announced that two army officers had been charged with inciting rebellion before the presidential election on November 16th. It is an election where ten out of twelve opposition candidates boycotted and the incumbent Andry Rajoelina has effectively been declared the winner. General William Michel Andriamasimanana has come out to say that the army is committed to respecting the election results and won't accept any kind of interference. This isn't the first time Madagascar has seen political turmoil—the current president first took power in a 2009 coup before stepping down in 2014 and then winning the election again in 2018. In 2021, dozens of people were arrested for allegedly plotting to kill Rajoelina and overthrow the government. The opposition candidates who boycotted the election claim that Rajoelina is ineligible to run because he acquired French nationality in 2014, but Rajoelina insists he was eligible and that the vote was fair.
The Unintentional Green Revolution: How Power Outages are Driving Solar Energy in Africa
In Nigeria and South Africa, the struggle for reliable electricity has led to a surprising trend: going green. In Nigeria, the removal of fuel subsidies in May made generators unaffordable for most people, pushing them to seek alternative sources of energy. And in South Africa, where power outages have been a daily reality since 2008, solar energy is becoming the go-to solution. This has led to a boom in the solar industry, with companies now targeting the mass market instead of just the wealthy. It’s a win for the environment, but most people are just trying to cook a meal or run a business without needing to depend on unreliable or expensive electricity. So, green energy it is.
Food for Thought
“Those who end up accomplishing great things pay attention to little ones."
— Mali Proverb