O último roteiro da plataforma de inteligência de decisão da Quantexa foca-se em ajudar as empresas e as agências governamentais a preparar os dados para a IA

Quantexa Limited

A Quantexa apoia uma onda crescente de organizações que utilizam dados, análises e IA a quebrar os silos

  • A parceria com a Microsoft disponibiliza imediatamente a Plataforma de Inteligência de Decisão da Quantexa no Microsoft Azure Marketplace; a empresa compromete-se a criar soluções nativas no Azure
  • Uma antevisão da tecnologia demonstra o ambicioso plano da Quantexa para acelerar a adoção da plataforma, da solução e da IA generativa entre os utilizadores empresariais, profissionais de dados e TI
  • Os clientes piloto avançam para a adoção precoce do assistente de IA generativa, o Q Assist™

LONDRES, March 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A Quantexa, líder global em soluções de inteligência de decisão para os setores público e privado, utilizou a QuanCon24 – a sua conferência anual para clientes e parceiros – como pano de fundo para revelar o roteiro da Plataforma de Inteligência de Decisão e apresentar uma atualização ao Q Assist, um assistente de inteligência artificial (IA) generativa que dado a conhecer em julho do ano passado. A Quantexa também anunciou uma parceria com a Microsoft. Dan Higgins, Diretor de Produtos da Quantexa, juntou-se a Kate Rosenshine, Diretora de Tecnologia Global das Parcerias Estratégicas da Microsoft, para a anunciar a disponibilidade imediata da Plataforma de Inteligência de Decisão da Quantexa no Azure Marketplace da Microsoft, bem como os planos para disponibilizar a solução de IA nativa da nuvem aos bancos de média dimensão nos Estados Unidos.

Centrar a atenção na inovação e nas novas capacidades

O ambicioso plano da Quantexa para liderar a categoria de inteligência de decisão emergente centra-se em ajudar as empresas e as agências governamentais a utilizar dados analíticos de contexto e a IA para melhorar a tomada de decisões ao nível organizacional. A Quantexa está a dar ênfase na aplicabilidade prática no mundo real da atualidade, com os olhos postos num plano para ajudar os clientes a implementar a tecnologia no futuro. A Gartner® estima que “até 2027, 75% dos novos conteúdos analíticos sejam contextualizados por aplicações inteligentes através da IA generativa, permitindo uma ligação construtiva entre as informações e as ações.”*

Como parte da estratégia de crescimento da Quantexa, a empresa apresentou a capacidade da empresa da plataforma de usar a IA para construir uma base de dados fidedigna e proporcionar uma maior eficácia aos processos de decisão existentes, com uma perfeita integração à infraestrutura tecnológica existente dos clientes.

Dan Higgins, Diretor de Produto da Quantexa, afirmou, “No que respeita ao roteiro de tecnologia da Quantexa, somos orientados pelas necessidades e ambição de liderança dos nossos clientes no âmbito da inteligência da decisão. Isto exige que ajudemos os nossos clientes a criar ilhas organizacionais para criar uma base de dados fidedigna, automatizar e aumentar a tomada de decisões e apoiar a avaliação e melhoria contínuas nos processos de tomada de decisões. Com a introdução de novas capacidades e soluções, mantemo-nos firmemente focados na inovação que ajuda as organizações a proteger-se, a otimizar-se e a crescer.”

A Quantexa destaca quatro pilares fundamentais do roteiro

  • Permitir a tomada de decisões humana/IA: A Quantexa continua a apresentar soluções e ferramentas que permitem a utilização de várias fontes de dados e IA para automatizar a lógica de decisões empresariais em várias aplicações. A Quantexa está a atualizar a sua plataforma com capacidades de fluxo de trabalho melhoradas, incluindo uma nova pontuação personalizável, a emissão de alertas e modelos de tomada de decisões. A Quantexa apresentou as novas capacidades de gestão de casos e uma atualização à adoção precoce do Q Assist, que estão a ser implementadas pelos clientes no setor da banca, telecomunicações e agências governamentais em programas piloto, com o intuito de enfrentar o crime financeiro, a fraude e o risco, bem como para identificar novas oportunidades de receita com a inteligência do cliente.
  • Operacionalizar os dados à escala com a IA e análise contextual: A capacidade da Quantexa para ajudar os clientes a construir uma base de dados fidedigna e obter as perspetivas de clientes individuais continua a ser o principal impulsionador para a adoção da plataforma. Para dar resposta à crescente procura e às complexidades próprias do setor, a Quantexa demonstrou avanços na gestão de dados, análise contextual e capacidades de IA. A Quantexa fez a antevisão da capacidade de avançar além da inteligência noticiosa para apoiar a ingestão e análise de quaisquer fontes de dados não estruturadas, através da resolução da entidade e proporcionando aos clientes a possibilidade de ativarem a análise de gráficos em grande escala, e a aprendizagem automática de gráficos, através da combinação de grandes modelos linguísticos (LLM) e gráficos de conhecimentos.
  • Acelerar o tempo/valor através de implementações simplificadas e soluções agrupadas: A Quantexa anunciou novas opções para tornar mais fácil aos clientes e parceiros a agilização com novos métodos de implementação, incluindo a introdução de configurações “prontas a usar”, bem como ferramentas com reduzida ou nenhuma codificação. Este ano, a Quantexa também está a investir no seu crescente ecossistema de parceiros, que inclui a PWC, EY, Dun & Bradstreet, KPMG e Moody’s e que fizeram as suas apresentações na QuanCon24.
  • Integração fluída com os volumes e processos da tecnologia existente dos nossos clientes: A Plataforma de Inteligência de Decisão da Quantexa conta com uma arquitetura aberta e expansível com API escaláveis e integrações simplificadas com aplicações e sistemas a jusante. Os futuros esforços irão concentrar-se num enquadramento normalizado e conectores “prontos a usar”.

A Quantexa transporta a sua Plataforma de Inteligência de Decisão e soluções para o Azure, graças a uma parceria com a Microsoft

Um dos destaques da Sessão de Roteiro da Quantexa no evento de hoje foi o anúncio da nova parceria com a Microsoft. Os destaques incluíram:

  • A disponibilidade imediata da Plataforma de Inteligência de Decisão da Quantexa no Azure Marketplace: A Plataforma de Inteligência de Decisão da Quantexa está agora disponível globalmente no Azure Marketplace para clientes nos setores dos serviços financeiros, setor público, seguros, telecomunicações, comunicação social e tecnologia.
  • A inovação da IA ajuda bancos de média dimensão a responder às pressões regulamentares e do mercado: Além disso, a Quantexa apresentou planos detalhados para criar uma nova solução SaaS própria do Azure, que permitirá aos clientes implementar uma solução de monitorização de transações AML (antibranqueamento de capitais) extremo a extremo, investigações e gestão de casos concebida para aproveitar as melhores capacidades da sua classe, utilizadas pelos maiores bancos do mundo numa oferta personalizada para dar resposta às necessidades das instituições de serviços financeiros, com um total de mais de 200 mil milhões de dólares em ativos. A solução irá fornecer recursos críticos para a monitorização, deteção e investigação do crime financeiro e risco para os bancos nos Estados Unidos. A oferta planeada irá ajudar os clientes a implementar a tecnologia da próxima geração, permitindo que se mantenham a par do ritmo acelerado da inovação e cumpram os crescentes regulamentos de conformidade. A Quantexa está a trabalhar com a Microsoft para disponibilizar o primeiro conjunto de capacidades até ao final de 2024.

Dan Higgins, Diretor de Produto, Quantexa, declarou: Nos últimos 12 meses, a inteligência de decisão transformou-se numa tendência em rápido crescimento, tal como afirmam vários analistas do setor. Mas a inteligência de decisão tem estado sempre no centro de tudo o que fazemos desde a nossa criação. Na Quantexa, trabalhamos para inovar e fazer evoluir a nossa tecnologia para ajudarmos as empresas e as agências governamentais a utilizarem a análise contextual e a IA para melhorar a tomada de decisões, e é com entusiasmo que vejo que o nosso mais recente roteiro de tecnologia se mantém fiel a essa premissa. A nossa nova parceria com a Microsoft é um testemunho do nosso compromisso de fornecermos soluções acessíveis aos nossos clientes; continuaremos a fazer cada vez mais e melhor para ajudarmos os nossos clientes sempre que precisem.”

Tyler Pichach, Diretor de Estratégia de Serviços Financeiros na Microsoft, afirmou: “As organizações de serviços financeiros tornaram-se mais inteligentes e mais eficientes face à mudança nas dinâmicas do mercado. Isto está a criar a necessidade de utilizar dados e IA de confiança para aumentar e automatizar milhares de decisões operacionais que são tomadas diariamente, no que respeita a gestão dos dados, o combate ao crime financeiro ou a identificação de novas oportunidades de receita. Estamos empenhados em trabalhar com parceiros como a Quantexa para disponibilizar a sua Plataforma de Inteligência de Decisão no Microsoft Azure Marketplace, criar novas soluções nativas da nuvem para segmentos de mercados alargados, e fomentar a inovação conjunta para ajudar os nossos clientes de vários setores a enfrentar os seus maiores desafios.”

Para saber como a sua organização pode recorrer à inteligência de decisão ou para ler o Forrester’s Total Economic Impact™ da Plataforma de Inteligência de Decisão da Quantexa, clique aqui. Para assistir às sessões a pedido da QuanCon24, visite o website da QuanCon.

*Gartner, Previsões para 2024: Como a Inteligência Artificial irá Afetar os Utilizadores Analíticos, de Edgar Macari, Peter Krensky, Afraz Jaffri, David Pidsley, Aura Popa, Mike Fang, Rita Sallam, Julian Sun, Radu Miclaus, 4 de janeiro de 2024.

GARTNER é uma marca comercial registada e uma marca de serviço da Gartner, Inc. e/ou das suas subsidiárias nos E.U.A. e internacionalmente e é utilizada sob permissão. Todos os direitos reservados.

Sobre a Quantexa
A Quantexa é uma empresa global de software de dados e análise, pioneira na Inteligência de Decisão, que permite às organizações tomarem decisões operacionais fiáveis, tornando os dados significativos. Utilizando os mais recentes avanços em big data e IA, a Plataforma de Inteligência de Decisão da Quantexa revela riscos ocultos e novas oportunidades, fornecendo uma visão contextual e conectada de dados internos e externos num único local. Resolve os maiores desafios em toda a gestão de dados, “Conheça o seu cliente” (KYC), informações do cliente, crime financeiro, risco, fraude e segurança, ao longo do ciclo de vida do cliente.

A Plataforma de Inteligência de Decisão da Quantexa melhora o desempenho operacional com mais de 90% de precisão e uma resolução de modelos analíticos 60 vezes mais rápida do que as abordagens tradicionais. Fundada em 2016, a Quantexa tem atualmente mais de 700 colaboradores e milhares de utilizadores que trabalham com milhares de milhões de transações e pontos de informação em todo o mundo. A empresa tem escritórios em Londres, Dublin, Bruxelas, Málaga, EAU, Nova Iorque, Boston, Toronto, Sydney, Melbourne e Tóquio.

Contacto para a comunicação social

C: Stephanie Crisp, Diretora-Adjunta e Estratega de Meios de Comunicação da Fight or Flight
E: Quantexa@fightflight.co.uk

C: Adam Jaffe, VPS de Marketing Empresarial
T: +1 609 502 6889
E: adamjaffe@quantexa.com

A fotografia que acompanha este anúncio está disponível em http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/36fa5c1e-cba8-4a4c-9272-191148c797aa

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000929084

La dernière feuille de route de la plateforme d’intelligence décisionnelle de Quantexa met l’accent sur l’aide apportée aux entreprises et aux agences gouvernementales pour que leurs données soient prêtes pour l’IA

Quantexa Limited

Quantexa accompagne le nombre croissant d’entreprises qui utilisent les données, l’analyse et l’IA pour briser les silos

  • Grâce au partenariat avec Microsoft, la plateforme d’intelligence décisionnelle de Quantexa est désormais disponible sur Microsoft Azure Marketplace ; l’entreprise s’engage à développer des solutions directement sur Azure
  • L’aperçu technologique présente le plan ambitieux élaboré par Quantexa pour accélérer l’adoption de la plateforme, de la solution et de l’IA générative parmi les utilisateurs commerciaux, les données et les professionnels de l’informatique
  • Les clients de Lighthouse adoptent rapidement l’assistant génératif d’IA, Q Assist™

LONDRES, 14 mars 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quantexa, leader mondial des solutions d’intelligence décisionnelle pour les secteurs public et privé, a profité de sa conférence annuelle destinée aux clients et aux partenaires, QuanCon24, pour dévoiler la feuille de route de sa plateforme d’intelligence décisionnelle et faire le point sur Q Assist, un assistant génératif d’intelligence artificielle (IA) présenté en avant-première en juillet de l’année dernière. Quantexa a également annoncé un partenariat avec Microsoft. Dan Higgins, directeur des produits chez Quantexa, a été rejoint par Kate Rosenshine, directrice mondial de la technologie, partenariats stratégiques chez Microsoft, où ils ont annoncé la disponibilité immédiate de la plateforme d’intelligence décisionnelle de Quantexa sur Microsoft Azure Marketplace et des projets visant à apporter une nouvelle solution d’IA cloud-native aux banques de taille moyenne aux États-Unis.

Priorité à l’innovation et aux nouvelles capacités

Le projet ambitieux de Quantexa de devenir le leader de la catégorie émergente de l’intelligence décisionnelle est ancré dans l’aide apportée aux entreprises et aux agences gouvernementales pour utiliser l’analyse contextuelle et l’IA afin d’améliorer la prise de décision à l’échelle de l’organisation. Quantexa met l’accent sur l’applicabilité pratique et concrète aujourd’hui, en vue d’aider les clients à planifier les déploiements technologiques futurs. Gartner® prévoit que « d’ici 2027, 75 % du nouveau contenu analytique sera contextualisé pour des applications intelligentes grâce à l’IA générative, ce qui permettra d’établir une connexion composable entre les informations et les actions. »*

Dans le cadre de la stratégie de croissance de Quantexa, l’entreprise a mis en avant la capacité de la plateforme à utiliser l’IA pour construire une base de données fiable et apporter une plus grande efficacité aux processus décisionnels existants, tout en s’intégrant de manière transparente à l’infrastructure technologique existante des clients.

Dan Higgins, directeur des produits chez Quantexa, a déclaré, « Lorsqu’il s’agit de la feuille de route technologique de Quantexa, nous nous appuyons sur les besoins de nos clients et sur notre ambition de leadership dans le domaine de l’intelligence décisionnelle. Pour ce faire, nous devons aider nos clients à décloisonner leur organisation afin de créer une base de données fiable, d’automatiser et d’améliorer la prise de décision, ainsi que de favoriser l’évaluation et l’amélioration continues tout au long des processus décisionnels. En introduisant de nouvelles capacités et solutions, nous restons constamment concentrés sur la mise en œuvre d’innovations révolutionnaires qui aident les organisations à se protéger, à s’optimiser et à évoluer. »

Quantexa met l’accent sur les quatre piliers de la feuille de route

  • Optimiser la prise de décision entre l’homme et l’IA : Quantexa continue de développer des solutions et des outils destinés à permettre l’utilisation de diverses sources de données et de l’IA afin d’automatiser la logique décisionnelle des entreprises dans diverses applications. Quantexa met à jour sa plateforme avec des capacités de flux de travail améliorées, y compris de nouveaux modèles de notation, d’alerte et de décision personnalisables. Quantexa a présenté les nouvelles capacités de gestion de cas de la plateforme et une mise à jour de Q Assist, actuellement déployée par des clients du secteur bancaire, des télécommunications et des agences gouvernementales, dans le cadre de programmes pilotes visant à lutter contre la criminalité financière, la fraude et les risques, et à identifier de nouvelles opportunités de revenus grâce à la connaissance du client.
  • Opérationnaliser les données à grande échelle avec l’IA et l’analyse contextuelle : La capacité de Quantexa à aider les clients à construire une base de données fiable et à obtenir une vision unique du client reste un facteur déterminant de l’adoption de la plateforme. Pour répondre à la demande croissante et aux complexités uniques de l’industrie, Quantexa a présenté des avancées dans la gestion des données, l’analyse contextuelle et les capacités en matière d’IA. Quantexa a présenté en avant-première la possibilité d’aller plus loin que l’intelligence des actualités pour prendre en charge l’ingestion et l’analyse de toute source de données non structurées via la résolution d’entités et donner aux clients la possibilité d’effectuer des analyses de graphes à grande échelle et de l’apprentissage automatique de graphes en combinant de grands modèles de langage (LLM) et des graphes de connaissances.
  • Accélérer la rentabilité grâce à des déploiements simplifiés et des solutions groupées : Quantexa a annoncé de nouvelles options pour faciliter la mise en place de nouvelles méthodes de déploiement pour les clients et les partenaires, y compris l’introduction de configurations prêtes à l’emploi ainsi que d’outils low-code et no-code. Cette année, Quantexa investit également dans l’accélération de son écosystème croissant de partenaires, qui comprend PWC, EY, Dun & Bradstreet, KPMG et Moody’s, partenaires de présentation à QuanCon24.
  • Intégration transparente avec les systèmes et processus technologiques existants des clients : La plateforme d’intelligence décisionnelle de Quantexa possède une architecture ouverte et extensible avec des API évolutives et des intégrations rationalisées avec des applications et des systèmes en aval. Les futurs efforts porteront sur la mise en place d’un cadre normalisé et de connecteurs prêts à l’emploi.

Quantexa introduit sa plateforme d’intelligence décisionnelle et ses solutions dans Azure grâce à un partenariat avec Microsoft

L’annonce du nouveau partenariat de Quantexa avec Microsoft a été l’un des points forts de la session sur la feuille de route de Quantexa lors de l’événement d’aujourd’hui. Parmi les points forts, citons :

  • La disponibilité immédiate de la plateforme d’intelligence décisionnelle de Quantexa sur Azure Marketplace : La plateforme d’intelligence décisionnelle de Quantexa est désormais disponible mondialement sur Azure Marketplace pour les clients des services financiers, du secteur public, de l’assurance, des télécommunications, des médias et des technologies.
  • L’innovation en matière d’IA permet aux banques de taille moyenne de répondre aux pressions de la réglementation et du marché : En outre, Quantexa a détaillé ses plans pour construire une nouvelle solution SaaS native Azure, permettant aux clients de déployer une solution de bout en bout de surveillance des transactions anti-blanchiment (AML), d’enquêtes et de gestion des cas, conçue pour prendre les meilleures capacités utilisées par les plus grandes banques du monde dans une offre sur mesure pour répondre aux besoins des institutions de services financiers qui détiennent jusqu’à 200 milliards de dollars US d’actifs. Cette solution apportera aux banques des États-Unis des capacités essentielles en matière de surveillance, de détection et d’enquête sur la criminalité et les risques financiers. L’offre prévue permettra aux clients de mettre en œuvre la technologie de la prochaine génération, ce qui leur permettra de suivre le rythme rapide de l’innovation et de répondre aux réglementations de plus en plus strictes en matière de conformité. Quantexa collabore avec Microsoft pour mettre à disposition un premier ensemble de capacités d’ici la fin de l’année 2024.

Dan Higgins, directeur des produits chez Quantexa, a déclaré : « Au cours des 12 derniers mois, des analystes du secteur ont constaté que l’intelligence décisionnelle était devenue une tendance en plein essor. Cependant, l’intelligence décisionnelle a toujours été au cœur de nos préoccupations depuis notre création. Chez Quantexa, nous nous efforçons d’innover et de faire évoluer notre offre technologique pour permettre aux entreprises et aux agences gouvernementales d’utiliser l’analyse contextuelle et l’IA afin d’améliorer la prise de décision, et je suis ravi de voir que notre dernière feuille de route technologique répond à cet objectif. Grâce à notre nouveau partenariat avec Microsoft, nous témoignons de notre engagement à fournir à nos clients des solutions accessibles, et nous continuerons à en faire davantage et à aller à la rencontre de nos clients là où ils ont besoin de nous. »

Tyler Pichach, directeur de la stratégie des services financiers chez Microsoft, a déclaré : « Les organisations de services financiers sont devenues plus intelligentes et plus efficaces pour naviguer avec succès dans la dynamique changeante du marché. Cela crée le besoin d’utiliser des données fiables et l’IA pour augmenter et automatiser les milliers de décisions opérationnelles qu’ils prennent quotidiennement lorsqu’il s’agit de gérer leurs données, de lutter contre la criminalité financière ou d’identifier de nouvelles opportunités de revenus. Nous nous engageons à travailler avec des partenaires comme Quantexa pour rendre sa plateforme d’intelligence décisionnelle disponible sur Microsoft Azure Marketplace, apporter de nouvelles solutions cloud-native à des segments de marché élargis, et promouvoir l’innovation conjointe pour aider nos clients à travers de multiples industries à relever certains de leurs plus grands défis. »

Pour en savoir plus sur la manière dont votre organisation peut mettre l’intelligence décisionnelle au travail, ou pour lire le rapport de Forrester “Total Economic Impact™de la plateforme d’intelligence décisionnelle de Quantexa », cliquez ici. Pour visionner les sessions à la demande de QuanCon24, consultez le site web QuanCon.

*Gartner, Predicts 2024 : How Artificial Intelligence Will Impact Analytics Users, par Edgar Macari, Peter Krensky, Afraz Jaffri, David Pidsley, Aura Popa, Mike Fang, Rita Sallam, Julian Sun, Radu Miclaus, 4 janvier 2024.

GARTNER est une marque déposée et une marque de service de Gartner, Inc. et/ou de ses filiales aux États-Unis et dans le monde et sont utilisées avec l’autorisation de leur propriétaire. Tous droits réservés.

À propos de Quantexa
Pionnière de l’intelligence décisionnelle, Quantexa est une société mondiale de logiciels de données et d’analyse qui permet aux organisations de prendre des décisions opérationnelles fiables en donnant du sens à leurs données. En exploitant les dernières avancées en matière de Big Data et d’IA, la plateforme d’intelligence décisionnelle de Quantexa fait apparaître les risques cachés et les nouvelles opportunités en fournissant sous un seul toit une synthèse contextuelle et intégrée des données internes et externes. Elle relève des enjeux majeurs en lien avec la gestion des données, la connaissance du client, la veille client, la criminalité financière, les risques, la fraude et la sécurité à toutes les étapes du cycle de vie de la relation client.

La plateforme d’intelligence décisionnelle de Quantexa améliore la performance opérationnelle avec une précision accrue de plus de 90 % et une résolution du modèle analytique 60 fois plus rapide que les approches traditionnelles. Fondée en 2016, Quantexa compte désormais plus de 700 employés et des milliers d’utilisateurs travaillant avec des milliards de transactions et de points de données à travers le monde. La société a des bureaux à Londres, Dublin, Bruxelles, Malaga, aux Émirats arabes unis, à New York, Boston, Toronto, Sydney, Melbourne et Tokyo.

Demandes des médias

C : Stephanie Crisp, directrice associée et responsable des stratégies médiatiques, Fight or Flight
E : Quantexa@fightflight.co.uk

C : Adam Jaffe, Vice-président du marketing d’entreprise
T : +1 609 502 6889
E : adamjaffe@quantexa.com

Une photo accompagnant cette annonce est disponible à l’adresse suivante : http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/36fa5c1e-cba8-4a4c-9272-191148c797aa

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000929084

ADS Pwani Implements Sh120m Project To Counter Climate Change Effects


Anglican Development Services (ADS)-Pwani in partnership with Kilifi County Government and Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH) is implementing a climate change resiliency project aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change in the county.

The project named ‘Promoting Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience’ is implemented in Ganze Sub County, one of the most affected areas by the adverse climate change.

Speaking to the media during a stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday in Kilifi town, ADS Pwani’s Executive Director James Munga revealed that the project would spend over Sh120 million to help and empower 5,000 households through various programmes including provision of water and other necessities.

‘Ganze is one of the areas in Kilifi that has been repeatedly impacted by droughts and occasional floods. Despite these challenges, we believe that by empowering communities, we can enhance their resilience throughout all seasons,’ stated Munga.

Munga further revealed that the programme they would undertake includes the
construction and rehabilitation of water pans, enhancement of agricultural practices for both livestock and crop farming and provision of nutritional assistance to beneficiaries.

‘Water scarcity is a significant concern in Ganze; residents heavily rely on surface run-off water, necessitating long journeys for access. As part of this project, we aim to rehabilitate at least five water pans to bring water closer to the community,’ he explained.

‘We also intend to provide farmers with drought-tolerant seeds and train them in modern agricultural techniques suitable for producing such crops,’ he added.

Munga emphasized the close collaboration with relevant county government departments to ensure effective project implementation and technical support on the ground.

Kilifi County Director for Special Programs and Disaster Management Collins Mwahendo applauded the initiative, highlighting its significance to the county government’s efforts in supporting areas affected by severe climatic conditions.

‘We are pleas
ed to be part of this initiative and are ready to collaborate with ADS Pwani and other stakeholders to develop programmes that positively impact the people of Kilifi,’ remarked Mwahendo.

ADS Pwani also engaged the County Steering Group members to identify other organizations undertaking similar interventions in Ganze sub-county to avoid duplication of activities.

Source: Kenya News Agency

“Trade union rights are red line,” says UGTT S-G

Tunis: Secretary-General of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), Noureddine Taboubi, stressed on Thursday that “trade union rights are a red line that must not be crossed, adding that the UGTT is committed to dialogue, social negotiations and the implementation of previously signed agreements”.

He pointed out that the steering committee, which met last week, had adopted a series of measures, including the continuation of activist movements in defence of trade union rights.

In a statement to TAP on the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the death of trade union leader Habib Achour in Sfax, Taboubi said that the social situation in Tunisia is difficult due to rising prices and the deterioration of citizens’ purchasing power, noting that pensioners from the national social security fund had not received a pay rise.

“The commemoration of the death of trade unionist Habib Achour is held every year on March 14 in recognition of the late trade union leader and his militant work for the country’s indepe
ndence,” he added.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Revolutionary Malaria Diagnostic Machine Installed At Ahero Hospital


The Ministry of Health (MOH) through the National Malaria Control Program has deployed an automated malaria diagnostic machine (XN-31 analyzer) at the Ahero County Hospital Laboratory, Nyando Sub-County, Kisumu County marking a significant milestone in the fight against disease.

Ahero Hospital earned the groundbreaking opportunity to participate in evaluating the revolutionary XN-31 analyzer equipment due to its commitment to delivering superior healthcare services and posting exceptional performance in malaria microscopy diagnosis nationally.

The specialized machine can detect and count malaria-infected Red Blood Cells within a minute with excellent sensitivity and specificity promising to address malaria diagnostic challenges and enhance the accuracy and efficiency in treating the endemic disease.

Kisumu County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health Dr. Gregory Ganda commended the milestone saying it signals a new era in malaria diagnosis for the region.

He celebrated the remarkable accomplishment
s of the Ahero Hospital team for their unwavering commitment to healthcare excellence that has elevated the facility’s status and placed Kisumu County on the map as a hub for innovative and exemplary healthcare practices.

‘The significance of this milestone extends beyond the walls of Ahero Hospital. It reflects the dedication and expertise of the healthcare professionals who tirelessly serve the community. The selection of Ahero Hospital for this evaluation underscores its national reputation for excellence in malaria diagnosis,’ stated Dr. Ganda.

Kisumu County Department of Health has launched a comprehensive training program for medical laboratory officers to equip healthcare professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively operate the XN-31 equipment.

The state-of-the-art equipment was installed adhering to the stringent quality standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 15189), ensuring optimal functionality and accuracy in a bid to enhance the hospita
l’s diagnostic capabilities.

Upon successful evaluation exercise of the XN-31 analyzer in the sampled health facilities, MOH is set to roll out the equipment to all public hospitals to bolster malaria diagnoses and strengthen primary healthcare systems in the country.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Young Talents cultural competition 2024 launched

Tunis: As part of the project “Empowering the education system and school communities through the promotion of human rights, global citizenship education and media and information literacy,” UNESCO and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Directorate General of Student Affairs), with financial support from the Netherlands, announce the launch of the Young Talents cultural competition: “Living together through art and culture,” to promote global citizenship education (GCED).

The cultural competition aims to encourage various forms of artistic and cultural expression that disseminate the values of justice, equity, living together, peace and global solidarity, and to launch a dynamic in universities on the themes of education for global citizenship and media and information literacy, according to a joint press release.

The goal is also to empower students as global citizens who are aware of the various social, ecological, political and economic issues at stake, and of the need to act to ac
hieve the Sustainable Development Goals, while building critical thinking skills, resilience, open-mindedness, cooperation, active solidarity and civic engagement.

The competition is open to students enrolled in a public university during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Participation must be collective (a group of 2 to 5 students maximum). The choice of language is free: Arabic, French or English.

The competition covers the three categories of cultural expression, namely physical expression: theatre, choreography lasting between 5 and 20 minutes maximum, musical or poetic works: slam, rap, choir, instrumental, etc…. lasting between 2 and 3 minutes maximum and graphic works: sculpture, painting, drawing, etc.

The deadline for entries to competitionJT@gmail.com is April 30.

The 3 best works in each category will receive gift prizes worth TND 5,000 for 1st prize, TND 3,000 for 2nd prize and TND 2,000 for 3rd prize.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Kirinyaga To Automate Building Plans


Members of the Kirinyaga County Assembly unanimously passed a motion paving the way for the automation of all building plans in the County.

The Kenya National Housing Policy (2004) recommends for development of safe and decent housing in Kenya and the use of appropriate building materials.

Through the committee on Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development which is chaired by Tebere Ward MCA Peter Karinga, members noted that the move will fasten the approval process while also reducing corruption which has been rampant in various parts of the Country in the recent past.

The automation system in Kirinyaga will not only improve efficiency and profile buildings, but it will also act as a central repository for data concerning construction and buildings in the county.

‘Kenya has witnessed the collapse of buildings in recent years as seen in the year 2016 in Huruma where 52 people lost their lives because of unregulated building procedures. Once the approval process is automated, it will be easier to ident
ify officers’ concerns because there will be better oversight,’ Karinga said.

Members said that the planned automation of building plans will make it easier for end consumers because it will save them time and money since the process will be online.

‘The motion could not have come at a better time because digitization will reduce time wastage while also tracking the level of approval- this will reduce bureaucracy and corruption’ Geoffrey Gakuru, Kiini Ward MCA.

Nominated Member Jane Mugo, said that digitization will bring more revenue because the system will alleviate corruption as well as encourage better planning reducing instances of mushrooming uncontrolled houses and industries.

The mover, Peter Karinga, thanked members for passing the motion noting that cases of unprofessional conduct in the building industry will be a thing of the past. He promised to work with the Department of Finance and Planning so that funds can be made available for the project in the 2024/25 financial year.

Source: Kenya N
ews Agency

World Summit on Arts and Culture: Call for applications open to artists, producers and engineersDemand For Leafy Vegetables Attract More Farmers

Tunis: Following its 9th World Summit in Sweden in May 2023, the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) will meet in the Republic of Korea in May 2025.

The 10th World Summit on Arts and Culture will be co-organised with the Arts Council Korea (ARKO) in Seoul from May 28 to 30, 2025, the Federation announced in its latest newsletter. The opening ceremony will be held on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.

The Arts Council of Korea has launched an open call for artists, producers and engineers to participate in this 10th World Arts and Culture Expo. The deadline for applications is March 28, 2024 via the following link: httpss://www.arko.or.kr/develop/board/view/601?page= and cid=714623

For three days, 100 participants will be organised into teams according to their respective artistic and technical roles. They will work together to generate innovative ideas for the convergence of art and technology.

Selected candidates will be supported on an international research trip to visit institu
tions specialising in the convergence of art and technology around the world.

Tunisia, represented by the Ministry of Culture, is a member of the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA). This is a global network of arts councils, ministries of culture and government agencies that promote arts and culture, with member institutions representing more than 70 countries.

Registration for the 10th World Summit will open in June 2024. The Summit brings together leading policy makers, government representatives, researchers, innovators, managers and practitioners from the arts, culture, creative industries and related sectors from around the world.

The new partnership with the Korea Arts Council, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, “will allow the international community to come together to debate critical issues as we seek a more sustainable future,” said Magdalena Moreno Mujica, Executive Director of IFACCA.

The 10th World Summit will also be a key milestone in the journey
to Mondiacult 2025, she stressed.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Women farmers, and pastoralists are slowly embracing indigenous vegetable farming as a sustainable alternative livelihood with high nutritional value.

In the arid and semi-arid regions of Kajiado County, a quiet agricultural revolution is taking root especially with the push for cultivating African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) not only as a means of diversifying income sources but also a response to the challenges posed by climate change affecting these regions.

Kajiado County, which is traditionally known for its reliance on pastoralism, is now breaking new ground by encouraging the cultivation of indigenous vegetables.

According to experts, Indigenous vegetables are important for food insecurity, malnutrition reduction and therapeutic in not only semi and arid Counties but also in East and sub-Saharan Africa countries.

Most of indigenous vegetables are tolerant to climate change variability than exotic vegetables but in most developing countries, indigenous vegetables are underutilized or neglected.

Pauline
Kariuki from Rural Women Network says Indigenous vegetables, commonly referred to as African Leafy Vegetables, have gained popularity due to their exceptional nutritional value.

Varieties such as African Nightshade (managu), amaranthus (terere), spider plant (saget), and slender leaf (mitoo) are becoming staples in Kenyan diets.

Ms. Kariuki told KNA that the push to mainstream these vegetables in Kajiado County where she is working with rural women is driven by initiatives targeting women’s groups, aiming not only to improve overall nutrition but also to provide alternative livelihoods.

During a recent Draft Africa Leafy Vegetable Value Chain 5 year strategy by the Rural Women Network has shed light on the challenges being faced by Counties in fully embracing indigenous vegetable farming

Issues such as the availability of quality seeds, capacity building for farmers, and post-production holding storage were highlighted. Kajiado County, at the forefront of this initiative, aims to address these challenges
through the integration of the strategy into its agricultural policies.

According to Kariuki, the strategy which has been prepared by the Rural Women Network, an umbrella body that caters to the welfare of women and youth in Kajiado County once ratified promises to empower women groups at the grassroots level of ASAL Communities.

The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation in Kajiado Jacktone Achola emphasizes on the importance of a shift towards growing, embracing and eating leafy vegetables, particularly in the face of changing climatic conditions in ASAL.

‘The need to move away from overreliance on livestock becomes apparent as climate change continues to impact the availability of grazing land and water resources’, he says.

By promoting the cultivation of these crops, Kajiado County is taking a step towards building a more sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural sector and the women in the area not only securing alternative livelihoods but contributing t
o a more sustainable and climate resilient future.

In Kiambu County , Ndeiya area which is semi-arid, and is therefore considered a hardship area, women have also been embracing growing indigenous vegetables to mitigate the impact of climate change and also address matters of food security.

The shift towards diversified agriculture especially for women fosters a sense of empowerment and self-reliance among communities in the ASAL regions.

Kiambu recently was among five Counties named to benefit from a Ksh 1.5 billion during a five year project on production and consumption of vegetables to improve the nutrition of households.

The project dubbed ‘Vegetable for All’ and being steered by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) aims to contribute to improving nutritious diets through increased consumption of safe vegetables and also greater use of vegetables in the Kenyan cuisine.

Another study done on factors contributing to Production and Consumption of African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) in Kiambu a
nd Kirinyaga Counties in Kenya by the department of Agricultural Science and Technology, Kenyatta University, Production and utilization of the ALVs among the small scale farmers more so women is a promising venture not only for nutrition and health benefit but also as a source of income .

Source: Kenya News Agency

Preparation For The World Water Day In Top Gear


This year’s World Water Day scheduled for March 22 will be celebrated along the border of West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet Counties in a move to help cement good relations among the feuding communities.

Speaking during preparation meetings held at the Water Offices in Kapenguria, North Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency (NRVWWDA) CEO Edwin Rotich spelled the importance of the Day mentioning that it will be a big forum for leaders and various stakeholders to highlight the need for peace in the areas.

‘The day will be of significance for it will be used to preach peace around the area because water scarcity has been viewed as one of the causes of human conflict. We want to ensure that the two areas have water and peace at the same time,’ said Rotich.

He added that the choice of the venue was informed by the need to have peace that translates into the sharing of resources for sustainable development.

Mentioning that this year’s theme ‘Leveraging Water for Peace’ aims at engaging leaders from the North
Rift Region where Baringo County is also among the invitees.

The day will also see the Ministry of Water commission the Liter and Cheptulel Water Supply Projects in Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot Counties respectively that are under the same funding.

‘Although the event had initially been scheduled to be held in Chesogon in West Pokot, through consultations with stakeholders it was decided that it be held at the border zone that is Liter Primary school in Elgeyo Marakwet County,’ stated the CEO adding that water is a very key component in promoting peace.

There have been frequent conflicts along the borders of the four counties of West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Turkana prompting leaders to come up with modalities for ending such hostilities with the celebration of this year’s World Water Day being one of them.

North Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency covers four counties Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Turkana, and West Pokot.

The CEO has urged members of the public from both West Pokot and Elgey
o Marakwet counties to attend in large numbers so that they can listen to peace messages from their leaders.

Source: Kenya News Agency

CBK Defends Plans For Digital Credit Providers


The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has come out to explain the measures and mechanisms the government has put in place to regulate the activities of Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) providers in the country.

The regulator further revealed plans the government has in place to develop alternative financing models that are fair and also to genuinely empower Boda-Boda operators.

CBK Governor Dr. Kamau Thugge in his response said that the business of BNPL companies falls within the definition of Digital Credit Business under the Central Bank of Kenya (Digital Credit Providers) regulations, 2022 adding that the institutions are required to be licensed and regulated by CBK.

Thugge stated that CBK’s mandate to license and supervise unregulated Digital Credit Providers (DCPs) was amended in December 2021.

He noted that CBK has received over 500 applications which are at different stages of review and licensing whose focus is to ensure the adequacy of corporate governance structures, viability of capitalization and business m
odels, adequacy of infrastructure, to process human resources and systems, and, consumer protection and data protection mechanisms

According to the Governor, the provisions and measures ensure adherence to the relevant laws, and the interests of customers are safeguarded to prevent rogue lending institutions from violating consumer rights.

He added that the review provides specific administrative and enforcement actions that will be taken against entities that fail to comply with any provision of the law, and where CBK has noted non-compliance of DCPs, it will engage specific licensed DCPs including onsite inspections following the law

‘Any affected boda boda operator is at liberty to lodge a complaint with CBK against a BNPL provider who has violated the law,’ declared Thugge.

Further, in regards to the government’s plan of developing financial models that are fair, and genuinely empower boda boda operators Thugge said that the purpose of licensing DCPs is to ensure consumers are protected from malpracti
ces such as excessive pricing of their products.

He disclosed that CBK engages with all the DCP licenses to ensure that pricing models are customer-centric and risk-based, and also expects the latter to submit pricing models that are aligned to the provisions of the regulations.

Thugge maintained that all product features and prices must be reviewed and approved accordingly by CBK to ensure that the pricing models are fair, transparent, and empowering for consumers accessing the digital credit product to the ongoing licensed DCPs and all applicants.

Source: Kenya News Agency