February 11, 2022

Malawi: African Development Fund signs $14.2 grant agreement for financial digitalization initiative

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TDPel Media

The African Development Fund (ADF) and the government of Malawi have signed a grant agreement for $14.2 million to undertake infrastructure upgrades and create a more efficient and transparent digital payment system. Funding for the Support for Digitalization, Financial Inclusion and Competitiveness (DFIC) project, approved last December, will be sourced from ADF, the Bank Group’s concessional financing window. “The DFIC project is aligned with the Malawi Digital Economy Strategy (2021-2026) and the Third National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (2022-2026); both contribute to achieving Malaw… Continue reading “Malawi: African Development Fund signs $14.2 grant agreement for financial digitalization initiative”

February 11, 2022

Gain Theory da WPP Nomeada Líder em Soluções de Medição e Otimização de Marketing

NOVA YORK, Feb. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A Gain Theory, consultoria global de previsões que acelera o crescimento de marcas ambiciosas, foi nomeada um Líder pela The Forrester Wave™: Marketing Measurement and Optimization Solutions, Q1 2022.

A Wave MMO da Forrester avalia e compara os provedores de medição e otimização de marketing mais significativos em termos de oferta, estratégia e presença nos mercado atuais. A Forrester categoriza os provedores como Líder, Forte Desempenho, Concorrente ou Desafiador.

O relatório da Forrester afirma que: “Grandes empresas globais com orçamentos de marketing complexos em busca de serviços de alto contato devem colocar a Gain Theory na sua lista principal” e observa que a “oferta de serviços da Gain Theory realmente se destaca entre todos os concorrentes”.

A Gain Theory recebeu as maiores pontuações possíveis em 13 critérios, sendo definida como superior em relação a outros fornecedores na avaliação. As pontuações mais altas da Gain Theory incluem os critérios de caso de uso de ‘Gerenciamento de Portfólio de Marcas’, ‘Estratégia e Planejamento de Marketing de Omnicanal’ e ‘Empresas Conduzidas por Insights’. A Gain Theory também recebeu pontuação nos critérios de ‘Metodologia de Medição Unificada‘, ’Consultoria de Estratégia de Marketing’, ’Consultoria de Estratégia de Negócios’ e ‘Consultoria de Gestão de câmbio ’.

Devemos destacar a maior nota possível que a Gain Theory recebeu na categoria ‘Metodologia de Medição Unificada’. O relatório afirma que “a abordagem de longo prazo da Gain Theory é dar continuidade às suas recomendações de planejamento e otimização, incorporando mais comportamentos do cliente e sinais de dados”.

No que diz respeito à capacidade da Gain Theory de oferecer consultoria quanto às alavancas de crescimento de negócios em toda a empresa, o critério ‘Consultoria de Estratégia de Negócios’ recebeu alta pontuação na avaliação da competência dos fornecedores aplicarem a capacidade de medição e otimização em áreas como análise de evasão de clientes, análise de preços, análise de geração de demanda e outros insights funcionais.

“Neste momento de mudanças e incertezas sem precedentes, as empresas precisam de uma abordagem mais holística e voltada para o futuro para poderem acelerar o crescimento. Viabilizamos que nossos clientes façam isso com a ativação de estratégias de negócios inteligentes que reúnem retrospectiva, insight e previsão. Estamos muito satisfeitos com a nossa posição de Líder no relatório Wave da Forrester”, disse a CEO Global da Gain Theory, Manjiry Tamhane. “Isso confirma o valor único que oferecemos para nossos clientes em todo o mundo, que confiam em nós para focar no que mais importa, simplificar rapidamente o que é complexo e, como resultado, fazer uma diferença significativa para o desempenho dos seus negócios.”

Sobre a Gain Theory

A Gain Theory é uma consultoria global de Forecast, focada em acelerar o crescimento de marcas ambiciosas.

Nossos especialistas em dados, analítica avançada, tecnologia e consultoria combinam a retrospectiva, insight e previsão para aprimorar as decisões de investimento e ativar rapidamente o crescimento.

Disponível em 62 mercados, nossas soluções e experiência vertical altamente especializadas e premiadas dão suporte aos clientes por meio de quatro pilares de medição e otimização: Bases para o Crescimento, Excelência em Dados, Aceleradores de Crescimento, e Ativação para o Crescimento.

Para se concentrar no que é mais importante para os clientes, o Índice de Eficácia de Marketing proprietário da Gain Theory avalia e compara a maturidade da eficácia de marketing – estabelecendo lacunas críticas que impedem o crescimento acelerado. Com base em dados, o Índice de Eficácia de Marketing compara o setor e a indústria para ajudar a informar as prioridades do roteiro transformacional.

A Gain Theory é uma agência da WPP (NYSE: WPP).

Para saber mais sobre nós, accese o site www.gaintheory.com e siga nossas redes sociais em LinkedIn ou Twitter. Para perguntas da imprensa, contate:

Para perguntas da imprensa, contate:
Claudia Sestini
Global CMO, Gain Theory
claudia.sestini@gaintheory.com

February 11, 2022

Le cabinet Gain Theory de WPP désigné comme un leader des solutions de mesure et d’optimisation du marketing

NEW YORK, 11 févr. 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gain Theory, un cabinet de conseil mondial de prévision qui accélère la croissance pour les marques ambitieuses, a été désigné comme un Leader dans le rapport The Forrester Wave™: Marketing Measurement and Optimization Solutions du 1er trimestre 2022.Ce rapport Forrester Wave MMO analyse et évalue les fournisseurs de mesure et d’optimisation du marketing les plus importants en termes d’offre, de stratégie et de présence sur le marché. Il classe les fournisseurs dans les catégories Leaders, Strong Performers, Contenders ou Challengers.

Dans ce rapport, Forrester indique que « les grandes entreprises mondiales ayant des budgets marketing complexes et qui sont en quête de services de qualité devraient inscrire Gain Theory sur leur liste restreinte » et ajoute que « l’offre de services de Gain Theory se démarque réellement de l’ensemble de la concurrence. »

Gain Theory a reçu les scores les plus élevés possibles sur 13 critères, définis comme supérieurs par rapport aux autres fournisseurs dans l’évaluation. Les scores les plus élevés de Gain Theory incluent les critères de cas d’utilisation « gestion de portefeuilles de marques », « stratégie et planification marketing omnicanal » et « activités axées sur les informations ». Des notes parfaites ont également été attribuées à Gain Theory dans les critères « méthodologie de mesure unifiée », « conseils en stratégie marketing », « conseils en stratégie d’entreprise » et « conseils en gestion du changement ».

Il convient de noter que le meilleur score possible a été décerné à Gain Theory pour le critère « méthodologie de mesure unifiée ». Le rapport indique : « L’approche à long terme de Gain Theory consiste à faire progresser ses recommandations de planification et d’optimisation en incorporant davantage de comportements clients et de signaux de données. »

En ce qui concerne la capacité de Gain Theory à fournir des conseils sur les leviers de croissance à l’échelle de l’entreprise, le cabinet a également reçu des notes élevées pour le critère « conseils en stratégie d’entreprise », qui évaluait la capacité des fournisseurs à appliquer leurs facultés de mesure et d’optimisation dans des domaines tels que l’analyse du taux de perte de clients, l’analyse des prix, l’analyse de la génération de demandes et d’autres informations fonctionnelles.

« À une époque de changement et d’incertitude sans précédent, les organisations ont besoin d’une approche plus holistique et orientée vers l’avenir pour accélérer leur croissance. Nous avons permis à nos clients d’y parvenir en activant des stratégies commerciales intelligentes qui favorisent la rétrovisibilité, la compréhension et la prévision. Nous sommes ravis d’avoir été désignés comme un Leader dans le rapport Forrester Wave », a déclaré Manjiry Tamhane, PDG mondial de Gain Theory. « Cela confirme pour nous la valeur unique que nous apportons à nos clients qui, dans le monde entier, nous font confiance pour nous concentrer sur ce qui compte le plus, simplifier la complexité rapidement et, au bout du compte, faire une différence significative pour leurs performances commerciales. »

À propos de Gain Theory

Gain Theory est un cabinet de conseil mondial de prévision, axé sur l’accélération de la croissance pour les marques ambitieuses.

Nos experts en données, analyses avancées, technologies et conseils s’appuient sur la rétrovisibilité, la compréhension et la prévision afin d’améliorer les décisions d’investissement et d’activer la croissance rapidement.

Disponibles sur 62 marchés, nos solutions primées et notre expertise verticale hautement spécialisée soutiennent nos clients via quatre piliers de mesure et d’optimisation : les bases de la croissance, l’excellence des données, les accélérateurs de croissance et l’activation pour la croissance.

Pour se concentrer sur ce qui compte le plus pour les clients, l’indice exclusif d’efficacité du marketing (Marketing Effectiveness Index) de Gain Theory analyse et évalue la maturité de l’efficacité du marketing, en identifiant les lacunes critiques qui entravent une croissance accélérée.S’appuyant sur des données, cet indice d’efficacité établit des références par rapport au secteur et à l’industrie afin d’aider à éclairer les priorités de feuilles de route transformationnelles.

Gain Theory est une agence de WPP (NYSE : WPP).

Pour en savoir plus, rendez-vous sur www.gaintheory.com et suivez-nous sur les réseaux sociaux via LinkedIn ou Twitter.

Pour toute demande de la presse, veuillez contacter :
Claudia Sestini
Directrice mondiale du marketing de Gain Theory
claudia.sestini@gaintheory.com

February 11, 2022

WHO: Africa’s COVID-19 Infections Could Be Much Higher Than Reported

The COVID-19 infection rate for Africa may be as much as seven times higher than reported, while death counts could be two to three times higher, according to the World Health Organization’s regional director for Africa.

“We’re very much aware that our surveillance systems problems that we had on the continent, with access to testing supplies, for example,” Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said Thursday, “have led to an underestimation of the cases.”

Public health officials have warned for some time that Africa’s COVID infection and death tolls were likely undercounted.

India’s health ministry reported 58,077 new COVID cases on Friday. Like Africa, public health officials have also cautioned that India’s COVID figures are probably under-calculated, as well.

As many as 3,000 New York City municipal workers are facing termination Friday if they do not adhere to the city’s mandate requiring city workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Workers have staged protests, but Mayor Eric Adams has remained firm in upholding the policy imposed by his predecessor Bill de Blasio.

“We are not firing them. People are quitting,” Adams said recently.

Firefighters and police could be among those terminated.

Meanwhile, officials in Paris and Brussels have warned that they will not allow convoys, to enter the cities to stage anti-vaccine protests, similar to the one in Ottawa, Canada. Part of the French convoy is already en route to the capital for the weekend rally. The Belgian protest is planned for Feb. 14.

Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center reported early Friday it has recorded more than 406 million global COVID infections and almost 6 million deaths. More than 10 billion COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, the center said.

Source: Voice of America

February 11, 2022

Displaced people laud UNFPA response in disaster-hit district

Displaced women and girls at Sekeni Primary School Camp in Chikwawa have expressed gratitude to UNFPA – the United Nations agency dedicated to preventing maternal deaths, advancing family planning and ending gender-based violence – for its timely intervention after the district was hit by Tropical Storm Ana on 24 January.

During the distribution of dignity kits in Nchalo on 9 February, Yankho Alufandika (21), a resident in the shelter, said since people moved to the camp late January, this was the very first relief assistance that this community received despite their dire situation.

“The support by UNFPA has come at a right time as many women and girls in the camp were struggling to maintain their hygiene,” said Alufandika who spoke on behalf of more than 300 residents of the camp. “Many came to this camp with nothing as their personal possessions were swept away by the floods.”

UNFPA with funding from KFW, a German development aid agency, procured 5,000 dignity kits, which were prepositioned in the disaster prone southern region. When Tropical Storm Ana hit the country, the supplies were quickly released to the affected districts, targeting women of child bearing age and adolescent girls. The distributed kits kept in the buckets included soaps, sanitary pads, and underwear – essential items for ensuring hygiene and restoring dignity of the pregnant women, lactating mothers and adolescent girls.

At Sekeni Camp, UNFPA distributed 209 dignity kits. Another 365 kits were distributed at Matsukambiya camp in the district. Chikwawa is by far the hardest hit district by the flooding. According to the latest statistics, the district has 92 camps where people are seeking temporary shelter and relief.

The displaced people here in Nchalo spend nights in the classrooms of a nearby school without provision of light or mattresses. During the day, they wait for relief to arrive siting under the trees, while the classrooms are occupied by the students.

“Women and girls are, particularly, in a vulnerable situation, for example not only faced with their health and hygiene challenges but also with potentially heightened risk of gender based violence.” says UNFPA Deputy Representative, Masaki Watabe, during his visit to the affected areas in Nchalo.

“That is why we are focusing on this particular group of people and working closely with our districts’ counterparts and NGO partners.”

Critical information such as how to respond to and report on gender-based violence cases was also provided during the distribution.

Cyclone Ana disrupts health services

Chikwawa district has a total of 24 facilities and 21 are having access challenges as roads are still cut-off by water, resulting in disruption in the provision of life-saving maternal, neonatal and under five services in health centers, health posts and outreach clinics. In addition, many of the health facilities in the district are still without electricity due to Cyclone Ana induced floods.

Watabe also visited Nchalo health centre which was closed for a week after floods submerged part of the facility. Currently, the maternity wing of the centre is only operating during the day as there is no power. Those delivering in the evenings have to be referred to the district hospital. The facility is also yet to get reconnected to running water.

“We received reports on the water and electricity supply situation,” says Watabe. “UNFPA has set aside some funds to respond to the most immediate needs as requested by Chikwawa District, and we will try to prioritize the quickest restoration of maternal services in facilities such as Nchalo Health Centre. This will enable the displaced people, especially pregnant women, to have access to critical health care.”

UNFPA calls for more resources to scale up response

Watabe added that UNFPA needs more resources to ensure that pregnant women deliver babies safely and the displaced have continued access to family planning and relevant information to remain healthy.

“Malawi urgently needs additional resources to tackle this situation that has affected the hundreds of thousands of people,” says Watabe. “We are calling upon the international community for support to enable us to scale up the response as quickly as possible.”

Source: United Nations Population Fund

February 11, 2022

NASA’s New Space Telescope Sees First Starlight, Takes Selfie

NASA’s new space telescope has captured its first starlight and taken a selfie of its giant, gold mirror.

All 18 segments of the primary mirror on the James Webb Space Telescope seem to be working properly 1½ months into the mission, officials said Friday.

The telescope’s first target was a bright star 258 light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major.

“That was just a real wow moment,” said Marshall Perrin of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore.

Over the next few months, the hexagonal mirror segments — each the size of a coffee table — will be aligned and focused as one, allowing science observations to begin by the end of June.

The $10 billion infrared observatory — considered the successor to the aging Hubble Space Telescope — will seek light from the first stars and galaxies that formed in the universe nearly 14 billion years ago. It will also examine the atmospheres of alien worlds for any possible signs of life.

NASA did not detect the crippling flaw in Hubble’s mirror until after its 1990 launch; more than three years passed before spacewalking astronauts were able to correct the telescope’s blurry vision.

While everything is looking good so far with Webb, engineers should be able to rule out any major mirror flaws by next month, said Lee Feinberg, Webb optical telescope element manager.

Webb’s 21-foot (6.5-meter), gold-plated mirror is the largest ever launched into space. An infrared camera on the telescope snapped a picture of the mirror as one segment gazed upon the targeted star.

“Pretty much the reaction was, ‘Holy cow!’ ” Feinberg said.

NASA released the selfie, along with a mosaic of starlight from each of the mirror segments. The 18 points of starlight resemble bright fireflies flitting against a black night sky.

After 20 years with the project, “it is just unbelievably satisfying” to see everything working so well so far, said the University of Arizona’s Marcia Rieke, principal scientist for the infrared camera.

Webb lifted off from South America in December and reached its designated perch 1.6 million kilometers away last month.

Source: Voice of America