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Tag: Lithuania

  • Kenya, Lithuania partner to boost digital inclusion for women, youth enterprises

    Kenya, Lithuania partner to boost digital inclusion for women, youth enterprises

    Kenya has partnered with Lithuania to advance digital inclusion as a key economic strategy, targeting women and youth-led enterprises through skills development and market access.

    The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) in partnership with the Vilnius Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts (VCCIC) and supported by the European Union, Wednesday hosted the Women’s Entrepreneurship and Digital Literacy Conference in Nairobi.

    The high-level forum marked a significant milestone in the Skills4Women & Youth in Kenya initiative, aimed at bridging the digital divide and fostering economic resilience.

    In his keynote address, KNCCI President Dr. Erick Rutto emphasized that empowering women and youth is not merely a social agenda but a critical economic strategy for the nation. Highlighting Kenya’s demographic strength, Dr. Rutto noted that over 75% of the population is below age 35, and women lead a significant portion of the country’s 7.4 million MSMEs, which contribute up to 40% of the GDP.

    “Opportunity without capability creates inequality,” stated Dr. Rutto. “Our role is to ensure our entrepreneurs are equipped with the right skills and connected to the right markets to move from informal survival to scalable, sustainable growth”.

    The President reported impressive results from the Skills for Women and Youth Programme (2024-2026), which has already trained 478 SMEs nearly four times the initial target and deployed 138 certified trainers across all 47 counties.

    Representing the Ministry of ICT, the speech “Bridging the Digital Divide in Kenya” Secretary ICT, E-Government and Digital Economy Mary Kerema outlined the government’s aggressive roadmap toward an “intelligent economy”. To improve digital inclusiveness, the government is currently:

    Expanding Infrastructure: Deploying 100,000 km of fiber optic cable and establishing 1,450 additional digital hubs to ensure last-mile connectivity.

    Enhancing Accessibility: Focusing on providing affordable devices and public Wi-Fi to reach all parts of the country.

    Policy Innovation: Developing flexible frameworks, including regulatory sandboxes, to support startups and secure data protection.

    The Ministry underscored that bridging the divide requires moving beyond simple access to “meaningful participation,” where women are not just users of technology but innovators and decision-makers.

    Chief Guest at the event Lithuanian MFA Vice Minister Vidmantas Verbickas highlighted Kenya as a vital partner in Africa, noting that the cooperation is built on three key priorities: strengthening skills for a digital economy, creating practical partnerships, and fostering long-term impact.

    The Vice Minister noted that Lithuania’s approach is fully aligned with the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, which promotes sustainable investment and digital transformation.

    “Lithuania sees Kenya as a very important partner in Africa. A country with strong economical potential, a dnamic private sector, and a clear vision for digital and economic transformation. Lithuania is committed to working with Kenya not only as a donor, but as a reliable partner in building resilient systems and supporting innovation.” Verbickas stated.

    The vice minister promised to extend cooperation between Kenya and Lithuania through trade with more programmes and trade missions expected in the future.

    The conference featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between KNCCI and the Vilnius National Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Craft to further solidify the business ties between Kenya and Lithuania.

    KNCCI CEO KK Mutai reiterated that the Chamber Business Academy will continue to serve as a permanent platform for mentorship and capacity building to ensure the sustainability of these digital gains.

  • Guterres to launch life-saving campaign strengthening mine action worldwide

    Guterres to launch life-saving campaign strengthening mine action worldwide

    The UN Secretary-General is set to launch a global campaign to boost support for disarmament and mine action. 

    António Guterres announced the move in a statement issued on Monday, in response to plans by several UN Member States to withdraw from the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.

    The 1997 treaty, also known as the Ottawa Convention, prohibits the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of these weapons.

    Landmark global agreeement

    Since then, it “has led to a virtual halt in global production of anti-personnel mines, and a drastic reduction in their deployment,” and “more than 40 million stockpiled mines have been destroyed,” according to the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).

    To date, 165 States are party to the treaty and 133 have signed it.

    Five European countries – Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland – have recently announced that they intend to leave, or taken steps in this direction, reportedly due to security concerns related to Russia.

    Weakening protection, undermining progress

    Without naming countries, the Secretary-General expressed grave concern over the development.

    “At a time when civilians face heightened risks from widening conflicts, it is imperative that we strengthen the frameworks that protect human life and dignity,” he said.

    “These announcements are particularly troubling, as it risks weakening civilian protection and undermining two decades of a normative framework that has saved countless lives.”

    He urged all States “to adhere to humanitarian disarmament treaties and immediately halt any steps towards their withdrawal,” and appealed to the 32 States that have yet to join the treaty to do so without delay.

    These countries include China, Iran, Israel, Russia, and the United States.

    About the campaign

    The Secretary-General’s campaign will centre around upholding the norms of humanitarian disarmament, accelerating mine action as an enabler of human rights and sustainable development, and driving forward the vision of a mine-free world.

    “To achieve these aims, over the next six months this campaign will aim to re-energise public support for disarmament and will also facilitate concrete actions by States to uphold humanitarian norms and strengthen mine action,” he said.

    He concluded by stressing that “the urgency of this matter cannot be overstated,” saying “the protection of innocent lives depends on our collective action and commitment.”