Children increasingly bear brunt of CAR violence amid mass displacement

Horrific and deadly acts of violence against babies and children have been reported in the Central African Republic (CAR), where fighting has forced tens of thousands of people from their homes in recent months. The warning follows months of renewed conflict involving armed groups in the mineral-rich state, which has seen decades of instability after declaring independence in 1960. Daniel Johnson has more.

Sustainable small business awards at UN “tremendously empowering”

Winning one of the prestigious UN-backed SEED awards, which highlight some of the most entrepreneurial and sustainable small businesses in Africa is “tremendously empowering”. That’s according to Geoff Green, founder of the South African firm, Green Acre Living, which promotes micro-enterprises focused on biodiversity and indigenous foods. He was speaking at UN Headquarters, where he was taking part in the UN High Level Political Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals, as a 2016 SEED award winner. Mr Green told Matt Wells that Africa’s indigenous communities were key to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs. This year, 15 African businesses were SEED award winners, and he described the impact it had had, on his business last year.

Hunger rising sharply across East Africa due to third failed rainy season

Hunger is rising sharply across the East Africa region following the third season in a row without sufficient rain to grow crops. That’s according to a new alert from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) which says that crops are scorched, pastures dry, and thousands of livestock dead. Rural families in the affected areas need urgent and effective support said FAO, and the plight is being made worse by an invasive pest called the fall armyworm, which is eating its way across the continent. Sandra Ferrari asked Alessandro Costantino, an FAO economist based in Rome, for more details.

Presenter: Matt Wells

Production Assistant: Ana Carmo

Duration: 10'00″