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The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD) are organizing a workshop for African female media professionals. The workshop – which is holding from May 7-18 in Cairo, Egypt – is aimed at bringing together female African journalists to learn about Egypt and EAPD's activities through lectures, presentations, and site visits.

According to a statement by the AfDB, about 47 female journalists from 30 African countries are participating in the workshop, which has the theme: “African Media Today and the Role of Women in Shaping its Future."  

Hazem Fahmy, Secretary General of EAPD, urged the African women journalists to learn what Egypt has to offer to their respective countries. Fahmy also called on Egyptian journalists to appreciate what their country can derive from other countries on the continent.

The workshop is co-financed by EAPD’s capacity-building programme, funded by the AfDB’s Middle Income Country Technical Assistance Fund. Under this prgoramme, a $1.8 million grant was approved in April 2015 to enhance trade and investment between Egypt and other African countries.

Launched in 2014, the EAPD forges partnerships for development with other African and Islamic countries through various activities and services. The agency's objectives include enhancing trade and promoting investments, particularly in Africa as it seeks to strengthen south-south cooperation in all sectors.

Leila Mokadem, AfDB’s Country Manager for Egypt, who spoke at the opening of the workshop on Sunday highlighted the bank’s five key priority areas, also referred to as the High 5s. The High 5s are: Feed Africa; Light up and Power Africa; Industrialize Africa; Integrate Africa; and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa.

She also spoke about several initiatives launched by the AfDB such as the New Deal on Energy for Africa – a landmark initiative designed to solve Africa's huge energy deficit by 2025. Under the New Deal, which was launched in 2015, AfDB will invest $12 billion in the power sector over the next five years and leverage $45-50 billion from the private sector.

“Our goal is to connect 130 million people to the grid, 75 million via off grids and provide some 150 million with clean cooking energy,” Mokadem said.

Maya Morsy, Head of the Egyptian Women’s Council, stressed the need for women to utilize social media to promote women’s rights.

Part of the programmes of the workshop include visiting EAPD and the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) where the journalists met with SCA chairman, Vice Admiral Mohab Mamish.