The 2025 Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI) is a joint initiative of the African Development Bank and the African Union Commission that tracks  progress toward greater regional integration, economic cooperation, and free movement of people. The AVOI serves as a vital tool for the continent to monitor the remaining visa restrictions that contradicts its aspirations for a more connected and prosperous Africa. In this year's edition, visa openness score across Africa has plateaued despite individual country improvements. In the past 12 months, 20 countries changed their visa policies: 11 countries improving their scores and 9 countries becoming more restrictive. To help us understand the findings, we are joined by…

Guest: Dr. Youssouf Kone - Chief Regional Funds Coordinator at the African Development Bank 

 

 

 

The 2025 Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI) is a joint initiative of the African Development Bank and the African Union Commission that tracks&nbsp; progress toward greater regional integration, economic cooperation, and free movement of people. The AVOI serves as a vital tool for the continent to monitor the remaining visa restrictions that contradicts its aspirations for a more connected and prosperous Africa. In this year's edition, visa openness score across Africa has plateaued despite individual country improvements. In the past 12 months, 20 countries changed their visa policies: 11 countries improving their scores and 9 countries becoming more restrictive. To help us understand the findings, we are joined by&hellip;
Guest: Dr. Youssouf Kone - Chief Regional Funds Coordinator at the African Development Bank&nbsp;
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Newsmakers and Guest Experts offer their insights and perspectives into the national and global discourse on politics, economics, education, social matters and comprehensive dialogues on cultural diversity and other essential issues of public interest like, poverty alleviation, unemployment rate and health related issues.

NewsmakersandGuestExpertsoffertheirinsightsandperspectivesintothenationalandglobaldiscourseonpolitics,economics,education,socialmattersandcomprehensivedialoguesonculturaldiversityandotheressentialissuesofpublicinterestlike,...

The Talking Point

2025 African Visa Openness Index

This past Monday, the Commission on Khoi-San Matters began its Community Structures Investigation in the Eastern Cape. They are starting with the Korana who are identified as one of the main groups in the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act. The Commission says that for the next three months, similar investigations will be conducted with the other groups like the Cape Khoi, Griqua, Nama and San. To try and understand why such a process in necessary and what they are hoping to achieve, also why they decided to start in the Eastern Cape with the Korana, we are joined by..

Guest: Professor Nico Botha - Chairperson on Khoi-San Matters in the Department of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Heading the process)

Guest: Captain Edmund Stuurman - Principal Chief of the Gamtouer House of Klaas and Dawid Stuurman in the Eastern Cape (Will speak as an affected party)

This past Monday, the Commission on Khoi-San Matters began its Community Structures Investigation in the Eastern Cape. They are starting with the Korana who are identified as one of the main groups in the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act. The Commission says that for the next three months, similar investigations will be conducted with the other groups like the Cape Khoi, Griqua, Nama and San. To try and understand why such a process in necessary and what they are hoping to achieve, also why they decided to start in the Eastern Cape with the Korana, we are joined by..
Guest: Professor Nico Botha - Chairperson on Khoi-San Matters in the Department of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Heading the process)
Guest: Captain Edmund Stuurman - Principal Chief of the Gamtouer House of Klaas and Dawid Stuurman in the Eastern Cape (Will speak as an affected party)

Commission on Khoi-San Matters

Every year, the scientists and insitutions around the country help the South African National Biodiversity Institute to track the rich ecosystems, genetic diversity and species of our nation. This study provides evidence-based insights to guide policy, strengthen governance, and mobilise collective action across government, business, and civil society. This year marks the 20th anniversary of this National Biodiversity Assessment and highlights the importance of biodiversity as a national priority.

In this year's key cocnerns, the National Biodiversity Assessment outlined that climate change, unsustainable land and sea use, pollution, invasive alien species, reduced freshwater flows and illegal harvesting continue to adversely affect South Africa’s ecosystems and species. This impacts food production, water quality, jobs, tourism and our resilience to natural disasters. The good news is that we are improving our efforts when it comes to environmental management, community stewardship and restoration projects. To share his insights on this report at this significant milestone, we are joined by....

Guest: Prof Andrew Skowno - Lead for the National Biodiversity Assessment at the South African National Biodiversity Institute 

 

Every year, the scientists and insitutions around the country help the South African National Biodiversity Institute to track the rich ecosystems, genetic diversity and species of our nation. This study provides evidence-based insights to guide policy, strengthen governance, and mobilise collective action across government, business, and civil society. This year marks the 20th anniversary of this National Biodiversity Assessment and highlights the importance of biodiversity as a national priority.
In this year's key cocnerns, the National Biodiversity Assessment outlined that climate change, unsustainable land and sea use, pollution, invasive alien species, reduced freshwater flows and illegal harvesting continue to adversely affect South Africa&rsquo;s ecosystems and species. This impacts food production, water quality, jobs, tourism and our resilience to natural disasters. The good news is that we are improving our efforts when it comes to environmental management, community stewardship and restoration projects. To share his insights on this report at this significant milestone, we are joined by....
Guest: Prof Andrew Skowno - Lead for the National Biodiversity Assessment at the South African National Biodiversity Institute&nbsp;
&nbsp;

SANBI National Biodiversity Assessment 2025

As we get closer to the festive break, the team thought to bring you a story that may spread festive cheer for our listeners who have a soft spot for pets.

Our next guest will speak to us about their work as an animal rescue and their latest collaboration with Lucky Hustle to house man's best friend into their forever homes. So far, two dogs (Buster and Oscar) have found their forever homes. There is just one more furry friend, Titan, that needs to find a home with just 10 days to Christmas. To tell us more about the #KennelToTheCrib initiative and tell us more on how a person can adopt a dog, we are joined by...

Guest: Estelle Meldau, co-founder of Woodrock Animal Rescue

As we get closer to the festive break, the team thought to bring you a story that may spread festive cheer for our listeners who have a soft spot for pets.
Our next guest will speak to us about their work as an animal rescue and their latest collaboration with Lucky Hustle to house man's best friend into their forever homes. So far, two dogs (Buster and Oscar) have found their forever homes. There is just one more furry friend, Titan, that needs to find a home with just 10 days to Christmas. To tell us more about the #KennelToTheCrib initiative and tell us more on how a person can adopt a dog, we are joined by...
Guest: Estelle Meldau, co-founder of Woodrock Animal Rescue

2025 African Visa Openness Index

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