The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, has unveiled the key features of the second cycle of its "North Africa Cultural Programme" (NACP) for the years 2024-2027. This new cycle was introduced during a press conference held on Tuesday at the Swiss Embassy in Tunis. The NACP in its 2nd Cycle is a four-year initiative (2024-2027) dedicated to artistic institutions, spaces, and associations in five North African countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. It comprises two support mechanisms: the National Fund for Cultural Opportunities (FNOC) and the Regional Competitive Creativity Fund (RCCF). The FNOC programme focuses on providing support to artistic and cultural institutions and spaces in each of the five targeted North African countries, offering assistance in institutional and programmatic domains. The Regional Competitive Creativity Fund (RCCF) supports collaboration projects established through partnerships involving at le ast one entity based in North Africa and one or more entities present on the African continent and/or in the Arab region. During its first cycle (2019-2023), the NACP awarded 40 grants, supporting 28 organisations at the institutional and programmatic levels, and 12 collaborative projects in North Africa. The programme also offered professional and technical support, meeting spaces, as well as a digital platform providing information, resources, and progress tracking for supported entities and projects. The NACP originated from an international tender issued by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, secured by AFAC in mid-2018. It aligns with the aspirations of both AFAC and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, addressing recommendations from various sectoral studies, meetings, and discussions groups. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse Addis Ababa: The Netherlands Development Cooperation (SNV) is eager to continue supporting the expansion of biogas development programs in Ethiopia, SNV Biogas Dissemination Scale-Up Programme team leader Carlos Bueso told ENA. The team leader noted that this technology is a priority for the Government of Ethiopia that has planned to install 160,000 biodigesters till 2030 with the view to providing clean energy for rural farmers. The Netherlands Development Cooperation, which working in Ethiopia focusing on agri-food, energy, and water whilst scaling up biogas dissemination since 2017, is eager to support this ambitious plan as biogas technology has multi benefits for farmers at household level, Bueso said. The overall objective of the program was to improve the living standard of farmers and families in 9 regions of Ethiopia. The team leader noted that biogas technology makes available sustainable and clean cooking for farmers and families. At the same time, the biodigester is not only about clean cooki ng but also about sanitation as the biodigester is linked to the toilet and used as a solution for sanitation. "Biodigester mainly produces a strong, powerful, effective, and affordable organic fertilizer, which is improving the yield production, the soil fertility and soil health to the farmers. So, it's a multi-benefit technology that is improving life standard for all these families in the 9 regions." The project has installed over 25,000 digesters in the nine regions since 2017. Bueso noted that 'the potential of biogas in Ethiopia is huge because the potential of livestock sector is quite big. The potential on biogas is more than 4 million digesters in Ethiopia that can be installed.... That's around 23 % of the total population of Ethiopia.' Scaling up the energy alternative approach will play a crucial role in boosting production and productivity as large number of population has been living without adequate power accessibility. More than 90 percent of Ethiopians are still dependent on solid bioma ss for cooking that has adverse effects on the environment, it was learned. Despite challenges in terms of access to clean cooking, this technology can be a breakthrough that the country is looking for, according to Carlos. He further stated that the third phase of Biogas Dissemination Scale-Up Programme in Ethiopia (NBPE+) which closed last week was successful as it has created more than 2,000 green jobs and supported over 300 enterprises to support or to build biodigesters. The Netherlands Development Cooperation (SNV) is working in Ethiopia by focusing on agri-food, energy, whilst scaling up biogas dissemination. Source: Ethiopian News Agency