Benin/Launch of the 18th World Malaria Day in Benin: A call to collective action for the definitive eradication of this scourge

On Friday April 25, 2025, the Salle Bleue at Cotonou's Palais des Congrès was the venue for the official launch of the 18th World Malaria Day, under the evocative theme of "Reinvesting, reimagining and rekindling our common efforts to end malaria". The event was graced by the presence of the Minister of Health, Mr Benjamin HOUNKPATIN, as well as numerous personalities, including Mr Alain OROUNLA, Prefect of the Littoral department, UNICEF representatives, departmental health directors, technical and financial partners, and women, men and children illustrating the scale of this collective commitment.

France/ Beaupréau-en-Mauges. German twinning seeks host families

It all began in 1979 with the wedding of Antoinette, from Andrez, to Dieter Fuller, from Lauter (Germany), where the members of both families wanted to extend the festivities. The idea of a soccer match on the other side of the Rhine was born. A year later, Andrezé sent a 50-strong delegation to Bavaria. The beginning of a beautiful friendship that has lasted for 45 years.

Switzerland/ Vérossaz is looking for a new town councillor and vice-president

Angelo Riviello, vice-chairman of the Vérossaz commune, has resigned from his position effective January 1. A new councillor is actively being sought.

Bénin/Dragage pilote du Lac Ahémé à Dondji-Houncloun : Le Gouvernement inaugure les ouvrages et lance les travaux d'extension du dragage de Docloboé à la bouche du Roy

Firmly committed to improving the environment of Lake Ahémé, facilitating river navigation, the migration of fish species between the ocean and continental waters, and the well-being of local populations, the Government of President Patrice TALON has decided to set up the Programme Intercommunal de réhabilitation du lac Ahémé et ses chenaux.

France/ The town prepares its twinning festival

The town is getting ready to celebrate its twin towns by offering a journey through them without leaving Décines-Charpieu!

Canada/Edmonton looks for ways to help motorists pay for parking

The City of Edmonton is continuing with its plan to remove all ePark machines by the end of July and replace them with a mobile phone-only parking payment system. However, ways will have to be found to make this transition easier for users, and to come up with a payment solution for those who don't have a smartphone.

France/ NOTE TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES - Launch of the URBACT Call for Proposals

URBACT is launching a Call for Proposals dedicated to networks for the transfer of good urban practice. It is open until June 30 (3pm CET).

Germany/1st unit for French-speaking science at Saarland University

Germany's first Francophonie Science Unit has been set up at Saarland University. It will be headed by Professor of Romance Studies Claudia Polzin-Haumann, under the organizational aegis of Saarland University's Frankreichzentrum, and will be dedicated to scientific activities concerning the entire French-speaking world.

Togo: a new sanitation and flood control project in Greater Lomé

In Togo, a vast sanitation project has just been launched in response to recurrent flooding in the capital, Lomé. The project involves the construction of a Réseau d'assainissement par intercepteurs pour la non-inondation de nos espaces (RAINE) (Interceptor sewerage network for the non-flooding of our spaces), which was launched on Wednesday April 23, 2025 by the head of government, Victoire Dogbé.

Belgium/At La Ferme de la Vallée, the public reconnects with the authenticity of the land

In the heart of Walloon Brabant, Ferme de la Vallée is opening its doors on May 1 for its annual Fête Champêtre. An initiative that goes far beyond a simple festive day: it enables consumers to rediscover the origins of their food and understand the daily lives of those who produce it.

Vietnam/ Government publishes national strategy to combat waste

The government has promulgated the "National Strategy to Prevent and Combat Waste until 2035" to mobilize resources and stimulate economic growth, according to Decision No. 806/QD-TTg of April 22, 2025 signed by permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyên Hoà Binh.

France/Espalion. The commune joins forces with the army

Mayor Éric Picard received representatives of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces to formalize the signing of a manifesto in support of the armed forces. This partnership agreement, the first of its kind for a commune in Aveyron, marks the town's strong commitment to the French army.

Côte d'Ivoire/ Waste management training in Bouandougou

Africa Waste Consulting organized a training session in Bouandougou on waste management, at the initiative of the Bouandougou sub-prefect, Juste Tué Bi Marcel, during the first sub-prefecture council meeting of the year.

Guinea/IVᵉ Pan-African conference: Digital transition and educational innovations

The AUF and the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation of the Republic of Guinea are organizing the IVᵉ Pan-African Conference on April 28 and 29, 2025 in Conakry around the theme: "Digital Transition and Pedagogical Innovations". For two days, ministers, senior university officials, artificial intelligence experts and international partners will debate priority reforms to modernize African higher education and build a multilingual scientific Africa.

Congo/ Snél: equipment to modernize Kinshasa's electricity distribution network

As part of its drive to modernize its network and combat load shedding and other power cuts in Kinshasa, Société nationale d'électricité (Snél) has just acquired new equipment.

Canada/Francis-McCrea and Laure-Conan streets to be paved

Sherbrooke's elected officials have voted in favor of a temporary solution to alleviate maintenance problems on Francis-McCrea and Laure-Conan streets. The sections will be covered with a layer of recycled asphalt, which should help reduce their deterioration while also reducing dust in the area.

Algeria/ Algiers: study day on mechanisms for preventing and combating corruption

ALGIERS - A study day on "Mechanisms for preventing and combating corruption in Algeria" was organized on Tuesday by the Faculty of Economics, Business and Management Sciences at the University of Algiers 3, in collaboration with the High Authority for Transparency, Prevention and the Fight against Corruption.

France/ Erdre-en-Anjou. The twinning committee looks to the future

On Friday, for the 50th time since its creation, the Vern-d'Anjou twinning committee welcomed its 22 friends from Tatsfield, a suburb of London, England.

Morocco/Oujda: The Urban Agency approves its action plan for 2025

The 21st Board of Directors of the Agence Urbaine d'Oujda, meeting on Tuesday, approved the moral and financial reports for fiscal years 2023 and 2024, the agency's action plan for the year 2025 and its provisional program covering the period 2025-2027.

Togo/ Commune Haho 1: 2025 budget down, but investments maintained

In Togo, the commune of Haho 1 has adopted its primitive budget for 2025, set at 317.8 million FCFA, down almost 20% on the 396.3 million FCFA allocated in 2024.

Senegal/Reproductive health: an educator praises the work of the Matam commune

Abdoulaye Diaw, president of the Matam Peer Educators Network and focal point of the Power to Youth project in the region, expressed his satisfaction on Saturday with the actions undertaken by the commune to promote reproductive health.

France/In Indre-et-Loire, Fondettes celebrates 50th anniversary of twinning with German town of Naurod-Wiesbaden

Some twenty young people from Fondettes, Indre-et-Loire, have just returned from a stay in the twin town of Naurod-Wiesbaden, Germany. Other events are planned for the 50th anniversary of the twinning.

La Francophonie in Vanuatu: celebration and commitment

On March 20, 2025, Vanuatu celebrated the International Day of La Francophonie with the participation of several French-speaking schools on several of the country's islands, including Mallicolo, Tanna, Santo, Pentecost and Efaté. Thanks to the support of the AUF and the French Embassy, these schools received books and goodies as part of the "Jeux étudiants de la Francophonie" project.

Canada/Gatineau wants to become "bird-friendly

After Gatineau "ville amie des aînés", the municipality is now looking to add another title, that of "ville amie des oiseaux". This week, municipal council members gave the green light to an application to join Nature Canada's certification program.

Vietnam and Italy boost cooperation in the field of justice

A delegation from the Ministry of Justice, led by its Deputy Minister Mai Luong Khoi, paid a working visit to Italy from April 14 to 16 to strengthen bilateral collaboration, building on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2016 by the two Ministries of Justice.

France/The just transition, an economic strategy for our regions

As climatic, economic and geopolitical shocks intensify, social and territorial resilience is becoming a strategic imperative. Bastien Sibille and Diane Dupré la Tour, chairman and spokeswoman of Opération Milliard, call on financial players to rethink their investments in the light of the need for a just transition for territories, vital for our economy, our society and our environment. To make investment a lever for stability, economic robustness and sustainable prosperity. To make money "the sinews of peace".

Côte d'Ivoire/Archibat 2025: Urban renewal to boost the local economy

"Land availability and urban renewal" was the central theme developed by industry experts at the Archibat 2025 Architecture and Building Exhibition, held from April 11 to 15, 2025 at the Parc des expositions d'Abidjan-Port-Bouët.

France/Cocumont: an association signs a partnership agreement with a Senegalese commune

The humanitarian aid association will be working with the commune on a project to green public spaces and create a shared orchard.

INVESTING IN FILM: 5 good reasons to get started!

Belgium/A library on wheels makes its appearance on the Lillois market

Since the closure of the Lillois library, some residents have felt a little orphaned. But on Wednesday April 16, a curious white vehicle drew attention in the market square: a bibliocamionnette.

APNUMAQ project "Supporting the consolidation of national digital transformation policies to improve the quality of training and university governance in the Asia-Pacific region".

The digital transformation of universities is part of a worldwide drive to modernize higher education, in which Open Educational Resources (OER) play a key role in facilitating access to knowledge and helping to improve the quality of teaching.

Benin/Redynamization of local livestock farming: 1,000 small breeders receive poultry and poultry feed kits

The Projet d'Urgence de Renforcement de la Résilience des Acteurs du Secteur Agricole (PUR-ZEDAGA) has taken an important step towards revitalizing local livestock farming. On Monday April 14, 2025 in Zè, PUR-ZEDAGA officials handed over 1,000 poultry kits and poultry feed to a number of small-scale breeders.

Canada/Fredericton City Council authorizes 4 units per residential property

City Council in Fredericton, New Brunswick, passed a zoning change on Monday that allows up to four units per residential property in the city.

Tunisia/Entrepreneurship for gender equality

From April 7 to 9, 2025, some sixty students from all over the world, mostly from Clubs Leaders Étudiants Francophones (CLÉF), challenged themselves to an entrepreneurial hackathon dedicated to gender equality, in Hammamet, Tunisia. The highlight of this "Entreprenathon, Innovating for Equality", the five best team projects were awarded prizes at the end of an intense sequence of pitches.