‘Revolutionising finance for agri-value chains‘– this is the theme of the next Brussels Development Briefing – organized by the Technical Centre for Agriculture (CTA), together with the DG Development and Cooperation of the European Commission (EC/DEVCO), the ACP Secretariat and the European NGO confederation for Relief and Development, Concord. The event will take place on Wednesday 5 March 2014 at the ACP Secretariat, in Brussels.

EU Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, has today announced €195 million for Mauritania in the areas of food security, rule of law and healthcare for the years 2014-2020. The Commissioner will meet President Abdel Aziz and Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdhaf during his visit, and discussions are expected to focus in particular on ongoing cooperation between the EU and Mauritania in the areas of security, development and fishing. The Commissioner is also expected to underline the EU’s ongoing commitment to supporting the country on its path to growth and in the key role it has to play in security in the Sahel.

EU Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, will begin on Monday a high level visit to Mauritania, Senegal and the Cape Verde, where he will underline the EU’s ongoing commitment to supporting the region and confirm future funding for the three countries. The visit will be the Commissioner’s first ever to Senegal and Cape Verde, and first high level visit since 2008 to Mauritania.

The European External Action Service hosted a High level meeting on the Sahel yesterday 6 February 2014 in Brussels. Mali being chair of the international coordination platform for the Sahel, the Prime Minister of Mali HE. Tatam Ly opened the meeting while Minister for National Reconciliation and Development of the Northern Regions HE. Diarrah chaired it.

Last month marked the official start of a fresh wave of funding opportunities from the European Union (EU) for For scientists across Europe. On 11 December, the European Commission finally released the detailed topics and budgets available for the first two years of Horizon 2020, the EU’s eighth research and innovation funding package, worth nearly €80 billion (around US$110 billion) in total from 2014 to 2020.

The African Union (AU) hosted a three-day seminar to discuss on Children Affected by Armed Conflict (CAAC) and the UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. The meeting, bringing together some 100 senior officials and experts from various AU Member States and international institutions including Regional Economics Communities, the European Union and United Nations agencies monitored the implementation status of national strategies addressing CAAC-related issues in Africa and agree on the way forward.

To encourage more people to participate, organisers have extended the deadline to register for the €13,000 Farming by Satellite Prize to 28 February 2014. Student and young farmer in Europe and Africa who have an idea for using satellite technology in agriculture to improve production and efficiency and reduce environmental impact, are invited to register your idea for the €13,000 Farming by Satellite Prize. The prize is an initiative of the European GNSS Agency (GSA) and is aimed at promoting the use of satellite navigation in agriculture and its benefits to end users. Registrations must be received by 28 February 2014.

This year's African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards, which are sponsored by the European Union (EU ) through the African Union (AU) Support Programme were presented during the opening session of the 22nd AU Summit of Heads of State and Government. The Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards recognizes top African researchers who engage in pioneering research aimed at contributing to the wellbeing and improved quality of life for Africa's citizens.

The European Commission has announced on Monday 3 February 2014 that it will give €142 million in humanitarian funds to the Sahel region of Africa in 2014, which is once again suffering because of a severe food and nutrition crisis this year. In addition, many people in Mali are in need of humanitarian aid as a result of the situation in the North.

The European Union (EU) and UNICEF met in New York on 04 February 2014 and took the opportunity to take stock of what has been achieved so far and to discuss future cooperation. The EU announced yesterday that it has allocated €320 million ($431 million) through UNICEF to improve the health and nutrition of children and women in 15 developing countries and to help speed progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals.