Intake Deadline for electronic submission Deadline for submission of hard copy April 2022: 28th February 2022 7th March 2022 October 2022 15th August 2022 22nd August 2022
Eligible Countries: Countries in the African Union
To be taken at (country): Mauritius
Type: Undergraduate, Masters, PhD
Eligibility:
Applicants for Mauritius Africa Scholarships should be above 18 years of age and should not have reached their 26th birthday at the closing date of application;
For Master’s programmes, applicants should not have reached 35 years and,
for PhD programmes, applicants should not have reached 45 years by the closing date of application
Applicants must have applied for full-time on-campus studies at any public Tertiary Education Institution in Mauritius for academic year starting in 2022;
The scholarship will be for a maximum of four (4) years or the minimum course duration whichever is lesser.
Qualification entry requirements
Mauritius Africa Scholarships’ candidates should have successfully completed end of secondary school to be eligible and should satisfy the minimum grade requirements as indicated below: : (i) 24 points at GCE A – Level which will be computed on the basis of the following grades obtained in three Principal subjects: A+=10, A=9, B=8, C=7, D=6 & E=5; OR (ii) at least an overall average of 70% or an overall average of, 14/20; OR (iii) criteria equivalent to (i) or (ii) above.
In case the language of instruction is not English in the qualifying examination, the candidate will have to provide a valid TOEFL or IELTS test results with a minimum score not less than 550 or 5.5 respectively, or an appropriate proof of English Language proficiency.
Candidates who are already holders of an undergraduate degree will NOT be eligible under this scholarship scheme.
Self-financing candidates already studying in Mauritius in will NOT be eligible under this Scholarship scheme.
Number of Awardees: Not specified
Value of Mauritius Africa Scholarships: The Scholarship will support successful candidates in meeting tuition fees and contribute to their living expenses during their studies in Mauritius. Furthermore, the airfare, by the most economical route, from the country of origin at the beginning of studies and back to the country of origin at the end of the studies will be covered. This will be valid for travel from the country of origin at the beginning of the studies and back to the country of origin upon successful completion of studies.
Duration of Scholarship:
Undergraduate Diploma Three (3) years
Undergraduate Degree Four (4) years
Master’s Two (2) years
PhD Three (3) years
How to Apply for Mauritius Africa Scholarships:
Applications, together with supporting documents as required should be forwarded to the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Mauritius at the address mentioned below, for a final selection.
The Senior Chief Executive, Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology (Attn: Tertiary Education and Scientific Research Division) Level 2, MITD House, Pont Fer, Phoenix 73544. Republic of Mauritius (Email: studymauritius@govmu.org)
It is important to go through all Application Requirements for application instructions before applying.
Application Deadline: 20th January 2022 (at 23:59 CEST)
About the ILO Social Finance Programme:
The ILO’s Social Finance Programme invites applications from qualified French-speaking professionals with expertise in insurance, microfinance or development for inclusion in its Fellowship Programme roster and for a potential placement in West Africa. The project is expected to start in early 2022.
The objective of the programme is to match qualified professionals with organizations working on the frontiers of impact insurance and financial inclusion, bridge skill gaps and create a new generation of professionals with experience serving low-income populations. Each Fellow will be placed with a host organization for at least a year to support an innovation project. The project could range from the implementation of a risk management product, public-private partnership, digital solution, or distribution partnership.
The project will focus on the following themes: ● Designing integrated risk-management solutions for small enterprises and/or low-income households that bundle insurance with other financial and non-financial services to improve consumers’ ability to manage risk and increase their productivity capabilities ● Enhancing public-private partnerships that help achieve public policy objectives aligned to the UN’s SDGs, especially those related to decent work, food security, climate change and universal health coverage
Type: Fellowship
Eligibility for ILO Social Finance Programme: The ideal candidates for a fellowship should:
● have relevant expertise to contribute to activities related to insurance, financial inclusion and/or public private partnerships; ● be proficient in English and French (written and verbal); ● be proactive and ready to document learning experiences during the fellowship; ● be interested in working in developing countries on development issues; ● be seriously committed to providing inclusive financial and insurance services and practicing in the field on an ongoing basis after the assignment; ● be resourceful and capable of arranging practical necessities related to travel, life and work in a new environment; and ● be ready to work in a developing country for the duration of the fellowship.
Insurance, financial inclusion or development professionals who are keen to apply their skills to promote social justice in emerging markets and who have worked in a technical capacity for at least five years may participate. Candidates with the requisite skills and experience will be included in the roster and considered for the aforementioned fellowship opportunity.
Successful candidates would also have:
considerable self-initiative to be a proactive learner and to drive agreed upon activities forward
the ability to achieve objectives and solve problems independently
a willingness to challenge existing methods and explore a fresh approach to issues
strong social skills and collaborative spirit
the ability to work effectively and efficiently with staff at all levels of the relevant organization(s)
a willingness to learn from all of those in the host environment
a nurturing attitude that enables the fellow to pass on his/her technical expertise to the staff of the host organization.
Eligible Countries: in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia
Number of Awards: Not specified
Value of ILO Social Finance Programme: The ILO’s Social Finance Programme works with the financial sector to enable it to contribute to the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda. In this context, we engage with banks, microfinance institutions, credit unions, insurers, investors and others to test new financial products, approaches and processes.
How to Apply for ILO Social Finance Programme: To apply, complete the application form available here. Email the completed application form along with a curriculum vitae and a cover letter to socialfinance@ilo.org by July 25, 2021 23:59 CEST. Please include “Fellowship application” as the subject line of the email. Only submissions that include all three documents will be considered as complete.
It is important to go through all application requirements in the Award Webpage (see Link below) before applying.
Application Deadline: 29th January 2022 before 02:59:59 GMT+0
Eligible Countries: Countries in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)
About the Microsoft Imagine Cup Global Student Contest: Incredible, world-changing software innovations often come from students. Social networks, music services, photo apps, games, gadgets and robotics – the list goes on. We’re looking for the next big thing and we know students like you are going to make it. Imagine Cup, Microsoft’s premier international competition for young developers, is your chance to show off your biggest, boldest software solution. Code with purpose and show the world what you’ve got.
There are four categories in the 2021 Imagine Cup competition – Earth, Education, Health, and Lifestyle. Get started building your tech skills by completing a Microsoft Learn module in the category you’re most passionate about to advance in the competition.
Type: Contest
Eligibility: You’re encouraged to submit an original application/solution that you and your team of up to three (3) have built (either on your own time, through your coursework, as a participant in a student hackathon, etc.). For your submission to qualify for the 2022 Imagine Cup, your application must utilize Microsoft Azure. For more details, see the Contest Rules.
Selection of Microsoft Imagine Cup Global Student Contestants: Organized by Microsoft subsidiaries in those countries, the National Finals select the best teams from each participating country as they pitch and demo their ideas to experts to vie for a coveted spot at the Imagine Cup World Finals.
Number of Awards: These are the awards to be received by participants:
First Place:
$85,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team
Microsoft Azure Grant
Remote mentoring session with Satya Nadella
Second Place:
$15,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team
Microsoft Azure Grant
Big Data Award
Required use of Azure Data + Analytics or IoT
$15,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the team
Microsoft Azure Grant
Artificial Intelligence Award
Required use of Azure Artificial Intelligence + Cognitive Services
$15,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the team
Microsoft Azure Grant
Mixed Reality Award
Required use of HoloLens, Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality
$15,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the team
Microsoft Azure Grant
Value of Microsoft Imagine Cup Global Student ContestAward:
Round 1: Each Local Event may offer prizes at the discretion of the local Microsoft representatives representing that competition. The existence, nature, and conditions of such prizes are subject to the rules of each Local Event. Every team who advances to round 2 will receive a trip to an Imagine Cup Regional Final event. Trip includes round trip coach airfare from a major airport closest to each competitor’s home, standard hotel accommodations, ground transportation, and select meals during the Regional Final. Mentors to the team are not eligible for this travel prize. Round 2: At each Regional Final, there will be three winning teams selected. At least one member of the team must be present to win. (Mentors and associates will not be awarded any portion of the monetary prize winnings.) • First Place: o $15,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team o Microsoft Azure Grant o First place teams will advance to Round 3 and receive a trip to the Imagine Cup World Championship • Second Place: o $5,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team o Microsoft Azure Grant • Third Place: o $1,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team o Microsoft Azure Grant Round 3: At the World Championship one winning team will be selected. At least one member of the team must be present to win. (Mentors and associates will not be awarded any portion of the monetary prize winnings.) • World Champion: o $100,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team o Microsoft Azure Grant
Application Deadline: Application Deadlines depend on candidate’s chosen programme (See ‘How to Apply’ link below); deadlines generally Between January and April 2022.
Asia: Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, Palestinian Territories, Vietnam
Latin America: Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Nicaragua, Peru
To be taken at (country): Belgium
Accepted Subject Areas: Only the following English taught courses at Belgian Flemish universities or university colleges are eligible for scholarships:
One-year master programmes
Master of Human Settlements – Deadline for applications: 1 February 2022
Master of Development Evaluation and Management – Deadline for applications: 1 February 2022
Master of Governance and Development – Deadline for applications: 1 February 2022
Master of Globalization and Development – Deadline for applications: 1 February 2022
Master of Cultural Anthropology and Development Studies – Deadline for applications: 1 February 2022
Two-year programmes
Master of Science in Food Technology – Deadline for applications: 1 February 2022
Master of Science in Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management – Deadline for applications: 1 February 2022
Master of Aquaculture (IMAQUA) – Deadline for applications: 1 March 2022
Master of Epidemiology – Deadline for applications: 28th Feb 2022
Master of Agro-and Environmental Nematology – Deadline 1st Feb 2022!
Master of Rural Development – Deadline online application: 21 February 2022– deadline hard copies: 28 Feb 2022
Master of Statistics – Deadline for applications: 1 February 2022
Master of Water Resources Engineering – Deadline for applications: 1 February 2022
Master of Sustainable Development – Deadline for applications: 1 February 2022
Master of Transportation Sciences – Deadline for applications: 1 February 2022
About the Award: VLIR-UOS awards scholarships to students from developing countries to study for a master or training programme in Flanders, Belgium. VLIR-UOS funds and facilitates academic cooperation and exchange between higher education institutions in Flanders (Belgium) and those in developing countries, which aims at building capacity, knowledge and experience for a sustainable development.
The master programmes focus on specific problems of developing countries. These are designed to enable graduates to share and apply acquired knowledge in the home institution and country. In the shorter training programmes the focus is on transferring skills rather than knowledge, thus creating opportunities for cooperation and networking.
Selection Criteria: The following criteria will be taken into account for the selection of candidates for a scholarship:
Motivation. The candidate who is not able to convincingly motivate his application, is unlikely to be selected for a scholarship.
Professional experience: Preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate a higher possibility of implementing and/or transferring the newly gained knowledge upon return to the home country.
Gender. In case of two equally qualified candidates of different sexes, preference will be given to the female candidate.
Regional balance. The selection commission tries to ensure that 50% of a programme’s scholarships are granted to candidates from Sub-Saharan Africa, provided there is a sufficient number of qualifying candidates from this region.
Social background. In case of two equally qualified candidates, preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate that they belong to a disadvantaged group or area within their country or an ethnic or social minority group, especially when these candidates can provide proof of leadership potential.
Previously awarded scholarships: Preference will be given to candidates who have never received a scholarship to study in a developed country (bachelor or master).
Eligibility: You can only apply for a scholarship if you meet the following requisites.
Fungibility with other VLIR-UOS funding: A scholarship within the VLIR-UOS scholarship programme is not compatible with financial support within an IUC- or TEAM-project. Candidates working in a university where such projects are being organized, should submit a declaration of the project leader stating that the department where the candidate is employed is not involved in the project.
Age: The maximum age for an ICP candidate is 35 years for an initial masters and 40 years for an advanced masters. The maximum age for an ITP candidate is 45 years. The candidate cannot succeed this age on January 1 of the intake year.
Nationality and Country of Residence: A candidate should be a national and resident of one of the 31 countries of the VLIR-UOS country list for scholarships (not necessarily the same country) at the time of application.
Professional background and experience: VLIR-UOS gives priority to candidates who are employed in academic institutions, research institutes, governments, social economy or NGO’s, or aim a career in one of these sectors. However, also candidates employed in the profit sector (ICP and ITP) or newly graduated candidates without any work experience (ICP) can be eligible for the scholarship. The ITP candidate should have relevant professional experience and a support letter confirming (re)integration in a professional context where the acquired knowledge and skills will be immediately applicable.
Former VLIR-UOS scholarship applications and previously awarded scholarships: A candidate can only submit one VLIR-UOS scholarship application per year, irrespectively of the scholarship type. As a consequence, a candidate can only be selected for one VLIR-UOS scholarship per year.
The ICP candidate has never received a scholarship from the Belgian government to attend a master programme or equivalent or was never enrolled in a Flemish higher education institution to attend a master programme or equivalent before January 1 of the intake year
Number of Awardees: VLIR-UOS will award up to 180 scholarships.
Value of Scholarship: The scholarship covers ALL related expenses (full cost).
Duration of Scholarship: The master programmes will last for one or two academic years.
How to Apply:
To apply for a scholarship, you first need to apply for the Master programme.
To apply for the Masters programme, visit the website of the Master programme of your interest. Follow the guidelines for application for the programme as mentioned on its website.
In the programme application, you can mention whether you wish to apply for a scholarship. In case you do, the programme coordinator forwards your application to VLIR-UOS.
Applications submitted by the candidates to VLIR-UOS directly will not be considered!
About TEEP 2022: This year’s intervention prioritises the economic recovery of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) and young African entrepreneurs, following the Covid-19 disruption to economic activities.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation, which celebrated ten years of impact in 2020, is empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, through the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme. Successful applicants receive a world-class business training, mentorship, non-refundable seed capital up to $5,000, and global networking opportunities. The Programme is open to entrepreneurs across Africa, both new start-ups and existing young businesses, operating in any sector.
Type: Entrepreneurship
Eligibility: The Entrepreneurship Programme identifies outstanding African entrepreneurs who have start-ups or business ideas with the potential to grow.
Eligible Countries: African countries
Number of Awards: 2,400
Value of TEEP 2022: The training has been tailored to educate and capacitise you in starting or growing your business to overcome the challenges faced by entrepreneurs across the African continent. The curriculum focuses on practical, iterative learning that is useful even long after the training period.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE PROGRAMME?
The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme TEEP 2022 will be delivered in different phases as listed below:
Application Phase
Training &Mentorship Phase
Business Plan Submission Phase
Pitching Phase
Seed Capital Phase
THE APPLICATION PHASE
This will take place from the January 1 to March 31. Once applications are closed, eligible applicants will be placed in the appropriate training path as follows:
PREPARATORY
This means you do not have the skillset needed to start a business. You will go through the general training on TEFConnect. You will, however, not be eligible for mentorship or seed capital.
START-UP/ BEGINNER
This means you are a starter according to the business start-up profiling. You will go through the beginner training modules and you will have access to world class mentors during the programme.
INNOVATIOR/ INTERMEDIATE
This means that you have been profiled to be an intermediate entrepreneur. You have a good potential to be a successful entrepreneur. You will go through the Intermediate training modules and you will have access to world class mentors during the programme.
DISRUPTOR/ ADVANCED
This means that you are or identified to be natural or a seasoned entrepreneur. You will go through the Advanced training modules and you will have access to world class mentors during the programme.
THE TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP PHASE
Once shortlisted and placed in the appropriate training path, you will be eligible to take part in our rigorous business training and mentoring sessions. There will be multiple choice questions to track your performance. You will attend a virtual orientation program to learn more about the process and we will share timelines and resources available for you to succeed. The shortlisted entrepreneurs will be given access to join the peer-to-peer support groups.
Shortlisted entrepreneurs will be expected to complete the business training, answer the quiz at each end of each module.
The shortlisted applicants after the training will be given the opportunity to develop a BUSINESS PLAN
THE BUSINESS PLAN AND FINANCIALS SUBMISSION PHASE
At the end of the TEEP 2022 training, you will be required to combine all the learnings from the training into a single cohesive document. You will be given a business & financial plan template; this will be in the online resource library. This template will help you create a first draft of your business plan. write a business plan. After the BUSINESS TRAINING & BUSINESS PLAN SUBMISSION, only successful candidates (who complete the MCQs and score above cut off mark and submit a business plan) would be eligible to move on to the next stage: the PITCHING COMPETITION.
THE PITCHING PHASE
This is an opportunity to demonstrate your business knowledge and convince the judge about the feasibility of your business. At the pitching stage, entrepreneurs will pitch their ideas before a panel of judges. Only the successful candidates from the pitching competition will receive seed capital funding and access to the Alumni network to support their business ambitions.
If you successfully completed all required training requirements and submitted a business plan, but was unsuccessful after the pitching competition, you will receive a training completion certificate and can reapply next year.
Please note that this phase is another key outcome of this training programme and all shortlisted entrepreneurs must go through this phase to be eligible for SEED CAPITAL.
THE SEED CAPITAL PHASE
All entrepreneurs who have successfully completed all the above steps will be required to open business accounts and seed capital will flow into these accounts created. An entrepreneur who is eligible to receive seed funding will be given a CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION AND ACHIEVEMENT from the Foundation.
Important Notes: Completion of the training programme is a strict condition to moving forward to the submission and review of your business plan, participation in the pitching competition, and receipt of seed capital.
Tell Me About The Africa Institute Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers-in-Residence Fellowship:
The Africa Institute, as part of its African Languages and Translation Program, announces the Tejumola Olaniyan Writers-in-Residence Fellowship. This residency program is created in honor of the late Nigerian Professor Tejumola Olaniyan and his remarkable intellectual legacy in the field of African literature and critical theory. The residency program welcomes applications from creative writers including novelists, short story writers, playwrights, poets and scriptwriters related to Africa and the African diaspora for a grant of 45,000 AED in total. The proposed project can be in Arabic or English (other languages will be considered). The residency invites recipients to Sharjah, UAE for a period of three months to complete their work.
What Type of Scholarship is this?
Fellowship
Who can apply for The Africa Institute Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers-in-Residence Fellowship?
The residency program welcomes applications from creative writers including novelists, short story writers, playwrights, poets and scriptwriters related to Africa and the African diaspora
All applications will be reviewed by The Africa Institute through a committee of peers of well-known writers. Three recipients will be chosen based on the quality of their proposal, and the demonstrated feasibility of completion within the timeframe of the residency.
Where will Award be Taken?
The residency invites recipients to Sharjah, UAE
What is the Benefit of The Africa Institute Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers-in-Residence Fellowship?
Recipients will have the opportunity to publish their texts through The Africa Institute’s publications program. Projects relating to theatre and film scripts can also be published as texts or receive support in facilitating productions. The project could be new or a work-in-progress and should be feasible for completion within the timeframe of the residency.
How Long will the Program Last?
The residency invites recipients for a period of three months to complete their work. The first term for 2022 will begin in September and run until November.
How to Apply for The Africa Institute Tejumola Olaniyan Creative Writers-in-Residence Fellowship:
Eligible Countries: The students of eligible countries of the region of Asia Pacific, West Asia, Africa (Burkina Faso, Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa, Swaziland), Caribbean, Central America, South America, Europe can apply for this scholarship.
To be taken at (country): Universities in Taiwan
Accepted Subject Areas: For undergraduate, masters and PhD courses offered at any of the participating University in Taiwan
About Scholarship: International education and training has long been one of the TaiwanICDF’s core operations, among many others. Human resources development programs play a vital role in assisting partner countries achieve sustainable development, and education is a crucial mechanism for training workforces in developing countries.
The TaiwanICDF provides scholarships for higher education and has developed undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D. programs in cooperation with renowned partner universities in Taiwan.
The scholarship recipients gets a full scholarship, including return airfare, housing, tuition and credit fees, insurance, textbook costs and a monthly allowance.
Type: Undergraduate, Masters and PhD Scholarship
Who is eligible to apply? An applicant must:
-Be a citizen of List of Countries Eligible (including select African countries) for TaiwanICDF Scholarship, and satisfy any specific criteria established by his or her country and/or government of citizenship.
-Neither be a national of the Republic of China (Taiwan) nor an overseas compatriot student.
-Satisfy the admission requirements of the partner university to which he or she has applied to study under a TaiwanICDF scholarship.
-Be able to satisfy all requirements for a Resident Visa (Code: FS) set by the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) set by the Ministry of the Interior, of the ROC (Taiwan) government (this means that the TaiwanICDF has the right to revoke a scholarship offered if an applicant cannot satisfy the visa requirements).
-Upon accepting a TaiwanICDF scholarship, not hold any other ROC(Taiwan) government-sponsored scholarship (such as the Taiwan Scholarship) in the same academic year in which the TaiwanICDF scholarship would be due to commence.
-Not be applying for a further TaiwanICDF scholarship in unbroken succession — applicants who have already held a TaiwanICDF scholarship must have returned to their home country for more than one year before re-applying.
-Have never had any scholarship revoked by any ROC (Taiwan) government agency or related institution, nor been expelled from any Taiwanese university.
Number of Scholarships: Not Specified
Scholarship Benefits and Duration: The TaiwanICDF provides each scholarship recipient with a full scholarship, including return airfare, housing, tuition and credit fees, insurance, textbook costs and a monthly allowance.
Undergraduate Program (maximum four years): Each student receives NT$12,000 per month (NT$144,000 per year) as an allowance for food and miscellaneous living expenses.
Master’s Program (maximum two years): Each student receives NT$15,000 per month (NT$180,000 per year) as an allowance for food and miscellaneous living expenses.
PhD Program (maximum four years; four-year PhD programs start from 2012): Each students receives NT$17,000 per month (NT$204,000 per year) as an allowance for food and miscellaneous living expenses.
How to Apply:
Applicants must complete an online application (found in Program Webpage link below). Then submit a signed, printed copy along with all other application documents to the ROC (Taiwan) Embassy/ Consulate (General)/ Representative Office/ Taiwan Technical Mission or project representative in their country.
Please note that each applicant can only apply for one program at a time. The applicant also needs to submit a separate program application to his/her chosen universities.
Visit Program Webpage for the Online Application System and more details about this scholarship.
The 2022 presidential election campaigns are being staged in the Philippines as the country is in the grip of a profound crisis. The year opened with a skyrocketing COVID-19 infection rate and soaring food and oil prices. The rival ruling class candidates for the presidency are openly plotting against democracy.
President Duterte talks to Philippine Army troops [Credit: Presidential Communications Operations Office]
The most recent voter opinion poll, conducted by Pulse Asia from December 6–11 and published on December 22, revealed that Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr, son of the former dictator, dominated the field, receiving support from 53 percent of polled voters nationwide.
His nearest competitor was Vice President Leni Robredo, head of the bourgeois opposition to the current Rodrigo Duterte administration, who was supported by 20 percent of those surveyed. While Robredo trails Marcos substantially her numbers have more than doubled since the last poll in September. Below her, were Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Senator Manny Pacquiao, who polled at 8 percent each.
The campaigns have been shut down by an explosive rise in COVID cases in the Philippines over the holidays. The Department of Health reported on Monday, that the country had seen a 222 percent growth rate in cases over the past two weeks, placing the Philippines back into the category of “high risk” country. On Sunday, the country reported a two-month high record of 4,600 new cases.
The capital region of Metro Manila has a test positivity rate of 19.6 percent. Fourteen instances of the Omicron variant have been documented thus far. While testing for the variant has been limited, infectious disease specialist Dr. Rontgene Solante told the press that it was “most likely” that the Philippines was already experiencing an Omicron-driven surge.
Metro Manila has been placed under Alert Level 3 until January 15, limiting most public gatherings. Unvaccinated individuals, including those who have received only one dose, are to be restricted to their homes.
Marcos, Robredo, and Pacquiao all announced that they were suspending all physical gatherings in their campaigns. Marcos was forced to close his campaign headquarters after more than 20 of his staff tested positive for COVID. Robredo is currently quarantined after a member of her own security detail tested positive for the virus.
The new surge of the pandemic will exacerbate already sharp social tensions. Millions remain unemployed as a result of job losses incurred during the first two years of the pandemic. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) reported that 46.1 million people in the country suffered from moderate to severe food insecurity, up by more than 2 million from 2019.
The ruling elite is responding to the threat of social upheaval with plots to end democracy in the country. The Duterte administration, over the course of its more than five years of rule, has overseen a systematic attack on basic democratic norms and civil liberties, with strong support from a historically unprecedented super-majority of all elite political factions.
The front-runner candidacy of Marcos, son of the hated dictator, has been the leading beneficiary of this assault. Duterte normalized the political rhetoric of dictatorship and repression, with the full sanction of the elite. What was unthinkable six years ago—a return of the Marcos dynasty to Malacañang presidential palace—now appears possible if not likely.
While there is widespread agreement in the ruling class that the trappings of democracy are incompatible with their need to suppress the emerging social struggles of the working class, there is not agreement on what faction of the elite will have their hands on the reins of power.
The official period for declaring candidacy in the 2022 election drew to a close in October and November of last year and witnessed the ignominious collapse of ruling-class support for Duterte. Duterte’s own daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, turned on him and announced that she was running as the vice-presidential candidate of Marcos, who was emerging as the consensus candidate of large sections of the elite. Duterte, who cannot run for re-election, found himself utterly isolated.
Duterte’s party, PDP-Laban, split in two. Senator Manny Pacquiao, long an ally of the president and former professional boxer, sought the party’s nomination as early as May, but Duterte had other plans, possibly intending to make his daughter the frontrunner. Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, loyal to the president and claiming control of PDP-Laban, expelled Pacquiao. Pacquiao, retaining a majority of PDP-Laban, expelled Cusi. Both now claim to control the party.
Everyone abandoned Duterte. The Cusi faction of PDP-Laban, scrambling to meet the deadline for declaration of candidates, put forward nominations for president and vice-president who did not stand a chance. They have now both dropped out. The ruling party has been reduced to a rump fraction, whose official sanction is in question, and was unable to field candidates.
On December 31, the Cusi faction of PDP-Laban filed a 20-page petition with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), to scrap the October deadlines for the filing of Certificates of Candidacy in the upcoming election. The deadlines, it claimed, were “unreasonable, unnecessary and legally impossible.” In other words, the petition argued that the rump PDP-Laban should be allowed to declare its candidates now. Further, the petition called for the printing of ballots, scheduled to begin on January 12, to be delayed until all cases “pending before the poll body” were resolved.
Should the petition be granted the effect would almost certainly be the indefinite delay of the presidential election currently scheduled for May 9. If PDP-Laban were allowed to file candidates two months after the official deadline, cases would be filed with Comelec to disqualify the new candidates. If ballots are not to be printed until all such cases are resolved, it is likely that elections would be delayed by a year.
The rival faction of PDP-Laban immediately stated that this was Cusi’s—and Duterte’s—intention. Vice Chair of the Pacquiao faction, Lutgardo Barbo, declared on Monday that the petition would result in “delaying and derailing the electoral process” and that they would use “failed elections [to] prolong their hold on power.”
Leila de Lima, running for Senate on Robredo’s ticket, similarly declared that a “no-election scenario” was likely the goal of the Cusi faction petition.
Senator Ping Lacson oversaw the torture apparatus of the Marcos dictatorship and is now running for president. He declared that should the polls be delayed, the 24 members of the Senate would appoint an acting president. As the offices of neither the president nor vice president would be filled in a failed election, the Senate president would become acting president by dint of the order of succession.
Lacson declared that “most of his colleagues have already agreed to his proposal.” Lacson’s running mate is current Senate President Tito Sotto and he has expressed agreement for this plot against democracy.
Among the cases currently pending before Comelec are a number of disqualification cases filed against Marcos. Marcos is charged with tax evasion. Under a law signed by his father, which has never been previously enforced, tax evasion is a crime of moral turpitude that if proven permanently disqualifies one from holding elected office.
That Marcos did not pay taxes from 1982 to 1985 is well substantiated, but he was subsequently elected to the Senate and no one objected. The martial law era legal code was rediscovered by the bourgeois opposition when Marcos’ presidential poll figures first came in.
Robredo, candidate of the bourgeois opposition, stands at the head of the widely hated Liberal Party. The Liberal Party was the leading political beneficiary of the ouster of Marcos senior in 1986. Immense popular hopes were placed in, and shattered by, the Liberal administration of Corazon Aquino. The Liberal Party administration of Benigno Aquino III, her son, was directly responsible for bringing Duterte, then a mayor, forward as a national political figure.
Unable to mobilize mass support, the bourgeois opposition seeks to disqualify Marcos on what amounts to a historical technicality. The entirety of the ruling elite is working to sabotage democracy in one way or another. Marcos and Duterte and Lacson are all plotting dictatorship, which they are seeking to impose before a social explosion erupts in the working class.
Fiji last week reported over a thousand new cases of COVID-19 in the community and one death, amid the third wave of a Delta outbreak and the likely spread of the Omicron variant.
Fiji military directing people at a testing centre in the Lami-Suva-Nausori containment areas, June 2021 [Credit: Republic of Fiji Military Forces via Twitter, @Rfmf_Media]
The Health Ministry confirmed 20 cases on Christmas Day, 109 on Boxing Day, 79 the following Monday and 815 on New Year’s Day. Fiji has recorded a total of 54,147 cases, most of them since the second wave began in April. After peaking in August, case numbers dropped away through September. The latest surge, which began last month, has produced 1,524 cases between 20 December and January 2.
The new wave coincides with the reckless decision by the Bainimarama government to open the country’s borders to international travel from December 1. The move is in line with the clamour from big business and political elites internationally for the global population to “live with the virus,” a homicidal policy that threatens millions more deaths. In the Pacific this agenda is being propelled by demands to restore the devastated tourism industry, deemed essential to the economies of island businesses.
Tourism Fiji last month confirmed 75,000 bookings for hotels and resorts until the end of January. Spokesman Brent Hill told Radio NZ that at the current rate of bookings tourism is “well on its way to becoming a billion-dollar industry again.” Fiji Airways has taken more than 200,000 bookings into 2022.
Tourism Fiji also recently launched the Open for Happiness advertising blitz with a website that has been viewed more than five million times. Hill said the campaign is aimed at a “largely white, largely affluent, largely burnt out kind of audience,” addressing the question; “in a post-COVID world, where actually are we going to find happiness? What is actually really making us happy?”
None of the dangers to the local population, let alone visitors, figure in any of the hype. Most of the anticipated tourists to Fiji are from Australia, New Zealand and the US, all countries experiencing uncontrolled outbreaks of both the Delta and Omicron variants.
Fiji recorded 30,000 visitor arrivals during December, of which some 300 have reportedly come with COVID-19, which was only subsequently discovered. Hill downplayed the dangers, saying all were vaccinated and none needed hospitalisation. They were isolating within segmented parts of their hotels.
With the highly transmissible variants having the potential to explode from a single case, this is a recipe for disaster. Radio NZ reported on December 27 that the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa in Nadi had advised its guests that “there are currently several guests at the resort who have returned positive COVID-19 tests,” warning people to “remain cautious” while following health guidelines.
The eruption of cases within Fiji and its main tourism markets has not prompted any shutdown of borders. Instead, the Health Ministry made minor changes to its travel protocols. Travelers must now produce a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, taken no more than two calendar days before the scheduled day of departure. Prior to this, they had to return a negative PCR test 72 hours before leaving for Fiji.
Visitors are required to spend three days at a Care Fiji Commitment hotel or resort, undergoing a test on day two of their stay. If they return a negative result, they are released on day three. The wearing of face masks in enclosed spaces is mandatory as well as at outdoor locations where groups of people gather.
The move to open the border follows longstanding refusals by Bainimarama to impose a full national lockdown, on the grounds that it would “destroy” the economy. When the reopening plan was announced in September it was criticised by sections of the establishment worried that it could trigger social opposition and political instability. Bill Gavoka, leader of the main opposition Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA), warned that the government should focus on “health first over the economy, which will fall into line.”
The death toll has meanwhile risen to 700, all but four since April. Health Secretary James Fong said there were another 619 COVID-19 positive patients who died from medical conditions they had before contracting the virus and were thus not included in the COVID figures. The latest death was a 62-year-old COVID patient who died at home on Christmas Day. He was fully vaccinated and had suffered severe respiratory distress.
The national 7-day rolling average of cases has escalated from 10 daily cases before Christmas to 190 on January 1. Fong said he could not confirm how many were of the Omicron variant but authorities were “working on the assumption that the Omicron variant is already here, and is being transmitted within the community.”
Genomic sequencing results of positive samples sent overseas are still to confirm if this is the case. Fong declared, “we should expect a large number of cases, and we will also expect that infections will occur in vaccinated persons and those who have previously been infected with the Delta variant.”
Repeating the mantra of governments internationally, Fong emphasised the government’s reliance on vaccines alone, saying “people who are vaccinated or had booster doses are far less likely to become sick enough to require hospitalisation.” As of 29 December, 92.1 percent of Fiji's adult population were fully vaccinated. There are also 39,954 children aged 12–17 vaccinated, while 58,283 teenagers are yet to be given their second injection.
More cases are expected in the outlying islands given the opening of maritime travel and the many social media postings of crowding on vessels and at social gatherings. These islands and the Northern Division were largely spared the Delta outbreak that affected the main island of Viti Levu earlier this year.
Other Pacific nations are pursuing a similar strategy. Quarantine and isolation-free travel between New Zealand and the Cook Islands is set to resume on January 14, despite the recent arrival of the Omicron variant into New Zealand. The dates for the reopening were initially announced in November but pushed back after the Cook Islands recorded its first case of COVID-19.
Australia and New Zealand are at the forefront of the reopening push, despite temporary disruptions to their schedules. Australia’s Morrison government reopened borders in December to vaccinated skilled migrants and foreign students, after a two-year ban. The eruption of the virulent Omicron variant only forced a brief two-week delay to allow health officials to get more “information” about the strain.
The New Zealand Labour-led government has postponed its phased border reopening plans from the middle of this month until the end of February, citing the rapid global spread of the Omicron variant. Plans to allow quarantine free entry to almost all foreign tourists from April have not, so far, been affected.
