The importance of the BRICS is no longer denied by anyone, even the President of the French Republic would like to invite himself to the next summit to be held next August, in South Africa. The BRICS are showing their desire for independence, and that of moving towards a resolutely multipolar world with its new international currency backed by gold. The divorce has now been recorded between the BRICS bloc and the “Western” bloc composed essentially of the United States, the United Kingdom and its Commonwealth, Europe and to a certain extent Japan, noting that the latter also seems to be gradually moving away from it, the sanctions against Russia becoming impossible to maintain for the Asian archipelago. The freezing of Russia's foreign exchange reserves (about six hundred billion US dollars) has set off alarm bells in many non-Western countries. He reminded a number of them that holding US dollars comes with political risk. This prompted many of them to restructure their international foreign exchange reserves: to hold fewer US dollars, to switch to other (smaller) currencies, but above all to buy more gold. On July 07, 2023, international financial media announced that the BRICS were about to come up with a new gold-backed currency. This new international currency would be the only credible alternative to the US dollar in international trade and financial transactions. China, with vast masses of gold, solid energy partnerships with Russia and the rest of the BRICS, could well launch a Yuan-Gold which would shake the international monetary system hard. This proposal for a new currency, which would see the light of day next August, is to be taken very seriously and many economists agree that this BRICS proposal is sound, considering that the BRICS represent approximately 3.2 billion people, or approximately 40% of the world's population, with a combined economic output almost as large as the economy of the United States of America. Other countries such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iran, Algeria, Argentina, and Kazakhstan might also want to join the BRICS club. The BRICS are a strong source of the gold produced in the world. BRICS “official” gold reserves stood at 5,452.7 tonnes in the first quarter of 2023 (current market value of around US$350 billion). The BRICS could create a new bank (the “BRICS bank”), financed by the gold deposits of their central banks. Physically deposited gold assets would appear on the asset side of the BRICS bank's balance sheet and could be denominated, for example, in "BRICS gold", gold representing one gram of physical gold. BRICS gold could now be used by BRICS countries and their trading partners as an international currency, as an international unit of account in global trade and financial transactions. Currently, the US dollar accounts for nearly 60% of global asset reserves, held in US Treasury bonds. The US dollar still largely dominates international trade and its market share even crushes the competition. Nearly 7 trillion US dollars are traded every day against only 2 trillion euros, its nearest competitor. The yuan comes in fifth with a paltry $500 billion a day (China holds over $3 trillion US). The depreciation of the US dollar will have a definite impact on all world economies. All countries with a trade deficit, starting with the United States, will be the most affected. A real economic war is underway between Western countries on one side and the rest of the world on the other, which no longer to blindly follow Uncle Sam's proposals. This new gold-backed international trading currency will have the effect of a tsunami and could destabilize the global economic and financial structure, as it would likely lead to a sharp increase in the demand for gold from current levels, and at the same time devalue the purchasing power of the official currencies, not only the US dollar but also the BRICS currencies. The launch of this gold-backed currency is expected to be decided at the end of August (August 22-24), at the meeting of BRICS countries in Johannesburg, South Africa. One thing is certain, all economists and financiers on an international scale will follow this next BRICS meeting very closely...

In twenty years, China has become a leading player in Africa. Every three years, it organizes China-Africa economic summits with African leaders, and it invests massively in infrastructure and mining. In the first five months of 2023, the total import and export volume between China and Africa reached $113.5 billion. Also, it welcomes tens of thousands of African students every year…. A way to train and influence the future elites of this continent. The United States is not left out. The head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, while in Nigeria, conveyed the message that the United States takes the African continent and its people very seriously and promised a revival rapid relation with African leaders. No sooner said than done, in December 2022, the 2nd United States-Africa Summit was held in Washington. At the same time, the former colonial powers of France and Great Britain are trying to maintain their domination. India, Brazil, Turkey, Germany, Russia, South Korea and Japan have also entered the race and are offering different types of investments as well as cooperation offers. All these countries see the potential offered by the African continent marked by the rapid growth of its large middle class, by an increasingly educated population, by its abundant natural resources. What about Canada ? AND CANADA? Canada's intimate relationship with the African continent dates back to the early 20th century. For decades, it has helped many African countries to build educational centers (colleges, universities), roads and works of art, to dig wells and mines and also to maintain peace. Until the early 2000s, Canadian representation was very present and radiated in Africa. Then around 2010, the Canadian presence slowly eroded on the African continent. One of the explanations is that, given its geographical position, Canada preferred to promote the development of its relations with Latin America and the Indo-Pacific region. This situation has had profound diplomatic and economic repercussions with the African continent. Today, Canada`s economic presence in Africa is essentially limited to the mining, oil and gas exploration and extraction sector. IS THERE STILL POTENTIAL FOR CANADA? Following a recently published Immar Opinion Survey (https://www.immar-intl.com/) (CIAN Barometer of Opinion Leaders in Africa, conducted by IMMAR) for 12 African countries comprising nearly 60% of the population of the continent, Canada ranks third (3rd) behind the United States and Germany as the non-African country with the best image (France is ranked seventh (7th)). When asked which are the most beneficial foreign partners for the continent, Canada comes second after Germany (France ranks eleventh (11th)). We can see that there is still a great deal of sympathy for Canada and its expertise. Canada must quickly get to work to restore its long and deep relationship with the African continent. It must quickly reaffirm its commitment by renewing direct and regular contact with African leaders, reopening embassies, and increasing regular meetings between leaders. The diversification of the African economy and the growth of its middle class require massive investments in several areas including infrastructure, information and communication technologies, energy, agri-food and transport. Canada has the means, the expertise and the know-how to support Africa. On February 10, in the heart of the Senate of Canada, the Senator of Canada of Cameroonian origin, the Honorable Amina Gerba called for the awakening of a Canada-Africa relationship full of potential, saying this: "I realize the dreams that Canada will sign a free trade agreement with the Zlecaf (African Free Trade Area) and put its signature on the inclusion of Africa in the modern economy on the same basis as other major economic regions of the world ". Like many Canadians, she is convinced of the long-standing ties and the enormous potential between Canada and this essential continent that is Africa… Canada has a past there, and could have a very bright future!

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a technology that has been around for decades. Many businesses today are using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve customer service and operational efficiency, among other things, and allow businesses to save money while providing convenient and additional services to their customers. employees and their customers.

From mobile phones to laptops, connected watches, electric transport, and the energy needs of cities…all share a common challenge: the battery and its charging and storage capacity. Current batteries are in dire need of improvement.

The combined effects of population growth, accelerated urbanization and industrialization, the increase in irrigated crop areas, as well as the acceleration in the frequency of extreme weather events, are creating an increase in global demand in fresh water. In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly explicitly recognized the human right to water and sanitation. Everyone has the right to sufficient, continuous, safe, acceptable and affordable access to water for personal and household use. Today, water scarcity affects around 40% of the world's population and, according to United Nations and World Bank forecasts, If trends continue, drought could put up to 700 million people at risk. displacement by 2030 as 1.8 billion people will live in countries or regions with complete water scarcity. The acceleration in the frequency of extreme weather events is definitely affecting many regions of the globe, in duration and over increasingly vast territories. Since 1970, the Mediterranean, Southern Africa, South Asia and the Sahel have experienced longer and more intense droughts due to the decrease and scarcity of rainfall on water resources. Unlike subtropical regions, regions located in the northern hemisphere see their precipitation increase. Heavier precipitation is already observed in the Americas, Northern Europe, Central Asia and Northern Asia. This precipitation results in greater runoff, which in turn impacts ecosystems and generates floods and landslides. Also, in its report, UNESCO insists on the fact that all the countries of the world run risks related to the quality of water. For industrialized countries, the most serious problem is that of agricultural runoff, which causes water contamination by fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. In low-income countries, UNESCO estimates that 80% of wastewater is discharged without even being treated, which has impacts both on the health of communities and on the environment around them. Around the world, insufficient water treatment and lack of sanitation cause people to fall ill. Contamination of drinking water is estimated to cause 485,000 deaths each year from diarrheal diseases, among others, presence of arsenic, fluoride or nitrate. OECD projections indicate a 55% increase in water demand between 2000 and 2050. The increase will come mainly from manufacturing activities (+400%), electricity production (+140%) and domestic uses (+130%). Given the competition between these demands, it will hardly be possible to increase the volumes intended for irrigation. Sources used for drinking water and irrigation will continue to evolve and will likely rely increasingly on groundwater and new sources of supply, including wastewater. Improving the management of all water resources to guarantee the quantity and quality of supply for all the world's population is and will be the challenge for humanity. The availability of drinking water will depend on the capacity of man to retain it!

Several entities from countries like China, Russia, India, Nigeria, and Algeria are currently abandoning the US dollar in international trade agreements. The invisible "conflict" between China and the West is pushing more and more countries to want to trade in their own currency. Brazil, the largest country in the Western Hemisphere, recently concluded a trade agreement with China. They will now trade in their own currency. A secondary economy is being created in the world completely independent of the USA. Since 1944, the privileged position of the dollar has given the United States disproportionate influence over other economies including countries in Africa, Asia, South America and the Middle East. The dollar as the world's reserve currency is now coming to an end. According to International Monetary Fund (IMF) data on the currency composition of official foreign exchange reserves, the dollar's share of global foreign exchange reserves has already fallen sharply. At the end of 2022, the American currency accounted for 58% of foreign exchange reserves, compared to 71% in 1999. Interestingly, countries have not adopted the British pound sterling, the euro or the Japanese yen as replacements, (1 /4) a quarter of transactions moved to the Chinese renminbi (yuan) – and the remaining (3/4) three-quarters to the currencies of smaller countries that had had a limited role in the past as currencies reserve. In 2014, the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) began to formulate a plan to detach from the US dollar, setting up a currency that could be used between BRICS countries. In March 2023, the Russian President said "about (2/3) two-thirds of trade between Russia and China already uses the yuan and the Russian ruble and that he favors the use of the yuan when exchanges with Asian, African and Latin American countries. Note that China and Brazil have signed a historic agreement between them to use the yuan for mutual trade. Right now, many countries are looking at different alternatives as the rising value of the US dollar is crippling their economies and contributing to the rising cost of living, the Indian rupee has fallen almost 10% in 2023 against the dollar, the pound Egyptian lira by 20% and the lira in Turkey (where prices more than doubled) fell by 28%. The cost of currency convertibility with the US dollar in trade between African countries is close to $5 billion a year and the declining role of the US dollar in international trade has encouraged African nations to take steps to break free. of American influence by strengthening their own national currencies or working on new currencies that would be used for trade on the continent. For example, the East African Community (EAC), comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and South Sudan, is working on a regional currency called the East African Shilling. (agriculture being the main driver of these economies with the service sector contributing the most to GDP). The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is also considering creating a common currency. SADC brings together sixteen countries in Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean: South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Comoros. 5 of them are French speaking. In 2021, the African Continental Free Trade Area (ZLECAF / AFCFTA) came into operation, more than 54 African countries have signed this agreement. (ZLECAF/ AFCFTA), called on members to trade in local African currencies. Speaking in late March, an official from (ZLECAF/AFCFTA) said the bloc was working on a pan-African payment and settlement system to allow local currencies to be used in trade between countries on the continent. Due to the recent euro/dollar crisis which affected the CFA Franc, the CEMAC bloc, which counts among its members Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea, announced that would stop using the CFA franc (FCFA), opting for a complete name change. Cross-border trade between the countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS/ECOWAS) is already done through the use of local currencies. On December 21, 2019, the Heads of State of the 15 countries of the (ECOWAS/ECOWAS) region adopted the symbol of ECO – “EC” for the future currency of West Africa. The launch of this new single currency is scheduled for 2027 (On May 20, 2020, the French Council of Ministers adopted a bill which ratifies the end of the CFA franc. The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) will no longer be obliged to deposit half of its foreign exchange reserves with the French Treasury). Other regional blocs, including the East African Community are in talks with the African Export-Import Bank to join this movement. The Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), made up of six countries, is also planning to join West Africa in creating a common regional currency (ECO). In 2013, African leaders, under the auspices of the African Union (AU), agreed on a plan to address the myriad challenges facing the continent. This plan has been dubbed "Agenda 2063", it sets out a vision, among other things, to end wars on the continent, develop infrastructure and allow freedom of movement on the continent. The Flagship Projects of Agenda 2063 are: · Connect all African capitals and economic centers by a network of high-speed trains. · Accelerate intra-African trade and strengthen Africa's trading position in the global market. · The development of the Inga dam in DR Congo to produce 43,200 MW of electricity. · Remove restrictions on Africans to travel, work and live on their own continent. · End all wars, civil conflicts, gender-based violence, violent conflicts and prevent genocide. · Creation of a single African air transport market (Saatm). · Strengthen the African space industry. · Create an African virtual and electronic university. · Develop an African encyclopedia (encyclopaedia Africana) to provide an authoritative resource on the authentic history of Africa and African life. In 2023, following a growing shortage of dollars in the country, Kenya signed an agreement with three international oil companies to allow them to buy oil in Kenyan shillings rather than US dollars. This saved the country $500 million (KSh 66.8 billion) every month by purchasing fuel in this way. To promote trade with African states without resorting to dollars or euros, Iran has proposed a common bank. In 2022, trade between Iran and Africa amounted to nearly $1 billion. In the same vein, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2022, granted 60 authorizations and invited the central banks of 18 countries including Botswana, Fiji, Germany, Guyana, Israel, Kenya , Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Oman, Russia, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda and United Kingdom to open Vostro Rupee accounts (Special Vostro Rupee Accounts – SVRA), in order to transact with them in Indian rupees instead of US dollars. Although many African countries are well on their way to abandoning the dollar, they have some catching up to do with other nations that are further along this path. In March 2023, Brazil, the largest economy in South America and the economic giant that is China will now trade in their own currencies: in Brazilian real and in yuan. More room for the dollar. During the same period, the central banks of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, discussed ditching the US dollar, euro, yen and pound, and using local currencies to trade with each other (according to the IMF, the combined GDP of ASEAN is about $3.9 trillion,). The Middle East is following suit, with Saudi Arabia in early 2023 advising the country, an American ally and the world's largest oil exporter, that it was open to talks about trading currencies other than the American dollar. France, too, could distance itself from the dollar (in April 2023, the French president, following his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, declared that Europe must reduce its dependence on what he called "the extraterritoriality of the American dollar". In November 2022, the government of Ghana declared that the country was at high risk of debt distress because its currency, the cedi, had depreciated against the US dollar, increasing its external debt by $6 billion this year alone. Ghana is working on a new policy, to buy oil with gold instead of US dollars as part of government measures to strengthen the cedi (Ghana would buy gold locally with cedis by the intermediary of the Bank of Ghana, then would exchange the gold against fuel (oil) in the form of barter with the United Arab Emirates for example). There are still far too many hurdles for a cryptocurrency to become the global currency soon, but in many countries, especially African and South American countries, cryptocurrencies are a real contender for both the dollar and local currencies. In Africa, for example, 1.4 million consumers use Yellow Card which offers a similar experience to Block's Cash App. It is the largest centralized cryptocurrency exchange in Africa and is a lifeline for many who do not have access to other acceptable currencies to trade with. Yellow Card customers can receive cryptocurrency from anywhere in the world and only pay network fees between five cents and $1, making it a credible competitor to Western Union or MoneyGram. This is a huge help for many Africans, who depend on money sent from abroad. The latest data from the World Bank shows that in sub-Saharan Africa, up to 65% of adults do not have access to a formal bank. Meanwhile, it is more expensive to send money to countries in this region than to any other part of the world. On average, it costs $15.60 (7.8%) to send $200 to or from Africa using traditional banking and can be as high as $38 or 19% in some countries. In April 2023, former South African President Thabo Mbeki said many countries are considering alternatives to the dollar to avoid the impact of US sanctions, a shift in historical perspective driven by a global desire not to be subject to power. American through its currency. Also, the recent economic upheavals have reinforced criticism of the role of the dollar. Actions taken by the Fed to raise interest rates to keep inflation under control led to the US$ back strengthening against emerging market currencies. This presents a dual problem for global economies that hold and incur dollar-denominated debt. Higher US interest rates tend to increase the relative value of the dollar in foreign exchange markets. The cost of countries' debts increases as more local currency is needed to pay off each dollar of debt. This traps countries in a loop of financial obligation. At the same time, shifts in geopolitical alliances are gaining momentum as the rivalry between the United States and China intensifies. A series of moves by the BRICS bloc, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are challenging the dominance of the US dollar. The BRICS members, with a trade surplus of $387 billion in 2022, the accumulation of substantial gold reserves and representing 40% of the world's population and a third of the world's economic output believe that a new currency could rationalize the transactions, currently hampered by currency conversions and associated costs, and as such would lead to a gradual decline in the dominance of the dollar. It seems that we are heading towards a multipolar reserve currency situation where national currencies, new currencies and cryptocurrencies will take precedence against the dollar. On July 22, 1944, in the economic agreements that shaped the outlines of the post-World War II international financial system, Africa was largely ignored. (60) sixty years later, while the Western world is facing demographic decline, Africa is booming, brimming with a young and increasingly tech-savvy population, and is finally taking center stage internationally.

The UAE government is taking concrete steps to establish a strong digital economy and make use of the advantages and benefits provided by digital transformation. The UAE is considered one of the most advanced countries in the field of technology and the adoption of modern technologies, and it has one of the highest smart phones penetration rates. These accomplishments have helped to reinforce the competitiveness of the UAE’s national economy, according to indexes published by international organisations, including the World Economic Forum, which ranked the UAE as the leading Arab and regional e-commerce centre in 2017. At the country’s Golden Jubilee Anniversary in 2021, UAE government announced their agenda that would empower the next generation to advance the UAE’s economy development. The “We The UAE 2031” strategy, outlining the country’s development path for the next ten years. The first set of Projects are now well underway, with one of the key focus areas being the digital economy. While the UAE has made many notable strides in technology advancement, four priorities will be particularly critical in establishing one of the world’s most resilient digital economies: inclusive connectivity, sustainability, local skills development, and industrial digitization. The UAE’s digital economy contributes 4.3 per cent to the GDP, with expectations that this rate will significantly increase in the coming period. 40 per cent of the UAE’s population uses government digital services more than once a week. On the retail front, eCommerce in the UAE is growing rapidly and is playing a major role in expanding sales, while traditional retail sales in the country are slowing down. The country is expected to further reinforce its position in the digital economy, supported by factors that include developments to eCommerce, improvements to the information technology infrastructure, the increased spread of Internet services, the use of smartphones and the expansion of electronic payment systems, as well as significant government support for digital transformation. How digital technology is transforming Dubai, UAE Dubai’s technological journey began in 1999 with the announcement of its first ICT strategy, which was followed by the launch of Dubai Internet City, Dubai e-government, Dubai Smart Government and, in 2014, the Smart Dubai initiative. During the past 20 years, the numerous digital transformation initiatives in the city have driven public acceptance and adoption of ICT in all aspects of life. Today, Dubai, a city of 2.5 million people and one of seven Emirates in the UAE, has one of the highest levels of ICT adoption in the region, both by the public and government: · Dubai is already a highly connected and digitally literate society. · Residents actively use online services and social media. · The ongoing goal is to provide 90% of the daily life needs of city residents through digital services in order to ease their lives. This includes healthcare, education, culture, housing, entertainment, community, and volunteering services, among others. The digitalization services of Leclerc Consulting Group in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have a team of enthusiasts always ready to support you in your digital transformation process and in your business strategies. Find us on Facebook, Linkedin or on www.leclercconsultinggroup.com. Get closer to digitalization with LECLERC CONSULTING GROUP.

From the rise of hybrid work to the rise of inflation, the lives of companies and people are affected by an economic, political, and social context punctuated by a series of major events and transformations on a global scale. Employees have discovered the benefits of teleworking and 86% of them want to continue teleworking with an ideal average of 2 days a week. For companies, the challenge is then to find a hybrid organization that meets their expectations in terms of flexibility. Ecological & environmental concerns and considerations are increasingly important in the lives of employees, they care much more today about the commitments made by companies in ecological and environmental terms. Also, companies and employees must adapt to new challenges: inflation, rising energy costs and unprecedented difficulties in supplying products and services. CHALLENGE 1: PURCHASING POWER In summer 2022, inflation had reached a record 6.1% in just one year (it was 5.8% in May 2023 - source National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE)). Inflation drastically reduces the purchasing power of households, which must continue to assume necessary expenses such as those related to housing and food. Solutions will have to be found to best limit the impact of inflation on the purchasing power of employees. CHALLENGE 2 : WORKING TIME FLEXIBILITY After the teleworking implemented during the health crisis, the world of work continues its structural transformation. Concretely, spending two hours on public transport to get to work is no longer to the taste of employees! The organizational model traditionally represented by “9 a.m. to 6 p.m.” is increasingly rejected by employees because it is no longer adapted to today’s reality. Employees are seeking more meaningful work, a greater focus on well-being with considerations such as greater time and location flexibility, and more personalized and agile job models and career paths. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 47.8 million people in the United States quit their jobs in 2021, the highest number on record… since at least 2001. In what has been dubbed 'the Big quit', resignations accounted for 69.3% of total separations in 2021. CHALLENGE 3 : SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY With rising fuel prices and increasingly heavy traffic in metropolitan areas, solutions will have to be found to facilitate mobility to the workplace while taking into account ecological considerations. To attract new talents and keep them, the actions proposed in the context of sustainable mobility will be decisive in the years to come (i.e. bicycle rental, transport shuttle, electric terminal, etc.). CHALLENGE 4 : IMPROVE THE BALANCE OF WORK/PERSONAL LIFE For employees, work/life balance is priority number 1 (JLL barometer on employees' new work preferences, April 2022). Companies must innovate and offer solutions to support their employees on a daily basis so that they are not parasitized by organizational concerns and focus on their work. Quality of life, health and well-being have become the primary concerns of employees, even ahead of the guarantee of a comfortable salary, which now comes in third place. The prospect of a better quality of life is the number one reason that drives employees to leave their jobs today. CONCLUSION As the gap between what companies offer and employee expectations widens, it is essential for companies to review and reinvent their value propositions to their current and future hybrid employees. Social interactions play a prominent role and remain the main reason employees return to the office today, so the new role of corporate offices is to become this epicenter of social relations and innovation.

Graphene is the thinnest material known, only one atom thick. According to Graphene-info, it is 200 times stronger than steel (very resistant). Produced for the first time in 2004, from graphite, graphene has unique properties that could make it the main material for batteries of the future. In theory, the higher thermal conductivity of a graphene battery would allow it to be charged 5 times faster than current batteries and perform 5 times more charge cycles. It is the “miracle material” for the cars of tomorrow. In 2021, the Chinese car brand GAC (Guangzhou Automobile Corporation) presented the very first vehicle, equipped with a graphene battery, which can be recharged to 80% in just 8 minutes. A feat! Telecommunications are also part of the game, Samsung, Panasonic, Xiaomi and Huawei are already working on new phone models, equipped with graphene batteries. The full charging time of future smartphones could thus drop below 5 minutes. Graphene battery demand will affect all industrial sectors, from robotics to aerospace to solar energy. This new generation of battery will bring us into a new energy era. According to Allied Market Research, the global graphene market could reach $875 million by 2027, with an average annual growth rate of +40.2%. It's a race against time that many companies around the world have decided to embark on!

“….Each time we visit the grandfather who is over 90 years old today, he always has something to teach us. On our last visit he told us how the days were glorious in the past, how the world was green with forests that were home to all kinds of flora and fauna. “The world was a happy green village at that time. This was before the felling of trees and the destruction of our environment due to people's voracious ambitions. He told us how Ubuntu ruled the community and used to take care of both society and its environment. I then learned that Ubuntu means the fellowship of people working together for the common good of the community…” UBUNTU…. In Africa and more particularly in West Africa, we have seen in recent years persistent climate variability, extreme weather conditions such as floods, droughts and changes in rainfall. These phenomena were largely caused by human activities and considerable natural phenomena compared to previous years. In the long run, this leads to severe environmental pollution and degradation of natural resources. Several challenges can impede the progress of sustainable development. In Africa, one of the major challenges is the lack of financial resources and the awareness of the populations. Africa faces huge climate change challenges yet receives only 5% of climate change funding. Thus, despite the passion of Africans for climate change, the lack of funding is very worrying, preventing the implementation of strong actions, including information and awareness campaigns among populations and societies. Sustainable development in Africa, and more particularly in West Africa, requires commitment and consistency from all stakeholders at all levels of government. The change desired by the World to maintain planetary integrity will be possible, when we all take care of the environment for ourselves and for our future generations. To address the already worrying current situation, strong environmental laws and policies must be enacted and implemented and adequate funding should be allocated. Community mobilization and sensitization programs should also be continuously carried out in the region and sub-regions of West Africa and beyond. Efforts to protect the planet, particularly in West Africa, require a change in the attitudes of citizens and governments. Protecting the planet is everyone's business.

At Leclerc Consulting Group, we believe that environmental, social and governance (ESG) risk is an investment risk, and actions to protect the environment and society through strong governance are essential for our future. We strive to bring together common-sense approaches to our business with the goal of forging a better future for all. Through our ESG reporting approach, we take into account the environmental and social factors that we can most directly and quickly influence. Using an action priority matrix, we quickly identify where to focus our initial efforts, then use this information to determine which ESG framework we can adapt by achieving goals at hand. For years we have designed, implemented and maintained comprehensive and inclusive practices for a more optimal system at all levels of our operations.

Should you digitize your business? What is the impact on your business of a good digital presence? Do all companies absolutely have to go digital? This article accompanied by the podcast published on Spotify by LA ROUTE DIGITALE answers your questions! We explain the digital challenges and why it is becoming crucial to launch the digital transformation of your company. La route digitale | ( Philippe Colpron, Executive Vice President of the Aftermarket Division of ZF Group ) This year 2023 can be considered the year of hyper-visibility and over-information. The particular context has changed many of our habits. Between awareness and questioning, work is also changing. The digitalization of companies has become more than necessary. It has proven to be vital and requires us to get through this troubled period by affirming its DNA, while satisfying customers with increasingly pressing and more ethical expectations. Engineer with digital tablet working on networking project. Digitization, like ethics, is indeed at the heart of companies. We hear a lot about digital transformation, but it is not so easy to conceptualize it, especially since it encompasses many dimensions. Teleworking, remote, whatever name you give it, almost 100% of the tertiary professions were forced to apply it during the first confinement in the world. Since the launch of the Internet, uses and consumption habits have changed considerably. Letters have become e-mails, shops are transformed into e-commerce sites, shows, conferences and fairs into e-fairs, web forums or webinars. The adoption of these practices has been democratized, even imposed by force of circumstance, since March 2020. Businesswoman use computer while use digitization display for monitoring the data in business office. The digital transformation of companies consists in integrating digital tools at all levels of the company, that is to say in all its activities. Both internal activities such as human resources, and external activities such as sales, marketing or the development of offers and services. It aims to improve your growth by connecting the digital and physical universe of your company, while integrating digital tools to optimize your organization, your processes and your user experience. In summary It is essential to digitize your professional activity to : Respond to radical changes in consumer habits; Keep the link with your customers and create one with your prospects; Create a climate of trust through the transparency and personalization of your relationships with your targets; Simplify the human relationship via your digital presence; Be instantly available and accessible from anywhere.