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Merck Foundation calls for action together with 13 African First Ladies to Build Healthcare Capacity

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4 years ago

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Merck

More than 10,000 participants attended the hybrid Luminary – onsite and online

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, November 29, 2022/APO Group/ — 

Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej and African First Ladies of Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, The Gambia,  Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Angola and Central Africa Inaugurate 9th Edition of Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com) Africa Asia Luminary 2022; African First Ladies marked together the 5th Anniversary of Merck Foundation and 10 year journey of their development programs  by sharing the impact of their partnership programs with Merck Foundation to build healthcare capacity, support girl education and break infertility stigma; More than 10,000 participants including healthcare providers, policymakers, researchers, academia and media representatives from 70 English, French, Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries attended the hybrid Luminary – onsite and online to benefit from scientific and social sessions to address social issues and advance healthcare capacity in 32 critical and underserved medical specialties.

Merck Foundation reported the impact of providing 1470 scholarships to doctors from 50 countries in 32 critical and underserved specialties such as; Oncology, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Preventive, Endocrinology, Fertility, Embryology, Reproductive Care, Respiratory Care, Acute and Intensive Care, Neonatal Care, Pediatric Emergency, Advanced Surgery, Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine, Ophthalmology, Psychiatry, Palliative Care and Pain Management and more; Link to the Facebook live steam of Inaugural Session of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary & African First Ladies High Level Panel: http://bit.ly/3XE4EWp

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, conducted their annual conference, the 9th Edition of “Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary” on 15th & 16th November 2022, as a hybrid conference (onsite and online). The conference was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of both of Executive Board of E.Merck KG and Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and Chairperson of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, along with African First Ladies of 13 Countries;

  • H.E. Mrs. NEO JANE MASISI, The First Lady of the Republic of Botswana
  • H.E. Madam ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE, The First Lady of the Republic of Burundi
  • H.E. Madam DENISE NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI, The First Lady of the Democratic Republic of The Congo
  • H.E. Mrs. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, The First Lady of the Republic of The Gambia
  • H.E. Mrs. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO, The First Lady of the Republic of Ghana
  • H.E. Mrs. CLAR MARIE WEAH, The First Lady of the Republic of Liberia
  • H.E. Mrs. MONICA CHAKWERA, The First Lady of the Republic of Malawi
  • H.E. Mrs. ISAURA FERRÃO NYUSI, The First Lady of the Republic of Mozambique
  • H.E. Mrs. MONICA GEINGOS, The First Lady of the Republic of Namibia
  • H.E. Dr. FATIMA MAADA BIO, The First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone
  • H.E. Mrs. MUTINTA HICHILEMA, The First Lady of the Republic of Zambia
  • H.E. Dr. ANA DIAS LOURENÇO, The First Lady of the Republic of Angola
  • H.E. Madam BRIGITTE TOUADERA, The First Lady of Central Africa

Merck Foundation CEO, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej emphasized, “I am very proud to welcome my dear sisters, our Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers, the First Ladies of 13 African Countries, who are also the Ambassadors of Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother”. We are together celebrating the 5th Anniversary of Merck Foundation and 10th Anniversary of our programs since 2012 which aim to build healthcare & media capacity and raise awareness on a wide range of sensitive and critical social and health issues like Supporting Girl Education, Ending Child Marriage, Stopping GBV, Breaking Infertility Stigma, Ending FGM, Women Empowerment, and Diabetes Awareness.

“I am proud that Merck Foundation has provided till today, more than 1470 scholarships to young doctors from 50 countries in 32 critical and underserved specialties. This is a great milestone of transforming patient care landscape and leading Africa to a better, healthier and stronger future. I am happy to hear from my dear sisters their experiences and success stories  in their respective countries, together we will be an important part of Africa’s legacy.” added Senator Kelej.

H.E. Mrs. NEO JANE MASISI, The First Lady of Botswana & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother said, ”Our partnership with Merck Foundation started in 2018 and since then, we have achieved very important milestones . Together with Merck Foundation, we launched a Poster Contest on “Stop GBV” initiative to end Gender-Based Violence in Botswana and Merck Foundation provided 20 Sewing Machines to the women groups who suffer GBV across Botswana to be able to generate monthly income. Moreover, more than 31 scholarships were provide for our local Doctors in Botswana in 32 different underserved and critical specialties such as: Diabetes, Endocrinology, Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Oncology, Respiratory Medicines, Acute Medicines and Sexual and Reproductive Medicines”.

H.E. Mrs. ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE, The First Lady of Burundi & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother stated, “I am very proud of the partnership we have with Merck Foundation. Through our long-term partnership, 47 scholarships have been provided for our local doctors in critical and underserved specialities such as Diabetes, Oncology, Fertility & Embryology, Sexual & Reproductive care, I am very happy to share that we have succeeded to establish the first public IVF center in Burundi and Merck Foundation has provided training for the staff of Fertility Specialists, Embryologists and also technicians, who are the first local experts in my country, we are making history in Burundi.”

H.E. Madam DENISE NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI, The First Lady of Democratic Republic of The Congo & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother said, “I would like to greatly acknowledge our valuable partnership with Merck Foundation that we started in 2020, and in a very short time, we have together achieved a lot. I am Proud to share that Merck Foundation have provided 77 scholarships to our doctors in the fields of Oncology, Fertility, Embryology, and Diabetes, which gave us our first Fertility specialists & Embryologists. Together, we also conducted the Online Health Media Training for our journalists to create a culture shift, to break the silence, and be the voice of the voiceless in order to raise awareness on sensitive social and health issues like Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM and Stopping GBV, Diabetes early detection and prevention”.

H.E. Mrs. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, The First Lady of Republic of The Gambia & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother emphasized, “Our partnership journey is going from strength to strength as we have achieved many important and significant milestones since 2017, when I hosted Merck Foundation CEO and together, we launched the programs in my country. Through the partnership with Merck Foundation, 32 scholarships have been provided to young Gambian doctors in medical specialties. And, we are making history by providing training to first specialists in many fields such as Oncology, Respiratory, Fertility, Embryology, Reproductive Care, Diabetes, neonatal care, Endocrinology and more. It is history in the making.”

H.E. Mrs. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO, The First Lady of Ghana & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother emphasized, “I have been working closely with Merck Foundation to empower women in general and infertile women in specific, not only through creating a culture shift but by also making the fertility, sexual and reproductive care available for them and their husbands whenever they need it, nationwide. We have been able to provide more than 110 scholarships of 32 specialty training in the fields of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Respiratory, Acute Medicine, Sexual and Reproductive medicine, Embryology, Respiratory, Critical care, Psychiatry, General Surgery, Dermatology, Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine, Gastroenterology, Neuroimaging for Research, Pain Management, Rheumatology, and Neonatal Medicine. All these fields are very critical to our country which I consider a great milestone to transform patient care landscape in my country”.

H.E. Mrs. CLAR MARIE WEAH, The First Lady of Liberia & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother said, “I am very happy to work closely with Merck Foundation to empower infertile women through access to information, education, health and change of mindset. Merck Foundation also provided Sanitary Napkin Production Machine and raw materials, this will really help our young girls. I truly appreciate our partnership and acknowledge their smart and serious strategy to provide specialty training for our local doctors. Till today, 37 scholarships have been provided to our doctors in many critical and underserved specialties. This is a huge achievement for us, and we are definitely making history in Libera by training the first specialists in many medical fields such as: Infertility, Embryology, Oncology and Diabetes”.

H.E. Mrs. MONICA CHAKWERA, The First Lady of Malawi & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother expressed, “I have worked closely with Merck Foundation since 2020 to define the right strategy to build healthcare capacity, empower infertile women, and support girl education in Malawi. With the support of Merck Foundation and their “Empowering Berna” program , 13 women have transformed their lives as they got a chance to establish their own small businesses so that they can be financially independent; and under the ‘Educating Linda’ program, we provided scholarships of 60 Malwian school girls to continue thier education till they graduate. Moreover, 33 scholarships have been provided to young Malawian doctors in 32 critical medical specialties such as Fertility & Embryology, Diabetes, Endocrinology, Oncology, Internal Medicine, Sexual & Reproductive Medicines, Ousmane emergency, respiratory care, acute care and more. My journey with Merck Foundation has definitely been amazing, very impactful and efficient”.

H.E. Mrs. ISAURA FERRÃO NYUSI, The First Lady of Mozambique & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother emphasized, “I am very impressed with initiatives of Merck Foundation under the “More Than a Mother” Campaign. We recently conducted our First Online Health Media Training for our journalists to emphasize on the important role that media plays to influence our society to raise awareness on a wide range of social and health issues. The training session benefitted many of our journalists. Together with Merck Foundation, I am fully committed to working closely to introduce more such innovative ideas that engage different sectors to create a culture shift. Moreover, 14 scholarships have been provided to our doctors for the Online Diabetes Master course, a unique course specially developes in Portuguese language so that our local doctors can benefit from it, under Merck Foundation’s  Nationwide Diabetes Blue Points Program”.

H.E. Mrs. MONICA GEINGOS, The First Lady of Namibia & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother said “I am glad to have this ongoing long-term beneficial partnership with Merck Foundation. I am particularly excited as Merck More Than a Mother Ambassador, as together we have been doing amazing work in the country to empower women living with infertility through access to information, education, information, change of mindset and economic empowerement. Moreover, 53 scholarships have been provided to young Namibian doctors in the fields of Diabetes, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Respiratory Medicines, Acute Medicines and Sexual and Reproductive Medicines, and many more. For Namibia, 2.4M population, we will soon have more than 18 skilled and trained doctors nationwide  to assist couples living with infertility or need any sexual & reproductive help, this will be a significant contribution towards improving women health in general and reproductive health in specific”.

I am proud that Merck Foundation has provided till today, more than 1470 scholarships to young doctors from 50 countries in 32 critical and underserved specialties

H.E. Dr. FATIMA MAADA BIO, The First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone stated, “Our partnership with Merck Foundation is since 2018 and we highly appreciate their programs. Together, we have provided 46 scholarships to our doctors from different provinces of Sierra Leone in the fields of Oncology, Embryology & Fertility, Sexual and Reproductive Health Medicine, Diabetes, Endocrinology, Orthopaedics, Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Clinical Psychiatry, Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine, Neonatal Medicine, Paediatric Emergency Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine, Respiratory Medicine and Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine. I can proudly say that along with Merck Foundation we are making history in Sierra Leone by providing training for the First Oncologists in the country with the aim to establish the first skilled cancer care team who will be working in our new hospital, this will improve access to quality and equitable cancer care in the country. This is a huge achievement for us since we did not have any oncologists or fertility specialists and we have in general a very limited number of local specialists in the public sector before starting our partnership with Merck Foundation.”

H.E. Mrs. MUTINTA HICHILEMA, The First Lady of the Republic of Zambia expressed, “I am very proud of our partnership with Merck Foundation. I am very impressed with ‘Educating Linda’ program to support girl education and provide scholarships to girls to complete thier education by providing thier tutiton fees, we have implememted this program in Zambia and provided 22 girls with scholarships to cover thier tuttion fees of nursing schools and health sciences univesities .this scholarship wil continue till they complete thier education successfully. I also very interested in “More Than a Mother” Campaign, this campaign is very critical for my country and Africa, at large. I am fully supporting this initiative as the First Lady of Zambia and as an african woman, it is very close to my heart. Moreover, together with Merck Foundation, we have provided 50 scholarships to our doctors from different provinces across Zambia and we will scale up this program under the leadership of my office”.

During her speech, H.E. Mrs. ANA DIAS LOURENÇO, The First Lady of the Republic of Angola & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother stated, “I am looking forward to start the implementation of the ‘Educating Linda’ Program which aims to empower girls through education and end child marriage, this program is very close to my heart as I consider it one of my main objectives as the First Lady of Angola; and as an African woman, I strongly believe that girl Education is one of the most critical areas of women empowerment. Moreover, I am very excited about the 8 important different competitions for our communities which are: Best Media, Song, Film and Fashion awards with the aim to encourage Media, Musicians, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, students, and new potential talents in these fields to play their important role in sensitizing their communities about many critical social and health issues.”

H.E. Madam BRIGITTE TOUADERA, The First Lady of Central Africa & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother emphasized “I greatly value our partnership with Merck Foundation that is since 2015, to support us to advance and build the healthcare capacity in our country by providing scholarships to our local doctors in various medical specialities. Together, we worked on “Empowering Berna” program where we established small businesses for infertile and childless women and trained them to run their businesses so they can have income and become independent and have purpose life. Also, as a part of Merck Foundation’s Education Linda program, we will be providing scholarships to 20 under-privileged schoolgirls from our country to support girl education. Moreover, 5 scholarships have been provided to our doctors by Merck Foundation so far in Oncology and Diabetes”.

The 9th Edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2022 was streamed live on the social media handles of Merck Foundation (http://bit.ly/32YFKpv) and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej(http://bit.ly/3ATPaEd).

Link to the Facebook live steam of Inaugural Session of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary & African First Ladies High Level Panel: (https://bit.ly/3XE4EWp)

Merck Foundation is transforming the Patient care landscape and making history together with its partners in Africa, Asia, and beyond, through:

• 1470 + Scholarships provided by Merck Foundation for doctors from 50 Countries in 32 critical and underserved medical specialties.  

Merck Foundation is also creating a culture shift and breaking the silence about a wide range of social and health issues in Africa and underserved communities through:

• 2200 + Media Persons from more than 50 countries trained to better raise Awareness about different social and health issues

• 8 Different Awards Launched annually for best media coverage, fashion designers, films, and songs

• Around 30 songs to address health and social issues by local singers across Africa

• 8 Children’s Storybooks in three languages – English, French, and Portuguese

• Pan African TV Program “Our Africa by Merck Foundation” TV Program addressing Social and Health Issues in Africa through “Fashion and ART with Purpose” Community

• 1000+ Girls from 15 African countries supported through scholarships or school items, annually.

• 9 Social Media Channels with more than 5 Million Followers

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.

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Forget Energy Transition, Produce Oil Like Nothing Before

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3 hours ago

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June 9, 2026

By

African Energy Chamber

The future requires more oil and gas production – not less

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, June 9, 2026/APO Group/ –The world does not have an energy problem. It has an energy supply problem. As demand rises, populations grow, and billions of people continue to live without reliable access to electricity and clean cooking technologies, the case for producing more energy has never been stronger. From Africa to Latin America, governments and operators are responding with renewed investments in exploration, production and infrastructure, signaling a shift away from energy subtraction and toward energy addition.

Speaking during the ARPEL Conference 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber (AEC) – the voice of the African energy sector – delivered a direct message to policymakers, investors and industry leaders: “Forget transition. Let’s talk about addition. Let’s give people what they need.”

The numbers support the argument. Energy poverty remains one of the greatest barriers to economic development globally. In Africa alone, more than 600 million people remain without access to electricity, with nearly one billion people living without access to clean cooking technologies – the most disproportionately affected of which are women. Asking developing economies to produce less energy while these realities persist is fundamentally disconnected from the needs of billions of people.

“For far too long, we have been told to build less, produce less and pay more for energy,” Ayuk stated. “In Africa, we believe this is a moment for energy addition, not energy subtraction. Drill, baby, drill. It’s more important today than ever before.”

Africa offers the clearest justification for increasing oil and gas production. Despite holding more than 125 billion barrels of crude oil reserves and 620 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, the continent relies heavily on imported petroleum products to sustain its economies. Inadequate investment flows across the energy value chain have impacted development and industrialization, leaving millions in the dark.

The global energy transition further compounds this challenge. Opposition by environmental groups, a shift toward aid rather than commercial business structures and diminishing investment for oil and gas projects have brought significant implications to the continent. While developed economies are pursuing a shift towards alternative energy sources, Africa needs its oil and gas – now more than ever before.

For far too long, we have been told to build less, produce less and pay more for energy

Efforts are being made across the continent to produce more oil and gas. Leading producers such as Nigeria and Angola strive to increase output, targeting brownfield development, accelerated exploration and enhanced recovery. Emerging producers such as Namibia are fast-approaching first oil, while discoveries made in Ivory Coast, investments made in the Republic of Congo, and new LNG builds in Mozambique and Tanzania are supporting greater production continent-wide.

“We must remain resolute. We must commit to an industry that builds more, produces more and never apologizes for oil. Many people in Africa are not ashamed of oil. We believe oil has a major role to play in our energy future,” Ayuk said.

Latin America offers a powerful demonstration of what sustained exploration and production can achieve. Brazil’s pre-salt developments remain among the most successful offshore projects in the world, delivering large volumes of low-cost production while attracting continued investment. Guyana continues to expand output at one of the fastest rates globally, while Argentina’s Vaca Muerta shale play is strengthening the country’s position as a major energy producer. Pan American Energy also recently announced plans to invest $680 million to revitalize Argentina’s Cerro Dragon field in the mature Golfo San Jorge basin, reflecting global interest in optimizing South American oil production.

The region’s success reflects a commitment to developing resources rather than restricting them. “Our friends in Latin America have been strong stewards for our industry,” Ayuk said, adding, “Be proud of your energy industry.”

That message extends far beyond Latin America. As governments reassess energy policy, supply security and economic growth priorities, oil and gas continue to provide the foundation upon which modern economies are built. The choice facing both emerging and producing nations is increasingly clear: either create the conditions necessary for investment, exploration and development, or risk falling behind in a world that continues to demand more energy.

“We do not have anywhere to transition to. Where are we going to transition to? From the dark to the dark?” Ayuk asked. “We want to ensure that we have energy that drives development.”

For billions of people still seeking access to affordable, reliable energy, the priority is not producing less. It is producing more.

“Don’t ever apologize for producing energy that drives human flourishing,” Ayuk concluded. “Keep building, keep producing and don’t be scared to say, ‘drill, baby, drill’ whenever you have the chance.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Heirs Energies’ US$750 Million Financing Named Best Oil & Gas Deal of the Year

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3 hours ago

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June 9, 2026

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Heirs Energies Limited

The award was presented on 3 June 2026, in London, and recognises one of the largest financings secured by an indigenous African energy company

LONDON, United Kingdom, June 9, 2026/APO Group/ –Heirs Energies Limited, Africa’s leading indigenous-owned integrated energy company, has been recognised on the global stage after its landmark US$750 million dual-tranche Senior Secured Reserve-Based Lending (RBL) facility was named Best Oil & Gas Deal of the Year at the EMEA Finance Project Finance Awards 2026.

 

The award was presented on 3 June 2026, in London, and recognises one of the largest financings secured by an indigenous African energy company. The transaction highlights the growing role of African capital in supporting strategic investments that advance energy security, economic development, and long-term value creation across the continent.

Executed with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the US$750 million financing was structured to accelerate field development, optimise production, and support Heirs Energies’ long-term growth ambitions, while maintaining disciplined capital management.

Commenting on the recognition, Osa Igiehon, Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Energies, said: “This recognition reflects the confidence that African and international financial institutions continue to place in Heirs Energies, our strategy, and our long-term vision.

“The transaction demonstrates that indigenous African energy companies can successfully structure and execute world-class financing solutions that support investment, growth, and value creation. We are proud to receive this award and grateful to our financing partners, advisers, and stakeholders whose support made it possible.”

We are proud to receive this award and grateful to our financing partners, advisers, and stakeholders whose support made it possible

Mr. Haytham ElMaayergi, Executive Vice President, Global Trade Bank at Afreximbank, said: “We are truly honoured that the US$750 million dual-tranche Senior Secured Reserve-Based Lending facility for Heirs Energies has been recognised as Best Oil & Gas Deal of the Year by the EMEA Finance Project Finance Awards.

“This recognition underscores the importance of well-structured, Africa-focused financing in supporting indigenous energy companies with strong governance, high-quality assets and clear long-term growth plans. Afreximbank was proud to support this landmark transaction, which demonstrates how African financial institutions can help mobilise capital for strategic businesses that advance energy security, production capacity and sustainable value creation across the continent.

“We congratulate Heirs Energies and all the partners involved in the transaction and are pleased to see this important financing recognised on such a respected international platform.”

Samuel Nwanze, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of Heirs Energies, added: “This award validates the strength of the transaction and the confidence our financing partners placed in Heirs Energies.

“The facility was designed to support our long-term growth strategy, enabling continued investment in field development, production optimisation, and sustainable value creation. We are pleased to see the transaction recognised on such a respected global platform.”

The financing represented a major milestone in Heirs Energies’ evolution from acquisition-led financing to a capital structure aligned with the long-term development profile of its reserves. It further reinforced the Company’s position as a leading indigenous energy producer and demonstrated the ability of African institutions to finance transformational African businesses.

The EMEA Finance Project Finance Awards recognise outstanding transactions across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, celebrating excellence, innovation, and impact in project and structured finance.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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What Human Resource (HR) Professionals Gain from Automation

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3 hours ago

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June 9, 2026

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HR

Four examples of automation supporting HR staff

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, June 9, 2026/APO Group/ –Human resource people are concerned. As automation becomes more featured in modern digital technologies, many HR staff are asking the same question: will automation replace me?

 

Their fears are not unfounded. According to surveys conducted by Gartner (https://apo-opa.co/4uo4fGQ), some companies are using AI as an excuse to reduce HR headcounts, and 79% of Chief HR Officers told AMS (https://apo-opa.co/4xj8Qg9) that they see notable concerns about job security among their teams.

 

Supporting human abilities

 

However, a report published last year by the International Labour Organisation (https://apo-opa.co/3SaBQGM) found that AI and automation are unlikely to replace HR staff. Instead, automation is producing significant productivity improvements for HR staff, says Mignon Wolmarans, HR Product Manager at Deel Local Payroll.

 

“HR jobs require people with complex problem-solving, creativity, and strong interpersonal skills. These are not abilities that a machine or software can replace. But HR people spend most of their time on manual tasks that actually reduce their ability to focus on priorities where their skills are needed the most.”

 

This observation comes from working with clients who adopt automation in their HR environments, she adds.

 

“We sometimes encounter reluctance when we bring up automation, and the resistance is usually around a comfort with manual processes or gaps in training and skills that reduce people’s confidence in technology. But when we work with them to overcome those concerns, they love what automation does and how it gives them more autonomy and focus.”

 

How automation supports HR

 

Modern HR platforms, cloud software, can automate many routine HR tasks, either as processes designed by HR teams or as ready-to-use native features. These latter features match frequent HR tasks that would otherwise require significant manual processing, input from multiple people, or both.

People are most reluctant to adopt automation because of skills gaps, which feeds into fears that the technology will replace them

 

Some examples include:

 

  • Leave management: Automate accruals based on length of service, salary grade, or a combination of the two. Automation applies forfeiture rules automatically, and if an employee’s tenure ends, leave encashment is calculated and processed in a single automated action.

 

  • Claims: Self-service custom forms and document attachments streamline overtime and travel claims. These are processed through established rules and approvals, pushed to the responsible managers or heads of departments. As soon as a claim is approved, it automatically updates payslip information.

 

  • E-onboarding: Instead of HR practitioners capturing new employee information manually, ‌newcomers use online forms to complete their basic profile and address information, and attach key documents, all of which are loaded onto their profile and only require approval from HR.

 

  • Performance management: Set up different performance review layouts, forms, and templates for various roles, objectives, and indicators. Participants can attach supporting documents, while reviewers, managers, and other staff can submit their contributions. All the performance data feeds into central dashboards for complete control and visibility of the company’s performance.

 

These automations reduce manual workloads and errors while extending features to other stakeholders in different departments. Crucially, they don’t replace HR staff and instead give them the capacity to focus on intricate and human-centric activities that require more than capturing data and compiling reports. As mentioned, HR teams can also create automated processes and customised forms.

 

Creating digital confidence

 

The best HR software vendors offer training and skills honing for customers. For example, Deel Local Payroll provides training staff and extensive learning resources for its customers, helping them take charge of automation.

 

“People are most reluctant to adopt automation because of skills gaps, which feeds into fears that the technology will replace them. That’s why we have a dedicated training department, one-to-one training, and e-learning courses that help fill those gaps,” says Wolmarans.

 

The fear that automation will replace HR people is overstated, even if some company leaders consider it an option. Software cannot compare to what skilled HR professionals do best. But those same professionals focus overwhelmingly on manual tasks, taking time better spent on more complex and strategic priorities.

 

Automation doesn’t replace HR professionals. When the right platform and vendor support them, it makes them better at their jobs.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Deel Local Payroll, powered by PaySpace.

 

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