Headlines
France Donate Over 900 Children's Books to Abrehot Library
Mar 20, 2023 47
Addis Ababa March 20/2023 (ENA) The government of France has today donated 932 new children's books to Abrehot Library. Speaking at the event, Head of Cooperation and Culture of the French Embassy, Sophie Makame, said a year ago, the Cooperation Department of the Embassy of France in Ethiopia was approached by the management team of Abrehot library , wishing to develop a foreign languages section in the library. Hence, the embassy of France acquired a set of 932 beautiful books in French language, dedicate to Ethiopian children, to serve as the foundation of a French language corner in Abrehot library, she stated.   According to her, the newly designed permanent French language corner at Abrehot Library is therefore the place for all French –speaking people in Addis Ababa including Ethiopian children who speak French and children from French speaking countries. Addis Ababa University managed, Abrehot Library is currently among the biggest libraries in Africa. Addis Ababa University President, Professor Tassew Woldehanna, said on the occasion that to eradicate poverty education is a key noting that education cannot be expanded without books. According to him, everyday over 4,000 people from all walks of life, mostly young people, are using the library. "We have many diplomats from French speaking African countries as Ethiopia is the head of African Union’, he said, adding putting books at Abrehot means that you can access many readers in the country. Knowledge is the building block of civilization, he said, hence the books donated to the library will be beneficial.  
Supporting MSMEs Crucial to Enable Economy in Africa Grow Much Faster in Sustainable Way
Mar 20, 2023 84
Addis Ababa March 20/2023 (ENA) Supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is crucial to enable the economy in Africa grow much faster in a sustainable way, according to African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD). The African Union (AU) member states' stakeholder engagement meeting for the 100,000 MSMEs initiatives underway in Addis Ababa today to discuss on its implementation. It is to be recalled that AUDA-NEPAD launched the 100,000 MSMEs Programme to accelerate African economic transformation by providing the needed skills to MSMEs and build resilience against the economic shock triggered by the global pandemic. The initiative seeks to build the capacity of one million enterprises in Africa through entrepreneurial and business training to improve access to finance and new markets while establishing networks for support and incubation to bolster their success. Acting Head of Human Capital Institutional Development Division at AUDA-NEPAD Dr. Janet Byaruhanga said the program started as an initiative of African Union commission to reach one million MSMEs by the end of 2024. “The idea is to support MSMEs that are struggling to access affordable and predictable long term financing for businesses. It is also to train them on understanding better how to do business in terms of equipping them with knowledge on business and entrepreneur skills and also creating a platform for them to network with each other.” She explained that the target is to reach all 55 member states of the AU, however they have reached about 20 countries in terms of actual engagement with the member states. Assistance Permanent Secretary at the ministry of industrial development of Mauritius, Akshaye Jeewoolall on his part said it is a great opportunities for all African countries of the AU member states and NEPAD to be participating and committed in this initiative to promote the growth of MSMEs in all the continent.   “The MSMEs contribute a lot in employment and in the GDP of each individual country in Africa. So, promoting them, helping them and upholding them is the must to each public and private institutions to uplift and help grow those MSMEs so that the economy grow much faster in a sustainable way,” he said. One of the challenges that MSMEs face across the world including Africa is access to market and finance, he said appealing to financial institution to help them in various sectors. Senior Partnership Manager at Afrilabs based in Abija, Nigeria, Felista Aku on her part said that MSMEs contribute directly to job and wealth creation in various countries.   However. she added that the MSMEs is facing various challenges ranging from capacity building, access to funding and market. The African Union Development Agency NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) 100,000 MSMEs initiative is aligned with the AU Agenda 2063, which aims at building a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development. The initiative aims at supporting MSMEs in the continent with access to finance, capacity building, networking, introduction to new markets and procurement opportunities. It is also joined by strategic resource partners, Ecobank, McKinsey and Company, The World Bank Group, Microsoft, and UNDP, among others.
African Nations Urged to Work on Infrastructure Connectivity to Maximize Benefits of Regional Integration
Mar 20, 2023 87
Addis Ababa March 20/2023 (ENA) African countries should exert more effort on infrastructure connectivity to maximize the benefits of regional integration dimensions that are stirring in varying wheeler speed after the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) rollout, UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Regional Integration and Trade Division Director, Stephen N. Karingi said. The director told ENA that Africa has seen a lot of progress on trade and market integration essentially due to AfCFTA rollout, and as countries, including Ethiopia started trading under it. Noting that regional integration has many dimensions, pointing out trade and market integrations, infrastructure connectivity, movement of people and goods and social integration as the main ones, he said “we have seen that the different wheelers are moving at different speeds.” He stressed that African countries should exert more effort on infrastructure connectivity to maximize the benefits of the regional integration dimensions that are stirring in varying wheeler speed after the AfCFTA rollout. “On trade integration or the market integration, there is a lot of progress that has been achieved, especially because of the rollout of the AFCFTA, whereby state parties, including countries like Ethiopia, are already starting to trade under the AFC FTA,” Karingi said. However, when it comes to the movement of goods and services in Africa under AFCFTA, the continent cannot maximize on the benefits of trade and market integration without more infrastructure connectivity works, he added. “When it comes to the movement of goods and services within the continent, under the rules of AFCFTA, we see a lot of progress being achieved there. Of course, we cannot be able to maximize on the benefits of market integration, unless we have infrastructure connectivity, and that is one of the areas that requires a bit more effort it requires more effort than we have now.” According to him, accelerating integration is a pillar of development for Africa and stressed the need to effectively implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He noted that the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the shock arising from the Ukraine war made it difficult for African governments to mobilize the necessary domestic and international resources for infrastructure development. “One can understand that because of the COVID-19 shock, the shock arising from the Ukraine war, it has been a bit difficult for governments to be able to mobilize sufficient resources to finance infrastructure development. So, more effort is needed when it comes to the infrastructure integration or the connectivity,” he said. The director noted that the single African Air Transport market has a lot of potential for connectivity in Africa. He urged African governments to allow African airlines to land in their respective airports and pick up goods and services, move people, and to make progress on the ratification of the free movement protocol. “Unless Africans are able to be able to move from one country to another, without pieces, it is going to be very difficult for us to have a maximum gains or maximum benefits of the market integration,” Karingi said. Today, there are a lot of African countries that allow Africans to travel without visa, 25 countries provide visa on arrival and many others enabled electronic visa application, the director stated.
Ethiopia Is One of Recent Examples of Resilience in Face of Multiple Shocks, Finance Minister Says
Mar 20, 2023 105
Addis Ababa March 20/2023 (ENA) Finance Minister of Ethiopia, Ahmed Shide said that Ethiopia is one of Africa’s recent examples of resilience in the face of multiple shocks. The finance Minister Ahmed delivered speech on the 55th Conference of Ministers of Finance and Economic Planning is underway in Addis Ababa with the theme: “recovery and transformation in Africa to reduce inequalities and vulnerabilities.” In his keynote address at the conference, the minister said that the current government of Ethiopia launched the Home-Grown Economic Reform in 2018 to ensure macro-economic stability, easing of doing business and addressing institutional constraints for inclusive and private-sector led growth. Unfortunately, right after launching, the reform faced unexpected obstacles due to the outbreak of conflict in Tigray region, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change induced shocks such as drought, and locust invasion in some part of the country, Ahmed pointed out. “Amidst these internal and external shocks, the government exerted maximum effort to take the reform agenda forward and achieved remarkable results, including positive per capita income growth, better debt management, improved Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows and export performance, as well as privatization of public enterprises and liberalization of selected sectors, which have boosted private sector participation in the economy.” He further stated Ethiopia also improved its domestic resource mobilization capacity through innovative reforms in tax administration, tax rates and application of information technologies. In spite of these positive gains, most of the macro-economic imbalances such as fiscal deficit, foreign exchange depletion, galloping inflation and accumulated debt, remain stern economic setbacks, the minister acknowledged. “We have therefore continued working on the second Home Grown Economic Reform to consolidate the gains and address current and emerging macroeconomic imbalances. Furthermore, as we work towards peace consolidation, our reform also focuses on paving the way for equitable and inclusive post-conflict recovery that will contribute towards strengthening social cohesion among all Ethiopians,” according to him. Speaking on the 55th Conference of Ministers of Finance and Economic Planning where they deliberate on Africa’s state of economic and social development, and regional integration, the finance minister underlined that Africa has a lot to do to resolve its socio-economic challenges, including the widening income inequalities and extreme poverty across the continent. Until 2019, Africa was home to the world’s fastest-growing economies- a growth fueled partly by favorable terms of trade, better macroeconomic management and growing investment, Ahmed said. However, he argued that the advent of the COVID-19 changed this success story dramatically. “The war in Eastern Europe disrupted global value chains, led to a spike in key commodity prices such as fuel, edible oil, wheat, and fertilizers as well as tightening of monetary policies in the developed countries, leading to an increase in global lending rates.” Moreover, climate change induced droughts, floods and erratic rain patterns are not only disrupting economic activities and productivities, but also endanger millions of lives in our continent. The combined impacts of the multiple and recurring global shocks are causing hardships unprecedented in recent memory and led to significant liquidity crunches in the economies of many African countries, the finance minister underscored. The immediate and long-term consequences of COVID-19 and the global economic and security crisis are wakeup calls for Africa to rethink its development paradigms and seek homegrown solutions before the crisis engulf the continent, he urged. For him, in order to address the multiple economic challenges of the African continent, it requires a collaborative and concentrated effort, which should be people-focused, sustainable in policy measures and inclusive enough in addressing the most vulnerable people. The finance minister finally said the recent experience of his country (ETHIOPIA) on improving agricultural productivity to achieve food sovereignty is a prime example of exploiting collective wisdom of African stakeholders. He also called upon all fellow Africans and partners to concentrate on their untapped potentials to transform the continent and eliminate undeserved poverty.
Fostering Recovery, Transformation Vital to Reduce Inequalities, Vulnerabilities in Africa
Mar 20, 2023 112
Addis Ababa March 20/2023 (ENA) Africa needs to foster recovery and transformation to reduce inequalities and vulnerabilities in the continent exacerbated by various problems, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Acting Executive Secretary, Antonio M.A. Pedro said. The fifty-fifth session of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development kicked off today in Addis Ababa. The aim of the two days meeting is to renew focus and action on reducing poverty, inequality and other factors that leave the African population continuously vulnerable to these scourges.   Speaking at the event, UNECA Acting Secretary, Antonio M.A. Pedro said Africa’s growth is rebounding at 4.1 percent as inflation has been reduced to 12 percent so far. However, the continent needs double-digit growth rates to achieve breakthroughs to promote a new cycle of sustainable growth, arrange regulated business and innovation climate, he said. This will require paying detailed attention to ensuring that a strong macroeconomic foundation is in place to allow for structural transformation, he added. We also need to push for reform of the global financial architecture to unlock long term financing, green jobs, pro poor policies, tax mechanism for carbon, and illicit financial flows, he elaborated. "Africa must risk investment on the continent for both domestic and foreign investors to support the immense efforts that are required to develop a credible pipeline of bankable projects with limited fiscal space." Every dollar spent must generate maximum socio-economic impacts and co-benefits that go beyond GDP methods and profit maximization, and no one should be left behind, the acting Executive Secretary noted. Speaking on his part, the Ethiopian Finance Minister Ahmed Shide said, until 2019 Africa was home to the world’s fastest growing economies.   According to him, the growth was fueled partly by favorable terms of trade, better macroeconomic management and growth investment. "Most African economies have been doing so well in the past few decades that we were on track to meet most of the targets in SDG until multiple global and internal shocks threatened to unravel the several years of socio-economic gains." However, the advent of COVID-19 along with the war in Ukraine and the vagaries of climate change has pushed back Africa’s two decades of economic growth, he stated. "Now millions of Africans have been pushed in to poverty, while millions more are at risk of falling into extreme poverty due to disruption in the global economy precipitated by the war in Ukraine and the frequency of weather caused by climate change." The immediate and long term consequences of COVID-19 and the global economic and security crisis are a wake-up call for Africa to rethink its development paradigm, he said, adding seeking a home-grown solution is vital before the crisis engulf the continent.
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France Donate Over 900 Children's Books to Abrehot Library
Mar 20, 2023 47
Addis Ababa March 20/2023 (ENA) The government of France has today donated 932 new children's books to Abrehot Library. Speaking at the event, Head of Cooperation and Culture of the French Embassy, Sophie Makame, said a year ago, the Cooperation Department of the Embassy of France in Ethiopia was approached by the management team of Abrehot library , wishing to develop a foreign languages section in the library. Hence, the embassy of France acquired a set of 932 beautiful books in French language, dedicate to Ethiopian children, to serve as the foundation of a French language corner in Abrehot library, she stated.   According to her, the newly designed permanent French language corner at Abrehot Library is therefore the place for all French –speaking people in Addis Ababa including Ethiopian children who speak French and children from French speaking countries. Addis Ababa University managed, Abrehot Library is currently among the biggest libraries in Africa. Addis Ababa University President, Professor Tassew Woldehanna, said on the occasion that to eradicate poverty education is a key noting that education cannot be expanded without books. According to him, everyday over 4,000 people from all walks of life, mostly young people, are using the library. "We have many diplomats from French speaking African countries as Ethiopia is the head of African Union’, he said, adding putting books at Abrehot means that you can access many readers in the country. Knowledge is the building block of civilization, he said, hence the books donated to the library will be beneficial.  
Supporting MSMEs Crucial to Enable Economy in Africa Grow Much Faster in Sustainable Way
Mar 20, 2023 84
Addis Ababa March 20/2023 (ENA) Supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is crucial to enable the economy in Africa grow much faster in a sustainable way, according to African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD). The African Union (AU) member states' stakeholder engagement meeting for the 100,000 MSMEs initiatives underway in Addis Ababa today to discuss on its implementation. It is to be recalled that AUDA-NEPAD launched the 100,000 MSMEs Programme to accelerate African economic transformation by providing the needed skills to MSMEs and build resilience against the economic shock triggered by the global pandemic. The initiative seeks to build the capacity of one million enterprises in Africa through entrepreneurial and business training to improve access to finance and new markets while establishing networks for support and incubation to bolster their success. Acting Head of Human Capital Institutional Development Division at AUDA-NEPAD Dr. Janet Byaruhanga said the program started as an initiative of African Union commission to reach one million MSMEs by the end of 2024. “The idea is to support MSMEs that are struggling to access affordable and predictable long term financing for businesses. It is also to train them on understanding better how to do business in terms of equipping them with knowledge on business and entrepreneur skills and also creating a platform for them to network with each other.” She explained that the target is to reach all 55 member states of the AU, however they have reached about 20 countries in terms of actual engagement with the member states. Assistance Permanent Secretary at the ministry of industrial development of Mauritius, Akshaye Jeewoolall on his part said it is a great opportunities for all African countries of the AU member states and NEPAD to be participating and committed in this initiative to promote the growth of MSMEs in all the continent.   “The MSMEs contribute a lot in employment and in the GDP of each individual country in Africa. So, promoting them, helping them and upholding them is the must to each public and private institutions to uplift and help grow those MSMEs so that the economy grow much faster in a sustainable way,” he said. One of the challenges that MSMEs face across the world including Africa is access to market and finance, he said appealing to financial institution to help them in various sectors. Senior Partnership Manager at Afrilabs based in Abija, Nigeria, Felista Aku on her part said that MSMEs contribute directly to job and wealth creation in various countries.   However. she added that the MSMEs is facing various challenges ranging from capacity building, access to funding and market. The African Union Development Agency NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) 100,000 MSMEs initiative is aligned with the AU Agenda 2063, which aims at building a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development. The initiative aims at supporting MSMEs in the continent with access to finance, capacity building, networking, introduction to new markets and procurement opportunities. It is also joined by strategic resource partners, Ecobank, McKinsey and Company, The World Bank Group, Microsoft, and UNDP, among others.
African Nations Urged to Work on Infrastructure Connectivity to Maximize Benefits of Regional Integration
Mar 20, 2023 87
Addis Ababa March 20/2023 (ENA) African countries should exert more effort on infrastructure connectivity to maximize the benefits of regional integration dimensions that are stirring in varying wheeler speed after the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) rollout, UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Regional Integration and Trade Division Director, Stephen N. Karingi said. The director told ENA that Africa has seen a lot of progress on trade and market integration essentially due to AfCFTA rollout, and as countries, including Ethiopia started trading under it. Noting that regional integration has many dimensions, pointing out trade and market integrations, infrastructure connectivity, movement of people and goods and social integration as the main ones, he said “we have seen that the different wheelers are moving at different speeds.” He stressed that African countries should exert more effort on infrastructure connectivity to maximize the benefits of the regional integration dimensions that are stirring in varying wheeler speed after the AfCFTA rollout. “On trade integration or the market integration, there is a lot of progress that has been achieved, especially because of the rollout of the AFCFTA, whereby state parties, including countries like Ethiopia, are already starting to trade under the AFC FTA,” Karingi said. However, when it comes to the movement of goods and services in Africa under AFCFTA, the continent cannot maximize on the benefits of trade and market integration without more infrastructure connectivity works, he added. “When it comes to the movement of goods and services within the continent, under the rules of AFCFTA, we see a lot of progress being achieved there. Of course, we cannot be able to maximize on the benefits of market integration, unless we have infrastructure connectivity, and that is one of the areas that requires a bit more effort it requires more effort than we have now.” According to him, accelerating integration is a pillar of development for Africa and stressed the need to effectively implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He noted that the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the shock arising from the Ukraine war made it difficult for African governments to mobilize the necessary domestic and international resources for infrastructure development. “One can understand that because of the COVID-19 shock, the shock arising from the Ukraine war, it has been a bit difficult for governments to be able to mobilize sufficient resources to finance infrastructure development. So, more effort is needed when it comes to the infrastructure integration or the connectivity,” he said. The director noted that the single African Air Transport market has a lot of potential for connectivity in Africa. He urged African governments to allow African airlines to land in their respective airports and pick up goods and services, move people, and to make progress on the ratification of the free movement protocol. “Unless Africans are able to be able to move from one country to another, without pieces, it is going to be very difficult for us to have a maximum gains or maximum benefits of the market integration,” Karingi said. Today, there are a lot of African countries that allow Africans to travel without visa, 25 countries provide visa on arrival and many others enabled electronic visa application, the director stated.
Ethiopia Is One of Recent Examples of Resilience in Face of Multiple Shocks, Finance Minister Says
Mar 20, 2023 105
Addis Ababa March 20/2023 (ENA) Finance Minister of Ethiopia, Ahmed Shide said that Ethiopia is one of Africa’s recent examples of resilience in the face of multiple shocks. The finance Minister Ahmed delivered speech on the 55th Conference of Ministers of Finance and Economic Planning is underway in Addis Ababa with the theme: “recovery and transformation in Africa to reduce inequalities and vulnerabilities.” In his keynote address at the conference, the minister said that the current government of Ethiopia launched the Home-Grown Economic Reform in 2018 to ensure macro-economic stability, easing of doing business and addressing institutional constraints for inclusive and private-sector led growth. Unfortunately, right after launching, the reform faced unexpected obstacles due to the outbreak of conflict in Tigray region, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change induced shocks such as drought, and locust invasion in some part of the country, Ahmed pointed out. “Amidst these internal and external shocks, the government exerted maximum effort to take the reform agenda forward and achieved remarkable results, including positive per capita income growth, better debt management, improved Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows and export performance, as well as privatization of public enterprises and liberalization of selected sectors, which have boosted private sector participation in the economy.” He further stated Ethiopia also improved its domestic resource mobilization capacity through innovative reforms in tax administration, tax rates and application of information technologies. In spite of these positive gains, most of the macro-economic imbalances such as fiscal deficit, foreign exchange depletion, galloping inflation and accumulated debt, remain stern economic setbacks, the minister acknowledged. “We have therefore continued working on the second Home Grown Economic Reform to consolidate the gains and address current and emerging macroeconomic imbalances. Furthermore, as we work towards peace consolidation, our reform also focuses on paving the way for equitable and inclusive post-conflict recovery that will contribute towards strengthening social cohesion among all Ethiopians,” according to him. Speaking on the 55th Conference of Ministers of Finance and Economic Planning where they deliberate on Africa’s state of economic and social development, and regional integration, the finance minister underlined that Africa has a lot to do to resolve its socio-economic challenges, including the widening income inequalities and extreme poverty across the continent. Until 2019, Africa was home to the world’s fastest-growing economies- a growth fueled partly by favorable terms of trade, better macroeconomic management and growing investment, Ahmed said. However, he argued that the advent of the COVID-19 changed this success story dramatically. “The war in Eastern Europe disrupted global value chains, led to a spike in key commodity prices such as fuel, edible oil, wheat, and fertilizers as well as tightening of monetary policies in the developed countries, leading to an increase in global lending rates.” Moreover, climate change induced droughts, floods and erratic rain patterns are not only disrupting economic activities and productivities, but also endanger millions of lives in our continent. The combined impacts of the multiple and recurring global shocks are causing hardships unprecedented in recent memory and led to significant liquidity crunches in the economies of many African countries, the finance minister underscored. The immediate and long-term consequences of COVID-19 and the global economic and security crisis are wakeup calls for Africa to rethink its development paradigms and seek homegrown solutions before the crisis engulf the continent, he urged. For him, in order to address the multiple economic challenges of the African continent, it requires a collaborative and concentrated effort, which should be people-focused, sustainable in policy measures and inclusive enough in addressing the most vulnerable people. The finance minister finally said the recent experience of his country (ETHIOPIA) on improving agricultural productivity to achieve food sovereignty is a prime example of exploiting collective wisdom of African stakeholders. He also called upon all fellow Africans and partners to concentrate on their untapped potentials to transform the continent and eliminate undeserved poverty.
Fostering Recovery, Transformation Vital to Reduce Inequalities, Vulnerabilities in Africa
Mar 20, 2023 112
Addis Ababa March 20/2023 (ENA) Africa needs to foster recovery and transformation to reduce inequalities and vulnerabilities in the continent exacerbated by various problems, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Acting Executive Secretary, Antonio M.A. Pedro said. The fifty-fifth session of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development kicked off today in Addis Ababa. The aim of the two days meeting is to renew focus and action on reducing poverty, inequality and other factors that leave the African population continuously vulnerable to these scourges.   Speaking at the event, UNECA Acting Secretary, Antonio M.A. Pedro said Africa’s growth is rebounding at 4.1 percent as inflation has been reduced to 12 percent so far. However, the continent needs double-digit growth rates to achieve breakthroughs to promote a new cycle of sustainable growth, arrange regulated business and innovation climate, he said. This will require paying detailed attention to ensuring that a strong macroeconomic foundation is in place to allow for structural transformation, he added. We also need to push for reform of the global financial architecture to unlock long term financing, green jobs, pro poor policies, tax mechanism for carbon, and illicit financial flows, he elaborated. "Africa must risk investment on the continent for both domestic and foreign investors to support the immense efforts that are required to develop a credible pipeline of bankable projects with limited fiscal space." Every dollar spent must generate maximum socio-economic impacts and co-benefits that go beyond GDP methods and profit maximization, and no one should be left behind, the acting Executive Secretary noted. Speaking on his part, the Ethiopian Finance Minister Ahmed Shide said, until 2019 Africa was home to the world’s fastest growing economies.   According to him, the growth was fueled partly by favorable terms of trade, better macroeconomic management and growth investment. "Most African economies have been doing so well in the past few decades that we were on track to meet most of the targets in SDG until multiple global and internal shocks threatened to unravel the several years of socio-economic gains." However, the advent of COVID-19 along with the war in Ukraine and the vagaries of climate change has pushed back Africa’s two decades of economic growth, he stated. "Now millions of Africans have been pushed in to poverty, while millions more are at risk of falling into extreme poverty due to disruption in the global economy precipitated by the war in Ukraine and the frequency of weather caused by climate change." The immediate and long term consequences of COVID-19 and the global economic and security crisis are a wake-up call for Africa to rethink its development paradigm, he said, adding seeking a home-grown solution is vital before the crisis engulf the continent.
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Feb 7, 2023 371
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France Donate Over 900 Children's Books to Abrehot Library
Mar 20, 2023 47
Addis Ababa March 20/2023 (ENA) The government of France has today donated 932 new children's books to Abrehot Library. Speaking at the event, Head of Cooperation and Culture of the French Embassy, Sophie Makame, said a year ago, the Cooperation Department of the Embassy of France in Ethiopia was approached by the management team of Abrehot library , wishing to develop a foreign languages section in the library. Hence, the embassy of France acquired a set of 932 beautiful books in French language, dedicate to Ethiopian children, to serve as the foundation of a French language corner in Abrehot library, she stated.   According to her, the newly designed permanent French language corner at Abrehot Library is therefore the place for all French –speaking people in Addis Ababa including Ethiopian children who speak French and children from French speaking countries. Addis Ababa University managed, Abrehot Library is currently among the biggest libraries in Africa. Addis Ababa University President, Professor Tassew Woldehanna, said on the occasion that to eradicate poverty education is a key noting that education cannot be expanded without books. According to him, everyday over 4,000 people from all walks of life, mostly young people, are using the library. "We have many diplomats from French speaking African countries as Ethiopia is the head of African Union’, he said, adding putting books at Abrehot means that you can access many readers in the country. Knowledge is the building block of civilization, he said, hence the books donated to the library will be beneficial.  
Americans Stress for Robust Relationship Between US, Ethiopia
Mar 18, 2023 404
Addis Ababa March 18/2023 (ENA)The United States and Ethiopia need to have robust bilateral relationships between them, two Americans told ENA. The American political and economic analyst Lawrence Freeman and fellow American journalist Hammond underscored that Ethiopia is a strategic nation in African continent which the US is seeking to build a robust bilateral relationships with Ethiopia. They also said the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken's visit to Ethiopia is a clear indication of an attempt by the Biden administration for a positive relationship with the east African nation. Recall Secretary Blinken had an official visit in Ethiopia last week and met various officials to consolidate bilateral ties between the two countries. According to Lawrence Freeman, the visit was a significant move by the United States in resuming relations with Ethiopia. “It is clear that there is an attempt by the US government to move forward, assuming some kind of positive relationship with Ethiopia. And I think that from what I can tell the Government of Ethiopia sees this visit as positive and significant.” The United States is of course seeking to influence what's on the African continent. However, this high level visit by Secretary of State Blinken is more than that, Freeman said. “I think the United States or some faction of people in the government, (that is) in the Biden Administration, have realized that it's possible to have a working relationship with Ethiopia. One is because it is the dominant nation in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia is also the second most populous nation on the continent. It is needed in many ways.” The analyst also mentioned that the United States of America is the leading humanitarian partner and contributor to Ethiopia during a war also this year. However, Freeman strongly insists the US Administration extends robust economic development cooperation with Ethiopia in addition to humanitarian support. “We really want to have a robust relationship between the two nations and we should have that kind of relationship. Then it will launch massive economic infrastructure, development programs between the two countries,” he stressed. The country was struggling and making some economic progress. But it still had two years of war which was very disruptive, he stated. “If the United States wants to have security in the Horn of Africa and wants to regain its influence in Africa, the Secretary of State should be outlining a massive economic assistance program more than aid,” the analyst underscored. Similarly, Fellow with the Center of Media and Peace Initiatives and award-winning American journalist Joseph Hammond said Blinken’s visit is a positive one for Ethiopia and America relationships.   “I think this visit is a victory for those in the Administration who support the strong relationship between the United States and Ethiopia. Within the Biden Administration there are two factions about how to work with Ethiopia, and the trip is a real victory for those of us who support stronger US-Ethiopian relations. I think the outcome here is the beneficiary of both countries.” As the US government has given special attention to building a better relationship with Africa, Ethiopia is a very strategic nation in the continent, Hammond added. “You know one of the major priorities of the Biden Administration is to build better relationships with Africa. So Secretary Antony Blinken’s trip to Ethiopia is a demonstration. If you want to prioritize Africa, you have to involve Ethiopia. Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa.” Furthermore, he noted that Ethiopia is also a rapidly developing country and one of the pillars of African civility.                        
South African, Gambian Scholars Say Transitional Justice Best Solution to Ethiopia
Mar 18, 2023 364
Addis Ababa March 18/2023 /ENA/ Scholars from South Africa and Gambia said that the transitional justice which their countries have passed through is best solutions for countries such as Ethiopia experiencing conflicts. The scholars approached by ENA said that transitional justice has contributed to build a better future in countries gripped with conflicts. The scholars believe that the way South Africa and the Gambia went through in the transitional justice process will give Ethiopia a better experience. Ethiopia has been developing a transitional justice policy document which is expected to contribute to sustainable peace, through reconciliation, compensation and prosecution in the country, it was indicated. Recall transitional justice has contributed to sustainable peace, reconciliation and justice in many countries’ endeavors to transition from conflict and authoritarian rule to kick start democratization process and post-conflict re-organization of political systems. As many African countries have ample evidence of transitional justice practices, among which, South Africa and Gambia are mentioned in this regard. The Head of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation at the University of Freetown in South Africa, Professor Tim Murithi praised Ethiopia for starting the process of transitional justice to solve its problems. The professor, who has done extensive research on transitional justice in Africa, said that Ethiopia is a historical and symbolic country of Africa and hoped the transitional justice would solve the deep-rooted challenges. In a society that has gone through many conflicts and oppression, transitional justice is instrumental in compensating the past deeds and pave the way for building better society in the future, the scholar pointed out. “For building peace that has injured conflict, has had violation takes place, transitional justice is a way for societies to deal with the tensions they are experiencing and to surface the issues that took place in the past. So that the people of the society can work together in an inclusive way to find ways to heal the past violations and to also build new institutions as well as stronger communities and socially cohesive societies going forward " Gambian scholar Dr. Baba Galleh Jallow said on his part that the importance of transitional justice, especially for countries like Ethiopia, is unquestionable. Jallow who was also former Executive Secretary-General of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) of Gambia said Ethiopia has been making a great move to ensure transitional justice. “A society cannot move forward without dealing with the past especially on human rights violations. Every society, Ethiopia and other countries that have gone through conflict and authoritarianism need to face the past…..and chart a course for the future. So it is very important that Ethiopia goes this process,” he pointed out. Professor Tim Murithi also noted the transitional justice which South Africa implemented to resolve the pains of the apartheid.              
US State Secretary’s Visit Indicates Ethiopia, US Relation Being Normalized: Morgan State University Professor
Mar 17, 2023 255
Addis Ababa March 17/2023 /ENA/ Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s visit to Ethiopia indicates that the relationship between Ethiopia and the U.S. is in the process of being normalized, Morgan State University Political Science and International Relations Professor Getachew Metaferia said. The professor told ENA that the visit was good and beneficial for the two countries with 120-year long relationship. Author of the book “Ethiopia and the United States: History, Diplomacy, and Analysis,” Professor Getachew noted that the visit shows that the relation between the two countries is in the process of being normalized. “The visit indicates that the relations between the two countries, Ethiopia and the U.S., which were not quite cordial during the war between the Ethiopian Federal Government and the TPLF, is in the process of being normalized.” According to him, the visit also indicates that the U.S. is back in Africa, as stated by President Biden during the U.S. Africa Leaders Summit. “For Ethiopia and the U.S., this is a welcome after a brief hiatus, especially during the Trump administration,” Professor Getachew stated. He added that the U.S. cannot afford to be an onlooker when the geopolitics of the region is given more attention by competing powers such as China and Russia. The professor pointed out that “the stability of Ethiopia is very important for the country itself, for the region, and for Africa at large. Because of this, Secretary Anthony Blinken emphasized durable peace and development in Ethiopia.” Also, Blinken announced a significant amount of money (331 million USD) to help victims of conflict and drought. Professor Getachew stated that the amount of money announced is the largest and that indicates the deep concern of the U.S. Commenting about re-admission of Ethiopia to AGOA, he said Ethiopia’s re-admission to AGOA will not only help the emerging export-oriented economy of Ethiopia; but it will have significant social implications. I hope that will take place soon as it will change the life and well-being of young men and girls who were employed for the first time, started earning wages and improving their lives, he underscored.  
Blinken’s Visit to Ethiopia Revitalizes Ethio-U.S Relations: Professor Brook Hailu
Mar 17, 2023 196
Addis Ababa March 17/2023 /ENA/ Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Ethiopia has revitalized the lately stagnant relations between Ethiopia and the United States, Professor Brook Hailu of the African Leadership Excellence Academy told ENA. According to the senior advisor at the academy, the visit has revived the stagnant relations between Ethiopia and the United States of America. Despite the brief period of unenthusiastic relationship, the longstanding 120 years relationship of Ethiopia and U.S.A has been mostly good, he added. Stating that the two countries have been strategic partners on various bilateral and international relations, the professor noted that Ethiopia was the first African country to open its embassy in the U.S during the reign of Emperor Hale Selassie I. And the United States also opened its first Consulate General, commonly known as American Gibi, in Africa around Mercato in Addis Ababa.   Professor Brook said that most of the history of relations between Ethiopia and America is good. He mentioned that the armies of the countries had fought along side in peacekeeping missions in Korea and Congo.   America had also a military base in the former Ethiopian province of Eritrea as the countries had strong military and agricultural relations.   However, the relationship between the two countries stalled during the Cold War and America did not have an ambassador in Ethiopia during the Derg military regime. Following the recent reform in Ethiopia, Professor Brook said Ethio-U.S relations has been good despite the lately brief period of stagnation. The role of the recent visit of Secretary Blinken to Ethiopia in boosting the countries relationship is crucial and it shows the firm commitment of the U.S to revive the longstanding relations between the two sides, he noted. Recall that Blinken revealed that the two countries have agreed to elevate their bilateral and regional partnership.   The state secretary also announced over 331 million USD in new humanitarian assistance for Ethiopia in FY 2023 through the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development.      
AU Pledges to Provide Support for Planned Transitional Justice in Ethiopia
Mar 17, 2023 240
Addis Ababa March 17/2023 /ENA/ The African Union (AU) has pledged to provide the necessary support to the effective implementation of Ethiopia’s transitional justice program. A two day consultative meeting on policy options for Transitional Justice in Ethiopia was held in Addis Ababa. The consultative meeting, that attracted heads of several international institutions and experts, was organized by the ministry of Justice in collaboration with the African Union. During the occasion, Representative of the African Union Commission (AUC) and Director of Governance and Conflict Prevention, Patience Zanelie Chiradza said Ethiopia’s transitional justice police would be crucial instrument to address the challenges that Ethiopia has been facing. Appreciating Ethiopia’s plan to undertake transitional justice, the director affirmed AUC’s readiness to provide the necessary support to its effective implementation. She also urged all stakeholders to make the process more inclusive that considers legal accountability, reconciliation, and compensation. The Director has also commended the idea to respect Ethiopia’s history, culture and spiritual values in the course of implementing the transitional justice. The process is also expected to include all segments of the society including women, the youth, internally displaced persons, persons with disability, the media, and religious groups among others, she added. State Minister of Justice, Alemante Agidew, said the National Transitional Justice policy is believed to play critical role to ensuring sustainable peace, justice and reconciliation in Ethiopia expressing the commitment of the government to realizing the policy.   Efforts are also being made to harmonize the policy with the African Union Transitional Justice Policy with in the existing context of the country, he added.    
Politics
France Donate Over 900 Children's Books to Abrehot Library
Mar 20, 2023 47
Addis Ababa March 20/2023 (ENA) The government of France has today donated 932 new children's books to Abrehot Library. Speaking at the event, Head of Cooperation and Culture of the French Embassy, Sophie Makame, said a year ago, the Cooperation Department of the Embassy of France in Ethiopia was approached by the management team of Abrehot library , wishing to develop a foreign languages section in the library. Hence, the embassy of France acquired a set of 932 beautiful books in French language, dedicate to Ethiopian children, to serve as the foundation of a French language corner in Abrehot library, she stated.   According to her, the newly designed permanent French language corner at Abrehot Library is therefore the place for all French –speaking people in Addis Ababa including Ethiopian children who speak French and children from French speaking countries. Addis Ababa University managed, Abrehot Library is currently among the biggest libraries in Africa. Addis Ababa University President, Professor Tassew Woldehanna, said on the occasion that to eradicate poverty education is a key noting that education cannot be expanded without books. According to him, everyday over 4,000 people from all walks of life, mostly young people, are using the library. "We have many diplomats from French speaking African countries as Ethiopia is the head of African Union’, he said, adding putting books at Abrehot means that you can access many readers in the country. Knowledge is the building block of civilization, he said, hence the books donated to the library will be beneficial.  
Americans Stress for Robust Relationship Between US, Ethiopia
Mar 18, 2023 404
Addis Ababa March 18/2023 (ENA)The United States and Ethiopia need to have robust bilateral relationships between them, two Americans told ENA. The American political and economic analyst Lawrence Freeman and fellow American journalist Hammond underscored that Ethiopia is a strategic nation in African continent which the US is seeking to build a robust bilateral relationships with Ethiopia. They also said the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken's visit to Ethiopia is a clear indication of an attempt by the Biden administration for a positive relationship with the east African nation. Recall Secretary Blinken had an official visit in Ethiopia last week and met various officials to consolidate bilateral ties between the two countries. According to Lawrence Freeman, the visit was a significant move by the United States in resuming relations with Ethiopia. “It is clear that there is an attempt by the US government to move forward, assuming some kind of positive relationship with Ethiopia. And I think that from what I can tell the Government of Ethiopia sees this visit as positive and significant.” The United States is of course seeking to influence what's on the African continent. However, this high level visit by Secretary of State Blinken is more than that, Freeman said. “I think the United States or some faction of people in the government, (that is) in the Biden Administration, have realized that it's possible to have a working relationship with Ethiopia. One is because it is the dominant nation in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia is also the second most populous nation on the continent. It is needed in many ways.” The analyst also mentioned that the United States of America is the leading humanitarian partner and contributor to Ethiopia during a war also this year. However, Freeman strongly insists the US Administration extends robust economic development cooperation with Ethiopia in addition to humanitarian support. “We really want to have a robust relationship between the two nations and we should have that kind of relationship. Then it will launch massive economic infrastructure, development programs between the two countries,” he stressed. The country was struggling and making some economic progress. But it still had two years of war which was very disruptive, he stated. “If the United States wants to have security in the Horn of Africa and wants to regain its influence in Africa, the Secretary of State should be outlining a massive economic assistance program more than aid,” the analyst underscored. Similarly, Fellow with the Center of Media and Peace Initiatives and award-winning American journalist Joseph Hammond said Blinken’s visit is a positive one for Ethiopia and America relationships.   “I think this visit is a victory for those in the Administration who support the strong relationship between the United States and Ethiopia. Within the Biden Administration there are two factions about how to work with Ethiopia, and the trip is a real victory for those of us who support stronger US-Ethiopian relations. I think the outcome here is the beneficiary of both countries.” As the US government has given special attention to building a better relationship with Africa, Ethiopia is a very strategic nation in the continent, Hammond added. “You know one of the major priorities of the Biden Administration is to build better relationships with Africa. So Secretary Antony Blinken’s trip to Ethiopia is a demonstration. If you want to prioritize Africa, you have to involve Ethiopia. Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa.” Furthermore, he noted that Ethiopia is also a rapidly developing country and one of the pillars of African civility.                        
South African, Gambian Scholars Say Transitional Justice Best Solution to Ethiopia
Mar 18, 2023 364
Addis Ababa March 18/2023 /ENA/ Scholars from South Africa and Gambia said that the transitional justice which their countries have passed through is best solutions for countries such as Ethiopia experiencing conflicts. The scholars approached by ENA said that transitional justice has contributed to build a better future in countries gripped with conflicts. The scholars believe that the way South Africa and the Gambia went through in the transitional justice process will give Ethiopia a better experience. Ethiopia has been developing a transitional justice policy document which is expected to contribute to sustainable peace, through reconciliation, compensation and prosecution in the country, it was indicated. Recall transitional justice has contributed to sustainable peace, reconciliation and justice in many countries’ endeavors to transition from conflict and authoritarian rule to kick start democratization process and post-conflict re-organization of political systems. As many African countries have ample evidence of transitional justice practices, among which, South Africa and Gambia are mentioned in this regard. The Head of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation at the University of Freetown in South Africa, Professor Tim Murithi praised Ethiopia for starting the process of transitional justice to solve its problems. The professor, who has done extensive research on transitional justice in Africa, said that Ethiopia is a historical and symbolic country of Africa and hoped the transitional justice would solve the deep-rooted challenges. In a society that has gone through many conflicts and oppression, transitional justice is instrumental in compensating the past deeds and pave the way for building better society in the future, the scholar pointed out. “For building peace that has injured conflict, has had violation takes place, transitional justice is a way for societies to deal with the tensions they are experiencing and to surface the issues that took place in the past. So that the people of the society can work together in an inclusive way to find ways to heal the past violations and to also build new institutions as well as stronger communities and socially cohesive societies going forward " Gambian scholar Dr. Baba Galleh Jallow said on his part that the importance of transitional justice, especially for countries like Ethiopia, is unquestionable. Jallow who was also former Executive Secretary-General of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) of Gambia said Ethiopia has been making a great move to ensure transitional justice. “A society cannot move forward without dealing with the past especially on human rights violations. Every society, Ethiopia and other countries that have gone through conflict and authoritarianism need to face the past…..and chart a course for the future. So it is very important that Ethiopia goes this process,” he pointed out. Professor Tim Murithi also noted the transitional justice which South Africa implemented to resolve the pains of the apartheid.              
US State Secretary’s Visit Indicates Ethiopia, US Relation Being Normalized: Morgan State University Professor
Mar 17, 2023 255
Addis Ababa March 17/2023 /ENA/ Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s visit to Ethiopia indicates that the relationship between Ethiopia and the U.S. is in the process of being normalized, Morgan State University Political Science and International Relations Professor Getachew Metaferia said. The professor told ENA that the visit was good and beneficial for the two countries with 120-year long relationship. Author of the book “Ethiopia and the United States: History, Diplomacy, and Analysis,” Professor Getachew noted that the visit shows that the relation between the two countries is in the process of being normalized. “The visit indicates that the relations between the two countries, Ethiopia and the U.S., which were not quite cordial during the war between the Ethiopian Federal Government and the TPLF, is in the process of being normalized.” According to him, the visit also indicates that the U.S. is back in Africa, as stated by President Biden during the U.S. Africa Leaders Summit. “For Ethiopia and the U.S., this is a welcome after a brief hiatus, especially during the Trump administration,” Professor Getachew stated. He added that the U.S. cannot afford to be an onlooker when the geopolitics of the region is given more attention by competing powers such as China and Russia. The professor pointed out that “the stability of Ethiopia is very important for the country itself, for the region, and for Africa at large. Because of this, Secretary Anthony Blinken emphasized durable peace and development in Ethiopia.” Also, Blinken announced a significant amount of money (331 million USD) to help victims of conflict and drought. Professor Getachew stated that the amount of money announced is the largest and that indicates the deep concern of the U.S. Commenting about re-admission of Ethiopia to AGOA, he said Ethiopia’s re-admission to AGOA will not only help the emerging export-oriented economy of Ethiopia; but it will have significant social implications. I hope that will take place soon as it will change the life and well-being of young men and girls who were employed for the first time, started earning wages and improving their lives, he underscored.  
Blinken’s Visit to Ethiopia Revitalizes Ethio-U.S Relations: Professor Brook Hailu
Mar 17, 2023 196
Addis Ababa March 17/2023 /ENA/ Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Ethiopia has revitalized the lately stagnant relations between Ethiopia and the United States, Professor Brook Hailu of the African Leadership Excellence Academy told ENA. According to the senior advisor at the academy, the visit has revived the stagnant relations between Ethiopia and the United States of America. Despite the brief period of unenthusiastic relationship, the longstanding 120 years relationship of Ethiopia and U.S.A has been mostly good, he added. Stating that the two countries have been strategic partners on various bilateral and international relations, the professor noted that Ethiopia was the first African country to open its embassy in the U.S during the reign of Emperor Hale Selassie I. And the United States also opened its first Consulate General, commonly known as American Gibi, in Africa around Mercato in Addis Ababa.   Professor Brook said that most of the history of relations between Ethiopia and America is good. He mentioned that the armies of the countries had fought along side in peacekeeping missions in Korea and Congo.   America had also a military base in the former Ethiopian province of Eritrea as the countries had strong military and agricultural relations.   However, the relationship between the two countries stalled during the Cold War and America did not have an ambassador in Ethiopia during the Derg military regime. Following the recent reform in Ethiopia, Professor Brook said Ethio-U.S relations has been good despite the lately brief period of stagnation. The role of the recent visit of Secretary Blinken to Ethiopia in boosting the countries relationship is crucial and it shows the firm commitment of the U.S to revive the longstanding relations between the two sides, he noted. Recall that Blinken revealed that the two countries have agreed to elevate their bilateral and regional partnership.   The state secretary also announced over 331 million USD in new humanitarian assistance for Ethiopia in FY 2023 through the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development.      
AU Pledges to Provide Support for Planned Transitional Justice in Ethiopia
Mar 17, 2023 240
Addis Ababa March 17/2023 /ENA/ The African Union (AU) has pledged to provide the necessary support to the effective implementation of Ethiopia’s transitional justice program. A two day consultative meeting on policy options for Transitional Justice in Ethiopia was held in Addis Ababa. The consultative meeting, that attracted heads of several international institutions and experts, was organized by the ministry of Justice in collaboration with the African Union. During the occasion, Representative of the African Union Commission (AUC) and Director of Governance and Conflict Prevention, Patience Zanelie Chiradza said Ethiopia’s transitional justice police would be crucial instrument to address the challenges that Ethiopia has been facing. Appreciating Ethiopia’s plan to undertake transitional justice, the director affirmed AUC’s readiness to provide the necessary support to its effective implementation. She also urged all stakeholders to make the process more inclusive that considers legal accountability, reconciliation, and compensation. The Director has also commended the idea to respect Ethiopia’s history, culture and spiritual values in the course of implementing the transitional justice. The process is also expected to include all segments of the society including women, the youth, internally displaced persons, persons with disability, the media, and religious groups among others, she added. State Minister of Justice, Alemante Agidew, said the National Transitional Justice policy is believed to play critical role to ensuring sustainable peace, justice and reconciliation in Ethiopia expressing the commitment of the government to realizing the policy.   Efforts are also being made to harmonize the policy with the African Union Transitional Justice Policy with in the existing context of the country, he added.    
Social
Al Basar International Foundation Providing Free Eye Treatment Service at Alert Hospital
Mar 18, 2023 102
Addis Ababa March 18/2023 /ENA/ Al Basar International Foundation launched a volunteer service program to provide free eye check-up and cataract surgery at Alert Hospital. Some 10, 000 residents are expected to benefit from physical examination of eye treatment and about 400 cases to be operated for cataract starting from March 17, 2023. Manager of Medical Team of Al Basar International Foundation, Farhruddin Dakhan said the objective of the volunteer to Ethiopia is to provide free eye services to the people suffering of eye blindness. He added that in the future the organization plans to go out through Ethiopia and look forward to have permanent base in Addis Ababa for sustainable and quality eye care service. Speaking at the occasion, senior advisor to the Ministry of Health Dr. Daniel Gebremichael on his part said we have been working with Al Basir Foundation for more than two decades and more than half million people benefited because of this foundation. More than 50 thousand cataract surgeries have been carried out on our patients for free, enabling more than 50 thousand Ethiopians to have recovered from their sight problems.. He explained that this is very important humanitarian activities, in this round, more than 30 thousand patients will be benefited from this mission. Last week, they were in Jimma and Worabe Hospital where more than 20 thousand patients received medical treatment especially with eye drops., he said. “In Ethiopia we have around 1.5 million people with low vision; most of them are because of cataract and trachoma. And cataract is actually the leading cause of blindness in Ethiopia and elsewhere in developing countries which can be prevented with simple surgical service,” he said. According to the advisor, given the number of cataract centers we have and the number of ophthalmology in the country, we have huge backlogs, where we need support from partners like Al Baser and others to support the people in need of recovery from sight problems. As we have only five tertiary centers for eye surgery, we need support to build hospital in Addis and elsewhere. Head of the Department of ophthalmology of Alert Hospital, Dr. Solomon Bussa on his part said it is for the third time that this organization is coming and doing cataract surgery and management of ophthalmologic disease.
FAO Provides Support to 4m People in East Africa
Mar 18, 2023 163
Addis Ababa March 18/2023 /ENA/ The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has reached out to 4 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in east Africa but the gap remains huge, FAO Representative to Eastern Africa and AU Chimimba David Phiri said. In an exclusive interview with ENA, Phiri said that the Horn of Africa has been affected by five serious droughts over the past few years which is the worst in forty years. FAO appealed for resources with a view to saving lives as well as saving livelihoods of the affected communities, he stated, and added “we have also requested funding for making sure that there is development and resilience, so that the communities do not fall into a situation where they need assistance at any point in time.” “So this is a sign that the program is huge because we expect that as many as 26 million people need support but FAO has reached out to 4 million. Of course other agencies have reached out to others but the gap between what we have now and where we need to be is very big,” the East Africa Representative noted. To date we have spent 120 million USD and reached nearly 4 million people with the support that we provided, Phiri added. He stressed “we are afraid that if not all support is provided to the people in particular the affected people of Ethiopia, Kenya, parts of Uganda, Djibouti, and Somalia, we could run into a serious famine by the end of this year.” FAO is providing feed, water and livestock vaccination against pests as well as enhancing capacity of the community to produce their own feed under serious drought conditions, it was indicated. The crisis in the Horn of Africa is not just drought but also coupled with Russia-Ukraine war, climate, conflicts and the biggest desert locust invasion in history of Africa, he pointed out. “So the vulnerability is already very bad and when you add the drought, it worsens that situation. So I think the international community needs to really build the resilience of the communities by providing the resources that they need, so that they can stand on their own. FAO does not itself as an organization provide food, we do provide feed to animals, but also provide livelihood’s support to them through animal or crop production and through providing them implements for sustainable agriculture, and also build capacities to make sure that they practice climate smart agriculture,” Phiri elaborated. He called on partners to scale up their commitment in providing the resources that are required to save lives and livelihoods in eastern Africa as the demand is a lot more than what is on the ground.  
WFP Calls on Donors to Step-up Support for Somaliland Refugees in Ethiopia
Mar 16, 2023 692
Addis Ababa March 16/2023 (ENA) The World Food Program (WFP) has urged donors to step up the level of support for some 100,000 Somaliland refugees who have fled to Ethiopia recently. Recall that about 100,000 Somaliland refugees, most of them women, pregnant and lactating mothers, unaccompanied children, elderly persons with serious medical conditions and disabilities, arrived at Doolo Zone of Somali Region, Ethiopia. In an exclusive interview with ENA, WFP Representative and Country Director Claude Jibidar said it is a sad situation to witness those Somaliland citizens forced to flee their homes due to conflict. Citing the gravity of the problem, he stated that WFP has “already provided some distributions. Distribution of food has been started and delivered for those people.” Partners too have been supplying water, shelter, and everybody is mobilized to respond, the country director said, adding that it seems like this is a situation that will not change overnight. Therefore “we need to step up the level of support so that we can sustain those people until they can go back home,” Jibidar said. “My appeal is to all the supporters. I know the government through Ethiopia’s Refugees and Returnees Service is doing a lot to support and we will also do our best. I am also appealing to donors to look at this situation so that we can help those people while they are here.” The WFP representative also expressed readiness to help the refugees when they go back and can resettle in their own home. The Ethiopian host communities have generously welcomed the refugees, sharing them the little they have in one of the areas hardest hit by drought affecting the Horn of Africa. The Refugees and Returnees Service and the UNHCR have together affirmed last week that many of the families have settled within the communities in common buildings or in open areas.   “The Government of Ethiopia, having maintained its longstanding generosity to asylum seekers, is receiving the needy by keeping the humanitarian and civilian nature of the overall response,” Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) Director-General Tesfahun Gobezay said. According to him, “RRS and the UNHCR are coordinating with federal and regional government bodies, UN agencies and other partners to respond to the needs of the newly arrived asylum-seekers.” UNHCR Country Representative Mamadou Dian Balde noted that Ethiopians have “once again shown tremendous generosity by keeping their doors open for their Somali brothers and sisters in need of protection.”      
WHO Office Coordinator Says Gov't of Ethiopia Very Supportive with Dev't Partners Providing Health Services
Mar 16, 2023 153
Addis Ababa March 16/2023 /ENA/ The Government of Ethiopia is very supportive with development partners in providing health services to those in need, in addition to strengthening the humanitarian aid, the WHO Shire Sub Office (in Tigray Region) Coordinator Boniface Ambani told ENA. “I should say the government is very, very supportive, because it is through the government that we have been able to get the donation because there's been high level advocacy by the government and also by the humanitarian agencies.” He further stated that the signing agreement is contributing a lot in boosting support to people in need. “We have already started even before. But, of course, this is a very big boost. I believe that after the signing of the peace agreement and the support that is coming in we are able to access as many health facilities as possible; and we are able to support the health delivery of health care services. We are also able to distribute all supplies to all the health facilities that are required to provide services,” Ambani said. According to him, the organization is partnering with all its development partners to ensure that we get adequate supply. He reaffirmed that with support from donors and development partners, WHO will continue to collaborate with the government in providing essential health care services for people in need of these services. The coordinator reaffirmed that WHO, with support from donors and development partners, will continue to collaborate with the government in providing essential health care services for people in need of these services. WHO has reportedly extended 70 metric tons of emergency medicine and other medical supplies targeted to reach about 1.2 million people to the Northern Ethiopia Emergency Response over the past two weeks.
Economy
Supporting MSMEs Crucial to Enable Economy in Africa Grow Much Faster in Sustainable Way
Mar 20, 2023 84
Addis Ababa March 20/2023 (ENA) Supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is crucial to enable the economy in Africa grow much faster in a sustainable way, according to African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD). The African Union (AU) member states' stakeholder engagement meeting for the 100,000 MSMEs initiatives underway in Addis Ababa today to discuss on its implementation. It is to be recalled that AUDA-NEPAD launched the 100,000 MSMEs Programme to accelerate African economic transformation by providing the needed skills to MSMEs and build resilience against the economic shock triggered by the global pandemic. The initiative seeks to build the capacity of one million enterprises in Africa through entrepreneurial and business training to improve access to finance and new markets while establishing networks for support and incubation to bolster their success. Acting Head of Human Capital Institutional Development Division at AUDA-NEPAD Dr. Janet Byaruhanga said the program started as an initiative of African Union commission to reach one million MSMEs by the end of 2024. “The idea is to support MSMEs that are struggling to access affordable and predictable long term financing for businesses. It is also to train them on understanding better how to do business in terms of equipping them with knowledge on business and entrepreneur skills and also creating a platform for them to network with each other.” She explained that the target is to reach all 55 member states of the AU, however they have reached about 20 countries in terms of actual engagement with the member states. Assistance Permanent Secretary at the ministry of industrial development of Mauritius, Akshaye Jeewoolall on his part said it is a great opportunities for all African countries of the AU member states and NEPAD to be participating and committed in this initiative to promote the growth of MSMEs in all the continent.   “The MSMEs contribute a lot in employment and in the GDP of each individual country in Africa. So, promoting them, helping them and upholding them is the must to each public and private institutions to uplift and help grow those MSMEs so that the economy grow much faster in a sustainable way,” he said. One of the challenges that MSMEs face across the world including Africa is access to market and finance, he said appealing to financial institution to help them in various sectors. Senior Partnership Manager at Afrilabs based in Abija, Nigeria, Felista Aku on her part said that MSMEs contribute directly to job and wealth creation in various countries.   However. she added that the MSMEs is facing various challenges ranging from capacity building, access to funding and market. The African Union Development Agency NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) 100,000 MSMEs initiative is aligned with the AU Agenda 2063, which aims at building a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development. The initiative aims at supporting MSMEs in the continent with access to finance, capacity building, networking, introduction to new markets and procurement opportunities. It is also joined by strategic resource partners, Ecobank, McKinsey and Company, The World Bank Group, Microsoft, and UNDP, among others.
African Nations Urged to Work on Infrastructure Connectivity to Maximize Benefits of Regional Integration
Mar 20, 2023 87
Addis Ababa March 20/2023 (ENA) African countries should exert more effort on infrastructure connectivity to maximize the benefits of regional integration dimensions that are stirring in varying wheeler speed after the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) rollout, UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Regional Integration and Trade Division Director, Stephen N. Karingi said. The director told ENA that Africa has seen a lot of progress on trade and market integration essentially due to AfCFTA rollout, and as countries, including Ethiopia started trading under it. Noting that regional integration has many dimensions, pointing out trade and market integrations, infrastructure connectivity, movement of people and goods and social integration as the main ones, he said “we have seen that the different wheelers are moving at different speeds.” He stressed that African countries should exert more effort on infrastructure connectivity to maximize the benefits of the regional integration dimensions that are stirring in varying wheeler speed after the AfCFTA rollout. “On trade integration or the market integration, there is a lot of progress that has been achieved, especially because of the rollout of the AFCFTA, whereby state parties, including countries like Ethiopia, are already starting to trade under the AFC FTA,” Karingi said. However, when it comes to the movement of goods and services in Africa under AFCFTA, the continent cannot maximize on the benefits of trade and market integration without more infrastructure connectivity works, he added. “When it comes to the movement of goods and services within the continent, under the rules of AFCFTA, we see a lot of progress being achieved there. Of course, we cannot be able to maximize on the benefits of market integration, unless we have infrastructure connectivity, and that is one of the areas that requires a bit more effort it requires more effort than we have now.” According to him, accelerating integration is a pillar of development for Africa and stressed the need to effectively implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He noted that the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the shock arising from the Ukraine war made it difficult for African governments to mobilize the necessary domestic and international resources for infrastructure development. “One can understand that because of the COVID-19 shock, the shock arising from the Ukraine war, it has been a bit difficult for governments to be able to mobilize sufficient resources to finance infrastructure development. So, more effort is needed when it comes to the infrastructure integration or the connectivity,” he said. The director noted that the single African Air Transport market has a lot of potential for connectivity in Africa. He urged African governments to allow African airlines to land in their respective airports and pick up goods and services, move people, and to make progress on the ratification of the free movement protocol. “Unless Africans are able to be able to move from one country to another, without pieces, it is going to be very difficult for us to have a maximum gains or maximum benefits of the market integration,” Karingi said. Today, there are a lot of African countries that allow Africans to travel without visa, 25 countries provide visa on arrival and many others enabled electronic visa application, the director stated.
Ethiopia Is One of Recent Examples of Resilience in Face of Multiple Shocks, Finance Minister Says
Mar 20, 2023 105
Addis Ababa March 20/2023 (ENA) Finance Minister of Ethiopia, Ahmed Shide said that Ethiopia is one of Africa’s recent examples of resilience in the face of multiple shocks. The finance Minister Ahmed delivered speech on the 55th Conference of Ministers of Finance and Economic Planning is underway in Addis Ababa with the theme: “recovery and transformation in Africa to reduce inequalities and vulnerabilities.” In his keynote address at the conference, the minister said that the current government of Ethiopia launched the Home-Grown Economic Reform in 2018 to ensure macro-economic stability, easing of doing business and addressing institutional constraints for inclusive and private-sector led growth. Unfortunately, right after launching, the reform faced unexpected obstacles due to the outbreak of conflict in Tigray region, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change induced shocks such as drought, and locust invasion in some part of the country, Ahmed pointed out. “Amidst these internal and external shocks, the government exerted maximum effort to take the reform agenda forward and achieved remarkable results, including positive per capita income growth, better debt management, improved Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows and export performance, as well as privatization of public enterprises and liberalization of selected sectors, which have boosted private sector participation in the economy.” He further stated Ethiopia also improved its domestic resource mobilization capacity through innovative reforms in tax administration, tax rates and application of information technologies. In spite of these positive gains, most of the macro-economic imbalances such as fiscal deficit, foreign exchange depletion, galloping inflation and accumulated debt, remain stern economic setbacks, the minister acknowledged. “We have therefore continued working on the second Home Grown Economic Reform to consolidate the gains and address current and emerging macroeconomic imbalances. Furthermore, as we work towards peace consolidation, our reform also focuses on paving the way for equitable and inclusive post-conflict recovery that will contribute towards strengthening social cohesion among all Ethiopians,” according to him. Speaking on the 55th Conference of Ministers of Finance and Economic Planning where they deliberate on Africa’s state of economic and social development, and regional integration, the finance minister underlined that Africa has a lot to do to resolve its socio-economic challenges, including the widening income inequalities and extreme poverty across the continent. Until 2019, Africa was home to the world’s fastest-growing economies- a growth fueled partly by favorable terms of trade, better macroeconomic management and growing investment, Ahmed said. However, he argued that the advent of the COVID-19 changed this success story dramatically. “The war in Eastern Europe disrupted global value chains, led to a spike in key commodity prices such as fuel, edible oil, wheat, and fertilizers as well as tightening of monetary policies in the developed countries, leading to an increase in global lending rates.” Moreover, climate change induced droughts, floods and erratic rain patterns are not only disrupting economic activities and productivities, but also endanger millions of lives in our continent. The combined impacts of the multiple and recurring global shocks are causing hardships unprecedented in recent memory and led to significant liquidity crunches in the economies of many African countries, the finance minister underscored. The immediate and long-term consequences of COVID-19 and the global economic and security crisis are wakeup calls for Africa to rethink its development paradigms and seek homegrown solutions before the crisis engulf the continent, he urged. For him, in order to address the multiple economic challenges of the African continent, it requires a collaborative and concentrated effort, which should be people-focused, sustainable in policy measures and inclusive enough in addressing the most vulnerable people. The finance minister finally said the recent experience of his country (ETHIOPIA) on improving agricultural productivity to achieve food sovereignty is a prime example of exploiting collective wisdom of African stakeholders. He also called upon all fellow Africans and partners to concentrate on their untapped potentials to transform the continent and eliminate undeserved poverty.
Fostering Recovery, Transformation Vital to Reduce Inequalities, Vulnerabilities in Africa
Mar 20, 2023 112
Addis Ababa March 20/2023 (ENA) Africa needs to foster recovery and transformation to reduce inequalities and vulnerabilities in the continent exacerbated by various problems, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Acting Executive Secretary, Antonio M.A. Pedro said. The fifty-fifth session of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development kicked off today in Addis Ababa. The aim of the two days meeting is to renew focus and action on reducing poverty, inequality and other factors that leave the African population continuously vulnerable to these scourges.   Speaking at the event, UNECA Acting Secretary, Antonio M.A. Pedro said Africa’s growth is rebounding at 4.1 percent as inflation has been reduced to 12 percent so far. However, the continent needs double-digit growth rates to achieve breakthroughs to promote a new cycle of sustainable growth, arrange regulated business and innovation climate, he said. This will require paying detailed attention to ensuring that a strong macroeconomic foundation is in place to allow for structural transformation, he added. We also need to push for reform of the global financial architecture to unlock long term financing, green jobs, pro poor policies, tax mechanism for carbon, and illicit financial flows, he elaborated. "Africa must risk investment on the continent for both domestic and foreign investors to support the immense efforts that are required to develop a credible pipeline of bankable projects with limited fiscal space." Every dollar spent must generate maximum socio-economic impacts and co-benefits that go beyond GDP methods and profit maximization, and no one should be left behind, the acting Executive Secretary noted. Speaking on his part, the Ethiopian Finance Minister Ahmed Shide said, until 2019 Africa was home to the world’s fastest growing economies.   According to him, the growth was fueled partly by favorable terms of trade, better macroeconomic management and growth investment. "Most African economies have been doing so well in the past few decades that we were on track to meet most of the targets in SDG until multiple global and internal shocks threatened to unravel the several years of socio-economic gains." However, the advent of COVID-19 along with the war in Ukraine and the vagaries of climate change has pushed back Africa’s two decades of economic growth, he stated. "Now millions of Africans have been pushed in to poverty, while millions more are at risk of falling into extreme poverty due to disruption in the global economy precipitated by the war in Ukraine and the frequency of weather caused by climate change." The immediate and long term consequences of COVID-19 and the global economic and security crisis are a wake-up call for Africa to rethink its development paradigm, he said, adding seeking a home-grown solution is vital before the crisis engulf the continent.
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Technology
Ethiopia, Sudan Sign MoU to Cooperate on Telecom & Digital Transformation
Mar 16, 2023 157
Addis Ababa March 16/2023 (ENA) Ethiopia's Ministry of Innovation and Technology and Sudan’s Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Transformation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to cooperate on telecommunication and digital transformation sectors. Innovation and Technology Minister Belete Mola and Sudanese Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Transformation, Adel Hassan Mohamed Hussein signed the MoU in Addis Ababa. The implementation of the agreement is expected to improve people to people relations, experience sharing and cooperation on security issues between the two countries.   Innovation and Technology Minister Belete Mola said at the occasion that his ministry is committed to implement the MoU aimed at cooperating on telecommunication and digital transformation. “I was looking at the MoU,” Belete said, further pointing out, “There is strategy wise, policy wise, there is a lot that we are supposed to work together with our parallel Sudanese ministry and all other institutions around the ministry.” “We will be very much happy to make sure that the articles put in the MoU will be put into effect so to the benefit of our two sisterly countries and we will remain committed and again we are happy to have this relationship with our sister country Sudan.” The two big countries with huge potential have been playing star role in socio-political-economic affairs of the region and have to work and achieve more together not only for the benefit of the countries but also for the security and development of the region, he added. Sudanese Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Transformation, Adel Hassan Mohamed Hussein expressed readiness to start a new era of collaboration with Ethiopia. “We are so pleased to have this meeting today, to meet you and your team. Ethiopia is a sister country and we are looking forward to start a new era of collaboration. Yes, we are so close in the past, but we will be closer in the future.” The signing of the MoU by the Sudanese and Ethiopian ministries for cooperation in ICT and digital transformation is to tap into the unlimited opportunities in the field of telecom and digital transformation. “It gives me great pleasure and honor to meet you today your Excellency and witness a signing of the MoU between the government of Sudan and Ethiopia for cooperation in ICT and digital transformation.” Noting the unlimited opportunities in this field, the minister stressed the need for real cooperation and coordination. “We are looking forward to get the most benefit from this collaboration in exchanging knowledge, experience, technology, and even developing co-projects for the people of both countries.” The Sudanese minister has invited his counterpart to visit Sudan to reflect on the MoU together and incorporate it into a daily work and he accepted the invitation.      
E-Government Strategy and Enterprise Architecture for Ethiopia Launched
Mar 16, 2023 222
Addis Ababa March 16/2023 (ENA) Ministry of Innovation and Technology and the Delegation of the European Union to Ethiopia launched a five-year e-Government Strategy and Enterprise Architecture for Ethiopia today. Innovation and Technology Minister Belete Molla said implementing the project will improve government services delivery, facilitate digital economy, and foster socio-economic development. “ I am sufficiently informed that the ultimate goal of this project is to enable the Government of Ethiopia to be more efficient, result oriented, and to provide citizen-centered, secure and integrated e-governance services.”   According to him, the implementation of this project will go a long way to strengthen Ethiopia in the global digital economy by facilitating digital transformation for rapid, inclusive socio-economic wellbeing of our citizens. A policy framework articulated under the Digital Ethiopia 2025 Strategy is enabling utilization of digital technologies across the sectors of the economy to improve the services, Belete noted.   EU Delegation to Ethiopia Economy and Infrastructure Team Leader, Sanne Willems said the Union funded the project that will be implemented by the ministry. This is part of “a large project of 10-million-Euros to support the business environment and investment climate, including e-governance services,” she added. The team leader pointed out that effective implementation of the project will enable the government to improve services delivery in an inclusive and transparent way. The project also aligns with to the SDG-16 target and contributes to the strengthening of peace and justice institutions. Willems stated that the EU and Ethiopia have been cooperating on various areas for over four decades.
Int'l Atomic Energy Agency Expresses Keenness to Enhance Cooperation with Africa in Civilian Nuclear Technology
Mar 13, 2023 294
Addis Ababa March 13/2023 (ENA) The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has expressed its interest to enhance cooperation with Africa in civilian nuclear technology, Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, Hua Liu said. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), representatives of nearly 40 African countries including the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA), are participating in the 2023 annual National Liaison Officers meeting here in Addis Ababa. The annual meeting being held under the theme, "Paradigm Shift," is aimed at enhancing the technical collaboration between African countries and IAEA. The 5-day meeting is expected to emphasize the significance of embracing change and innovation to achieve sustainable development goals through nuclear science and technology, it was learned. Speaking at the event, Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, IAEA, Hua Liu said the meeting aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the technical cooperation programme in Africa. Significant progress has been made in the region in recent years, he said , adding it is essential that Africa continue its efforts to develop and implement a programme of maximum benefit to the countries Socio-economic development. According to him, IAEA has launched a number of key initiatives such as Rays of Hope, NUTEC Plastics, and the Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC), which are of particular importance to the African region. The agency will continue to provide support for the new comer countries in nuclear energy, especially in small modular reactor through interregional projects, he vowed. The programmes that his agency launched is also contributing to global efforts to address climate change. Growing number of African member states are focusing their attention on nuclear power, research reactors and irradiation technology, he said, adding his agency encourage Africa to take advantage of the support that the Agency offers in these areas. "IAEA also launched a program aimed at encouraging the next generation of women nuclear professionals by offering scholarships for their master degrees in nuclear topics’, he said. Speaking at the event, Ethiopian Minister of Innovation and Technology, Dr. Belete Molla, said as a founding member of the IAEA, since its establishment in 1957, my country through the years has enhanced its collaboration with the Agency.   He further stated that Ethiopia is highly committed and strongly supportive to the mandates of the Agency towards nonproliferation, nuclear safety and promoting peaceful applications of Nuclear Science and Technology for sustainable development. "We have a strong commitment of my government in collaborating and promoting technical cooperation with the Agency in key socio-economic sectors such as agriculture and food security, human health, water resource management, environment, manufacturing industry and power generation and in advancing Nuclear Science and Technology for sustainable development." Ethiopia is committed for advancing Nuclear Science and Technology for development including exploring the potential of nuclear power for electricity generation, he said. According to him, substantive measures are underway to establish the Center for Nuclear Science and Technology (CNST) through establishing an institute to sustainably manage the sector. "We are investing in research and development, constructing the necessary infrastructure, and developing policies and programs to support innovative businesses and entrepreneurs in all sectors," he added. This meeting will provide a vital platform for exchanging ideas and best practices, fostering new collaborations, and building partnerships, the minister stated. By working together, we can achieve sustainable development goals, leveraging the power of nuclear science and technology to create a more sustainable future for all, he noted. Speaking on his behalf, Director for the Division for Africa of the Department of Technical Cooperation, Professor Shaukat Abdulrazak, said our gathering here will help us find ways to share information and means, which help us produce documents and results based management.   The meeting will also help us address together some of the bottlenecks, he added. Technical cooperation program is a shared responsibility, that IAEA play role, he added. The National Liaison Officers and AFRA National Coordinators meeting will remain in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia will remain open until 17 of March and expected to adopt concrete measures and actions to further improve the planning and formulation of the next Technical Cooperation cycle for 2024-2025.
Ethio-telecom Sells over 39,000 SIM Cards to Residents of Shire City
Mar 4, 2023 499
March 4/2023 Shire City Ethio-telecom Sales Center in Tigray region disclosed that it has sold over 39,000 SIM cards in the last two months alone, and collected close to two million Birr revenue from various services. Following the peace agreement, the Government of Ethiopia has been actively engaged in reconstruction and restoration of basic services in areas severely affected by the war. Accordingly, essential services like air travel, telecom, banking, electricity have been restored in the city. Shire City Ethio-Telecom Sales Center Coordinator, Andom Belay told ENA that the center has been providing services for customers, following the peace agreement. The staff of the center are working hard to meet the demand of needs of the high number of customers, he said. The coordinator stated that the center sold over 39,000 SIM cards to customers in the last two months. Moreover, the center is also providing other services, including change of SIM card, tele Birr services, 3-G Internet and broadband data sales. Thus, close to two million Birr revenue was secured from SIM card sales and other additional services, Andom added. Similarly, transportation service has been restored from Shire City to the regional capital Mekelle and other towns in the region.   Passengers and drivers told ENA that the difficulty they faced during the conflict in the region has been resolved as they can travel in the region.   Following the peace deal, provisions of service in the different sectors have returned to normalcy.        
Sport
City Administration Expresses Gratitude to Victorious Nat'l Athletics Team
Jul 29, 2022 439
Addis Ababa July 29/2022/ENA/ The Addis Ababa City Administration held a Thanksgiving ceremony for the Ethiopian athletics team that registered stunning victory at the Oregon World Athletics Championship 2022. The athletic team, which stood second after the US in the medal list, was earlier given warm reception by President Sahle-Work Zewde at the National Palace and the outstanding members awarded. The City Administration Council of Addis Ababa also awarded 10 million Birr prize in total to the athletes who participated in the competition. In addition, the athletes who won gold, silver and bronze medals were given 500 to 250 square meters of land based on their results. Speaking on the occasion, Mayor Adanech Abebie said that the athletes have once again raised Ethiopia's honor in the world arena. "History testifies that we Ethiopians are people who do not surrender to defeat, and challenges make us stronger," she stressed. According to her, the athletes should be honored for their contribution in making the country's flag fly high in the world championships. Ethiopian Athletics Federation President, Commander Derartu Tulu said she was happy with the reception given to the athletes, stating that "the most precious gift is morale and respect we are given by the people." The Thanksgiving program was held under the theme: "We thank you for raising our flag in the world arena.” Culture and Sports Minister Kejela Merdasa, former famous athletes and various government officials attended the ceremony.
Environment
Ethiopia Doing Well in Planting Trees, Minimizing Desertification: AU Commissioner Sacko
Feb 17, 2023 437
Addis Ababa February 17/2013 /ENA/ Ethiopia is doing well in environmental protection and minimizing desertification through its Green Legacy of planting billions of trees, AU Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment Commissioner Ambassador Josefa Leonel Sacko said. In an exclusive interview with ENA, Commissioner Sacko commended Ethiopia’s Green Legacy initiated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. “I commend the government of Ethiopia that is doing so well in planting trees because it is very important. By planting trees we can minimize the desertification and we can also stimulate the rain and mitigate the effect of drought on the continent,” she applauded. Rooted in a vision of building a green and climate-resilient Ethiopia, the Green Legacy Initiative was launched in June 2019. A target of planting 20 billion seedlings within a period of four years was set. By the fourth year, Ethiopia has succeeded in planting 25 billion seedlings by mobilizing more than 20 million citizens throughout the nation. The Green Legacy Initiative is a demonstration of Ethiopia’s long-term commitment to a multifaceted response to the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation that encompasses agroforestry, forest sector development, greening and renewal of urban areas, and integrated water and soil resources management. AU Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment Commissioner urged African countries to follow suit and align their programs with African Union Commission as well. Speaking of Ethiopia’s wheat exporting with regard to food security, the Commissioner said that African countries should notice the essentiality of agriculture to secure food efficiency. “I commend Ethiopia for cultivating wheat and we know that there is a very good lesson for the countries and should follow the example of Ethiopia that have the ecological advantage to grow wheat in their countries,” Commissioner Sacko noted. Ethiopia is set to export 1.2 million quintals of wheat bumper harvest during this year, the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration announced last week.
Ethiopia Doing Well in Planting Trees, Minimizing Desertification: AU Commissioner Sacko
Feb 16, 2023 445
Addis Ababa (ENA) February 16/2023 Ethiopia is doing well in environmental protection and minimizing desertification through its Green Legacy of planting billions of trees, AU Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment Commissioner Ambassador Josefa Leonel Sacko said. In an exclusive interview with ENA, Commissioner Sacko commended Ethiopia’s Green Legacy initiated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. “I commend the government of Ethiopia that is doing so well in planting trees because it is very important. By planting trees we can minimize the desertification and we can also stimulate the rain and mitigate the effect of drought on the continent,” she applauded. Rooted in a vision of building a green and climate-resilient Ethiopia, the Green Legacy Initiative was launched in June 2019. A target of planting 20 billion seedlings within a period of four years was set. By the fourth year, Ethiopia has succeeded in planting 25 billion seedlings by mobilizing more than 20 million citizens throughout the nation. The Green Legacy Initiative is a demonstration of Ethiopia’s long-term commitment to a multifaceted response to the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation that encompasses agroforestry, forest sector development, greening and renewal of urban areas, and integrated water and soil resources management. AU Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment Commissioner urged African countries to follow suit and align their programs with African Union Commission as well. Speaking of Ethiopia’s wheat exporting with regard to food security, the Commissioner said that African countries should notice the essentiality of agriculture to secure food efficiency. “I commend Ethiopia for cultivating wheat and we know that there is a very good lesson for the countries and should follow the example of Ethiopia that have the ecological advantage to grow wheat in their countries,” Commissioner Sacko noted. Ethiopia is set to export 1.2 million quintals of wheat bumper harvest during this year, the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration announced last week.
World Meteorological Organization to Enhance Digital Transformation of Hydrometeorological Services in Africa
Feb 13, 2023 435
Addis Ababa /ENA/ February 13/2023 The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in collaboration with the Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI) is holding its regional conference to enhance digital transformation of the hydrometeorological services in Africa. The use of modern digital technology has unexploited potential to offer through the value chain of climate services including in fields such as data collection, dissemination and personalization of services. Addressing the occasion, State Minister of Water and Energy Abraha Adugna said the information from meteorology and climate is basic parameters to achieve the nation’s ambitions in various fronts. Stating that lots of experiences will be shared among countries in the conference; he said “As Ethiopians, we will use those experiences for the next development plans.” “We are running a climate resilient green economy. That is one of the areas that we need information from climate and meteorology.” “For this and other purposes we need information from climate and meteorology. So the workshop will give the opportunity to get the good experiences from African countries as well as from other countries around the world.” WMO assistant Secretary General Wenjian Zhang said for his part African region permanent representatives meet together which they can address the challenges, and opportunities from their country’s perspective. For the assistant Secretary General, he expects the conference to promote further the partnership with regional key partners. The main objective of the conference is to strengthen observation network. Observation network is used to enhance and deliver meteorological and hydrological services, the Director General of Ethiopian Meteorological Institute Fetene Teshome said. He further stressed that the discussion mainly focuses on how can we strengthen the service delivery system in Africa. The 5 days conference will draw a strategic plan to enhance the capacities of hydrometeorological services in Africa and partnerships on infrastructural strength of national meteorological and hydrological services. Accordingly, the conference with the participation of global and regional experts and decision makers from Africa will discuss partnerships in enhancing communication in service delivery, capacity development, research and innovation and early warning in Africa. It is to be recalled that United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres had unveiled its early warnings for all: Executive action plan 2023–2027 that calls for a targeted investment of 3.1 billion USD at a high-level COP27 meeting in Egypt last November. It will cost the equivalent of just 50 cents per person per year for the next five years to reach everyone on Earth with early warnings against increasingly extreme and dangerous weather, World Meteorological Organization stated.
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Africa’s Sustainable Growth Hinges on Science, Technology and Innovation: Experts
Mar 3, 2023 902
Addis Ababa March 3/2023/ENA/ Achieving the ambitious targets of the 2030 and 2063 Agendas of Africa requires leveraging the power of science, technology, and innovation (STI), according to experts. A press release issued by the ECA stated experts at the Ninth African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development have emphasized the crucial role of STI as a key driver and enabler for ensuring economic growth, improving well-being, mitigating the effects of climate change, and safeguarding the environment. They also underscored the need to strengthen national and regional STI ecosystems by fostering innovation, promoting entrepreneurship, and investing in research and development. By doing so, the experts said that Africa can harness the potential of STI to accelerate its socio-economic progress and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and the African Union's Agenda by 2063. The session, held on 2 March 2023, builds on the recommendations of the Fifth African Science, Technology, and Innovation Forum, which accentuates the central role of STI and digitalization during the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for the necessary infrastructures for the development of STI, plans, and policies that are action-oriented towards strengthening its full implantation. The experts highlighted that despite advances in STI, significant gaps remain in bridging the scientific and technological divide between developed countries and Africa. The highly uneven global distribution of scientific capacity and access to knowledge threatens to derail the goal of leaving no one behind, which is the central and transformative promise of Agenda 2030. “We need a clear political will from governments to ensure science, technology, and innovation is a reality. By doing so our education systems will be capacitated to deliver knowledge that is vital to solving Africa’s sustainability challenges,” Niger Higher Education and Research Minister Mamoudou Djibo said. The strategy includes the establishment of universities as centers for excellence and investments in education, technical competencies, and training in the fields of science, technology, research, and innovation. These initiatives are crucial in accelerating progress towards achieving global goals. However, in order to fully leverage the potential of STI, significant investments in research and development are required. National systems also need to be strengthened, Namibia Information and Communication Technologies Deputy Minister Emma Theophilus, stated adding that “strengthening our national systems for STI is a key game changer for rapid structural transformation in Africa. Leveraging the digital transformation can achieve a stronger, smarter, and more inclusive recovery.” Emerging evidence suggests that an STI and digital Africa can be a springboard to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs and fulfill the aspirations of Agenda 2063.
WFP Calls on Donors to Step-up Support for Somaliland Refugees in Ethiopia
Mar 16, 2023 692
Addis Ababa March 16/2023 (ENA) The World Food Program (WFP) has urged donors to step up the level of support for some 100,000 Somaliland refugees who have fled to Ethiopia recently. Recall that about 100,000 Somaliland refugees, most of them women, pregnant and lactating mothers, unaccompanied children, elderly persons with serious medical conditions and disabilities, arrived at Doolo Zone of Somali Region, Ethiopia. In an exclusive interview with ENA, WFP Representative and Country Director Claude Jibidar said it is a sad situation to witness those Somaliland citizens forced to flee their homes due to conflict. Citing the gravity of the problem, he stated that WFP has “already provided some distributions. Distribution of food has been started and delivered for those people.” Partners too have been supplying water, shelter, and everybody is mobilized to respond, the country director said, adding that it seems like this is a situation that will not change overnight. Therefore “we need to step up the level of support so that we can sustain those people until they can go back home,” Jibidar said. “My appeal is to all the supporters. I know the government through Ethiopia’s Refugees and Returnees Service is doing a lot to support and we will also do our best. I am also appealing to donors to look at this situation so that we can help those people while they are here.” The WFP representative also expressed readiness to help the refugees when they go back and can resettle in their own home. The Ethiopian host communities have generously welcomed the refugees, sharing them the little they have in one of the areas hardest hit by drought affecting the Horn of Africa. The Refugees and Returnees Service and the UNHCR have together affirmed last week that many of the families have settled within the communities in common buildings or in open areas.   “The Government of Ethiopia, having maintained its longstanding generosity to asylum seekers, is receiving the needy by keeping the humanitarian and civilian nature of the overall response,” Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) Director-General Tesfahun Gobezay said. According to him, “RRS and the UNHCR are coordinating with federal and regional government bodies, UN agencies and other partners to respond to the needs of the newly arrived asylum-seekers.” UNHCR Country Representative Mamadou Dian Balde noted that Ethiopians have “once again shown tremendous generosity by keeping their doors open for their Somali brothers and sisters in need of protection.”      
Feature Article
Scaling up Ethio-US Relations for Mutual Benefits
Mar 15, 2023 153
  BY SOLOMON DIBABA Ethiopia and the United States have enjoyed warm government-to-government and people-to-people relations for well over a century. The ties have transcended the passage of time and the changes of governments and political systems in both countries. Formal Ethio-US relations date back to December 1903 following nine days of meetings in Ethiopia between the government of Ethiopia and Robert P. Skinner, an emissary of President Theodore Roosevelt. Ethiopia appreciated America’s commercial interest in Ethiopia, and that the United States did not possess colonial designs similar to those that were designed by colonial forces. Then, the talks which Ethiopia and the United States had held yielded a joint document known as the Treaty of Amity and Commerce. This agreement accorded Ethiopia Most Favored Nation status and eventually led to full diplomatic relations between the two countries. Over the past several decades, Ethiopia has remained a partner with the US in a battle against terrorism. It is to be recalled the US government and US based international NGOs have rendered immense contribution to roll back the 1984-85 food shortage crisis and recurrent drought that plagued the country. Given its geopolitical locations, Ethiopia has been a strong ally for the United States for many decades. Apart from government to government relations, people to people relations between the two countries have remained strong. Suffice to mention, the number of Ethiopian diaspora residing in the United States. Further, the two countries have enjoyed multiple development and economic cooperation for many decades.For instance, the Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines have demonstrated strong partnerships. Regarding development cooperation, since 1961, the USAID has continued to support various development programs including promotion of education, agricultural development programs including the US Peace Corp program for promoting cultural relations and expansion of modern education. The US provided support to Ethiopia in establishing Haramaya former Agricultural College and a number of agricultural colleges in Jimma, Bako and the College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture (then Debre Zeit Veterinary Science College) and a number of teachers training institutions across the country. Between 1953-1976, in line with the Mutual Defense Agreement Assistance, the US provided Ethiopia with defense armaments and trained military officers for the Ethiopian army and air force. Ethiopia shares a common interest with the US in ascertaining peace and stability in the Horn of Africa. The reform program that has been conducted in the country has been instrumental in further fostering the operational relations between the two countries in promoting democracy and good governance. Regular visits paid to Ethiopia by US officials including today’s visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have enormous implications in forging relations between the two countries, in the areas of economic cooperation, security and upscaling a united action against terrorism in the Horn of Africa. Climate change induced drought has repeatedly become a major bottleneck for the economic development of countries in the Horn of Africa including Ethiopia. A number of countries of the Horn are still grappling with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the US can provide technological and economic development support in partnership with these countries. Ethiopia and the US need to engage in the areas of peace building in the Horn and the rest of Africa. The mutual support and partnership based economic relations between Ethiopia and the US need to be promoted for mutual benefits of both countries. Roughly speaking, more than 3 million Ethiopians and foreign nationals of Ethiopian origin constitute the diaspora population across the world and most of whom reside and work in the US, becoming a major force to further strengthen the relationship between Ethiopia and the US. Both Ethiopia and the US need to develop and exploit the positive influence that the Ethiopian diaspora could play in fostering the relationship between the two countries. Ethiopia is now hosting close to one million refugees from the neighboring countries and is providing protection in line with guiding principles and statutes of the UNHCR. On the other hand, the Ethiopian Government is actively working in rehabilitating hundreds of IDPs that were affected by the conflicts in various parts of the country. As a longstanding partner with Ethiopia, the US can support such efforts as it will help to promote sustained peace and stability in the country. Ethiopia unswervingly stands for peace and stability in the Horn of Africa and the US can effectively partner with the Government of Ethiopia in building sustained peace and stability to promote mutually beneficial interest of the two countries. The people to people relations between the two countries can be enhanced through public diplomacy between the peoples of both countries to further promote cross cultural exchanges that have developed between the two nations for over a century. The ongoing visit by the US Secretary of State to Ethiopia is therefore expected to enhance the relations between the two friendly countries based on mutual understanding, respect and cordial relations.      
Victory of Adwa: Launching Pad for the Inception of Pan Africanism
Mar 1, 2023 664
BY SOLOMON DIBABA The Battle of Adwa on March 1, 1896 is a historic landmark in the history of the black population across the world, particularly in Africa. It ignited two important phenomenological incidents in Ethiopian and African history including the decolonization of African and the continental vision of Pan Africanism. The victory at the Battle of Adwa immediately resonated across the world in complete negation of the invincibility of the diplomatic, political and military prowess of colonialists. Ethiopia and Africa mark the victory at the Battle Adwa, in which Ethiopian peasants, artesian, women and many other volunteers from all walks of life and ethnicity marched in unison to repel Italian aggressors which received the blessings of the colonial powers in the Scramble for Africa in line with the resolutions of the Berlin Conference (1884-1885.). According to Professor Richard Pankhurst in his book “Reflections on the Battle of Adwa” the Ethiopian victory at the Battle of Adwa has remained a very important event in the shared recollection of the entire African people. It is the only secular episode in the whole history of Africa that has been celebrated for more than a century. . A phenomenon such as Adwa is a complex nexus of various historical processes with wide ranging but as yet not fully explored meanings. Adwa does not only reflect its time, but that it also transcends it, and that the aspirations and meanings that flow from it have been a powerful constitutive force in the rise and evolution of modern African Pan Africanism. Indeed, it is an event that awakened the hope for emancipation and the struggle against colonialism and racism among Africans in the colonies and in the Diaspora. Black people across the globe celebrate one historical asset that occurred 127 years ago in a small town in northern Ethiopia, Adwa. The Battle of Adwa was a rocket booster or a launching pad for the inception of Pan Africanism. This historic battle and the subsequent victory registered by irregular army of Ethiopia resonated across the world as the first victory against a colonial power ever to be won by an African country. History proves that the victory at the Battle of Adwa was not a victory only for Ethiopia. Although the Battle was fought in Ethiopia, the entire global community of people shares this outstanding victory against the colonial powers that was thought to be invincible. It must be noted that the founding fathers of the former OAU were certainly inspired by the loft goals of pan Africanism. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, who was undoubtedly one of Africa’s foremost freedom fighters, nationalists, writers, and thinkers, that influenced a generation of Pan-African nationalists and freedom fighters, and the founding member of the Organization of African. He foretold that “It is clear that we must find an African solution to our problems, and that this can only be found in African unity. Divided we are weak; united, Africa could become one of the greatest forces for good in the world.” Will Africa live up to these expectations? The current trend is in the right direction but certainly there are huge challenges ahead before the lofty goals of Pan Africanism are achieved. Today, the AU has creatively designed Agenda 2063, African Continental Free Trade Area and Pan African Parliament as well as peace and Security Council, African Court of Justice and Human Rights and a number of specialized committees who are tasked with fulfilling their duties in the context of the aspirations of Pan Africanism. Ethiopia was and is indeed a forerunner in promoting the loft goals of Pan Africanism and the decolonization of the African continent by supporting major African liberation fronts like ANC, SWAPO, SPLM, ZANU-PF who fought for their freedom from Apartheid, colonialism and neocolonialism. Moreover, in the sphere of integrating Africa from the perspectives of economic Pan Africanism, Ethiopia has already gone a long way in connecting Africa by aviation, railway line, road transport, telecommunication and supply of renewable hydro-electric power for the neighboring countries of Sudan, Kenya, Djibouti and possibly for Somalia and other East African countries. The aspirations of the victory at the Battle of Adwa needs to be implanted in the African youth who are expected to continue to light up the torch of Pan Africanism. The spirit of Adwa will certainly continue to reverberate in the current pan Africanist battle against abject poverty, climate change, unemployment, promotion of peace and security, food insecurity, inflation and the growing level of debt and debt servicing. In his latest message on his twitter account, Prime Minister Abiy wrote “Reinvigorating and re-calibrating Pan Africanism requires us to disrupt the status quo and leap into the future. Potentials need to change into products. Our mind needs to transform our lands. We need to create clean and green environment. PAN Africanism should flourish as an idea of cooperative integration, global competitiveness and peaceful coexistence ” Victory at the Battle of Adwa is indeed symbolic of how poor peasants defeated a colonial army equipped to the teeth only because they were united in purpose, goal to ensure their freedom and territorial integrity. The lesson from Adwa was loud and clear, united Africans can overcome any challenge as long as they are united.
Ethiopian News Agency
2023