Day: March 23, 2023

The World Bank reiterated that it will work closely with the Government and IMF to support the economic stabilization effort of in Ethiopia.

The World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa, Victoria Kwakwa, is in Ethiopia for an official working visit.

The Vice President started her two-day visit by paying a courtesy call to Finance Minister, Ahmed Shide on Wednesday.

During the occasion, the two officials discussed various issues of mutual interest, including development priorities and on how to strengthen the Bank’s partnership with Ethiopia.

The Minister thanked Kwakwa for the World Bank’s continued support to Ethiopia, especially in delivering much-needed financing in addressing the impacts of overlapping shocks over the last three years.

He also highlighted some of the government’s priorities in recovery and rebuilding, and developmental efforts in the areas of human capital, food security, infrastructure connectivity, economic stability and creating jobs for the youth.

The minister also reaffirmed the Government of Ethiopia’s commitment in deepening the Home-Grown Economic Reform Agenda in rebalancing the role of state to give much space to the private sector for job creation and sustainable growth.

Kwakwa commended Ethiopia’s resilience in dealing with multiple shocks and the government’s commitment to economic reform to promote a private sector-led development.

She also reiterated the World Bank’s commitment to assist Ethiopia in policy areas to improve on ease of doing business and productivity in Ethiopia.

The Vice President reiterated that the Bank will work closely with the Government and IMF to support the economic stabilization effort of the Government.

This is Kwakwa’s first official visit to Ethiopia since she assumed her position in July 2022.

Kwakwa’s visit underscores the World Bank’s strong commitment to Ethiopia as a long-standing development partner.

During her visit, the Vice President, will also meet with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, members of the private sector, and some Ministers.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

National Demobilization and Reintegration Programme (NDRP) for ex- combatants that is being developed by the National Rehabilitation Commission (NRC) was discussed with development partners today in Addis Ababa.

This meeting follows a first national consultation on demobilization and reintegration which was held in Mekelle on the 10th of March 2023; similar consultations will also be held in Bahir Dar, Semera and other cities in Ethiopia.

Speakers at the event included Ambassador Teshome Toga, Commissioner of the NRC; State Minister of Finance Semereta Sewasew; UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Dr. Catherine Sozi, and UNDP Resident Representative, Turhan Saleh.

Participants included Ambassadors, Heads of Development Cooperation and other senior staff from development partners.

Government Representatives from concerned federal institutions also participated in the consultative meeting.

The NRC was established by the Government in November 2022 for a period of two years to assist with demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants across the country.

The draft National Demobilization and Reintegration Programme (NDRP) prepared by the Commission follows the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in November 2022.

This National Programme will support demobilization and reintegration of up to 250,000 ex- combatants in Ethiopia, and will be implemented in parts of the country making an important program that is integral to national efforts to consolidate peace and promote stability in the country, according to a joint press release.

The national recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction program resource mobilization and implementation will take place in a coordinated manner with the view of promoting sustainable peace and development, and ensuring the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants remain to be integral part of this process.

The support to the DDR process by partners is anticipated to play a significant role in the stabilization and peace building efforts, and in creating an environment in which a peace process, political and social reconciliation, access to livelihoods as well as sustainable development can take root, the press release said.

Based on the request of the Government, the United Nations (UN) is providing technical and financial assistance to the NRC through the operational coordination of UNDP.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Sudanese Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim said the power to be generated from the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will not only be enough for the neighboring countries but also contribute to the development of the whole region.

In an exclusive interview with the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), the minister noted that one cannot have economic development without power and “we think the new dam (Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam) is going to help us have enough and cheap energy from Ethiopia.”

Sudan is in need of energy and “we think the new dam is going to help us have enough and cheap energy from Ethiopia.”

On the other hand, the food production from Sudan’s vast arable land can help Ethiopia’s needs, he said, and emphasized that the countries “need to work together on agriculture to make sure that all of our people are getting enough food.”

According to the minister, the dam is going to contribute not only to the neighboring countries but also to the development of the whole region.

“Whatever you think of, you are going to look for power to work and the cheapest power is either solar energy or wind energy or hydro energy. Here now we are having hydro-energy and we are going to make maximum use of it. Still the dam has not reached its maximum and we do think that the power will be enough for Sudan, Ethiopia, and for others as well.”

Africans need to come together in order to tackle the difficulties that the continent is facing, Ibrahim pointed out, adding that the brotherly people of Ethiopia and Sudan accordingly need to work together for the prosperity of both nations.

The borders between Ethiopia and Sudan are artificial as both people are the same with a lot in common, he said.

The minister stressed that Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt need to think positively and understand each other to find solutions for outstanding concerns and problems.

“I don’t think they are very big problems, and the benefits can be much bigger than anything else.”

Energy is among the most important infrastructure that will help develop trade between countries, he also observed.

Sudan has more than 750 kilometers coast on the Red Sea and “we do think Ethiopia can make use of the Red Sea and have free zone at our ports. That will help Ethiopia and Sudan to develop.”

Ibrahim elaborated that the two countries “need to cooperate and build the needed infrastructures that connect our people. Roads, railways, and of course, airlines are working well but we do think we need railways and roads to make sure that our people are connected.”

These are neighboring countries, brotherly people that need to work together for the prosperity of both nations, he underlined.

We need roads, ports, airports and others, the minister finally stated, noting that “but we definitely need energy to make life viable and to make trade flourish in the region.”

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

At least 64,000 households in Maralal town and its environs in Samburu County will soon have access to clean and safe water as the construction of Yamo dam nears completion. Phase one of the Yamo dam, which has a capacity to hold 1.2 million cubic meters of water is complete and the dam can be filled in the two seasons of normal average rainfalls which occur in the county annually. The project, which is being implemented by the Northern Water Works Development Agency at a cost of Sh1.4 billion is expected to serve the immediate township up to the year 2038 beyond which experts expect new sources to be identified. Speaking after an inspection tour of the project, Water and Irrigation Principal Secretary Dr. Kiprono Paul said that the dam has an output of about 6,000 cubic meters per day which will be sufficient for the Maralal town residents. ‘The phase one construction works of the dam are complete and the second phase will include construction of a treatment plant which requires Sh1.5 billion which the government will allocate in the next budget so that this project can be completed,’ said Kiprono. ‘Together with the county government, we will also map other water projects in the county and give priorities to which a budget will be allocated in the coming years,’ he added. The PS further assured the country that the government has come up with comprehensive plans for water conservation going forward through a sustainable model by constructing 100 mega dams, construction of smaller dams and drilling of boreholes in the country. ‘From the weatherman, there is an indication that this rain will not last long, and as a government we have put measures in place to ensure that we store this water for use especially during dry seasons’ the PS said. Samburu Governor Jonathan Leleliit on his part said that the main challenge to access to clean water is to get a safe water source which can be piped to the residents. ‘We thank the government for choosing to host the World Water Day here. There have been water challenges in this county and we hope this day brings brighter days ahead in terms of provision and access to clean water by the people of Samburu,’ Leleliit said. Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda disclosed that less than 5 per cent of the residents in Samburu County are connected to clean and safe water and a lot needs to be done to improve the situation. Lesuuda urged the Ministry of Water to adopt the last mile electricity connectivity model used to connect households to power to make sure that every home is connected to water. ‘The same way we did the last mile connectivity to power, we need water connectivity which is clean and safe to every household in the country,’ Lesuuda said. ‘We need to put more resources and walk the talk, so that we make sure that all women get access to water,’ she added. The MP further lamented about delayed water projects which according to her, is a poor return of the investment of the projects. This year’s World water Day was marked in Samburu County under the theme ‘accelerating the change to solve the water and sanitation crisis’.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns campaign, Mohamed Ibn Chambas has emphasized the vital role of good governance in achieving sustainable development and transformation across Africa.

Speaking at the 2023 Adebayo Adedeji Lecture on the theme of “Governance, Social Contract, and Economic Development in Africa: Looking Back, Projecting into the future” during the ECA Conference of Ministers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Chambas stated that without good governance, development in Africa is dead on arrival.”

The representative highlighted the significance of transparent, accountable, and responsive governments in Africa that play a crucial role in unlocking the continent’s potential for investment and sustainable growth.

He emphasized the importance of social contracts between governments and citizens, which is vital for fostering trust and promoting social cohesion.

According to him, collaboration between governments, civil society organizations and the private sector is also crucial to achieving the common goal of good governance.

“Governance is central to the development and transformation of the continent,” Chambas told participants, adding that, “To fix the continent, we must first and foremost, fix the governance challenges.”

He stressed that African leaders must build transparent and accountable governments and drive sustainable economic growth and development.

“Africa has been found wanting in terms of promoting good governance, Chambas noted, citing a wave of coups d’état against the independence era political leaders and increased unconstitutional changes in government across Africa.

A united Africa is our best chance to weather the storms and create a prosperous Africa for the future, he said, calling for the facilitation of the free movement of persons, goods and services in accompanying the pan-African initiative of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“Effective governance and a strong social contract are critical to the successful implementation of the AfCFTA,” he said.

According to Chambas by creating an enabling business environment and social inclusion governments can facilitate trade, promote economic development and social stability in Africa.

The ECA launched the Adebayo Adedeji Lecture in March 2014 to honour and recognize the late Adebayo Adedeji for his intellectual and policy contributions to African development. Adedeji served as Executive Secretary of ECA from 1975 to 1991 and contributed to development thinking, policy and practice in Africa.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency