Day: October 18, 2023

Addis Ababa, Works to enhance access to climate smart agricultural technologies and climate information services for small holder farmers in Africa is underway, Director of AICCRA said.

AICCRA is a project that helps deliver a climate-smart African future driven by science and innovation in agriculture.

International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) on Tuesday hosted a public forum on a national strategy to boost climate smart-agriculture in Ethiopia.

CGIAR is also a global partnership that unites international organizations engaged in research about food security.

Climate-smart agriculture is an integrated approach to managing landscapes—cropland, livestock, forests and fisheries that address the interlinked challenges of food security and climate change.

While briefing the media, AICCRA Director Ana Maria Loboguerrero said the main objective of the project is to enhance their access to climate smart agricultural technologies and climate information services in Africa.

“We are focusing in six countries, Ethiopia, Senegal, Mali, Ghana, Zambia and Kenya. But also through the work we are doing at regional level in West Africa and Eastern Southern Africa. We are reaching beyond the six,” she said.

“Through AICCRA program we have been able to reach so far over two million small holder farmers in Africa. By the end of the year, finishing this first three years cycle of the implementation of the project, we can confidently said that we are going to reach five million farmers in Africa that are accessing climate smart agricultural technologies and climate information services,” she said.

AICCRA Country Coordinator for Ethiopia Dawit Solomon on his part said in Ethiopia, AICCRA projects forge ground-breaking partnerships to deploy the knowledge, innovation, and technology needed for effective climate information services and climate smart agriculture in Ethiopia.

“The biggest value for Ethiopia is partnership. It is our ability to work together with different institutions. Currently, by bringing together the centers in CGIAR and bringing the initiatives and technologies in international research for development, Ethiopia will create unity with government organizations, private, NGOs, international organizations and link the technologies developed by them to the projects being done in Ethiopia.”

With better access to technology and advisory services linked to information about effective response measures, farmers can better anticipate climate-related events to take preventative action that helps their communities safeguard livelihoods and the environment.

The forum was organized to explore how science can address the critical challenge that climate change poses to Ethiopian agriculture and food systems, in particular science and innovation led by CGIAR, the world’s largest research partnership for food security.

To date, AICCRA Ethiopia has benefited more than 420,000 smallholder farmers and extension agents in accessing climate information services and validated climate-smart innovations and technologies through a robust partnership of CGIAR centers with ministries, national agriculture research systems, the private sector and international development partners, it was learned

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and China have agreed to further heighten the existing excellent bilateral relationship to all-Weather Strategic Partnership, Finance Minister, Ahmed Shide said.

Following the discussion Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and President Xi Jinping held on bilateral issues, they have agreed to elevate the existing comprehensive and enduring strategic cooperative Partnership to an ‘All-Weather Strategic Cooperation Partnership.’

China enjoys an all-weather strategic cooperation partnership with few countries in the world, Ahmed stated, adding that it is a great achievement for Ethiopia to be selected from Africa.

“It means that the relationship between Ethiopia and China; first, they have agreed to sustainably cooperate both in good and challenging times, ensuring strategic strong partnership based on mutual benefit which is not only to economic cooperation but also to security and defense cooperation,” the minister elaborated.

He added that President Xi Jinping said that China will support Ethiopia’s effort in maintaining peace and security in the Horn of Africa as well its effort for regional economic integration.

Noting Ethiopia’s significant role in the peace and security of the Horn of Africa region, Xi added that his country, as part of security cooperation, will provide capacity building support.

Xi Jinping also commended the achievements of the Green Legacy initiated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the finance minister said, noting that the president vowed to support the next phase of Addis Ababa City Administration’s River Side Development Project.

Appreciating Premier Abiy’s efforts to ensure comprehensive economic development, President Xi pledged to extend China’s support.

Discussions conducted on issues of Ethiopia’s debt relief and restructure were among the achievements, the finance minister said.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met and conferred with President of the New Development Bank, Dilma Rousseff on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum.

Prime Minister Abiy is in China for an Official State Visit and to attend the third Belt and Road Initiative Forum for International Cooperation.

During his stay in China, he has discussed with various officials of the government of China including President Xi Jinping on bilateral cooperation.

The premier has also met and conferred with President of the New Development Bank, Dilma Rousseff on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum.

Established in 2015 by BRICS countries, the New Development Bank is a multilateral development bank aimed at mobilizing resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and others.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed addressed the third Belt and Road Forum during the opening session.

In his address, the Prime Minister shared the genesis of Sino-African relations and the strong basis for cooperation set by the BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) in infrastructure development within the African continent.

He further highlighted Africa’s growing influence citing the importance of ensuring multilateralism is inclusive, according to Office of the Prime Minister.

During his visit in China, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also discussed with President Xi Jinping on bilateral issues.

At the meeting, the elevation of partnership between the two countries from Comprehensive and Enduring Strategic Cooperative Partnership to an ‘All Weather Strategic Cooperation Partnership’ level has been announced.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa, The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said it is working on a new regional refugee protection policy and management to ensure safety and dignity of the displaced populations in the region.

A three-day workshop was held in Addis Ababa to enable technical experts of member States to review the updated draft, discuss its provisions, and validate the Policy framework and the report on the Status of Refugee Management in the IGAD region.

In a speech read on behalf of Workeneh Gebeyehu, the Executive Secretary of IGAD, Fathia Alwan said that IGAD continuously takes note of the increased responsibility on IGAD member states as a result of significant levels of displacement within the region.

The Executive Secretary also stressed the need to sustainably respond to the situation and at the same time ensure safety and dignity of the displaced populations and their host communities.

The IGAD region is home to millions of forcibly displaced individuals due to complex interlinked factors, compelling people to move, it was indicated.

According to the UN Refugee Agency, the region hosted over 5 million registered refugees and asylum seekers as of August 2023, and over 13.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region as of July 2023.

In this cause, Workneh explained that the magnitude of the refugees has been recently becoming a pressing issue in the IGAD member states especially in Sudan.

“As we convene today, IGAD would like to note the situation in our member state, the Republic of Sudan and the dire humanitarian situation and the pressing need to find sustainable solutions,” he indicated.

He also underscored that IGAD member states have made concerted efforts despite challenges since 2017 to seek sustainable solutions for displaced populations and their host communities through the Nairobi Declaration.

Moreover, IGAD seeks to build on the gains of the Nairobi processes and support its member states in harmonization of refugee protection and management policies, legislation and practices in the region for fair, predictable and gender-responsive asylum procedures through this policy framework, he revealed.

Therefore, the three-day validation workshop on Regional Refugee Protection Policy follows rounds of successful national consultations and negotiations with member states on its provisions, Workeneh noted.

“I am happy to note that it (Regional Refugee Protection Policy) takes into account the context and interests of all the IGAD Member States, which is critical in galvanizing political will for successful implementation,” he said

As IGAD’s commitment to member states goes beyond the policy development, the executive secretary pledged to mobilize technical and financial support through the IGAD Support Platform towards a regional approach to the implementation of this policy

The validated Policy Framework will be presented to the Ministers in charge of refugee affairs and Heads of State at the 2023 Annual Stocktake for endorsement, it was indicated.

On his part, Bruhtesfa Mulugeta, Deputy Director General, Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) of Ethiopia said that IGAD’s Policy Framework on Refugee Protection will bring a concrete solution for refugee related challenges in east African region.

“Ethiopia believes that IGAD’s Policy Framework on Refugee Protection seeks to address multiple and interlinked concerns, manage the rising numbers sustainably and find durable solutions within,” he noted.

He also reaffirmed the commitment of Ethiopia to implement the policy framework and its support to IGAD’s endeavors in this regard.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen and Israel Ambassador to Ethiopia Aleligne Admasu held discussion today.

During their meeting, latest developments in Ethiopia, Israel and the Middle East were discussed, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting focused on the need to finding lasting solutions to conflicts.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency