Day: May 14, 2024

Addis Ababa: Science, Technology, Research, Innovation, Digitalization, and Entrepreneurship (STRIDE) Ethiopia 2024 Annual grand expo will be held from May 19 – 26, 2024 in Addis Ababa.

STRIDE Ethiopia, initiated by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology of Ethiopia, is a pioneering annual event aimed at fostering collaboration and innovation in Science, Technology, Research, Innovation, Digitalization, and Entrepreneurship.

It serves as a conference and an expo, bringing together stakeholders from startups, ecosystem builders, corporations, government offices, academia, and development partners.

The expo is organized under the theme ‘Science Unlocks, Technology Connects, Innovation Drives,’ it was learned.

Briefing the media today, State Minister of Innovation and Technology, Yeshurun Alemayehu said the expo will be launched officially on May 18, 2024, in the presence of senior government officials at ICT Park, in Addis Ababa.

Furthermore, the expo will be opened for the public at the Science Museum
from May 19- 26, 2024.

The 8 day expo aims to promote the activities in science, technology, research and digitalization.

Strengthening the relationship between the players of the sector and create awareness about the services.

More than 150 governmental and private institutions engaged in electronic services, organizations that operate using technologies, banks, E-commerce and ICT companies are expected to participate at the expo.

Senior Advisor for Minister Abiot Bayu on his part mentioned that various activities will be conducted at the expo including panel discussions and experience sharing among companies and institutions engaged in the field.

Innovation works in the areas of information technology, health, education, agriculture, industry among others will be displayed for exhibition, he added.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, a national reforestation program, is preparing to plant more than 6.5 billion tree seedlings this upcoming planting season, according to Adefres Worku, the Coordinator of the Initiative’s Technical Committee.

Adefres told ENA that the program has already mapped 504,000 hectares of land out of the 1.8 million hectares where soil and water conservation efforts have been undertaken to prepare the sites for planting.

This massive reforestation effort is part of Ethiopia’s broader strategy to address deforestation and ensure food security.

Data from 2000 to 2013 indicates that the country was losing an average of 92,000 hectares of forest cover annually.

However, the Green Legacy Initiative aims to reverse this trend by preventing further degradation and increasing the nation’s forest cover.

Beyond environmental protection, Adefres highlighted the multifaceted benefits of the program.

The initiative is creating job opportunities in nurseries, as well as in sec
tors like animal husbandry, beekeeping, poultry farming, and fruit and vegetable production.

The initiative is also expected to bolster Ethiopia’s international standing as a leader in climate change mitigation.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration is spearheading the Green Legacy Initiative, building on the lessons learned from previous years.

Adefres noted that the program has inspired neighboring countries, and plans are underway to launch the initiative on a weekly and monthly basis with the participation of Ethiopian citizens.

Furthermore, the government has submitted a request to the Guinness Book of World Records to recognize the initiative’s ambitious goal of mass tree planting, where millions of Ethiopians are expected to participate.

Adefres emphasized that the Green Legacy Initiative is poised to deliver multifaceted benefits to Ethiopia’s economy, society, diplomacy, and overall efforts to combat the impacts of climate change.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: African officials, who visited Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa this weekend, have expressed admiration on the transformation being underway in the city.

Mayors of African cities, ministers and head of various organizations visited development activities and exchanged views on leadership experiences with the Mayor of Addis Ababa, Adanech Abiebie.

The delegation has visited various development projects that aimed at improving the lives of residents of the city.

During the visit, members of the delegation have expressed their admiration on the transformation underway in the capital.

Former Member of Parliament of Zimbabwe, Faozayi Mahere said we Africans from across the continent inspired by the amazing transformation that is taking place in the city.

She said we particularly inspired by the work that is being done around Early Childhood Development (ECD), a program being carried in Addis Ababa with the objective of changing the lives of children residing in the capital.

The former MP is also a
mazed by the town planning and making the city more livable and the emphasis given on green spaces and enhancing the environment.

‘We really remember the name of Addis Ababa, (new flower), definitely a new flower that is blossoming and I think the activities are inspiring for everyone across the continent,’ she said.

Talking about the Adwa Memorial Museum built in the center of the city, she said, the construction of the museum has been completed in just a very short space of time. We inspired by the multipurpose nature of the museum, it is very friendly to tourists and pedestrians.

The artifacts and historical events depicted in the museum are vital to learn about Ethiopia’s history, which is a countries that fought against colonialism quite successfully, she stated expressing interest to learn more about Ethiopia.

The government certainly has a transformational mindset, she further explained, adding that we were also able to see that a lot of growth and expansion are being underway across the city. She
said the city is extremely clean with a lot of new parks which continues to expand.

We really want the Ethiopian leadership, the Prime Minister and the mayor of the city to continue to work together for the further development of the country.

Mayor of Chongwee District in Zambia, Christopher Habeenzu on his part said construction of the Adwa Memorial Museum is amazing and the documentation of history is unprecedented. Most of it we have read about it on books, but now we have been able to grasp firsthand experience in the museum.

‘Coming from history, what we saw at the museum to the current, and the way the government is working at the moment is amazing. There are a lot of changes in Addis Ababa…. a lot of modern concept have been built into the city. The city is all green now, massive construction are underway with a view to make it a livable city,’ he added

It (Addis Ababa) is a wonderful place, and we really appreciate the experiences and I hope we can transplant some of these ideas back home.

Mayo
r of Freetown, capital city of Sierra Leone, Yvonne Aki Sawyerr impressed by the magnitude of projects being underway in the capital.

“I think the whole of Addis is definitely construction sites right now which shows the mayor’s hard work. It is important to have adequate space for people to walk and green areas. I would say this goal is achieved’

Minister of Health of Sierra Leone, Austin Demby on his part stated that the activities being carried out to make the city livable, greener and beautiful is amazing.

‘For me the mega projects are very important what I was really impressed is making livable spaces, securing green spaces for people to enjoy and walk around, being able to develop sidewalks allows people to walk amicably,’ he said.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: Uganda has officially ratified the Protocol of Free Movement of Persons within the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region at a ceremony held in Kampala, Uganda today.

The formal signing carried out by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Uganda, Jeje Odongo, and witnessed by the IGAD Executive Secretary, Workineh Gebeyehu along with key ministers from the Government of Uganda and various stakeholders.

The protocol aims to stimulate higher volumes of regional trade and ease labor mobility among member states.

Uganda becomes the fourth state to ratify the free movement protocol within the IGAD region, following Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia.

Member States have continued to take steps to manage and address migration and mobility challenges in the region.

Since 2017, IGAD has embarked on the process towards the establishment of a free movement regime through robust country consultations, development, and negotiations of the Protocol on Free Movement
of Persons and Transhumance.

In due course, the Protocols were endorsed on February 26, 2020, by the IGAD Committee of Ambassadors. Furthermore, the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons was approved by the IGAD Member State Ministers in charge of Internal Affairs and Labour in 2020.

Earlier in 2013, the Summit of the IGAD Heads of State and Government adopted a Minimum Integration Plan to serve as a road map for regional integration, in which the free movement of people is a key pillar.

IGAD and its Member States have also developed and adopted a comprehensive migration policy framework, the IGAD Regional Migration Policy Framework in 2012 and further developed the Migration Action Plan (MAP) for 2015-2020, identifying facilitation of labour mobility, transhumance, and free movement of persons, including the possibility of establishment and residence, as their strategic priorities.

According to IGAD, member States have since 2020 entered into substantive discussions and consultations on a draft Free Movem
ent Protocol within member countries.

IGAD Member States have continuously made commitments and made great strides towards achieving greater regional integration among Member States in order to realise trade regional expansion, economies of scale, and greater foreign direct investment, all of which contribute to accelerated economic growth and increased welfare and security of countries to benefit the IGAD citizenry.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: The Government of Ethiopia and the Development Partners Group conducted a consultative meeting on the Ethiopian Food Systems and Nutrition Roadmap in Addis Ababa.

The roadmap which is led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Health with the goal of transforming the nation’s current food system and nutrition process, has identified 24 game changing solutions, organized into 7 clusters, and supported by 6 critical enablers.

The roadmap is expected to serve as a practical guide for national stakeholders, uniting efforts toward a shared vision of food system and nutrition transformation.

Development partners have pledged increased support, both technically and financially, and expressed their commitment to engage through existing platforms to bolster this transformative initiative.

The government also confirmed its commitment to engage development partners in every stage of the EFSN roadmap and consider the comments provided in the discussion.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency