Day: June 28, 2024

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ECA reforms to achieve mandate – Official


The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is undergoing reforms to ensure greater effectiveness in achieving its mandate.

The Executive Secretary of ECA, Mr Claver Gatete, said this in a statement on Thursday by the Communications Section of the UN body.

The 2nd mid-year review meeting of the activities of the commission started on Tuesday with the theme: ‘Enhancing Programme Monitoring and Performance through Tracking the Progress of the Annual Business Plan Implementation’.

The four-day Accountability and Performance Review Meeting (APPRM) is aimed at providing the commission with an opportunity to evaluate its mid-year performance.

They include challenges, opportunities, lessons learned and how to ensure the organisation’s targets are met by the end of the year.

The meeting involves presentations by all thematic areas of the commission and a review of those presentations.

Gatete said the commission’s success in achieving its mandate would hinge on cutting-edge policy research and techno
logy.

According to him, this will be a catalyst for enhancing its work.

He tasked all thematic areas of the commission, including Data and Statistics; Economic Development and Planning, and Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women.

Others are macroeconomics and governance; poverty, inequality and social Policy, private sector development and finance, and regional integration and trade, and technology, climate change and natural resource management.

The ECA boss also tasked the sub-regional offices to work in a concerted effort for collective results and impact.

He further urged commission members to develop more focused programmes that would ensure that the planned activities were achievable.

They are also to strengthen their partnerships with partners, including the African Union Commission (AUC), to avoid duplication.

Mr Sa’id Adejumobi, Director of the Strategic Planning, Oversight, and Results Division (SPORD) of the commission, described the meeting as essential for assessing progress and making n
ecessary adjustments for effective results delivery.

SPORD is responsible for organising and coordinating the APPRM.

According to Adejumobi, the commission is on track to meeting its 2024 strategic goals, adding that this was primarily based on the UN Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development and the Agenda 2063 of the African Union member-states.

He said that in 2024, the commission supported 254 interventions in 46 countries, as part of its effort to contribute to the continent’s development.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria
Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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Ethiopia Expands Carbon Trading and Sequestration Efforts


Addis Ababa: Ethiopia is expanding its efforts in carbon trading and sequestration through sustainable forestry practices, according to Yetebtu Moges, the Red+ Program Coordinator for the Ethiopian Forestry Development.

“We are leveraging our vast forest resources to play a growing role in the global carbon trading and sequestration markets,” Yetebtu said.

Through innovative forestry management programs, the country is positioning itself as a key player in the fight against climate change. “While still in the early stages, Ethiopia’s initiatives show promising results and the potential to generate significant economic benefits,” Yetebtu explained.

The country boasts 19.2 million hectares of forested area, of which 18 million hectares are natural forests – a valuable resource for carbon sequestration.

Yetebtu highlighted the government’s Green Legacy Initiative, which has seen the planting of billions of tree seedlings across the country in the past 5 years. “These trees when they mature enough will soon b
egin sequestering billions of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere,” he said.

Ethiopia has also launched over 1 million hectares of participatory forest management, empowering local communities. “We have launched over 1 million hectares of participatory forest management, empowering local communities to be active stewards of their natural resources,” Yetebtu explained. This approach aims to promote sustainable forestry practices and ensure economic benefits are shared with communities.

Additionally, Ethiopia has established a national forest monitoring system and facilitated a 12 million Euro carbon trade in Bale, Oromia region, with the proceeds distributed among 65 cooperatives engaged in forest development.

Yetebtu acknowledged the forestry’s current annual revenue of 40 billion Birr, but believes there is significant potential for growth through carbon trading and sequestration, potentially increasing tenfold.

A recent 40 million USD agreement with the World Bank aims to reduce carbon emissions in Oromia’s
forested landscapes, with 75 percent of the proceeds going directly to local communities, according to Yetebtu.

While Ethiopia’s forestry-based carbon initiatives are still in the early stages, the country’s efforts demonstrate a commitment to sustainable practices and a desire to capitalize on the economic opportunities presented by the global shift towards carbon neutrality.

Africa as a continent has historically contributed very little to global greenhouse gas emissions, yet it is one of the region most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

According to data from the World Resources Institute, Africa accounted for only around 3.8 percent of global CO2 emissions in 2019, compared to over 60 percent from the so called developed countries.

This disproportionate impact highlights the injustice faced by African nations, who are paying the price for the carbon-intensive development pathways pursued by more industrialized parts of the world.

In the face of this challenge, Ethiopia has emerged as a reg
ional leader in efforts to combat climate change through sustainable forestry practices.

The country’s landmark Green Legacy Initiative, launched in 2019, has set an ambitious goal to plant 50 billion tree seedlings by 2026. In just the past 5 years, this program has already succeeded in planting over 32.5 billion tree seedlings across the country.

These trees are now beginning to mature and will soon start sequestering billions of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, making a significant contribution to global climate change mitigation efforts.

The country’s holistic approach, which emphasizes community-based participation and equitable benefit-sharing, offers valuable lessons for other African nations seeking to harness the power of their natural assets to address the climate crisis.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

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Arts, Sports Instrumental to Enhance Interaction Among Africans


Addis Ababa: Ethiopia’s Minister of Tourism, Ambassador Nasise Chali said arts, sports and fashion are important instruments to enhance interaction and cooperation among the people of Africa.

Ambassador Nasise along with Minister of Culture and Sport Kajela Merdassa inaugurated ‘Shenen Africa Festival’ at the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa today in the presence of several dignitaries.

Former Nigerian national football team striker Nwankwo Kanu and other African former football players as well as celebrated actors, social media influencers, designers, models, technology experts, businesspeople, diplomats and other professionals from Africa are participating at the festival.

Opening the festival, Tourism Minister Nasise extended a warm welcome to the internationally celebrated personalities in arts, sports and fashion industry, underscored the significance of sports and art to enhance interaction among the people of Africa.

Tourism, sports and fashion events play indispensable role in fostering
cooperation among Africans, she said.

The Minister indicated that ‘Shenen Africa Festival’ is organized to commemorate the resistance struggle demonstrated by African forefathers against colonialism.

Minister of Culture and Sport Kajela Merdassa said for his part that the festival aims at creating opportunity to promote tourism attractions in Addis Ababa.

Ethiopian coffee varieties, a fashion show, and other activities are scheduled at the festival, which will take place until the next Sunday.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

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Shenen Africa Festival Inaugurated At Adwa Victory Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa


Addis Ababa: Ethiopia’s Minister of Tourism, Ambassador Nasise Chali and Minister of Culture and Sport Kajela Merdassa inaugurated ‘Shenen Africa Festival’ at the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa today in the presence of several dignitaries.

Former Nigerian national football team striker Nwankwo Kanu and other African former football players are in Addis Ababa to participate in the Shenen Africa Festival.

Renowned actors, social media influencers, designers, models, technology experts, businesspeople, diplomats and other professionals are also in attendance.

Ethiopian coffee varieties, a fashion show, and other activities are scheduled for the festival, which will take place in the coming three days.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

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Ethiopia Developing African Continental Free Trade Area Implementation Strategy


Addis Ababa: In an attempt to capitalize on the enormous potential benefits of trade on the continent, Ethiopia is now creating its National African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Implementation Strategy.

The AfCFTA, adopted in 2018, represents a historic effort to unite 55 African Union member states with a combined GDP of nearly 3 trillion USD.

This Agreement establishes a legal framework for comprehensive economic integration, aimed at creating a unified African market that fosters the free movement of goods and services, and investment facilitation ultimately strengthening Africa’s trading capacity on a global scale at the time of digital age.

In 2019, Ethiopia ratified the AfCFTA, demonstrating its commitment to this transformative initiative.

As part of its effort in domesticating the Agreement, the country is in the process of developing its national AfCFTA implementation strategy.

This strategy will identify key sectors where Ethiopia can gain a competitive advantage under the AfCFTA and in
tegrate its economy into regional and global value chains.

The strategy prioritizes inclusivity, gender sensitivity, and environmental sustainability, and is essential for enhancing Ethiopia’s readiness to fully harness the benefits of the AfCFTA.

The Ethiopian Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration in collaboration with the Policy Studies Institute organized national consultation forum on the Development of Ethiopia’s AfCFTA implementation strategy, according to Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

A high-profile forum is set to take place in Addis Ababa on Saturday focusing on raising awareness about the AfCFTA and its implications, engaging in discussions about the roles of various stakeholders in Ethiopia’s AfCFTA journey, and seeking feedback for the National AfCFTA Implementation Strategy.

Government agencies, non-governmental organizations, civil society groups, private sector representatives, and academic institutions are expected to take part at the forum.

This collaborative effort is poise
d to play a pivotal role in advancing Ethiopia’s integration into the African market and driving sustainable economic growth across the continent.

Ethiopia is actively taking transformative steps to unlock the immense potential benefits of the AfCFTA, aligning its economic policies with regional integration goals and creating a path for expanded trade opportunities across Africa.

The consultation will be held with the support from ECA through its African Trade Policy Center.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

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Ethiopia, Toppan Gravity Sign Agreement to Work together in Skills Development, Job Creation


Addis Ababa: Ministry of Labor and Skills and Toppan Gravity have signed Memorandum of Action to work together in skills development and job employment opportunity.

Minister of Labor and Skills Muferiat Kamil and Toppan Gravity Managing Director Jean Pierre Ting signed the agreement today in Addis Ababa.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Muferiat said the agreement will provide training skills development for Ethiopian youths in the area of ICT and other related fields.

Therefore, the Ethiopian youth who attend training at Toppan Gravity, would have the opportunity to be employed at global companies around the world, she underscored.

Toppan Gravity is a UAE based company engaged in printing industry with branch offices across the globe.

Muferiat revealed that the company has commenced activities to start business in the printing industry in Ethiopia in partnership with the government.

The company has been showing commitment to establish center of excellence in Ethiopia by equipping the young population
in the country with the necessary skills and deploy them to its branches across the globe, she added.

The partnership agreement is also pivotal to create opportunities for the Ethiopian youth to acquire skills and knowledge, Muferiat said.

The minister also highlighted government’s ongoing endeavors to create jobs to Ethiopians in the country and abroad.

Toppan Gravity Managing Director Jean Pierre Ting on his part said our objective is taking the advantage of all the untapped potential in Ethiopia.

“We decided to build the most sophisticated factory and manufacturing facility for the manufacturing of security document and security solutions in Ethiopia because there is plenty of potential in the country. ‘

With this respect, we are going to bring technology from around the world to share Ethiopia, he added.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

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