The Monthly Publication from the Ethiopian Embassy in London
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The Monthly Publication from the Ethiopian Embassy in London Ethiopian September 2011 Issue News Inside this Issue: International development leaders commend Ethiopia’s Health Extension Programme………….page 3 Celebrating Ethiopian roses at Covent Garden……………………………………………………………………..…page 5 Ethiopia unveils new hydro project over the Nile……………………………………………………………………page 7 Ethiopian dance troupe, Dan-Kira, up for BEFFTA UK awards………………………………………………….page 9 Meskel Celebrations in Ethiopia…………………………………………………………………………………………...page 11 Ethiopia to achieve MDGs by 2015 – World Bank Horn of Africa mini-Summit pledges more than $200 million According to a World Bank report, only four African countries are likely to achieve the At least $218 million in new aid for the Horn of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, Africa was pledged at a United Nations mini- and Ethiopia is one of them. Summit held on 24th September to raise awareness about the region’s humanitarian crisis The four countries: Ethiopia, Cape Verde, Ghana and tackle the root causes of its recurring and Malawi – will likely achieve most of the drought-related food shortages. MDGs by 2015 or soon thereafter. The report attributed this to the accelerated growth and The day-long meeting brought together officials prog ress on social indicators. from more than 60 nations, with representatives from 13 countries offering extra funding. It observed that conditions were improving in Africa as maternal mortality had declined by 26% About $500 million is still needed to meet the between 1990 and 2009. overall $2.48 billion humanitarian appeal for the Horn of Africa. “Child mortality rates are also declining, the rate of HIV infection is stabilising, primary education school completion rate is rising faster than anywher e else in the world and the percentage of people living in extreme poverty falling,” the report said. The report also pointed out that in 2010, the foreign direct investment flow to Africa surpassed those received by India, with international capital inflow rising to 4.6% of Gross Domestic Product. According to the report, remittances have reached an estimated $21.5 Hailemariam Desalegn (right), Deputy Prime Minister & billion. Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, addresses the ministerial-level Mini-Summit on the Humanitarian Response in the Horn of Africa. Next to Mr. Desalegn is Raila Odinga, Prime Minister of Kenya Ethiopian News Keynote speakers at the summit included UN pronounced, as can be seen from the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, President Omar exceptionally harsh drought this year. It is clear Guellah of Djibouti, Prime Minister of Kenya, now that pastoralism as way of life is fast Raila Odinga, Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed becoming unviable and addressing the root Ali of Somalia, the Deputy Prime Minister of cause of the problem must start from such a Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn, and realization." representatives of other Member States and aid th organizations involved in the humanitarian Meanwhile, at the the 66 session of the United th response. Nations General Assembly on 26 September, Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, Thanking the governments who made pledges delivered Ethiopia’s policy statement, today, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator emphasizing the challenges that a globalized Valerie Amos said it was vital to keep the crisis in world had presented to Africa over the last few the spotlight given the scale of the suffering. years, making it even more difficult for developing countries to move along the path to An estimated 13 million people in Somalia, development. There was now a need to redouble Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti are facing severe efforts to make sure that the Millennium food shortages as a result of the prolonged Development Goals would be met, he said. drought. Famine has been formally declared in six areas of Somalia. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the countries of the region and international donors to take a long-term view. “Addressing underlying risk factors is among the keys to ensuring this crisis does not strike again,” he said. He noted that successful programmes in Ethiopia and Kenya have helped ensure that, despite the worst drought in six decades, there is no famine. “This is a profound achievement that can be Ethiopia is on track for almost all targets and has replicated some day in Somalia. We will see committed itself to even more ambitious targets drought again – with increasing frequency. But in line with its five-year Growth and drought need not become famine.” Transformation Plan. Ethiopia is confident of achieving this but the Deputy PM underlined that Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga said that the global economic situation remained a source "the current drought and famine is partly the of concern. consequence of unmitigated impacts of climate change in our midst…adaption to climate change, On the sidelines of the General Assembly in New therefore, needs to be a central theme in all York, the Deputy PM also held a series of future strategies and actions." bilateral discussions with the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Norway, Australia, Russia, Hungary, Ethiopia's Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam Bosnia Herzegovina, Sudan and Ireland, Desalegn echoed that, saying "The impact of exchanging views on a wide range of bilateral, climate change on pastoral areas is more 2 September 2011 Issue 2011 Issue Ethiopian News regional, continental and global issues of Survey (EDHS) 2011 which showed very positive common interest and concern. achievements, particularly in family planning and child health, and proved that this innovative He signed an Agreement on Technical and programme has changed people’s lives. Economic Cooperation with his Indonesian counterpart to strengthen the bilateral economic Contraceptive prevalence of 29% for 2011 marks cooperation between the two countries and also a doubling from 15% 2005. Furthermore, the signed a multilateral Agreement on the 2011 EDHS shows considerably lower levels of Establishment of an International Think Tank for infant and under-five mortality than those Landlocked Developing Countries. reported in the 2005 EDHS: infant mortality has decreased by 23%, from 77 to 59 deaths per The statement and other news features from the UN are available on demand. Send an email to 1,000 births, while under-five mortality has [email protected] decreased by 28% from 123 to 88 per 1,000 births. International development leaders commend Ethiopia’s Health Extension Programme These remarkable gains are a testimony to the success of the Health Extension Programme, The heads of the UK and US governments’ aid showing Ethiopia’s potential to reach the MDGs. programmes say Ethiopia’s Health Extension Programme offers “game changing” lessons in As the international community counts down to the fight international poverty. 2015, the US and UK are determined to inspire st action by celebrating successes and innovations At a high profile event on 21 September, during st the UN General Assembly in New York, Raj Shah, across the MDGs. On 21 September, Andrew head of the United States Agency for Mitchell and Raj Shah hosted an event - MDG International Development (USAID), and Andrew Countdown: Successes and Innovations which Mitchell, UK Secretary of State for International highlighted and celebrated the successes of Development, highlighted the Health Extension countries which are achieving progress in each Programme as bringing about a significant step MDG. The event looked at what has worked and towards achieving the MDGs. why, how it could work elsewhere and at scale. UK Secretary of State for International Ethiopia’s top achievement was MDG6 which Development, Andrew Mitchell, said: “This seeks to Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other project is making a real difference toward diseases. This highlighted the innovative Health reducing poverty. We want to hold it up to the Extension Programme, which tackles the world, so others can learn from these successes. shortage of healthcare providers in rural areas It demonstrates that development buys results – and improves quality. it shows that through innovations we can deliver The programme is having a real impact on the inspirational change to people’s lives.” health of communities - a 73% reduction in At the event, the Ethiopian Minister of Health Dr. malaria cases, and a 62% decrease in deaths of Tedros Adhanom, showed a short film produced children under 5 in the villages the programme by the Ministry of Health highlighting the work of reaches. In 2010, 1.5 million more children were Health Extension Professionals in the field. vaccinated against killer diseases, as compared to 2005. An estimated 1.4 million more women Dr. Tedros also announced the preliminary are using contraceptives in 2010 than in 2005. results of the Ethiopian Demographic and Health More than 35 million insecticide-treated bed- September 2011 Issue 3 Ethiopian News nets for malaria prevention have been The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs H.E. distributed. Ethiopia is on the way to achieving Mrs. Ingrid Fiskaa, elaborated on Norway-Africa MDG6. relations and the way forward. Mrs. Fiskaa noted that Norway will be engaged in Africa in climate Ethiopia attends Norwegian-African Business prone agriculture development, aforestation and Summit will support the African position in the global climate negotiations. On 29th September, the Norwegian-African Business Association (NABA) successfully hosted More than 20 African high-level officials