Capital

AU gets $150 mln for office expansion

By Groum Abate

Harar water tender opens amid complaints

By Groum Abate

Ethiopia to get dam from China’s $20bn pledge

By Groum Abate

‘Turkey-Africa summit will yield $2 billion in deals’ Meral

By Groum Abate

COMESA agrees common external tariffs

By our staff reporter

Club 2003 launches ‘Millennium passport’

By Andualem Sisay

Forging firefighters

By:Tsion Aklilu

Bemenet plc introduces tubeless tire

By:Tsion Aklilu

AWD cases still evident : says WHO

By Andualem Sisay

Bishoftu to get development

Commission arrests 32 suspects

By Groum Abate

New Avian Flu project to focus on World’s Poor Farmers

By Groum Abate

Bellow average harvest prospects: - WFP

By Andualem Sisay

Gracia Machel backs for action on girl's rights abuse

By Mina Yirga

Ethiopian Evaluators Association forming

By Mina Yirga

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Women Living with HIV, national network

By Mina Yirga

ETC launches phone directory for 3.9 mln birr

By Mina Yirga

Africa major supplier and host of UN troops

By Andualem Sisay

The ‘O’ factor

By Tsion Aklilu

Life Fitness bolsters trainers

By Groum Abate

AU gets $150 mln for office expansion

By Groum Abate

The Chinese Government and the African Union signed a 150 million dollar agreement for the office expansion project of the AU, located in Addis Ababa.
The former Addis Ababa City Government Mayor, Arkebe Oqubay, at a ceremony held in July 2004 had announced a land grant title deed worth 28 million dollars for the AU.
Subsequently, the AU had not utilized the plot because of lack of finance.
The city cleared the area for the expansion project shortly after it granted the plot. The state penitentiary was among the demolished buildings on the site.
Sources told Capital that Dr. Eng. Wubishet Berhanu, and two representatives from the AU traveled to China to sign the agreement.
The plot would be used to satisfy the office expansion needs of the AU and for the construction of residential houses for the Deputy Chairperson and the eight Commissioners as well as for building chanceries and residences.
Construction work on the site was launched last week.
The Chinese government is to fully finance the cost of the buildings estimated to be worth around 150 million dollars.
Arkebe had said during the handing over ceremony of the plot, “The City Government is committed to upgrading the city's facilities, infrastructure and service delivery up to international standards so as to live up to the trust our African brothers and sisters placed upon us by making Addis Ababa the headquarters of the African Union.”
He said one of the key objectives of all-round urban renewal initiatives that the city is engaged in is to raise the city's standard to match its status as the capital of the Federal Government and as the seat of the African Union and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

In related news, the Chinese Government appointed its first ambassador to the AU, Ambassador Liu Guijin, as its special representative on African affairs, last week.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said that as a veteran diplomat, Ambassador Liu is well aware of African affairs and once served as the Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Director-General of the Department of African Affairs and the Chinese Ambassador to South Africa. Ambassador Liu will make relentless efforts to strengthen our work on Africa, maintain close contact with African countries and regional organizations, and promote continuous development of China-Africa relations. Given that the Darfur issue arouses wide concern among the international society, it will be a major focus for the work of the special representative.
The AU is a pan-African organization whose goal is to propel a united continent towards peace and prosperity.
The AU supports political and economic integration among its 53 member nations. It aims to boost development, eradicate poverty and bring Africa into the global economy.

Harar water tender opens amid complaints

By Groum Abate

The Harar Water and Sanitation Project tender, at which five companies showed interest, was opened on Thursday May 17, 2007.
Reading at the opening showed that CGC of China and BSPINA of Spain offered 9 million euros respectively and Jos Hansen bid 8 million euros before tax for the project. Hagbes Plc, representing two Indian firms, offered 6.58 million euros and Yadot Business Group tabled 6.6 million euros. Both quotes include tax.
When the tender for distribution and installation works of Harar Water and Sanitation Project was launched local companies had filed complaints to the Ministry of Water Resources, and appealed to the minister to revise the tender qualification that states only companies that have over 25 million dollars in annual turnover could participate in the tender.
The ministry later revised the conditions and reduced the requirement from 25 to 20 million dollars in annual turnover in the past five years.
The companies fear that regional governments would follow suit of the federal authorities and apply such a requirement, which would smother local water companies that are currently playing a vital role in the sector.
A representative of one of the local companies on condition of anonymity told Capital that they raised their concerns for reason that the condition pertaining to the annual turnover would effectively ban them from participating in the tender that they have been awaiting for many years.
The companies also feared that local water contractors would be out of the business if the practice of awarding large water projects to foreign firms continues.
According to them, some that do have the technical capacity for such a project have allegedly been shunted out of the tender due to the 20 mln dollars annual turnover minimum. A contractor Capital spoke to admitted that there are no local companies that execute electromechanical projects that are worth 20 million dollars a year.
The Harar project is estimated to be worth over 150 million birr, i.e. roughly 16.5 million dollars, and is funded by AfDB.
It is to be recalled that the first phase of the water project in Harar town and surroundings has been finalized with an outlay of 293 million birr out of which AfDB contributed 27.7 mln dollars under the Technical Assistance Fund .
Installation of main water pipes, generators as well as construction of water reservoir and residential units for technical staff was the first phase of the project.
The second phase consists of the distribution network for a better access to water supply and sanitation services to the populations of Harar, Alemaya, Awudai, Adele and Dengego through improved water production, distribution and sanitation. It will also entail the improvement of solid waste management as well as institutional capacity building for management of water supply and sewerage services.

Ethiopia to get dam from China’s $20bn pledge

By Groum Abate

China intends to provide about $20bn in infrastructure and trade financing to Africa during the next three years, eclipsing many of the continent’s traditional big donors by a single pledge.
The scale of China’s accelerating financial flows were revealed by Donald Kaberuka, president of the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The sums involved are beginning to outstrip individual contributions from traditional donors, including multilateral development agencies.
Their combined pledges – towards a special fund intended to assist sub-Saharan Africa to tackle shortfalls in electricity supply, roads and other infrastructure – are about $7bn, Mr Kaberuka said in an interview with the Financial Times.
The $20bn would go partly towards projects already announced, including the rehabilitation of railway networks in Angola and Nigeria, and the building of a hydroelectric dam in Ethiopia.
China has hosted the AfDB meeting, which closed in Shanghai on Thursday, in an effort to consolidate ties with Africa, born from the pursuit of oil and mineral resources to fuel its booming domestic economy.
The scale of China’s plans are beginning to assume imperial proportions, some observers contend.
During the course of meetings this week, officials from China’s Exim bank told Mr Kaberuka they were looking to spend “in the neighbourhood of $20bn” over three years. “That is quite something, because it shows you what traditional donors are up against,” he said.
But Africa’s needs were so great, Mr Kaberuka added, the $7bn so far promised still represented only “a drop in the ocean”.
While grants and soft loans to Africa from Europe, the US and Japan still exceed China’s, they come with conditions attached and often fail to materialise when these are not met.
African countries endowed with natural resources but emerging from civil war would be treated by multilateral agencies as candidates for debt relief and grants.
China, however, looked at their potential in the long term, rather than assessing their immediate ability to repay loans.
This posed a challenge, Mr Kaberuka acknowledged, to traditional donors in Europe, the US and indeed the AfDB who are attempting to impose stricter criteria for debt management in the wake of their recent write-off of some $50bn in African debt.
China’s willingness to lend money on demand, where it suits its mercantile interests, appeals to some African governments starved of short-term credit.
But there are concerns some countries may be locking in their commodity exports to deals that could prove disadvantageous in the long-term.
China’s Exim bank provides funding in various forms, sometimes in straight financing, or – in Angola’s case – in return for oil.
Its lending is on top of China’s planned $5bn development fund for Africa.
Mr Kaberuka, a former Rwandan finance minister, said Chinese premier Wen Jiabao had assured him China was alert to the dangers of a new debt pile-up. But the Chinese took a longer-term approach to debt sustainability, he said.
“The chairman of the Exim bank used a word which is very interesting. He said: ‘Yes, debt sustainability is important but development sustainability is what we are after’.”

‘Turkey-Africa summit will yield $2 billion in deals’ Meral

By Groum Abate

The Fourth Foreign Affairs Bridge program started Wednesday at Lutfi Kirdar International Convention and Exhibition Center in Istanbul under the organization of Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey (TUSKON).
TUSKON brought together some 2600 businessmen from Turkey and 43 countries from Africa for Turkey-Africa Foreign Trade Bridge.
Minister of Trade and Industry Girma Birru, who led the delegation to Turkey was quoted as saying ‘the main problems for Africans are developing sustainable growth and reducing poverty. There is a need for more foreign capital. We will give priority to ready-to-wear and construction materials production. Turkey is really a good trade partner. We are expecting investments in the agricultural, textiles and leather industries.’
The businesspersons are hoping to make deals the value of which would reach approximately 500 million dollars.
The summit aims to strengthen the relations between the businesses in Turkey and firms in Africa and facilitate the access of Turkish business to alternative raw materials in the region.
African and Turkish businesspersons started business negotiations on the second day of the second “Turkey-Africa Trade Bridge” summit in Istanbul.
The bilateral talks were kicked off by Foreign Trade Minister Kürsad Tüzmen together with the guest African ministers.
The summit, organized by the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON), is offering the opportunity to bargain and strike business deals to around 1,000 African and 1,600 Turkish businessmen. Nearly 700 translators, meanwhile, are working to assist the negotiating businessmen. TUSKON Chairman Rizanur Meral released official estimates from the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat that the total amount of agreements in the summit would exceed 2 billion dollars. He had asserted on Wednesday -- the first day of the summit -- that the businessmen would shake hands for an estimated 500 million dollars worth of agreements.

COMESA agrees common external tariffs

By our staff reporter

Trade ministers of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), whose members comprise 20 African nations, have agreed on a common external tariff system, a senior trade bloc official said on Friday.
The bloc intends to launch a customs union for the region with a 400 million strong population, at the end of 2008.
"The council has agreed to a structure of a customs union by adopting a structure of a common external tariff with rates as follows: Zero for capital goods and raw materials, 10 percent for intermediate products and 25 percent for finished goods," said Erastus Mwencha, secretary general of COMESA.
The volume of trade in the bloc has more than doubled to $9 billion in 2005 from $4 billion in 2001, Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki told a gathering of business people from the region.
Kenya earlier this year said a customs union could only work if its neighbour Tanzania rejoined the bloc.
Tanzania quit COMESA in 2000 saying its businesses were too weak to compete in a free trade zone, and joined the Southern Africa Development Community.
Sixteen members of COMESA are currently in joint talks with the European Union to replace an existing preferential market access deal granted to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries that contravenes World Trade Organisation rules.
Kenyan industrialists asked COMESA to ensure that the new deal, known as an economic partnership agreement, did not result in the displacement of goods and services in the region.
"Our industrial base is still fragile, and we in the private sector are very keen to see that the outcome of negotiations does not hurt business," Steven Smith, chairman of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, told the meeting.
Kenya and other COMESA members Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe have already joined the bloc's free trade area (FTA).
The remaining seven -- Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Seychelles, Swaziland and Uganda -- are yet to make a decision citing loss of revenues and competition from more advanced economies.

Club 2003 launches ‘Millennium passport’

By Andualem Sisay

Club 2003 General Business has launched the Emerald Passport’, which the company is preparing in commemoration of the Ethiopian third Millennium on Friday May 18, 2007 at the Hilton Hotel.
“The passport is planed to include signatures of famous internationally people along with and their views about the Ethiopian Millennium,” said Serawit Fikre, Manager of Club 2003 General Business plc. “It is not a passport that one uses to actually travel from one end of the world to the other. It is a passport that helps us to symbolically travel into the light of the third Ethiopian millennium.”
“It is a Testimony to where we are now and reveals our commitment and readiness to change our image of poverty in the coming third Ethiopian Millennium. This is the feeling we want every Ethiopian to have and transfer it to the next generation” he said.
The company is planning to implement various activities from the income it generates from selling the passport for nineteen birr Serawit was not specific about the details of upcoming activites.

Forging firefighters

By:Tsion Aklilu

The City of Addis Ababa Fire and Emergency Service was established in 1934 under the police commission until it was reformed as a self-governing organization in 2002.
The organization used to tutor its staff at the Police Academy, and for the regional partners professional trainers from the organization used to tour and give lessons. However, now the story is about to change, the Police Academy dependent is going to have its own academy.
Construction was promised to begin long ago and because of finance and other problem, it was suspended until now. The delayed academy construction has started its work on Monday 14, May 2007. Executive director of the Addis Ababa caretaker office Ato Sherif Kari laid the foundation stone.
The academy obtained land at Akaki Kality sub city on 20 thousand sq. for over ten million birr to build the academy; it is also planned to serve as a fire station for the sub city.
Library, standardized diving or swimming pool, search and rescue tunnel, gym, dorms and offices are part of the construction. According to Public relation officer, the academy will have an international standard, serve students from all over Ethiopia and even neighboring countries. Trainers to join the academy have to qualify the physical fitness of the academy standard and at least complete 10th grade; training will be for three months in which every student will have a common understanding and commitment of the rescue work. The Academy is targeted to be finished with in eight months and launch its operations in 2009 for 250 trainees.
Until now, the organization used to give month long common training to the regional stations. Other required educations are given in collaboration with the police Academy.
City of Addis Ababa Fire and Emergency Service has about 200 fire fighters rescue teams working in three shifts. So far, the organization has recorded three deaths of fighters on job since establishment.
The organization gives it services from its six stations, and is now planning to extend it to four more stations.

Bemenet plc introduces tubeless tire

By:Tsion Aklilu

The authorized dealer for Michelin Tyres for Ethiopia, Bemenet plc, has finished preparations to import tubeless truck tyres for the first time. The Company displayed sample tyres at the fourth International Automotive Fair opened last week.
The difference between normal and the tubeless tyre is reduced components like flap, slide ring and end locking ring are reduced. It only has two features: the cover and rim. The tube is made to stick in the cover, which makes the whole system weigh less.
Mr. Kishore Namburi, sales manager of Michelin to Ethiopia has been giving explanations about advantages truck owners can obtain using the tubeless tyre. According to him, the company has been using these products worldwide for thirty years; he also added that Michelin has faced difficulties to break in to the Ethiopian market. “There is a refusal to accept new technology by Ethiopian customers. In Kenya, almost 80% of the trucks use the tubeless tyre.
The internal friction between tube and flap shrinks the longevity of tyres, where as the tubeless tyre generates less heat and for longer life and higher speed. Kishore also adds another advantage. This is that the penetration of small objects won’t affect the life of the tyre since there is no sudden air pressure loss because enough air circulates between the tyre and brake drum.
Cost per kilometer is cheaper than tube tyres and consumes from 6-8 % less fuel, because it has the ability to travel longer. The tubeless tyre has a low profile, which defines the relation between the tyres section width and cross section height and expressed in percentage, the lowest is the preferable profile.
“It is easy to fit and remove,” said Woizero Hirut Alamerew, managing director of Bemenet plc. It takes only two minutes to fit and remove the tyre during travel, and if some thing punctures the tyre, it does not need a professional. The driver can fix it with a glue like product Michelin Tyrshas provided, added Hirut. She also added, “the thing holding us back to import the product is the fear of acceptance, but now is the time or never.”
Michelin Tyres is a French company that introduced tubeless tyres internationally thirty years ago. It has 64 factories in 19 countries. Bemenet plc is the sale authorized dealer of Michelin products in Ethiopia .

AWD cases still evident : says WHO

By Andualem Sisay

Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD), cases continue to be reported in 62 out of the total 192 affected woredas, although the case fatality rate remains relatively low – 1.2%, says Weekly Humanitarian Highlights in Ethiopia.
According to the weekly bulletin, cases are reported mostly from Bale, Borena and East Hararge zones in Oromiya Region; Gedeo Zone in SNNPR; Zone 1 and 3 in Afar Region and in Harari and Somali Regions. In Somali Region, out of the 27 woredas affected 14 continue to report cases; as of the first week of May 6,287 cases with 155 deaths - 2.5% CFR – were reported.
WHO is facilitating the re-activation of AWD regional coordination forum in Somali and Harari Regions. Inadequate water and sanitation facilities, environmental health and behavior change are among the major challenges to combating the disease. In Oromiya, the Regional Health Bureau funded by WHO has trained 150 health workers on surveillance and AWD case management.
In a related development, suspected meningitis cases were reported from Oida woreda, Gamo-Goffa zone in SNNPR. Between 11 and 24 April, a total of 46 suspected cases and 2 deaths were reported.
Laboratory examination of specimens taken from two patients during a case report investigation conducted by the Regional Health Bureau and WHO confirmed cerebro spinal meningitis.
In an effort to combat the disease, on-the-job training in case management and prevention measures was conducted for health professionals. In addition, public health education is underway.

Bishoftu to get development

The Jerusalem Children and Community Development Organization (JeCCDO), said it has set aside over 10 million birr for development activities it will carry out in Bishoftu town and its environs over the next five years.
Speaking during a field visit by students and teachers of the Social Works postgraduate department at the Addis Ababa University on Thursday, JeCCDO Program Department Director, Eskender Desalenge said JeCCDO Bishoftu branch is undertaking integrated community based development works.
Eskender said development works that focus in the fields of education, health and agriculture are currently benefiting more than 55,000 low-income people in the town.
The organization has provided training for more than 380 households in a bid to expand the urban agriculture program it launched four years ago.
The culture of dependency that was a chronic problem in the area is declining over time, he said, adding the community is giving care and support for orphaned and vulnerable children.
He called upon civic associations and stakeholders to work in close cooperation with the government in a bid to solve the various societal problems prevailing in the area.
The visit students and teachers paid to the organization would help it enhance its activities by identifying its strengths and shortcomings.
He said the organization has been undertaking preparations to carry out research based activities through creating close ties with students and teachers of higher education institutions.
Students and teachers who took part in the visit applauded the assistance JeCCDO is providing to low income families.

Commission arrests 32 suspects

By Groum Abate

The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) has reportedly detained 32 suspects in the metropolis for alleged illegal activities in connection with land provision and ownership.
Commission Ethics, Education and Public Relations Director, Berhanu Aseffa, stated in a press release sent to Capital that the suspects have been arrested in connection with illegal land provision and ownership in Kolfe-Keranio, Bole, Lideta, Yeka and Kirkos sub-cities since April 19, 2007.
The suspects include senior and line officers from the Ministry of Defense and Police force, businesspersons, engineers, lawyers and heads of land administration departments.
The suspects were allegedly involved in evading lease payments, providing and receiving land without proper and relevant documents, providing illegal house plans, among others.
The commission said it has finalized the investigation for most of the cases and was due to press charges against the suspects soon, it was pointed out.
FEACC also vowed to continue cracking down on illegal activities related to land provision and ownership in the metropolis.
The Director lauded the significant contribution of the public in helping detect the illegal activities and called for further cooperation in fighting corruption.

New Avian Flu project to focus on World’s Poor Farmers

By Groum Abate

A 3.9 million pound (approximately US$7.8 million) project was launched to help poor farmers in developing countries safeguard their livelihoods in the event of future outbreaks of avian influenza.
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) are jointly spearheading this research in Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Mali, and Nigeria, where experts will identify strategies, such as farmer compensation schemes, that can both control the disease and protect poor households from losing critical sources of income. Funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, the project will also involve research in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam, where research will be led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Royal Veterinary College, and the University of California at Berkeley.
“In both Asia and Africa, meat and eggs from poultry are important sources of essential micronutrients for vulnerable groups, and poultry production is a central source of income for billions of poor people,” explained Dr. Clare Narrod, IFPRI research fellow. “Our goal is to help developing-country governments, civil society, and aid agencies make informed decisions so that the costs of controlling avian flu do not fall disproportionately on the rural poor, who consume their own poultry and rely on it for their livelihoods.”

Bellow average harvest prospects: - WFP

By Andualem Sisay

Crop production prospects are below average for most of the belg producing areas following poor performance of the rains.
The main contributing factors include prolonged dry spells coupled with delayed onset of the rains, particularly in Oromiya and SNNP regions. On the other hand, during the first half of April, heavy rainfall caused flash flooding in pocket areas of Oromiya and Somali regions, damaging crops.
Kurfachele, Girawa, Melkabelo and Chenaksen woredas of East Hararghe zone, and Mirab Abaya and Uba Debretsehai woredas of Gamo Gofa zone in Oromiya Region. Mustahil, Ferfer and Kelafo woredas of Gode zone in Somali Region are among the areas where heavy rain caused damage.
In a related development, CARE’s monthly report for April and recent WFP field reports indicate deteriorating food security situations in midland and highland areas of East and West Hararghe zones, Oromiya Region.
Consequently, many farmers are migrating to neighboring areas in search of labor. Under-five child malnutrition is also reported in pocket areas of Doba woreda, West Hararghe zone and Kurfachelle woreda, East Hararghe zone.
Moreover food prices have remained high in most reporting areas including Oromiya and Afar regions. In addition, there is a shortage of seed particularly for short cycle crops in East Hararghe zone.
The Federal Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Agency (DPPA), has allocated 1,808 tons of relief food to Gambella, Oromiya, SNNP, Beneshangul Gumuz, Harari and Dire Dawa Regions.
According to the United Ntions Organization for Coordinating Humanitarian Activities (UNOCHA), the allocation includes 346.5 tons of food to Dire Dawa; 4.9 tons to Asosa in Beneshangul Gumuz; 26.8 tons to Jor in Gambella; 103 tons to Harari; 176.3 tons to Abuna Gindebered, 59.7 tons to Ada Berga and 296.7 tons to Meta Robi woreda of West Shewa zone of Oromiya.
Furthermore, 516.1 tons have been allocated to Burji special woreda and 277.7 tons to Tocha woreda of Dawro zone in SNNPR.

Gracia Machel backs for action on girl's rights abuse

By Mina Yirga

The UK branch of Plan International launched a massive worldwide campaign, ‘Because I am a Girl’, which aims to transform the lives of girls that are being condemned to inequality and poverty.
‘Because I am a Girl’: The State of the World's Girls, is the first in a series of global reports on girls to be published over the next nine years by Plan International, a development agency working with over 700,000 girls worldwide.
The campaign is backed by Gracia Machel, a leading ambassador for child rights with her husband, South Africa's former President Nelson Mandela.
On the official launch of the report, Mr. Santiago Bernal, Country Director, Plan Ethiopia stated that the official time for the launching of the Global report was chosen to be on May 15th in accordance with the International Day of the Family as marked by the United Nations.
“Plan Ethiopia wants to make this also an occasion to re-new our serious commitment to stand for the rights of children. We have long recognized that children are not passive recipients of aid. We believe that long-term improvements and change can only be sustained if girls and boys are ‘development actors’: they participate, voice their opinion, are listened to, and taken seriously because their opinions count.”
The campaign starts with the publication of the most comprehensive report ever published on the disturbing situation, pulling together global statistics highlighting the extent of female foeticide, early marriage, abuse, and violence and the lack of education given to girls in the world's poorer countries.
On her behalf, Mrs. Tiruwork Tizazu, Women Affairs Head, MOFED, added that Ethiopia is facing structural and persistent poverty that affects 40% of the population. Due to economic and socio-cultural reasons, the gender difference starts from early childhood.
“Women/girls face major challenges on most human development sectors i.e. education and health. As a result, in Ethiopia, it also reflects on the gender gap in national Gross Enrollment Ration ( GER), for primary enrolment with much wider gaps in the regions, wider still in some regions; and widest in pastoral communities.”
“Many vulnerability assessment studies carried out in Ethiopia emphasized that women and girls are subjected to violence including domestic violence, violence related to traditional harmful practices, early marriage and sexually transmitted infections which all expose them to health problems”,she added.
Over 100 million girls, some as young as 12, are expected to marry over the next decade according to statistics highlighted in the study, despite international legislation outlawing early marriages.
“Plan Ethiopia supports the launch of the report in Ethiopia as the situation of girls in Ethiopia needs attention.” Mrs. Krista Kruft, of Plan Ethiopia remarked.
Plan Ethiopia is a child centered community development organization and works according to the principles of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. Gender equity and equality are important areas of focus in our Country Program Outlines of HIV / AIDS, Child Survival and Development, Quality Universal Learning for Life, Food and Nutrition Security and Child Participation and Protection.
Between now and 2010, Plan Ethiopia aims for equal access to resources and equal roles between men and women, girls and boys in Plan's program areas in Addis Ababa, Shebedino, Lalibela and Jimma, it was learnt.

Ethiopian Evaluators Association forming

By Mina Yirga

The Ethiopian Evaluation Association (EEvA) will soon be formed as a professional association of evaluators devoted to the application, promotion and exploration of development program evaluation.
Supported by UNICEF Ethiopia, the 20 participants from academic, research, public, private and civil society sectors expressed an interest in such an association which involves assessing the strengths and weaknesses of programs, policies, and organizations to improve their effectiveness, worth and value and draw lessons for knowledge and improvement of development, humanitarian actions and strategies.
According to Ato Mekonnen Ashenafi, Specialist, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation UNICEF Ethiopia, the objectives, value, need and benefits were discussed and agreed to include: improving evaluation practices, methods and standards, promoting useful evaluations that support capacity development and national ownership, supporting the contribution of evaluation to the generation of theory and knowledge; and facilitating networking and information sharing on evaluation in Ethiopia and outside world were among the outlined purpose of the association.
“In response to a growing demand for information sharing, advocacy and advanced capacity building in evaluation in Africa, associations have been formed in more than 20 states in Africa. Our aim is to have similar association in our country. There will be strong networking relationship with AfrEA and other evaluation associations worldwide in terms of experience, information and knowledge sharing.” he added.
A seven member Interim Management Committee (IMC), was set up to work on preparatory work for the formation of the Association, including drafting its constitution, defining membership, ethics, funding, management arrangement, legal/registration procedures, governance mechanism, secretariat, networking, advocacy, publicity and promotion.

Women Living with HIV, national network

By Mina Yirga

Under an initiative taken by the National Association of Positive Women Ethiopians, (NAPWE), a network of HIV positive women’s associations is to be launched at national level.
Presently, NAPWE has project locations in six regions (SNNPR, Oromia, Somali, Diredawa, Tigray and Amhara) with 15 potential network member associations among these regions.
According to W/o Berhane Kelkay, NAPWE National Coordinator, the main motive of establishing the network is to reduce and mitigate the all rounded impact of HIV/AIDS in the community, and especially on women through strengthening, creating networks and HIV building the capacity of positive women’s associations in Ethiopia.
“Any kind of help for HIV positive women can not be effective while their aren’t polices of affirmative and action for them. We need to promote an affirmative action program for HIV positive women in Ethiopia.” She stated
Results form the 2007-2015 National Adolescents and Youth Reproductive Health Strategy indicated that the HIV problem in Ethiopia has become a ‘femine epidemic’. Girls aged 15-19 years are seven times more likely to be HIV positive than boys at the same age. Moreover, women 20-24 years old are four times more likely to be infected than men at the same age. In addition to biological factors, young women are at increased risk of HIV transmission as they have earlier sexual debut than their male peer and marry in early age.

ETC launches phone directory for 3.9 mln birr

By Mina Yirga

Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation launched a phone directory which was prepared at a cost of 3.9 mln birr.
The directory will be presented in 100,000 hard copies, CD-Roms containing 550,000 fixed line telephone numbers. In addition, the information is posted on www.africaphonebooks.com in three different languages. (Amharic, English, French). The directory incorporates white pages (customers listing), Yellow pages (advertisements) along with country and corporate profiles.
According to Abdurahim Ahemed,Communication Department Head at ETC, the previous procedure followed by the corporation was inefficient and unprofessional besides costing the corporation huge expenses. “Gathering advertisements was not the core business of the corporation and publications were carried out by local companies. We couldn’t carry on with this since it used to cost us 30 to 35mln birr. So the corporation ceased publishing telephone directories for the last eight years. The experience of other countries tells us that such kinds of tasks are carried out by world class directory companies. As a result, this practice was adopted by the corporation to follow suit.”
After contesting international bidders, the French ANYPOL, a firm which has produced national telephone directories for countries worldwide, 27 of which are in Africa, won the bid and contracted for five years to produce the telephone directory with international quality and standards.
According to ETC‘s customers’ segmentation, the major target groups for the telephone directory are business community, Tele centers and NGO’s. “We believe the business community will benefit more than the residential customers. As the saying ‘if you are not in the yellow pages you are not in the business.’ What makes the new telephone directory different is that it gives alternatives to corporate companies which don’t have access to the hard copies with three language choices.” Abdurahim Added.
The telephone directory will be updated every year to contain the all ETC subscribers of fixed lines and the website is planned contain 8 language varieties including Chinese language. The directory will be distributed free of charge after it is imported from Italy where it is printed.

Africa major supplier and host of UN troops

By Andualem Sisay

Africa remains the UN's second largest supplier of troops at 26% (18,594), next to South Asia which provides 42.9%, indicated the annual review of global peace operations 2007 report, which was launched in Addis Ababa May 16, 2007.
According to the report, African contributors to the UN come at a time of increased activity by the AU with its continued peace operation in Darfur, Sudan and more recently Somalia. Through out its engagement in Darfur, the AU has entered into varying degrees of partnerships with the UN, EU, and NATO providing invaluable lessons for future cooperation between the worlds main peace operation platforms.
The African Union has around 7,000 peacekeeping troops in Darfur and 1,500 Ugandan troops under the AU in Somalia. AU's growing involvement in peace operations in the continent has impacted UN missions.
In addition, the continent still represents the largest host for the world body as compared to other continents. In 2006 Africa played host to 75.3% of UN military personnel deployed in the continent.
The UN has currently large-scale missions in DRC, Sudan, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia and the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea, with the mission of keeping peace and monitoring ceasefire agreements in these countries.
As of 31 October 2006, UN troops, military observers and police personnel were about 81,000 as compared to 65,000 in 2005.
"Although the UN has reduced its role elsewhere in Africa, withdrawing troops from Sierra Leone in December 2005 and downsizing its mission in Burundi through 2006, Africa still represented 75 % of UN's global deployments at the end of October, relative to 14 % in the Middle East," the report said.
The report also indicated that the UN peacekeeping mission in Africa is expected to grow in the case of Darfur where the UN is projected to deploy around 17,000 hybrid forces (UN and AU).
In a related news, on Wednesday May 15, 2007 four Ugandan soldiers serving under the African Union force in war-torn Somalia were killed and five wounded by a remote-controlled bomb on their convoy in northern Mogadishu.
A child playing nearby was also killed and another wounded in the roadside blast, witnesses said. The children had been playing football. An eye-witness was also quoted as saying another man urinating in a bush near the bomb was blown to pieces.
The latest deaths brought to five the number of Ugandan troops killed since they deployed in Somalia on March 6. The first soldier was killed on April 1 by artillery fire near Mogadishu's presidential palace.
Some 1,500 Ugandan peacekeepers are in Somalia as part of a planned 8,000-strong force that the AU is struggling to assemble.
The AU Commission chairperson, Alpha Oumar Konare, expressed "utter shock and disbelief" at the unprovoked attack. praising the Ugandan troops who are "deployed in Somalia under the most difficult circumstances, Konare appealed to them to remain "engaged in the noble action of helping the people of Somalia, especially those who continue to suffer from the senseless carnage, harassment, displacements and killings."

The ‘O’ factor

By Tsion Aklilu

When I heard of the Oprah Children’s Care Organization, the question ‘does Oprah have a center in Ethiopia?’ was the first thing that came to mind.
Holding the thought, I went to the main office, is located around ‘Kasanchis’, to ask these and others questions. The truth was otherwise when I arrived and heard the story of the center from one of the founders W/o Wuleta Desalegin.
Wuleta and her family established the center in June 2004 around Alemgoana, Southwest of Shoa by embracing 10 children, orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Rearing orphan children at home is not a new phenomena in Ethiopia, but it needs giving up every thing and getting used to the generous deed. That is what the passionate woman is doing.
She started picking up children who lost their parents to HIV/AIDS with in a day. “The first ten kids I bought to my home have lost both of their parents and were left with other family members, who are destitute.” Currently, she has 10 more kids accompanying the previous ones; still the increasing number of children sharing her residence and privacy does not bother her, what worries her is the viciousness of the virus and the large number of citizens who lose their life.
I have asked her the question which was bugging me most, ‘does Oprah fund your organization, what is the relation between her and your organization?” Wuleta with a sparkling smile told me beyond: she is an extra ordinary woman, she has tasted the bitterness of the world but did not let the cruelty break her sprit. Instead she breaks the ordinary trend and shines for others.” Having said this, she has showed me the first e-mail exchange with Oprah’s assistance for approval to use her name.
Besides the twenty kids in Alemgana, another 180 who get a free school uniform, bag and exercise book and 105 children are also beneficiaries of the center. They have guardians organized by the center and a self-supporting production program producing dairy and vegetable products.
The day I visited the main office, women of every age were there to receive their monthly food supplies. She explained the situation, “We also work in Yeka sub city, Addis Ababa collaborating with the sub city.” They work in four kebeles’ with 368 people who live with HIV/AIDS, out of which 342 of them obtain food and organize the 26 in income generating development.
Wizero Elifnesh Awage is one of the beneficiaries of the center, whom I found at the office to collect her supplies. She came every month to collect her food supply from WFP (World Food Program) through Oprah Children’s Care Center. Elifnesh cannot pay for her daily bread with her income, and could not work since she lives with the virus. “Every month when I read my name on the list, I get excited. I have nine and four year old children, the latter lives with the virus. Thanks to the center I get all the attention I used to seek” Elifnesh, tells only her story but there are others who are looking for the attention and support of others.
Yeka sub city has invited the center to work together, evaluating the good deed and achievements of the center in its short time. Along working in collaboration with Yeka, they have their own program of supporting 338 orphaned children financially and 70 other people who live with HIV/AIDS.
Oromia regional state has given land in Alemgena to the center for the establishment of school, clinic, dormitory, and offices. According to Wuleta the center has taken the place to build a permanent residence for twenty and more children to live in. “I want to have a clinic exclusively to help women in child labor”.

Life Fitness bolsters trainers

By Groum Abate

They may be calling it a fitness craze but there certainly is nothing crazy about maintaining yourself in top physical condition.
Exercising is not just about the body, but rather more so about our psychological state of being. If there isn’t one, the axiom should be the more you workout the better you figure life out.
Addis Ababa has been bitten hard by the fitness bug. In gyms of all standards, and some with none at all, biceps are flexing, torsos are straining, exercising bikes are whirring and the slum of weights echoes against the backdrop of exercise music.
Life Fitness, a global superpower in fitness and training equipment provider, in collaboration with Bekele Abshiro Plc, conducted a two day training for sports fitness center owners and trainers at Bole Rock Gym, one of the best and largest fitness center in Addis Ababa.
Having organized the first life fitness academy (LFA) in Ethiopia in December 2006, Bole Rock has just completed the second LFA on May 17th and 18th 2007, in its facility equipped with the latest aerobics, body building and other fitness equipments.
Life Fitness has also hosted its annual regional technical training for Africa and Middle East in November 2006, at the Sheraton Addis, for technicians from countries including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, South Africa and Kenya, which was the first in its kind given in Africa.
Course developer and Chief trainer Gavin Aquilina from Australia gave the training. Gavin has been traveling the world offering the LFA 2000s. It is to be recalled that Gavin also conducted the first Life Fitness Academy in Ethiopia last year.
The training that focuses on proper use of gym machineries and customer treatment with the right advice will increase the currently limited supply of skilled fitness trainers and contribute to the availability of standardized fitness options.
The training was conducted on the largest lineup of cardio, strength-training, and group exercise fitness equipment in the spacious and well ventilated gymnasium Bole Rock, which can accommodate a large number of fitness puffs at one time.
Eyob Bekele, General Manager of Bekele Abshiro Plc. told Capital that his company conducted such training at the end of 2006 and they are planning to make the training and experience exchange an annual event. He also said that at the end of the training participants will receive a certificate.
This is a good opportunity for gym owners in Ethiopia, said one participant, as they can have more confidence handling such equipments, now that local maintenance is possible.
Life Fitness, the world’s leading commercial fitness equipment manufacturer offers state-of-the-art equipment that meets the ever changing needs of exercisers, from beginners or reconditioned users to more advanced users or experienced athletes.
Bekele Abshiro Plc. is also the sole agent and representative of Life Fitness.

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