Ethiopia commemorated Africa Day 2025 with a series of dynamic events and a pivotal policy dialogue, placing the spotlight on the nation’s rich cultural heritage and the pursuit of justice for Africans and people of African descent. The celebrations, organized in partnership with Selam Ethiopia’s Connect for Culture Africa (CFCA) project and leading national cultural associations, underscored the essential role of arts and culture in fostering social unity and driving national progress.Supported by the Addis Ababa Culture, Arts and Tourism Bureau, the centerpiece of the festivities was a high-level policy discussion at Addis Ababa University’s Ale Felege Selam School of Art and Design. Themed “Justice For Africans And People Of African Descent Through Reparations,” the dialogue brought together influential figures from Ethiopia’s creative sector, including Dawit Yifru, President of the Ethiopian Federation of Music Sector Associations; Abere Adamu, President of the Ethiopian Writers Association; Zena Worku, Manager of the Ethiopian Writers Association; and Teklu Tegegn, President of the Ethiopian National Circus Association Consortium.During the discussion, Dawit Yifru highlighted the power of unity in the arts, stating, “Unity gives strength, which is why the four professional associations celebrate Africa Day together. Coming together in the arts creates unity among people and actively advances the sector.”
This year’s Africa Day, themed “The Year of Reparations 2025: Justice for Africans & People of African Descent through Reparations,” echoed the African Union’s call for dialogue and action on justice, equality, and the restoration of cultural identity. Organizers emphasized that blending artistic expression with advocacy showcased the transformative power of culture in promoting social cohesion and sustainable development.Following the policy dialogue, the celebrations moved to 4 Kilo Plaza, where attendees enjoyed a vibrant showcase of Ethiopia’s cultural diversity. Spectacular circus acts, energetic musical performances, and a range of artistic displays highlighted how the arts can bridge divides, inspire positive change, and contribute to broader goals of justice and development across Africa.Africa Day, observed annually on May 25, marks the founding of the Organization of African Unity—now the African Union—in 1963. This year’s events in Addis Ababa reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to celebrating its cultural legacy while championing justice and reparations for Africans worldwide.
Dr. Solomon Zewdu, a seasoned global health leader and the newly appointed CEO of the END Fund, joins us for an in-depth conversation on the future of neglected tropical diseases (NTD) elimination in Africa and beyond. With a distinguished career spanning the public, private, military, philanthropy such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Mastercard Foundation, Dr. Solomon brings a unique blend of medical, strategic, government and donor expertise to the helm of the world’s largest philanthropic fund dedicated to fighting NTDs.
Under his leadership, the END Fund is intensifying its mission to eliminate six major neglected tropical diseases by 2030, focusing on philanthropic collaborative capital aggregating approaches that leverages local knowledge, public-private partnerships, communities and blended financing. In this interview with Capital’s Groum Abate at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Dr. Solomon discusses the challenges and opportunities facing NTD elimination, the impact of shifting global aid dynamics, and the importance of integrating NTD programs within broader health and development agendas. The Africa CEO Forum, held on May 12 and 13 this year was two days of conferences, debates and high-level meetings dedicated to highlighting the driving role of the private sector in the development of the continent where the END Fund was an industry partner. Dr Solomon refers to panel discussions that ranged from improving economic governance, optimizing public policy; as well as supply chain resilience, and the role of philanthropy and domestic financing in a changing world.He also shares his vision of harnessing African resources and leadership to drive sustainable progress, ensuring that no community is left behind in the fight against these ancient, yet entirely preventable, diseases. Excerpts:
Capital: Can you tell us about the END Fund?
Solomon Zewdu: The END Fund is an organization established in 2012. It is a philanthropic collaborative fund that pools philanthropic and corporate capital to grant for the elimination of neglected tropical diseases.
While the conventional effort against NTDs were mostly to reduce diseases burden, the END fund was established to eliminate these diseases based on a proof of concept that eliminating these diseases in lower to middle income countries was actually possible and therefore a strategy to focus on eliminating six diseases by 2030.
We operate solely with philanthropic and corporate funds, which include contributions from individual donors. We also collaborate with pharmaceutical companies that provide medications at no cost. These live saving donations for high to middle income countries are a critical building block of our success in demonstrating that NTD elimination efforts are global health’s best buy. We partner with African governments and implementing partners by financing the delivery of the necessary services into the community leveraging the resources mobilized from our philanthropic and individual donors.
Capital: These six diseases primarily affect rural areas in Africa, which are often difficult to access. How do you plan to reach these communities?
Solomon: We work directly with governments, local populations, and community partners to reach the most remote areas of any country. This collaboration allows us to leverage the local ownership that comes with the agency of participating in your treatment options and restoration of dignity. We codesign the programs that our implementing partners execute under the model of one plan (sovereign country), one budget and one measuring and evaluation and learning model. We aggregate the capital and program it into focused investments based on the best available data and science, eliminating wastage and duplication of valuable and scares resources.
The six diseases we target classified as neglected tropical diseases, still exist in Africa, part of the middle east and Southeast Asia, while the rest of the world has long eliminated them. Their persistence is primarily linked due to poverty, poor infrastructure and neglect. Our goal is to support local governments to eliminate these diseases entirely. Our target diseases are trachoma, river blindness, visceral leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis and soil transmitted Helminths (Intestinal worms), that affect low socioeconomic and marginalized rural communities
Capital: How do you assess the effectiveness of your funding?
Solomon: We collaborate with our in-country program partners to co-create the most effective interventions, aligned with the priority of the health authorities of the countries and develop robust Key Performance Indicators before we make grants. Since our benchmark is elimination, we track reductions in cases, interruption of disease transmission and track disease burden in partnership with all that are involved in the community of disease eradication. This data in turn guides our fund-raising efforts and programming success measurement and trajectory towards elimination of these six diseases.
Capital: Recently, there has been ongoing conflict in Sudan. Does that impact your work?
Solomon: Any conflict can hinder programs and cause delays; which is unfortunate. However, we strive to work around these challenges and evaluate every crisis case by case. By partnering with community organizations that can often maintain their capacity to provide services, we continue our efforts, even amidst unrest or displacement. We engage with displaced populations and refugee camps, adapting our programs to address these diseases wherever they appear.
Capital: The recent aid cut from the US raises concerns about your future. To what extent will it affect you, and how do you plan to address these cuts?
Solomon: As I mentioned earlier, we don’t directly receive US government aid. We pool philanthropic and individual donors fund and leverage other corporate partnership opportunities. When the US government cuts took effect, we felt the impact to the ecosystem and the strain on the opportunities to leverage US government aid programs. Our partnerships are built on symbiotic relationships across programs and resources. When their programs face challenges, our capacity for effective delivery and record collective impact is also compromised. Our efficient and effective delivery model is based on leveraging all opportunities to collaborate and stretch resources.
Capital: How do you plan to cope with these challenges?
Solomon: The broader community has recognized the need to prioritize the most critical issues, given that the reported deficit in overseas development assistance ranges from $41 to $60 billion—an amount no single entity can cover. In discussions with the broader NTD community, we have focused our immediate attention to first ensure that the donated drugs in our pipeline or in country ready for distribution do not expire and are delivered to the intended populations. Additionally, any planned surveys that aid our programming need are carried out. We have categorized our needs into urgent priorities and a longer-term programming.
The long-term plan, as discussed in yesterday’s panel, will require innovative thinking and programming to bridge this gap. This will includes exploring greater efficiencies in local member states budget allocation and use. There are various strategies to consider and it will need to be contextualized. We are currently in the early stages of analyzing the full impact of these cuts and understanding the resulting shortfalls.
Capital: As their name suggests, these are neglected tropical diseases, which often do not receive government attention. How do you plan to address this issue?
Solomon: Neglected tropical diseases situation (NTDs) have recently become more mainstream, and this is encouraging. There seems to be a growing momentum around this issue. Yesterday, during the panel, I mentioned that it’s difficult to dismiss the financial commitments governments have already made. The focus now should be on how we can implement programs more efficiently in addition to securing additional funding. This conversation with shouldn’t be just about allocating more money. It should look at efficiency gains.
If we leverage existing structures effectively, we can better look at better integrating NTD initiatives within current systems. Addressing these diseases doesn’t require a separate track; we can utilize the same supply chains, same community health workers, and pharmaceutical resources already in place. If the system functions well, it will also have to include multisectoral programming in matters such as water and sanitation, Education, public health mindsets, and elimination of harmful hygiene practices.
Creating good hygiene practice awareness and availing clean water access is crucial. By improving access to clean water and sanitation, we can resolve a significant portion of some of the persistent issues we face. The deworming medications we provide are administered at a cost of just 50 cents per treatment per year, representing an excellent return on investment. Combined with access to clean water and sanitation interventions these diseases elimination trajectory could have a compounded impact. It requires better resource allocation, better coordination and trusted and sustained partnerships.
Capital: How do you plan to engage policymakers and the government to focus more on these diseases?
Solomon: Most governments already allocate resources and I know there are designated coordinator for all neglected tropical disease programs but they are chronically underfunded to reach elimination goals,. However, if effectively coordinated could require a lot less direct in investment of large amount of resources.
For example, while drug delivery already leveraged community health workers, these interventions need to be accompanied with communities’ having access to improved and reliable water and sanitation to prevent reinfection, especially as we aim to eliminate diseases. Ultimately, if our goal is elimination, unlike chronic conditions management such as hypertension or diabetes, which persist indefinitely, our focus will need to be laser focused on more effective collaboration, a clear division of labor, elimination of duplication and wastage. A function that is best suited for governments. If we are able to reach that state, we can aspire to frontload our collective efforts and I don’t see why we can’t reach our elimination goals even sooner that the milestones we have set forth.
Capital: I’m returning to the topic of aid cuts. During periods of reduced aid, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) haven’t received sufficient attention from the government. How do you plan to address this issue?
Solomon: At this point it’s really about prioritization. We are currently undertaking a continent-wide disease burden mapping exercise to best appreciate the size of the remaining task and what resources will be needed while also recognizing that there will not be a separate track for NTDs funding and there will be gaps such like the rest of the entire health sector.. But we will have l progressed and costed the gap to be able to have one single agreed upon data sheet to program from whatever the funding source is. So, we will actively be monitoring what can be supported and sadly what will need to be cut. We recognize that NTDs will not be immune to these challenges much like other programs, including nutrition, family planning, and maternal and child health, etc, will be affected.
Capital: Africa has a deeply rooted culture of giving. How do you plan to navigate that?
Solomon: The ongoing discussions at this conference emphasize the need for member states and citizens to take responsibility for their health, economy, and overall well-being. As such, we need to develop a inclusive and complementary strategy focused on engaging individuals and organizations with the capacity of making contributions to impact the NTD situation of their respective country or region.
The current aid situation serves as an undeniable opportunity to rethink the model. We must begin to redesign our approach. Private companies will need to take a more of active role, and governments should facilitate better and more efficiently public sector processes to support a more robust private sector enabling environment. Discussions at various panels have addressed eliminating poor and illegal practices and exploring innovative approaches to sustainable development.
There are significant opportunities here, and the idea is to share the burden rather than outsourcing African problems to the rest of the world. NTDs elimination is no different than any other health sector interventions. It will need to adopt the resounding theme of solving inequities in partnership with any foreign assistance. Maximizing limited resources with deep rooted community involvement and ownership.
Capital: This has been discussed for many years, and the situation remains unchanged. Are you hopeful that it will improve?
Solomon: Well, being hopeful is necessary. I’m always hopeful because the incentive to change has never been greater. And I believe in the inherent quality of humanity. The situation now does not offer much choices and it could be the variable that would change the status quo. We have a new reality that we will need to internalize it.
Therefore, we must rethink our approach. As I mentioned earlier, it’s not just about adding more money; it’s equally about being more efficient. I believe that countries will need to reassess their national budget allocations to determine the most efficient and effective ways to proceed as we will effectively have money to go around but it shouldn’t be grounds for coming undone.
Capital: Will you be successful in ending it by 2030?
Solomon: I remain steadfast to reaching our goals. We’ve faced many challenges, including the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) withdrawal some years back and the recent US government decision on ODA but we will continue to leverage partnerships, add even more rigor to our approach and look forward to seeing as many countries as possible to cross the finish line. A fact to be celebrated is that out of the target of 100 countries that would have eliminated at least one disease by 2030, 57 countries have already reached that milestone. Our north star remains the elimination of all of the six diseases.
Capital: Anything to add?
Solomon: We discussed earlier that these diseases exist because they were neglected. They are ancient diseases that the rest of the world has effectively eradicated. There are proven methods of effective service delivery for disease elimination; we don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We just need to stay the course and support what are undeniable extremely resilient communities beat these odds once and for all and restore dignity, improve economic standing and offer a chance to better life outcomes.
We already have countries that are already making strides; for instance, Niger celebrated the elimination of river blindness this past April, while Senegal, Kenya, and Ethiopia are also making significant progress in reducing their burden of soil-transmitted helminths. We are truly making progress through partnership and leveraging existing resources and efficiencies. But we also need greater participation of African citizens with means and African governments to play a more significant role in determining the future of the continent and in this case eliminating these diseases to restore dignity, hope and close the inequity gap often determined by simply where you were born.
Shortly after this interview with Dr. Solomon Zewdu, Mauritania achieved validation from the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem. The END Fund commends this milestone and reaffirms its commitment to supporting African nations in replicating such successes across the continent through its current philanthropic collaborative pooled funding model and locally-led efforts and sustainable investments.
In recent weeks, the plight of Ethiopia’s health professionals has moved from the quiet corridors of hospitals to the front pages of national and international news. Doctors, nurses, and allied health workers have taken the extraordinary step of striking, not out of political ambition, but out of desperation—a last resort after years of unheeded pleas for fair pay, humane working conditions, and basic respect. Their demands are not only legitimate; they are a matter of national survival. It is time for the government and society at large to listen, respect, and act—rather than respond with force and intimidation.The current crisis did not emerge overnight. For years, Ethiopia’s health professionals have endured what can only be described as systemic neglect and abuse. Their salaries are meager, often failing to cover even the most basic living expenses. Many are forced to work in dilapidated facilities, lacking essential supplies and equipment. Housing is scarce, benefits are minimal, and job security is tenuous at best. Despite these hardships, health workers have continued to serve, motivated by a sense of duty to their communities and the ethical standards of their profession.The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the depth of their sacrifice. Many risked—and some lost—their lives to save others. Yet, as the crisis faded from headlines, so too did the fleeting recognition of their heroism. Today, those same professionals find themselves on the brink of destitution, some even going hungry, while the government spends lavishly on other priorities. The contrast is stark: those who heal the nation are left to suffer, while those who contribute little to the public good enjoy privilege and comfort.The indignities do not end with poor pay and conditions. Health professionals have reported harassment, intimidation, and even arrest for daring to speak out or organize for their rights. Recent strikes have been met not with empathy or negotiation, but with threats, detentions, and accusations of “malicious intent.” Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have raised alarms about arbitrary arrests and the broader crackdown on dissent.This is not merely a labor dispute; it is a crisis of dignity. Health professionals are not asking for luxury—they are asking for the ability to live and work with dignity, to provide for their families, and to serve their patients without fear. Their demands include fair compensation, reasonable working hours, hazard pay, housing and transportation allowances, free medical care for themselves and their families, and an end to harassment and abuse.The consequences of ignoring these demands are grave. Ethiopia already faces a severe shortage of health workers—just 0.76 physicians per 10,000 people, far below the World Health Organization’s recommended threshold. The result is a crushing workload for those who remain, with one doctor often responsible for more than 13,000 patients. This is unsustainable and dangerous, not just for the professionals but for the entire population.When health professionals are driven to resign, emigrate, or abandon their posts, it is the public who suffers. Hospitals are left understaffed, patients go untreated, and preventable deaths rise. The exodus of skilled workers—often referred to as “brain drain”—further weakens an already fragile healthcare system. The government’s attempts to quash dissent through force only accelerate this downward spiral, eroding trust and driving more professionals away.The government’s response so far has been deeply disappointing. Instead of engaging in genuine dialogue, authorities have resorted to legal threats, intimidation, and arrests. The Ministry of Health has issued stern warnings, insisting that strikes are “legally prohibited” and threatening legal consequences for those who refuse to return to work. Yet, health professionals have repeatedly stated that their actions are not political—they are a plea for survival, for themselves and their patients.Professional associations, including the Ethiopian Medical Association, have called for the immediate release of detained colleagues and urged the government to respond promptly and constructively to the profession’s demands. The government must recognize that force will not solve this crisis. Only honest, inclusive dialogue—grounded in respect and a shared commitment to the public good—can lead to lasting solutions.This is not just a sectoral issue; it is a matter of national security. A healthy population is the foundation of any nation’s prosperity and stability. When those tasked with safeguarding public health are themselves in crisis, the entire country is at risk. The ongoing strikes and resignations are not just a warning—they are a clarion call for urgent reform.The government must act decisively to address the root causes of this crisis. This means not only meeting the immediate demands of health professionals but also investing in the long-term sustainability of the healthcare system. It means creating an environment where health workers are valued, protected, and empowered to do their jobs to the best of their ability.Respecting health professionals is not merely a matter of fairness; it is a strategic imperative. Their expertise, dedication, and sacrifice are irreplaceable assets to the nation. They have earned the right to be heard, to negotiate, and to live with dignity. The government must abandon its adversarial posture and embrace a spirit of partnership and mutual respect.This begins with immediate steps: releasing detained professionals, halting intimidation and harassment, and opening transparent, good-faith negotiations with representatives of the health sector. It continues with substantive reforms: raising salaries to regional benchmarks, improving working conditions, providing adequate housing and benefits, and ensuring that health professionals have a real voice in the policies that affect their lives and work.How Ethiopia responds to this crisis will be a test of its leadership and its values. Will it choose repression and denial, or will it choose dialogue, respect, and reform? The answer will shape not only the future of the health sector but the future of the nation itself.The health professionals of Ethiopia have given their all for their country. Now, the country must give them the respect, recognition, and support they so richly deserve. Their voices must not only be heard—they must be heeded. The time for action is now.
As a freelancer, it’s important to understand that you operate in a different set of principles and responsibilities than your standard employee. This is true even if you do the majority or all of your work for a single client. As such, there’s a lot that new freelancers forget to do when they get started, but here, we’re going to look at some of the most common things that you should commit to your memory.
Marketing And Finding Work
If you want to secure clients and projects, then you have to promote and market yourself actively. Building a strong online presence, such as with your own website, social media platforms, and even on freelancing websites, is crucial, even if you’re currently getting all of your work from a single client. As such, if you lose that client, you’re able to rely on compelling portfolios and practised pitches to find new work to fill the gap. It’s always best to keep your outreach consistent so that you’re able to keep the work coming from different sources when you need to.
Managing And Paying Your Own Taxes
Unlike traditional employers, freelancers have to handle their tax affairs themselves, like a small business would. This means registering as self-employed, filing your tax return annually, as well as paying any National Insurance contributions yourself. Getting a good understanding of payments on account self assessment, as well as factors like expenses you can claim as a small business owner, ensures that you don’t fall behind. A common mistake for new freelancers is not to file their taxes until right up to the deadline, having to pay their whole tax bill at once rather than working at it throughout the year.
Setting Your Own Rates And Prices
As a freelancer, you are fully responsible for determining your own rates. You cannot expect your clients to do it for you in a way that ensures that you’re getting paid for the real value you bring or sticking to industry standards. If you have clients who do not pay you what you’re worth, then it’s important to either communicate with them and ask for more money to continue working with them or find new clients. This includes updating your prices each year to keep up with inflation.
Staying Legal And Compliant
If you’re with an employer, it’s their responsibility to ensure that you’re working in a way that fits with all the applicable laws and regulations. However, as a freelancer, it’s vital that you stay informed about your own obligations, including data protection laws like GDPR, industry-specific compliance, and ensuring you have the correct licences or insurance. If you work as a sole trader or a limited company, then your obligations may be different, but this doesn’t diminish your need to understand and work within them.
Working as a freelancer can be highly freeing and rewarding, not to mention flexible to your free time and needs. However, you also have to be ready for those extra responsibilities that come with it.
