The United States continues to partner with the Ethiopian Ministry of Defense to strengthen the capacity of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF). This month, the U.S. Department of Defense provided $2.9 million worth of training and equipment to the ENDF in support of its efforts to disrupt the threats posed by al-Shabaab in Somalia and other terrorist organizations.
The equipment donated includes land cruisers, troop transports, ambulances, cargo and fuel trucks, water trailers, operations center computers, and night vision devices. This donation is just one way the U.S. government supports Ethiopian partner forces in their fight against terrorism.
The United States and Ethiopia have developed a long-standing partnership that includes military training exercises and a spectrum of activities to support peacekeeping and counterterrorism objectives.

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), announced $100 million financing to enable its Member States to procure COVID-19 related medical resources through the Africa Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP).
The funding is available to African governments to acquire medical supplies through the AMSP in the form of pre-approved overdraft limits for each African government. This facility quickens access to critical COVID-19 containment and therapeutic supplies by bridging short term funding gaps that African states may be experiencing.
Launched in June, the AMSP was developed by the African Union’s Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Afreximbank and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), under the leadership of the African Union Special Envoy for COVID-19 procurements, Mr. Strive Masiyiwa. The AMSP is operated by the technology firm Janngo. It was established to facilitate pooled and transparent procurement by African countries. Its services have now been made available to countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Renewable energy continues to bring socioeconomic benefits by creating numerous jobs worldwide, according to the latest figures released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The seventh edition of Renewable Energy and Jobs – Annual Review shows that jobs in the sector reached 11.5 million globally last year, led by solar PV with some 3.8 million jobs, or a third of the total.
“Adopting renewables creates jobs and boosts local income in both developed and developing energy markets,” said IRENA’s Director-General Francesco La Camera. “While today we see a handful of countries in the lead, each country can harness its renewable potential, take steps to leverage local capabilities for industrial development, and train its workers.”
Last year, sixty-three per cent of all renewables jobs were recorded in Asia, confirming the region’s status as a market leader, the new report reveals. Biofuels jobs followed closely behind solar PV, reaching 2.5 million. Many of these jobs are in the agricultural supply chain, particularly in countries like Brazil, Colombia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, with labour-intensive operations. Other large employers in the renewables sector are the hydropower and wind industries, with close to 2 million and 1.2 million jobs, respectively.

Krimson Aviation, the Addis Ababa-based flight support, charter and aviation consultancy, is marking its fifth year of operations following one of its busiest weeks since inception. The handling in one week of a dozen flights with some 24 legs for a mix of customers including medevac, government, investment, humanitarian, crew rotation and repatriation flights firmly demonstrates the rounded capabilities of this now established company.
Building on the first five years of success Dawit Lemma, founder and CEO, is now looking to further enhance the business aviation offering in Ethiopia. “My team is at the forefront of East African aviation and works continuously to meet and exceed customer expectations. I am extremely proud of the accomplishments we’ve achieved,” says Lemma. “For the next five years our aim is to support the improvement of infrastructure at Addis Ababa Bole airport, and we plan to advocate for, and get involved in, development of a first rate FBO and MRO facility at the airport. As home to the African Union and hosts to an increasing number of international investors and tourists we are perfectly positioned to maximise the opportunities presented by business aviation in the region. Despite the pandemic we can see great potential as we head towards our next five years.”