World Bank Grants $195m to Health Sector


World Bank Grants $195m to Health Sector

The World Bank has granted 195 million dollars in financing to support COVID-19 vaccination efforts and the overall health sector. Part of the funding will be used to rebuild health centres damaged by the armed conflict in the north, which has been ongoing since November 2020. The financing will also go towards the procurement of COVID-19 vaccinations and ICU equipment. Health professionals have administered close to 30 million doses of various COVID-19 vaccines, including the Chinese-made Sinopharm, since the Ministry of Health kicked off a jab campaign last April. However, no more than a quarter of the population has received at least one dose. Daily reports published by the Ministry indicate the pandemic has simmered down in recent months as the positivity rate and mortalities drop to their lowest levels since the early days of the pandemic. Nonetheless, health officials urge the public to continue practicing social distancing and wearing face coverings. The pandemic has claimed a little over 7,500 lives since the first case was recorded in March 2020.

[ssba-buttons]

Radar

New Directive Hikes Service Fees for Foreign Investors in Free Trade Zones

The Ethiopian Investment Board has issued a new directive revising the service fees from foreign investors payable in dollars to the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), introducing updated rates for both the One Stop Shop and designated Free Trade Zones. The revised directive came into effect this April following its publication on the websites of the Ministry of Justice and the EIC. Issued pursuant to Article 23 of the Special Economic Zone Proclamation, the directive outlines charges for...


Radar

City Tables 350B Br Budget Plan for Upcoming Fiscal Year

The City Administration has approved a resolution to submit a proposed budget of 350 billion Br for the 2025/26 fiscal year to the City Council for deliberation. According to the Administration's statement on its official social media page, the draft budget is designed with a central focus on poverty reduction, encompassing targeted subsidies for sustainable development, investment in large-scale job-creating projects, and enhanced service delivery to address the growing demands of the reside...


Radar

Ethiopia, UN Launch Joint Plan to Drive Development Through 2030

The Ethiopian government and the United Nations (UN) have signed a five-year development plan outlining national priorities from 2025 to 2030. Signed on June 20 at the Ministry of Finance, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) with implications that it aligns with Ethiopia's reform goals and the Sustainable Development Agenda. The plan is backed by a projected 6.5 billion dollars, though only 1.5 billion dollars is currently secured. It focuses on closing t...