US Pledges $10m for Locust Outbreak Fight

Mar 7 , 2020


[ssba-buttons]

The United States, through its aid department USAID, has pledged 10 million dollars to support operations to control the swarms of locusts in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. The donation comes three weeks after United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the first eight million dollars in support. During his three-day visit to Ethiopia, he announced the pledge to tackle the desert locust outbreak in East Africa. The new aid is expected to have a positive impact on affected communities in Ethiopia and throughout the Horn of Africa. The current outbreak of desert locusts is the worst to hit East Africa in decades. The insects have infested the region and are eating their way through vegetation and livestock pastures. The current funding will support locust detection, surveillance and control operations across the region, which include ground-based and aerial efforts. Over the past five years, the United States has been the largest bilateral donor to Ethiopia and has invested four billion dollars to help people across the country lead healthier and more prosperous lives.


Radar

Bank of Abyssinia Signs Partnership with Droga Cooperative

Bank of Abyssinia has entered into a partnership agreement with Droga Health & Financial Savings and Credit Cooperative to provide financial support and services for its members. The agreement was signed yesterday at the Bank's headquarters. The deal aims to strengthen collaboration between the two institutions, enabling cooperative members to access tailored banking services. It was signed by Wosenyeleh Abera, Deputy CEO for Customer Relations and Marketing at the bank, and Zelalem Yilma...


Radar

Wegagen Introduces Real Time SWIFT Tracking

Wegagen Bank has launched a new mobile app feature enabling customers to track international SWIFT payments in real time. The bank is the first in Ethiopia to introduce an online SWIFT payment tracking system. By integrating SWIFT Global Payment Innovation, customers, particularly those involved in import-export trade, can monitor cross-border transactions using a Unique End-to-End Transaction Reference (UETR) directly from their smartphones. To use the service, customers select the SWIFT...


Radar

National ID, Zambia Partners to Expands Program Reach

The National ID Program has signed an agreement with Zambia's counterpart to provide consulting services for the development of software that will issue digital IDs. It is the first time the institution has extended its expertise beyond national borders, a sign of growing recognition for its rapid progress. Program officials described the partnership as a milestone in their effort to position themselves as a regional player in digital transformation. The collaboration is expected to center...