The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of the 77th World Health Assembly to expand their partnership to strengthen epidemic and pandemic prevention, preparedness and response in Africa.

United by a shared mission, the organisations will collaborate to boost regional vaccine research, development, and sustainable manufacturing leadership and capabilities in Africa, fostering a faster and more equitable response to emerging infectious diseases.

“The New Public Health Order calls to action to build resilient health systems capable of managing recurrent, high-impact infectious disease and outbreaks; an action-oriented partnership such as this is at the core,” said Dr. Jean Kaseya, Africa CDC’s Director General. “This collaboration with CEPI in research, clinical trials, and local manufacturing of medical countermeasures will elevate Africa’s readiness against outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics, thus consolidating the continent’s preparedness far beyond where we were prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

SITA, the global leader in technology for the air transport industry, launches SmartSea through an initial agreement with Columbia Shipmanagement (CSM), the world-class ship manager and maritime service provider. SmartSea is the industry’s first company with the power to reshape the maritime sector by facilitating access to the same advanced technology that has already transformed the air transport industry. At the same time, CSM becomes the first SmartSea client to exponentially upscale its operations through this cutting-edge technology.

With this strategic step, SITA is embedding its transformative footprint into the maritime industry, breaking boundaries and simplifying processes for more efficient and profitable operations across the entire value chain. 

With 75 years of experience, SITA serves 95% of international destinations in the air travel industry, and over 2,500 airlines, airports, ground handlers and governments all working closely with the company. More than 70 governments and all G20 nations trust SITA solutions, and 85% of international air passengers globally benefit from SITA digital border solutions. SITA’s undeniable role in transforming the air industry and shaping it into what it is now is the strongest proof of the value SITA can provide to the maritime sector.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Embassy of Canada launched the project entitled “Protecting the Dignity and Rights of Women and Girls in Ethiopia” in the presence of representatives from the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Health.

This 7 year project spanning the years from 2024 to 2030 has a total budget of CAD $65 million (ETB 2,706,898,454). The project will be implemented in 55 woredas across eight regions: Afar, Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz, Gambella, Oromia, Sidama, Somali, and Tigray. It aims to reach more than 1.5 million people with integrated services on gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health, indirectly benefiting a total of more than 4 million people in the targeted areas.

Joshua Tabah, Ambassador of Canada to Ethiopia, expressed, “This partnership with UNFPA underscores Canada’s steadfast commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in Ethiopia. We need to work together to break the cycle of sexual and gender- based violence.”

ECA and partners have launched an initiative aimed at strengthening the capacities of city governments in Africa to develop and implement policy reforms and strategies to expand and build resilient urban fiscal space.

Referred to as Expanded and resilient urban fiscal space for an inclusive and resilient COVID-19 recovery in Africa-DA-15 Project, the initiative was launched in Nairobi on 22 May, 2024 and is being spearheaded by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in collaboration with implementing partners, UN-Habitat and UNCDF, and the Nairobi City County.

According to Atkeyelsh Persson, Chief Urbanization and Development Section at the ECA, the project will be implemented in four cities in 2024- Addis, Nairobi, Kigali, and Lusaka. Two more cities -Dar es Salaam and Yaoundé will benefit from the project over the coming three years.

She noted that the project will support the selected cities through a chain of interventions, ranging from generating evidence to the design of actual interventions for improved fiscal space. Emphasis will be placed on the capacity of city authorities to carry out these functions whilst promoting fiscal transparency and accountability.