Unidentified armed men in Sudan on Sunday attacked UN World Food Programme (WFP) trucks carrying food assistance meant for thousands of civilians in need in central Darfur, the agency reported…More than half of the population, around 26 million people, are staring at “crisis levels” of hunger and almost 9.4 million people have been driven from their homes, including about 1.9 million into neighbouring countries…According to UN humanitarians, the lives of 800,000 people “are hanging in the balance” as fighting rages densely populated areas in the provincial capital El Fasher, causing widespread and long-term harm to civilians and severely disrupting the essential services they depend on.

UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, and the Embassy of Sweden have formalized a funding agreement valued at approximately USD 1.4 million. This contribution from Sweden supports UNFPA’s 9th Country Programme (2020-2025) for the year 2024 and extends through June 2025. The program’s implementation encompasses nine regions of Ethiopia, closely aligning with the national priorities established by the Government of Ethiopia. This collaboration aims to advance the rights of women and youth, promote gender equality, and ensure access to sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.

During the signing ceremony held at the Embassy of Sweden, Hans Henric Lundqvist, Ambassador of Sweden to Ethiopia, reaffirmed Sweden’s unwavering commitment to UNFPA’s mission. He emphasized, “Sweden remains committed to UNFPA’s mission of advancing the rights of women and youth, promoting gender equality, and ensuring sexual and reproductive health and rights.”

As advocates for the well-being and empowerment of women, girls, and youth, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is proud to announce the launch of its SHaPE2 initiative. This innovative program aims to promote integrative sexual and reproductive health advocacy and media campaigns among women, girls, and young people in Ethiopia.

Through this project, KOICA, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Regional Health Bureaus, is working to bridge the gap in access to information and services related to family planning and sexual and reproductive health. The program includes advocacy activities at the regional and federal levels, media campaigns, mass-media and mid-media approaches, communication, and media expert forums, as well as international experience-sharing workshops and community outreach events.

“Empowering women and youth with accurate information and resources is essential for promoting healthy decision-making and preventing unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections,” said KOICA Deputy Country Director Kim Sun-Young. “By investing in comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education, we can empower women, girls, and young people to take control of their reproductive health and futures.”

Huawei hosted a farewell event for ten Ethiopian students who will be attending the Huawei Seeds for the Future 2024 training program. The program will be held in Morocco from July 1st to 10th, 2024, and the students are from Ethiopia’s eight public universities.

During the occasion, Solomon Soka, state minister to the Ministry of Labor and Skills, noted that such information and communication technology training helps young generations develop their skills and knowledge in the field, enhancing their career prospects and opening up new job opportunities. He also acknowledged Huawei for providing this valuable skill-boosting training annually.

Huawei East Africa Regional Vice President Hu Zhen stated that the Huawei Seeds for the Future program offers a range of benefits that can help young professionals develop their skills, knowledge, and networks in the ICT field.

Since 2017, Huawei Ethiopia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, has been sending the top ten students from Ethiopia to its head office in China to receive two weeks of training through the Seeds program. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program has been delivered online. This year’s program will be held in person and will bring together around 160 students from 18 African nations.