UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, has visited Ethiopia as part of his visit to East and Southern Africa aimed to advocate the effective implementation of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, which aims to halve the number of victims on the road by 2030.
In his three day visit from May 29-31, the special envoy met with senior government officials and representatives of the public, private sector and the civil society with visits made to health and training centers.

According to the World Bank, the mortality rate due to car accident in Ethiopia is 28 per 100,000 inhabitants. The ageing of the vehicle fleet and public transport, false licenses, lack of enforcement of penalties and the lack of seriousness of technical inspections are also major causes of road crashes. Used cars constitute over 85% of the vehicle fleet in Ethiopia, many of which are not equipped with basic safety features. In addition to the human tragedy, road crashes trap countries into a vicious circle of poverty. According to the World Bank, the cost of road crashes represents 8,8% of Ethiopia’s annual GDP.
The purpose of the mission is also said to assess progress after the United Nations Road Safety Performance Reviews (RSPR) of Ethiopia (2020) which are strongly supported by the Special Envoy to assist the government in identifying the most fundamental road safety priority needs and to offer recommendations to strengthen road safety management capacities.
“The majority of road traffic deaths occur in Africa and the first victims are young people. As projections say that by 2050, at least one in every three births will be in Africa, accelerated and strategic action by stakeholders and governments is essential,” cited the Special Envoy.
Globally, Africa accounts for about 25% of the number of road crash victims, while the continent has barely 2% of the world’s vehicle fleet. Sub-Saharan Africa is the region most affected, with a fatality rate of 27/100,000 inhabitants, three times higher than the European average of 9/100,000 while the world average is 18/100,000.
As indicated, the core solutions to address road safety at the country level fall under the safe systems approach, which considers improved management, safer roads, vehicles and road users, as well as better post-crash response.
The Special Envoy is also said to visit Kenya on June 1-5 and Zimbabwe on June 6-8.

The rise of AI and its revolutionary impact on African business, society, and culture led discussions on the final day (2 June) of GITEX Africa 2023 in Morocco, as experts from across the globe gathered to debate and advance the transformational new tech that’s now the focal point of worldwide debate.
While dozens, including the heads of OpenAI and Google Deepmind, have backed statements warning about potential disaster scenarios around AI – even the extinction of humanity others in the field have said AI fears are overblown.
One thing is certain: AI is on track to be the next big global technology shift, while in Africa, it has the ability to transform the way businesses are run and societies function. More importantly, according to Mustapha Zaouini, the Chairman of AI in Africa, the continent is now exploring AI to solve pressing issues including poverty, unemployment, and inequality.
“While Africa has unique challenges, such as disparity in internet access, it’s steadily embracing AI,” said Zaouni, a panellist at the GITEX Africa AI Summit on the topic of Responsible Generative AI.
“Readiness varies across countries, and there’s a need to invest in infrastructure, education, and policy-making to fully harness AI. Ensuring equitable access to technology and bridging the digital divide are crucial steps to prepare for AI’s impact in Africa.”
Simon See, the Global Head of Nvidia AI Technology Centre in Singapore, and another speaker today, said with the right investments and policies, AI can help Africa to achieve its development goals and improve the lives of its people.
“In Africa, the demand for AI skills is expected to grow by 36 percent between 2020 and 2025,” said See, whose American-headquartered Nvidia makes specialist AI chips, with a market value that briefly surpassed US$1 trillion this week.
“This growth is driven by the continent’s young population, as well as its investments in start-ups and innovation. The growth of AI is creating new jobs in Africa, as companies look to hire experts to help them develop and implement AI-powered products and services.”
Elevating African talent to the forefront of a new global workforce
Mr. See said Africa is still in the early stages of AI adoption, but there’s a growing interest in the technology across the continent: “Several African countries have developed national AI strategies, and there’re a number of start-ups and research institutions working on AI-related projects,” he said.
Adel Alsharji, the COO of Presight, a UAE-based AI-powered big data analytics company, delivered the keynote address on the Societal Impact of Artificial Intelligence at the GITEX Africa AI Summit, one of ten conference tracks at the inaugural GITEX Africa, the continent’s largest tech and start-up exhibition taking place in Marrakech.
Alsharji said Africa is the second-fastest growing region globally in AI adoption: “Africa’s AI journey is gaining momentum, and this progress highlights the continent’s readiness to explore and harness the potential of AI for driving economic growth and addressing local challenges, ultimately benefiting the greater good of its people,” said Alsharji, adding that demand for AI-related jobs will increase two-fold over the next three years.
“A study by McKinsey Global Institute predicts that AI could add US$13 trillion to the global economy by 2030, while the number of AI-related jobs in Africa alone is expected to grow by 200 percent by 2025.”
Zaouini, whose AI in Africa is a non-profit organisation aimed at empowering African youth for an inclusive AI future, concluded that in Africa, AI should be seen as a tool to leapfrog traditional stages of development while elevating African talent to the forefront of a new global workforce.
“The African societal impact of AI is immense, as it revolutionises the way we work and live,” concluded Zaouini. “After the internet, the second revolution was probably the social dilemma, but AI is an even bigger revolution than all of them.”
AI-powered health-tech solution transforms African blood donations
GITEX Africa, which concludes on 2 June in the Red City of Marrakech, gathered thousands of attendees from 120 countries over its three-day run, all looking to network and develop meaningful business connections with the 900 exhibiting companies and start-ups across 10 halls and 45,000sqm of exhibition expanse.
AI and it’s far-reaching multisectoral impact were also evident on the exhibition floor, with many exhibitors showcasing how the AI boom is turbocharging waves of innovation across industries, from education and agriculture, to transport, retail, energy, or logistics.
BetaLife, an award-winning Nigerian start-up epitomised this movement in the healthcare sector. The cloud-based AI-powered platform connects hospitals and blood banks using advanced algorithms, ensuring the efficient flow of lifesaving blood products to patients in need.
Mubarak Ayanniyi, the 21-year old founder and CEO, said the greatest advantage of Betalife is its ability to analyse copious data via an AI-powered algorithm that accurately predicts when, where, and in what amounts blood donations are required, thereby directing resources and allocating donations when needed, ultimately saving countless lives.
“BetaLife has revolutionised the way that blood donations are managed in Africa”, said Ayanniyi. “Instead of relying on manual processes, hospitals and blood banks are now using BetaLife to predict when and where blood donations are needed most. This has led to more efficient distribution of blood products, reducing waste and ensuring that those who need it most receive the lifesaving treatment they require.”

UNOPS and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation sign 7.6 million Euros to support multi-sectoral interventions aimed at improving health conditions in Afar and SNNP Regions in Ethiopia.
The 3-year project will significantly contribute to enhancing access to education, health, water, and energy. The project is stated to improve the uptake and quality of healthcare service delivery for more than 62,000 beneficiaries and will also improve the quality and uptake of education in primary schools through improved nutrition and hygiene services benefiting around 2,000 children.
The multi-sectoral intervention project will be implemented in the woredas of Chifra and Hamer in the Afar and SNNP regions. The project will ensure that all infrastructures constructed and rehabilitated are gender sensitive and disability friendly to cater to people living with disabilities and the target population.
Additionally, the project will also provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia to enhance its resilience.
“The Italian Government is proud to contribute to this initiative, whose aim is to address some of the most vulnerable communities in the country, affected by the impact of the conflict and by climate shocks, through the rehabilitation of health-centers and schools, infrastructures for access to water and sanitation,focusing on environmental-friendly and sustainable interventions,” stated Amb. Agostino Palese Italian ambassador to Ethiopia, adding, “This initiative includes a specific component regarding technical assistance to the Ministry of Health in Ethiopia to strengthen resilience and capacity to face emergency situations.”
Worknesh Mekonnen, Multi-Country Office (Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Djibouti) Director and Representative to the AU on her part said, “We are delighted to collaborate with the Italian government to enhance basic social services in the woredas of Chifra and Hamer in the Afar and SNNP regions. For millions of Ethiopians, inadequate access to essential services has a severe impact on their quality of life, which leads to inequality, exclusion, and poverty. Our goal is to support people in leading better lives and for the nation in achieving lasting peace and development.”

Ethio Telecom inks a partnership agreement with Addis Ababa University, the country’s oldest and historic university, to provide connectivity and digital services.
The agreement includes connecting 18 campuses with high-speed internet service, building smart rooms, and providing various digital services. The agreement aims to facilitate exchange of experience, research, and innovation activities.
In addition, two campuses of Addis Ababa University will start using Telebirr’s digital payment for registration, examination, application, document authentication, tuition fees, official transcripts, student copies, alumni, and similar fees. The partnership is said to modernize service delivery, provide more efficient services, and reduce administrative costs.
Ethio Telecom previously collaborated with Addis Ababa University to form a joint curriculum for telecommunication network engineering and telecommunication information system. To this end, it is stated that in 2023, 53 students are currently being taught in this fields.
The company also indicated that it is providing on- the- job training for communication engineering and computer engineering students, providing practical training as well as pocket money. The 5,500 students that the company is providing 400 birr monthly pocket money, is spread across universities in the country, primarily for those who need financial support to focus on their studies, including 150 Addis Ababa University students.