By Eyasu Zekarias

A new directive is in the pipeline to bring all public enterprises under one legal framework.

The move is said to come after a push from the World Bank and the African Development Bank who provide credit services in Ethiopia, in addition to all development organizations having the same legal framework.

Gebyaw Yetayew, government’s procurement and property authority executive director of reform and capacity building, explained to Capital that the new guidelines are yet to be approved and are under debate, “All government development institutions are required to have three types of guidelines.”

“Other institutions involved in the service and financial sector, including Ethio-telecom have complained about the directive, but an agreement has been reached and now the final decision is in wait to implement the new decree,” Gebyaw explained.

The Government Procurement and Property Authority, which has the authority to build capacity and supervise the implementation of procurement and property management in the federal government, announced that the new legal framework has been discussed and sent to the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, the Government Procurement and Assets Authority has informed Capital that in 2023/24, all purchases will be made entirely electronically.

The official stated that 169 federal institutions entered the electronic system in 2022/23, and as Gebyaw cites, more than 56 billion birr has been purchased.

As data highlights, 63 percent of government purchases are made through digital services, with a new system that has a legal framework.

As the official told Capital, “The purchasing system will be implemented in all institutions within one month. He announced that more than eleven thousand applicants have benefited and that up to thirty thousand purchasing systems will be included in the system.”

Program targets to equip both Ethiopians, other Africans with asset industry skills

By our staff reporter

The National Aviation College, which was previously certified as an authorized training organization (ATO) by the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA), receives the nod to incorporate the aircraft maintenance training program.

In addition to teaching students in other professional fields, the college, which is a sister company to the National Airways, both of whom are part of the parent company, National Investment Group, have been involved  in a higher education training program for ten years.

Over the years, these programs have been enabling the institute to provide skilled labour for the expanding aviation and tourism sector both locally and internationally.

The National Aviation College recently announced that it has received approval from ECAA to teach students as aircraft maintenance technicians. This means that the college is the first private higher education institution to offer this kind of training outside of the giant Ethiopian Airlines Group.

Gezahegn Birru, Deputy CEO of the National Investment Group, claims that the college had already received ECAA’s recognition as an ATO.

The Deputy CEO informed Capital, “Through ATO we have been approved by the regulatory body to train students on flight operation, airline gaming crew, IDP, crew resource management, and dangerous good resolution.”

“The authority also accredited the college to train students on aircraft maintenance technology that will adhere to the International Civil Aviation Organization standard towards the end of the previous budget year,” he continued.

Students are now being registered by the college to begin their training this academic year.

“There is a huge gap in the aviation sector, and countries are looking for such kind of training facilities. As a result, our target is not only Ethiopian students but also other students from African countries,” he expounded.

Since the college has agreements with other aviation intuitions around the nation, it will use its own facilities, such as workshops and others, including those owned by the government, to deliver the instruction. Nine hundred and forty three National Aviation College students graduated on Saturday in an occasion held on October 28, in a variety of areas and at different levels.

The process of upgrading to a university level was revealed during the graduation ceremony, with the statement, “To attain the goal, we are expanding educational fields including health education like nursing and pharmacy.”

The institution now offers master’s-level instruction in a variety of subjects, including as corporate leadership, strategic management, international trade and economics, logistics and supply chain management, aviation management, and hospitality management.

While the college’s TVET effort teaches interested students in various aviation, hotel, and tourist disciplines, its bachelor’s degree program trains students in aviation, hotel management, marketing management, accounting, and finance.

The college, which has globally acclaimed training programs, is acknowledged by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and International Commercial Management. The college is said to benefit significantly from the current addition of its ability to develop competent professionals in the field of aviation technology. With its passenger and freight transport services, its sister firm, National Airways is likewise one of Ethiopia’s top-performing private aviation service providers.

By our staff reporter

In Ethiopia, MSF teams have been working since July to respond to cholera outbreaks across the country. Collaborating closely with the respective Regional Health Bureaus, they have treated nearly 1,000 individuals affected by cholera in the regions of Amhara, Afar, and Somali.

In Amhara, MSF offered vital support to the Health Bureau during a cholera outbreak in West Gondar that began in mid-July. Subsequently, on August 24, another outbreak was confirmed in Kumar Refugee Camp (KRC). The conflict in Sudan triggered a significant influx of refugees into West Gondar, with approximately 10,000 people finding shelter in KRC under dire conditions.

Through five intensive weeks of intervention, MSF treated a total of 470 cholera patients, successfully reducing the number of cases to zero within three weeks. To further prevent the spread of the disease, MSF administered oral cholera vaccines to all refugees in KRC, as well as neighboring host communities supported by the Ministry of Health. Additionally, emergency latrines were constructed in the camp to improve sanitation access, and medical supplies were donated to the Zonal Health Bureau. The remarkable success of this intervention owes much to the dedication and hard work of the refugee community, who served as health promoters and actively supported water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) activities day and night.

In Afar, the cholera outbreak was aggravated by insufficient potable water supply, inadequate sanitation facilities, and poor living conditions, impacting seven woredas in the region by mid-September. MSF stepped in to assist Dubti General Hospital by establishing a Cholera Treatment Center, facilitating safe patient and staff management. MSF’s support encompassed case management, infection prevention and control measures, water and sanitation infrastructure improvements, and health promotion activities. Between September 12 and October 27, MSF successfully treated 431 people with cholera. The Cholera Treatment Center was handed over to the Regional Health Bureau at the end of October, ensuring the continuity of care.

Currently, MSF is actively responding to a cholera outbreak in Jijjiga, Somali region, which began in mid-September. MSF teams are collaborating with the Regional Health Bureau and the World Health Organization (WHO) to build capacity, provide essential donations, establish a Cholera Treatment Center, and strengthen surveillance efforts.

Through their unwavering dedication, MSF teams in Ethiopia are making a significant impact in combating cholera outbreaks, saving lives, and bolstering healthcare infrastructure.

By Eyasu Zekarias

Hora Tech, a newly launched software development company, announces it has kick started operations as a technology contractor with already one million USD injected into its projects. 

Kedamawi Mulalem, Chief Technology Expert at Hora Tech, in an exclusive revealed to Capital, stating, “This independent technology center is the first software development company that aims to change the technology system by updating the procedures of institutions.”

Hora Tech, a part of Hora Trading Group, is a technology company known for its; coffee export, automotive assembly, real estate and fertilizer bag manufacturing.

Hora Trading Group, which has been engaged in various fields for the past 20 years, has announced that it will invest up to 10 million dollars in the next five years for its newly introduced software development company.

It is believed that the new technology will generate 5 to 10 million dollars in foreign currency by exporting software works and services to foreign countries.

The trading group celebrated the coming to life of the software firm on October 30, 2023, through a graduation and software promotion program.