In recent years, the international community has increasingly turned its attention to China’s systematic approach to national governance, most notably exemplified by the scientific formulation and rigorous implementation of its Five-Year Plans. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) emphasized the importance of the 15th Five-Year Plan and long-term strategic planning. These successive plans represent one of the CPC’s most significant governance achievements, showcasing socialism with Chinese characteristics as a model endowed with remarkable political advantage.

At the heart of China’s strategy is a commitment to long-termism. Unlike many nations where governance shifts with short election cycles, China breaks down ambitious century-long goals into manageable five-year segments. This phased approach ensures steady progress marked by concrete, measurable milestones. Starting with its First Five-Year Plan, China has relentlessly pursued the transformation into a modern socialist country. Nobel Laureate in Economics Robert Engle once remarked that while China is planning for generations ahead, many countries, such as the United States, tend to plan only until the next election. This contrast highlights China’s unique policy consistency—a defining pillar of its governance model.

The effectiveness of this long-term planning is evident. By the Seventh Five-Year Plan, China had succeeded in meeting the basic living needs of its populace. The Ninth Plan saw the nation reach a moderately prosperous level, and during the Eleventh Plan, China entered the ranks of middle-income countries, quickly rising to become the world’s second-largest economy and the largest manufacturing powerhouse. Today, the Fourteenth Five-Year Plan period has elevated China’s economic, scientific, and national strength to unprecedented levels. The nation’s modernization journey is continually advancing, and its progress is not only impressive but stable.

The advantages of the Five-Year Plan extend far beyond planning. One critical strength lies in its ability to pool the nation’s resources to accomplish major national projects and transformative initiatives. For example, during the Thirteenth Five-Year Plan, China achieved targeted poverty alleviation by lifting over 10 million people out of poverty each year—meeting the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goal a decade ahead of schedule. This reflects the Plan’s unparalleled capacity for “overall coordination,” enabling success in infrastructure, scientific research, green development, and social progress.

Moreover, China’s Five-Year Plan enjoys a rare synergy between government efficiency and market dynamics. While appearing to be a top-down state-driven effort, it also embraces a market-friendly framework that improves government’s ability to correct market failures and stimulate innovation. Futurist John Naisbitt aptly described it as “framing the forest and letting the trees grow,” where the government sets the broad structure and the market drives detailed development. This framework creates a healthy balance that augments efficient resource allocation without stifling enterprise.

Equally important is the Plan’s consistent focus on improving citizens’ quality of life. “The people’s aspiration for a better life” remains at the center of its objectives. The Fourteenth Plan, for example, set people’s wellbeing as a foremost criterion for success, dedicating seven of twenty major indicators to livelihood improvements. Concrete measures included plans to build 100,000 community canteens for the elderly, expand inclusive childcare by 600,000 beds, and develop national and regional medical centers. Notably, more than 60% of central budgetary investments were allocated to public welfare, underscoring a model where economic gains are translated directly into shared social prosperity.

Implementation stands as the linchpin of the Five-Year Plan’s success. Strong execution mechanisms clarify roles, enhance supervision, and promote accountability. Even amid complex challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and volatile global conditions, China has registered progress exceeding expectations across several strategic tasks and projects under the Fourteenth Plan. These tangible results testify to the ability of rigorous governance to deliver on ambitious agendas.

In a time when the global economic landscape remains uncertain, China’s stable growth offers both certainty and opportunity to the wider international community. Its governance model based on long-termism, coordinated resource mobilization, market-government synergy, and an unwavering commitment to public welfare stands as a beacon. Not only does it fuel China’s own modernization, but it also provides lessons and pathways for other countries navigating their development journeys.

Ultimately, China’s Five-Year Plans encapsulate a “secret code” to success: a vision decomposed into achievable steps, implemented with discipline, and always anchored in the wellbeing of the people. This enduring commitment to long-term strategy is perhaps China’s greatest strength in leading its nation forward, making the Five-Year Plan a cornerstone of global development conversation and a powerful testament to what visionary governance can achieve.

From initially a quick bite, Kenya’s Gen- Z are evolving street food culture into an expression, creativity and community as they begin to experiment nostalgic flavours and fusing global trends with local traditions to create a vibrant, new food identity.

From a Saturday mid-morning to late evening, smoke curled steadily above rows of colourful stalls as vendors grilled, fried and stirred up an endless parade of flavours. Classic mshikaki (skewers) made from beef, chicken and gizzards, mutura (Kenyan sausage), nyama choma (roasted meat) and coastal staples shared space with bold new fusion dishes and juices, drawing clusters of young people who milled around the tents and queued at stands selling smochas (smokie wrapped in chapati), boiled eggs, gourmet samosas, vegan street bowls and other re-imagined traditional favourites.

The Nairobi Street Food Festival 2025 was no ordinary edition. Now in its eighth year, a new wave of culture and curiosity energised the occasion. Kenya’s Gen-Z was having another moment. They arrived in their thousands, smartphones in hand, snapping every discovery as they sampled everything from local classics to creative global-infused plates, all while dancing to the urban playlists curated for them. They drove the mood and the menus, turning what is fast becoming one of the city’s biggest food fair into a vibrant showcase of how young people are reshaping the country’s street food culture.

Eunice  Nduta, a food content creator, known to her social media followers as hey-Nduta, and who has been present in the past four editions of the festival,  noted the young population attending the event has been surging even as all age groups begin to embrace the culture.

“Oh my god, this one is on another level. There’s cake, nyama choma (roasted meat), mahindi choma (roasted maize), salmon, everything you’d want in one place. And the music? It’s mad,” she told bird in an interview, her eyes darting across the buzzing grounds.

The festival, Nduta said is becoming a multigenerational space, largely driven by the Gen-Z’s.

“I saw videos of the 2023 one, It was full of Millennials. This one has more Gen Z. There’s a mixture. I’ve even seen babies playing on a trampoline. Everyone is involved. People are really embracing the food culture,” she affirmed.

The festival was set across the expansive Jamhuri Showground arena, the home of Kenya’s  International Trade Fair. Launched in 2023 and already held four times this year, the Nairobi Street Food Festival has quickly grown into one of the city’s signature culinary and cultural showcases, blending food, music and immersive experiences such as painting sessions, fine art displays and games like darts and foosball.

Sustainability also took centre stage, with organisers introducing strategically placed litter bins and other measures to reduce single-use plastics and promote eco-friendly practices.

Faith Nyarangi, who was attending the event for her first time, was drawn by  authenticity of the event, saying it has reinvent how street food is perceived.

“We are tired of the ambience of big hotels. We adore and embrace street foods, meat, chicken, everything. Street food in and out,” she said, chuckling.

According to Nyarangi, the festival offers a platform for  young people to experience both nostalgia and novelty.

“I’ve actually eaten something I’ve never eaten. Salmon, and the experience was amazing,” she said.

Other street foods on display included Indomie cooked with potatoes, a quick, flavour-packed favourite among young generation that reflects shifting diets in Kenya’s fast-paced cities, where affordable, ready-to-eat meals are pushing street vendors to the centre of urban food life.

Kookoo Baskets restaurant offered visitors a vibrant fusion of local chicken elevated with sauces inspired by Jamaican, Italian and Indian flavours, delivering a global culinary appeal while staying true to coastal Kenyan roots.

Traditional brews also found their place among the younger people as new innovative alcoholic drink fusions begin to emerge and gain popularity.

One of the standout offerings was muratina, the famed Agikuyu fermented drink traditionally served at weddings, births and initiation ceremonies. Made from a mix of water, honey, sugarcane syrup and the fruit of the sausage tree, scientifically called, Kigelia africana, muratina drew those curious and keen to reconnect with cultural flavours.

“Young people should try more of our traditional drinks. Muratina doesn’t disrupt your appetite, it doesn’t kill your libido and the premium one is more potent,” explained, the Muratina Vendor, Githii Karanja as he displayed his regular and premium NT Kirume variants, each with distinct colours.

It was his first time showcasing at the festival, and he said he was already making sales and new connections. Another traditional-style brew, ratata, a fermented pineapple drink with an alcohol content of 12% also made an appearance, its look drawing comparisons to muratina.

But stealing the spotlight was Infusion Jaba, a khat-infused juice blended with real ginger, berry, hibiscus, pineapple and other natural flavours. The drink has become a hit with younger consumers seeking organic, experimental refreshments.

Infusion Jaba’s vendor, Becky Githae who has participated in every edition of the festival, said the Gen Z crowd values freshness, creativity and ‘good vibes.’

“Jaba juice has no preservatives at all. We use actual fruit. If it’s berry, it’s berry, pineapple is pineapple. And people keep coming back because it’s real, it’s organic,” she said.

Each edition of the festival, she said brought her new customers and stronger feedback for the innovative brand as more people get immersed into the culture.

“We’ve gotten clients, good feedback, positive feedback. The street food culture has been growing from day one till now  and you can see the population has grown,” said Githae.

Ethiopia stands on the threshold of a major industrial transformation, entering a decisive phase in which energy will determine both the pace and resilience of progress. The government’s vision is taking shape through ambitious projects across the country, including the construction of over 20 industrial parks and the development of a 4,744-kilometre electric-powered national railway. These initiatives symbolise Ethiopia’s determination to achieve sustainable industrialisation, but they all hinge on one decisive factor — energy. Without a reliable and sustainable electricity supply, factories and manufacturing facilities cannot operate at full capacity, slowing the momentum of national development.

Despite Ethiopia’s impressive strides, energy access remains limited. According to the Ethiopian Investment Commission, about 64 million citizens still live without access to electricity. Approximately 13 million households continue to rely on traditional energy sources — such as charcoal, fuelwood, dung cakes, and agricultural residues — which are both environmentally harmful and hazardous to human health.

Meanwhile, demand for electricity is rising rapidly — by 30–35% each year, while industrial demand, according to long-term forecasts, is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 11.6% until 2030. Currently, most of Ethiopia’s electricity comes from hydropower, which dominates national generation. However, frequent droughts and seasonal fluctuations in water levels often lead to shortages and blackouts. This instability leaves industrial operations vulnerable, highlighting the urgent need for a more resilient energy system.

To address this challenge, Ethiopia is expanding investments in renewable and alternative energy sources. The government’s 10-year Development Plan emphasises the diversification of power generation through solar, wind, and geothermal projects, in partnership with private investors. The aim is to increase installed generation capacity from 4,500 megawatts to around 19,900 megawatts by 2030. This diversified energy portfolio will not only enhance energy security but also contribute to climate resilience. Yet, for continuous, round-the-clock electricity needed by large-scale industrial operations, dependable baseload generation remains essential — and this is where nuclear energy could play a pivotal role in Ethiopia’s future energy mix.

Modern nuclear power technologies enable reliable, low-carbon electricity generation from a relatively small volume of fuel. Unlike hydropower or solar, nuclear generation is unaffected by weather conditions, making it an ideal complement to other energy sources. For Ethiopia, this reliability could prove crucial in powering industrial parks, metallurgical and chemical plants, and the expanding national railway network. By integrating nuclear energy into its energy mix, Ethiopia could not only meet future energy demand but also strengthen its technological base, positioning itself as a regional leader in sustainable industrial growth.

Ethiopia has already taken significant steps towards international cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy, working closely with Russia and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In 2025, Rosatom and the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation signed an Action Plan to advance the country’s first nuclear power plant project. This partnership encompasses developing a detailed roadmap, conducting a feasibility study, and implementing training programmes for Ethiopian specialists. Besides, Ethiopia’s commitment to building a national nuclear sector is underscored by the decision of the Council of Ministers to establish the Ethiopian Nuclear Energy Commission (ENEC), mandated to coordinate the development of peaceful nuclear technologies and ensure compliance with international nuclear safety standards.

The IAEA also supports Ethiopia’s efforts to explore nuclear power within its national energy diversification strategy. Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has reaffirmed the Agency’s readiness to provide guidance on technical, regulatory, and safety frameworks in line with international standards. Moreover, through the IAEA’s Rays of Hope programme, Addis Ababa’s Black Lion Hospital will receive a linear accelerator to enhance cancer treatment, strengthening the nation’s healthcare capacity.

Through a combination of a diversified energy mix, innovative technologies, and strong international partnerships, Ethiopia could overcome its energy challenges and accelerate industrial transformation. A reliable mix of hydropower, solar, and future nuclear baseload generation will drive industrial parks, expand transport infrastructure, and sustain technological development.

Beyond economic considerations, reliable electricity has the power to transform education, healthcare, and digital connectivity, fostering inclusive growth across all regions. Energy, therefore, is more than an infrastructure priority; it is the engine of Ethiopia’s long-term prosperity, resilience, and human development. By powering both industries and communities, Ethiopia illuminates the path to a brighter and more sustainable future.

The morning smoke over Addis Ababa is not made of the cool breath of the Entoto hills. Rather it is mixed with the exhaust of a city in motion. A particular, frantic motion. From about 6:00 AM, the symphony begins not with birdsong, but with the hum and grumble of engines, as countless parents thread their cars through narrow lanes, with their precious cargo – schoolchildren – in the back, to then merge into the great river of traffic flowing towards offices. Fast forward to 5 PM, and the ritual reverses, a city-wide, twice-daily migration that is as much about love as it is about logistics. It is a scene every Addis resident knows in their bones, a draining dance that consumes time, patience, and as I have been thinking lately, an alarming amount of our nation’s hard-earned foreign currency, siphoned away liter by liter as imported fuel.

So, when I read about the government’s renewed focus on controlling emissions from vehicles, it struck a chord far deeper than just environmental concern. We often frame these conversations around carbon, which is vitally important, yes. But in the Ethiopian context, this is perhaps one of the most direct economic policies one could imagine. Think of it: every idling minute in that school-run traffic, every slow crawl from Ayat to Megenagna to Bole or from Megenagna to Sar bet, we are literally burning dollars. We are burning the currency we scramble to earn from coffee, from textiles, from tourism, and sending it up into the air as particulate matter. An emission control policy, therefore, is not just a green agenda; it is a fiscal safeguard. It is a strategy to make every drop of fuel we pay for with our national sweat work harder for us, to squeeze utility out of it rather than waste it in unavoidable congestion.

This is where the idea transcends from simply making our current cars run cleaner, which is a fantastic start, and pushes us towards a more fundamental rethink. The daily school run is the perfect case study. It represents a massive, dispersed, and incredibly inefficient use of resources. Thousands of private vehicles, each carrying one or two children, all converging on similar locations at the exact same time, driven by parents who then must rush to their workplaces, often already fatigued by the journey. The collective fuel burn is staggering. The toll on productivity, immeasurable. The stress, incalculable.

Now, imagine a different stream flowing through the city’s veins in those morning hours. A stream of quiet, electric school buses, painted in bright, cheerful colors. Imagine neighborhood pick-up points where children gather, a moment of community chatter before boarding. These buses, running on optimized routes, would take dozens of private cars off the road for each journey. The impact would be multiplicative: less congestion for those who still need to drive, meaning even their fuel consumption drops. A drastic cut in the morning and evening emission peaks. And parents gifted back a precious hour or more each day – time to perhaps start work earlier and more calmly, time to read, to prepare, to simply breathe. That repatriated time is an economic boost, a subtle but real enhancement of human capital. This is the trifecta: saving time for parents, saving fuel for the nation, and saving breath for our children’s lungs.

The beautiful synergy here is that an emission control policy for conventional vehicles naturally paves the way for this electric future. It signals a societal shift. It makes the hum of an electric motor not a strange sound, but the new normal. It builds the “charging ecosystem” we hear about – not just as fancy infrastructure, but as a necessary public utility, like water or electricity itself (which, with our great hydropower potential, is the final, glorious piece of this puzzle). Why burn imported fuel when we can roll on electrons generated from our own rivers and winds? It transforms our energy sovereignty from a grid concept to a transportation reality.

This vision gains monumental relevance with the recent news that Ethiopia will host the COP 32 global climate summit in Addis Ababa in 2027. Suddenly, the conversation shifts from local policy to global leadership. Implementing a mandate for organized, electric school transport ahead of the summit would transition our city from a talking venue into a living case study. We could offer the world tangible proof of how climate action can be woven into urban fabric to save money, time, and health – turning our diplomatic achievement into a demonstration of transformative, homegrown solutions.

Of course, the sceptics will rightly talk of costs. Electric buses are expensive upfront. The charging infrastructure needs investment. The logistics are complex. But we must measure this against the staggering, silent, ongoing cost of the status quo. We must calculate the billions spent on fuel imports for avoidable journeys, the health costs of respiratory illnesses from pollution, the economic cost of lost productive hours. We must think like the wise householder who invests in a water tank to harvest the rain, instead of paying for every jerrycan carried from a distant source. The initial outlay is high, but the freedom and long-term savings are transformative.

However, for this vision of saved time, fuel, and breath to move from a hopeful “what if” to the daily reality of Addis Ababa, a catalytic push is needed. The market alone, left to its own devices, will not orchestrate this transformation at the speed or scale we require. This is where policy must step in to create a new framework. My recommendation is that the City Administration, in collaboration with the Federal Transport Authorities, should introduce a mandatory, phased requirement for all major schools – both private and public – to provide or facilitate dedicated, organized school bus transportation for their students.

The mandate itself is crucial, as it creates a unified playing field and eliminates the first-mover disadvantage. No single school wants to unilaterally add cost or complexity if parents might choose a competitor without such a requirement. But if all schools of a certain size, say those with over 500 students, must comply, it becomes a city-wide standard that benefits everyone. The “how” can be beautifully flexible, leveraging our existing ecosystem. Schools with the means could invest in their own small fleets of electric minibuses. Others could contract private transport operators, sparking a new green business sector specializing in safe, electric student transit. And most powerfully, the government could task its own affiliates, like Anbessa City Bus Service, with establishing a dedicated “Anbessa School Transit” wing. Imagine the trust and scale that could bring – using Anbessa’s deep knowledge of city routes and existing depot infrastructure to deploy buses painted in safe, bright livery, operated by drivers specially trained in child safety and courtesy.

This mandate would not be a punitive measure, but a foundational investment in the city’s circulatory system. It could be rolled out over a three-year period, starting with schools in the most congested corridors. The government could sweeten the transition with incentives: tax breaks for the importation of electric buses, subsidized overnight charging rates at municipal depots, or a creative public-private partnership model. The key is to make the choice economically sensible one for schools and operators alike.

Introducing electric school buses across Addis, powered by such a smart mandate, would not be just a transport project. It would be a powerful, visible symbol of a smarter, more self-reliant economy. It would turn our children’s daily commute into a lesson in sustainability and shared community, showing them a city that values their future enough to innovate collectively. It would untangle, just a little, the chaotic knot of our rush hours, giving us back the gift of time and cleaner air. And crucially, it would align perfectly with the government’s emission vision, ensuring that the hard currency we earn stays here, building our roads, our schools, our industries, instead of evaporating into the thinning air of the morning rush. It is a vision where the path to a cooler planet also leads to a warmer, more present community, and a more resilient economy. The road ahead is long, but sometimes, the journey to a better future begins by rethinking the simplest of our daily trips – the one to school and back. And that journey, for the health of our children, our city, and our national purse, is one we must begin to take together, with the gentle but firm nudge of a policy that knows a better way is possible. The savings are there for the taking – not just in birr, but in hours and in every deep, clean breath we will all be able to take.

Befikadu Eba is Founder and Managing Director of Erudite Africa Investments, a former Banker with strong interests in Economics, Private Sector Development, Public Finance and Financial Inclusion. He is reachable at befikadu.eba@eruditeafrica.com.