The United Nations is bringing together representatives from banks, funds and financial institutions that are working to mobilize US1.2 trillion dollars in humanitarian and economic relief to developing countries reeling under the impact of COVID-19 to help expedite the flow of these resources to countries in need.
The meeting, the Financing for Development Forum’s second extraordinary meeting to offer concrete approaches to boost financing for rapid response and a sustainable recovery is being held under the auspices of the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
“We cannot let those that are less able to deal with this crisis fall further behind. It is not only a moral obligation, but also in our best interest to help the most vulnerable countries emerge from the pandemic stronger.” said ECOSOC President Mona Juul, of Norway. “The risk of catastrophic economic failure is great. Funds, banks, and International Financial Institutions are opening up avenues for relief, so we want to put those with needs together with those who can help, and facilitate the way forward.”
The UN itself is working to mobilize $8.7 billion dollars through the Global Humanitarian Response Plan for COVID-19 ($6.7 billion) and the UN COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund ($2 billion), for which it will be soliciting from donor governments and other stakeholders. The World Health Organization’s $1.7 billion COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, which is currently 36 per cent funded with $624.5 million already raised, facilitates rapid action by WHO to support countries.
These critical appeals, if fulfilled, will enable the international community to fight the virus in the world’s poorest countries, and address the needs of populations that are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of both COVID-19 and climate change.
UN meeting to help developing economies stricken by COVID-19 to tap emergency relief resources
ITU commends Ethiopia’s digital economy strategy
The first ever fully remote meeting of Telecommunication Development Advisory Group (TDAG) opened virtually on June 2, 2020 under the theme ‘Let’s seize the momentum to ‘Build back better’ after COVID-19’ and ended on Friday 05 June 2020. The Advisory Group plays a key consultation role in defining the action to accelerate digital development.
Abraham Belay, Minister of Innovation and Technology during his remark at the meeting on June 4 said “what unites all is our commitment to make the world a better place by connecting the unconnected and fast tracking ICT development for all.” He commended the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) Director for successfully leading the important discussions on the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WDTC) reform during the CoVID-19 crisis. He also emphasized that this crisis has highlighted WDTC-21 must make a difference and be solution oriented.
The Minister also reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to the WTDC reform and the ongoing preparatory process. The Minister concluded his remarks by stating that his country supports the hosting of a youth summit in November just before WTDC, expressing his gratitude to the Director of BDT for setting up the WTDC-21 website and stating that he is looking forward to welcoming all participants to Addis Ababa next year and to host WTDC for the first time in Africa.
“The Great Reset”
“The Great Reset” will be the theme of a unique twin summit to be convened by the World Economic Forum in January 2021. The 51st World Economic Forum Annual Meeting will bring together global leaders from government, business and civil society, and stakeholders from around the world in a unique configuration that includes both in-person and virtual dialogues.
“We only have one planet and we know that climate change could be the next global disaster with even more dramatic consequences for humankind. We have to decarbonize the economy in the short window still remaining and bring our thinking and behaviour once more into harmony with nature,” said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum.
“In order to secure our future and to prosper, we need to evolve our economic model and put people and planet at the heart of global value creation. If there is one critical lesson to learn from this crisis, it is that we need to put nature at the heart of how we operate. We simply can’t waste more time,” the Prince of Wales said.
“The Great Reset is a welcome recognition that this human tragedy must be a wake-up call. We must build more equal, inclusive and sustainable economies and societies that are more resilient in the face of pandemics, climate change and the many other global changes we face,” said António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations, New York.
ETHIOPIA, TIME FOR “THE TALK”
“Leaving behind nights of terror and fear, I rise. Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear, I rise.” Poet Laureate Maya Angelou.
“The Talk,” in the USA, is when parents discuss ‘how babies are made’ and other pre-adult matters to prepare their children for body changes and overall youth development. For Black folks in America, “The Talk” prepares you for being pulled over by police; being stopped in a store suspected of shoplifting; and how to address the high school ‘resource officer’ insisting on a ‘random locker search’. The list is long. CNN commentator, Van Jones, refers to “The Talk” as ‘fairy dust we sprinkle over Black children leaving home everyday, praying these words will protect them’. As the mother of 5 Black sons, raised in America, I know it all too well. Now it’s time to have “The Talk” with Ethiopia, and Africa in general, to prepare those not in the know for our desire to come home or at least be seen by Africa.
We watched America – from Wyoming to Washington DC – swim in seas of protest in reaction to the police murder of George Floyd. Responses from Africa spanned a spectrum of sentiments. On one end, ‘destruction is not the answer, this is embarrassing…Blacks in America must build themselves up with education, self knowledge, finance and then gain respect…they don’t appreciate the many opportunities…’. On the other end, ‘African Americans are our children, their ancestors were taken from Africa to build America, for free, burn it down if that’s what it takes to stop the cold blooded killings on camera…’. In the middle is, ‘Wow! We never knew it was really that bad…we should pray for the protestors and white people that God will change hearts and bring peace…”.
“The Talk” was placed on the table when AU Deputy Chairperson, Ambassador Kwesi Quartey, posted on FB, “We may be black but we are people too.” A floodgate of responses from African leaders including Year of Return, Diaspora Reintegration Champion, President Nana Akufo Addo, emphatically stated, “It cannot be right that, in the 21st century, the United States, this great bastion of democracy, continues to grapple with the problem of systemic racism.” The President’s Office and Ghana Diaspora Coalition honored George Floyd at the Diaspora African Forum in Accra on June 5th. Head of Mission, Ambassador Erieka Bennett somberly stated, “George was our son… son of Africa, we’ll place his name on the Sankofa Wall amongst his ancestors and celebrate his short life which ended waking up the world to institutional racism…reminding Africans at home and abroad, we need to be connected.”
Ethiopia, Africa, let’s talk about the artists who so many of us love and appreciate. Bob Marley sang Burning and Looting in 1973, what did you think he was singing about? I remind you.
This morning I woke up in a curfew
O God, I was a prisoner too, yeah!
Could not recognize the faces standing over me
They were all dressed in uniforms of brutality, eh!
How many rivers do we have to cross
Before we can talk to the boss? Eh!
All that we got, it seems we have lost
We must have really paid the cost
Burnin’ and a-lootin’ tonight
Burnin’ all pollution tonight
Burnin’ all illusion tonight.
Remember painter Jean Michel Basquiat’s The Death of Michael Stewart, aka Defacement, created in 1983, a commentary on the 25 year old, black artist Michael Stewart, murdered by New York City Transit Police for allegedly tagging a wall in an East Village subway station? Keep in mind Banksy does the same thing today and sells for millions…jussayin’. Basquiat’s work not only explored black identity but expressed raged against police brutality and state authorities. Then we have Poet Laureate Maya Angelou. Her 1978 “Still I Rise” was recently circulating on FB translated to Amharic. An excerpt reads:
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
Finally, Ethiopia claims two artists who provoke us with images and words that exemplify “The Talk”. Ethiopian fine artist, Prince Merid Tafesse, created a version of “American Gothic” in 2015 inspired by African American photographer Gordon Park’s 1942 acclaimed “American Gothic”, portrait of black female worker, broom in hand with a US flag backdrop; inspired by Grant Wood’s 1930 “American Gothic,” the renowned work with midwestern wife and farmer with pitchfork in hand. Prince Merid’s piece questioned and confronted the tropes of the American dream and contradictions of said. Ironically, the USA Embassy in Addis Abeba is where Merid’s piece is displayed.
On the word sound is power side, 13 year Ethiopian resident, African born in America – I-Timothy -poet, historian, educator and more; has shaken up present day poets in the city, mentoring and providing platforms for a new generation of fresh free voices; contributing to the consciousness of young Ethiopians. A regular at Fendika, I close with his aspirational 2007 poem, “Buju At H.O.B.”
Dreadlock convention
Honorable mention
Walk like a champion
Perfect intention
Love and Unity
Gain the world’s attention
Rastaman Vibration
Brings the spirit injection
Dance Natty Dance
Gather the World together
Positive current
Charge the battery
Love Eternal
Is where we wanna be…
Infinity.
Dr. Desta Meghoo is a Jamaican born
Creative Consultant, Curator and cultural promoter based in Ethiopia since 2005. She also serves as Liaison to the AU for the Ghana based, Diaspora African Forum.
