ECA commends Ethiopia’s strides in digitizing logistics sector
“Digitalization of logistics will be critical to match the demand and supply of transport services, thereby reducing the time and cost of delivering goods,” said Robert Lisinge, Chief of the Energy, Infrastructure and Services Section at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
He was speaking on 15 June 2021 during a meeting with representatives of Ethiopia’s ministry of transport and other stakeholders to review and validate a study on the gaps that exist in the digitization of Ethiopia’s logistics sector.
The study, titled “Gap Assessment of Logistics Digitalization in Ethiopia,” was supported by ECA through technical assistance and advisory services to the Ministry of Transport of Ethiopia.
Ethiopia’s State Minister for Transport, Yeshualashet Jemere, who presided over the meeting, expressed appreciation for ECA’s support, stating “ECA has stood steadfastly beside Ethiopia in the country’s drive to modernize its transport and logistics sector. ECA’s commissioning of the study to assess the gap in the digitalization of logistics in Ethiopia was eloquent testimony in that regard”
Stop TB Partnership, Bamboo Capital Partners to re-imagine TB care
The Stop TB Partnership and Bamboo Capital Partners, an impact investing platform, signed a partnership agreement to support small- and medium-enterprises and start-ups, particularly from TB affected countries, developing impactful health technologies for TB, COVID-19, and TB co-morbidities.
The HEAL fund, a US$ 75 million blended finance investment vehicle, will leverage US$ 15 million in catalytic funding to incentivize and unlock US$ 60 million of private institutional investment capital. This fund will focus on providing early-stage financing for innovations that will transform health systems by catalyzing community- and home-based care for all people, including the most marginalized communities.
As part of this partnership, in addition to providing capital to innovators to further commercialize their solutions and unlike other impact investment funds, the Stop TB Partnership’s Accelerator for Impact (a4i) platform, with support from the Country & Community Support for Impact team and TB REACH initiative, will provide fit-for-purpose product launch/technical support for critical downstream activities to optimize and accelerate the roll-out of these impactful health technologies.
