The president of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo spent three days in Addis Ababa where he signed a cooperation agreement with Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn.
The two countries agreed to work together to recruit workers, develop infrastructure and increase defense. The president, who came with a business delegation, said his country will strengthen its ties to do a better job than before.
Hailemariam said “we have agreed to work very closely on an international agenda. Now both of us are members of the UN Security Council and we will take the African agenda together for the issues we have to the United Nation Security Council. As the president is the most pan-African leader I think this agenda will be worked out together,” he said.
The President also visited the Addis Ababa City Administration and held talks with officials of the Administration.
The bilateral ties between the two countries started in the 1970’s. Equatorial Guinea is also one of Africa’s largest oil exporters.
Que Bueno!
No Funds for Local Cooperation in 2018 due to budget constraints
The Finnish Embassy announced on Monday that there will be no new Funds for Local Cooperation (FLC) in 2018. The announcement came during the annual experience sharing workshop for local NGOs that have received a grant from the Embassy’s FLC and local NGOs funded by Finnish NGOs.
“With regret, I have to inform you that there are no new funds for the FLC for 2018 due to budget constraints, but we hope to have some more resources next year. The situation is the same in all Finnish Embassies,” stated Finnish Ambassador to Ethiopia Helena Airaksinen.
The FLC is a grant awarded by the Embassy of Finland to local NGOs whose activities are in line with Finland’s development cooperation agenda. Last year the agenda centered around empowering women and people with disabilities, promoting good governance and civil society, a green economy and private sector promotion. The grant awardees work in all the regions of the country.
“Rights of women and girls are one of the main objectives of our cooperation in Ethiopia. Women and girls in Ethiopia have been deprived of access to social services, resources and political power. In rural areas women have little access and control of the resources and the number of educated women is also low. The women’s and girls’ dependence on the male head of the household has often lead to domestic violence and abuse of women’s and girl’s rights,” the ambassador said speaking about some of the Embassy’s areas of focus.
The Ethio-Finnish development cooperation is 50 years old from the perspective of the civil society organizations. The development cooperation of Finland in Ethiopia started in 1967. However, there has been cooperation even before that; the Finnish Red Cross has been in Ethiopia since the 1930s. We assume that it is the oldest Finnish civil society organization in Ethiopia.
Tennis NGO hopes new blood will bring more support
Akiko Seyoum, General Manger of Orchid Business Group will be the new leader of a financially strapped NGO, TDKET, attempting to promote tennis in Ethiopia.
Akiko replaces Haile Gebreselassie, who chaired the organization for 16 years. She says she will work hard to attract local investors and get people excited about tennis.
Dr. Mthaias Zimmermann Förderverein, a German fundraiser who has brought in half a million dollars to the center said that more money is needed.
“In the center there are many poor children who don’t have enough food to eat, or money to get a scholarship in order for them to get good training at the tennis academy and I hope local investors will understand this point and help the kids.’’
TDKET is a non-governmental organization in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The project uses Tennis as an instrument for showing children education and new perspectives for their lives.
Along with education, there are other aspects to the project. The different generations involved in this project show the children social aspects of our society and teaches them what it means to take responsibility.
Through donations it is possible, to provide the kids with breakfast and lunch, which is really important for their performances on court and at school. Currently there are 66 children participating in the project.
History in the making: Dicha Vs Zimamoto Wednesday
After an amazing away draw in its first ever international debut match, Ethiopian Knock-out holders Wolayta Dicha entertains its Zanzibar counterpart Zimamoto for a second leg home showdown at Hawassa International Stadium today. Saint George has safely embarked to the final preliminary round without kicking the ball because Juba based Al-Salam-Wau forfeited. Coming from a goal down Dicha’s adventures under new boss Zenebe Asfaw 
continued after a 1-1 away draw with Zimamoto. Zenebe’s cautious 4-5-1 formation paid back big when the lone striker Togolese Jaco Arafat cancelled out the hosts’ 31st minute lead through Hakim Kamis header. Though the hosts were also fresh to the continental fixtures, they made a strong bid to a win but for the heroic defense of the back four saved the day for the visitors. Back home with an important away goal, Dicha in front of home supporters in Hawassa has every opportunity for a famous win and a place in the second preliminary round. “We have the upper hand but another ninety minutes remaining to wrap up things therefore we are focused on that match” remarked one of the senior players among Dicha squad.
Ethiopian flag bearer in the Champions League Saint George quietly got through the first round after a forfeit victory over Al-Salam of South Sudan. Past the laborious wait for officials from the club as well from EFF because of the visitors’ failure to respond via email, “The Horse Riders” slipped through the first round only to face the aggregate winner of the second leg match between visitors from Madagascar CNAPS Sports and hosts KCCA of Uganda. CNAPS has to defend the 2-1 first leg home victory.
