Map| Obama budgets more for Kenya, Ethiopia – less for the Sudans
Last week, the Obama administration released its international affairs budget request for fiscal 2014. Amid fiscal constraints in Washington, the budget request’s topline figure of $52 billion would maintain U.S. international affairs spending at roughly the same levels as in fiscal 2013 after sequestration. The administration’s proposed 2014 international affairs budget, which also calls for … Read more
Review | "The Golden Fleece" – A Book on aid instrumentalization
Following the 9/11 attacks and the launch of the Global War on Terror, many humanitarian policy wonks spoke of a new era of heightened aid instrumentalization – that is the use of humanitarian action or rhetoric as a tool to pursue political, security, development, economic, or other non-humanitarian goals, which would muddy humanitarian principles and … Read more
UN to open a new refufgee camp in Ethiopia
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced it is to open another new camp in Ethiopia to deal with Somalis still fleeing from conflict and insecurity. A spokesperson for the UNHCR in Geneva, Andrej Mahecic, said that with people still arriving at Dollo Ado, “the Ethiopian Government has authorized the opening of … Read more
Below average rain in Somalia, but famine unlikely
The UN’s Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) in Somalia has said that Somalia’s most recent main rainy season is going to be below average. The FSNAU said Somalia wasn’t likely to have a “very great, promising harvest in the coming season because of rainfall performance". The long rains, which began in April, started … Read more
Ethiopia: Poor rains prompt calls for more food assistance
Aid agencies are calling for more food assistance for areas in southern and northeastern Ethiopia where erratic rains have adversely affected the mid-February to May `Belg’ crop. “We have a very significant shortage of food in much of [the] `Belg’ season dependent areas of the country particularly in SNNPR, [Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's Region]” … Read more
May 2012| Food Security update for Kenya, Somalia,
The US-funded FEWS Net (Famine Early Warning Systems Network) released Food Security updates for Kenya and Somalia. Here are the summary of the updates FEWS Net e-mailed. Kenya Food Security Update, May 2012 HEADLINE: Poor long rains in parts of pastoral areas. Food Security Summary: With the exceptions of pockets in the northern and northeastern … Read more
Ethiopia’s friend Bob Geldof urges tolerance, praises progress
Ethiopia’s friend Sir Bob Geldof praised recent economic and social progress, yet advised more political inclusiveness last week. The Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency (ERTA) reported last Monday that: The renowned [Irish] singer, Sir Bob Geldof has visited Ethiopia at different occasions. The artist contributed his share in mobilizing the international community to respond to … Read more
UN: Ethiopia’s success a model for the Horn, the Sahel regions
A UN official said on Monday that: ‘multi-year investments in safety nets and significant advances in health and nutrition have saved countless lives and protected millions from the famine experienced elsewhere in the Horn of Africa,…..the successful policies pursued by the Ethiopian Government provide an invaluable experience to share, not just elsewhere in the Horn … Read more
Canada to reduce bilateral aid to Ethiopia [Interview]
The Canadian government to reduce its bilateral assistance to Ethiopia, Benin, Niger, Cambodia, China, Nepal, Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, according to the news on several Canadian news outlets. While the Canadian government plans to reduced its development assistance budget by USD 377 million, it is not clear how big the cut would be on the … Read more
‘Smallholder farmers are a sleeping giant in Africa’ | Grow Africa Investment Forum
Empowering African farmers will be central to success, according to participants of the Grow Africa Investment Forum. The meeting was held today in Addis Ababa attended by more than 270 leaders as well as leaders of African and global business, international and donor agencies and farmer organizations. Head of Malawi’s National Smallholder Farmers’ Association said … Read more
