
Ethiopia is intensifying efforts to secure climate finance and advance green development, coinciding with the launch of a new resilience investment program by the Climate Investment Funds CIF at their Global Knowledge Exchange in Addis Ababa, running from April 27 to 30, 2026. Ahmed Shide, minister of Finance, highlighted climate action as central to Ethiopia's development agenda and emphasized the need for increased financing, noting current levels are insufficient. Priority areas include climate-resilient agriculture, water security, renewable energy, sustainable land management, and resilient urban systems. The event also marked the launch of CIF's Accelerating Resilience Investments and Innovations for Sustainable Economies ARISE program, offering up to USD 40 million per country or USD 50 million for regional programs, with applications open until June 8, 2026. Tariye Gbadegesin, CEO of CIF, stated ARISE aims to mobilize public and private finance and integrate resilience into national development strategies. Since 2008, CIF has invested over one billion dollars in resilience programs across more than 30 countries. Alex Mubiru, director-general for East Africa at the African Development Bank Group, pointed out Africa's vulnerability and underfunding, noting over USD 1.1 billion in CIF-backed projects across 28 African countries, leveraging around USD 10 billion in co-financing. Ethiopia is also a top candidate for a USD 250 million CIF funding window. Dawit Alemu, projec
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Reporter Ethiopia.
Must ReadFrench President Emmanuel Macron will attend France's first summit with English-speaking African countries in Nairobi, Kenya, from May 11-12, 2026, under the theme "Africa Forward." French Ambassador Alex Lameke and Kenyan Ambassador Galma Boru outlined the agenda, which includes restitution, global governance, and reform of international institutions to enhance African representation. Lameke noted France's efforts in restitution, citing the establishment of historian committees in Rwanda, Senegal, and Cameroon, and past restitutions to Benin, Senegal, Madagascar, and Côte d'Ivoire. He also highlighted France's support for UN Security Council reform, advocating for two permanent seats and more elected members for African countries. Ambassador Boru described the summit as a milestone, emphasizing a shift towards innovation, investment, and implementation-driven cooperation. The summit will address global challenges such as climate change, technological disruption, food security, and economic reform, with priorities including energy transition, financial reform, digital innovation, sustainable agriculture, and stronger health systems.
Must ReadChina's economy expanded by 5 percent in the first quarter of 2026, reaching 33.42 trillion yuan $4.9 trillion. This growth, which was 0.5 percentage points higher than the previous quarter, was largely fueled by domestic demand, contributing over four-fifths of the GDP increase. Investment returned to positive growth, and inflation showed an upward trend, indicating a steady economic expansion. Retail sales, a key indicator of consumption, rose by 2.4 percent year-on-year. Fixed-asset investment increased by 1.7 percent, reversing a previous decline, with strengthened infrastructure spending and accelerated manufacturing investment. Technological and industrial innovation also played a significant role, with high-tech manufacturing contributing 32.6 percent to overall industrial output growth. The GDP deflator, a measure of price levels, improved to -0.1 percent, the highest in three years, suggesting a transition to reflation. This strong economic performance has positively impacted China's stock market, with the ChiNext Index reaching an 11-year high. China also climbed to fourth place globally in Kearney's 2026 FDI Confidence Index, with its leadership in artificial intelligence and vast domestic market cited as key attractions for foreign direct investment.

Countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative have shown significant interest in a new meteorology project launched by China. This initiative utilizes artificial intelligence to enhance weather forecasting, which is particularly relevant given the increasing frequency of extreme weather events globally. The project, funded by China's Ministry of Science and Technology and led by the Centre for Earth System Modelling and Prediction of the China Meteorological Administration, aims to strengthen early warning systems and improve responses to extreme weather. It builds upon China's MAZU early warning system, an open-source meteorological service platform already in use in countries like Ethiopia and Pakistan for real-time weather monitoring and disaster alerts. Kouam Magloire, head of the data processing office of meteorological services in Cameroon, highlighted the project's potential to bolster his country's early warning capabilities. Leta Bekele Gudina, an expert from the Ethiopian Meteorological Institute, noted China's leadership in meteorological forecasting and AI development, expressing Ethiopia's hope to access advanced technologies, train local professionals, and address gaps in nowcasting and early warning services. The China Meteorological Administration indicated that many Belt and Road countries face rising risks from extreme weather, with meteorological disasters causing an average of $214.7 billion in direct economic losses annually between 1980 and 202

Mekele 70 Enderta and Wolwalo Adigrat University have advanced to the semi-finals of the 2025/26 Ethiopian Cup, marking their first-ever appearance in the last four of the competition. Mekele 70 Enderta defeated second-division side Boditi Ketema 3–2. Muluken Tesfaye scored first for Boditi, but Fitsum Alemu equalized for Mekele. Goals from Prince Ofori and Bona Ali gave Mekele a 3–1 lead, and despite a late goal from Tewodros Belete for Boditi, Mekele held on. Wolwalo Adigrat University secured their spot by beating record champions Mechal 5–4 in a penalty shootout after a goalless 90 minutes. Wolwalo's Ugandan goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa was instrumental, saving three Mechal spot kicks. Both Mekele 70 Enderta and Wolwalo Adigrat University are currently battling relegation in the 2025/26 CBE Ethiopian Premier League, and their success in the Ethiopian Cup could be crucial for their league survival efforts.