Japan has signed a $17.4 million grant agreement with Ethiopia to support the country’s efforts to strengthen infectious disease control, in what Ethiopian officials described as a “landmark bilateral agreement.”
The funding, announced this week, will be directed toward the construction and equipping of a specialized facility at St. Peter’s Hospital in Addis Ababa. It will also support capacity building, disease prevention initiatives, and the deployment of modern diagnostic and treatment technologies.
Finance Minister Ahmed Shide and Japanese Ambassador to Ethiopia Shibata Hironori signed the agreement in a ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance. Health Minister Mekdes Daba and Shintaro Takano, Deputy Resident Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Ethiopia, also attended the signing.
“This is a strategic investment in Ethiopia’s healthcare system,” Shide said. “It will enhance our ability to detect, manage, and contain infectious diseases—both in the present and in the future.”
According to the Ministry of Finance, the grant will help improve quality of care, bolster disease prevention mechanisms, and expand long-term medical training and infrastructure.
Ambassador Hironori said the initiative aims to establish a “center of excellence” for infectious disease treatment, emphasizing Japan’s commitment to deploying state-of-the-art technologies to enhance healthcare delivery in Ethiopia.
Japan also reaffirmed its broader support for global health, with Hironori citing Japan’s contributions through international platforms such as GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Global Fund. He highlighted the longstanding diplomatic relationship between Japan and Ethiopia, which spans over 100 years, and pointed to the upcoming Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) as a forum to further strengthen Africa-Japan ties.
While the grant has been welcomed by government officials, opposition voices have expressed skepticism over transparency in the management of development funds. Critics have accused the government of misusing foreign aid to finance military operations in conflict-hit regions such as Amhara and Oromia—allegations that Ethiopian authorities have previously denied.
Nonetheless, officials say robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms will be implemented to ensure that the grant delivers on its intended public health outcomes.
