Chinese Government provides ETB 824.9 million for Meles Zenawi Leadership Academy Project

Project narrative

According to the Government of Ethiopia’s Aid Management Platform, on September 4, 2015, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the Government of Ethiopia signed a grant agreement worth ETB 824,954,117 for the Meles Zenawi Leadership Academy Project. The purpose of the project was to construct Meles Zenawi Leadership Academy — also known as the African Leadership Excellence Academy — in Sululta within Oromia Regional State. The academy was built on an area of 120,000 square meters and it is expected to serve as a government training center for Ethiopia and Africa more generally. Nantong Sanjian Holdings (Group) Co.,Ltd was the contractor responsible for project implementation. Construction began on March 12, 2019. The project completed and passed a MOFCOM inspection on May 12, 2021. The academy was officially inaugurated on June 26, 2021 in the presence of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD), Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen, and several other senior government officials. The implementation of this project was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.