Latest
Speech
22 April 2024
UN Secretary-General Message for the International Mother Earth Day
Learn more
Speech
07 April 2024
UN Secretary-General's message on the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda
Learn more
Press Release
04 April 2024
International Day for Mine Awareness & Assistance in Mine Action in Ethiopia
Learn more
Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals in Ethiopia
The Sustainable Development Goals are a call for action by all countries – poor, rich and middle-income – to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.
These are the goals the UN is working on in Ethiopia:
Story
23 April 2024
In Ethiopia’s Somali Region, WFP empowers women to dream big and become financially independent
The parched land in Ethiopia’s Somali region absorbs the sun’s glare through its cracked soil and whispers a story of endurance. A gust of wind lifts and carries the dust further away. A thinly paved makeshift road winds its way through the vast terrain, promising nothing of a way back if the rains come.The bumpy road gives way to refugee camps that home thousands that have fled war and instability in neighbouring Somalia in hopes for a better future. The Somali region has limited institutional capacity to deliver services in these camps, and refugees depend on humanitarian actors like WFP for support. The communities hosting refugees in the region are dealing with recurrent climate crises, from the longest drought on record to devastating floods that continue to push both host and refugee communities further into hunger.In Bokolmayo refugee camp, Sadiya Dubud starts her day by letting out her goats from the barn. Whistling cheerfully, she leads the goats to a water point, and further away from the camp to find a good grazing spot. This is a rare sight to see in the Somali region, where men traditionally oversee livestock rearing. “It is not easy to be in this business as a woman,” says Sadiya. “When we started, many people told us not to waste our time and money as we will surely fail.” Navigating a complex social fabricBeyond what meets the eye lies a complex social fabric. Being a predominantly pastoralist and traditional society, women in Ethiopia’s Somali region are often marginalized and confined to traditional gender roles. Confined to taking care of household chores and children, women’s involvement in public life and decision making is limited. On top of this, refugees do not have access to land for farming, employment opportunities, and financial resources. Sadiya heads to a meeting at the headquarters of Hodan Cooperative union, where the members await her arrival to begin their weekly meeting. WFP and Mercy corps supported 25 women and five men in the camp to pool their resources and then matched their savings with a start-up capital for a livestock trading business. The programme promotes women’s leadership by bringing them into the forefront of leading the business, while the men play a contributory role. Sadiya is the chairwoman of Hodan cooperative and kicks of the session with a roll call. Next, the members tally last week’s sales and decide on how much to save, and what type of livestock to invest in. “Many of the skills we have now, we gained through WFP’s trainings” says Sadiya. “They trained us on how to save, how to develop our business, how to buy and sell livestock, and how to share information within the cooperative.”A multilayered approach to women’s empowermentWFP and partners selected 1000 women for this programme, 500 from refugees and 500 from host communities – enhancing social cohesion between the two groups. The programme looks at a multi layered approach, with intertwined interventions that create an environment where women can embark on and sustain new businesses. The participants then formed 43 registered cooperatives and village savings and loan association (VSLA) groups. Daniel Ocom, WFP’s resilience programme officer in Somali region says “the programme focuses on entrepreneurship where women select businesses that they want to engage in. Once the businesses are set up, we provide different trainings to equip the women with a skillset that will allow the women to sustain thriving businesses.” The programme also links women-led cooperatives to sustainable markets to sell their products and services. Daniel adds “Access to markets and financial services is a game changer for many women in this region. From our interventions, we have seen first-hand that the women in these areas have many innovative ideas for businesses and when linked with the right markets and given financial access, they will be able to build profitable businesses.” Waiting for her turnMouslima Abdirahman’s role in the Hodan Cooperative is to balance the books- writing off expenses and recording this month’s savings. She was finishing her last year in high school when her family decided to flee Somalia and come to Ethiopia. She reflects on what she learned through the trainings.“I have bittersweet feelings about the training.” says Moulima. “I felt so happy to learn and gain knowledge, but at the same time I felt bad for not finishing school. If I had completed my studies, I would have more knowledge on how to do business. However, I also learned that everything is gradual, step by step, and it is never too late to learn.” Being part of Hodan means Mouslima can help her three younger siblings finish college. “Once all of them graduate, I swear it will be my turn to go and get a degree.” She says dreamily. Challenging the status quoAs part of WFP’s programme, Sadiya and Mouslima are led through guided reflection sessions on gender, access to resources, land inheritance, division of labour at home, decision-making, and women’s participation in public spheres. “Before the training, many people in our community thought that women should take care of their families and stay at home,” says Mouslima. “Now we know that mothers who stay at home can go out to earn an income and support their families, and fathers should extend a hand of support at home to mothers that work tirelessly.”The community dialogue, and the success of the cooperatives, is shifting perceptions in the community. Sadiya remembers a time when things were different. “When we first started, some women’s husbands came to us and asked for their wives' shares without the wives’ knowledge.” “They humiliated us saying that we stole the money their wives contributed and withdrew the money from our savings. Now they are saying that we are making good progress and encouraging us.” Dreaming BigWFP and partners are supporting the women led cooperatives to expand their businesses through a coaching and mentoring system that deploys field level agents that guide the cooperatives through one-on-one coaching on negotiation, business management, as well as other soft and technical skills needed to run their businesses.“We started as a livestock business, but our vision is to expand our business into multiple sectors and be a well-known cooperative across the world,” Sadiya says. “Everyone will know the name Hodan!”The WFP women empowerment project has been funded by Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation since 2023.
1 of 5
Story
11 April 2024
UN Women, Partners are Working towards Gender Sensitive Media in Ethiopia
UN Women Ethiopia, through the project “Enhancing the Role of Media in Promoting Gender Equality and Women in Leadership” under its Women in Leadership and governance programme (WiLG) has been working with the Ethiopian Media Authority and Media Associations and partners to create a gender aware media workforce and gender sensitive media in Ethiopia. According to Dr Elsabet Samuel, a former journalist and Gender and Media researcher, although Media has a tremendous potential to influence society, including policymakers, it often focuses on reinforcement of stereotypes and objectification of women through media content. To address this “Media has to explore the impact of embedding representation in its daily editorial and production thinking and processes” Dr Elsabet says. She also noted that experiences from BBC’s 50:50 project for instance proves that fair representation is not only a goal to aspire to but one that can be achieved consistently.Ms. Dureti Tadesse, Director of Women, Children and Social Affairs at the Ethiopian Media Authority, a government entity tasked with regulating the media and advertising sector , said that UN Women’s support has been instrumental in improving portrayal of women in the media and advertisements. Series of capacity building trainings for media personnel and advertisement experts/producers as well as media monitoring experts, development of Gender Sensitive Media and Advertisement guidelines and inclusion of gender as a standalone monitoring topic are results from the project implemented with UN Women. “Despite improvements, there is a long way to go for gender balanced media content. One reason for this may be high staff turnover within the media industry. Previously trained and capacitated personnel leaving the media institutions. Covid-19 also has created a gap because trainings were halted.” Ms Dureti noted. Ms Dureti also emphasized on continued collaboration on this saying, “Nowadays, there are programs in the media that goes against the media law and reinforces stereotype against women that insinuate women have lower status in the society. We hope to work more on this with support from UN Women.” Ms. Yemwodish Bekele, Director, Women Can Do it, a civil society organization partnered with UN Women’s WiLG program, said “UN Women’s support is instrumental in achieving our organization’s goal of showing that if the media becomes an ally to the fight against negative gender stereotypes in the society and promote positive portrayal of women, then women can do it and hold their legitimate place in positions of power where they can take part in making decisions that affect their lives .”Ms Yemwodish also added that the support provided by UN Women also ensured continuous programming and coverage of gender issues and women’s participation in political and public leadership. The mainstream media needs to work on better coverage of gender issues. UN Women Ethiopia, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Media Authority has implemented “Enhancing the Role of Media in Promoting Gender Equality and Women in Leadership” Project from August 2017 – January 2021. Under the project 464 editors, journalists, advertisement professionals, Ethiopia Media Authority staff were reached through capacity building based on tailored training modules. This project was made possible by generous support from the governments of Denmark and Sweden.
1 of 5
Story
23 April 2024
In Ethiopia, WFP’s new digital system tracks and delivers to people facing severe hunger
Zenebech Kahsay is relieved to watch her children play once again, their energy renewed at last by bread she’s baked after receiving a 15kg bag of wheat from the World Food Programme (WFP) at a food distribution in Tahtay Adyabo, in Ethiopia’s northern province of Tigray.“My children were dizzy with hunger,” explains Kahsay as she grinds dark brown grains of wheat with a pestle and mortar. “Life was so difficult, we had one meal a day – most of the time it was a cup of porridge which we shared.”Kahsay speaks of life during WFP’s pause in food assistance, which stretched through half of 2023. Families were hit particularly hard. She was recovering from a two-year conflict amid drought, sickness and ever-increasing food prices.Targeting the hungriestFollowing reports of food being diverted at the beginning of last year, WFP teams across Ethiopia focused on reforming the humanitarian food assistance delivery system.During the pause in food assistance, WFP developed more robust delivery mechanisms for its operations, a significant step in assuring the delivery of critical food assistance to the hungriest populations affected by drought, flooding, and conflict.Kahsay was one of the first to receive food assistance from WFP last August, when WFP put its new delivery system to the test. “So far it’s good,” she says. “I can see that everyone here is the most in need of food support. People who are not included have also the chance to appeal.”Sleeping on empty stomachsMulu Mehari, a grandfather, attests to the efficiency of WFP’s new distribution system: “It is so much smoother than before. With my own individual token I know the food is going to me and only me,” he says. “We were sleeping on empty stomachs, even drinking water was not easy to find. Now we see food coming – this is like a blink of light in the darkness.”Since resuming food distributions in early December, WFP has delivered food to 1.2 million people in Tigray, Afar, Amhara and Somali regions. We are scaling up to provide critical food assistance to 3 million Ethiopians in coming weeks, almost 2 million of whom are in Tigray.Half of the people WFP will deliver food to in Tigray fall under the shock-responsive component of the Government’s national safety-net programme.But the needs are immense. Although, compared to this time last year, hunger levels have eased slightly (20.4 million in February 2023 compared to 15.8 million in February 2024, according to the Government of Ethiopia's most recent assessment), there are pockets of the country where people are in real danger of slipping into a humanitarian catastrophe.This includes over 4 million people who are internally displaced and 7.2 million facing high levels of acute food insecurity and needing emergency assistance. Resources permitting, WFP aims to provide food assistance to 40 percent of those 7.2 million while the Government and other partners will be supporting everyone else.Over half of those needing food assistance are in Amhara and Tigray regions (51 percent). The need for food assistance remains high as climate change, conflict and economic shocks all continue to slow the recovery of livelihoods.Meanwhile, crossing south over the Simien mountains into Amhara, usually productive areas of the region are also suffering from severe drought.Tadel Gebeyehu and her family are returnees to Amhara after the war in Tigray. They still don’t have the means to put sufficient food on the table for the whole family. Gebeyehu has finally been able to collect food on behalf of her family of six, at the first WFP distribution in six months in Beyeda.There are new food collection procedures – including scanning a unique code on each person’s ration card to verify them in the list, with food now being measured and scooped into containers brought by the families. Gebeyehu was relieved to take the food home to her children.Feeling safe“Life is quite challenging,” she says. “We are unable to establish a business or farm since there is no rain. We would have been able to work and support our families if the country had been at peace, but that is not the case right now. Thanks to the food aid we are receiving, we can finally eat.”“The new distribution system I went through made me feel safe,” she adds. What's more, the use of digital ration cards has “prevented poorer people from being abused or left out.”The new targeting approach in Ethiopia is community-led, designed and monitored by WFP, implemented by non-governmental cooperating partners and facilitated by the local government.Inclusion and exclusionThe community uses clear inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify and verify those in greatest need. People are then digitally registered, with NGO partners recording their biographical data – so that they can easily be identified for food assistance.After the initial list is drawn up and publicly displayed, the community members can appeal if they feel someone has been wrongly included or excluded. An appeals committee is present at every targeting and registration site to handle such cases.Ageche Mulat sits on it. “We have been waiting for this... a committee dedicated to the careful selection of community members based on their genuine needs is a significant step,” says Mulat. “The exclusion process we undertook is crucial. We invested a lot of time and effort in discerning who should be excluded and who should be included.”Selam Ambachew is a representative who sits on the targeting committee in Debark town. She was nominated by the community and her specific role is to look into the standard of living of everyone on the register. “The criteria that are being used are excellent,” she says.“The process includes everyone in the community. The majority of people who live in this area are internally displaced... some come from Sudan, and some from neighbouring places.”For now, communities such as Kahsay’s and Gebeyehu’s are safe in the knowledge that food is reaching the most vulnerable among them. But the running costs of WFP’s new system have pushed our Ethiopia operation into the red.As the lean season looms closer and hunger levels increase, WFP urgently needs US$142 million to keep reaching and delivering assistance to the most vulnerable people in Ethiopia until June, and respond to the drought at scale.If WFP and other food operators in the country do not get food assistance immediately to those who need it most, Gebeyehu, her children and many more facing the most extreme levels of hunger will slip further into danger. “We would not be alive today if we had not received this food help,” says Gebeyehu.
1 of 5
Story
14 April 2024
Mastering craftsmanship and entrepreneurship in Ethiopia's leather hub
As a child, Kefene dreamt of being a skilled craftsman. However, his childhood dream was overshadowed due to family responsibilities and the financial pressures of the hustle of urban life. Hindered by the absence of university entrance results and the early commitments of starting a family, Kefene persevered through numerous commission and construction roles to support his wife and six-year-old son.Then, he discovered UNIDO’s project and did not hesitate to embrace the opportunity to be trained to become a skilled craftsman, one step closer to his childhood dream. Kefene’s story in Ethiopia mirrors numerous others, reflecting the prevailing challenges of widespread unemployment, insufficient education, and skill deficiencies across the country. However, amid these challenges, hope arrived through the Leather Initiative for Sustainable Employment Creation (LISEC).It presented Kefene with an opportunity he wholeheartedly embraced—a transformative training programme that brought him closer to fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a skilled craftsman. Moreover, LISEC equipped Kefene and his peers with entrepreneurship skills, honed their craftsmanship in leather product-making, and instilled the crucial tenets of team-building and awareness. LISEC, funded by the European Union and China, and implemented by UNIDO in collaboration with the Ethiopian government, aimed to strengthen Ethiopia’s leather industry and generate job opportunities for the city’s youth, addressing the core reasons for migration.It went beyond mere training, empowering individuals like Kefene with entrepreneurship skills and enhancing their leather crafting abilities. Through various training sessions, UNIDO not only honed skills but also facilitated access to shared manufacturing space, equipping entrepreneurs with the necessary machinery to kick-start their businesses in footwear and leather goods within Modjo. "My city, Modjo, is known for tanneries and leather production. With ample leather availability, I want to make products for our local market. UNIDO LISEC trained me in footwear craftsmanship, providing me with the knowledge required for the whole process," Kefene says. Fueled by the project, Abay strives to tap into Modjo’s abundant leather resources to produce high quality local leather goods, showcasing how initiatives like LISEC can transform distant dreams into concrete achievements.
1 of 5
Story
11 April 2024
Empowering voices: Providing a platform for displaced women to share their experiences in Ethiopia
“We, as a group of women, would usually walk all day to Jigjiga, the region’s capital some 40 kilometres away, to find daily work. Unfortunately, we are not always successful, and this is a struggle for us,” a displaced woman said while sitting with an all-female group outside of their informal settlement.These women gathered to convene a focused group session for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Tuliguled Town, located in the Somali region of Ethiopia.Facilitated by the staff of the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), these group discussions provide a platform for the women to articulate their priorities and concerns, enabling IOM and partners to gain valuable insights into the specific challenges faced by this vulnerable population.These women are facing immense challenges in their daily battle for survival. Having fled inter-communal conflict five years ago, they find themselves in a precarious situation, struggling to meet their basic needs and to provide for their families.Most arrived at this location five years ago fleeing inter-communal conflict located along the border between Somali and Oromia regions of Ethiopia.Despite the daily struggles they face, this group of women find some relief in having a safe space to voice out their stories, learn from each other’s experiences and find some solitude in each other’s presence. “The primary concerns voiced by the women revolve around the scarcity of food, shelter, and access to education for their children. With the rainy season fast approaching, the urgency for addressing these needs becomes even more critical,” said Eliza Clark, IOM Ethiopia’s Programme Manager for Data and Research.Once farmers and pastoralists, they now lack a stable source of income and are in need of support for small-scale income-generating enterprises to sustain their families.In their efforts to cope with the harsh realities of displacement, these women engage in activities such as gathering firewood, providing laundry services, and seeking daily employment in Jigjiga City. However, these endeavours are not sufficient to alleviate the financial strain they face.Furthermore, the lack of lighting at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) site poses a safety concern for the women, particularly at night. Additionally, people with disabilities struggle due to the challenging terrain and absence of mobility aids.The difficulties extend to the education of displaced girls, with shortages of school supplies and uniforms hindering their access to schooling. Some girls are compelled to forgo education in order to contribute to their family's income, further perpetuating the cycle of poverty.The situation is mirrored in other spontaneous IDP sites in nearby are such as Caska and Asbuli, where displaced women emphasize similar concerns. Their resilience is evident as they resort to selling various items to mitigate the effects of food scarcity, but the struggle persists.In response to some of their pressing concerns, IOM Ethiopia provides Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services, shelter repair kits, and other household and non-food items.
1 of 5
Press Release
05 April 2024
International Day for Mine Awareness & Assistance in Mine Action in Ethiopia
On 4 April 2024, the Government of Ethiopia and the International Community commemorate with a ceremony at the Elily hotel in Kazanchis the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action under the theme ‘Protecting Lives, Building Peace’, stressing the need to enhance support to victims affected by Explosive Ordnance.Mines, explosive remnants of war, and improvised explosive devices continue to cause death and injury, especially in situations of armed conflict. On average, one person is killed or injured by such an explosive device every hour. Many children are among the victims.On 8 December 2005, the General Assembly declared that 4 April of each year shall be observed as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. This year’s theme, “Protecting lives, building peace”, as referred to by the Secretary General of the United Nations in his speech, is an invitation to highlight “the need to safeguard those at particular risk, including people living with disabilities”.The United Nations has called for greater responsiveness to the needs and rights of people with disabilities in conflict and peacebuilding settings. This year is the fifth anniversary of Security Council resolution 2475, which calls upon Member States, and specifically Security Council members, to consider and protect persons with disabilities, to ensure they have access to assistance, and to include them in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.In Ethiopia, a series of internal and international armed conflicts throughout the years have left behind a legacy of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) scattered throughout the country. According to the latest transparency report that Ethiopia submitted under the Mine Ban Convention, the remaining unaddressed contamination totals 726 square kilometers. The outbreak of conflict in November 2020 between the central government and the regional authorities of the Tigray region, which has spilled over into the neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions in 2021, has added new explosive ordnance contamination that poses an immediate threat to life and livelihoods.According to data collected in 2023, 1,500 (1,014 male and 486 female) victims of Explosive Ordnance have been reported in Northern Ethiopia, although not all cases have been verified. It is believed that many other accidents go unreported. Initial analysis shows that children make more than 25% of all casualties known.The mine action sector in Ethiopia remains committed to supporting the Ethiopia Mine Action Office and national partners in building up mine action capacities to mitigate the threat posed by explosive ordnance, protect lives and build lasting peace.
1 of 5
Press Release
28 March 2024
National Conference sets the course for sustainable infrastructure in Ethiopia
The systemic approach to the sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure is one of the key preconditions for the continuous and equitable growth of Ethiopia. The priorities in the development of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), road and transport, housing, and energy infrastructure should be financially supported by national and external resources, while inclusive planning and design are important not to leave any vulnerable groups behind.These are the key messages of the National Conference on Climate Resilient Sustainable Infrastructure organized by UNOPS in collaboration with the Ethiopian Civil Engineers Association (EACE) in Addis Ababa on 26 and 27 March 2024. The two-day workshop had the objective of facilitating policy-making in the area of sustainable infrastructure, sharing best practices among different stakeholders, and providing the opportunity to discuss some of the cutting-edge technologies in infrastructure. Speaking at the event, H.E. Mr. Wondemu Seta, State Minister of Urban and Infrastructure, said, “As we embark on these crucial deliberations today, I urge everyone of you to approach the discussions with a spirit of collaboration, innovation, and determination.”“The decisions we make here will have far-reaching implications for generations to come, shaping the future landscape of our nation and our planet". He also stressed that the participants need to leverage their collective expertise, experiences, and insights to identify actionable solutions and best practices in sustainable infrastructure development. “Actions that will drive progress and transformation in our communities are vital,” the State Minister said. During the last two-day workshop, infrastructure and project management experts were actively participating in the presentations and plenary sessions about WASH, irrigation, sustainable road and transport, sustainable housing and energy, and financing and project delivery. Their main focus were policy briefings for climate-resilient sustainable infrastructure, integrating planning that encompasses social, environmental, and economic sustainability as well as national policy innovations. Eng. Yonas Ayalew, CEO of Ethiopian Construction Works Corporation and President of the Ethiopian Association of Civil Engineers at the event said, “Sustainability begins with engineering design, ensuring that infrastructure materials and designs are inherently sustainable, fostering the creation of resilient homes and the development of smart cities”.UNOPS, within its mandate to implement infrastructure, is committed to helping countries gain a better understanding of how their infrastructure planning, delivery, and management practices compared to recognized global best practices, and how they could improve. “I am very proud of our joint results with the Government of Ethiopia and donors, as a partner of choice, in the area of infrastructure development in different regions from the reconstruction of primary schools and health centers in Tigray, the installation of medical incinerators in eight different regions, and the design and rehabilitation of the one-stop shop centers for refugees, to the construction of latrines and water points in the Somali region,” said UNOPS Ethiopia Multi-County Office Director and Representative to the African Union, Ms. Worknesh Mekonnen Gonet. “We at UNOPS anticipate the future with the infrastructure designed and built to suit the needs of all users, including women, children, persons with disabilities, older or marginalized people. We are dedicated to the sustainable infrastructure which is resilient to climate change and climate-compatible.”Infrastructure is significantly impacting 92% of targets within all 17 Sustainable Development Goals and can stir the development positively or negatively. When developed in a sustainable, climate-resilient, and inclusive manner, it can create efficient transportation and green energy, contribute to new employment opportunities and quality housing, and improve access to fresh water and sanitation
1 of 5
Press Release
06 March 2024
UN Ethiopia, AFLEX express commitment to collaborate towards achieving the SDGs in Ethiopia
Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, and Mr. Zadig Abreha, Chief of the African Leadership Excellence Academy, were signatories to the Letter of Intent.The collaboration will focus on six transformative entry points with the potential for catalytic and multiplier effects on the SDGs, significantly contributing to their achievement. These entry points encompass: (1) food systems; (2) energy access and affordability; (3) digital connectivity; (4) education; (5) jobs and social protection; and (6) climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The collaboration will also involve close cooperation with the Ministry of Planning and Development and sectoral ministries.A key aspect of the collaboration involves jointly enhancing the capacity and skills of civil servants and other stakeholders in social policies. This effort will concentrate on areas such as planning, communication, idea generation, and fostering a culture of dialogue. The ultimate aim is to nurture a new generation of transformative leaders who will champion the achievement of the SDGs in Ethiopia and Africa.Addressing the significance of the collaboration, Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov stated, "This partnership will serve as a framework for identifying and nurturing the next generation of leaders who must lead Ethiopia's development narrative, particularly with a focus on young people and marginalized groups. Leadership grounded in the African context and aspirations is indispensable for realizing the SDGs in Africa."AFLEX Chief Mr. Zadig Abreha said, “AFLEX aspires to become a place where academic rigor meets worldliness. Also, here in AFLeX we aspire to become bridge builders amongst the academia, civil society, the public and private sector, the leaders of African countries, generation of African leaders and Africa and the globe. With this view in mind, together with institutions like the UN systems we will work towards generating world class leaders for both Ethiopia and the continent at large. And with this effort, we can safely say that we can achieve agenda 2064 and SDGs. In doing so, Africa shall make 22nd century a truly African century!”“We are grateful for the kind assistance and unparalleled commitment exhibited by Dr. Ramiz for the inking of this pioneering letter of intent which I would rather name it as a memorandum of action.”"I would like to express my deep gratitude for the invaluable support and unwavering dedication displayed by Dr. Ramiz in the process of formalizing this groundbreaking letter of intent, which I believe is more fittingly referred to as a memorandum of action," said Mr. Zadig Abraha.
1 of 5
Press Release
23 February 2024
Bringing back more schools, health facilities to life in Tigray
Due to the conflict and lack of maintenance, the rapid response works carried out from March 2023 until January 2024 focused on refurbishment of the facilities to improve the access to health care, education and water and sanitation for 365,000 people in five woredas in Tigray. Many primary schools and health centers suffered from damaged roofs, walls, floors, windows and doors, inadequate external drainage and access paths, so the comprehensive reconstruction was covered by the project activities. Some of the facilities got for the first time new toilet blocks and running water, significantly improving sanitary conditions for their beneficiaries from the local communities. In several locations, new ramps were constructed to make it easier for people with disabilities to access the buildings."Our school was completely devastated due to the conflict, resulting in the loss of classrooms, desks, and blackboards. Before the rehabilitation, our school was non-functional, and teaching had come to a halt. We lacked proper desks and blackboards, and our students were forced to write on the walls,” Gebremikael Khishen, Director and Teacher at Koraro Primary School in Hawzen Woreda, explains. “The collaboration between the Ethiopian Government and UNOPS has yielded remarkable results. UNOPS has supported us in maintaining our infrastructure, WASH facilities, and electricity, which are now providing essential services. In addition to the rehabilitation efforts, UNOPS has generously provided us with 200 desks and 16 blackboards. As a result of this support, our students are now happy to come to school and are motivated to learn.” The rapid response activities were implemented in Hintalo, Abergele, Hawzen, Asgede and Endemahoni. The project has moved to its recovery phase, which will enable (re)construction of additional health, education and WASH facilities.“During the peak of the conflict, approximately 80% of our health centre was non-functional. Despite the extensive damage, we continued to provide services. All rooms of the health center including the delivery room were either destroyed or extensively damaged due to the conflict, so we were forced to combine the delivery room to another ward,” says Ms. Merhawit Gebrehiwot, the Director of Koraro Health Center. “However, I am pleased to see all the rooms of the health center have now been completely restored. We used to combine wards due to a shortage of rooms, but now we allocate individual rooms for each ward, ensuring a dedicated space for medical consultations and treatments.”“After a successful recovery, the community has resumed visiting our health center for their healthcare needs, as they feel content and assured of the center's excellent condition to provide services,” she adds.The Response-Recovery-Resilience for Conflict Affected Communities in Ethiopia (3R4CACE) Project of the Government of Ethiopia financed by the World Bank with USD 300 million aims to: (i)rebuild and improve access to basic services and climate-resilient community infrastructure and (ii) improve access to multi-sectoral response services for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) survivors; in selected conflict-affected communities in Ethiopia.
1 of 5
Press Release
16 February 2024
Launch of the “Multi-Sectoral interventions aimed at improving health conditions in Afar” Project
Launch of the “Multi-Sectoral interventions aimed at improving health conditions in Afar” Project
Today, UNOPS Ethiopia, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), and Afar regional office representatives launched the project “Multi-Sectoral interventions aimed at improving health conditions in Afar”. The project Launch workshop took place at Semera, Hotel Ardi, Afar marking the official start of field-level activities to be implemented in collaboration with the regional bureaus, which includes the rehabilitation and expansion of Wa’ama Primary School and Health Centre.
The 3-year project will improve the uptake and quality of healthcare service delivery for more than 36,000 beneficiaries in Chifra, Afar.
The project will also improve the quality and uptake of education in the Wa’ama Primary School through improved nutrition and hygiene services benefiting around 600 children of the community.
The government of Italy and UNOPS signed a €7.6 million project to support the Government of Ethiopia to strengthen the health systems and alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable population through access to quality healthcare services and nutrition for school-going children. The multi-sectoral intervention project will be implemented in the woredas of Chifra and Hamer in the Afar and South Ethiopia regions.
The project intervention will significantly contribute to enhancing access to education, health, water, and energy. Access to quality health services will also address the health challenges the communities are facing directly reaching the communities living in Wa’ama. The project will ensure that all infrastructure constructed/rehabilitated are gender sensitive and disability friendly to cater to the needs of PLWDs and the target population.
Speaking at the launch Ms. Isabella Lucaferri said “The project confirms the Italian commitment to improve the life condition of the most vulnerable communities with quality health, educational services and improved WASH facilities and a specific attention to the environment in line with attaining the SDG goals of Agenda 2030 and with the sectoral Governmental Plans”.
Ms. Worknesh Mekonnen, Multi-Country Office (Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Djibouti) Director and Representative to the AU on her part said “We are happy to work with the Italian government to improve the fundamental social services provided in the Afar regions woredas of Chifra. Inadequate access to basic services negatively affects the quality of life for millions of Ethiopians, contributing to poverty, marginalization, and inequality. Our mission is to assist individuals in living better lives and countries in establishing enduring peace and development”.
1 of 5
Latest Resources
1 / 11
Resources
20 January 2023
1 / 11