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Speech
07 April 2024
UN Secretary-General's message on the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda
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Press Release
04 April 2024
International Day for Mine Awareness & Assistance in Mine Action in Ethiopia
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Speech
02 April 2024
World Autism Awareness Day
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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
03 April 2024
Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress
On 17 March 2024, the United Nations joined the Great Ethiopian Run on the annual Women First Run to spotlight the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day - Invest in Women, Accelerate Development.The event brought together 16,000 women and girls from different walks of lives, including Ethiopian officials, celebrities, representatives of the diplomatic community, international and local non-governmental organizations, UN heads of agencies and staff and students who took part in the race in support of the theme.With increasing conflicts, climate change and polarizing societies, women’s rights are increasingly coming under threat or being rolled back and standing up for women’s rights is more important than ever. The number of women living in conflict-affected settings has increased by 50% since 2017. Climate change amplifies existing gender inequalities, posing specific threats to women’s and girls’ livelihoods. In many parts of the world, women and girls have the principal responsibility for securing food, water and energy for their families and communities. As climate change intensifies, women’s unpaid care work and domestic work increases.Speaking at the event, Minister of Women and Social Affairs, Dr. Ergogie Tesfaye, underlined that it is critical to ensure the full participation of women who represent 50 per cent of the population in all aspects of the country’s development. She said the event (Women First Run) serves as a platform for sending this the message to every actor and individual in the country to ensure sustainable, inclusive and accelerated development. Investing in women, a human rights issueSpeaking on the theme of this year’s theme, UN Assistant-Secretary General and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov Gender equality, said gender equality is the greatest human rights challenge, benefiting everyone. It is not just an aspiration but a catalyst for progress. “By ensuring equal opportunities for women and girls, we pave the way for a more equitable and sustainable world for all,”“There is no smarter investment than investing in women and girls to reduce inequality and poverty and set the stage for development,” he emphasized.Over 100 million women and girls could be lifted out of poverty if governments employed a comprehensive strategy aimed at improving access to education and family planning, fair and equal wages, and expanding social transfers.As women and girls are the majority of the world’s poor, it is imperative to make the rights of women a top political and development priority. This includes ensuring women’s equal political participation and representation which is key to robust democracies and to guarantee that more inclusive decisions are made.Empowering and protecting womenSupporting women’s economic empowerment and ensuring access to education, health and other services are critical steps towards achieving gender equality and fostering inclusive development.Investment in reproductive health, for example, very cost-effective and a key to economic development. Providing access to reproductive health, particularly family planning and maternal health services, helps women and girls avoid unintended or early pregnancies and unsafe abortions, as well as pregnancy-related disabilities.Protecting women and girls from gender-based violence and harmful practices is also essential for their well-being and advancement. Harnessing the potential of girls Harnessing the potential of girls and addressing their challenges is also crucial. Girls around the world continue to face unprecedented challenges to their education, their physical and mental wellness, and the protections needed for a life without violence.With adversity, however, comes resourcefulness, creativity, tenacity, and resilience. The world's 600 million adolescent girls have shown time and time again that given the skills and the opportunities, they can be the changemakers driving progress in their communities, building back stronger for all, including women, boys, and men.Implementing gender-responsive financing Financial investment in women remains alarmingly low. An additional $360 billion annually is needed to achieve SDG 5 on gender equality and women’s empowerment. The current economic structure is pushing more women into poverty. Today, 1 in every 10 women lives in extreme poverty, and projections indicate 342.4 million women and girls will not have moved out of extreme poverty by 2030 unless we shift current trends. Accelerating gender equality through energy investments In Ethiopia, access to energy is a binding constraint with a strong gender dimension. Lack of access to energy affects women’s well-being and economic opportunities. Ensuring access to energy propels transformative results for gender equality, such as reducing women’s time poverty and unleashing women’s economic empowerment. Three-quarters of those living without modern energy live in Africa, with disproportionate impacts on women and girls across the region. Therefore, closing energy access gaps for women and men through building sustainable energy systems that advance development and climate goals is essential.UN in Ethiopia As a United Nations – our value is encapsulated in the words ‘We the Peoples’ to remind us the reason why countries came together to build a brighter future. People are at the center of everything we do. We strongly believe investing in women is a human rights imperative and cornerstone for building inclusive societies, and we will continue to provide unwavering support to Ethiopia to address its challenges and sustain the progress it has already made towards achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment.
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Story
11 April 2024
New Crops for New Hope in Tigray
The crops of the farming families in Atsbi Wonberta and Tsirae Wonberta, Tigray suffered significantly from the locust infestation for the last several years, after a major outbreak of desert locusts began developing. With many of them relying on agriculture as their only source of income, this posed a serious threat to their livelihood and impact to the entire community. In order to manage the invasion, the Ethiopia Emergency Locust Response Project was designed and funded by the World Bank (WB) from June 2020. On behalf of the Government of Ethiopia and the Ministry of Agriculture, UNOPS implemented a component of the project - Livelihoods Protection and Rehabilitation in Tigray Regional State.“My family of five relies on farming as our source of income. We sow wheat, teff, millet and barley. This land is best for harvesting teff, millet and maize. During the autumn season we sow millet and maize, during the winter season we use an irrigation source for teff and bean sowing. The Ethiopian Government and World Bank provided us with certified seeds and two types of fertilizers. It is all upon God's will, but I expect around four quintals from this farm,” says Abrha Tesfay, one of the beneficiaries of the ELRP project in Tigray.This USD 2.4 million Project was designed to safeguard the poor and vulnerable people from human capital and asset loss, enhance their access to food, rehabilitate food production systems and livelihoods that have been damaged or destroyed by swarms. UNOPS provided different support to the final beneficiaries such as procurement and delivery of maize, teff, wheat and chickpea seeds, urea and NPS fertilizers, and organised two types of training thus reaching over 64,000 households. “I have three sons and a husband. Our source of income is my husband's pension payment and farming [yield] regardless if it's good or not. We can grow cereal, teff and anything else on our land. The project supported us to get teff seeds and fertilizer, and I would like to say thank you,” said Maekelesh Aregawi, the project beneficiary from Tsirae Wonberta. The Project covered 28 woredas in Tigray, thus providing support to restoring the agriculture production. The area coverage for crop seed was 23,788 hectares, exceeding the initial set target. Beneficiaries were provided with kekeba, kingbird and wane wheat seeds, quncho and boset teff seeds, melkassa-4 maize and chickpea seeds, while in addition to this, urea and NPS fertilizers were also delivered.
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11 April 2024
Ethiopia launches the pandemic fund mega project against potential pandemics
In a remarkable move towards strengthening its defenses against potential pandemics, Ethiopia officially launched the Ethiopian Pandemic Multi-Sectoral Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Project (EPPR) on Monday, January 29, 2024. Held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the project launch was attended by H.E. Dr. Lia Tadesse, Minister of Health, H.E. Dr. Girma Amente, Minister of Agriculture, H.E. Dr Dereje Duguma, the State Minister of Health, H.E. Dr. Mesay Hailu, Director General of Ethiopian Public Health Institute(EPHI), senior government officials, as well as Representatives from the Pandemic Fund, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Africa CDC, the World Bank and other key partners. The EPPR is a comprehensive 3-year project that addresses areas of pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response specific to Ethiopia's complex landscape. The Project, which is supported by a $50 million grant from the Pandemic Fund and an additional $63 million in co-financing, is a partnership between key stakeholders such as the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), Armauer Hanson Research Institute (AHRI), Animal Health Institute (AHI), WHO, UNICEF, FAO, and other partners.Speaking at the launch, the FDRE Minister of Health, Dr. Lia Tadesse, recalled that the global pandemic fund has been established after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic to enable countries to have the capacity to identify and respond to outbreaks quickly.The Project aims to strengthen surveillance systems, enhance the national laboratory system, and ensure the availability of skilled and competent One Health professionals for a sustainable and functional public health system to enable prevention, detection, and response to pandemics.The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Girma Amente, pointed out that the project is jointly managed by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture. He stated that the Ministry of Agriculture works in animal health.WHO Ethiopia Representative a.i. Dr. Dlamini Nonhlanhla, speaking on behalf of Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization's Regional Director for Africa, said, "the key components and project activities are aligned with the national plans, including Ethiopia's Health Sector Transformation Plan, Ethiopia Public Health Institute's Strategic Plan, the Ethiopian National Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, and the Ethiopian Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) National Action Plan.""The establishment of this initiative reflects a firm commitment from the Ethiopian government and our partner organizations to invest in a sustainable and comprehensive approach to pandemic prevention, preparedness and response." "This fund will enable us to mobilize resources, strengthen health systems, and support critical sectors such as Agriculture, Environment, anti-microbial resistance and Animal Health, ensuring a holistic approach to safeguarding public health," she added. The EPPR is expected to make valuable contributions to Ethiopia's efforts in pandemic PPR. For Ethiopia's workforce, it will strengthen existing training, management, and response teams across human and animal sectors at all levels. Ethiopia's laboratory systems will increase services and accessibility, including improved detection of priority pathogens. It will also enhance Ethiopia's surveillance of outbreaks at points of entry and improve the alert system mechanism for the country.UNICEF Representative to Ethiopia, Dr. Aboubacar Kampo, said, "this is a prime example of effective and efficient coordination among all partners and comes at a critical time when we are facing multiple public health emergencies, in large part due to climate change." So far, the Project has conducted an inception meeting among the key stakeholders and implementing entities. A steering committee and technical working groups have also been constituted, and a project focal person has been assigned for each implementing entity.A Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), made up of representatives from government entities and partner organizations, has been established and will regularly review progress, discuss challenges, and provide guidance on the overall strategic direction of the Project. Executive Head of the Pandemic Fund, Dr. Priya Basu, joined virtually from the USA and said, "the Pandemic Fund is pleased to partner with the Government of Ethiopia, WHO, FAO and UNICEF to launch our largest Project. The Ethiopian Pandemic Multi-Sectoral Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Project (EPPR) holds the promise of building Ethiopia's resilience to future pandemics, and today's launch marks a crucial step in our shared commitment towards global health security."
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Story
11 April 2024
A reactive measles campaign: More than 2 million children to be vaccinated
The Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), with a technical and financial support of partners including WHO and UNICEF is conducting a measles outbreak response vaccination campaign in 58 outbreaks affected woredas. This reactive measles vaccination campaign was started from 29December 2023, and it will be ongoing until mid-January 2024. Most of the woredas have completed the campaign and few of them are still ongoing. The prioritized 58 outbreak affected woredas are from eight regions including Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz, Gambella, Oromia, Sidama, Somali, South Ethiopia, and Southwest Ethiopia Peoples’ region. The campaign targeted children aged 6 months to 10 years, and the financial support was from measles and rubella initiative (MRI) through WHO and UNCIEF for the operational, vaccines and dry supplies costs targeting more than 2 million children (2,006,342).WHO has also provided technical support at the national and subnational levels in the selected woredas to ensure quality vaccination campaign and achieve high coverage. The support includes the overall preparation, micro plan development, training, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the vaccination campaign including data management. The social mobilization was intensified during the launching ceremony which was held in the presence of the head of the respective Regional Health Bureaus, religious leaders and media. Various messages were produced, translated in different local languages, and distributed as leaflets, banners, and through audio channels. The Public address system-mounted vehicles were also deployed for conducting social mobilization activities, especially in highly populated areas, and megaphones and dry cells were purchased and distributed to the rural woredas to hasten the social mobilization activities in their communities.
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Story
11 April 2024
Sowing Seeds to Harvest Prosperity
A major outbreak of desert locusts, the worst in Ethiopia in decades, had been affecting the agriculture producers in Tigray since 2019. As many families suffered severely, the Ethiopia Emergency Locust Response Project was designed and funded by the World Bank (WB) from June 2020. On behalf of the Government of Ethiopia and the Ministry of Agriculture, UNOPS implemented a component of the project - Livelihoods Protection and Rehabilitation in Tigray Regional State.The producers in Degua Tembien Woreda received support from the project in seeds and fertilizers, in order to recultivate their fields. “UNOPS has provided my family of nine with 25 kg of wheat, 25 kg of Urea and 25 kg of NPS fertilizer. We were able to cultivate abundant wheat, thanks to the fertilizers we were supplied with. We received the finest variety of wheat available that we were able to sow. This has been a life changing experience for us and our community at large. We anticipate an abundant harvest, given the satisfactory outcome of the sowing process. We are profoundly thankful for the invaluable support we received, and I believe it will help improve our lives for the better,” Amit Hailay, the project beneficiary from Degua Tembien says.Another Degua Tembien farmer Kidu Gebrezgher explains how important the support was to the entire community.“The support provided by the World Bank and Ethiopian Government is very good. Especially here, we have many poor households, disabled and elderly who had no guardians. Those who could have otherwise sold or rented their land to feed themselves have reached a better situation because of the seed support”, Gebrezgher states. His family of seven received 25 kg wheat, 25 kg of teff and 50 kg fertiliser, so they expect a fruitful yield.“These seeds are very good, giving good stems and branches, with a lot of variety. In comparison, the local seed sown around here is easily susceptible to fungus and ice. But after three years of Tigray region’s blockage from every access, the community had faced many challenges with all the problems and especially because the seeds were also not provided. But now, we are hopeful that this support will lead us to a better life,” Gebrezgher concludes. The Project covered 28 woredas in Tigray, thus providing support to restoring the agriculture production. The area coverage for crop seed was 23,788 hectares, exceeding the initial set target. Beneficiaries were provided with kekeba, kingbird and wane wheat seeds, quncho and boset teff seeds, melkassa-4 maize and chickpea seeds, while in addition to this, urea and NPS fertilizers were also delivered. The priest Sahle Hadera, a resident of Degua Tembien, has a family of eight, living in the area where the wheat is mainly sown. “Now when we look at the seeds provided to us by UNOPS - it is very good - and providing such wheat seeds at this time is very helpful. We are grateful, as during the hard times we didn't have any seeds on hand to sew. But we became successful after the Government supported us with the seeds and fertiliser at the same time. So we are in a good condition so far and we have seen that it is good during the harvesting period too. This brings a lot of change in our life. We started this from zero and reached 7 and 8 quintals,” Sahle Hadera says.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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”.
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