UN Resident Coordinator engages with UNICEF, UNOPS teams on strategic collaboration to support Ethiopia's dev't priorities

The new UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Ethiopia, Ozonnia Ojielo, held high-level introductory meetings with the leadership of UNOPS and UNICEF Ethiopia, focusing on strategic collaboration, system-wide coherence, and a revitalized UN approach to supporting Ethiopia’s development and humanitarian priorities. Discussions highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional capacity, improving large-scale delivery, and adopting innovative, investment-oriented models suited to the evolving global and national contexts.

UNICEF Ethiopia, led by its Representative, Dr. Aboubacar Kampo, briefed the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator on the organization’s extensive work across the country, spanning health, nutrition, child protection, education, WASH, emergencies, and social policy. The team acknowledged both progress and persistent challenges, including maternal and child mortality, education crisis, malnutrition, and the compounded effects of conflict and climate shocks.

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator encouraged UNICEF to continue leveraging its technical expertise and nationwide presence while becoming more intentional about scaling successful models. He emphasized the need to strengthen policy influence, enhance government uptake, and expand strategic partnerships with the private sector to accelerate sustainable, large-scale impact.

In his meeting with Worknesh Mekonnen, Director of the UNOPS Operational Hub for Ethiopia, Sudan, and Djibouti, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator received a detailed overview of UNOPS’ portfolio, which includes major infrastructure, procurement, and health-system initiatives. Both parties discussed the importance of shifting toward stronger systems development and large-scale, outcome-focused engagement that can better support national priorities.

Across both meetings, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator stressed that the UN system must reposition itself as a source of ideas, high-level advisory support, and catalytic models. He called for greater emphasis on integration, scale, innovation, and alignment with Ethiopia’s national development agenda, including through joint programming and investment-oriented approaches capable of mobilizing capital beyond traditional donors.

UNOPS and UNICEF welcomed the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator’s vision and reaffirmed their commitment to deeper collaboration, more coherent programming, and a shared ambition to drive transformative and scalable development outcomes in Ethiopia.