Ethiopia and KOICA Sign $6 Million MoU for Nutrition Project in Seqota Declaration Woredas.

Addis Ababa: The Ministry of Health and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the "Sustainable Diversified Diets for Improved Nutrition" project in the Seqota Declaration Woredas of Ethiopia. Minister of Health Dr. Mekdes Daba and KOICA Ethiopia Office Country Director Han Deog Cho signed the MoU.According to Ethiopian News Agency, the Seqota Declaration is a fifteen-year commitment by the Government of Ethiopia to end stunting in children under two years by 2030. This initiative is operationalized through a multi-sectoral program involving nine different sector ministries. The MoU specifies that KOICA has committed up to $6 million in grant funding for this three-year project, which will be implemented by the World Food Program (WFP) in selected regions under the Seqota Declaration.The project's primary objective is to reduce stunting among children aged 6-23 months and increase the consumption of diversified diets among pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as children under two years. The agreement's press release details these goals, highlighting the focus on improving the availability and accessibility of nutrient-dense foods, enhancing the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of caregivers regarding child nutrition, and generating evidence to inform policy and program improvements.According to the press release, key interventions will include the provision of nutrient-dense foods through the Fresh Food Voucher (FFV) system, sustainable nutritional supply through household and communal livestock and vegetable cultivation, and social and behavioral change initiatives to support long-term nutritional improvements. This collaboration underscores the enduring partnership between South Korea and Ethiopia, further strengthened through KOICA's development initiatives.