ADDIS ABABA — Ethiopia has been re-designated as a high priority country under the United States government’s Global Water Strategy, an announcement by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) stated.
According to the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), this reaffirmation was made by U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Ervin Massinga during the launch of a five-year, 90-million USD initiative for Urban Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and climate resilience projects in the nation. The ambassador highlighted USAID’s efforts, which have already provided basic sanitation services to 800,000 Ethiopians.
Ambassador Massinga unveiled the 45-million USD Urban WASH project, which is set to supply safe water along with sanitation and hygiene services to hundreds of thousands over the next five years, spanning ten cities. Complementing this, the Climate Resilient WASH project, with an equivalent investment of 45 million USD, will target improving water systems in the lowlands of Afar, Oromia, Somali, Southern, and Central regions of Ethiopia.
Asfaw Dingamo, the Water and Energy State Minister, emphasized the necessity of an integrated approach to developing and managing Ethiopia’s water resources. He outlined that under Ethiopia’s climate-resilient green economy strategy, the country has prepared various energy initiatives to address pertinent challenges. These initiatives are anticipated to significantly support water supply facilities and serve as a model for other African nations.
The state minister affirmed the ministry’s commitment to facilitate and support the Urban WASH and Climate Resilient WASH projects’ implementers in all capacities.
USAID’s newly announced programs aim to provide safe water access to more than 900,000 Ethiopians by 2028 and extend basic sanitation services to an additional 800,000 individuals. The initiative is also expected to generate tens of thousands of employment opportunities in the construction of water, hygiene, and sanitation infrastructure throughout Ethiopia.