This week, the United States through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announces two new investments of 10.2 billion Birr to lift up over 400,000 people across Oromia. Both investments—the USAID Ifaa and USAID Strengthening PSNP 5 Institutions and Resilience activities—will run for 5 years under the Government of Ethiopia led Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP 5), which is helping 9 million Ethiopians lift themselves out of poverty. USAID is the leading donor to the PSNP 5 and has invested over 60 billion Birr in it, since 2015.
These two new USAID investments will ensure that hundreds of thousands of citizens improve their lives, and gain the tools and skills needed to achieve their dreams despite the risk of shocks, such as drought or locusts. The activities will rehabilitate degraded lands with soil and water conservation practices, will train young men and women with workforce readiness skills, and will make sure Oromians can grow and eat nutritious foods—among dozens of other PSNP 5 supported interventions.
These two new activities also illustrate Ethiopia and the United States of America’s longstanding partnership and shared interest in ensuring that all Ethiopians achieve prosperity, self-reliance, and resiliency.
“Together we desire a future of resiliency, where nobody – not a farmer in East Haraghe, nor a pastoralist in the Borena Zone – need wonder how they’ll manage the next meal for their children,” said USAID/Mission Director Sean Jones, at the launch event for both new activities in Addis Ababa. Also in attendance were representatives from the Ministry of Finance for Economic Cooperation, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Oromia regional state.
While this week’s investments will dramatically improve the lives of citizens across Oromia, USAID is likewise investing in the PSNP 5 in every region it is implemented. This week’s newly launched activities builds upon over 220 billion Birr that USAID has invested over the last 5 years to empower Ethiopians across in the country and help people lead healthier, more resilient, and more prosperous lives.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia.
