Addis Ababa, August 17, 2024 (FBC) – The second phase of the Lowlands Livelihood Resilience Project was officially approved today, aiming to improve the lives of 3 million Ethiopians across seven regions and Dire Dawa city administration, according to the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands (MILLs).
The five-year flagship project has secured 424 million USD in funding, with the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) as primary donors.
Drawing from the successes of the first phase, the second phase of project will be implemented in partnership with relevant government ministries.
Accordingly, the MILLs convened a steering committee meeting today to evaluate the outcomes of the first phase of the Lowlands Livelihood Resilience Project, setting goals for the second phase of the project.
Minister of Irrigation and Lowlands, Abraham Belay, emphasized the importance of conducting a thorough on-the-ground assessment of the first phase’s impact by gathering feedback directly from beneficiaries.
He underscored the need to leverage the lessons learned from the initial phase to optimize the implementation of the second phase.
All government institutions must take their respective assignments seriously for the effective implementation of the second phase, he stressed.
“We should identify, implement and assess the impact of the project in a participatory and inclusive way as well as in a coordinated and effective way,” the minister underscored.
The second phase of the project will be implemented in five years, starting from June 2024 and will conclude in 2029.
The plan set for the second phase of the project was approved and its implementation will be reviewed after six months, the minister noted.
This project aims to uplift the lives of an estimated 3 million people across seven regions of Ethiopia and Dire Dawa City Administration, it was indicated.
The beneficiaries will be identified from 120 woredas.
The IDA) has pledged a substantial grant of 340 million US dollar while the IFAD will contribute 80 million US dollar.
Additional 4 million US dollar funding is earmarked for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the project’s scope, it was learned.
The Lowlands Livelihood Resilience Project is anticipated to play a pivotal role in addressing the challenges faced by communities in Ethiopia’s lowlands, contributing to sustainable livelihoods, economic growth, and improved resilience to climate change.
The MILLs signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the participating ministries and institutions for seamless execution of the project.
The steering committee meeting brought together high level government officials, including Labor and Skills Minister Muferiat Kamil, Water and Energy Minister Habtamu Itefa, Agriculture State Minister Fikru Regasa, representative from Ministry of Finance and Ethiopian Meteorological Institute Director-General Fetene Teshome.