Ethiopia, Korea International Cooperation Agency sign $16mln grant agreement

Addis Ababa, March 21, 2024 (FBC) – Ethiopia and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) signed a 16 million USD grant agreement to encourage agricultural export and reduce stunting in children.

KOICA will start off by undertaking two projects namely Project for Improving Quality Control Standards of Agricultural Products in Ethiopia for five years with a total budget of ten million US dollars and Project on Sustainable Diversified Diets for Improved Nutrition in Seqota Declaration Woredas of Ethiopia, in collaboration with WFP, for three years with a total budget of six million US dollars.

The first project intends to achieve international recognition of Ethiopian National Quality Infrastructure services, increase export earnings, decrease sub-standard imports, and ultimately improve the share of manufacturing to GDP.

The second project aims to reduce stunting in children under five years of age through the provision of nutrient-dense foods to Pregnant and Lactating Women and their children through a fresh food voucher program.

The grant agreement was signed by Semereta Sewasew, State Minister of Finance, and Dongho Kim Vice President of Korea International Cooperation Agency.