Germany commits additional €4 Million to support peace in northern Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, September 4, 2024 (FBC) – The Government of Germany is releasing €4 million to the United Nations Development Programme’s multi-partner Peace Support Facility (PSF), currently implemented in Afar, Amhara and Tigray regions, the Ministry of Finance disclosed.

This brings Germany’s total contribution to the PSF to €14.1 million, according to the Ministry.

“Germany’s continued support to the Peace Support Facility underscores our commitment to helping Ethiopia in healing the wounds of the devastating war in the North,” said Dr Ferdinand von Weyhe, Acting Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany. “Only dialogue and mutual trust can contribute to overcoming division and conflict. Fostering stability by supporting local governance and the rule of law, basic social services and economic revival in these regions is essential not only for the well-being of the communities affected but also for the overall peace and development of Ethiopia. Thanks to this programme, the people in many war-affected Woredas in the North will benefit from a tangible peace dividend.”

The official signing ceremony for this contribution took place today at the Ministry of Finance in Addis Ababa, in the presence of State Minister Semereta Sewasew, German Acting Ambassador, Dr Ferdinand von Weyhe, and UNDP’s Resident Representative, Mr Samuel Doe.

On the occasion, Semereta Sewasew, State Minister of Finance, stated, “The restoration of peace and liveable environment in the conflicted affected areas of the country remains one of the top priorities of the government as it has been shown by various complementary efforts. In this regard, the additional support of the Government of Germany will be an important input to strengthen the ongoing peace-building endeavours in the regions.”

The PSF supports Ethiopia’s peace-building efforts, aligning closely with the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) nexus principles and bridging immediate humanitarian relief with long-term development initiatives.