Micheál Martin announces €15 million of development and humanitarian funding for Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, 12 July 2016 (FBC) Deputy Prime minister, Foreign Affairs and Defence Minister of Ireland, Micheál Martin, has concluded a four day visit to the Horn of Africa with a series of engagements in Addis Ababa.

Micheál Martin today met the Ethiopian Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide and outlined details of €15 million in funding from Ireland to support development and humanitarian programming to benefit those furthest behind throughout the country and in the region.

Speaking following the announcement, the Tánaiste said: “Over the past 50 years, Ireland has undergone an economic transformation into a services-led and export-oriented modern economy. It is in all our interests to support Ethiopia on its journey of economic development. We are also committed to supporting those most in need, including the victims of conflict.”

At a roundtable with the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission (ENDC), Micheál Martin met members to hear about their work on reconciliation and other national challenges, while sharing Ireland’s experience of Citizens Assemblies and peacebuilding.

Over the last five years, Ireland has provided over €415 million in bilateral funding to partners in the Horn of Africa working to provide humanitarian and long-term development assistance to vulnerable populations (primarily in Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan and Kenya), as well as providing support for conflict resolution and actions to counter the impact of climate change, he stated.

Concluding his visit to the region, the Tánaiste said: “I’ve received a warm welcome in the Horn of Africa. The visit reaffirmed that Ireland’s relationship with Kenya and Ethiopia is moving to a new phase. Meeting with students, climate action innovators, peacebuilders, humanitarian workers, community activists, and entrepreneurs, I saw first-hand the new kinds of partnerships, to reinforce prosperity and peace. The challenges facing the region are significant but so too are the opportunities, including for significant growth in two-way trade and investment.”