Ethiopia, U.S. Sign Five-Year Feed the Future Declaration of Partnership

Addis Ababa April 12/2019 Ethiopia and the United States have signed new five-year Feed the Future declaration of partnership to improve food security.      

The multi-sector strategy that remains until 2024 was signed between Minister of Agriculture Oumer Hussein and Deputy Administrator of USAID Bonnie Glick.

The declaration of partnership is aimed at investing and renews commitment in agriculture, nutrition, food security, building resilience and accelerate economic growth opportunities in Ethiopia, it was indicated.

Agriculture Minister Oumer Hussein said Ethiopia is doing well by allocating more than 10 percent of its budget to agriculture and properly used supports.

“We will change the sector by integrating with related areas focusing on Woredas and household levels to bring difference... So we are using the funds that we get from partners for a different reason than in the past.” he said.

He added that “the current intervention of our agriculture is rain fail approach and we planned to change it into irrigation by utilizing water potentials.”

Ethiopia is one of 12 partner countries worldwide chosen to participate in this new phase of Feed the Future initiative, it was indicated.

Deputy USAID Administrator, Bonnie Glick on her part said signing of the declaration of partnership reaffirms U.S government’s commitment to ensure for Ethiopians to enjoy healthiest, prosperous and secure life in the future.

 “Today represents a milestone in our joint efforts to reduce poverty, malnutrition and vulnerability to drought,” Bonnie Glick pointed out.

Over 10 U.S government agencies are joining forces and bringing their expertise and resources to the initiative, she added.

According to her, the new Feed the Future will compliment Ethiopia’s more than 3 own multi sector initiatives.

The United States has invested about 4 billion USD to Ethiopia for developmental and humanitarian assistance in the past five years.