Ethiopia, UK Sign 176 million Pound Sterling Grant Agreements

Addis Ababa  October  06/2018 Ethiopia and the United Kingdom have signed two grant agreements amounting to 176 million pound sterling yesterday. State Minister of Finance and Economic Cooperation, Admasu Nebebe, and Minister of State for Africa Harriet Baldwin signed the Memorandum of Understanding. The 110 million pound sterling would finance the Ethiopian General Education Quality Improvement Program for Equity (GEQIP-E) and the remaining 66 million pound sterling will be allotted to the Ethiopian Investment Advisory Facility Phase II (EIAF II) project. The grant for GEQIP-E is meant to support the government of Ethiopia to improve the quality of education children and young people receive using a result-based approach to drive performance. The program targets disadvantaged learners, including children with disability, in pre-primary, primary, and secondary education, particularly in emerging regions such as Somali, Afar and Benishangul Gumuz, regional states, it was learned. The 66 million pound sterling grant will enhance the effectiveness of public investment management and improve the enabling environment for exporters in Ethiopia to promote outward orientated and manufacturing-led inclusive growth in Ethiopia. At the signing ceremony, State Minister Admasu Nebebe said “the people and government of Ethiopia are extremely grateful for the continuous support made by the government of UK and the signing of these agreements is an indication of our strong partnership and signifies your government’s trust on our development direction and results.” He affirmed that the government will implement the programs in line with the agreed time frame and uses the fund for the intended purposes by ensuring value for money principle at the center of the endeavor. Minister of State for Africa, Harriet Baldwin on her part said “the agreements signed will mean closer and more productive collaboration between our two countries.” She added that UK “will continue to support the ambitions of our partners, like Ethiopia, to build a stronger, more prosperous and more peaceful region.”