EU funds for Ethiopian food security
The European Union (EU) has announced that it will provide €50 million to improve food security and build resilience to drought in southern and eastern Ethiopia. The project is part of the Supporting Horn of Africa Resilience (SHARE) initiative taken by EU Commissioners Andris Piebalgs and Kristalina Georgieva.
The new funds will help to boost food security in the lowland areas of Ethiopia through a series of long-term measures: for example, it will support a mechanism that provides cash and food to vulnerable people in case of a shock (eg during a drought) and will improve nutrition, for instance by promoting dietary diversification and the local production of vegetables, milk and forage.
The assistance will also strengthen animal health services and support livestock vaccination campaigns, as well as the management of natural resources such as water and grazing lands. The various activities will help families get more income and be better prepared to cope with any further droughts or shocks.
"The EU has already done all it can to address the immediate impact of drought in Ethiopia through its humanitarian assistance. Now, with this new programme, we will be helping Ethiopian people in the longer-term; providing support to help them rebuild their lives, make a living, and make sure they are well equipped to deal with droughts that will inevitably come again in the future." said Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs.
Kristalina Georgieva, Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, added: "The EU's SHARE initiative effectively links humanitarian assistance with longer-term development aid to better protect vulnerable populations in the Horn of Africa from recurrent drought and hunger. Through SHARE they will be better prepared to resist such shocks in the long run. SHARE is a prime example for how we can ensure better coherence of EU external assistance instruments and a maximum impact of our aid for the benefit of the targeted populations".
The Horn of Africa is plagued by recurrent droughts, which often translate into emergencies, with high levels of malnutrition and food insecurity. Increasing demographic pressures on natural resources, along with poor infrastructure, an absence of alternative livelihoods, and insecurity, make people particularly vulnerable to droughts in this region.
The SHARE initiative provides additional support to the most affected regions of the Horn of Africa, improves disaster preparedness and helps to better link humanitarian aid and development cooperation.
The new funds will help to boost food security in the lowland areas of Ethiopia through a series of long-term measures: for example, it will support a mechanism that provides cash and food to vulnerable people in case of a shock (eg during a drought) and will improve nutrition, for instance by promoting dietary diversification and the local production of vegetables, milk and forage.
The assistance will also strengthen animal health services and support livestock vaccination campaigns, as well as the management of natural resources such as water and grazing lands. The various activities will help families get more income and be better prepared to cope with any further droughts or shocks.
"The EU has already done all it can to address the immediate impact of drought in Ethiopia through its humanitarian assistance. Now, with this new programme, we will be helping Ethiopian people in the longer-term; providing support to help them rebuild their lives, make a living, and make sure they are well equipped to deal with droughts that will inevitably come again in the future." said Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs.
Kristalina Georgieva, Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, added: "The EU's SHARE initiative effectively links humanitarian assistance with longer-term development aid to better protect vulnerable populations in the Horn of Africa from recurrent drought and hunger. Through SHARE they will be better prepared to resist such shocks in the long run. SHARE is a prime example for how we can ensure better coherence of EU external assistance instruments and a maximum impact of our aid for the benefit of the targeted populations".
The Horn of Africa is plagued by recurrent droughts, which often translate into emergencies, with high levels of malnutrition and food insecurity. Increasing demographic pressures on natural resources, along with poor infrastructure, an absence of alternative livelihoods, and insecurity, make people particularly vulnerable to droughts in this region.
The SHARE initiative provides additional support to the most affected regions of the Horn of Africa, improves disaster preparedness and helps to better link humanitarian aid and development cooperation.
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