Ethiopia, United States Sign 1.2 Billion Birr Agreements

  Addis Ababa, August 13 (ENA)--Cooperation agreements amounting to 155 million US Dollars (1.2 Billion Birr) were signed here on Monday between the governments of Ethiopia and the United States of America. 

 The agreements signed at the Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation (MEDaC) provide development support in the areas of basic education, democracy and governance, health, food and agriculture, and a special project targeting pastoralists.

  U.S. Embassy Charge de' affaires, Thomas Hull, and Vice Minister of MEDaC, Dr. Mulatu Teshome, joined by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Country Director, Douglas Sheldon, signed the agreements on behalf of their governments.

 Dr. Mulatu said the agreements were aimed, among others, at enhancing the quality and equity of the primary education system as well as improving family health through increasing the use of primary and preventive health care services.

 The agreements would also enable to increase household food security in line with the country’s national food security strategy, the vice-minister said.

  He said the grant would be used to promote democracy and good governance as well as to improve the livelihoods of pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in two zones of the Somali State and one zone in Oromia regional State on pilot basis.

 

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