Ethiopia, WFP sign over 56 million US Dollars grant agreement

Addis Ababa, February 6(ENA)-- Ethiopia and the World Food Program (WFP) signed a four year grant agreement amounting to 56.1 million US Dollars here on Thursday.

Sate Minister of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED) Dr. Mulu Ketsella and WFP country director Georgia Shaver signed the grant agreement.

According to the agreement , 53 million US Dollar would be given in the form of food aid and the balance in cash.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mulu said out of the total grant 43.1 million USD was allotted for managing Environmental resources project.

She said the project was aimed at improving the livelihoods of rural communities especially those headed by women in the Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, Somali, South Ethiopia peoples' states as well as the Dire Dawa administrative Council.

Some 7.58 Million USD will be used for promoting education through school feeding projects in Tigray, Afar, Amhara, Oromia and Somali states while the balance earmarked to undertake HIV/AIDS intervention activities in Addis Ababa , Adama and DireDawa towns.

Shaver said on her part that the country program of the WFP has been designed under the frame work of the government policy instruments including the Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Program.

She said WFP would focus on groups vulnurable to food insecurity and continue to providing support in the effort geared to eradicate extreme poverty.

The Current cooperation agreement would last from 2003-2006.

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