Addis Ababa, July 22(ENA)--The Government of Norway has made a three-year (2003-2005) financial assistance of 7.7 million Birr to five local advocacy NGOs working in different parts of the country.

According to a press release the Norwegian Embassy sent to ENA, the funding contracts were concluded at the Embassy on Tuesday in a signing ceremony between the Norwegian Embassy in Addis Ababa and the leadership of the five NGOs.

Action Professionals' Association for People (APAP), Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCo), Ethiopian Economic Policy Research Institute (EEPRI), Forum for Social Studies (FSS) and the Inter Africa Group (IAG) will get the financial assistance from the Embassy.

APAP and IAG will get 1.07 million and 3.5 million birr assistance respectively, while the remaining three organizations will get 1.4 million birr each in assistance from the Embassy.

"By entering into three-year contracts with these organizations, the Royal Norwegian Embassy wants to signal its strong commitment to the involvement of the civil society as a pivotal development actor in Ethiopia," the release says.

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