The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency signed an additional 3.6 million USD agreement with UNDP and The Ministry of Finance to support governance reform initiatives in Ethiopia. The new grant will be used to support the judicial system reform and peace building initiatives, which will be delivered through the multi-stakeholder programme - Governance and Democratic Participation Programme (GDPP).

The Governance and Democratic Participation Programme provides support to multiple government and democratic institutions, to promote inclusion, social cohesion and sustainable peace; responsive and accountable systems of governance and empowered citizens. With the additional $2.5 million, the programme will be able to respond to the current reform priorities of the country, particularly conflict resolution and peace building initiatives.

The remaining $1.1 million will support judicial reform in Ethiopia. Further, this support is expected to facilitate justice forums, promote the ideals of rule of law and justice, strengthen judicial independence, accountability, and transparency, and improve court performance.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Turhan Saleh, UNDP Ethiopia Resident Representative said, “It is in the interest of UNDP to support the judicial reform in Ethiopia and for this UNDP is taking the lead in a justice sector-wide assessment in collaboration with other UN agencies and in partnership with justice sector stakeholders, the Federal Supreme Court being one of them.” Equally, conflict transformation and peace building are critical priorities of the government, and UNDP in collaboration with its international partners, is committed to support initiatives in this regard.

“The signed agreement today will help to provide Ethiopia sustain efforts towards enhancing institutional capacities and frameworks in strengthening good governance and deepening democratic participation in line with the Constitutional and International Rights Convention to which Ethiopia is a signatory,” emphasized State Minister for the Ministry of Finance of Ethiopia, Ato Admassu Nebebe.

While signing the agreement, Swedish State Secretary to the Minister for International Development Cooperation, Per Olsson Fridh said, “This is a symbolic partnership between the Government of Ethiopia and the Government of Sweden and UNDP towards the advancement of peace, of democracy, of human rights and rule of law.”

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