On 12 December 2017, the European Commission announced 13 new actions worth €174.4 million under the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa to support refugees and host communities in the Horn of Africa region.
At this occasion, Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica said: “The European Union stands by refugees and local populations in the Horn of Africa. With today’s new actions worth €174.4 million, we are stepping up our support – to protect vulnerable migrants, to create economic opportunities on the ground and to foster stability in the region.” The Trust Fund was established in 2015 in order to address the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement. A total of 13 new actions have been approved today, each of them tailored to the specific needs on the ground.
In Ethiopia, three new projects will focus on creating employment opportunities and providing energy access to refugees and local populations (total of €38.05 million).
- The programme “Leather Initiative for Sustainable Employment Creation (LISEC) in Ethiopia” (EU Trust Fund contribution: €15 million ) aims at creating greater economic and decent employment opportunities, especially for young men and women through the development of the Ethiopian leather industry and the Modjo leather industrial park. This programme proposes a new vision towards inclusive and sustainable industrial development that protects the environment and supports social inclusion. The programme will be implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC) and by a partnership of national and international non-governmental organisations.
- The programme “Stimulating economic opportunities and job creation for refugees and host communities in Ethiopia in support of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) in Ethiopia” (EU Trust Fund contribution: €20 million ) aims at supporting the implementation of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) to shift from a ‘care and maintenance’ or camp-based model of refugee assistance to an approach, which emphasises refugee self-reliance, refugee mobility in-country and the integration of refugees into regional and national development processes. The programme will be implemented by UNHCR, the World Bank and organisations with experience in private sector development.
- The programme “Shire Alliance: Energy Access for Host Communities and Refugees in Ethiopia” (EU Trust Fund contribution: €3.05 million ) aims atimproving the living conditions in host and refugee communities by creating livelihood opportunities, enhancing local capacity building and improving access to energy services. The beneficiaries are around 40 000 members of the host and refugee communities in and around Adi-Harush, Mai Aini and Hitsats refugee camps. The programme will be implemented by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID).
