European Union delegation to visit ILO project that assists reintegration of Ethiopian Migrants

ADDIS ABABA (ILO News) – High Representative/Vice-President Frederica Mogherini, EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy /Vice-President of the Commission will be visiting the new EU funded International Labour Organization (ILO)/ WISE project “Support to the Reintegration of Returnees in Ethiopia “on 20th of October, 2015.

The purpose of this visit is to gain a first-hand insight into a project supported by the European Union and learn about the nature and impact of the interventions on both returnees and their local communities.

Facts and Figures:

• The forced repatriation of 163,018 (100,688 males, 53,732 females and 8,598 children) Ethiopian migrants in 2013/2014 from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), combined with a significant of reported cases of abuse and mistreatment of migrants drew considerable attention to the plight of Ethiopian migrant workers.
• Although the repatriation was massive and unexpected, the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) together with other stakeholders have successfully managed the process. However, there is still a lot more that needs to be done in terms of creating decent livelihood opportunities and their reintegration into the Ethiopian labour market.

Project overview:

• In order to address this challenge, the ILO in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has designed a project called “Support to the Reintegration of Returnees in Ethiopia” worth € 5 million. The project is funded by the European Union and will be implemented in selected districts (Woredas) and Zones of Amhara, Tigray and Oromia regional states for the next 3 years.
• This project is part of a broader programme on improving labour migration management in Ethiopia, which aims at supporting the efforts of the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) and of stakeholders from Civil Society in improving migration management and reintegration.

Objectives:

• The overall aim of the project is to improve labour migration governance and enabling returnees to engage in productive employment and decent work. The specific objective of this project is therefore to provide individualised and rights based reintegration assistance to returnees with a particular focus on vulnerable women and girls.
• Vulnerable local communities (unemployed youth, people with disability as well as women in a vulnerable situation) will also be targeted.

Partnerships:

• The project will be implemented in close collaboration with key partners including the Ministry of Labour & Social Affairs, Anti-Trafficking Taskforce/Council, Regional Bureaus of Labour and Social Affairs, Regional Bureau of Women, Youth and Children Affairs, Technical and Vocational Training Collages, Federal and Regional Micro & Small Enterprise Development Agencies, Micro Finance’s and various civil society organizations.

Official remarks and Keynote addresses will be delivered by HR/VP Frederica Mogherini, EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission, Mr. George Okutho, Director of the ILO Country Office for Ethiopia and Somalia and W/ro Tsigie Haile, Director of WISE.

WHAT: A field visit by HR/VP Frederica Mogherini, EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission to the ILO- project “Support the Reintegration of Returnees in Ethiopia”.

WHEN: Tuesday 20th October 2015 @ 8:30 a.m.

WHERE: WISE Training Center, Hakim Mamo Sefer, Opposite previous Oromiya Education Bureau

WHO: The event is organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) with the collaboration of organization of Women in Self Employment (WISE).

Highlights for media: a bazar showcasing businesses owned by returned migrants, award ceremony and recognition of high performing businesses of returnees, Photo ops upon request.

For more detailed information, please contact

ILO Country Office for Ethiopia and Somalia | Aida Awel | +2515444165 | [email protected]