ILO signs agreement to address the root causes of migration through job opportunities for women and youth in Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA (ILO News) - ILO and UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) signed grant agreements with the Italian Embassy on July 28, 2016. The signed agreements are part of the Stemming Irregular Migration from Northern and Central Ethiopia (SINCE) programme that aims at creating greater employment and economic opportunities for migrants, potential migrants, refugees and returnees, and in particular for women and youth.

During the signing of the agreement H.E. Giuseppe Mistretta, Ambassador of Italy to Ethiopia, noted that the signing of the two grant agreements with ILO and UNIDO reaffirms Italy’s commitment to support the Government of Ethiopia, both bilaterally as well as in collaboration with the European Union, to address the root causes of migration.

H.E. Chantal Hebberech, Head of EU Delegation to Ethiopia, highlighted the commendable efforts by the SINCE programme in creating sustainable job opportunities to improve livelihoods of many Ethiopians, thereby contributing to the goal of the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.

Ms. Kidist Chala, representing ILO Country Office for Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan, explained the role that ILO will have:

• provide technical assistance and support to the government of Ethiopia and partners that are engaged in the implementation of this project particularly in the field of employment creation;
• enhance smooth school-to-work transition;
• conduct comprehensive studies that will add input to the national dialogues on migration governance and employment creation programs in the country.

Ms. Kidist conveyed her sincere appreciation for the support provided by the European Union and Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, through partnering with ILO in the areas of labour migration, employment creation and reintegration of migrant workers.

Mr. Jean B. Bakole, Representative and Director of UNIDO Regional Office for Africa highlighted that the promotion of an inclusive and sustainable industrial development, which is a priority for the African continent, will play a key role in mitigation of migration flows.

SINCE is funded through the ‘EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa’ which was launched on 12 November 2015 during the Valletta Summit on Migration that brought together European and African Heads of States in an effort to address current challenges of migration. The Delegation Agreement for SINCE was signed in Brussels (Belgium) on 18 December 2015 between the European Commissioner for International Cooperation and the the Italian Development Cooperation.

For more information, please contact: Aida Awel: +2515444165 | [email protected].