ILO, Embassy of Japan in Ethiopia showcased the enhanced disaster resilience in Kebribeyah, Jigjiga town
ADDIS ABABA (ILO News) – The International Labor Organization (ILO) together with the Embassy of Japan in Ethiopia organized an official event on the occasion of the completion of the project to enhance disaster resilience through employment-intensive water works, supported by the Government of Japan, in Jijiga town, Somali regional state, Ethiopia.
The event was officially held jointly by H.E. Mr. Alexio Musindo, ILO Director for Ethiopia, and H.E. Ms. Ito Takako, Japanese Ambassador to Ethiopia. The event was also enjoyed by a wide range of participants from various key partners, including Dr Abdulkadir Iman – Head of the Regional Bureau of Agriculture and Natural Resources Development, Ms. Medhanit Mulugeta, Zonal Coordinator of Refugee and Returnee Service, Mr. Ali Mohammed Deputy Mayor of Jigjiga City Administration as well as a representative from Kebribeyah City Administration.
During the event, the ILO showcased its role in forced displacement response and how this Japan-funded project assisted its existing support for the country in particular the vulnerable communities in Kebribeyah and Jijiga under the PROSPECTS Partnership. The event also underscored the critical partnership with the international NGO CORE, registered in Japan, and introduced its labour-based approaches to construct seven detention ponds in the three districts of the Fafan Zone, using the Japanese Do-nou technology, an appropriate tool which complements the ILO's EIIP approaches.
These approaches maximize the input of local labour, materials, tools and equipment through local suppliers to maximize the community ownership of the intervention. Through this job creation scheme, the ILO mainstreamed decent work principles.
The project had an economic empowerment arm that boosted the economic livelihoods of the affected and high-risk communities. This was attained through the creation of jobs for community members. They were hired for the construction of water retaining structures to control floods, water and sanitation facilities and other essential public works. The project created over 23K workdays. The employment of women has ensured observance of basic women’s rights. This included providing pregnant and nursing mothers with flexible working hours for antenatal care and breastfeeding respectively. Women were also allowed to swap roles with colleagues whenever they were unable to report to work.
In his opening remark, ILO Country Director for the Horn of Africa, Mr. Alexio Musindo reiterated that the occasion is not to close a project but officially sign-off the administrative phase of the work as the system already in place is going to continue to operate. “Much appreciation to the Japan Embassy, RRS and the Somali Regional Government for working with us in this disaster resilience initiative that helps refugees and host communities fight back the effects of droughts in Kebribeyah and Jigjiga.” Mr. Alexio added.
Ms. ITO Takako, Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia on her part, stated, “ It is my ardent wish that the technology used in the construction of the detention ponds and the rehabilitation techniques transferred through this project will be disseminated to other areas in the region, especially to the areas most affected by drought.”.
“Jigjiga is known to suffer from floods and land degradation. So, the disaster resilience works conducted by the ILO with financial support from the Government of Japan are crucial in alleviating these problems in Kebribeyah and Jigjiga”, said H.E. Dr. Abdulkadir Iman, Head of the Regional Bureau of Agriculture and Natural Resources Development.
Participants to the event also paid a site visit to one of the detention ponds sites, Diba, and met with the community members to hear about the project benefits and impacts.
The people of the Fafan Zone of the Somali region of Ethiopia have for many years suffered from successive seasons of drought and seasonal flooding. The drought and floods destroyed their lives and property that jeopardized agricultural and livestock production across the region, adversely affecting people’s livelihoods. This aggravates the existing socio-economic challenges that the communities already faced, which further reduced the social security of the population. Drought and flooding are major climate change hazards that Ethiopia continues to grapple with.
The event was officially held jointly by H.E. Mr. Alexio Musindo, ILO Director for Ethiopia, and H.E. Ms. Ito Takako, Japanese Ambassador to Ethiopia. The event was also enjoyed by a wide range of participants from various key partners, including Dr Abdulkadir Iman – Head of the Regional Bureau of Agriculture and Natural Resources Development, Ms. Medhanit Mulugeta, Zonal Coordinator of Refugee and Returnee Service, Mr. Ali Mohammed Deputy Mayor of Jigjiga City Administration as well as a representative from Kebribeyah City Administration.
During the event, the ILO showcased its role in forced displacement response and how this Japan-funded project assisted its existing support for the country in particular the vulnerable communities in Kebribeyah and Jijiga under the PROSPECTS Partnership. The event also underscored the critical partnership with the international NGO CORE, registered in Japan, and introduced its labour-based approaches to construct seven detention ponds in the three districts of the Fafan Zone, using the Japanese Do-nou technology, an appropriate tool which complements the ILO's EIIP approaches.
These approaches maximize the input of local labour, materials, tools and equipment through local suppliers to maximize the community ownership of the intervention. Through this job creation scheme, the ILO mainstreamed decent work principles.
The project had an economic empowerment arm that boosted the economic livelihoods of the affected and high-risk communities. This was attained through the creation of jobs for community members. They were hired for the construction of water retaining structures to control floods, water and sanitation facilities and other essential public works. The project created over 23K workdays. The employment of women has ensured observance of basic women’s rights. This included providing pregnant and nursing mothers with flexible working hours for antenatal care and breastfeeding respectively. Women were also allowed to swap roles with colleagues whenever they were unable to report to work.
In his opening remark, ILO Country Director for the Horn of Africa, Mr. Alexio Musindo reiterated that the occasion is not to close a project but officially sign-off the administrative phase of the work as the system already in place is going to continue to operate. “Much appreciation to the Japan Embassy, RRS and the Somali Regional Government for working with us in this disaster resilience initiative that helps refugees and host communities fight back the effects of droughts in Kebribeyah and Jigjiga.” Mr. Alexio added.
Ms. ITO Takako, Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia on her part, stated, “ It is my ardent wish that the technology used in the construction of the detention ponds and the rehabilitation techniques transferred through this project will be disseminated to other areas in the region, especially to the areas most affected by drought.”.
“Jigjiga is known to suffer from floods and land degradation. So, the disaster resilience works conducted by the ILO with financial support from the Government of Japan are crucial in alleviating these problems in Kebribeyah and Jigjiga”, said H.E. Dr. Abdulkadir Iman, Head of the Regional Bureau of Agriculture and Natural Resources Development.
Participants to the event also paid a site visit to one of the detention ponds sites, Diba, and met with the community members to hear about the project benefits and impacts.
The people of the Fafan Zone of the Somali region of Ethiopia have for many years suffered from successive seasons of drought and seasonal flooding. The drought and floods destroyed their lives and property that jeopardized agricultural and livestock production across the region, adversely affecting people’s livelihoods. This aggravates the existing socio-economic challenges that the communities already faced, which further reduced the social security of the population. Drought and flooding are major climate change hazards that Ethiopia continues to grapple with.
For further information, please contact
| Mr. Dejene Sakoume Communication Officer Embassy of Japan T: +251-11 667 1166 M: +251 91 175 3486 E: dejene.sakoume@ad.mofa.go.jp | Mr. Chekole Moges Habtu Programme Officer ILO CO-Addis Ababa T: +251 115 44 4409 M: +251 911 72 02 83 E: habtu@ilo.org |