UNFPA and representatives of three other Excom UN Agencies signed Annual Work Plans (AWPs) with the Federal and Regional Governments of Ethiopia. The AWPs will cover the Ethiopian fiscal year commencing in July 2016 and ending in June 2017. The Heads of the UN Agencies comprising UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEFsigned the work plans with the State Minister of Finance and Economic Cooperation and the Heads of the Bureaus of Finance and Economic Development of Regions.

In his remarks on the occasion, Ato Ahmed Shide, State Minister of Finance and Economic Cooperation lauded the participatory process undertaken at all levels in the development of the AWPs. “This is a manifestation of the continued strong partnership between the UN and the Government,” he added indicating that the support rendered through the AWPs will be instrumental for the successful implementation of the Growth and Transformation Plan.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Faustin Yao, Country Representative of UNFPA, appreciated the flexibility of the Government in enabling UN Agencies to allocate meaningful resources in the AWPs in support of Emerging Regions of Ethiopia. 

The signing of the AWPs marked a culmination of a series of consultations and validation activities linked to the preparation of the AWPs.
The Annual Work Plans will be the first batch of the plans to be implemented in the UNFPA 8th County Programme which will start as of July 1 and implemented between July 2016 and June 2020.  The commencing period of the AWPs also coincides with that of Phase II of the Growth and Transformation Plan and the UN Development Assistance Framework.