Promoting Cross-Border Cooperation for Borderland Development and Improving Livelihoods of Border C

03:54 AM November, 25 2019

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Promoting Cross-Border Cooperation for Borderland Development and Improving Livelihoods of Border Communities in Western Ethiopia and Eastern Sudan
Tuesday, 26th November 2019
The Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State of Ethiopia, the Ministry of Peace of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning of the Republic of the Sudan, the Blue Nile State of Sudan and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) are convening for the launch of the Cross-Border Collaboration Programme in Western Ethiopia and Eastern Sudan (CBCES) in the afternoon of 26 November 2019 in Assosa, Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State of Ethiopia.
The Programme is funded by the European Union Trust Fund for Africa and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in cooperation with the Intergovernmental Agency on Development (IGAD). Partners are federal and regional government institutions of both, Ethiopia and Sudan.
The Programme aims to reduce conflict and improve overall living conditions by developing and enhancing economic opportunities in the border area of the Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State of Ethiopia and the Blue Nile State of Sudan. The goal is to strengthen the population’s resilience to instability and displacement as a result of climatic and economic shocks. In this regard, the programme is supporting initiatives for improving agriculture production, social infrastructure, vocational training, conflict transformation, and cross-border cooperation, mainly targeting the economic needs of young people and women. With some delay due to political dynamics in Sudan and violent conflicts in Ethiopia, implementation is now ongoing in the Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State as well as in the Blue Nile State.
On the 27th November 2019, the first Advisory Council meeting of the Programme will be convened in Assosa, Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State. High Officials from the Ministry of Peace of Ethiopia, and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning of Sudan as well as representatives from IGAD, and the EU will attend the Advisory Council meeting. The Advisory Council will deliberate on the achievements of the programme so far and will provide guidance on planned activities of the programme. It is believed that the launching event and the Advisory Council meeting will promote the smooth and effective implementation of the programme as well as to enhance cross-border cooperation. The event will also be used as a platform to exchange information and experience on challenges, potentials and strategies for the development of the border area.
Background
Populations across the Horn of Africa face frequent challenges related to food insecurity and violent conflict, particularly in border regions. These remote populations often lack basic social services and infrastructure and have to contend with limited employment opportunities and recurring food shortages. In these areas, cross-border trade offers an important opportunity for economic development, as do the strong historical ties be-tween populations on either side of borders. Increased trade and cooperation across the border has the potential to simultaneously achieve both national and regional development goals.
The border area between Benishangul-Gumuz in western Ethiopia and the Blue Nile State in eastern Sudan is home to over 1.6 million people, the majority of whom live in rural areas. Though relations between populations have generally been peaceful, a recent influx of migrants, refugees, and internally displaced people has increased pressure on the use of communal resources, such as land, and led to increased tensions between communities. Proactive efforts to resolve these issues are urgently needed to ensure the stability and continued economic development of the region.
For more information
https://www.igad.int/https://www.igad.int/ https://ec.europa.eu/trustfundforafrica/region/horn-africa_enhttps://ec.europa.eu/trustfundforafrica/region/horn-africa_en

https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/73161.htmlhttps://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/73161.html
Contact: Nuria Grigoriadis (GIZ) Phone: +251 966 334 318 E-mail: mailto:[email protected]@giz.de