Ethiopian Informer
ADDIS ABABA: November 27 (EI) – Ethiopia on Wednesday launched a 20 million Euros (about 22 million U.S. dollars) European Union (EU)-funded Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) Program that aimed to promote refugee self-reliance.
The CRRF Program, which was launched in Jigjiga town, capital of Somali region on Wednesday, mainly envisaged supporting Ethiopia’s shift from camp-based model of refugee assistance to a new approach that emphasizes refugee self-reliance, refugee mobility in-country and the integration of refugees into regional and national development processes.
The EU, which funded the project, said in a statement issued on Wednesday that the initiative would ease existing pressure on Ethiopia as a major refugees host country.
The initiative is also expected to increase refugees’ self-reliance by fostering sustainable, integrated solutions for both refugees and host communities in Ethiopia in response to their developmental needs and aspirations.
“While socio-economic opportunities are assessed and developed and beneficiaries acquire relevant skills and support to enhance their economic and job opportunities, the initiative will support the transition of targeted refugees into local structures by including them into the national safety-net scheme,” an EU statement sent to the Ethiopian Informer (EI) read.
The CRRF Program will be mainly implemented in Ethiopia’s Somali regional state, with particular focus on Jigjiga town, refugee camps and surrounding host communities, it was noted
The initiative will also implement capacity building and technical assistance at federal level in Addis Ababa as well as at regional and local levels in Somali region as well as in selected other refugee hosting regions of Ethiopia.
Photo – UN Migration Agency (IOM)
