• Program benefits 29,410 heads comprising 102,352 family members
BY GEMECHU KEDIR
ADDIS ABABA—Addis Ababa City Administration Food Security and Safety net Development Agency announced that it has been working hard to transform the lives of residents from zero to self-reliance level via ensuring food security.
Recognizing the transformation program at an event organized on Saturday,the Agency Director Asamene Gerawork said that ensuring food security in the city is one of the priority areas of the city administration. After a long journey to attain, we are capable of transforming the lives of 29,410 households comprising a total of 102,352 family members. This program has been achieved using the finance of 300 million USD and 150 million USD from international organizations and the Ethiopian government respectively.
As to the Director, the youth from both sexes in the city are capable of carrying out a range of undertakings, but they are spending their time wandering at residential areas due to lack of job opportunities. As a result, they are exposed to food insecurity, and the Agency has attached due emphasis to address these problems sketching the program phase by phase, said the director.
The City administration has conducted food security and safety net development program in 35 selected districts and 227 sites found in all sub cities. After a scrupulous investigation, some 123,918 residents of the city are found leading a lower living standard, and have registered to be first round benefited ones.
As to the Director, most created jobs have focused on environmental development tasks like solid waste managing, green development works, water and soil conservations and constructing small infrastructure. In sum, about 425,562,700 Birr has been pumped to cover all food security and safety net development programs.
Residents said :“We had nothing before the intervention, but now we feel strong and even motivated to run social, economic and political activities, too.”
Atsede Desalegn is from Kolfe Keraniyo sub city district 9 nominated for award said “Before intervention I had no job, I stayed home and my life was miserable. After the intervention, my life has instantly been transformed. During the first round, I used to earn 1200 Birr per month engaging in hygiene meadow. After a while, I was given 13,000 Birr and started own job. Now I am a self-reliant woman.”
Mohammed Hamza is from Kolfe Keraniyo district 11. He said on his part that the intervention has dramatically changed his life. “I earned 900 Birr a month engaging in water and soil conservation tasks in the first round, and after some time I have earned 14,000 Birr and this has helped me lead an independent life.”
The Ethiopian Herald 13 April 2021
