Despite some minor differences for various reasons, Ethiopians have always glued themselves whenever bad times come. A number of organizations in different parts of the world and Ethiopians residing abroad and friends of Ethiopia have now been frontlines in due course of making Ethiopia’s voice heard loud. They are also urging the entire world to well take at what step and avenue Ethiopia is found right now into account.
Needless to state, the contribution of diaspora to the development carried out in country of origin and residence is both an individual and collective undertaking whose manifestations vary markedly among different groups.
The world is at present in a position to well comprehend what kind of country Ethiopia is and how committed and lovable Ethiopians are! This is real a promising move to introduce Ethiopia to the rest of the world particualrly to those who have never taken the nature of Ethiopians into consideration.
Yes, having difference in various circumstances is natural and investable, too. However, whenever a common agenda and national interest comes, all citizens of the country start making synergy and are ready to well triumphant over the foes challenging the nation and baffle its positive stride towards democracy and transformation.
The passing of a joint resolution of the Ethiopian Diaspora Agency and Coalition of Civil Society Organizations is a case in point in this regard.
Passing a range of ups and downs for close to thirty years and peculiarly indulging in unfortunate circumstances following a three years old reform, Ethiopia is advancing towards prosperity and development amid a number of challenges it is currently facing. Of the very challenges it is now confronting, the case of the Grand Ethiopian renaissance Dam (GERD) takes the lions share. This issue calls for the combined effort of all. That is why the Ethiopian Diasporas Agency and Coalition of Civic Organizations are working day in and day out to well inform and urge the international community, various international organizations, missions, partners and friends of Ethiopia as well as countries whose bilateral or multilateral ties with this strategic nation about the real face of it.
This doesn’t mean that the Diaspora and civic society organizations are only working on the GERD. They have always concerns on each and every aspect of their country. Such a promising encouragement is of paramount importance in accelerating the all rounded effort of the government and citizens at home.
Thanks to the visionary leadership and real patriotic citizenry diligently working to change misfortunes to green pastures, Ethiopia has now been hopping up to hit the ladder of success. Be that as it may, Ethiopia needs to be backed as hardships have highly la-di-da its normal trajectory. Hence, the need to be backed by friends and collaborators has to be met in time.
If the Diaspora community and civil society organizations have taken the assignment at overseas via vividly unveiling Ethiopia’s current status in all aspects, citizens at home have to fortify unity, fraternity, sense of belongingness to one another in particular and to the blessed mother land in general leveling all minor differences which are taken as fertile grounds and advantages by anti-Ethiopia and anti-progress elements to accomplish their ill-equipped mission and destructive move born to rivalry.
Cognizant of this fact, a number of international organizations are keenly following the up-to-the-minute developments in the country. Though the unrests created following the ethnocentric hostility sowed for over thirty years are unfortunate and of great concern, the world has shown great interest to assist this great nation acknowledging the all rounded efforts to come out of the trouble and poverty it finds itself in.
The firm stance Ethiopia has been portraying and the consistence utterance with regard to its dam and its commitment to set up a democratic and legitimate government via a sole means of assuming power—election—under the framework of its laws has won the confidence of all.
Apart from the organizations practically engaged in providing a number of humanitarian assistances for internally displaced citizens in Ethiopia, many other have pledged to do their level best help Ethiopia in due course of rehabilitating conflict affected citizens, fostering developmental moves and ensuring peace and serenity across its territory.
Not only are the Diaspora community and Coalition of Civil Society Organizations keen to help Ethiopia resist the hurdles challenging its effort to end poverty and continue fostering development and growth journey, but a number of developed states, international institutions and humanitarian agencies are also on the pipeline to help assist the country in its effort geared towards making its vision a reality—defeating poverty via ensuring food self-sufficiency, conducting a democratic elections and completing its hydropower projects.
Interestingly, World Bank (WB), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other prominent organizations are to help end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity for Ethiopians. Even the World Bank Group is supporting Ethiopia to address its citizen’s demands for basic human services such as education, health, clean water, and livelihood support, and women empowerment, social and environmental protection across the nation.
The interventions of international organizations like that of WB have been helping Ethiopia record significant progress in key development spheres such as education expansion, child mortality and poverty reduction as well as access to clean water and sanitation. Despite all these remarkable achievements, Ethiopia is still facing many challenges and requires unremitting support to reach its development objectives to improve the living conditions of the over 110 population.
As a number of or international generations do not have the mandate to get involved in the internal governance issues of its member states, they have solely focused on assisting nations in their social, economic and other related aspects. They are doing the same in Ethiopia for the latter is an international strategic partner.
Ethiopia is committed to bring about transformation with a more democratic, prosperous, and resilient society with accountable and independent institutions. Taking all its endeavors to bring about change and prosperity, the diaspora community and foreigners of Ethiopian origins and Ethiopia’s friends as well as other national and international organizations have been doing their level best to back the nation well.
As leant from the joint resolution of the Diaspora Agency and coalition of civil societies Organizations, they are really keen to engage themselves in supporting Ethiopia’s efforts and help accelerate its implementation via helping manage vested interests.
Humanitarian aid in conflict-affected areas of the nation is being well carried out by these bodies coupled with a range of international organizations after taking the reality on the ground in Ethiopia into account. True, their involvement can be seen as an enabling factor for such a promising development strides.
Apart from providing the nation with a sign of relief in soothing the burning challenges, assistances from different bodies can motivate Ethiopia to register additional promising socio-economic transformations.
In a nut shell, the vision of Ethiopia to be a prosperous, democratic and strategic east African country within the shortest time possible can be made real as a result of the combined effort of all. The role the Diaspora Agency and coalition of civil societies Organizations play in supporting Ethiopia to come out of the complex challenges is really an untold step. Other organizations and Ethiopia’s friends and cooperative institutions, individuals, and organizations have to follow their footsteps, indeed.
BY MENGESHA AMARE
The Ethiopian Herald May 14/2021
