ADDIS ABABA- Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs announced that it has been improving the lives of enormous vulnerable groups under the National Social Protection Policy of the country and joint efforts of governmental and nongovernmental organizations..
Minister Ergoge Tesfaye ( Ph.D), said that a lot of vulnerable people have been supported by Urban Productive Safety Net Project (UPSNP) and Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) to reduce their challenges. She stressed in line with the Social Protection Policy of the country that emphasized on integrated strategy, empowering the capacity of nation’s religious institutions and making the needy people the solution agent to address the problem, it is possible to address the problems of pro poor citizens.
She underscored that as injustice leads social problems, ensuring fair distribution of resources and undertaking inclusive development programs are essential to prevent the citizens from social and economic problems. She noted that as social protection in its nature is multisectoral, nongovernmental organization like USAID and UNICEF have played incalculable role for the success of the Ministry in addressing the problem of the people who live under the poverty line in the country.
She further noted that though effective measures have been undertaken to address the problem of needy people, still many people are in need of help due to displacement and different natural factors. Torbjorn Pettersson, Ambassador of Sweden to Ethiopia also said that currently his country is supporting a five year UNICEF/MoLSA partnership program piloting innovative approaches in Social Protection based on integrated systems approach in the frame work of the integrated safety net program.
In line with this, Sweden strongly supports Ethiopia’s government effort on the ongoing reforms of integration and linkages of Safety Net Program and services with other sectors to reduce fragmentation and improve coordination, he noted.
The Ethiopian Herald, May 15/2019
BY TAMERU REGASA
