ADDIS ABABA – The government of Japan has signed an agreement with UNDP to provide three million US dollars for the multi-partner programme Supporting Election for Ethiopia’s Democracy Strengthening (SEEDS).
The 40 million USD multi-partner SEEDS programme seeks to strengthen the institutional capacity of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) to efficiently deliver on its mandate to enhance public trust and confidence in the election process.
The financing agreement was signed between Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia Daisuke Matsunaga and UNDP Ethiopia’s Resident Representative Turhan Saleh in the presence of Birtukan Mideksa, Chairperson of NEBE.
Birtukan stated that the transparency of the ballot box was symbolic of the commitment of NEBE to ensure a transparent election process that would make everyone proud. In previous elections, Ethiopia had not used transparent ballot box and this had been a cause for complaints and suspicions, she recalled.
Japans financial support will go towards the procurement of ballot boxes and indelible ink markers to avoid double voting. These equipment will have internationally approved standards to enhance the credibility and transparency of Ethiopia’s election scheduled for May 2020, Birtukan explained.
During the signing ceremony, Ambassador Daisuke also said that the government of Japan supports to provide ballot boxes and indelible ink to mark people’s fingers to determine if they have voted, worth a total of 3 million USD, which is equivalent to nearly 87 million Birr.
“In Ethiopia, where various reforms underway and I expect that the upcoming election will help to improve the lives of the Ethiopian people,” he said.
Turhan for his part said: “I am confident that with the commitment of national leaders and authorities, a spirit of national unity among all Ethiopians, and the strong support of development partners, success will be within reach – opening the door to the brighter future that Ethiopia amply deserves.”
Turhan also said: “We are here today because we are committed to free, fair, credible, peaceful and inclusive national elections in 2020 that leave no one behind.”
UNDP brings extensive experience to Ethiopia, on average, annually providing electoral assistance to about 60 countries, including in fragile and post conflict settings, it was learnt.
The Ethiopian Herald August 17/ 2019
BY HAILE DEMEKE
