Government of the Federal Democratic Republic Ethiopia to provide core funds to icipe

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, through the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Council (EARC), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoA), with icipe, to grant the Centre unrestricted core funding for five years (2018 – 2022).

“Ethiopia and icipe have had a longstanding relationship, which started with signing of the Centre’s Charter by the country’s Government in 1992. Since then, several agreements have been signed between icipe and various Ethiopian line ministries and diverse partners, including EARC, leading to the implementation of a wide range of developmental programmes across the Ethiopia,” noted Dr Kassu Yilala, Chairman, EARC, and Advisor to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia on agricultural policies.

He added: “As a result, over the years, icipe has impacted the lives of many Ethiopian farmers and the general public by providing environmentally friendly, easy to use and affordable tools to control disease vectors of people and livestock, and pests that hinder agricultural production. In addition, icipe has played a critical role in the sustainable exploitation of beneficial insects like silkworms and bees  for income generation and youth employment,  while  enhancing capacity at all levels in Ethiopia. Indeed, the aspect of capacity building and institutional strengthening has been one of icipe’s major impacts, and one that the Government greatly appreciates.” 

“We highly appreciated the core funding from the Government of Ethiopia, which will co-finance icipe’s day-to-day operations as well as ongoing restricted projects,” said icipe Director General, Dr Segenet Kelemu.

icipe’s ongoing initiatives in Ethiopia include: integrated vector management for malaria, commercial beekeeping, and Push-Pull technology, funded by Biovision Foundation for Ecological Development, Switzerland; Integrated Biological Control Applied Research Program (IBCARP), funded by the European Union to support the adoption of the Centre’s technologies and strategies for improved cereal, horticulture and livestock productivity; the Mastercard Foundation-funded Young Entrepreneurs in Silk and Honey (YESH) project; and the maize, rice, chickpea integrated pest management (IPM) project funded by USAID Feed the Future through Virginia Tech University, USA.

Moreover, the icipe Ethiopia office has established itself as a leader in capacity building for farmers, and mid and high-level professionals. Since 2004, icipe has trained 14 Ethiopian PhD and MSc students, with a further eight students enrolled in icipe’s postgraduate programmes. Most of the graduates are currently engaged in activities related to research and development, or in institutions of higher learning in Ethiopia, making valuable contributions to the country’s national developmental agenda.

icipe intends to stay relevant and to maintain its strategic partnership with the Government, and other partners, and to continue contributing to the country’s Growth and Transformation Program.

icipe will capitalise on its unique mandate and holistic 4Hs (Human Health, Animal Health, Plant Health and Environmental Health) approach to research and development activities.

Tags: