Ethiopia and Denmark discuss upcoming five-year Country Program

Addis Ababa, March 19, 2025) – Denmark has reaffirmed its commitment to Ethiopia’s development through its forthcoming country program. High-level discussions took place in Addis Ababa between Semereta Sewasew and a high-level delegation from Denmark, led by Ambassador Sune Krogstrup, Ambassador of Denmark to Ethiopia, this week.

During the meeting, State Minister Semereta acknowledged and appreciated the alignment of Denmark’s development cooperation with Ethiopia’s priorities, particularly in the context of its macro-economic reforms. Ambassador Krogstrup emphasized that the Danish program development has been crafted in close consultation with key Ethiopian ministries, including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Development, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ambassador Krogstrup highlighted the presence of a thorough two-week appraisal mission from Copenhagen currently assessing the proposed program. He noted optimism that the program’s strategic focus areas strongly resonate with Ethiopia’s development agenda.

The upcoming Danish country program is set to focus on three overarching strategic priorities that aim to foster sustainable development in Ethiopia.

First and foremost, the program will work on strengthening resilience and creating future opportunities for the Ethiopian people. This effort will include the continuation of support for important initiatives such as the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP), the ONE WASH national program, and the consolidated water account, all of which are designed to enhance water management and improve food security.

The second priority centers around supporting inclusive green growth. This initiative is intended to promote environmentally sustainable practices that benefit all segments of society, ensuring that economic development does not come at the expense of the environment.

Finally, the program aims to promote human rights, social cohesion, and peace and stability within the country. To achieve this, support will be extended to the European Human Rights Commission, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to assist with disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) and elections, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which will focus on addressing issues related to criminal justice and gender-based violence.

Through these three strategic priorities, the Danish country program aspires to drive meaningful change and progress in Ethiopia, fostering a brighter and more equitable future.

The discussions also highlighted the importance of fostering private sector investment and collaborative engagement. Ms. Semereta acknowledged the global decline in development aid budgets and its potential consequences for Ethiopia, and the underlined the government’s effort and commitment to co-financing initiatives and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the supported programs.

She has also expressed the positive spillover effect of the ongoing macroeconomic reforms within the country that involve regulatory and policy improvements in sectors such as electricity, customs, and tax administration, alongside efforts to enhance public sector financial transparency.

Both sides expressed their commitment to a strong and productive partnership, with the anticipation of the new country program receiving final approval in June of this year.