On November 20th, Japan and Ethiopia formalized a $9.6 million grant agreement for the construction of five new secondary schools in the Sidama region. The project will provide essential facilities, including desks, chairs, laboratories, and menstrual hygiene wards, benefiting approximately 3,600 students.
At the Eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 8) held in 2022 in Tunis, Japan confirmed its commitment to support capacity development to broaden access to inclusive, quality and relevant education, training and skills development in Africa. This grant aid project is one of the initiatives that puts Japan’s commitment into action by helping improve children’s access to secondary education and contributing to increase female students’ educational opportunities, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance of Ethiopia.
The signing ceremony was held at the Ministry of Finance between Shibata Hironori, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ethiopia, Ahmed Shide, Minister of Finance, and Oshima Kensuke, Chief Representative of JICA Ethiopia Office. During the ceremony, Ambassador Shibata expressed his hope that this grant aid projects will benefit children in Sidama and enrich future of Ethiopia as education is the foundation of a nation, in addition to strengthening the cordial relationship between the governments and peoples of Japan and Ethiopia.