JICA to Support Water Project in Ethiopia’s Somali Region

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is to launch a project named, “Jerrer Valley and Shebele Sub-Basin Water Supply Development Plan, and Emergency Water Supply”, to formulate the water supply development plan and to provide the emergency water supply equipment in the Somali Region of Ethiopia.L-R - Mr. Ota Koji, Chief Representative of JICA and Mr. Moses Okello, UNHCR Representative in Ethiopia

JICA has signed agreement with Ministry of Water and Energy of Ethiopia to implement the project estimated to cost 9 million US dollars within the one and half year duration of the project. This is the first time for JICA to directly implement a project in the Somali Region with the deployment of Japanese experts on the ground, even though JICA has 40 years of history of technical cooperation in Ethiopia.

The project is in response to the official request of the Government of Ethiopia to the Government of Japan. The 2011 drought crisis in the Horn of Africa has been the most severe emergency of its kind in this century. More than 10.4 million people remain affected in the region including a large number of Somali refugees still displaced. This part of the continent is prone to climate change and characterized by erratic and unpredictable rainfall. The Somali Region of Ethiopia is frequently affected by droughts resulting in acute water shortages.

The project outcomes include i) assessment of the potential of water resources and preparation of the water supply development plan in Jerrer Valley and Shebele Sub-Basin; ii) developing capacity of the counterpart personnel in the planning of the water supply; iii) improving the water supply in Kebribeya town; iv) conducting a feasibility study in Gode town; and v) providing emergency water supply equipment.

In order to implement the project, on 28 March 2012 JICA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Office in Ethiopia. UNHCR, with its long history and presence in the area and thorough knowledge of refugee and host communities, will assist JICA in the implementation of this project particularly in Kebribeya town which is located less than 75 kilometers from the border of Somalia. In total more than 56,000 people from the local community, who have limited access to the safe water as well as 16,400 Somali refugees in the camp will benefit from this project.

At the ceremony of signing of the MoU UNHCR Representative in Ethiopia Mr. Moses Okello expressed his gratitude to JICA, the Government of Japan and the people of Japan for extending of their assistance to the people of Ethiopia who have been generously hosting refugees. The local population and refugees need assistance, including water, what is the focus of this project, noted the UNHCR Representative. Mr. Ota Koji, Chief Representative of JICA said that Japan itself is prone to various natural disasters, therefore needs of the people of Ethiopia are well understood by the people of Japan. He added that Japanese experts are ready to start the work in the Somali region in the nearest time.

The contribution from JICA to Kebribeya town will include the drilling of two boreholes, replacement of three surface water pumps, procurement of two generators, a construction of the generator house, pipes and fittings for connection with the main water supply system as well as a construction of five communal water supply points.

This is the second joint project between JICA and UNHCR in Ethiopia. The first project was completed in September 2011 with the provision of the emergency supplies (tents and generators) from JICA to UNHCR for the Dollo Ado refugee camps which host a large number of Somali refugees, some 149,000 since July 2011.

Source: New Business Ethiopia