11th Multi Stakeholders Forum on WaSH, Water Resource Management and Energy Concluded

Conducted under the theme of ‘Accelerated Implementation and Improved Impact Towards Achieving the SDGs, the 11^th Multisectoral Forum on WaSH, Water Resource Management and Energy was held on June 26 and 27 in Addis Ababa.

At the Forum, H.E. Habtamu Itafa, Minister of Water and Energy urged development partners to strengthen their coordination and work towards solving the deficit of water, sanitation and energy in Ethiopia.

JICA, who is the first in groundwater research and drilling in Ethiopia, as well as one of the leaders in capacity development in the water sector – helping to establish and equip the Ethiopian Water Technology Institute (EWTI), is committed to strengthening the water sector in Ethiopia. Currently JICA is in the final stages of completing its Bahir Dar Water Supply project which is increasing water coverage from 50% to 65% and increasing daily consumption per person from 50 liters to 80 liters. This will benefit 150,000 people upon completion. Additionally, JICA will be starting a new water supply project in 6 towns in Oromia Region, to increase daily water consumption per person from 7.4 liters to 40 liters.

Kindergarten students performed a handwashing song to open the Forum. The song was written by JICA volunteers in 2018 to raise awareness on hygiene.

H.E. Habtamu Itafa, Minister of Water and Energy urged all stakeholders to work harder towards achieving the SDGs.

Various panel discussions were held to discuss lessons learned in the sector as well as to go over undertakings from the past year and look for ways forward together

JICA’s exhibition booth at the Forum where we shared with many others on our 25-year long collaboration with the Ethiopian Water Technology Institute (EWTI)