UNDP hands over modern composting machineries and equipment to six major cities in Ethiopia to ensure robust solid waste management and address existing environmental challenges.

The new composting technologies was handed through the Ministry of Urban Development and Construction (MUDC) to cities of Bishoftu, Adama, Bahir Dar, Dire Dawa, Mekelle and Hawassa. The machineries will boost the amount & quality of compost production, enhance creation of new jobs & improve urban and rural agricultural productivity.

The handover ceremony was held in the presence of H. E Minister Engineer Ayisha Mohamed, Minister of Ministry of Urban Development and Construction and Cleophas Torori, UNDP Ethiopia Deputy Resident Representative of Programme.

Ethiopian cities with fastest-growing urban population in sub-Saharan Africa struggles from environmental degradation, lack of open greenery areas and inadequate infrastructure to ensure robust urban waste management.

To address the environmental and climate-related challenges in Ethiopian cities and towns, UNDP partnered with the Ministry of Urban Development and Construction to implement the Ethiopian NAMA COMPOST Project. Since its launch in 2017, NAMA COMPOST Project supported the conversion of 70 to 80 per cent of organic waste generated by cities to compost and development of urban green infrastructure. It also created 22,400 temporary and permanent jobs, rehabilitated more than 21,000 hectares of degraded land and helped to convert 300,000 tons of organic waste to 91,000 tons of compost.

On the sidelines of the handover ceremony, a new project agreement was signed between UNDP, MUDC and city representatives to initiate a new project that focuses on multi-sectoral response to COVID-19.

The new project, also known as ‘Supporting an Inclusive and Multi-Sectoral Response to COVID-19 and Addressing its Socio-Economic Impact in Ethiopia’ will strengthen health systems; ensure inclusive and integrated crisis management and responses; and address the socio-economic impact of COVID-19. The socio-economic component of the project will focus on livelihoods improvement with a major focus jobs creation and Micro, Small and Medium enterprises development and recovery.

The project will be implemented by Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Urban Development and Construction, Job Creation Commission and National Disaster Risk Management Commission with the financial support of the Government of Japan and UNDP.