Government prepares a significant leap to better the country in the form of the ‘War recovery and reconstruction conference’, which is set to be held on Monday June 12, 2023.
At the conference, both federal government officials and regional government officials from Tigray and Afar region as well as development partners are said to participate in the meeting that will take place in Addis Ababa, at the Hyatt Regency hotel.
It is well known that the conflict in Ethiopia has significantly impacted the country’s economic trajectory, causing significant economic costs worsening livelihoods and the population’s well-being. The spillover effects which have primarily been broad-based, have affected all sectors of the economy, including agriculture and industrial activities.
Monday’s discussions are said to be made on the restoration of social cohesion, building trust and confidence in the government, and on the prioritization and reintegration of ex-combatants.
Similarly, the meeting will pay close focus on restoring critical infrastructure and social services; economic policy prioritization and sequencing given tight post-conflict fiscal resources, as well as post-conflict fiscal resource options and principles, to consolidate peace and build prosperity. It will also look at economic revival in the Amhara region, options for revenue generation in post-conflict environments, and sequencing of post-conflict economic reforms and managing the social/distributive impacts.
As seen in last two years, millions of people have been displaced as a result of the war, with a significant majority not getting adequate humanitarian aid. Despite domestic economic mobilization to cater to logistics, Ethiopia’s economy was severely impacted by the two years of bloody war.
The war which broke out in November 2020, ended courtesy of a ceasefire between, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian federal government, following a peace deal in November 2022.
The peace deal then paved the way for an inclusive and sustainable recovery, strengthening public institutions and social cohesion among all Ethiopians.
It has been indicated that the total recovery needs, are estimated at US$20 billion over 5 years to reconstruct schools, health institutions and infrastructures in the Afar, Amhara and Tigray regions of the country. As part of an effort to mobilize the required funds, the Ethiopian government strongly urged its international partners to contribute financial assistance.
The government has been indicating that it has begun implementing immediate recovery interventions revitalize affected communities and the economy from the war’s effects primarily using our own resources and by support of the World Bank. The international community has pledged emergency assistance to address urgent humanitarian needs since the conflict began
It is said that the government and development partners have conducted a damage and needs assessment (DaNa) and further developed a recovery and reconstruction plan to lay the foundation for the reconstruction process.
The conference is said to provide a forum to discuss the recently completed DaNA report and the 3RF/recovery plan for Ethiopia. It is expected to raise awareness, foster knowledge exchange, and mobilize local and international support for post-conflict economic and social recovery through improved public administration, services and livelihood restoration, infrastructure rehabilitation, and support to affected households and SMEs expected to contribute to shaping local and global efforts on the way ahead for a prosperous and stable Ethiopia.
