Denmark Provides $1.5m To Support Ethiopia’s Upcoming Elections

Addis Ababa, December 13, 2019 (FBC) – Denmark has signed an agreement with UNDP amounting $1.5 million to support a multi-partner election support project for Ethiopia.

The agreement was signed here today by Ambassador Karin Poulsen of Denmark and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ethiopia Resident Representative Turhan Saleh.

Ambassador Poulsen noted that, “The upcoming elections in Ethiopia are an essential part of the country´s stride towards a future of peace and prosperity. Denmark is proud to join forces with UNDP and other international partners, in a multilateral effort to secure the best possible conditions for a free and fair result.”

Today’s agreement formalizes the pledge made by the Danish Government back at the end of March 2019 during visit to Ethiopia by the Minister for Development Cooperation.

Denmark is one of 10 development partners that have so far contributed to the $ 40 million Supporting Elections for Ethiopia’s Democracy Strengthening (SEEDS) project.

The project will be implemented from 2019-2022 to help build the capacity of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE).