Ethiopia is one of the 51 founding members of the United Nations and an active participant in the Charter drafting and adopting process

in 1945 in San Francisco in the United States. A few years later, one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), was established in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia.

Since then the UN in Ethiopia has been working to address various developmental and humanitarian issues to contribute to the develop-ment of the country.

The UN System in Ethiopia is one of the largest in Africa composed of representatives from 26 UN agencies and other UN entities accredited to Ethiopia as well as representatives of the Bretton Woods institutions.

Two years after the UN ‘Delivering as One’ reform initiative was launched internationally by the then UN Secretary-General, Ethiopia adopted it in 2008.

Ethiopia, as a voluntary UN ‘Delivering as One’ (DaO) country, has benefited from the structures and mechanisms put in place to enhance the UN effectiveness and efficiency. As a result, the one UN in Ethiopia, became pioneer partner of the country in meeting its developmental priorities and transformation plan.

With strong commitment of the Government, the United Nations Country Team has agreed on five key principles for Delivering as One.

One Programme: The UNCT is implementing an UNDAF (2012-2016) which is fully aligned with the Government’s Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP).

The UNDAF addresses 6 out of 7 GTP priority areas under the following four key areas of cooperation: • Sustainable Economic Growth and Risk Reduction • Basic Social Services • Governance and Capacity Development• Women, Youth and Children

One Fund: One UN Fund is set to pool additional donor resources that will be mobilized for the One Programme in January 2011. A number of donors have utilized the One UN Fund mechanism to channel resources.

One Leader: The UNCT has endorsed the Standard Operating Procedures that set out theprinciples of interaction and roles and responsibilities of the Resident Coordinator and the UNCT.

Operating as One: The Operations Management Team has been strengthening the UN’s support to programme delivery by working together to harmonize and simplify UN agencies’ business practices in several areas including aid effectiveness, common procurement, human resources, information technologies, and legal. It has finalized the Business Operations Strategy, the implementation of which will save the UNCT around US$ 13 million in material and labour costs by 2017.

One Voice: The UN Communication Group has rolled out a Delivering as One Communications Strategy, which guides UNCT engagement in media and external relations, and supports wider public understanding of the role of the UN, as well as supporting fundraising for the UN’s work in Ethiopia.

Humanitarian Coordination: The Resident Coordinator is also the Humanitarian Coordinator. Humanitarian assistance is coordinated through the Ethiopian Humanitarian Coordination Team, which includes a number of UN agencies, donor partners, and NGOs.

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Photo: One UN launching event

The UN ‘Delivering as One’ in Ethiopia

The 2014/15 Great Ethiopian Run together with the United Nations announced its Running for a Cause Campaign 2014 and Women’s Run 2015 races during a colorful event held at the Hilton Hotel on 2nd October 2014.

The two races are scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa on November 23rd 2014 and early March 2015 respectively under the theme “Empower women, Empower a nation” dedicated to promote Millennium Development Goal 3 on gender equality. Representing the United Nations Country Team in Ethiopia at the event, UNFPA Representative Mr. Faustin Yao remarked, “Gender equality is a vital means to sustainable development and we must commit to ensure gender equality in terms of providing women with equal pay for equal work; equal say in the decisions that affect their lives; access to quality education and a life free from violence.”

The 2014/2015 Great Ethiopian Run launching event was attended by representatives from the media, Ministry of Women, Children and Youth, Plan International as well as legendary athletes Haile Gebreselassie and Meseret Defar.

Since 2005, the UN and the Great Ethiopian Run also organized various races to create awareness around the Millennium Development Goal (MDG).

Every year, the UN partners with Great Ethiopian Run to promote its Running for a Cause campaign, which fundraises for local NGOs and helps raise social awareness on issues associated with children, women, the elderly, and the girl child.

In 2013 the UN’s Running for a Cause raised 1.3 million birr, which was donated to local charities selected by Ministry of Women, Children and Youth to improve their reach and capacity.

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The 2014/15 Great Ethiopian Run Launched

Photo: Athlete Meseret Defar with Mr. Faustin Yao

UN Voice

Message from Resident Coordinator

Visit www.et.one.un.org Connect with us

@UNEthiopia OneUNEthiopia

Mr. Eugene OwusuUN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator

It is fitting that we are launching the special issue of the “UN Voice in Ethiopia’ newsletter in time to mark the United Nations Day, celebrated every year on 24 October.

Ethiopia was one of the original Member States to have signed the UN Charter. The UN has been working with Ethiopian people since then, and today 26 UN agencies, funds, and programmes are based in the country, working in all regions, to support the country’s growth and trans-formation. The different parts of the UN in Ethiopia are making great strides in planning, thinking, programming, operating, and communicating together. “UN Voice in Ethiopia” will

help showcase some of the impressive results we are seeing from that enhanced coordination and effectiveness.

The UN is at the forefront of feeding populations affected by disaster; vaccinating children against life-threatening diseases; and assisting the largest refugee population in Africa. We are working with Government to expand access to treatment and care in the fight against HIV; to improve quality of education and healthcare for all, especially girls and women; and to improve agricultural outputs. We are helping Ethiopia promote green growth, generate decent work, and develop industries and local entrepreneurship. We are supporting the country in enhancing social protection, disaster risk management, and human rights.

As part of our work to ensure voices of citizens are reflected in the decisions which affect their lives, we are building the capacity of a wide range of national institutions that underpin democracy. Right now we are putting a package in place to support the general elections next year. We are very passionate to see that this programme is successfully implemented, because we see democracy and good gover-nance not as important ends in themselves. They are also important means to improve and secure development.

As we mark this UN Day, all of us in the UN will be re-dedicating ourselves to working together to build a bright future for all Ethiopians. We look forward to working with all our partners – Government, donors, civil society, the private sector, academia, and the media – to make that happen.

The UN belongs to all of us. I hope you will find ‘UN Voice in Ethiopia’ an exciting platform for learning more about the UN’s work in Ethiopia.

Inside this issue

The UN ‘Delivering as One’ in EthiopiaB+20 Campaign LaunchTemsalet: an inspiration book publishedNews and Updates

Media Council Consultative meetingPlanting Seeds of PeaceUnited Nations Day CelebrationRefugee Chior perform at the UN DayUN Family Day

Feature StoryClean water for South Sudanese RefugeesGreat Ethiopian Run

Upcoming events

Upcoming events

World Development Information Day-October 24

United Nations Day-October 24

UN Family Day Celebrations-October 25

International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict -November 6

World Malaria Day-November 10

International Day for Tolerance- November 16

Great Ethiopian Run-November 23

Media Forum November 26

World Aids Day-December 1

Inside this issue

The UN ‘Delivering as One’ in EthiopiaB+20 Campaign LaunchTemsalet: an inspiration book publishedNews and Updates

Media Council Consultative meetingPlanting Seeds of PeaceUnited Nations Day CelebrationRefugee Chior perform at the UN DayUN Family Day

Feature StoryClean water for South Sudanese RefugeesGreat Ethiopian Run

Upcoming events

UN hosted a consultative meeting for establishment of a

Media Council

Members of the Ethiopian state and private media met at the Africa Hall on 9-10 October 2014 for a national consultation to deliberate on the draft code of conduct and constitution for a proposed Ethiopi-an Media Council.

The two days were filled with intense dialogue as well as experience sharing as the media held intense debates on points of law and media ethics and journalism practices on the ground in Ethiopia. Comments on the draft constitution and code of conduct were received, which will be incorporated to finalize the drafts. Addressing the gathering, , UN Resident coordinator Mr. Eugene Owusu emphasized the critical role the media can play to support human development and Ethiopia’s transformation. The sentiment was shared by State Minister Ewnetu Bilata of the Government Communication Affairs Office who congratulated the meeting on behalf of the government and recognized the role of the media on the development journey Ethiopia has embarked upon.

An Ethiopian Media Council is expected to be set up by end of 2014. The consultation was hosted by the UN as part of the ongoing joint engagement with the media led by the UN Communication Group (UNCG).

Photo: Media council consultation meeting

Planting “Seeds of Peace”

The United Nations (UN) together with the Green Legacy Hiroshima Initiative in Japan organized a Hiroshima tree planting ceremony on United Nations Day celebration. The tree planting ceremony took place on October 24, 2014 in the UN compound, Addis Ababa.

The Hiroshima trees, also known as seeds of peace, survived the 1945 atomic bombing that turned the whole city to a mere radioactive desert devoid of other life. But these trees continued to flourish, flower, give fruit and bear after the tragedy. Over the years worthy initiatives, like the Green Legacy Hiroshima Initiative, continued the spread of the seeds and saplings of these trees around the world.

The trees were brought to Ethiopia under the care of Mr. Chikara Horiguchi, an Arborist and tree doctor, who worked for more than 20 years.

The symbolism of planting these trees gives a powerful message of courage and hope to live on under tragic situation.

Bringing these atomic bomb survived trees to Africa, this initiative intends to convey the message of peace, resilience and green legacy to Africa.

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Photo Credit: Green Legacy Hiroshima initiativeOne of the species of the survived trees

Photo: Mr. Chikara Horiguchi caring for Hiroshima trees

United Nations Day: October 24

United Nations Day will be celebrated on October 24th, 2014 to mark the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter.

With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being.

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The UN Day has been celebrated since 1948 and in 1971, the United Nations General Assembly recommended that the day be observed by Mem-ber States as a public holiday

News and updatesNews and updates

Refugee Children Choir to perform at the UN Day

A group of refugee children from Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Community Center will perform on October 24 on the celebration of the UN Day at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa. The fifteen children, ranging in age from 6 to15, are mostly girls from South Sudan, Eriteria, Uganda and Burundi.

The children will be singing about peace. Peace is the wish these children desire to prevail in their country of origin so that they are able to attend school, access health services, live with their loves ones and are taken care of. However, these children had to leave their homes, friends, family and schools due to war, famine and persecution in search of safety to another country.

Singing about peace enables them found their voice to express their deepest feelings and overlook the hardships they went through so young. They have something to teach to the world and to teach us. Today, as they advocate for peace it remains our duty as the United Nations to help countries torn by conflict overcome their challenges and build a lasting peace.

UN Family Day to be celebrated

UN Staff and their families will come together on October 25 at the ILRI compound to celebrate Family Day with various fun activities, games and sports competitions.

The one-day outdoor event will bring staff of different UN agencies and their employees creating an opportunity for mingling and networking. Competitions of different sport activities will be held and prizes will be awarded to the winners.

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On the 17th of September, 2014, UN Women Ethiopia officially launched the year-long Beijing +20 campaign in Ethiopia at the Annual Women’s Conference in Dire Dawa.

The Beijing Platform for Action is about envisioning a world where on a daily basis women and girls can exercise their right to live a life free of violence, their right to education, and their right to have equal pay for equal work among other rights.

The past century has witnessed transformation in women’s legal rights, educational achievements and participation in public life. More women are working today, getting elected, becoming CEOs, and competing in the Olympics. But it is also clear that in all regions of the world, there is much that remains to be done.

This can be seen in gender wage gaps and unequal opportunities, in low representation of women in leadership in public office and the private sector, in child marriage, and in continuing violence against women. Therefore, the Beijing Platform for Action continues to be relevant today. The Beijing +20 campaign launch served as an opportunity to reflect on the major achievements in terms of gender equality and women’s empowerment in Ethiopia in the 20 years post adoption of the Beijing Declaration.

Primary among the achievements summarized by the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs was achieving MDG gender parity at primary level and a significant increase in the representation of women within the legislative arm of government. As well as engaging verbally, conference participants also had the opportunity to visit a photo exhibition illustrating the progress made in different sectors by the administration.

Beijing+20 takes place at an historic moment when major international efforts to advance human development and human rights converge through the accelerated efforts for achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, and the discussions on the post-2015 development agenda and sustainable development goals as a global roadmap for the future. 3

Beijing+20 will inform and guide the forward looking future development blueprint, and aim to position women’s rights and women’s empowerment at the heart of the global agenda.

“Temsalet”; an inspiring book on Phenomenal Ethiopian

Women published

The Network of Ethiopian Women’s Association (NEWA) with the support of UN Women Ethiopia and other partners launched the book entitled “Temsalet; Phenomenal Ethiopian Women” on the 7th of October, 2014. The high profile launch was held in the presence of the First Lady of Ethiopia, W/ro Roman Tesfaye, among other dignitaries.

Temsalet is the Amharic word for ‘role model’ or ‘shining example’ and it speaks to the very essence of the book and the women it portrays. The 64 women featured in the book come from varying backgrounds and they stand out as figures of inspiration for women and girls. They are farmers, construction workers, entrepreneurs, environmentalists, politicians, artists, athletes, scientists and more. The women tell the story of where they came from, the challenges they have faced, their aspirations and achievements and importantly, they offer aspiring young women and girls pearls of wisdom drawn from their life experiences.

UN Women, being the global champion for women and girls, has a special mandate to ensure that women and girls are empowered. UN Women Ethiopia works with partners to increase women’s leadership and participation, end violence against women, enhance women’s economic empowerment and make gender equality central to national development planning and budgeting.

Speaking at the book launch, Letty Chiwara, UN Women Representative to Ethiopia, AU and UNECA, stated that “UN Women, as the UN organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women is proud to support the publication of this inspirational book.” It is hoped that the book will contribute to the positive changes we already see in Ethiopia and inspire more Ethiopian women and girls to follow in the footsteps of these Temsalets.

Clean water provided to South Sudanese Refugees

The swollen Baro river marks the border between Ethiopia and it western neighbour, South Sudan. It’s fast-flowing waters are all that stand between those fleeing the brutal civil war in their home country and safety in Gambella.

Dotted along the banks on the South Sudanese side are men, women and children, clutching their meagre possessions, waiting to be transported across the muddy-brown waterway in white plastic canoes. With battered suitcases and woven baskets on their head, those refugees – dusty, exhausted and in need of food and water – who have successfully made the river-crossing trudge towards Burebiey and the UNHCR registration tent, half a kilometre away.

David Luk Both, himself a refugee from South Sudan, is in charge of the EM-Water treatment plant. Before the fighting broke out he had worked as a technician for MSF Holland for seven years. “The water is pumped from the river Baro into two 12,000 litre sedimentation tanks,” Mr Both explains. “The water sits in the tank until all the debris and mud has sunk to the bottom; aluminium sulphate is added to help the process. The pH of the water is tested to check the levels of acidity before it is pumped into a chlorination tank that kills all the bugs and germs in the water. It is then ready for drink.”

If needed, Mr Both and his team can provide up to 36,000 litres of clear water a day. “The refugees come all day to the taps. If I don’t treat the water they can’t drink it. I’m very happy because I’m helping my people,” he says.

UNICEF focus on both the host community and the asylum seekers,” says Basazin Minda, WASH officer. “We identified the burden on the local services at an early stage and decided to increase the number of shallow wells in the area in order to create a balance between the host community and refugees.” He believes that the creation of the additional shallow wells and pumps has prevented potential conflicts over this precious resource be-tween the indigenous community and the refugees they have provided sanctuary too.

Having the pumps close to their homes the women will save time collecting water. At Dobrar village, Nyarout Jok, a mother of four, uses the UNICEF water pump twice a day. It’s just 300m away from her home and fetching water now takes less than 20 minutes a day. Before the tap was installed she had to walk over a kilometre each way to the nearest water source, which took at least an hour. “I use the extra time to grind flour and take care of my children,” she says.

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Photo: South Sudan refugees crossing Baro River

Photo: David Luk Both testing the quality of the water pumped from the river

Photo: At Dobrar village, Nyarout Jok, a mother of four, uses the UNICEF water pump twice a day

Photo Credits: UNICEF

B+20 Campaign Launch