This week the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) Mission Director for Ethiopia, Scott Hocklander, visited projects Sidama Region and Hawassa, the capital of Southern Region.
In Hawassa he met with regional leadership and civil society organizations and visited USAID development projects, the United States Embassy in Ethiopia said in a press statement. During the visit, Director Hocklander met with Sidama Regional State President Desta Ledamo to discuss USAID’s longstanding partnership with the people of Ethiopia, including those in the Sidama region.
Director Hocklander emphasized USAID’s commitment in assisting the region to deliver quality public health services, extend safe water supplies and basic sanitation, support factory workers in Hawassa’s Industrial Park, and help the youth of Sidama region achieve launch their careers and start new businesses.
He also met with civil society leaders in Hawassa to discuss how they envision the region’s resilient development, and USAID’s role in community dialogue and peacebuilding initiatives.
At the Hawassa Industrial Park, Director Hocklander visited USAID’s successful USAID’s Worker Wellness project. This project helps factory workers moving to Hawassa, as they navigate challenges in their new employment and living situations. He spoke with several female workers supported by the project, and met with representatives of the Hawassa Industrial Park Investors Association and the Industrial Park Development Corporation.
Finally, Director Hocklander toured a youth-run savings and credit cooperative that is supported by the USAID’s Kefeta project. The USAID project has established financial cooperatives like these in 13 cities: Adama, Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Bishoftu, Debre Berhan, Dessie, Dila, Dire Dawa, Harar, Jimma, Kombolcha, and Shashemene. At the cooperative, Director Hocklander heard youth discuss the new businesses their loans allowed them to start, and how the USAID activity is helping them achieve their dreams.
It is indicated that USAID is devoted to the health, welfare, and prosperous future of the people of Ethiopia. In 2022 alone, USAID invested more than $1.8 billion across the country in humanitarian and development aid. This trip is another example of cooperation between the American people and the people of Ethiopia.