Irish Aid Ethiopia to Chair the Donors Working Group of the Productive Safety Net Programme in 2015

In 2015 Irish Aid Ethiopia will assume the role of Donor Chair in the Donors Working Group of the Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP). The PSNP is one of the largest social protection programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa, with an annual budget for transfers of ca. $400 million. The objective is to assure food consumption and prevent asset depletion for food insecure households in chronically food insecure woredas (districts), while stimulating markets, improving access to services and natural resources, and rehabilitating and enhancing the natural environment. The PSNP is a model of strong donor collaboration and harmonisation. Eleven Development Partners have pooled their cash and in-kind resources and developed a unified stream of technical advice to support this single Government-led programme. The PSNP is currently working with 5,161,695 food insecure beneficiaries living in 319 woredas in Afar, Amhara, Dire Dawa, Harari, Oromiya, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP), Somali and Tigray. Out of those, 21.71% are recipients of direct support, while 78.29% are supported on the basis of their participation in public works.

In July the Programme will enter into its fourth phase, covering the period 2015 – 2020.