A celebration of the 30th anniversary of Ethiopia and Finland’s successful collaboration in the WASH sector was held on November 27th, 2024 in Hawassa City. The Embassy of Finland in Ethiopia organized the event to commemorate this milestone and the visit of the Finland Development Policy Committee.

The event was attended by State Minister of Water and Energy Ambassador Asfaw Dingamo (PhD), State Minister of Finance Semereta Sewasew, Ambassador of Finland to African Union, Ethiopia and South Sudan Sinikka Antila, Sidama Regional State President Desta Ledamo, members of the Finland Development Policy Committee and other invited dignitaries.

A key highlight of the event was the recognition of the 13-year-long effective implementation of the COWASH project as a testament to this successful bilateral partnership. Ambassador Antila praised the project as a “role model for rural WASH in Ethiopia,” highlighting its unique community-managed project (CMP) approach that brought a strong sense of ownership and commitment in beneficiary communities.

Ambassador Asfaw Dingamo and Semereta Sewasew echoed Ambassador Antila’s sentiments, highlighting the project’s effectiveness and sustainability. They commended COWASH’s significant impact on the lives of millions of rural Ethiopians, improving public health and overall quality of life. Members of the Finnish Development Policy Committee also recognized the significant contributions of the project to rural communities. Since its inception in 2011, COWASH has benefited over 5.5 million rural communities across eight regions.

In addition to its approach, the project’s success has been attributed to commitment and strong collaboration of the project partners. This, according to Neil Chadder, COWASH IV Chief Technical Advisor, makes COWASH a true testament to bilateral cooperation, emphasizing the remarkable partnership between Finland, Ethiopia, and the communities themselves.

As the celebration concluded, there was a shared optimism for the future of Ethiopia and Finland collaboration. Both sides expressed their commitment to further strengthen their partnership and expand the impact of the COWASH project.

Ethiopia and Finland have a bilateral relationship that dates back to 1959. Their cooperation in the WASH sector began in 1994 with the launch of the Rural Water Supply and Environmental Program (RWSEP).  Over the next 17 years, this project improved access to safe water supply in the Amhara Region. In parallel, the FinnWASH project was launched in Benishangul-Gumuz, further expanding the scope of the partnership. Building on the success of these earlier initiatives, the COWASH project, which is now in its fourth phase, was launched nationally in 2011, becoming the heart of this 30 years successful bilateral collaboration.