On 30 April 2010, a delegation from the Norwegian Embassy consisting of Ambassador Jens-Petter Kjemprud, Counsellor Bente Nilson, First Secretary Margot I. Skarpeteig, Programme Officers Ashenafi Gizaw, Kidanemariam Jembere, and Mersha Argaw, and Trainee Øystein Nedrebø met with MoFED State Minister Ahmed Shide and staff of the MoFED bilateral relations department.
Norway’s general development cooperation budget has seen a substantial increase in the last few years and the total amount of funds channelled directly to the government institutions in Ethiopia in 2009 was almost NOK 62 million (ETB 141,5 million). Major posts were the Beko Abo and Mandaya Feasibility Study, university cooperation, Humanitarian Mine Action, the Democratic Institutions Programme and the Restoration of Fasiledes Bath. In addition comes, inter alia, development programmes in Tigray and Bale, support to civil society, humanitarian assistance and support through multilateral organisations.
State Minister Ahmed Shide expressed appreciation for the level and focus of cooperation. He enquired about specifics of different programmes and offered MoFED’s assistance in facilitating efficient processes and use of funds. He found Norway’s contribution to hydropower development, based on historical experience and comparative advantage, particularly encouraging and hoped to see further developments in this field.