Harnessing Diversity for Sustainable Development and Social Change

This Joint Programme's aim was to contribute to the sustainable development of Ethiopia by promoting its cultural heritage and diversity, developing the creative industries and encouraging dialogue about environmental preservation among the country's diverse communities.

Conscious of the need to take an inclusive approach for development in the Ethiopian context, the programme promoted inter-faith and community based dialogue, with a focus on the needs of minority, marginalized or disadvantaged groups.

Its chief goals were: supporting new or revised policy frameworks in the field of culture and increased governance capacity to enforce them; improving conditions for cultural industries and creative communities; and encouraging inter-faith dialogue to develop strategies for the sustainable protection of the natural environment.

This Joint Programme was launched in July 2009 and was closed in December 2012.

Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger

JOINT PROGRAMME QUICK FACTS

Total Budget $5,000,000

Delivery Rate

Participating Agencies UNDP, UNESCO

Recent Programme Highlights

Members of different cultural and religious groups have participated in dialogue forums to better understand each other’s practices, identify commonly shared cultural/religious values and avoid tensions and conflicts. In Oromia, Muslims and Christians have worked together to rebuild a church.
The legal framework of the cultural sector and the national capacities to protect and manage cultural heritage have been reinforced, thanks to the elaboration of key legal documents that have been submitted to the Government and will be presented to the Parliament. (“Idioma policy of Ethiopia,”, “Cultural Industry investment Code,” “Cultural Industry Development Strategy.”)
Four Living Cultural Resource Centers were built, providing artisans with a platform to receive training (technical skills, marketing, sales, accounting and management) and use equipment to design and produce handicrafts. These Centers are also used to display the products and sell to tourists and customers.

^*as of June 2012 programme reporting period

Contact Hassen Said, hsaid@uneca.org