July 27, 2026
Bishoftu, July 3, 2018 (Kemeli) The Federal String Committee of the Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure held a discussion forum in Bishoftu town on the performance of the Rural Connectivity and Access to Food Security Program for the 2018 budget year and the plan for the 2019 budget year.
The forum was attended by the Minister of Urban and Infrastructure and the Chairperson of the Federal String Committee, Her Excellency Ms. Chaltu Sani, members of the String Committee, and heads of the road sector from all regions and the Dire Dawa City Administration.
In her welcoming address, the Minister of Urban Development and Infrastructure and the Chairperson of the Steering Committee, Honorable Ms. Chaltu Sani, said that the Rural Connectivity and Access to Food Security Program, funded by the World Bank and joint contributions from the regions, is making a significant contribution to providing transportation services that enhance production and productivity by providing equitable benefits to the rural community.
The program is a platform for us to review the strengths and challenges we faced in the 2018 budget year, and to hold a joint discussion on what we will focus on in the 2019 budget year.
The Head of the Rural Connectivity and Accessibility Program Office of the Ministry, Ato Mohamed Amin Adem, while presenting the program’s 2018 budget plan implementation report and 2019 budget plan, said that during the budget year, work was carried out on a refugee bridge, a pedestrian path, new road construction, contractor and consultant selection, special structures and many other works.
The project benefited 11.3 million rural communities during the budget year, 50 percent of whom were women, and the project is being implemented in 12 regions and the Dire Dawa city administration.
He stated that the program created 97,650 direct and indirect job opportunities during the budget year and that they will work in coordination with the ministry’s responsible institutions and other federal institutions, adding that many works are planned to be carried out in the next budget year.
Many comments and questions were raised at the forum and were responded to by the Honorable Minister.
In conclusion, the Honorable Minister said that the Federal Steering Committee has a significant role to play in moving the project forward. The project is effective and benefits the rural community, and since it is a project that has received great attention at the government level, it should be worked on with special attention and intensified.
