Visit SSDE’s website
We have the pleasure to say that a new organization is now implemented in Ethiopia : Sustainable Sweden Development Ethiopia, that is a charity.
What is it ?
SSDE is a sister organization to the Sustainable Sweden Association (SSA). The aim of this new organization, which head is in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), will be to coordinate and help the 14 eco-municipalities in Ethiopia in their actions.
Its origine
In 1995, in response to the global challenges of climate change, a Swedish eco-municipalities network was set up : Sekom -The Association for Swedish Eco-Municipalities.
In May 2008, Sekom organized the first international conference on Eco-Municipalities held in Helsinborg (Sweden). Among the participants from around the world, two mayors represented Ethiopia. After the conference, 6 other ethiopian mayors join the movement because they believed that it created an opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to create a sustainable future in their context. Thus, a network of eight Ethiopian Eco-Municipalities has been established. Since then, 6 other ethiopian municipalities have joined up the movement, raising the number of Ethiopian eco-municipalities to 14.
Thus, the SSA has progressively developed a partnership with this network of Ethiopian communities. The cooperation has been broadened to include regional and national authorities and a number of universities in Ethiopia. At the same time new Swedish partners has been engaged. SSDE’s role is to be the implementing agency and the link between all of those actors.
The pilot project
The aim of SSDE and its partners is the establishment of the Ethiopian ecomunicipalities. A project proposal has been submitted to the Ministry for Urban Development and Construction (MUDC) which approved the project concept and which has embarked on a dialogue for detailed design and financing of the project.
The pilot project is intended to last for five years. Hopefully, the project will be started during 2017. SSDE will be responsible for capacity building within the Eco-Municipality Program in Ethiopia (EMPE). The aspiration is to create a common development program under the themes of capacity building, urban greening, waste management and eco-tourism. So far, several study trips have been conducted, both in Sweden and in Ethiopia, in order to allow each participants to better understand the concepts and issues of sustainable development and the solutions that can be provided the difficulties encountered. Indeed, Ethiopia is facing big challenges : increase of the population, poor access to safe water, housing difficulties, low health services…
You can read the summary of the pilot project here.
| ⇒ Read the story of the February 2020 process leader training in Tigray’s region
⇒ Learn more about the February 2019 Merewa Monastery visit : a golden egg for Ethiopia ⇒ Know more about the September and October 2019 workshops and study visits in Tigray’s region ⇒ Read about Torbjörn Lahti last tour 2018 : Tour in Ethiopia (Arba Minch, Mekelle and Axum) ⇒ Read the story of the June 2017 Tour in Sweden, which was attended by an Ethiopian delegation from Arba Minch. ⇒ Know more about the May 2017 workshops in Axum and Mekelle. ⇒ Read the story of the June 2016 Tour in Sweden, which was attended by officials of the Ethiopian Environmental Protection Agency. ⇒ Read the story of the June 2015 Tour in Sweden, which was attended by an Ethiopian delegation. ⇒ Know more about the January 2015 Conference at Mekelle University, Ethiopia. |
The staff behind SSA have decades of experience in the field of sustainable development, through effective engagements across the world towards a goal of sustainable planet. SSA has access to broad international networks of capacity centers, eco-municipalities, business networks, etc…in the field of sustainable development. In partnership with SEKOM there is an ongoing process of building up a virtual platform for coordinating these networks : Ecomuna.
Sustainable Sweden Association believes in togetherness in synergy manner and
welcomes all partners and organizations to join its ideas for healthier Communities and
businesses !
