Remarks by Mr. Koffi Kouame, UNFPA Ethiopia Country Representative

 Joint Launch of the UNFPA and UNDP Country Programme Documents (2025–2030)

 Addis Ababa | 27 October 2025

Excellency Semereta Sewasew, State Minister of Finance for Economic Cooperation

Honourable Ministers,

Colleagues from the United Nations system,

Development partners,

Civil society representatives,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning.

It is a great honour to welcome you to this joint launch of the new UNFPA and UNDP Country Programmes for 2025–2030, a moment that represents both continuity and transformation in our collective journey of partnership with the Government and people of Ethiopia.

Today’s launch marks more than the start of two new UN programmes — it represents a new way of working founded on stronger collaboration, shared collective outcomes, and the leveraging of our comparative advantages to advance human development in Ethiopia. Centered on women, adolescents, and youth, this vision supports Ethiopia’s goal of becoming an African Beacon of Prosperity through inclusive growth, gender equality, peace, and innovation. UNFPA’s new Country Programme aligns with this ambition by investing in sexual and reproductive health, women’s and girls’ empowerment, and unlocking the potential of young people as key agents of development.

Our programme in Ethiopia is anchored on UNFPA’s global priorities of: Ending preventable maternal deaths; Ending unmet need for family planning; Ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and Ending the sexual transmission of HIV infections. These priorities remain at the heart of our work because we know that no nation can achieve prosperity if women continue to die while giving life, or if young people, especially girls, are denied the chance to reach their full potential.

Excellency, Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen

Through its new Country Programme, UNFPA will deepen its collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, and other national and regional partners to strengthen the provision of integrated sexual and reproductive health and GBV services, expand youth empowerment initiatives, and enhance data systems to inform policy and planning.

But what makes this launch particularly meaningful is the joint nature of our effort. Together with UNDP, we are demonstrating what Delivering as One truly looks like in practice.

●     UNFPA brings its expertise in Sexual and reproductive health, and rights, and population dynamics.

●     UNDP brings its leadership in governance, livelihoods, and resilience.

Together, we are bridging the humanitarian-development-peace nexus and ensuring that our programmes complement rather than duplicate one another. This partnership is grounded in the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, particularly its focus on gender equality, social development, climate resilience, and peacebuilding. It reflects the direction set by the Resident Coordinator’s Office, the Ministry of Finance, and all of us in the UN system to move from parallel efforts to integrated programming that delivers tangible results for Ethiopians.

Excellency, Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen

I sincerely thank the Ministry of Finance for its leadership and partnership in shaping our new programmes, ensuring their alignment with national priorities and the Home-Grown Economic Reform agenda. I also extend deep appreciation to our development partners for their trust and support, which have enabled us to reach the most vulnerable, especially women and girls in humanitarian and hard-to-reach areas. Finally, I thank our colleagues at UNDP for their strong collaboration, a true reflection of UN coherence, complementarity, and collective impact.

As we embark on this new programme cycle, UNFPA reaffirms its commitment to support Ethiopia’s efforts to achieve universal access to reproductive health, accelerate gender equality, and empower its youth as agents of peace and progress.

Together, with the Government, our partners, and all of you here today, we will continue to work toward an Ethiopia where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

Thank you very much.