Vienna, 19 December 2024 – The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has signed three significant projects funded by the Government of China since the beginning of December 2024. The encouraging news demonstrates and solidifies the robust partnership and shared determination between both sides to enhance agricultural and industrial capacities, improve economic growth and rural livelihoods, and contribute to sustainable development and practices, both domestically in China and in developing countries, particularly in Ethiopia.

The Project “Support to Mechanized Agriculture Systems in Ethiopia” targets to reduce rural poverty through the adoption of best agriculture mechanization systems and practices in the Koga irrigation scheme of Amhara Regional State. Best agronomic practices and agricultural mechanization systems and technologies will be delivered to smallholder farmers and immediate value chain actors, along with the strengthening institutional capacity and increasing access to employment opportunities.

The Project “Capacity Building to Upgrade the Livestock Value Chain in Ethiopia (Phase II)” aims to address capacity gaps in the livestock value chain, with a focus on improving the capacity of regional and national institutions in Ethiopia, including laboratory capacity, disease-free zone planning, and livestock market linkages, enhancing the capacity of central and regional officials, small and medium-sized enterprises and cooperatives, promoting technical and standard cooperation, and systematically modernizing Ethiopia’s livestock value chain.

The Project “Improving Agro-Industrial Capacity for Rural Revitalization in Chengbu, China” aims at continuing the support to the endeavours for rural revitalization in Chengbu, through providing technical assistance and technological inputs to strengthen human capacities and development of agricultural value chains and agro-products for their better safety and quality, aligning with advancing the supervision capacity and service of the local competent authorities, generating employment and income (especially for women and youth left behind), and facilitating agro-entrepreneurship in Chengbu.

The three projects exemplify the multiple channels for deepening the collaboration between UNIDO and the Government of China, achieved through the tripartite cooperation between UNIDO, the China International Development Cooperation Agency and the Ministry of Industry of Ethiopia, and from China’s voluntary contribution via its Ministry of Commerce to UNIDO’s Industrial Development Fund. The two projects in Ethiopia are part of a broader framework aimed at enhancing agro-processing capacity, upgrading targeted value chains, and facilitating access to technologies required by smallholder farmers and agribusinesses. The efforts will eventually address Ethiopia’s Ten-Year Perspective Development Plan, and to facilitate Africa’s industrialization and agriculture modernization. The project in Chengbu, China aligns with the endeavours and engagements of UNIDO and other UN agencies in rural revitalization in China, through implementation around the three key priority areas of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the People’s Republic of China 2021-2025, namely People and Prosperity, Planet, and Partnerships.

The collaboration between UNIDO and China in Africa continues to grow stronger, demonstrating a shared commitment to addressing global challenges through sustainable development and highlighting the importance of international cooperation in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNIDO will further engage and enhance its contribution through these three initiatives to drive progress in ending hunger through innovations and creating shared prosperity in developing countries.

For additional information and inquiries, please contact:

Dejene Tezera
Director, Division of Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development