- Ethiopia has become first nation to sign a compact with 13 international development partners and agencies aimed at helping the country reach UN's Millennium Development Goals for health.
The agreement provides a framework for increased and more effective health aid coordination between Ethiopia and partners who are contributing to the development of its health sector. The compact establishes guiding principles and management arrangements to be observed by Ethiopia and its development partners in order to improve contribution of development assistance to achieving Millennium Development Goals in the health area.
Apart from commitments and obligations agreed to by Ethiopia for implementation of the compact and a collective target for the levels of total health aid to be provided in each year between 2009 and 2015, the agreement also provides for arrangements for monitoring compliance and resolving disputes, and outlines for remedies available in the event of non-compliance with provisions of the arrangement.
The deal was signed on behalf of Ethiopia by Minister of Health Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Bank Country Director for Ethiopia Ken Ohashi and Ambassadors and Representatives of various development partners.
Future aid agreements between Ethiopia and its partners will be framed to be fully consistent with provisions of the compact. Although all clauses of aid agreements that were in existence prior to the signature of this agreement continue to apply, all parties to recent agreement are encouraged to make necessary modifications to increase aid effectiveness in order to ensure enhanced health of the people of Ethiopia.
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