An Inauguration Ceremony for a Project for Chancho Kebena Kebele Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion, Oromia, took place in Jeldu on Sunday 20 February 2011. This project was implemented by HOPE2020, and funded by the Japanese Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), with the amount of USD 96,698.

H.E. Mr. Hiroyuki KISHINO, Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia celebrated the completion of the water supply system, together with H.E. Ato Girma Woldegiorgis, the President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and representatives of the Jeldu Woreda, as well as members of the community.

In this project, the Embassy of Japan supported the establishment of a water supply system at three sites in Chancho Kebena Kebele, with the construction of three spring caps, three reservoirs and six water points, and the installation of a solar power supply for transferring water. This project is aimed at improving the water supply, hygiene and sanitation for over 3,250 rural people in Chancho Kebena where there is no safe water. This project also aims at mitigating climate change, such as reducing fuel consumption, by installing solar power. In addition, this project was supported up by the community who dug about nine thousand meters of trenches for pipe laying and who donated local materials.  

The Government of Japan has been addressing climate change issues from the perspective that it is a common threat to mankind. The GGP scheme is considered as one of the tools to take this into consideration in working out projects beneficial to people in rural areas. The Embassy of Japan will continue to support eco-friendly projects in Ethiopia. 

The GGP scheme was first introduced in 1989, and it thus has a history of 21 years to date. In Ethiopia, since 1997, over 270 projects have been implemented under this scheme in such sectors as education, water supply, health services, food and the provision of other basic human needs.