On 29 September 2011, a signing ceremony for Japanese Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) in the Japanese Fiscal Year (JFY) 2011 took place at the Japanese Embassy. Two Ethiopian organizations were invited as project partners to the ceremony; Sidama Zone (local authority) and Resurrection and Life Development Organization (Ethiopian NGO). The total amount of funding extended was USD 224,717.

H.E. Hiroyuki KISHINO, the Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia, on the occasion stressed that a new Abore Bridge would improve the living conditions and increase economic opportunities for the 40,000 residents in the three villages in the mountain area. He hoped that with the new bridge they would be ensured better access to various economic and social services throughout the year, and that economic activities would be vitalized across the river, benefiting the entire Bensa Woreda, which has the potential of economic development. Ambassador Kishino also expressed his hope that a water supply system would benefit 4,000 residents in Kebedo Kebele and that they would be able to enjoy safe water and be relieved from the heavy duty of fetching water and also from the risk of water-borne diseases.

The Government of Japan has placed priority on human security for vulnerable and marginalized people in society, and the Grant-in-aid Scheme for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) has played a valuable role to help such people throughout Ethiopia. One of the characteristics of GGP is that it directly and promptly benefits local residents. In Ethiopia, since 1997, over 300 projects have been implemented under this scheme in such sectors as education, water supply, health services and other basic human needs. In this JFY 2011 (April 2011 – March 2012) alone, the Embassy of Japan is planning to award grants to 18 projects submitted by various not-for-profit organizations and local authorities throughout Ethiopia for the improvement of education, water resources, health, agriculture, infrastructure, and others. The Government of Japan will continue to extend support to vulnerable and marginalized people particularly in rural areas. 

The two recipient organizations who signed grant contracts on 29 September 2011 were:

1. Sidama Zone (local authority) (USD 112,359)
2. Resurrection and Life Development Organization (Ethiopian NGO) (USD112,358)　

The description of each project is as follows:
1.    Constructing a bridge to improve access to social and economic services for 40,000 people in Bensa Woreda, Sidama Zone, SNNPRS
-       Sidama Zone(Local Authority)
This project is to construct a bridge over the Bonora River in the Bensa Woreda, Sidama Zone. It aims to improve the access of residents to economic and social services across the river. The planned bridge of reinforced concrete is 26.4m in length and 5.6m in width and good for vehicles as well as pedestrians and animals.
In the rainy season, the Bonora River is flooded from time to time, causing serious damage to a small, fragile bridge built by the community. As a result, human traffic and transport of commodities across the river are interrupted, which creates great difficulty in the daily lives of residents in Shenit Awenw, Bomibe and Huro Hibiro Kebeles. The residents depend on Daye town, the capital of the woreda across the river, for major economic and social services such as markets, health and education. Therefore, they have to take a long detour, walking an extra 30km to reach Daye each time the bridge becomes unusable. In addition, the temporary bridge is small, carrying only pedestrians and animals and does not serve road traffic, which would enhance agricultural marketing and commercial transactions across the river.
It is hoped that the new Abore Bridge will improve the living conditions and increase economic opportunities for the 40,000 residents in the said three villages. It is sure that with this bridge they will be ensured better access to various economic and social services throughout the year, and that economic activities will be vitalized across the river, benefiting the entire Bensa Woreda, which is one of the major Sidama coffee producing areas with 36 coffee factories and has the potential of economic development.

2.    Development of a water system to improve access to safe water and reduce water-borne diseases in Dara Woreda, Sidama Zone, SNNPRS
-       Resurrection and Life Development Organization (Ethiopian NGO)
This project is to develop a water supply system in the Dara Woreda, Sidama Zone. It aims to improve the access of residents to safe water and thereby to reduce water-borne diseases.
Access to potable water has substantially improved in Ethiopia during the PADSEP period (2005/06 - 2009/10), increasing from 35% to 65.8% in rural areas on average. In many local communities, however, this is still a great challenge, and Kebado Kebele, the capital of the Dara Woreda, is no exception. In this village, access to potable water remains less than 20% while it is 43.6% in the entire Dara Woreda. Today, only one water supply system is available there, constructed by the local government 29 years ago. Due to a population increase, the potable water supply is not sufficient for the current demand as the population has increased to 8,365 while it was only 500 three decades ago. Thus, many of the residents have no choice but to use unprotected spring and river water far from their residences. As a result, those residents, especially women and children, are not only forced to undertake the heavy duty of fetching water, walking long distances, but also face the risk of suffering from water-borne diseases such as diarrhea helmentis and giardia.
In this project, one bore hole well dug by the Sidama Zone Water & Energy Office two years ago will be utilized to develop a new water supply system. A submerged pump and a generator will be installed, a generator house, a 50-square meter water reservoir and two water distribution points with 6 faucets will be constructed, and a 3,524m water pipeline will be installed.
It is hoped that this water supply system will benefit 4,000 residents in the Kebado Kebele who currently depend on unprotected water. They will be able to enjoy safe water and will be relieved from the heavy duty of fetching water and also from the risk of water-borne diseases.