Ethiopia, 23 October 2025 — Authorities in Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State have launched a new multi-partner humanitarian programme aimed at improving livelihoods and promoting self-reliance among internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees.
The project, Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus, follows an agreement signed on 22nd September 2025between the Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) and the Somali Development Association (SDA). It will be implemented across 12 districts in five zones.
Speaking at the project’s launch consultation held in Jigjiga on Wednesday, Mohamed Hussein, Director of the Somali Development Association, said the program will help vulnerable communities transition from aid dependency to sustainable livelihoods.
“This project is, of course, part of the government’s broader ongoing efforts to strengthen community capacity, to enhance climate resilience and build their economic self-reliance,” Hussein said.
The HDP Nexus Project brings together the SDA, ATI, and the Research Institute, with technical and financial support from international partners. It focuses on linking humanitarian assistance with development planning and peacebuilding to strengthen long-term stability.
Senior regional officials, including Mohamed Ismail, Advisor to the President on Humanitarian Affairs, and Mohamed Abdi Adar, Advisor on Development and Climate Change, praised the program as a practical example of integrating emergency response with durable solutions.
The project forms part of ATI’s Agriculture Commercialization Cluster through Climate-smart and Inclusive Innovation Program (ACC II), which promotes resilience, social cohesion, and agricultural productivity among both displaced and host communities.