The Ethiopian Country Office of the World Health Organization- (WCO Ethiopia) successfully completed a two-day planning workshop in consultation with government stakeholders and development partners.

Held from 12th - 13th December 2022, the planning workshop aimed at aligning with the WCO Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) 2021-2025, the 13th General Program of Work (GPW 13), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and the National Health Sector Transformation Plan II of Ethiopia. 

Creating better understanding on cross-cutting principles; rationalizing and prioritizing national strategies as well as avoiding duplication of efforts while creating synergy among partners were also the objectives of the workshop. 

Opening the workshop WCO- Ethiopia Deputy Representative Dr. Dlamini Rose recalled how the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the fundamental importance of the global detection, response and coordination roles that only WHO can play across members states. 
The previous biennium has revealed the need for strong credible and independent WHO on the world stage, Dr. Dlamini Said adding the planning for 2024 -2025 budget year is an opportunity to guide WHO’s contributions towards the end of the GPW 13 on 2025. 

Deputy director of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) Aschalew Abayneh on his part said the government of Ethiopia is giving a due emphasis on Value for Money (VFM) Gender, Equity, Human Rights and Disability (GEHRD) and other dimensions of the cooperation strategy.
The planning exercise should take the dynamic realities of the country in to consideration and give due consideration to the conflict affected regions of Tigray, Amhara and Afar, the Deputy Director stated.

The director also appreciated the endeavor by WCO-Ethiopia to align the organizational plan with the national priorities and strategies.
The workshop has brought more than 50 participants from WCO the Federal Health sector and Developing Partners together.