wfn.org | Donor partners eager for agreement with Eritrean government

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

ERREC should assure LWF programs' implementation

GENEVA, 21 December 1998 (lwi) - Funding partners for the Lutheran World
Federation (LWF) Department for World Service (WS) program activities for
Eritrea have expressed their support for the WS work in the Horn of Africa
country and also for ongoing dialogue between the LWF and the Government
of Eritrea.

They expressed their position at the Eritrea Round Table meeting held in
Geneva on 4 December 1998. Organized by the LWF-WS, the meeting's aim was
to discuss the future of Eritrea's program and at the same time convince
the related agencies and their back donors to continue their support for
that country.

The partners' regular investments in the Eritrea program stands at about
US $1.8 million annually. Current programs are likely to be concluded by
the year 2000. Funding was halted early 1998, following  the decision of
the Eritrean Government to terminate LWF's operation there. (see lwi
14/98, p.3).

Continued financial support to be based on firm understanding with
government

The related agencies participating in the meeting made it clear that their
financial support needs to be based on a firm understanding between the
government and LWF. The meeting gave LWF- WS the mandate to actively seek
a written understanding with the Government on the continuation of
development activities. The Evangelical Church of Eritrea (ECE) was
represented by its General Secretary Zerit Yohannes.

"We should listen to the Government, read their proposals and judge them
in the light of our guiding principles,"  the WS Programme Co-ordinator
Kaanaeli Makundi, who also chaired the meeting, summarized the statements
of the participants.

However, the DanChurchAid representative affirmed the agency's commitment
to contribute to projects planned in the framework of the Eritrea
program's Statement of Needs for 1999. "We hope that other agencies will
follow DCA's example," said Hanns Polak, Program Secretary -Rehabilitation
and Environment in WS. Other agencies present at the Eritrea meeting
included Church of Sweden Aid and EKD's Evangelische Zentralstelle fur
Entwicklunghilfe e. V. (EZE).

The meeting began with the presentation of a report on recent developments
in Eritrea. Specially mentioned were the ongoing project activities of the
Social Infrastructure Development Program. Also presented was a plan of
action, containing information on a number of projects proposed by the
Eritrean Relief and Refugee Commission (ERREC) and several Government
ministries.

The meeting also discussed  the current Action by Churches Together (ACT)
appeal for a program with Eritreans expelled from Ethiopia, due to the
ongoing border dispute between the two countries. An agreement with ERREC,
regarding the joint implementation of an emergency project for the
expelees worth ECU 750,000 from the European Community Humanitarian Office
(ECHO), is currently under preparation and will probably be signed in
mid-January.

The meeting also challenged the concerned LWF staff to develop a modality
acceptable for all partners involved in development activities, including
the Government of Eritrea and other religious groups. The modality is to
be discussed in LWF's decision making bodies, with active participation of
related agencies.

It was decided that another Eritrean Round Table should be held in
connection with the Council meeting in Bratislava next June. Furthermore,
the "Eritrea Group" should invite other related agencies to actively
participate in the group. The meeting asked all funding related agencies
to review the proposals presented and suggest a joint policy to the
Council regarding LWF's Eritrea program.

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Lutheran World Information
Assistant Editor, English: Pauline Mumia
E-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/