By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Ethiopia, 26 October 2025 - The European Union and UNHCR, in partnership with the Government of Ethiopia, have launched a €14.26 million project aimed at strengthening refugee inclusion and improving access to essential services in the Somali Regional State. The initiative was unveiled on Tuesday in Addis Ababa.
The project, known as Advancing Refugee Inclusion in the Somali Region (ARISR), will benefit more than 20,000 refugees and over 52,000 host community members and internally displaced people in Kebribeyah.
Of the total budget, €12 million is funded by the European Union and €2.26 million by the UNHCR, the UN refugee agency.
Implemented by UNHCR in collaboration with federal and regional authorities, the project supports commitments under the Makatet Roadmap, which focuses on integrating refugees into national systems and promoting equitable access to basic services. It also aligns with the Somali Regional State’s Multi-Year Resilience Investment Plan (2023–2028).
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ARISR will improve access to housing, education, healthcare, waste management, and local governance.
Planned activities include constructing 875 affordable housing units, 436 shared sanitation facilities, new classrooms and a library, and expanding health facilities with new buildings, equipment, ambulances, and medicines. The project will also strengthen solid waste management systems and enhance institutional capacity for inclusive service delivery.
Officials said the initiative marks a significant step toward building more resilient and cohesive communities in the Somali Region, with implementation beginning immediately.
