The $200‑million International Development Association credit will support measures to create jobs, strengthen food security and build long‑term resilience among vulnerable households.
Maryam Salim, the World Bank’s Division Director for Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan and Sudan, said worsening climate shocks and economic pressures were forcing parents to make “impossible choices”. “PSNP 6 will help families meet immediate needs and strengthen their resilience by connecting people to better, more sustainable jobs and investing in human capital,” she said.
Building on nearly two decades of partnership between the Government of Ethiopia and development partners, PSNP 6 aims to deliver support that tackles immediate crises while laying foundations for long‑term recovery. The new phase will help 700 000 people start or grow small businesses through training, mentoring and basic financial assistance. Women and youth are central to the initiative.
In addition, the programme will provide short‑term employment for six million people through climate‑smart public works designed to restore watersheds, rehabilitate degraded land and strengthen community infrastructure capable of withstanding future shocks.
A major focus of PSNP 6 is reducing stunting and improving early childhood development by expanding access to nutrition, health and education services. The project also includes support for women’s cooperatives and greater access to credit to ensure small producers can participate in broader value chains and markets.
Sintayehu Demissie, Head of Ethiopia’s Food Security Coordination Office at the Ministry of Agriculture, called the project “a vital step forward” in strengthening rural livelihoods. “By expanding job opportunities, supporting women and youth, and investing in nutrition and climate‑smart community assets, this programme will help ensure sustainable, inclusive growth across Ethiopia,” he said.
PSNP 6 will also strengthen systems for transparency and accountability through improved digital tools, grievance‑redress mechanisms and monitoring.
–WorldBank/ChannelAfrica–
