ADDIS ABABA, April 8, 2026 — The Government of Ethiopia, in partnership with the World Bank, held a high-level ceremony today to hand over essential water infrastructure equipment to regions impacted by conflict. This initiative is a cornerstone of the Response – Recovery – Resilience for Conflict Affected Communities in Ethiopia Project (3R-4-CACE), a $300 million, five-year program (2022–2027) designed to rebuild lives and restore basic services.

The ceremony marked the official handover of four heavy-duty drilling rigs and four cranes. H.E. Semereta Sewasew, state minister, Ministry of Finance noted that the equipment was specifically procured to enhance the technical capacity of federal and regional governments to respond to the urgent water needs of communities recovering from conflict.

Recipients of the equipment include the water and finance bureaus of conflict-affected regions, as well as the Ministry of Water and Energy, which received the machines .

H.E. Semereta Sewasew, added that this support is part of a broader commitment to restoring health, education, and water infrastructure in conflict affected areas. The 3R-4-CACE project specifically prioritizes the WASH (Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene) sector by financing both centrally planned supports —and the long-term reconstruction of community water facilities.

This program has been very significant in contributing towards improving basic service delivery, noted Ambassador Asfaw Dingamo, State Minister for Water and Energy  highlighted during the handover ceremony that the supports provided in schools and health sectors are now being bolstered by this critical support for the water sector. The cranes are equipped with various maintenance tools, according to technical manuals, to ensure the long-term sustainability of water facilities.

Ambassador Asfaw Dingamo expressed satisfaction with the completion of the procurement process, stating that these rigs will significantly improve the capacity to respond to the needs of conflict-affected communities. He also recognized the leadership of the Ministry of Finance in successfully implementing the 3R-4-CACE project.

The Response – Recovery – Resilience for Conflict Affected Communities in Ethiopia Project is a project financed by the World Bank and the KFW and implemented by the Government of Ethiopia. It aims to rebuild basic services and resilient in the five regions while strengthening local institutions to address the impacts of conflict across multiple regions.