Official launch of the Strategic Partnership Grants under the Civil Society Support Programme – CSSP supported by Irish Aid Ethiopia

Today the Civil Society Support Programme (CSSP) funded by Irish Aid Ethiopia launched the new Strategic Partnership Grants (SPGs) during a two day event bringing together CSOs, donors and other stakeholders. This new initiative aims to achieve greater depth within the remaining period of the current programme, with a particular emphasis on enhancing the voice of and access to equitable service for Hard to Reach people. In doing so, the SPGs envisage strategic investments in six priority issues emerged from the wider CSSP portfolio, as follows:

• People affected by discrimination (indigenous and caste-affected)
• Rural girls affected by violence and poor education
• Pastoral women
• Women prisoners and their children
• Individuals and families affected by chat addiction
• People affected by mental ill-health and learning disability

The SPGs were designed in consultation with CSOs, communities and government partners, and altogether will involve 25 interventions.

More information on the CSSP can be found in the Mid-Term Review Report