Addis Abeba — The government of Japan signed a grant agreement with the World Bank (WB) and Concern Worldwide on Friday to support financing a Community-Based Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition (CIMAM) in Ethiopia.

In view of the available evidence of high prevalence of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in Ethiopia, the Government of Japan granted some $1.89 million, through Japan social Development Fund (JSDF).

The aim of the program is to reduce the burden of malnutrition and its consequences in harmonized and comprehensive manner through large scale national efforts, as part of its contribution to the aforementioned project, Acting Director World Bank Ethiopia and Sudan country office, Yitbarek Tessema highlighted.

He further indicated that the grant is intended to support other nutrition projects in Ethiopia like the National Nutrition Program, which is a project implemented by Concern Worldwide.

Concern Worldwide aims at expanding access to MAM in order to reduce morbidity and mortality due to severe acute malnutrition in Ethiopia's under-5 population through its implementation of the project, which according to Yitbarek is in line with the Federal Ministry of Health's decision in June 2008 to decentralize the treatment of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

In his remark he gave after the signing ceremony, Charge d'Affaires with the Embassy of Japan to Ethiopia, Toshio Surgura urged all stakeholders to play their role in coordination in order to address the current situation in Ethiopia.

"From this point of view, NGOs can position their services at grass roots level, which might be difficult for other partners. Therefore, NGOs are important stakeholders in contributing to Ethiopia's National Nutrition Program (NNP). We also hope that NGOs will be able to play a part in this project," he said.

According to World Bank, underweight prevalence in under-5 children was 45% in 1995 and fell to 38% in 2005. And the government targets to reduce it to 30% by 2012.

The Japan social Development Fund (JSDF) was established by the government of Japan and World Bank in 2000 as a united mechanism for providing direct assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable groups in eligible member countries of the World Bank Group.