Photo: Getachew Abbera, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Mammo Beriso
On 19 April in Addis Ababa, a reception hosted by Austrian Ambassador H.E. Dr. Simone Knapp marked an important and inspiring moment for Austria–Ethiopia relations. Organised on the occasion of the visit of Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, the event brought together representatives from civil society organisations, the private sector, universities and high-level government institutions, including the Ethiopian Human Rights Commissioner.
Representing horizont3000 at the reception was Getachew Abbera, who was invited to participate alongside partner representatives. His presence underlined horizont3000’s long-standing engagement in Ethiopia and its close collaboration with local organisations.
In her keynote speech, Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger emphasised that her visit was dedicated to celebrating 120 years of diplomatic relations between Austria and Ethiopia. She also shared Austria’s future perspectives and strategic priorities for cooperation with the African continent, highlighting the importance of sustainable development, peace, climate protection and inclusive economic growth. Participants were invited to further explore these perspectives through the official video recording of her speech.
Following the address, Ambassador H.E. Dr. Simone Knapp kindly introduced Getachew Abbera (horizont3000) and Mammo Beriso (SCORE) to the Minister. This provided an important opportunity to express horizont3000’s deep appreciation for Austria’s continued support to Ethiopia. It was highlighted how Austrian development cooperation through horizont3000 has contributed to improving the lives of many vulnerable households, advancing social and economic development, strengthening climate change mitigation and environmental protection efforts, and supporting peacebuilding processes.
Getachew Abbera also presented horizont3000’s role within Ethiopia’s development cooperation landscape. Through strong partnerships with local organisations, horizont3000 channels financial resources and provides technical support for a wide range of social and development projects/programmes. These efforts are made possible through funding from Austrian institutions such as the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, and regional governments like the State of Salzburg through its member organisation SEI SO FREI. Further support is provided by DKA-Austria, as well as international partners beyond Austria, including the Medicor Foundation in Liechtenstein.
At the same time, concerns were raised regarding current and potential cuts in development aid, which are directly affecting communities on the ground. An appeal was made to the Minister to use her influence to help prevent further reductions in development funding wherever possible.
Mammo Beriso added insights into the genuine partnership between SCORE and horizont3000, explaining how joint projects are significantly improving the livelihoods of communities in the Hamer and Borana regions. These initiatives stand as strong examples of community-based and partnership-driven development.
In her response, Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger expressed her appreciation and congratulated horizont3000 for its impactful and long-standing work in Ethiopia. She acknowledged the challenging context and stated that she is well aware of the situation and will do everything possible within her capacity.
