Our Work Projects Countries Crowdfunding News Blogs About Contact Toggle search bar Open language selector News RESET Plus Innovation Fund Launched in Ethiopia Today the RESET Plus Innovation Funds was launched in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Over 250 people participated in a special event, coming from governmental and non-governmental organizations, private companies, social enterprises, universities, research institutions, and from various other sectors. The RESET Plus Innovation Fund program is officially launched today October 15, 2019 by H.E. Ato Sisay Tola, State Minister of the FDRE Ministry of Innovation and Technology (on the right in the photo), with the presence of H.E. Mr. Luca Zampetti, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation (in the middle) to Ethiopia and Desta Heyi, ICCO’s Country Manager in Ethiopia (on the left in the photo), at Zoma Museum, Addis Ababa. Implementation in 41 Woreda’s The RESET Plus Innovation Fund, one of the four components of the EU Resilience Building Ethiopia (RESET) program funded by the Trust Fund for Africa, is funded by the European Union and implemented by ICCO Cooperation in cooperation with Fair & Sustainable Ethiopia. The program, which runs from 2019 to 2022, sets up the basis for introducing innovative resilience building initiatives aimed at interlinking the EU’s humanitarian and development cooperation. The fund helps social entrepreneurs in realizing innovations that improve the livelihoods and resilience of 20,000 vulnerable people (50% women). Implementation of the program will focus in 41 Woredas of Afar, Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, and Somali Regions. Social Innovation Agenda The official launch event has brought together relevant stakeholders who play major role in building resilience in Ethiopia, hence contributed to: • Put social innovation on the political agenda; • Promote and raise awareness on the importance of social innovation for development in Ethiopia; • Ensure learning and experience sharing among main stakeholders working on social innovation; • Provide wide visibility to the Innovation Fund among potential supporters and/or applicants. The launching event has also served to established Community of Practice for subsequent interactions and experience sharing platform. No Business as Usual During the launching, H.E. Ato Sisay Tola, State Minister of the FDRE Ministry of Innovation and Technology said that the government of Ethiopia with the strong vision of leading the country to become a middle-income country, creating and fostering innovation and technology ecosystem that increases productivity, create high quality jobs and establish sustainable and inclusive economic growth in one of its top agenda. Mr. Luca Zampetti, on his speech, stated that the RESET Plus Innovation Fund is expected to be a pathway to move resilience out of “business as usual” approach and make it more relevant to the rapidly evolving social, economic and demographic context of the country. The fund will have two components: an innovation fund with a total of € 6,000,000 grants ranging from € 25.000 to € 500.000 for innovators and a research fund with a total of € 600,000 grants ranging from € 100,000 to € 300,000 for researchers. Since 2012, the EU has invested more than 200 million euros on different resilience building programs in Ethiopia. Click here for more info about the RESET Plus Innovation Fund Published on October 15, 2019 Share PROJECTS COUNTRIES OUR WORK CROWDFUNDING NEWS BLOGS ABOUT Publications Open Data Partners Donors & Co-financiers Accountability Annual Report Statutes SOCIAL MEDIA Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on projects SUBSCRIBE Member of © 2021 ICCO COOPERATION Contact Disclaimer and Privacy Statement Cookie Policy