To further strengthen its joint and collaborative endeavors, Haramaya University signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Eastern Hararghe Oromia Regional State Urban Development and Housing Office. The agreement was signed on March 21, 2018 in a ceremony held at the University’s Resource Center.

Prof. Chemeda Fininsa, President of Haramaya University and Mr. Ahamed Aliyi, Head of Eastern Hararghe Oromia Regional State Urban Development and Housing Office signed the collaborative agreements on behalf of the two institutions.

Prof. Chemeda said, “Haramaya University with its long years of experiences and having renowned professionals in different disciplines will continue giving various community services in addition to the teaching and research endeavors.” He added that the community’s demand for short term trainings and consultancy services is rising from time to time and the University is strengthening its endeavor and will continue playing its role to its capability.

The two organizations have agreed to establish institutional linkage, with the primary objective to accelerate sustainable urban development across 41 towns of the Zone.

The co-operation is also inclusive of issues such as addressing climate resilient green urban centers, tackling urban housing challenges, establishing efficient urban land management, facilitating urban centers through well designed structural plan, promoting employment, accelerating public participation, and addressing good governance and decentralized decision making.

According to Mr. Abiyot Asmamaw, Coordinator of the Committee and a lecturer at the University, the overall objectives of the MOU include delivering technical support; providing consultancy and technical support regarding buildings, highway, drainage structures, small scale dam, water diversion structures and retaining structures; small-scale agro processing industry; proper utilization of land for green area, park, residential, school, religion area etc.; organizing conferences and workshops to institutionalize awareness creation and public engagements at the center of urban development;  identifying expertise and skill gaps at short, medium and long range; and delivering demand-driven trainings to address immediate human resource constraints.

Eastern Hararghe Oromia Regional State Urban Development and Housing Office has assigned a focal person for the management and conduction of all cooperative work with the University.

Both parties will hold joint meetings to evaluate performances and impacts obtained in terms of both technical issues and knowledge which will be included in an annual report and activity programming for future collaboration of each institution.

During the signing ceremony, middle management of the University, office holders from the Office as well as invited guests were present.