Mudasser Siddiqui is the new Country Director of Plan International Ethiopia. With over 15 years of experience in international development, he has worked in a number of countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East on issues of children rights, gender issues, humanitarian advocacy and emergency, among others. Here, he reflects with The Reporter’s Samuel Getachew on his career, on the vision and work of Plan International within Ethiopia, on the rights of children, in particular young girls and adolescents and finally reflects on the ongoing humanitarian needs within the Tigray region.
You have been involved in development work throughout your long career. Share with me the highlights.
I was stationed in Egypt before coming to Ethiopia, where I spent six long years. My career in international development started about 15 years ago. I started my work initially in India, my home nation, and after that, I was headed to Afghanistan, with another Non-Governmental agency called Action Aid. After that, I worked in Southern Africa, in Zimbabwe, and then off I went to many nations in Asia as a Plan International employee focused at regional levels.
Tell me about the work of Plan International within Ethiopia.
Our work is deeply rooted on the rights of the child. Our key highlight in Ethiopia for the last decades in partnership with the Government of Ethiopia, partners, including other civil society organizations and community members, has been creating awareness on the rights of children and their protection. That is and will be the heart of our work wherever we are operational.
In the last three to four years, however, Plan International has globally recognized that amongst the children, who are under the age of 18, it is the young girls who particularly face more discrimination and face more challenges. Therefore, we made a conscious decision in Ethiopia and globally – as we remain rooted to our history and our commitment to the rights of children – that we will make all efforts to promote equality among boys and girls, particularly young girls and adolescents.
In the last few years, I have been proud of how Plan International Ethiopia has positioned itself and its work alongside the Ethiopian Ministry of Women, Youth and Children affairs and with other government counterparts on pushing that mission forward. That includes the regional governments. These issues have included anti-child marriage campaign and promoting the rights of young girls.
Which part of Ethiopia does Plan International operate in?
We work in all corners of the nation, including here in Addis Ababa. We support about 28,000 children and their families through our sponsorship programme. We are particularly focused on the issue of education, water and sanitation, nutrition and again, child protection. Child protection is the core of what we do. There are also thousands of other children we also support in Benishangul, Gambella and Afar. These are mostly children who reside in Ethiopia but are refugees who have come from neighboring nations.
How has COVID-19 affected Plan International’s work in Ethiopia?
The pandemic has affected our work and the work of others and we are not an exception to that. We have seen loss of income to many families we help, affecting them in terms of food security and income problems. In Ethiopia, like other nations, we work with partners to make sure their social safety nets are protected as much as possible by providing nutrition and income support to some. We have also been helping echo the message of governments on the need to social distance, on clean sanitation and on hand washing. We have also been finding out how young girls are being affected in terms of loss of education because of the pandemic.
What is your take on the ongoing conflict in Tigray and the involvement of Plan International?
We are aware there is a huge humanitarian need that is really significant within the region. We continue to work with partners such as the United Nations and the government to ensure some of the support is enhanced and provided. Plan International Ethiopia is already involved in helping those that have been displaced from Tigray region into Amhara and Afar regions by providing them basic support such as protection and offering them food and other items.
We are definitely getting involved under the umbrella support of the UN and its humanitarian arm, OCHA. The support pledged is already being distributed as we speak. We also hope the humanitarian support has to be strengthened and we need to identify where we are needed the most. We stand ready and we are committed to extend our support.
I note aid important in the short-term, but do you find aid has become a band-aid solution to a long-term problem?
International civil society continues to play a huge role in terms of humanitarian assistance and support. Plan International has contributed a lot in areas of development in Ethiopia. But I have to admit, there are areas we can improve, where we can be more efficient, but are always willing to listen and learn and contribute in areas of development and rights.
Does all poverty look alike, whether it’s in Ethiopia or the many developing nations you have worked in?
I think all countries have different levels of development addressing their own unique challenges. In the last one year, in the midst of the pandemic – and we also see it in the development world – income levels have fallen, many people have lost their employment and there is an enormous global economic recession that is happening currently. That has had an effect on poverty levels.
In conclusion, I can’t help but ask you about your new role in Ethiopia even though you have only been in the nation for a month. Tell me about that.
First of all, I am excited to be in Ethiopia. I really mean it. Ethiopia is at the heart of Africa and I have been here for a few weeks, as you rightly mentioned and I really feel the warmth of the people. The culture standsout as an ancient civilization. The language is also very appealing, as well as the food, that reminds me of my own Indian food. I really appreciate the food as I was already exposed to it before I came to the country.
I am excited both personally and professionally with being assigned to the nation and that I am not just speaking for myself, but my family as well. I certainly look forward to my term in Ethiopia.
