A team from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Center for Justice visited Arba Minch University (AMU) to strengthen institutional collaboration. The delegation was welcomed by senior university officials and representatives of the School of Law upon arrival at Arba Minch Airport on March 17, 2026. The visit builds on the existing partnership between the institutions, particularly in promoting access to justice, legal aid services, and community outreach programs, and is expected to include an evaluation of ongoing projects, discussions on progress made, and the exploration of future areas of cooperation. Click here to see more photos.
Dr. Teklu Wegayehu, AMU’s Vice President for Research and Cooperation, warmly welcomed the guests and participants, noting that AMU is one of the country’s eight research-led universities with extensive experience in collaborating with various partners on national and international development projects. He highlighted that although the staff of the School of Law are few in number, they are young, energetic, and have introduced a range of impactful projects that benefit local communities. He further stated that the University has recognized and rewarded their outstanding contributions, adding that UNODC and the Center for Justice are fortunate to partner with such a committed team in addressing legal challenges within the community.
Dr. Tolera Seda, Director of the Community Engagement and University–Industry Linkage Directorate at AMU, stated that UNODC supports Ethiopian institutions in implementing modern prison management standards and human rights–based approaches to incarceration. He noted that the organization also provides training for police officers, prosecutors, and prison personnel to enhance investigation and custodial services, as well as conducts training needs assessments to help institutionalize best practices in the criminal justice system. He expressed his appreciation to the delegation for strengthening its partnership with AMU, adding that, through the program, the University has established more than 20 legal aid service sites to provide free legal support to the community.
Mr. Abreham Kinfe, the project coordinator and dean of the School of Law at AMU, explained that the UNODC works closely with the School to strengthen the criminal justice system, combat transnational organized crime, and address drug trafficking. Operating under its Regional Program for Ethiopia, UNODC provides capacity building, technical support, and strategic guidance to help align national laws with international standards. He further noted that the Center for Justice (CJ) focuses on driving progressive change in Ethiopia’s criminal justice system, particularly by supporting vulnerable groups such as women prisoners, children living with incarcerated parents, persons with disabilities, and juveniles. The organization also works to influence policy and practice through advocacy, supports peace-building efforts, and promotes public participation in democratic processes, he said.
He added that the project, funded by the European Union, has secured a budget of USD 79,500.00 enabling the establishment of 10 new legal aid service sites across various zones in the South Ethiopia Region to provide free legal support to disadvantaged communities, including women and other vulnerable groups. In addition, the program has strengthened 10 previously established sites and supports two specialized centers located in Arba Minch and Sawula prisons. According to Mr. Abreham, the visiting teams are conducting a monitoring mission to assess project progress, carry out needs assessments, and review financial utilization in line with EU requirements, while also providing feedback on achievements and areas for improvement.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Ermias Kostire, UNODC Program Manager, stated that AMU and UNODC are working collaboratively to improve access to justice within Ethiopia’s criminal justice system, particularly for the poor, women, and other vulnerable groups, through the provision of legal aid and assistance across various zones in the South Ethiopia Region. He noted that the purpose of the visit was to assess the project’s performance, review financial utilization, discuss achievements and challenges, and provide feedback on future areas of collaboration. He added that the team visited the Chencha site and the School of Law, and overall observed that AMU is performing well in implementing the project.
Staff members from the School of Law at AMU along with team members from UNODC and the Center for Justice (CJ) participated in the visit program.
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