GERD fully funded and built by Ethiopian people, gov’t as a sovereign infrastructure triumph -Officials

Addis Ababa, July 22, 2025 (FMC) — The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Ethiopia’s flagship infrastructure project, was built entirely through domestic financing, with every contribution coming from the Ethiopian people and government, the GERD Coordination Office announced today.

In a media briefing, Deputy Director of the Office, Ms. Fikrte Tamir, reaffirmed that no foreign loans or external funding were used in the construction of the dam. She emphasized that GERD stands as a unique national achievement—funded, built, and defended by Ethiopians themselves.

According to the Coordination Office, more than 1.7 billion birr was raised from public contributions during the 2024/25 Ethiopian fiscal year (2017 E.C.), surpassing the annual target by 7 percent. The funds were mobilized through bond sales, donations, SMS campaigns, and other community-led initiatives.

Since the launch of the project, more than 20.1 billion birr has been collected from domestic sources, alongside over 1.6 billion birr contributed by members of the Ethiopian diaspora. In total, more than 23.6 billion birr has been raised from the public and channeled directly into the construction of the dam as of July 6, 2025.

Ms. Fikrte described this collective effort as a “living victory” and a lasting symbol of unity, patriotism, and determination. She highlighted the multidimensional support provided by citizens—not only financially, but also through energy, knowledge, public diplomacy, and environmental stewardship.

Ethiopians in the diaspora, she noted, played a vital role across all these areas, contributing not just funds but also expertise, advocacy, and international engagement in support of the project.

In addition to monetary contributions, the Office reported that over 84.4 billion birr worth of labor and downstream works has been carried out during the course of the project, further demonstrating the depth of national ownership.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, now nearing full operational capacity, is widely recognized as a sovereign infrastructure milestone and a testament to Ethiopia’s capacity to realize major development goals through self-reliance and public solidarity.