First aid, safety and security, and defensive driving training, for project participants
(Based on specific, additional funding from DFC due to the security situation in Ethiopia).
First aid training
A total of 25 participants from EIAR project partner Agricultural Research Centers (ARCs), namely Ambo ARC, Holeta ARC, NABRC, and Kulumsa ARC, as well as Sinana ARC of the Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Haramaya University, and Ambo University, participated in a three-day training course on first aid measures from professionals affiliated with the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) Training Institute (TI).
The training was held at Ambo ARC, 11–13 August 2026. The participants included 4 women and 21 men. The training combined theoretical sessions with practical exercises, equipping participants with essential knowledge and hands-on skills to provide first aid in emergency situations. The sessions emphasized practical approaches to respond effectively to injuries and other emergencies, strengthening participants’ preparedness and ability to act during critical situations.
The participants were excited about the training. Sisay Kidane Alemu, coordinator, Nat. Plant Biotechnology Research Program, EIAR, expressed it in this way:‘In my opinion, everybody at EIAR should preferably have first aid training in the future. I may try to take this forward to the leadership at EIAR’.
Safety and security training
A total of 25 participants, 5 women and 20 men, from EIAR Centers and Sinana Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Haramaya University and Ambo University, participated in a five-day Safety and Security Training combining theoretical and practical sessions. The training was held at the Fire and Disaster Risk Management Commission-Training Centre (FDRMC-TC) in Addis Ababa, 17-21 August 2026.
The training covered fire safety and emergency preparedness, including the basics of fire, fire chemistry, fire creation, the fire triangle, firefighting principles and methods, and fire classification based on ISO and NFPA standards. Participants also received practical instruction on firefighting equipment, including its organization, general safety rules, types, and proper methods of use. Additional sessions focused on emergency assistance and disaster and emergency management systems. The training strengthened participants’ knowledge and practical skills in emergency preparedness, fire prevention and fire control.
Training in defensive driving
A five-day training course on defensive driving was held for 15 drivers in Addis Ababa. The training was delivered by the Productivity Improvement Centre of Excellence (PICE), Department of Automotive Technology Workshop, 5–9 September 2026.
The training covered defensive driving and road safety, including road safety principles, vehicle inspection, road traffic accidents, drivers’ behavior and discipline, and general vehicle service.
The training aimed to strengthen participants’ knowledge and practical skills in safe and responsible driving, promote proper vehicle maintenance, and reduce the risk of road traffic accidents.
Training certificates for all participants
Upon successful completion of the training, participants were awarded certificates after passing rigorous pre- and post-training assessments, including both written and practical examinations.
