"We are very happy to announce this new host country agreement between UNOPS and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia," said Worknesh Mekonnen, Director of UNOPS in Ethiopia and Representative to the African Union.

"I would like to thank His Excellency Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, for his cooperation, as well as the hard work of my colleagues at UNOPS in finalizing this agreement."

Through a host country arrangement, UNOPS will be able to operate in Ethiopia in a more streamlined manner.

UNOPS has been present in Ethiopia since 2009, with delivery reaching more than $36 million in 2016.

Last year, on behalf of Ethiopian Ministry of Health and with support from the UN Country Team, UNOPS delivered the country's first biosafety level 3 mobile laboratory, making it possible for medical professionals to properly diagnose serious or potentially lethal infectious disease outbreaks.

UNOPS also helped train staff from the Ethiopian Public Health Institute in the use of the new equipment.

In partnership with the Ministry of Health, UNOPS also purchased 36 18,000-litre water tanker trucks to speed up response to El Nino-related drought in the country.