Addis Ababa: Better collaboration of all stakeholders is needed to improve the country's access to clean water and energy, Water and Energy Minister Habtamu Itefa said. A two-day forum featuring presentations on the progress made in the WASH program, Clean Ethiopia program, and the energy sector opened today. Speaking on the occasion, Water and Energy Minister Habtamu Itefa called for better collaboration between all stakeholders to improve the country's access to water and energy. Although progress has been made in clean water provision, gaps remain, he added. According to the minister, significant achievements have been gained in providing access to water during the past 18 years. However, sanitation and hygiene levels are low, and more work is required, he noted. As the plan is for everyone to have clean water nearby by 2030, Habtamu stressed the need to work in coordination to achieve it. Ethiopia's energy generation capacity is set to double in one or two years, but distribution challenges persist , the minister revealed. Connecting everyone to the grid, both on-grid and off-grid, remains a challenge. Finance State Minister Semerita Sewasew on her part highlighted the need for significant investment in the WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) and energy sectors. She emphasized the importance of a robust regulatory system to ensure effective management. The state minister further noted the critical role of WASH and energy, not just for Ethiopia's development, but the region. Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Council President, Nigusu Legesse expressed confidence that the collaboration of stakeholders will lead to improved outcomes in the WASH and energy fields. Key players from across the sector gathered at the forum, including government officials, development partners, civil society organizations, NGOs, private developers, and others. Source: Ethiopian News Agency