[WLRC June 2025]: The Water and Land Resource Centre (WLRC) hosted a farewell dinner in honor of Mr. Jelmer van Veen, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) on June 14, 2025 at the Ramada Hotel in Addis Ababa.
The Director General of WLRC Dr. Gete Zeleke in his farewell remarks highlighted the long-standing partnership between WLRC and EKN, and praised Mr. Jelmer for his instrumental role in advancing the Ethiopian water sector. He described Mr. Jelmer as a supportive and dedicated diplomat who played a critical role in the success of key projects such as Kunzila ILMWA and BRIGHT. Dr. Gete emphasized Mr. Jelmer’s tireless efforts in proposal development, securing EU support, and aligning project designs with EU requirements.
“I have never seen such a committed diplomat who works so tirelessly, yet always with humility and a positive spirit,” Dr. Gete remarked. He also noted Mr. Jelmer’s vital contributions as co-chair of the Water Sector Working Group, supporting the Ministry of Water and Energy (MoWE) in mobilizing substantial resources that contributed to major policy achievements, including the finalization of the National Integrated Water Resources Management Program (NIWRM), approval of the Basin High Council, the Buffer Zone Proclamation, and several other transformative initiatives. Dr. Gete concluded by expressing heartfelt gratitude and wishing Mr. Jelmer continued success in his future endeavors.
Mr. Debebe Deferso, Lead Executive Officer at MoWE, also paid tribute to Mr. Jelmer’s long-term engagement and dedication to the Water Sector Working Group. He described his involvement as iconic and exemplary in fostering strong diplomatic ties between the Ethiopian government and the EKN. Mr. Debebe further commended EKN’s professional approach and its contributions to bringing integrated, transformative change in the sector.
In his response, Mr. Jelmer expressed appreciation for the warm farewell organized by WLRC and shared his positive experiences working with the Ethiopian Water Sector and WLRC. He emphasized that his engagement with projects aimed at improving community livelihoods was a key driver for EKN’s involvement, and praised WLRC for its unwavering commitment to impactful, community-centered initiatives.
Her Excellency Ambassador Christine Pirenne of the EKN in Addis Ababa also addressed the gathering, noting the strong and productive partnership between EKN, WLRC, and MoWE. She acknowledged Mr. Jelmer’s significant role in laying the foundation for this successful collaboration and reaffirmed the embassy’s commitment to sustaining and strengthening its engagement in Ethiopia’s water sector.
The farewell dinner was attended by WLRC division directors, officials from MoWE, representatives of the EKN, invited guests, and family members.