Ethiopia Overview

Ethiopia is a diverse country which encompasses many ethnic and religious groups.  There are many striking differences in languages, culture and customs between the various nationalities which live in this historic country.
With a population of 79 million, Ethiopia is the most populous of Irish Aid’s programme countries. It is also the poorest; 78% of its large and rapidly growing population live on less than $2 a day and most development indicators are significantly worse than the average for sub-Saharan Africa, itself the poorest region in the world. Ethiopia ranks 169th out of 177 countries on the UNDP Human Development Index (2007/8), and 105th out of the 108 countries on the Human Poverty Index (2007/8).

Ireland provides development assistance and humanitarian support to Ethiopia in a number of ways. In 2007 €32 million in bilateral development assistance was provided to Ethiopia. The bilateral programme focuses on Vulnerability, Health, Education, HIV and AIDS and Governance. In addition Ireland also supports the work of NGOs such as Trocaire, Goal, Concern and Self Help International. Since 2006 these NGOs have received over €10 million to support their work in Ethiopia. Ireland provides support to Missionaries through Misean Cara (formerly known as the Irish Missionary Resource Service). Since 2006 over €350,000 has been provided to support the work of missionaries such as the Spiritans, the De La Salle Brothers and the Medical Missionaries of Mary for their work in Ethiopia. Ireland also provides emergency funding in response to humanitarian appeals. In 2007 €1.2 million was provided through Concern, Goal and the World Food Programme in response to humanitarian appeals in Ethiopia.

Irish Aid's Work in Ethiopia 

Programme Summary
Bilateral Aid to Ethiopia in 2007: €32 million
Population: 79.0 million
2007/8 HDI rank: 169th (out of 177 countries)

The Irish Aid bilateral programme in Ethiopia began in 1994. The programme is administered by the Embassy of Ireland in Addis Ababa. In 2007 Irish bilateral aid to Ethiopia amounted to approximately €32m. Irish Aid is currently planning a new 5 year Country Strategy Plan to cover our work in Ethiopia in the period 2008 to 2012. This new plan will be completed in early 2008.
The current bilateral programme focuses on Vulnerability, Health, Education, HIV/AIDS and Governance.

Irish Aid in Ethiopia supports the Productive Safety Nets programme. The Safety Net programme attempts to alleviate the vulnerability to food shortages experienced by many Ethiopians. Malnutrition in Ethiopia is widespread with 47% of children under five suffering from wasting or stunting. Over half the population lives below the national poverty line; in some regions of the country this incidence of poverty is as high as 70%, and it is close to 85% in the worst-affected regions. For many Ethiopians, food security is uncertain even in good harvest years.

The Productive Safety Nets programme provides cash or food to 7 million chronically food insecure people in exchange for their participation in public works including building roads, schools and rehabilitating degraded land. Ireland contributed €10 million to this programme in 2007. Without this support by Ireland in conjunction with the UK, the European Commission, the World Bank, UN World Food Programme, USAID and Canada, it is estimated that between 5 and 7 million people in Ethiopia would face starvation each year.

The other significant component of the Irish Aid programme is support to the Human Development sectors of Health and Education. In 2007 Irish Aid contributed over of €16 million to support these sectors. This support is focused primarily on two provinces; Tigray and the Southern Nation Nationalities and Peoples Region. Irish funding was used to support the construction of health posts and health centres, to increase vaccination coverage amongst the rural poor, to purchase essential medical supplies, to construct primary schools, to purchase school text books and supplies, and to construct and maintain water points.

Some 2.2 million people live with HIV and AIDS in Ethiopia and about 1 million children have been orphaned due to the disease. In 2007 Irish Aid spent about €2 million supporting NGOs, local organisations and regional health bureaux in combating the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Irish Aid spent €3.5 million in Ethiopia in 2007 on Governance. This funding was used to support public sector and civil service reform, the strengthening of Parliamentary institutions and local NGOs active on Human Rights and Governance issues.