Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, over 28.6 million people are estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance due to multiple overlapping humanitarian crises. According to the humanitarian response plan, over 4.5 million Internally Displaced People (IDPs) required humanitarian assistance in 2023. The HRP 2023 document clearly indicates that of the total population, 20 million people are estimated to be experiencing food insecurity and 4.9 million need life-sustaining protection services. Among the people in need of protection services, 56% are children, 25% are women, and 17% are people living with disabilities. Shockingly, man-made and natural crises have led children and their families to be displaced and denied access to basic rights. Children remain at risk of protection concerns and are exposed to different forms of exploitation resulting from the ongoing conflict and climate shocks. Moreover, Girls and young women face multiple challenges due to hindering socio-cultural attitudes, lack of institutions supporting them and limited political will. As a result, girls and young women suffer from limited access to basic rights such as education and sexual and reproductive health. Moreover, they become victims of child marriage, trafficking, and sexual and labour exploitation. We seek to accelerate progress on stopping child exploitation by expanding knowledge through research, catalysing collaborations, and influencing change.

Children in Ethiopia

Ethiopia faces various pressures due to its fast-growing population which has increased. The country’s population is estimated to be 123,5 million. The population under 15 years of age in Ethiopia accounts for 44 percent of the population. On the other hand, the population under the age of 30 in the country accounts for 71 per cent of the total population.

Children remain at a high risk of living in poverty with limited access to essential services. The youth represent a large section of the Ethiopian society. An estimated 31.5 million people in Ethiopia are between 15-29 years, which constitutes about 30 per cent of the total population, with the median age being just 19 years old.

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Our work in Ethiopia

Our work in Ethiopia is focused on supporting children on the move and related, interlinked issues of child exploitation, mainly child trafficking, unsafe migration, child sexual exploitation, child labour, child marriage and female genital mutilation. Additionally, we provide vital humanitarian assistance.

The current programmes in the country are centred around providing support to children who are suffering from man-made and natural crises, as well as empowering girls and young women by enhancing their decision-making power in all matters that affect their lives.

Terre des Hommes Netherlands collaborates with local organisations and networks to implement both development and humanitarian projects. The projects aim to prevent child exploitation, provide assistance to exploited children and children experiencing conflict, and influence relevant policies and practices at the local and national levels.

"Terre des Hommes Netherlands is an organisation that keeps children at the centre of its operations. Whatever we do, we make sure that children are protected and they are also meaningfully participating in our programmes. We will keep our commitment and continue our work to end child exploitation in Ethiopia."

Girma Amentie Gari

Terre des Hommes Netherlands, Country Director, Ethiopia

Our approach: Children are at the centre

Children are at the centre of everything we do. We support them to get access to education and other skills development so they can eventually find jobs to earn better incomes. We build their resilience and facilitate their empowerment. And we help them amplify their voice, opening opportunities to speak up to those with the power to realise systemic change.

Strengthening child protection

We educate parents and communities. We build the capacity of local structures to effectively prevent, detect, report and respond to child exploitation. We collaborate with other actors to influence the strengthening of the legal and policy environment for better promotion and protection of children’s rights.

Children are at the centre of everything we do.

Our programmes

Ongoing

She Leads

The She Leads programme fights for the rights, leadership and agency of girls and young women (GYW). It is an…

Completed

Met deze humanitaire respons helpen we kinderen te beschermen en geven we psychosociale steun aan de zwaarste getroffen ontheemden.

Rapid humanitarian response in Ethiopia

The devastating conflict in the North Shewa Zone of the Amhara region has resulted in the displacement of appr…

Learn about our programmes

Our partners in Ethiopia

Together with experienced partners we are working towards a world without child exploitation, where young people can feel safe today and better about tomorrow. Join our fight.

Terre des Hommes Netherlands is a member of the:

Joining Forces - an alliance of six child-focused international NGOs;
She Leads, a five-year strategic partnership between the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and four consortium organisations - Terre des Hommes Netherlands, Plan Netherlands, DCI-ECPAT Netherlands and the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET).
Ethiopia HINGO Forum - is a forum of International organisations working within the humanitarian setting.
Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Council

Within the local context we work alongside our local partners:

Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association

Visit the website of EWLA

ANPPCAN

Visit the website of ANPPCAN

Mahibere Hiwot for Social Development

Visit the website of Mahibere Hiwot

Network of Ethiopian Women Association

Visit the website of NEWA

Strategies for Northern Development (SND)

Funding Partners