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About Ethiopia

Ethiopia is the second-most populous nation in Africa after Nigeria, and the population continues to rapidly grow at 2.5% annually. At present, the economy of Ethiopia is a mixed and transition economy with a large public sector. A concentrated effort by the government to boost industrial production and manufacturing, implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects, large FDI inflow, and sustained progress in the agricultural and service sectors explain the impressively rapid growth of Ethiopia. Major challenges include soaring inflation, limited competitiveness (due to planned economy), debt distress, unstable political and social environment

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Ethiopia, with 80% of the population living in rural areas, is one of the least urbanized countries in Africa. Even though it has the lowest level of income inequality even in the world, the population is unanimously impoverished, due both to rapid population growth and a low starting base. The worst drought within 30 years in 2015-16 created food insecurity for millions of Ethiopians.

Healthcare has improved remarkably. The expansion of the number of facilities and the amount of community outreach has improved geographic access to care, especially for poor and rural populations. On the other hand, Ethiopia’s education system has significant shortcomings. The public school system, in general, has deteriorated from lack of adequate funding, teaching staff, facilities, and space (or overcrowding), which all undermine education quality. In 2020, Ethiopia saw its highest-ever annual dropout rate of 17.5%. With 84.2% of primary schools located in rural areas, the education of Ethiopia’s youth is of particular concern to IIRR. Additionally, Ethiopia suffers from some of the lowest gender equality performance indicators in sub-Saharan Africa. Unequal opportunities, harmful traditional practices, and violence continue to threaten women and girls’ interests.

Our Impact

IIRR’s impact in Ethiopia over the years

75000

women farmers impacted overall

500

schools reached

50000

women farmers linked to local markets

1997

Ethiopia office active since 1997

Story from the field

CLI-MARK Project

IIRR’s CLI-MARK program in Ethiopia reaches out to pastoralists with the livestock market linkage initiative, strengthens women and youth livestock-related enterprises, and supports livestock markets to serve as business hubs for the pastoralists.

Tume Huka, a farmer who owns a herd of cattle, sheep, and goats and a shop selling motorbike fuel is a member of a micro-enterprise group that buys, fattens, and sells livestock.

IIRR’s CLI-MARK Project in Ethiopia improves the entrepreneurial skills, knowledge, and organizational capacities of livestock enterprises. In 2018, Tame Huka acquired critical skills, knowledge, and adopted improved practices that enabled them to engage better with markets and gain higher income.

Before the CLI-MARK training, we never kept any records and we didn’t make much money,” she says. “Now, I have learned how to monitor prices in the market, keep proper records, and work out the best time to buy and sell. As a result, we are making more money.

Tume Huk--- Mrs Thandiwe ChigoveraMfiri Consolidated garden

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Explore our CLI-Mark program in Ethiopia

CLI-Mark program in Ethiopia

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