Ethiopia
Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in Africa. Nearly 85 per cent of its 64 million people are entirely dependent on subsistence farming. Seventeen years of civil unrest, which ended with the overthrow of dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991, has taken its toll on the country.
High spending on the war meant that there was little money for investment in industry or agriculture, on which so many people depend. With peace and political stability, steps are now being taken to improve basic services like health and education.
ActionAid in Ethiopia
ActionAid has been working in Ethiopia since 1989. We work with over 700,000 of the country’s poorest people to improve access to basic healthcare, safe, clean water and education. In times of crisis, we provide immediate relief.
ActionAid trains farmers in agricultural techniques which increase the size and variety of the harvest, while conserving soil and water. And we support community schemes which provide affordable loans and credit to people (usually women) who have barely enough to survive
In the village of Sheba YoYo, local women’s groups have joined together to build a mill, with money from an ActionAid savings and credit scheme.
Asenakech Okanso, aged 19 and a mother of three, is a member of one of the groups:
"My life is different from my mother’s life. She did not have the chance of education, or the mill. I’m sure there will be many changes in how my daughters will live in the future. My daughters may have jobs. The mill will change everything."
photo : ©Jenny Matthews/ActionAid
Fact file
- More than 60% of adults cannot read and write.
Ethiopia map
In their own words
Picture story
Schools resources
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