Where we do it > Ethiopia

Facts & Figures Population: 78.2 million Capital city: Addis Ababa GDP per capita: $1055 HDI ranking: 169 out of 177 countries * Life expectancy: 49

Country background

VSO has been working in Ethiopia since 1996 and it is currently one of the largest country programmes with over 100 volunteers working in the areas of Education, HIV and AIDS and Participation and Governance. During 2009 VSO plans to begin work in the area of Health.

Education

The majority of volunteers in Ethiopia are working in the area of education. The number of students in primary schools increased from 13 million in 2005/06 to 14 million in 2006/07 . Gross Primary Enrollment Rate for girls has increased from 83.9% in 2005/06 to 85% in 2006/07. There remains much room for improvement in the quality of the teaching-learning process, but students are highly motivated and parents place a high value to education.

VSO volunteers are working at a number of different levels in Ethiopia to support improvements in education management and teacher training which will ultimately have an impact on the quality and relevance of education children receive. Senior teachers and education managers are working at national government institutions supporting the development and implementation of national policies, such as improved teacher training programmes and monitoring and evaluation systems. Meanwhile experienced teachers are working within regional education bureaus and teacher education institutions to help deliver training programmes and develop the skills of their local colleagues.

HIV and AIDS

Ethiopia has the third largest number of people in the world with HIV and AIDS: some three million people are living with the virus according to the UN programme on HIV and AIDS. VSO’s partner organisations include those that work to reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS through education and awareness raising activities; mitigate against the impacts of stigma, exclusion and prejudice through advocacy and lobbying activities and provide support, care and treatment for people living with HIV and AIDS. This includes working with regional government bureaus and local NGOs to improve management systems so they are more able to operate more effectively and access donor funds. It is anticipated that the HIV and AIDS work will be expanded to include broader support to the health sector.

Participation and Governance

Volunteers working area of Participation and Governance are mainly based at local non-governmental organisations and government offices helping them to develop systems and processes that make them as effective as possible when representing poor people at both a local and national level.