2023-24 Trócaire Annual ROI Annual Report
Download HereHuman Development Index:
Ranked 173 out of 189 countries
Life expectancy:
66 years
Average years of schooling:
8.7 years
Tekilu Tesfay (60), is a water and sanitation committee leader in Tigray, north Ethiopia.
People in Ireland have a strong affinity with Ethiopia. There is a long history of Irish missionaries working in the country. The involvement of Irish celebrities such as Bob Geldof and Bono in fundraising campaigns for famine relief in Ethiopia during the 1980s cemented a bond between the countries.
Ethiopia has changed rapidly since the dark days of the 1980s when civil war led to a devastating famine. Despite significant economic growth, huge challenges remain. Ethiopia remains in the bottom 20 countries in the UN’s Human Development Index.
Trócaire has worked in Ethiopia since the 1970s. The continuing support of the Irish public for Ethiopia allows us to work in the most vulnerable regions of the country.
Human Development Index:
Ranked 173 out of 189 countries
Life expectancy:
66 years
Average years of schooling:
8.7 years
One of Africa’s most populous countries, Ethiopia is also one of its most diverse. The presence of over 80 ethnic groups gives Ethiopia a wonderful diversity, but has also contributed to conflict.
Civil war in the 1970s and ‘80s devastated the country. A border war with Eritrea in 1998-2000 created further conflict and led to a situation of ‘No Peace, No War’ from 2000-2018. Since 2015 Ethiopia has experienced waves of domestic protest, violence and conflict.
Ethiopia is also faced with challenging environmental and natural conditions. Historically cyclical droughts have become more frequent and more severe. Ethiopia has experienced devastating droughts in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. The 2016 el Nino drought was the worst drought in the country in over 50 years.
Yet, increased peace and stability, including rapprochement efforts with Eritrea that led to Prime Minster Abiy winning the Nobel Peace Prize, together with significant national development efforts, have led to economic growth and huge improvements for life in many parts of the country.
However, significant challenges remain. The UN ranks Ethiopia one of the 20 least developed countries. Approximately 40% of the population lives below the poverty line.
Most of the country’s huge rural population rely on farming to feed themselves. Worsening drought and climate change is presenting enormous difficulties.
Trócaire works in partnership with UK sister agencies CAFOD (England and Wales) and SCIAF (Scotland) in Ethiopia. This unique partnership, called CST Ethiopia, allows the three agencies to combine resources.
Trócaire has been working in Ethiopia since the mid-1970s. In 2000 we began joint programming with UK sister agency CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development for England and Wales). In 2009, SCIAF (Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund) joined the partnership.
CST Ethiopia works in five locations in Ethiopia: Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s region (SNNPR); Oromia region; Tigray region; Afar region, and Peri-urban areas of Addis Ababa and its hinterland.
For over 40 years Trócaire has been working in partnership with communities in Ethiopia to improve food production, gender equality and human rights. We also respond to humanitarian crisis by providing immediate relief. Our work today is carried out jointly with our UK sister agencies CAFOD and SCIAF.
Samson Haileyesus from CST Together (joint office of Catholic agencies CAFOD, SCIAF and Trócaire) reports from Borana i...
Prolonged drought is causing a widespread hunger crisis across East African countries. Somalia, South Sudan and parts...
Extreme food shortages are occurring across a number of African countries, with large areas of East Africa worst affecte...
Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD, Lela-alem Gebreyohannes, Ethiopian Ambassador to Ireland, and RTÉ broadcaster ...
The Financing for Development Summit in Addis Ababa has ended disappointingly, with wealthy countries refusing to sign-u...
“Climate change threatens to undo all the gains that have been made against poverty”, according to Trócaire...
by Rebecca Smyth, Trócaire Volunteer In February 2014, Rebecca Smyth travelled to Ethiopia to visit Trócaire pr...
by Tamiru Legesse, Communications Officer, Ethiopia Tamiru Legesse from our Ethiopia office vis...
Blue skies may be top of an Irish person’s wish list for the summer, but in Ethiopia months of dry heat make it diffic...
Tigist Mekonen was married with three children when she began to feel unwell. Sickness came in waves and Tigist, a fruit...