Who They Are

ActionAid Ethiopia is the Ethiopian branch of the ActionAid International federation, a global NGO focused on social justice, gender equality, and poverty eradication. In Ethiopia, AAE works on women’s rights, climate and land justice, governance, humanitarian response, and economic empowerment. The organization operates across multiple regions and is led by Country Director Tinebeb Berhane.

Vision & Mission

AAE envisions a poverty-free Ethiopia where everyone lives in dignity and prosperity. Their work is guided by a Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA), which emphasizes rights, accountability, participation, non-discrimination, and sustainability. AAE places power relations and structural injustice at the center of its understanding of poverty and inequality.

Strategic Focus Areas

Women & Girls / Gender Justice

Combatting violence against women and girls

Promoting economic justice and access to livelihoods

Strengthening feminist values and inclusion

Ensuring women lead humanitarian responses

Resilient Livelihoods & Climate Justice

Addressing the impacts of climate change (droughts, floods)

Advocating for climate justice and sustainable alternatives

Protecting land rights and supporting agroecology

Good Governance & Civic Participation

Promoting accountability and civic engagement

Encouraging youth leadership and activism

Building strong civil society networks

Humanitarian Response & Protection

Providing food, cash, water, and sanitation during emergencies

Ensuring women and marginalized groups are protected and included

Economic Empowerment

Supporting women’s income generation and market access

Establishing forums for women’s economic inclusion

Reach & Beneficiaries

AAE began development programs in 1989. It now works in six regions: SNNPRS, Somali, Oromia, Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, and Tigray. By 2021, it reported reaching nearly 8.7 million people, over 5 million of them women and girls. AAE runs both long-term local development initiatives and short-term emergency projects.

Recent Work

Distributed food aid to drought-affected communities in Tigray.

Launched a climate justice campaign under the banner “Fund Our Future.”

Built school facilities, including libraries and gender-sensitive toilets, to support girls’ education.

Issued policy briefs urging stronger accountability for corporate practices that harm human rights.

Operations & Partnerships

AAE is part of the wider ActionAid Federation, which works in about 45 countries. Its country strategy emphasizes humanitarian action, youth engagement, conflict resolution, technology use, and peacebuilding. It partners with community groups, civil society, academia, media, and government institutions. Funding comes primarily from international donors and the ActionAid network.

Challenges

Operating in conflict-affected and unstable areas

Severe climate impacts like droughts and floods

Political and civic space restrictions that hinder advocacy

Funding uncertainties in volatile global conditions

Ensuring programs are inclusive and power-shifting