transforming ethiopia together The United Nations in Ethiopia

delivering as one 1 2 transforming ethiopia together The United Nations in Ethiopia 4

CONTENTS Foreword 6

Preface 8

ABOUT Ethiopia 10

United Nations in Ethiopia 12

Pillar 1. 18 Inclusive growth and structural transformation

Pillar 2. 22 Resilience and green economy

Pillar 3. 26 Investing in human capital and expanded access to quality and equitable basic social services

Pillar 4. 32 Good governance, participation and capacity development

Pillar 5. 36 Equality and Empowerment

delivering as one 5 Foreword

The country, as a founding member of the United Nations, has always enjoyed a rich and evolving partnership with the United Nations system on a vast array of issues, development, peace and security and humanitarian spheres.

The UN Country Team (UNCT) in Ethiopia The current United Nations Development remains a reliable partner to our Government. Assistance Framework (UNDAF), which The strong partnership with the UN has played guides the UNCT’s support to our an important role in Ethiopia’s growth and Government through 2020, integrated the transformation efforts, and our achievement national medium term development plan, of the MDGs by 2015. Growth and Transformation Plan II (2016- 2020) and the Sustainable Development The UNCT continues to support Ethiopia Goals (SDGs). Hence, it plays an important in a number of key areas as the country role in the country’s path towards a carbon- seeks to become a carbon-neutral middle- neutral middle-income economy by 2025 income economy by 2025. The UN’s strategic and its achievement of the SDGs by 2030. support over the years, under its harmonised Delivering as One approach, in critical areas The Ethiopian Government looks forward to such as basic services, agriculture, industry, a strengthened partnership with the UNCT governance and climate change and disaster as we build an inclusive, innovative, climate risk management has allowed the country smart and resilient Ethiopia. to continue to build on its unprecedented development gains.

Abraham Tekeste (Ph.D) Minister of Finance and Economic Cooperation Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

6 Ethiopia has officially launched the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) which represents a vehicle for the implementation of the pledges it made at the Leaders’ Summit on Refugees in September 2016 in New York. This seeks to promote refugees’ self- reliance through inclusion into national development plans.

delivering as one 7 preface

With a history dating back centuries and a young population eager for an inclusive prosperity, Ethiopia is a country of unique and rich past with a strong promise of a bright future. Ethiopia’s recently launched branding as the Land of Origins is testimony to its commitment to build on its gifts from the past as it builds a better tomorrow.

Over the past 15 years, the country has made Ethiopia’s national development plan guiding Enhancing its partnership with all stakeholders socio-economic progress and gains in human the UN’s intervention areas focus on building forms the bedrock of the UN’s engagement development, with the share of the population a climate smart and resilient nation while in Ethiopia as we go forward to achieve the living in poverty decreasing by nearly half. With promoting inclusive and sustainable growth. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the roll out of the SDGs, including SDG 1 on the coming years the UN is expanding its In addition to these frameworks, the zero poverty that talks about ending poverty partnership with the private sector, civil society Government and the UN in Ethiopia will work in all its forms from everywhere, the country organisations and academia in order to further together to ensure that the country reaps will need to scale up and undertake the kind enrich its support to the Government’s vision a stronger outcome by putting in place a of development that lifts all Ethiopians out of to achieve the SDGs. We are also paying more strong linkage between development and poverty and leaves no one behind. attention to the need to engage with youth humanitarian interventions. This integrated and women, not only as beneficiaries of our Ethiopia’s current momentum has placed it on nexus approach is one that the UN Secretary intervention in Ethiopia but as partners that a path to achieve its ambition of becoming a General is strengthening as a unique can inform our programming and thus enhance lower middle-income status country by 2025. approach for the UN’s work across the globe our results on the ground. To realize this milestone, the country will to enhance development results by building need to tackle its vulnerabilities, particularly the resilience of communities and systems This book offers a glimpse into the work and to climatic and environmental shocks, and towards ending need. priority issues of the United Nations in Ethiopia. strengthen the resilience of families and communities to shocks and stresses.

Ahunna Eziakonwa-Onochie United Nations Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative & United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator

8 the Government and the UN in Ethiopia will work together to ensure that the country reaps a stronger outcome by putting in place a strong linkage between development and humanitarian interventions.

delivering as one 9 About ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia has a rich and ancient history and is also the oldest independent nation in Africa. The country has a strong track record of regional and global leadership, being one of the founding members of the African Union as well as the United Nations.

Over the years, especially since the epic battle of since become to be referred to as the ‘Capital of Ethiopia is located in the Horn of Adwa in 1896 where the Ethiopian army faced off Africa’ given the presence of the African Union Africa, Ethiopia covers an area an invading European power, the word “Ethiopia” and the African secretariat for the UN, which is of 1,127 million square kilometres has gone from the name of a country to an the UN Economic Commission for Africa. and shares borders with Eritrea, inspiration for freedom for Africans and others Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Ethiopia follows an open door policy for across the globe. Sudan and the Sudan. refugees and is currently one of the leading Today, Ethiopia is home to than 94,352,0001 host countries in the world. It currently hosts making it the second most populous country some 750,000 refugees from Eritrea, Somalia, in Africa, following Nigeria and ahead of Egypt, South Sudan and the Sudan, 57% of whom are which had held that position until recently. children2. Ethiopia’s current constitution came into The country’s topographic features a wide force in 1995 and brought into place a federal and diverse range from the high plateau in the system comprising nine regions (Afar, Amhara, Central Mountains to the valleys of the East Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, Harari, Oromia, African Rift, with the Danikil Depression in the Somali, Southern Nations Nationalities and north of the country said to be one of the hottest Peoples (SNNP) and Tigray). The capital city is place on Earth in terms of year-round average Addis Abeba (meaning new flower in Amharic) temperatures, and it is also one of the lowest and was founded as a permanent capital in the places on the planet. Standing at 2,355 m (7726 late 19th century by Emperor Menelik II and his ft) above sea level, Addis Abeba is one of the wife Empress Taytu Betul. Addis Ababa has top five highest capitals in the world.

10 ERITREA Red YEMEN Sea

SUDAN

DJIBOUTI Gulf of Aden

ETHIOPIA SOMALIA

SOUTH SUDAN

SOMALIA

KENYA

Development context Ethiopia has recorded strong economic growth and social development over the past 15 years. During that period, poverty and under-five mortality rates declined by 47% and 60%, respectively, access to education increased and the gap between girls’ and boys’ school enrolment narrowed. Between 2000 and 2015, Ethiopia was one of the fastest enhancers of human development in the world. The country’s Human Development Index increased by 58.3%, compared with 24.2% in sub-Saharan Africa overall.3 By 2015, Ethiopia had achieved all but two of the MDGs.4 Agriculture has dominated the Ethiopian economy and accounted for the largest share of employment. The sector has largely remained traditional, with small holder farmers reliant on rain-fed production thus placing stress on the country’s efforts to become food self-sufficient.

delivering as one 11 about ethiopia

The role of industry is growing in Ethiopia as the foundation of the country’s ambition to become a lower middle income with a carbon-neutral economy by 2025. This focus on escalating the industrial sector has included investing in industry zones and agro-industrial parks, focusing on light manufacturing and attracting foreign direct investment, while expanding the job market, particularly for youth and women, improving technology transfer, and strengthening linkages with the rest of the economy, including the agricultural sector. Ethiopia’s new industrial strategy is an area that the UN is also scaling up its support around given its potential for promoting inclusive growth. The UN’s support focuses on building national capacity and facilitating access to global best practices.

Key facts • GDP per capita increased from US$691 in 2014/15 to US$794 in 2015/16 • The economy grew by 8% in 2015/16 • Annual inflation reached 8.6% in April 2017, up from 7.4% in 2016

Over the years, Ethiopia’s pro-poor witnessed the worst El Nino induced budgeting has enhanced access to social drought in over 30 years, is an area of services. However, the Organisation for major concern as this vulnerability could Economic Co-operation and Development jeopardise development gains. (OECD) 2016 ‘States of Fragility’ paper lists The Government of Ethiopia and its partners Ethiopia as the tenth most fragile country. are actively exploring a new way of working The increasing frequency and severity of that will help reduce humanitarian needs droughts experienced over the last few through smarter and better development years, including in 2015 when the country programming in the most vulnerable areas.

12 at a glance 5

Poverty headcount (estimate) 23.4% (2015)

Net primary school enrolment 97.1% (2016)

Gender disparity in primary and secondary education 0.93 and 0.94 (2015)

Child mortality 67/1,000 live births (2016)

Maternal mortality6 Proportion of population with access to safe drinking water 353/100,000 live births (2015) 61% (2016) HIV prevalence Life expectancy at birth 1.1% (2014) 64.6 (2015) Access to HIV drugs Urban unemployment 54% (2014) 17.5% (2015) Population with access to treated bed nets for malaria Unemployment, total (% of total labour force) 45.8% (2014) 5.2% (2014)

delivering as one 13 The United Nations in Ethiopia

In addition to being one of the founding members of the United Nations, Ethiopia also has a long history of participation in UN peacekeeping missions and is one of the leading contributing countries.

From 1950 to 53 Ethiopia took part in the UN critical training gaps in peace keeping operations the one launched in 2017 that brought together Command multinational force in the Korean War, of the African Union and the United Nations. the governments of Ethiopia and Kenya, the later in 1960 Ethiopia sent its forces to join UN-led UN country teams in both countries. This five UNDP, in partnership with the Government of operation in the Congo. More recently, in 1994 the year cross border programme seeks to turn Japan, has supported the establishment of the country deployed its forces to the UN Assistance borders from barriers to bridges by improving the centre to provide capacity development and Mission for Rwanda and has since deployed its the livelihoods of the local communities through international peacekeeping trainings. personnel in eight UN peacekeeping operations. strengthening market linkages; strengthening Sustaining peace and security is a key priority peace building and conflict resolution In 2010 the Ethiopian Ministry of National Defence area for the UN as underlined by the UN infrastructure; and helping the communities established an international peacekeeping Secretary General António Guterres when he build their resilience to cyclical climate change training centre with the hopes that it can become emphasised its linkage with development. The impacts. The UN in Ethiopia is translating this a center of excellence in peacekeeping, peace new way of working in Ethiopia brings together commitment to the ground with interventions, building and conflict resolution efforts. The Peace humanitarian and development with peace and including partnering with the UN in Kenya and Support Training Center seeks to strengthen security support. This approach also includes both governments to roll out a cross border the capacity and all aspects of peace operation developing cross border programmes, such as programme. training in Ethiopia and Africa, by addressing

14 The UN’s intervention focuses on supporting Ethiopia’s second Growth and Transformation Plan that seeks to sustain rapid, broad-based and equitable economic growth and development; improve the quality and competitiveness of the productive sectors, particularly agriculture and manufacturing; transform the domestic private sector; unlock the potential of urbanisation to sustain rapid growth and promote structural transformation; accelerate human development; enhance sustainable technology capacity; build the capacity of the public institutions to build democratic good governance and promote active engagement of citizens; and build a climate resilient green economy.

Ethiopia is also a host to one of the largest UN These include agriculture, industrial development, country teams with representatives of 28 United disaster risk management, social protection, climate Nations agencies, funds and programmes working change, health and nutrition, water, sanitation and in the country. The UN’s intervention in Ethiopia hygiene, education, HIV and AIDS, governance, spans across a spectrum of thematic issues data and demographic dividend, and equality and guided by the country’s development priorities. empowerment of women and youth, as well as humanitarian.

delivering as one 15 the united nations in ethiopia

The UN’s support for Ethiopia has prioritised building national capacity to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, develop key national strategies such as the Climate Resilient Green Economy, and build the capacity of its public institutions, to name a few. Since 2008, under the strong leadership of the Government, the United Nations in Ethiopia has been working to enhance its coordination in order to improve its efficiency and achieve greater impact on the ground. This includes a renewed focus on results, and harmonizing business practices across agencies.

Improving the efficiency of the United Nations system in Ethiopia The United Nations in Ethiopia is introducing innovations to promote efficiency, effectiveness and quality improvement for United Nations businesses and common services in Ethiopia. One such approach is a joint inter-agency Business Operations Strategy (BOS), a framework created by the United Nations Development Group (UNDG). The BOS reduces transaction costs and improves the quality of goods and services by putting in place long-term agreements for major goods and services.

Under the UNDAF 2016–2020, the Business Operations Strategy 2.0 will provide a more systematic and comprehensive approach to harmonize and simplify the United Nations’ operations and common services. This will improve the quality of business operations and increasing efficiency. The business operations Strategy 2.0 is projected to generate savings of approximately US$31 million by 2020.

16 United Nations Development Assistance Framework 2016–2020 The UN in Ethiopia uses the technical expertise and global networks to contribute in a harmonized manner to meet Ethiopia’s development vision through a development assistance framework that helps build the capacity of national institutions, support evidence-based policy and strategy development as well as strengthen monitoring systems for increased accountability and transparency. The UNDAF 2016–2020 is the fourth development assistance framework in Ethiopia and serves as the key programming instrument for ensuring coherent, efficient and effective United Nations system operations.

The UNDAF is in full alignment with the national development priorities outlined in the GTP II and the SDGs and is organized around the following five pillars:

Pillar 1: Inclusive growth and structural transformation

Pillar 2: Resilience and green economy

Pillar 3: Investing in human capital and expanded access to quality and equitable basic social services

Pillar 4: Good governance, participation and capacity development

Pillar 5: Equality and empowerment

delivering as one 17 Pillar 1 Inclusive growth and structural transformation Ethiopia has sustained double-digit growth over the past decade, with significant improvements across human development indicators.

Poverty reduction has been driven by agricultural growth and supported by pro-poor Key facts9 spending on basic services, effective rural safety nets and essential infrastructure.7 Stabilization measures • Share of gross domestic savings in GDP have reduced inflation, from 38% in 2010/11 to 10% increased from 9.5% in 2009/10 to 21.8% in 2013/14.8 in 2014/15 Productive employment remains a challenge, • Public savings increased from 5.1% of GDP however, and the Government’s industrial in 2009/10 to 6.5% of GDP in 2013/14 development policy focuses mainly on micro and small-scale enterprises. Generating employment for • In 2013, youth unemployment stood youth is of key importance, particularly given the at 6.8%, down from 11% in 1999. large cohorts of students who will graduate from • The total labour force in Ethiopia aged universities in the coming years. Under the GTP II, the Government is seeking to expand the manufacturing 15–64 has increased from 26.5 million 10 sector to transform the structure of the economy and in 1994 to 36 million in 2009 increase employment opportunities for all Ethiopians.

18 Outcome 1: Generating robust and inclusive growth in the agricultural sector Agriculture continues to dominate This includes technologies that increase Ethiopia’s economy, accounting for more production and productivity, reduce than 40% of GDP, 77% of employment pre- and post-harvest losses, improve and 84% of the country’s exports.11 The livestock management, encourage United Nations is working with relevant sustainable land management, promote government actors and other partners to integrated watershed management and strengthen the capacities of farmers and stimulate climate-smart and nutrition- agro-pastoralists to adopt innovative sensitive agricultural practices. farming techniques.

delivering as one 19 Pillar 1 Inclusive growth and structural transformation

“Initially the members were very poor, but now they are able to meet their household food needs and even have savings,” said Mohamed Sheik Mohamed, the head of the increasingly self-sustainable cooperative. “This season we used seeds saved from the previous year’s production to plant our fields.”

> Breaking poverty cycles in the Somali Region Despite improvements in Ethiopia’s overall opportunities. Some 2,000 households food security situation, high levels of food in these communities have benefited insecurity and malnutrition continue from skills training and received inputs to affect the Somali region. Recurrent for poultry, crop and forage production. droughts, climate change, environmental In the Fafan Community, the Hodan degradation and insufficient livelihood cooperative earned ETB36,000 (about options have trapped rural communities US$1,600) from its production – nearly in a perpetual cycle of poverty. half of which came from tomato To help tackle this challenge, the Food sales. By sharing production among and Agriculture Organization (FAO), with themselves, members effectively the support of the African Solidarity Trust boosted their household food security. Fund, has supported six communities in The cooperative has saved and banked Gursum and Erer districts to enhance their profit, approximately ETB17,000 livelihoods and reduce poverty through (about US$750), which will enable future economic diversification and work investment and expansion.

20 “With the growing youth population and the increasing number of graduates from our still growing higher learning institutions, there is an all too palpable need to create massive employment opportunities in Ethiopia,” said Ethiopian Prime Minister H.E Hailemariam Desalegn.

Outcome 2: Fostering inclusive, sustainable and competitive private sector growth With United Nations support, Ethiopia is boosting industrial and service sector growth and > Unleashing the entrepreneurial spirit increasing employment opportunities for women, The UNDP-supported Entrepreneurship Development youth and vulnerable groups. Interventions Programme, launched by the Government of Ethiopia are giving micro, small- and medium-sized in 2013, has supported more than 40,000 budding enterprises, including small farming businesses, entrepreneurs with training. The guidance has the skills and capacities they need to produce equipped beneficiaries to launch or expand their quality goods and attain business certification/ businesses. Beza Asefa, a 26-year-old entrepreneur, accreditation. The United Nations is also working used the training to transform her interest in fashion with service providers to expand access to into a thriving business with 17 employees. financial protections and enhance services for otherwise vulnerable groups.

delivering as one 21 Pillar 2 Resilience and green economy The 2015 Climate Change Vulnerability Index identifies Ethiopia as being “at extreme risk” and ranks it as the seventh most vulnerable country out of 198 countries assessed.

The country’s economic growth and Outcome 3: the livelihoods of its people have already Strengthening resilience been affected by the current weather and preparedness in variability. Ethiopia is therefore committed to making its economy climate resilient by disaster-prone areas 2025, with United Nations support. Ethiopia is increasingly witnessing the impacts of climate change, including erratic rains and prolonged drought, which have wrought havoc on pastoral livelihoods, reduced access to water, and decreased the quantity and quality of forage. Key facts The United Nations is therefore working with • In 2010/11, approximately 27%12 of relevant partners in Ethiopia to expand and the population was below the food strengthen development programmes in areas poverty line13 of cyclical humanitarian need. This includes strengthening the capacities of national and • 14% of non-poor rural households are regional institutions responsible for disaster risk vulnerable to poverty14 management. At the community level, the United • Ethiopia supports more than Nations is supporting initiatives aimed at fostering community resilience and self-sufficiency. The 900,000 refugees and Ethiopian Government is also receiving support to provide returnees who require assistance15 effective and timely emergency response to protect the lives and livelihoods of disaster- affected households.

22 > Transforming lives by improving livelihoods For a typical Mao Komo woman, walking The Developing Regional States more than three hours on foot to a programme is a joint, flagship intervention neighbouring town to grind her grains is part established in 2012 by the Government of of the weekly routine. If walking becomes a Ethiopia in collaboration with three United struggle, she may find herself crushing the Nations agencies—UNDP, the United grains by hand with grinding stones. This will Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and cause her hands to peel and add seven to the United Nations Capital Development eight hours to the meal preparation process. Fund (UNCDF). It aims to bring equitable, accelerated and sustainable development Built as part of the Developing Regional to the Somali, Afar, Benishagul and States programme, the mill has helped Gambella regions by building local women in Asha’s association spend less governance capacity, supporting time walking and more time on income livelihood activities and improving basic generation activities. Through the social services. Through a participatory programme, the women have also gained planning method, community members access to education on maternal health, are encouraged to advance their own water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), development priorities. nutrition and protecting the environment.

“This used to be our story, four years back, but not anymore,” said Asha Mohammed, member of the women’s association in Zeyba Kebele, Benishagul region. “Now we come to the mill at our convenience, save our time and labour for other productive works around the house. You can also see that our hands are normal like anybody else’s.”

delivering as one 23 Pillar 2 Resilience and green economy

> Protecting the vulnerable at the community level “It looks like a flower, I like it!” smiled Kaira, 16, a student and one of the vulnerable displaced girls who was one of 1,265 internally displaced women and girls who benefitted from IOM Ethiopia’s distribution of dignity kits that include solar powered lamps. Lack of personal and hygienic items impact the dignity and respect women receive within the community. Internally displaced women and girls can be highly vulnerable, and protection issues are a primary concern in displacement sites. Through the partnership with Little Sun GmBH, IOM’s provision of solar lamps will equip displaced women and girls with safe, sustainable and clean lighting solutions to Outcome 4: Outcome 5: improve the quality of their daily lives. The Increasing access Enabling climate lamps also limit the exposure to hazardous to social protection change adaptation and forms of lighting such as candles, firewood sustainable resource and kerosene lamps, thereby reducing fire With United Nations support, the Government risks and negative health consequences of Ethiopia is strengthening its approach to management integrated social protection services. This According to data from IOM’s April The United Nations in Ethiopia is involves improving collaboration among Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) capitalizing on the recent momentum relevant sectors on the provision of social Report, over 60,000 households are on climate change and green growth to protection and linking social protection with displaced across Ethiopia due to the strengthen government capacity in these other basic social services. Capacities are drought currently impacting Ethiopia and areas. Relevant ministries are gaining the also being strengthened for the development countries across the region. The Somali capacities to mainstream climate change and implementation of costed national and Region of Ethiopia is experiencing the into sector strategies and plans and regional social protection action plans and largest impact of the drought and hosts advocate for the use of climate-friendly the expansion of social and health insurance 75 per cent of all households internally and smart technologies. coverage at the local level. displaced due to drought.

24 > Valuing Ethiopia’s ecosystems and conserving its biodiversity For decades, Ethiopia has struggled with also revealed that forests contribute ETB58.3 deforestation driven by the consumption of million (6.7% of GDP) to other sectors of the wood fuel, industrial demand, the expansion economy, particularly agriculture, through the of agriculture and various forms of land provision of ecosystem services,16 bringing degradation. By 2010, Ethiopia had lost nearly the total value of market benefits to 9.9% of 75% of its original forest area, according to national GDP. In addition, ETB2.4 million is FAO. Other estimates are even higher. attributed to non-market benefits associated with people’s willingness to preserve forests Forest ecosystem valuation studies are and other factors.17 gradually becoming recognized as one of the most powerful instruments for guiding countries Ethiopia has also established four biosphere in sustainable forest management and spurring reserves in Kafa, Yayu, Sheka Forest and policy makers to take necessary action. In 2016, Lake Tana. The United Nations Educational, Ethiopia took part in a joint United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) REDD+ valuation study of its forest ecosystems, biosphere reserves—areas comprising as part of the national Climate Resilient terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems— Green Economy Strategy, in a landmark step serve as models for sustainable human towards reducing deforestation and enhancing living. Each reserve promotes solutions for sustainable forest management. The study reconciling the conservation of biodiversity was carried out in collaboration between the with its sustainable use, and presents unique Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate opportunities for developing climate change Change, the United Nations Environment strategies aimed at mitigation and resilience. Programme (UNEP), UNDP and FAO. The biosphere reserves are nominated by The study generated a number of important national governments and remain under the findings that are being used to inform sovereign jurisdiction of the states where they policymaking in Ethiopia. A key recommendation are located. Their status is internationally emerging from the study is to revise the share of recognized. There are 669 biosphere reserves the forestry sector in national accounting from in 120 countries today, including 81 in 33 3.8% of GDP to 6.1% (US$7.9 million). The study countries in Africa.18

delivering as one 25 Pillar 3

Investing in human capital and expanded access to quality and equitable basic social services

Although progress has been made in the areas of health, nutrition, WASH and education, Key facts19 basic social services remain weak. In particular, the quality of schooling and educational • The maternal mortality ratio is 420 deaths infrastructure must be improved. Health, maternal per 100,000 live births; higher than the MDG and neonatal mortality rates remain unacceptably target of 267 deaths per 100,00 live births20 high and challenges persist in regards to the • The proportion of women delivering in a quality of services and availability of supplies health facility and receiving skilled assistance and medicines. Given Ethiopia’s vulnerability to during delivery increased from 9% to 16% climate change, millions of Ethiopians continue between 2011 and 201421 to face chronic food insecurity and inconsistent access to water and sanitation. • 1.5% of Ethiopians are living with HIV • Net primary enrolment increased from 83% in 2009/10 to 95% in 2014/15 • Access to clean water increased from 47% of the population in 2005/6 to 57% in 2013/14 • Stunting among children under 5 declined from 58% in 2000 to 40% in 2014

26 > Working together as one to enhance results The World Health Organization (WHO), the issues in the health sector; practical Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/ handbooks and training and awareness- AIDS (UNAIDS) and UNWomen are working raising guidelines on women’s health together to implement the joint Promoting rights; and restrictions on female genital Women’s Health Rights programme, which mutilation/cutting practices for health was initiated in 2015 with the support of workers. the Delivering Results Together Fund. The The programme has highlighted the programme has facilitated the revision of importance of United Nations coherence, the country’s health policy to become more coordination and joint funding. Through comprehensive and inclusive. practical application, it has proven that The agencies have also supported the better results can be achieved when United Government to develop a five-year strategic Nations agencies and partners contribute plan for the health sector that is based on their own expertise to the joint work, when gender, equity and human rights principles; multi-sector approaches are employed and a monitoring tool for the Ethiopian Human when the Government is fully engaged in Rights Commission to track human rights the process.

Outcome 6: Improving equitable access to quality health services The United Nations is strengthening health sector capacities at the national and sub-national levels to help expand access to health care for vulnerable Ethiopians and refugees. This includes making sure that health facilities have the necessary materials and equipment, while also strengthening capacities for health financing so that all Ethiopians can afford quality services. It also means developing health intervention packages—such as reproductive health services for adolescents and youth—that are informed by evidence.

delivering as one 27 Pillar 3 access to quality and equitable basic social services

Outcome 7: Improving the nutritional status of vulnerable populations With United Nations support, the Government of Ethiopia is implementing the National Nutrition Programme and strengthening programme coordination at national, regional and zonal levels. The United Nations is also building the capacity of the health, agriculture and education systems to provide quality preventive and curative nutrition services to infants, young children, adolescents, pregnant women, lactating mothers and people living with HIV. In communities, the United Nations is working with households to improve nutrition care practices and treat malnutrition.

> Addressing nutrition over the short and long-terms Ethiopia is experiencing one of the worst The United Nations is therefore supporting droughts in decades due to the El Niño families and communities through the weather phenomenon, which continues provision of emergency therapeutic foods to wreak havoc on the livelihoods and where needed, while also investing in nutritional health of affected families. long-term interventions that address the This is particularly important for country’s nutrition gaps. This includes children, given recent increases in child improving nutrition-sensitive agriculture malnutrition rates in Ethiopia. Some and land management systems and 450,000 children were treated for severe introducing livelihood diversification, acute malnutrition in 2016. such as poultry production, to improve food security for vulnerable households and enhance their income.

28 “Information is key—that’s what every announcement in the media said about HIV in Ethiopia,” Fanaye reflected. “I decided to open Lucy Positive women Association to educate positive women and give them the means to empower themselves and take control over their own lives, and support other women living with HIV” said Fanaye.

Outcome 8: > Saving lives by raising HIV awareness Providing HIV services When Fanaye’s father passed away, her mother AIDS response could help to influence the to key populations was left to provide for nine children. As her home profound structural, social and economic changes Using the Fast-Track approach, the United life deteriorated, and the family fell into poverty needed to end AIDS and make the SDGs a reality: Nations is supporting its counterparts in the and food insecurity, Fanaye struggled at school by promoting accountability through grassroots Government and civil society to increase and began to engage in sex work for money. As alliances with communities acting as agents of access to and use of quality, equitable, gender- a young girl, she found it difficult to negotiate change and by challenging inequality, stigma and responsive and sustainable HIV prevention, with her customers and was sometimes forced marginalization and leaving no one behind. Today, treatment, care and support services. Efforts into unprotected sex. She knew her behaviour was thanks to free access to treatment, Fanaye is an are being made to institutionalize a high- risky, but she was surprised when she tested HIV advocate for people living with HIV and a proud impact HIV prevention programme in schools positive at the age of 17. mother of an HIV-free child. and higher education institutions to ensure Fanaye was among the first women to disclose her In setting out a Fast-Track approach to end that key populations receive a minimum HIV status. Her motivation was to break silence and AIDS, the UNAIDS 2016–2021 Strategy firmly prevention package. Emphasis is also placed stigma surrounding HIV, and she wanted to set acknowledges the need to root the HIV on HIV testing and treatment retention. a precedent and encourage other women living response in Agenda 2030, recognizing the with HIV to do the same. Fanaye is the founder interdependence between HIV and the SDGs, and executive director of Lucy Positive women from ending poverty (SDG 1) to promoting Association, a non-governmental organization inclusive societies (SDG 16) and strengthening that provides support and information to women partnerships (SDG 17). living with HIV in Addis Ababa.

delivering as one 29 Pillar 3 access to quality and equitable basic social services

Outcome 9: Increasing access to and use of WASH services Working with the Government, the United Nations is helping to build the capacities of technical staff in the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy, as well as local counterparts, to plan, coordinate and implement development and emergency-related WASH interventions. The goal is to increase the capacities of relevant institutions to gather the data needed to strengthen service delivery. In communities, the United Nations is increasing knowledge and awareness to improve household hygiene and sanitation practices.

> Helping Ethiopians expand their choices Girls are disproportionately disadvantaged in Ethiopia, particularly in vulnerable communities, where the practice of sending children to school, especially girls, is uncommon. Girls more often Outcome 10: carry the burden of household chores and spend Strengthening education quality their days fetching water from distant rivers. and access for all learners A joint United Nations programme in four For the United Nations, education represents In Ethiopia, the United Nations is supporting developing regions has helped to raise an opportunity to transform young lives, the Government to provide equitable access awareness on the importance of education for which is why access to education is at the to quality, comprehensive education at all school-age children. When the programme heart of the United Nations mission to all stages of the formal and non-formal improved the community’s access to clean build peace, eradicate poverty and drive education cycle. This includes strengthening water this not only improved the villager’s sustainable development. The United the education system to ensure school health, but it also proved an entry point to lobby Nations considers education a human right retention, especially for girls. The United and encourage parents to send their girls to for all throughout life, and advocates not Nations is also investing in education school as they were no longer required to trek only for access to education, but also quality services that cater to hard-to-reach and for miles to fetch water. Even girls who are learning. disadvantaged children in urban, rural and married off at an early age, such as Asiya Ali, pastoralist settings; as well as children have gained the opportunity to return to school. caught up in emergency situations.

30 > Celebrating every step in the communities’ battle to abandon child marriage and FGM Clad in the colorful traditional dress of Afar says, adding, “We were very ignorant before. The women, fifteen year old Kediga Ali was among the discussions have opened our eyes”. But this is not participants of the ceremony where communities without its challenges. Kediga recalls an incident in three Kebeles (localities) in the Afambo Woreda where a 14 year old student in her school reported (District) in the Afar Region publicly declared to the unmarried girls’ club that she was about to be the abandonment of child marriage and Female married off by her parents. The case was taken up Genital Mutilation (FGM) during the first year of by the District Women and Children Affairs Office the launch of the SDGs in Ethiopia. and law enforcement bodies. When confronted, the parents of the girl defended their decision Kediga was very happy to be part of the social arguing that the girl was already 18 and that they movement which did away with these two age- had every right to marry her off. In the absence of old practices at once – the first of its kind in the vital registration, the legal enforcement bodies had Afar Region. She was also very proud that the no means to counter this and the girl was married ceremony took place in the compound of her off. Luckily she still goes to school. school. The country’s effort to meet its commitment to Kediga is a facilitator in the unmarried girls’ club, end child marriage and FGM by 2025 is supported which meets twice weekly in her school since it in an integrated manner through UNFPA piloted started six years ago. The unmarried girls’ club is programmes in Afambo District, which have been one component of the programme that promotes scaled-up to the Abala District in the Afar Region an integrated approach for communities to where the programme is being implemented in abandon Child Marriage and FGM that UNFPA has 13 localities. been supporting for the last three years in seven localities in the Afambo Woreda with funding While the ceremony on the abandonment of child from the UN Association in Sweden. marriage and FGM was taking place in the Afambo District, UNICEF supported Ethiopia to launch a “We educate each other on the harms of child nationwide National Vital Events Registration to marriage and FGM and on sparing ourselves the support the registration of vital events such as birth, ordeals our elder sisters went through,” Kediga marriage, divorce and death.

delivering as one 31 Pillar 4 Good governance, participation and capacity development The Constitution of Ethiopia has comprehensively incorporated human rights principles and provides an extensive list of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

The country’s first National Human Rights Action Plan, which addresses the Key facts rights of vulnerable groups and the right to a clean • Access to public services has significantly environment, was launched at the end of 2013. improved in recent years, as reflected in The Government has also established systems improved access to primary health care, and structures that provide more efficient public school enrolment rates, access to water and services and promote good governance through a sanitation, etc range of oversight and accountability institutions. • The second five-year National Human Rights The Government of Ethiopia is also actively working Plan was launched in April 2017 to identify and address systemic governance • The participation of women in the legislative issues. Efforts are being made to promote more bodies is steadily increasing, from about pluralistic and inclusive democratic governance; 28% in the previous National Parliament to fight corruption; promote transparency and over 38% in the current National Parliament, accountability; and strengthen institutional and on average about 40% representation in capacity to implement national development regional state councils plans. Key to these efforts will be stimulating • Oversight and accountability institutions are broader civic participation in the political process becoming increasingly visible and delivering and enhancing capacity for effective leadership. on their constitutional mandates

32 > Helping Ethiopians expand their choices When Mulu Birhanu, a 24 year old UNDP’s support for the EIO was part of a woman with a BA in marketing got multi-partner engagement to strengthen her first job, it was the highlight of Ethiopia’s democratic institutions. years of perseverance to stay in school A new five year governance and after a medical case left both her legs democratic participation programme paralysed at the age of 12. Soon after was launched in 2017, building on landing her first job, Mulu’s contract early efforts and is expected to further was unfairly terminated and lacking advance good governance and deeply financial resources she was unable embed democratic principles at all to take her matter to court. She soon levels across the country. The new came to know about the Ethiopian programme will have a specific focus Institution of the Ombudsman (EIO) on three pillars: Improved inclusion, and the free services it provides for social cohesion and sustainable peace; vulnerable persons, particularly those Responsive, accountable and inclusive with disabilities. The EIO investigation systems of governance; and Empowered uncovered that her hiring process had and responsible citizens followed the appropriate channels and she soon found herself back at work.

Outcome 11: Protecting human rights and ensuring the rule of law The Ethiopian justice system is receiving support to deliver accessible, efficient and accountable justice to all citizens, particularly children, women and other vulnerable groups. A key focus area is the development of a national strategy, including by establishing and strengthening legal aid clinics targeting the most vulnerable populations. Support is also facilitating the development of policies and strategies, such as the national strategy on justice for children, child protection units and the national crime prevention strategy.

delivering as one 33 Pillar 4 Good governance, participation and capacity development

Outcome 12: Facilitating equitable, participatory and gender-responsive development The United Nations is working with key institutions to develop and implement national and sub-national development policies, plans and strategies. This includes institution-building, change management and middle-and high-level leadership development. The United Nations is also working with key institutions to support participation, transparency, accountability and inclusive processes and practices. Supporting the fight against corruption and ensuring that development is gender-responsive are also priorities, as is advancing social cohesion, peacebuilding and supporting the country’s peace architecture.

“Although I was excited about the > Giving Ethiopian women the tools to transform institutions [job] offer, within me I had some Fikire Mulugeta, a talented professional For now, she is using every opportunity to doubt about whether I would be woman and mother of three, participated in raise awareness on gender equality and accepted as equally as men since the UN Women-supported Transformative women’s empowerment. Leadership Training held in 2015. She took The Transformative Leadership Training in my community men are assumed the training just three months after she had for Women is an activity under the United to take such roles,” said Mrs. Fikre. been promoted to a leadership position Nations Joint Programme on Gender as Public Relations Core Process Leader “To me the training was a timely Equality and Women’s Empowerment of the Amhara National Regional Council one, which completely removed the (JP GEWE), which is led by UN Women. Secretariat. fear within me and gave me the self- The JP GEWE was launched in 2011 and confidence and the determination to Emboldened by what she learned in the brings together six United Nations agencies training, Mrs. Fikre is now paying the (UNDP, UN Women, UNESCO, UNICEF, the believe in myself that I can lead.” experience forward and supporting female International Labour Organization (ILO) colleagues to make greater contributions and the United Nations Population Fund to their institutions. Her longer-term (UNFPA)) to support the Government of vision is to join an organization that works Ethiopia to improve the lives of Ethiopian primarily on gender-related activities. women and girls.

34 > Enhancing data for development -Ethiopia has volunteered to become one of inequalities and generating investment in health, in the Ethiopia. These data are used to calculate the first countries to provide a national report education and employment. United Nations indicators and produce custom tables and thematic on the SDGs. The United Nations has therefore support for the 2017 Population and Housing maps including at lower administrative levels. supported Ethiopia to hold intensive national Census is helping the country’s statistical system -With United Nations support, the Government multi-stakeholder consultations to feed into the embrace the data revolution through a shift from of Ethiopia is establishing a conventional and report and carry out an SDG needs assessment, hand-drawn enumeration areas sketch maps to decentralized civil registration and vital statistics which identifies interventions and the strategic mobile geographic information system mapping system. finance framework that will help the country technology and from traditional paper based achieve the global goals. questionnaires and scanning technology to digital -The United Nations is advocating with the data capturing using tablets. Government of Ethiopia to include the demographic -Sound census data are central to the monitoring dividend agenda in national policies, strategies and of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, -Through the support provided for the programmes. A national demographic dividend with over 40% of the SDG indicators requiring establishment of a web-based Integrated roadmap for Ethiopia is currently under development. population data. Geo-referenced population Management Information System, direct access data are essential to describing spatial and social is available to different sets of data generated

Outcome 13: Building the evidence base for better decision making Key institutions are gaining capacities to generate evidence through equity-focused data collection and analysis. This includes mainstreaming the results-based management approach across all sectors and strengthening the decentralized civil registration and vital statistics systems. In particular, the United Nations is supporting the implementation of the National Statistical Development Strategy II and supporting the Government to monitor the SDGs and attain national development results.

delivering as one 35 Pillar 5 Equality and Empowerment The Government of Ethiopia has made considerable progress in regards to the empowerment of women and girls and bridging gender gaps.

Girls’ primary school enrolment officials and represent a similar share of Key facts and completion rates are nearly 100%;22 the Judiciary.23 Gender disparities remain women are increasingly active in politics; and significant in the labour force, with lower • After the 2015 election, 213 of the 547 the provision of land to millions of women representation of women in the formal Members of Parliament were women, has empowered women economically. The sector. compared with only 116 female Members of Government has also implemented national Parliament in the previous parliament24 Trafficking in women and girls, and the laws, norms and standards in line with the regular and irregular migration of women • While 84.7% and 82.7% of males of working Convention on the Elimination of All Forms and girls within and outside of Ethiopia age were employed in 2005 and 2013, of Discrimination Against Women and the for domestic work exacerbate women and respectively, the figures for women for the Beijing Platform for Action. 25 girls’ vulnerabilities to abuses, including same years were 69% and 69.8% Despite this progress, gender inequality sexual and gender-based violence. Harmful • Women only make up 26.9% of those remains prevalent. Women and girls are at traditional practices such as female employed in the professional and scientific the lowest stratum of society compared with circumcision are often condoned in families categories26 men and boys of the same socio-economic and communities as ways of maintaining • 41% of Ethiopian women aged 20–24 were profile. Women only make up 30% of elected male superiority and privilege. married before they reached age 18; 8% were married before age 1527 • 23% of female children aged 0–14 years are circumcised28

36 Outcome 14: Protecting women and girls from violence and abuse The United Nations is contributing expertise in three areas: 1) strengthening the capacity of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls; 2) Providing comprehensive and quality services that are essential to ensuring recovery and providing sustainable livelihoods for survivors of violence; 3) strengthening the capacities of people at the community level, including working with men and boys, to eradicate the negative stereotypes that perpetuate violations of the human rights of women and girls.

> Leaving no one behind Addressing violence against women and girls is a key priority for the United Nations in Ethiopia. The UNWomen-supported safe house in the Oromia region provides a refuge for more than 100 women and girls who have survived violence, including rape. According to Ethiopia’s 2016 Demographic and Health Survey, 35% of women have experienced spousal violence. “The principles of the Sustainable Development Goals uphold the principle of leaving no one behind,” said United Nations Resident Coordinator Ahunna, Eziakonwa-Onochie. “If the safe house wasn’t available these women would have been left behind, and it is hard to imagine what would be their

delivering as one 37 Pillar 5 Equality and Empowerment

Outcome 15: Empowering women, adolescents and youth to influence decisions The United Nations and implementing partners are working together to increase the participation of young people, particularly young women, and adolescents in Ethiopia’s development and decision-making processes. Institutions are receiving support to provide standardized youth-friendly services. Efforts are also underway to enhance the skills of women, youth and adolescents for effective participation, leadership and decision making.

> Changing the lives of rural women in Ethiopia For Kimiyaa Umar, a middle-aged, The stove technology cooperative, which energetic mother of six, lack of capital began one year ago, now has 60 members and limited knowledge of how to run and roughly ETB40,000 (about US$1,780). a viable business made it difficult for Kimiyaa now leads a group of 13 women, her to improve her livelihood. This was who are programme beneficiaries. She is until one year ago, when she received helping herself and her group invest in an ETB3,000 interest-free loan (about technologies that save labour, time and US$134) and training on basic business energy. skills through a joint United Nations programme on gender equality and women’s empowerment. More than 19,500 disadvantaged women in Ethiopia have benefited from the programme to date.

38 “Before receiving the loan we were given training on how to start and manage a business, including how to save and the benefits of saving,” said Kimiyaa. “Using the skills we gained, all of us started different businesses and now each one of us has finished paying back the loan, and saved enough to invest in a different cooperative business of labour, time and energy saving cooking stove technology. Each member uses this technology in her house. We also sell the stoves in different villages to benefit more women.”

delivering as one 39 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations International Labour Organization

UN UNITED NATIONS UNCTAD environment

UNOAU ENDNOTES

1 Central Statistical Agency 2017. 2 UNHCR Ethiopia. 3 UNDP, ‘Human Development Report 2015: Work for Human Development’, New York, 2015, http://www.undp.org. 4 Ethiopia, National Planning Commission and the United Nations in Ethiopia, ‘MDG Report 2014’, Addis Ababa, 2015, http://www.et.undp.org/ content/dam/ethiopia/docs/UNDP%20MDG%202014%20Final2Oct.pdf. 5 UNDP, ‘Ethiopia: Key economic and social indicators’, no. 3, 2016, unless otherwise noted. 6 UNDP, Human Development Report, 2016. 7 United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Ethiopia, 2016-2020. 8 Ethiopia, National Planning Commission and the United Nations in Ethiopia, ‘MDG Report 2014’, Addis Ababa, 2015, http://www.et.undp.org/ content/dam/ethiopia/docs/UNDP%20MDG%202014%20Final2Oct.pdf. 9 United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Ethiopia, 2016-2020, unless otherwise noted. 10 International Labour Organization, ‘Decent Work Country Profile, Ethiopia’, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2013, http://www.’ilo.org/integration/resources/ pubs/WCMS_237881/lang--en/index.htm. 11 Agricultural Transformation Agency report 2011-2015. 12 Ethiopia, National Planning Commission, ‘Growth and Transformation Plan II (GTP II) (2015/16-2019/20)’, Addis Ababa, May 2016. 13 Ethiopia, Central Statistical Agency and World Food Programme, ‘Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis’, March 2014, http:// documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/ena/wfp265490.pdf. 14 World Bank Group, ‘Ethiopia Poverty Assessment, 2014, https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/21323. 15 United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Ethiopia, 2016-2020. 16 This is particularly important, given how much deforestation is driven by factors emerging in other sectors of the economy. 17 This value is not compatible with the GDP accounting system and is only provided for additional consideration of the importance of forests to human society. 18 UNESCO, ‘Biosphere Reserves – Learning Sites for Sustainable Development’, http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/. 19 United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Ethiopia, 2016-2020, unless otherwise noted. 20 WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and the World Bank, ‘Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990-2013’, http://apps.who.int/iris/ bitstream/10665/112682/2/9789241507226_eng.pdf?ua=1. 21 Ethiopia, Central Statistical Agency and Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, ‘Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey 2011’, Addis Ababa, http://www.csa.gov.et. 22 United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Ethiopia, 2016-2020. 23 Ibid. 24 Ibid. 25 Ethiopia, Central Statistical Agency and Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, ‘Ethiopia National Labour Force Survey 2013’, Addis Ababa, http://www.csa.gov.et. 26 United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Ethiopia, 2016-2020. 27 Central Statistical Agency and ICF International, ‘Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey 2011’ Addis Ababa and Calverton, Maryland, 2012. 28 UNICEF, ‘Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A statistical overview and exploration of the dynamics of change’, New York, 2013, http://www.unicef. org/media/files/UNICEF_FGM_report_July_2013_Hi_res.pdf. PHOTO Credits Kisut G.Egziabher/UNHCR Martha Mogus/UNDP Nardos Mengesha/UNDP Zerihun Sewunet/UNICEF UNAIDS UNESCO delivering as one 43 Contacts United Nations in Ethiopia www.et.one.un.org [email protected] Twitter: @unethiopia Facebook: OneUNEthiopia

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