Ethiopia protection response
Image: World Vision
Ethiopia is facing concurrent crises including conflict, intercommunal violence, and disasters such as drought and unprecedented floods, all of which exacerbate the existing vulnerabilities of local communities and increase humanitarian and protection needs.
Sporadic fighting heightened humanitarian needs and threatened the lives and livelihoods of communities in the north, including in Tigray and Amhara. Ongoing conflict in western Oromia has caused the displacement of over 800,000 people since the start of the unrest. Additionally, several consecutive failed rainy seasons since 2015 have prolonged a drought already affecting over 30 million people in the northern, eastern, and southeastern parts of the country.
These compounded shocks have led to increased displacement across the country. There are currently over 20 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and protection services in Ethiopia, including over 4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 2 million returning IDPs.
In Ethiopia, various forms of violence against women and girls are highly prevalent. 35% of ever-married women and girls (aged 15–49) have experienced physical, emotional, or sexual violence from their partner. The drought affecting Ethiopia, notably in Oromia, has exacerbated gender-based violence (GBV) risks for women and girls, with reports of an increase in sexual violence and early marriages. Ongoing conflict in Northern Ethiopia has led to a rise of gender-based violence, especially sexual violence, across the affected regions.
The AHP Response
The Australian Government announced support for an AUD 3 million activation of the Australian Humanitarian Partnership to address critical protection issues over 12 months.
World Vision, alongside local organisations Gurmuu Development Association (GDA) and Mums for Mums (MfM), will work to enhance the resilience, wellbeing and lives of women and children affected by humanitarian crises in Amhara, Tigray, and Oromia, through strengthening the protection system and improving access to services.
The response aims to improve protection services and mechanisms, including case management and psychosocial services for GBV survivors and people at risk of GBV, and to ensure inclusive, age-appropriate, gender-responsive risk mitigation and prevention.
Due to both conflict and climatic shocks, vulnerable women and girls are exposed to significant physical harm. In some cases, the risk of GBV, exploitation and abuse occur in situations where money is scarce and vulnerable people resort to negative coping mechanisms. Multipurpose cash will be provided to targeted populations to help access services, meet basic needs, and reduce their exposure to protection risks.
Age-appropriate, gender-sensitive protection services will be targeted at children at risk of violence, exploitation, and abuse. This includes case management and referral pathways, and services which empower caregivers and children with positive coping skills and socio-emotional learning through friendly spaces and group activities, appropriate to age, gender, cultural and local contexts.
The capacity of local stakeholders, including non-governmental organisations, local government offices as well as local non-formal structures involved in child protection, will also be developed to support their self-sufficiency and cooperation to provide holistic and sustainable services to affected populations.
The response will run until June 2025.