Ethiopia

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Development Challenge The USAID Program Other Program Elements Other Donors Program Data Sheets Summary Tables USAID Search: Ethiopia Previous Years' Activities 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997 Last updated: 19     THE DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE: Ethiopia has endured three wars and three major food security emergencies in the past four decades. It is the second most populous country in sub-Saharan Africa with a population estimated at over 63 million. The United Nations Development Program Human Development Report 2001 ranks Ethiopia as 158 out of 162 countries in the world on basic human indicators. Ethiopia has a very high HIV prevalence rate. Maternal and child health and literacy rates are among the lowest. Ethiopia's development progress is frequently disrupted by severe drought, preventing the country from breaking the cycle of poverty. Much of Ethiopia's population is perpetually at the brink of disaster, one bad harvest (or less) away from starvation. Four to five million Ethiopians are chronically food insecure. Infant mortality is 166 per 1,000. The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is 11%. Overall literacy is 22%. With a population growth rate of 2.8%, Ethiopia will have over seven million more people by 2006. Agricultural production is rising, but at a slower rate (2.4%), leading to an exponentially increasing structural food deficit. Nevertheless, Ethiopia, with proper structural and market reforms and with increased private sector investment, could feed itself. In December 2001, Ethiopia was approved for debt relief (estimated foreign debt is $5.2 billion) under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative. Debt service savings should amount to nearly $100 million a year for 20 years and must be used by Ethiopia for poverty reduction. The United States' national interests in Ethiopia are two-fold: strategically located between Somalia and Sudan, Ethiopia is a vital ally in efforts to promote regional stability in the Horn of Africa and it is also a key ally in the global war on terrorism. THE USAID PROGRAM: FY 2002 Estimate: $58.891 million FY 2003 Request: $77.335 million USAID is requesting funds for six programs that promote food security; improve the health and welfare of women and children; strengthen primary education systems-especially for girls; promote good governance and the rule of law; mitigate disasters; and improve the livelihoods of pastoralists. FY 2002 funds will be used to implement programs in agriculture and environment (food security); child and maternal health; HIV/AIDS prevention and education; training, service provision, logistics and management systems development for family planning and reproductive health; basic education; financial expenditure management; judicial training; and disaster prevention and mitigation. FY 2003 funding will enable USAID to enhance and expand these programs to additional regions. Specific activities to be funded by FY 2002 and FY 2003 appropriations are described in more detail in the Program Data Sheets. ONGOING PROGRAMS FOR WHICH NO FY 2002 OR FY 2003 FUNDING IS REQUESTED: USAID is not requesting new funds for the following programs, but is continuing to expend funds already appropriated. Number: Title: Last Notified: Planned Completion: 663-001 Availability of Food Grain Crops FY 02 CBJ, p. 124 FY 2002 663-002 Primary and Preventative Health Services FY 02 CBJ, p. 128 FY 2002 663-003 Quality and Equity in Primary Education FY 02 CBJ, p. 132 FY 2002 663-004 Democracy and Governance FY 02 CBJ, p. 136 FY 2002 663-005 Enhanced Household Food Security FY 02 CBJ, p. 141 FY 2002 OTHER PROGRAM ELEMENTS: Food aid resources (development and emergency) are a major component of United States assistance to Ethiopia. Food aid resources and activities are fully integrated into the USAID development program to address food security. In FY 2001 USAID/Washington provided $3.8 million in non-food humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia. The funds assisted eight non-governmental organizations and United Nations agencies to support health, nutrition, potable water, sanitation, animal health, and early warning activities, primarily in the Somali, Tigray and Oromiya Regions. USAID is working with the Packard and Gates Foundations to support initiatives in child survival and reproductive health. A Farmer-to-Farmer program is implemented with funding from USAID/Washington. In FY 2002, this program will expand efforts to all nine regional states and Addis Ababa. USAID also supports centrally funded research in child health, teacher training for Africa, and a pesticide disposal program. OTHER DONORS: Major multilateral donors to Ethiopia are the World Bank, United Nations organizations, the European Union, and the African Development Bank. The World Bank strongly supports sector programs in education and health, HIV/AIDs, agricultural production, human capacity development, and Ethiopia's rehabilitation and reconstruction program along the Ethiopia/Eritrea border. The United States and Japan rank first and second among bilateral donor partners, followed by Italy, Ireland, Germany, and the Nordic countries. These latter support specific program sectors such as environment, basic education, and social infrastructure. The British are planning to restart programs, deferred during the border conflict, in basic education and food security. Donor coordination in Ethiopia is good, especially in sector development programs in roads, health, and education. Donor cooperation has been extremely effective this year in getting government agreement on a new approach to food security policy. Coordinated emergency responses to food aid needs, internally displaced populations, and HIV/AIDS have been extremely effective. Program Data Sheets 663-007  Rural Household Production and Productivity Increased 663-008  Improved Family Health 663-009  Quality and Equity in Primary Education System Enhanced 663-010  More Effective Governance and Civil Society Developed 663-011  Mitigate the Effects of Disaster 663-012  Improved Livelihoods for Pastoralists and Agro-Pastoralists in Southern Ethiopia Country Background Information Resources     CIA Factbook Library of Congress National Geographic Country Maps State Dept. Country Information

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