A report released in 2019 by the Ethiopian Government Statistics Agency and UNICEF has indicated that an estimated 36 million of a total population of 41 million children are deprived of essential goods and services. Due to malnutrition and other adverse life experiences, nearly 60% of children in Ethiopia under the age of five are unable to achieve their full developmental potential. Deprivation in education was 50% for children aged between 5 and 17 in 2016.
The two year long civil war (2020-2022) and the related humanitarian crises, have made children and youth particularly vulnerable
Children and youth need Early Childhood Development (ECD) services and programme support. Moreover, COVID-19, a high rate of unemployment, drought, and inflation have affected the local economy and the population's everyday life for the past few years.
ECD programmes are still nascent in Ethiopia. ECD is cross-sectoral. The Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs are key governmental stakeholders working with ECD at a national level. In addition, several civil society organisations - national and international - implement ECD programmes in Ethiopia. Intersectoral coordination is crucial for successful implementation. Thus, Early Care International works closely with governmental and non-governmental organisations in Ethiopia to improve the lives of children and youth.
