Ethiopia needs to decentralise administration and implement development programmes in remote areas as well. Thirteen times the size of Austria, the country is assisted by the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) in this, which in turn helps to advance democracy.

Know-how for mountain farmers and nomads

Agriculture makes up the backbone of the country at the Horn of Africa, with about three-quarters of the labour force engaged in this sector. This is why one of the two priorities of ADC in Ethiopia is rural development and food security, with geographical programme concentration on the North Gondar Zone (Amhara Region). By improving cropping methods, imparting know-how in livestock breeding or running dairy projects, assistance aims at raising agricultural output and securing income. This enables Ethiopian farming families to build reserves and earn money so that they can survive periods of drought or crop failures without having to go without food.

Healthy development in Ethiopia

The second ADC priority in Ethiopia is health. The Health Sector Development Programme (HSDP) initiated by the Ethiopian government is planned and carried out together with other donor countries under the leadership of the World Bank. Austria supports the local Somali Regional Health Bureau (SRHB) to build up capacity and raise awareness for improving health care in general in the Somali region. Major priorities are the prevention of disease such as malaria and HIV/AIDS as well as information campaigns on the circumcision of women and girls.

Ethiopia has been a priority country of Austrian Development Cooperation since 1993. A coordination office has been in operation since 1996 in the capital Addis Abeba. Besides the two priorities, health and rural development and food security, Austria also supports projects in gender, governance and energy.