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. Recent Searches. Ethiopia’s location gives it strategic dominance as a jumping off point in the Horn of Africa, close to the Middle East and its markets. Landlocked, bordering Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Sudan, Ethiopia is landlocked, with Its tiny neighbor, Djibouti, having been its main port for the last two decades. However, with the recent peace with Eritrea, Ethiopia is set to resume accessing the Eritrean ports of Asb an Massawa for its international trade. With about 102 million people (2016), Ethiopia is the second most populous nation in Africa after Nigeria, and the fastest growing economy in the region. However, it is also one of the poorest, with a per capita income of $783.

Ethiopia’s government aims to the country to reach lower-middle-income status by 2025. Ethiopia’s economy experienced strong, broad-based growth averaging 10.3% a year from 2006/07to 2016/17, compared to a regional average of 5.4%.

Ethiopia’s gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have rebounded to 10.9% in FY2017. Agriculture, construction and services accounted for most of the growth, with modest manufacturing growth. Private consumption and public investment explain demand-side growth, the latter assuming an increasingly important role. Higher economic growth brought with it positive trends in poverty reduction in both urban and rural areas. The share of population living below the national poverty line decreased from 30% in 2011 to 24% in 2016. The government is implementing the second phase of its Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II) which will run to 2019/20.

GTP II aims to continue expanding physical infrastructure through public investments and to transform the country into a manufacturing hub. GTP II targets an average of 11% GDP growth annually, and in line with the manufacturing strategy, the industrial sector is set to expand by 20% on average, creating more jobs. Development Challenges Ethiopia’s main challenges are sustaining its positive economic growth and accelerating poverty reduction, which both require significant progress in job creation as well as improved governance. The government is devoting a high share of its budget to pro-poor programs and investments. Large scale donor support will continue to provide a vital contribution in the near-term to finance the cost of pro-poor programs. Key challenges are related to:.

Limited competitiveness, which constrains the development of manufacturing, the creation of jobs and the increase of exports. An underdeveloped private sector, which would strengthen the country’s trade competitiveness and resilience to shocks. The government aims to expand the role of the private sector through foreign investment and industrial parks to make Ethiopia’s growth momentum more sustainable.

Political disruption, associated with social unrest, could negatively impact growth through lower FDI, tourism and exports. Last Updated: Oct 31, 2018. World Bank Group (WBG) Assistance to Ethiopia builds on the progress achieved by Ethiopia during the past five years. The CPF was developed after intensive consultations with a wide range of stakeholders to gain a broad-based perspective on the WBG’s performance and development priorities.

The CPF is a result-based strategy, firmly anchored in the government’s Second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTPII). The CPF is designed to assist Ethiopia in forging a more inclusive and sustainable growth path. Particularly, it supports a more spatially inclusive approach to development, one that leverages national programs to provide quality services to all areas. The CPF is helping to promote structural and economic transformation through increased productivity in rural and urban areas by focusing on basic education, access to markets, and job opportunities for youth. It is also helping to build resilience and inclusiveness (including gender equality) by improving safety nets, investing in productive landscapes, and focusing on the Early Years agenda. The CPF also supports institutional accountability and assists in combating corruption by focusing on improving governance and promoting social accountability.

The private sector is expected to be a key contributor to Ethiopia’s future development, and the CPF envisages prominent roles for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), the WBG institutions that focus exclusively on it. Last Updated: Oct 31, 2018.

The International Development Association (IDA) is Ethiopia’s largest provider of official development assistance. IDA has committed over $20 billion to more than 80 projects in Ethiopia since 1991, most notably for the, productive safety nets, and roads.

Education IDA’s support for the education sector—including through the and the —has helped Ethiopia expand access to quality primary education over the last nine years. Primary net enrollment rate increased from 79.1% in 2006 to 99.3% 2016.

There has also been a considerable reduction of the gender gap for schooling. The ratio of girls to boys for grades 1–8 increased from 0.84 in 2006 to 0.92 in 2016. The gross enrollment rate for secondary school (grades 9–10) increased from 37.1% in 2007 to 44.8% in 2016. Through the, the Bank is working to improve the quality of and equitable access to education to address issues including high dropout rates and low learning outcomes, especially for girls. Water and Sanitation A number of have supported access to safe water sources and sanitation services, and the better management of water resources, including giving 4.2 million rural people an improved water supply (from 2013). A $250 million urban water supply and sanitation project is to increase the sustainable water supply and sanitation services in Addis Ababa and selected cities, providing one million people in urban areas with improved water sources, 2.7 million with improved water supply services, and 200,000 with sanitation services.

A follow-on $445 million IDA credit was approved in March 2017. Under its, the Bank continues to support the government’s goal of providing 100% national potable water supply coverage by 2020.

Roads IDA has invested more than $2 billion since 1991 to address the country’s infrastructure gap, partly through. IDA helped build capacity and establish a dedicated road fund for financing maintenance.

Working in partnership with other donors, including the European Commission, Germany, Japan, Nordic countries and the United Kingdom, IDA helped increase both the size and quality of Ethiopia’s road network from under 20,000 km in 1991 to over 100,000 km in 2015. Under the, the World Bank continues supporting improvements in transport infrastructure and road connectivity to reduce travel times and improve connectivity between markets and secondary cities. Last Updated: Oct 31, 2018.

Several donors are active in Ethiopia, with external aid of $3.7 billion in 2015. Both the government and the majority of international partners are keen to deepen the harmonization process in the spirit of the Paris Declaration (2005) and Accra Agenda for Action (2008). Ethiopia is a pilot country for the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Assistance Committee harmonization agenda, and for the European Union’s initiative on donor division of labor.

Partners are currently considering how to build on this progress in light of the Accra Agenda. The WBG, with the United Nations Development Programme and one bilateral donor, is one of the rotating co-chairs of the Development Assistance Group (DAG), the main forum for donor coordination in Ethiopia. Through DAG there are efforts to make progress on the implementation of commitments in the Paris and Accra Declarations, including joint economic and sector work (much of the WBG’s major analytical work has already been prepared with its partners) and joint missions. Much of the collective effort is focused on furthering harmonization through major multi-donor programs and policy areas of importance. The WBG has taken the lead in developing a set of multi-donor programs to reduce transaction costs, aligning support with the country’s decentralized model, and enhancing the predictability of aid.

These instruments allow for large-scale leveraging of International Development Association (IDA) support. Such approaches are used in the,; Universal Access Program,.

The launch of marked a historic moment in the WBG’s partnership with Ethiopia, as it is the first project co-financed with China EXIM Bank and South Korea EXIM Bank. The project brings together traditional and non-traditional development partners to work on a single project, with standardized design, safeguards, and joint-supervision. Last Updated: Oct 31, 2018.

In 2017, Ethiopia made a moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government trained 110 labor inspectors on child labor issues and the Council of Ministers adopted the National Children’s Policy of Ethiopia.

In collaboration with the World Bank and UNICEF, the government developed Education Operational Response Plans for Oromia, Somali, and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region for the 2017/2018 school year. By the end of 2017, the General Education Quality Improvement Project II procured and distributed 178 million textbooks, teaching guides, and supplementary materials. However, children in Ethiopia engage in the worst forms of child labor, including in forced labor in domestic work. Children also perform dangerous tasks in agriculture.

The law in Ethiopia does not include free basic education or a compulsory age for education, leaving children vulnerable to the worst forms of child labor. Social programs to combat child labor have not sufficiently targeted sectors with high incidences of child labor. Children in Ethiopia engage in the worst forms of child labor, including in forced labor in domestic work. Children also perform dangerous tasks in agriculture. (1; 2; 3) Table 1 provides key indicators on children's work and education in Ethiopia. Statistics on Children's Work and Education Children Age Percent Working (% and population) 7 to 14 41.5 (10,202,669) Attending School (%) 7 to 14 73.1 Combining Work and School (%) 7 to 14 30.8 Primary Completion Rate (%) 54.3 Source for primary completion rate: Data from 2015, published by UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2018. (4) S ource for all other data: Understanding Children's Work Project's analysis of statistics from Socio Economic Survey (ESS 3), 2015-2016. (5) Based on a review of available information, Table 2 provides an overview of children's work by sector and activity. Ethiopia has ratified all key international conventions concerning child labor (Table 3).

Ratification of International Conventions on Child Labor Convention Ratification ILO C. 138, Minimum Age ✓ ILO C. 182, Worst Forms of Child Labor ✓ UN CRC ✓ UN CRC Optional Protocol on Armed Conflict ✓ UN CRC Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography ✓ Palermo Protocol on Trafficking in Persons ✓ The government has established laws and regulations related to child labor (Table 4). However, gaps exist in Ethiopia’s legal framework to adequately protect children from the worst forms of child labor, including the minimum age for work and the age for compulsory education. The government has established institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labor (Table 5).

However, gaps exist within the authority of the Ministry of Labor of and Social Affairs (MOLSA) that may hinder adequate enforcement of their child labor laws. The government has established mechanisms to coordinate its efforts to address child labor (Table 8). However, gaps exist that hinder the effective coordination of efforts to address child labor, including efficacy in accomplishing mandates. Key Mechanisms to Coordinate Government Efforts on Child Labor Coordinating Body Role and Description National Steering Committee on the Worst Forms of Child Labor Coordinate activities on the worst forms of child labor. Members include the MOLSA, the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs, and the Ministry of Education. (32) MOLSA National Forum to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labor Combat the worst forms of child labor at the national level. Meets twice a year.

Includes participants from the Ethiopian Employers' Federation and Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions. (32) National Steering Committee Against Sexual Exploitation of Women and Children Develop action plans and coordinate activities to combat the commercial sexual exploitation of children. (33) National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons Address international exploitation, including the worst forms of child labor. Chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, with representatives from five government ministries and regional presidents that meet twice a year. (26; 39; 40) In 2017, continued to coordinate anti-trafficking efforts and provided in-kind support to NGOs for victim services. (16) National Anti-Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants Task Force Develop quarterly action plans and coordinate activities against trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling. Led by the Office of Attorney General and includes representatives from 31 government stakeholders and international organizations such as the IOM, the ILO, and the UNODC. (41; 26; 40) Child Protection Committees, Child Rights Committees, and Orphans and Vulnerable Children Task Forces Promote children's rights, provide children with food and school supplies, and train members on child labor issues, case management, international child labor standards, and Ethiopian child labor laws. Members include children, police, health workers, and teachers. (42; 33) Research was unable to determine whether most of the coordinating bodies were active during the reporting period, indicating that limited committee budgets may still affect their ability to operate and coordinate efforts to address child labor.

The government has established policies related to child labor (Table 9). However, policy gaps exist that hinder efforts to address child labor, including mainstreaming child labor issues into relevant policies.

Key Policies Related to Child Labor‡ Policy Description National Children’s Policy † Aims to promote children’s rights and combat child trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, and child labor. Promotes access to quality primary and secondary education, education in rural areas or for out-of-school youth. (44) Although the policy was drafted in 2009, it was formally endorsed by the Ethiopian Council of Ministers in April 2017. (34) National Action Plan to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labor (2016–2020) Includes guidelines on child labor identification, withdrawal, reintegration, and educational policies.

Overseen by the National Steering Committee on the Worst Forms of Child Labor. (34) National Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons (2015–2020) Examines legal and institutional frameworks and responses related to the human trafficking situation in Ethiopia. Aims to provide guiding principles based on international best practices for anti-human trafficking action and the institutional structures and inputs needed to combat human trafficking. (45) National Youth Policy Condemns the worst forms of child labor, including commercial sexual exploitation and illicit work.

Led by the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture. Lacks a detailed and specific action plan related to preventing the worst forms of child labor. (46; 47) UNDAF (2016–2020) Promotes improved access to education and livelihood services for vulnerable children. Seeks to protect children from abuse, violence, and exploitation, and rehabilitate them. (48) National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) II (2016–2020) Aims to develop a comprehensive and structured mechanism to strengthen human rights in Ethiopia, building on the NHRAP I, which included efforts to eliminate exploitative child labor. (49; 50) † Policy was approved during the reporting period. ‡ The government had other policies that may have addressed child labor issues or had an impact on child labor.

(33; 51; 52; 53; 54) The government has not included child labor elimination and prevention strategies in the Education Sector Development Program or the National Technical Vocational Education and Training Strategy. (55; 56) Additionally, Research was unable to determine whether activities were undertaken to implement the above policies policy during the reporting period. In 2017, the government funded and participated in programs that include the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor (Table 10). However, gaps exist in these social programs, including adequacy to address the problem in all sectors. Key Social Programs to Address Child Labor ‡ Program Description USDOL-Funded Projects to Address Child Labor Aim to eliminate child labor through research, capacity building, and increased access to education and decent work opportunities. Includes: (2013–2017), implemented in at least 10 countries by the ILO; (2011–2017), implemented in approximately 40 countries by the ILO; and (2014–2018), a $10 million project implemented by World Vision, Inc.

(57; 58; 59) Additional information is available on the USDOL. ET Productive Safety Nets Project (PSNP4) (2014–2020)† $2.2 billion World Bank and donor-funded project that aims to improve access to social safety nets, including cash and in-kind transfers to orphans and vulnerable children. Based on the reporting above, suggested actions are identified that would advance the elimination of child labor in Ethiopia (Table 11). Suggested Government Actions to Eliminate Child Labor Area Suggested Action Year(s) Suggested Legal Framework Ensure that all children are protected by child labor laws, including children working in non-contractual employment.

2009 – 2017 Raise the minimum age at which children may enter hazardous work following vocational training from age 14 to age 16, in line with ILO C. 2009 – 2017 Ensure that the types of hazardous work prohibited for children are comprehensive, including hazardous tasks in traditional weaving. 2016 – 2017 Establish by law, free basic education and an age up to which education is compulsory that is consistent with the minimum age of employment. 2012 – 2017 Enforcement Strengthen the labor inspectorate by permitting labor inspectors to assess penalties. 2013 – 2017 Ensure that labor inspectors have sufficient resources to conduct inspections in all sectors. 2009 – 2017 Ensure that penalties are severe enough to deter child labor law violations.

2013 – 2017 Significantly increase the number of labor inspectors in accordance with the ILO’s technical advice. 2015 – 2017 Gather and publish information on whether refresher courses are provided for criminal inspectors, the number of penalties applied and collected for child labor violations found, whether unannounced inspections were conducted, the number of prosecutions initiated, and convictions obtained.

2009 – 2017 Coordination Ensure that established coordinating mechanisms to combat child labor have adequate funding to fulfill their mandates. 2015 – 2017 Government Policies Develop an action plan on the worst forms of child labor for the National Youth Policy. 2009 – 2017 Integrate child labor elimination and prevention strategies in the Education Sector Development Program and the National Technical Vocational Education and Training Strategy. 2013 – 2017 Social Programs Increase access to education by decreasing the distance to schools in rural areas, constructing sanitation facilities, eliminating school-related costs, addressing sexual abuse and harassment of girls, and re-opening schools closed due to conflict. 2010 – 2017 Develop and/or expand social protection programs to prevent or withdraw children from all relevant sectors of child labor, including agriculture and domestic work.

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