Ethiopia - cultural diversity and major challenges

Ethiopia stands out among African countries as the only country that has never been colonised. It has a rich history spanning 3,000 years and is known for its diverse cultural and historical heritage. However, despite this richness, many of its people struggle to meet their basic needs for survival.

Legendary Ethiopia

Ethiopia is characterised by extreme altitude differences, from the highest mountain at 4,533 metres to the lowest point at 116 metres below sea level.

Something mystical surrounds Ethiopia. According to legend, Menelik I founded the Ethiopian kingdom of Abyssinia in the 10th century BC. According to tradition, Menelik was the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Until the end of the Ethiopian monarchy in 1974, all rulers referred to their descent from King Solomon.

Ethnic diversity and cultural richness

The landlocked East African country also has some very earthly things to offer: the capital, Addis Ababa, is not only the third-highest capital in the world but also the highest in Africa. The world's most populous landlocked country is also home to around 80 different ethnic groups, and the country also impresses in terms of cultural diversity: nowhere else on the entire continent are there as many UNESCO World Heritage Sites as in Ethiopia. Historically, Ethiopia is the only African country that was never colonised, apart from the Italian occupation during the Second World War.

Ethiopia is considered the country of origin of coffee and is the largest coffee producer in Africa.
Fossils of our earliest ancestors were found in Ethiopia. The country is therefore considered the cradle of humanity.
The Palace of Fasilides was built in the 17th century as part of a fortified town. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Droughts mean that people have to travel long distances to get drinking water.

Hunger and poverty dominate everyday life

People with disabilities like Fenta are particularly at risk of poverty. The 73-year-old small holder farmer is blind.

Although the Ethiopian government is making successful efforts to boost the economy – with a growth of more than six per cent in 2022 – the people's everyday lives are improving slowly. Ethiopia is still one of the poorest countries in the world. One reason for this is recurring droughts, which result in severe famines and an unstable supply situation for the people. More than 24 per cent of people are undernourished (Global Hunger Index, data collected from 2019 to 2021).

Persons with disabilities particularly affected

In addition, there are several challenges, including severe environmental degradation due to soil erosion caused by increasing deforestation, a sharp rise in population, inadequate supply of clean drinking water, lack of hygiene, and poor infrastructure. Persons with disabilities are particularly affected by these factors. The WHO estimates that the proportion of persons with disabilities is 17.6 percent (2011), many of whom live in remote, rural areas. As the vast majority of doctors are concentrated in urban centres such as Addis Ababa, medical care is often almost impossible for persons with disabilities.

CBM in Ethiopia

CBM has been active in Ethiopia since 1967, focusing its work on eye health. CBM also supports projects in livelihood security and community-based inclusive development (CBID).

Examples of CBM's work in Ethiopia include a livelihood security programme (savings groups in small villages, which enable the granting of small loans, among other things) and programmes against trachoma. The highly infectious, neglected tropical disease trachoma is widespread in Ethiopia. If left untreated, the disease leads to irreversible blindness.

The work of CBM and its local partners aims not only to reduce the effects of the disease but also to eliminate the causes, such as a lack of water supply and poor hygiene. Mobile teams visit people in remote areas to treat those affected and to raise awareness.

Ethiopia at a glance

The name of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa translates as "new flower". At up to 3,000 metres above sea level, it is the highest city in Africa.

Area: 1.1 million km² ¹
Population: 117.8 million (4)
Capital: Addis Ababa¹
Climate: three climate zones, depending on altitude: hot, humid, dry, temperate, cool¹
Languages: Amharic, English and 70 other recognised regional languages¹
Religion: 43.5 per cent Ethiopian Orthodox Christians; 33.9 per cent Muslims;18.6 percent Protestants; 0.7 percent Catholic Christians¹
Life expectancy: 65 years² (Germany: 80.6 years²)
Infant mortality rate: 49 per 1,000 (Germany: 3 per 1,000) (5)
Human Development Index: 175th place out of 191²

Sources: Federal Foreign Office; ²Human Development Index Report 2021/2022; ³BMZ; (4) World Bank country data 2021; (5) World Bank country data 2020