06-04-2026 | di COOPI

Ethiopia. EU–AICS mission reports progress for displaced and host communities in Afar

A European Union and Italian Agency for Development and Cooperation (AICS) monitoring mission to Ethiopia’s Afar Region, carried out in March 2026 and concluded on 1 April in Semera, highlighted concrete progress in supporting internally displaced persons and host communities. Field visits were conducted together with AICS’ partners in the field, including COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale ETS. The mission was led by Daniel Hachez, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Ethiopia, and State Minister for Labor and Skills Solomon Soka, with the participation of AICS representatives guided by Deputy Head of Office Alessandra Attisani.

The mission brought together the European Union Delegation, Ethiopian federal and regional authorities, AICS and implementing partners. Visits to Semera, Telalak, Afambo and Asayita provided direct evidence of how integrated interventions are delivering results in a fragile context marked by conflict, climate shocks and structural vulnerabilities.

Key achievements include cash-for-work activities benefiting over 1,000 people, supporting the rehabilitation of irrigation canals and improving agricultural productivity, water management and flood mitigation, therefore strengthening household resilience and food security. At community level, livelihood initiatives are creating new income opportunities: in Afambo, poultry production has enabled households to sell eggs, while engagement with lakeside fishing groups is strengthening local value chains.

The mission also underscored the importance of protection services. At the One-Stop Center in Afambo Health Center, women and girls can access psychosocial support and assistance for survivors of gender-based violence.

Long-term recovery efforts are increasingly focused on skills development, with the strengthening of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems at the core of the intervention. At Adadale TVET College, investments in solar-powered infrastructure and hands-on training facilities for poultry, dairy and beekeeping are equipping youth, women, IDPs and host communities with practical, market-relevant skills, addressing limited access to education and employment caused by conflict and climate-related shocks.

These activities are part of the project implemented by COOPI, together with its partners Ayuda en Acción and Save the Children, entitled “RAISE Afar: Recovery and Advancement of Inclusive Skills and Employment for Afar's displaced and host communities”, funded by MAECI through AICS. The project aims to enhance employability and improve livelihoods by strengthening TVET systems, supporting institutional capacity-building and promoting community-based economic opportunities, particularly for vulnerable groups.

The mission reaffirmed the importance of coordinated action among development actors to enhance protection and social cohesion, while stressing the need to sustain and scale up ongoing efforts.

This mission confirms the value of European cooperation in supporting the most vulnerable communities in Ethiopia. The results observed demonstrate that, by working together, it is possible to generate tangible change even in the most complex contexts, strengthening resilience and local economic opportunities.

stated Daniel Hachez.

This intervention is part of the broader European Union-funded programme “Sustainable support to persons displaced by conflict and natural disasters and their host communities in Afar, Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz and Tigray”, which aims to provide integrated support in some of Ethiopia’s most fragile regions.

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COOPI is present in Ethiopia since 1995, delivering humanitarian and development assistance through a multisectoral and integrated approach. It focuses on supporting vulnerable groups, particularly internally displaced people fleeing conflict or natural disasters. To date, it has reached over 10,000,000 direct beneficiaries, implementing 164 projects in the country.