Ethiopia continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis. Protracted conflict, climate-related shocks and economic instability have left more than 30 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. In addition, around 4.5 million people are internally displaced across the country. The Amhara region has been particularly affected, where violence, repeated crop failures, displacement and the collapse of basic public services have significantly worsened conditions since 2020. Since the beginning of 2025, more than 660,000 people have sought refuge in conflict-affected areas of the Amhara region.

SOS Children's Villages, which has been operating in Ethiopia since 1974 and has extensive experience in humanitarian response and development cooperation, is supporting highly vulnerable children, women and displaced households in the Amhara region through this project. The initiative combines immediate humanitarian assistance with recovery and resilience-building measures. Its core focus areas are protection, education, psychosocial support, food security and livelihoods.

Specifically, the project strengthens child protection systems and support services for survivors of gender-based violence, establishes child-friendly spaces and safe spaces for girls, and provides training for protection actors and professionals. Separated children are also supported with family tracing and reunification. In the education sector, 13 schools are being equipped with learning materials, solar power systems and additional educational resources. Teachers receive training, while children are supported through back-to-school initiatives and accelerated learning programmes.

In addition, the project provides psychosocial support through training in psychological first aid, parenting programmes, resilience workshops and group-based interventions in schools and communities. Vulnerable households also receive food assistance, climate-resilient seeds, agricultural training, support to restock livestock, cash assistance, and access to vocational training as well as village savings and loan groups. Overall, the project reaches 29,711 direct beneficiaries, including 22,416 children. A further 89,133 people benefit indirectly from the interventions.