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CARE Ethiopia: A Decade of Results in Social Transformation for Urban Female Youth (2009-2019)

Authored by: CARE International

Categories: Global Public Health, Humanitarian Emergencies
Sub-Categories: Economic Participation, Economic Recovery, Human Development, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV)
Country: Ethiopia
Region: Sub-Saharan Africa
Year: 2022
Citation: "CARE Ethiopia: A Decade of Results in Social Transformation for Urban Female Youth (2009-2019)." CARE International. July 2022.

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Executive Summary

When CARE Ethiopia initiated its P-SHIFT design process (project to program shift) it was 2008. Many donors were focused on rural and specifically highland areas with a focus on food security and nutrition sector specific initiatives. At the time, most urban funding was HIV/AIDS focused and there was very little attention being given to urban programming beyond that sector. In 2012, CARE Ethiopia made a strategic decision to no longer work in HIV/AIDS programming but to a shift its Health sector perspective to focus on Sexual Reproductive Health. CARE Ethiopia was visionary in understanding the impending growth of peri urban areas in particular and the Resource Poor Urban Female Youth Program was designed with this in mind. Sure enough over the last ten years there has been an explosion of growth in urban and peri urban areas. Small towns/large villages where CARE Ethiopia was working in 2010 such as Debre Tabor and Chiro are now major peri urban areas, with tertiary education and significant increase in Government Service provision and in some growth and expansion of private sector. However, funding availability for urban areas has only recently become apparent. Between 2010 and 2015, CARE Ethiopia designed a number of projects focused on Domestic Workers and the prevention of Gender-based Violence but was unable to secure funding. This is reflected in the much smaller portfolio of initiatives for this CARE Ethiopia Program. Still, despite the limited scope there has been considerable impact and learning generated and CARE Ethiopia continues to believe that more investment is required in urban areas and focused on adolescent girls in particular. The rise of the industrial parks and many of the protection issues that have arisen with these opportunities are of significant concern. Opportunities for Resource Poor Urban Female Youth continue to grow in areas of entrepreneurship and economic empowerment if the structures and social norms are favorable.