Plan International Ethiopia

05/10/2026

Today Plan International launched the State of the World's Girls 2026 report, Change Her Forecast.
According to the report, girls and young women in climate-affected communities say:
📊 76% see more girls struggling to access at least one sexual or reproductive health service. In drought areas, it is 84%.
📊 36% see more girls married before 18.
📊 33% see more unintended pregnancy.
📊 Girls who miss school are twice as likely to marry before 18 or face an unintended pregnancy.

Governments and donors must keep girls in school and keep health services running in emergencies.

📑 Read the report: https://plan-international.org/publications/change-her-forecast

30/09/2026

Girls are not waiting for change. They are leading it.

As part of Plan International Ethiopia’s initiative for International Day of the Girl 2026, girls are stepping into leadership spaces and making their voices heard where decisions about their futures are made.

As we count down to Girls Takeover 2026, we are spotlighting girls and young women who are leading change on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and climate action.

Through leadership takeovers, they will engage decision-makers, challenge barriers, share their experiences and solutions, and advocate for a more equal, inclusive and sustainable future.

Because when girls lead, they bring new perspectives, bold ideas and solutions to the issues that matter most.

Girls are not waiting for change. They are leading it.

19/09/2026

Floods displaced thousands. Partnership delivered hope.

When severe flooding struck Ethiopia's Jimma Zone, nearly 4,000 families lost homes, livelihoods and access to basic services.

Through the Ethiopia Rapid Response Mechanism (ET-RRM), Plan International Ethiopia rapidly delivered life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable communities, helping families regain safety, dignity and hope during the critical early days of displacement.
* 500 households received emergency shelter support
* 800 households received essential WASH and hygiene supplies
* 150 highly vulnerable households received emergency cash assistance
* More than 5,500 people participated in hygiene and disease prevention awareness sessions

Implemented in partnership with IRC and funded by the European Union through ECHO, the response demonstrates how timely humanitarian action, strong government collaboration and strategic donor investment can save lives and protect the most vulnerable when disaster strikes.
Together, we are not only responding to emergencies. We are helping communities recover, rebuild and strengthen their resilience for the future.

07/09/2026

"From a Refugee Camp to University: Nihal's Journey Beyond Barriers 🎓"

04/09/2026

Young Leaders at the Table: Shaping Africa’s Health Future 🌍

Our Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) members proudly represented young people at the Pan-African Youth Conference 2026, held from 2–4 September at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
During the panel discussion, “From Beneficiaries to Decision Makers: Girls and Young People Shaping Africa’s Health Future,” our young leaders called for meaningful participation of girls and young people in the policies, programmes and investments shaping Africa’s health and development agenda.
A key milestone was their inclusion in the working group that drafted the Pan-African Youth Health Declaration. They advocated for:
🔹 Greater investment in adolescent and youth SRHR
🔹 Transparent budget allocation
🔹 Youth involvement in monitoring national commitments
Their voices are helping move young people from beneficiaries to decision-makers and contributing to the realization of Agenda 2063.

03/09/2026

Young Leaders Unite in Addis Ababa to Advance Africa’s Future

Young leaders, policymakers, health professionals and development partners from across Africa have gathered in Addis Ababa for PAYCON 2026, under the theme “Driving Health Innovation for Youth Empowerment under Agenda 2063.”
Co-hosted by the Federation of African Medical Students’ Associations and Plan International Ethiopia, the conference is creating a strategic platform for dialogue, innovation and collective action on youth health, participation and leadership.
Speaking at the conference, Hiwotie Simachew, Deputy Country Director of Plan International Ethiopia, delivered a clear call for accountability:
“Commitments must be funded, targets must be measured, progress must be reported, and young people must have a seat at the table.”
PAYCON 2026 reinforces a powerful message: Africa’s future must be shaped with young people, particularly girls and young women, as partners and leaders.
Plan International Ethiopia remains committed to standing with girls to tear down barriers, save lives and help build a world where equality for girls leads to progress for all.

02/09/2026

Partners Unite to Advance Inclusive SRH Services in Ethiopia

The SRH Next Alliance Ethiopia has launched a shared program to strengthen inclusive, quality and youth-responsive sexual and reproductive health services in Amhara, Afar and Tigray.
Bringing together Plan International Ethiopia, Amref Health Africa Ethiopia, SYHLA, TAYA and EWDNA, in collaboration with government and other stakeholders, the Alliance will directly and indirectly benefit approximately 179,510 people across five woredas.
The program will strengthen health services and systems, expand access to reliable SRH information and education, and foster a supportive environment for healthier and better-informed communities.
Through local leadership, meaningful youth participation and collective accountability, the Alliance aims to ensure that young people, especially girls, persons with disabilities, people living with HIV and conflict-affected communities, are not left behind.
Together, we are building stronger systems and healthier futures for Ethiopia’s young people.

28/08/2026

Communities Leading Change for Girls in Ziquala Woreda.

In Ziquala Woreda, communities are proving that lasting change is possible when local leadership, youth voices and collective action come together.

Through Plan International Ethiopia’s "Community Conversation approach" and "Role Model Academy curriculum", communities are challenging harmful traditional practices, including child marriage and female ge***al mutilation.

Religious leaders are committing not to bless marriages involving girls under 18, communities are making collective pledges and youth networks and school clubs are helping identify and report arranged child marriages, enabling timely intervention.

🎥 Check out the full video below 👇👇👇
https://youtu.be/ro9YfZnEZc4

"Creating Change for Girls in Ziquala Woreda"In Ziquala Woreda, c...

26/08/2026

SRH Next Alliance Ethiopia Launch Advances Co-Creation

Plan International Ethiopia officially launched the SRH Next Alliance Ethiopia Programme and convened a consultative workshop on 21 August 2026 in Addis Ababa.

Funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the programme brings together Plan International Ethiopia, Amref Health Africa (Ethiopia), SYHLA, TAYA and EWDNA to address unmet sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs in Amhara, Tigray and Afar.

Philipos Petros, SRH Thematic Sector and Alliance Lead, introduced the programme scope, strategic outcomes, implementation approach, partner roles and governance arrangements. Tsegaw Nigussie emphasized the importance of partnership and collaboration in achieving the alliance objectives and donor expectations.

Opening the workshop, Hiwotie Simachew, Deputy Country Director, congratulated the alliance members and highlighted the importance of engaging government institutions, CSOs, research institutions, young people, persons with disabilities, grassroots organizations and community leaders to strengthen SRH services and generate evidence.

More than 20 participants contributed to discussions on SRH needs, inclusion, youth engagement, stakeholder analysis and programme priorities. The alliance endorsed three key outcomes:
🔹 Strengthened SRH Services and Health Systems
🔹 Increased Access to SRH Information and Education
🔹 Enhanced Enabling Environment for SRH
Partners committed to joint action throughout the 2026–2028 pilot phase, generating evidence and learning to inform future scale-up and improve SRH outcomes for women, girls, young people and vulnerable communities across Ethiopia.