Norwegian Church Aid Ethiopia

08/04/2026

In displacement settings, restoring dignity often begins with restoring livelihoods.

Through Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation-supported humanitarian programming in Moyale Woreda, Somali Region of Ethiopia, vulnerable women are rebuilding their lives with the right mix of skills and capital. By combining basic business training with start-up capital, displaced women are moving from dependency to sustainable income generation.

One of them is Sadiya Usman, a widowed mother of five and a woman living with a physical disability. After losing all her assets due to inter-communal conflict and displacement, she relied entirely on humanitarian aid.

Today, just months after receiving business training and start-up support, she runs a small home-based retail business, covering her family’s monthly needs, sending her children to school, saving for the future, and even supporting others in her community.

This approach shows what’s possible when skills are paired with capital and women’s leadership & agency are placed at the centre of humanitarian response.

26/03/2026

“Here, I feel free.”

In Gambella’s Jewi refugee camp, girls like 18-year-old Nyaraik find safety, knowledge, and sisterhood in a small safe space next to their school.

Here they learn about the consequences of child marriage, their rights, sexual and reproductive health, and most importantly, the power to choose their own future.

Many girls are now delaying marriage, pursuing education, and dreaming bigger.

Nyaraik hopes to become a doctor one day.

This safe space, supported by UNFPA Ethiopia and run by volunteers trained through Norwegian Church Aid, shows how consistent, community-based support can shift harmful norms and empower girls to reclaim their futures.

23/03/2026

At CSW70 in New York (9–19 March 2026), Norwegian Church Aid / Kirkens Nødhjelp (NCA), represented by its Ethiopia Country Office, joined global efforts to advance gender justice.

As part of the ACT Alliance delegation, NCA highlighted the real challenges women and girls globally face in accessing justice, especially in confronting harmful practices like child, early and forced marriage and female ge***al mutilation.

Faith actors play a powerful role in this work, helping shift harmful norms, supporting survivors, and strengthening accountability systems within communities.

Together, we continue working towards a future where justice is accessible to all women and girls, in all their diversity.

18/03/2026

Today, Ethiopia celebrates Global Recycling Day nationally for the first time, at the Addis Convention Center, led by PETCO Ethiopia and the Ministry of Women & Social Affairs.

We’re excited that NCA Ethiopia is participating as a panelist in this event.

As we mark the day, here’s what NCA and our partners have achieved together:

· Recycled 15 million+ plastic bottles
· Recycled 200,000 kg of paper waste
· Converted large volumes of organic waste into compost
· Recycled metal scraps through local partners
· Created 4,000+ jobs across the recycling value chain

These achievements show what’s possible when we combine inclusion, partnership, and collaboration to build a cleaner and more circular Ethiopia.

Let’s continue turning waste into opportunity, for people, livelihoods, and the planet.

04/03/2026

In 2013, under the leadership of Cardinal Berhaneyesus D. Souraphiel, the Ethiopian Catholic Church made a clear and public stand against Female Ge***al Mutilation.

This made the Church the third major religious denomination in Ethiopia to publicly oppose FGM, alongside the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Evangelical Churches Fellowship.

The message was simple: FGM has no religious basis and that the dignity and integrity of women and girls must be respected.

Over the years, prevention, response, and survivor-centered care for FGM complications became part of Catholic-run health and education services. Health workers were trained. Referral systems improved. Survivors began receiving care that is respectful and compassionate.

This reel looks back at a journey from 2013 to 2026, from declaration to action.

04/03/2026

Story by Kedija Sefa and Hilina Abebe

04/03/2026

On 26 February 2026, Norwegian Church Aid Ethiopia, Caritas Ethiopia, and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA Ethiopia) convened religious leaders, health professionals, and partners in Addis Ababa to reaffirm their commitment to ending Female Ge***al Mutilation (FGM).

Since declaring its opposition to FGM in 2013, the Ethiopian Catholic Church has translated commitment into action. Through 15 health facilities, more than 4,268 women have been screened since 2019, with 646 receiving treatment for FGM-related complications.

The event highlighted the importance of dignified, survivor-centered care, stronger referral systems, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to close service gaps and accelerate progress.

23/02/2026

On 20 February 2026, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Ethiopia and Djibouti and Norwegian Church Aid Ethiopia co-hosted a panel discussion and photo exhibition in Addis Ababa to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Ge***al Mutilation.

The event brought together partners and stakeholders to reflect on progress and challenges, highlighting:
• Key lessons from implementing the National Costed Roadmap
• The ongoing gap between awareness and practice at community level
• The urgency of scaling proven, community-based approaches

The accompanying exhibition featured powerful images of community dialogue, youth advocacy, faith leaders’ engagement, and collective commitments to abandon FGM.

Together, partners reaffirmed a shared commitment to end FGM in Ethiopia by 2030.

12/02/2026

06/02/2026

FGM remains a serious violation of girls’ and women’s rights, affecting over 230 million people worldwide, with millions more at risk each year. Ending this harmful practice requires sustained commitment, investment, and strong partnerships.

At Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) Ethiopia, we have worked for more than a decade with communities and faith leaders to prevent FGM, support survivors, and promote lasting social change.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of our partners and donors, including Norad through the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Addis Ababa, UNFPA Ethiopia, GIZ Ethiopia and Djibouti, and Schøyen Human Rights Foundation, whose commitment is helping drive progress toward a future free from FGM.

We believe ending FGM requires:
• Investment in community-led prevention and care services
• Strong leadership and engagement
• Holistic approaches that transform harmful gender norms

NCA Ethiopia reaffirms its commitment to scaling solutions and ensuring every girl grows up free from violence and harm.

30/01/2026

Many families in the Amhara Region have been forced from their homes due to ongoing conflict and instability. Thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) are living in camps around Debre Birhan, where access to food, shelter, clean water, healthcare, and basic services remains extremely limited.

To respond to these urgent needs, NCA Ethiopia has opened a new field office in Debre Birhan with support from a United Nations OCHA grant. Working closely with local partners the Ethiopian Orthodox Church - Development and Inter-Church Aid EOTC DICAC and Amhara Women Association - AWA, we’re delivering multi-sectoral support from health and WASH services to food security and protection, right where it’s needed most.

This work is critical for:
• Improving living conditions in the camps
• Supporting families with essential services
• Amplifying local capacity to respond sustainably