1. Ethiopia – Millennium Development Goals 1 and 2 Eleanor Bushe Amanda Donohoe

2. The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia  Location: Eastern Africa [Sub-Saharan Africa]  Population: 85.8 million : United Nations Millennium Development Goals Dataset, 2009  Capital: Addis Ababa  Harsh physical / environmental conditions  Ranked one of the poorest nations in the world [171 of 182 countries] : United Nations Human Development Report, 2009 … dependent on aid  Ireland’s poorest aid recipient  Debt relief : 2001 Africa Ethiopia vast upland areas Ethiopia rivers

3.  1984: major Famine….death toll : nearly 1 million….Live Aid 1985, US$60 million approx....  1990s: independence war with former province Eritrea (now independent)....death toll : over 200,000….United Nations Peacekeeping Operation….Peace Agreement in 2000….peace along borders remains insecure….signing of Mine Ban Treaty…  Millennium Goals incorporated into country development plan….specific to Ethiopia…. ‘A Plan for Accelerated and Sustained Development to End Poverty’ [medium-term plan : 2005 – 2010]....publicity campaigns, Millennium Development Goals Report in 2004, increased tax and investment  Government Commitment

4. Goal 1 : Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger  Causes : conflict poor education low incomes reliance on agriculture – harsh physical / environmental conditions, lack of infrastructure / technology, dependency on coffee exports [25% of population directly or indirectly employed : Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, 2003 ], peasant land-ownership [95% of land : Ghose, 1992 ], over-working of land, low food production poor economic output unfavourable terms of trade United Nations Human Development Reports, 2000, 2005, 2009 United Nations Millennium Development Goals Dataset, 2009 2005 : 62% living in extreme poverty : United Nations, 2005

5.  Agriculture-Led Industrialisation Plan : Land-use rotation Climate extremes preventative measures e.g. water harvesting Savings and Credit Co-operatives Spin-off industries e.g. hides and skins  Elsewhere : Investment in infrastructure The Safety Net Programme [Irish Aid] Recent economic growth of +11% per annum…US$240 million from IMF to lessen impact of global recession Fastest growing non–oil and mineral economy in sub-Saharan Africa…exports of agricultural products, textiles, metal etc. World’s 5 th fastest growing economy in 2010? : The Economist Today, a huge proportion of Ethiopians continue to depend on food aid from abroad. “Estimates of the number of people who need emergency food aid have risen steadily this year from 4.9 million in January to 5.3 million in May and 6.2 million in June” : The Independent A Safety Net Programme United Nations Millennium Development Goals Dataset, 2009 % of population living on less than US$1 a day In 2015, 19 million Ethiopians will continue to live in poverty….: Synthesis Report on Ethiopia’s Progress Towards Achieving the Millennium Development Goals : Successes, Challenges and Prospects, 2008] In 2005, 39% of those employed living in poverty : United Nations Millennium Development Goals Dataset, 2009

6. Goal 2 : Achieve Universal Primary Education  Education not only a fundamental human right, but a critical catalyst for the development of a country : Lenihan, 2006; UNESCO, 2008; United Nations, 2008; UNICEF, 2009…NB. health  One target, three indicators  Gender equality-disparity, boys to girls; boys more likely to be educated  30% increase of GPI between 1999 and 2006 : UNESCO, 2008  1 st Indicator: NER in primary education: 1999-2007, increase of 37.6%..children living above poverty line more likely to attend  2 nd Indicator: Proportion of pupils starting grade 1 who reach last grade of primary: increase of 27.2 %. Completion rates: boys doubled, girls tripled : MDG Indicators, 2009  3 rd Indicator: Literacy rate of 15-24 year olds, women and men. 1985- 1994: 33.6%, 1995-2005: 49.9%. Adult literacy +15% : UNDP, 2008 United Nations Millennium Development Goals Dataset, 2009

7.  Catalysts for Progress in Achieving Universal Primary Education : Abolishment of school fees : United Nations, 2008; The World Bank and UNICEF, 2009 Increase in national spending on education: 2000=9.7%, 2007= 23.3% : United Nations, 2009 Large scale investments in government schools : Bihanu, 2008 Increase in teacher recruitments : UNESCO, 2008 Peace and stability : The World Bank and UNICEF, 2009 Training boards and education officers : The World Bank and UNICEF, 2009 Aid: Irish Aid has spent €3million on textbooks and supplies grade 5-10, 750 vulnerable and orphan children off streets and in full time education : Irish Aid, 2006  Challenges : Increased class size and pupil-teacher ratio : 1994-2004 100% increase, 33: 1 → 66:1 : The World Bank and UNICEF, 2009 Half of teachers under-qualified : The World Bank and UNICEF, 2009 Overcrowded schools : The World Bank and UNICEF, 2009 High rates of drop-out : Over half don’t complete primary education : The World Bank and UNICEF, 2009 Remain 5 th highest out-of-school population, despite 10% annual decline : The World Bank and UNICEF, 2009 No “magic wand”: UN, 2007 MDG Report 2004: ‘great prospects’ of universal primary education in Ethiopia UNESCO 2008 : Won’t be achieved, projection NER is 93%, 7% short of goal