ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia is one of the lowest income countries and most populous countries in the Horn of Africa. A home to more than 130 million people and over 80 ethnolinguistic groups, Ethiopia represents a nation of ethnic and cultural diversity with rich traditions. Though the country maintained what has been labelled as a high performing economy for consecutive years during the past decade, it generates the lowest per capita income, continually challenged by the need to create economic opportunities for its fast-growing population with growing peace and security challenges.

In recent years Ethiopia has been continually grappling with multifaceted internal challenges. Particularly since 2018, the country experienced serious humanitarian crisis due to political tentions leading to interethnic conflicts that erupted in different regions, notably in the north which resulted in widescale destruction of public infrastructure, private assets, loss of human lives and widespread human rights violations. An overall upward trend of forced internal displacement was recorded in relation to simultaneous intercommunal conflicts particularly the Oromia, Benishangul Gumuz and the Southern Nations and Peoples regions combined with persistent climatic shocks driving drought, disease outbreaks and natural disasters such as flooding and landslides. Internal displacements reached a record 5.1 million in 2021, the highest global figure for a single country in a single year (IDMC 2022). Despite fluctuations, the displacement trends persist, with close to 3.5 million Internally Displaced Populations (IDPs) at the beginning of 2025, mainly linked to conflict followed by draught and other natural disasters induced by extreme climate conditions.  

Open-door policy for refugees

In spite of the internal challenges, Ethiopia has been the recipient and host of significant number of refugees. Ethiopia remains a country of destination, transit and origin for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, and hosts one of the largest refugee population in Africa.

Political instability and escalating conflicts in neighbouring countries (primarily South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan) and countries of the middle east such as Yemen and Syria, drive people to take refuge in the country. As of February 2026 the total number of refugees registered by UNHCR reached nearly 1.2 million , nearly half of them coming from South Sudan. Yet, many refugees have been living in Ethiopia for protracted periods and, in some cases, over decades whereas new influxes also continue due to ongoing and escalating conflicts in the east Africa and elsewhere. Ethiopia maintains an open-door policy for refugee inflows into the country and allows humanitarian access and protection to those seeking asylum in its territory. In 2019, Ethiopia officially adopted a proclamation recognizing the rights of refugees in various areas seeking to improve access to essential services. Efforts were also made subsequently to practically implement the legal and policy frameworks into action. Though piecemeal, notable efforts were made to ensure the registration of refugees through the national identity card (Fayida) system to enable better access to essential services and employment opportunities though issuance of work permits. Notwithstanding the progressive outlooks to shift towards integration, through policy reforms, by and large,

Ethiopia adopts an encampment policy for the majority of refugee population. Nearly 90% of refugees are required to live in camps or settlements dispersed across different regions (mainly Gambella, Somali, Benishanbgul Gumuz, Afar and Amhara regions) with limited job and livelihood opportunities. Some refugees are only permitted to reside in urban areas including the capital Addis Ababa for medical, protection and humanitarian reasons. Flexible Out of Camp Policy (OCP) benefits only close to 10% of the refugee population (the majority of which are of Eritrean origin).

Finnish Refugee Council in Ethiopia

FRC has been operating in Ethiopia since 2020 and currently provides humanitarian interventions to internally displaced persons in Amhara region as well as basic language, livelihoods and protection support to refugees from South Sudan and vulnerable host community members living in Gambella.   

FRC’s strategic interventions focus on strengthening the resilience and self-reliance of refugees, IDPs and hosting communities in different parts of Ethiopia through facilitating access to inclusive education and livelihoods opportunities and providing protective life saving post conflict and disaster emergency response services. 

n of the right to education, at the centre of FRC’s strategy, appears to be particularly relevant for South Sudanese refugees, considering the exceptionally high illiteracy rate among them; the literacy rate in South Sudan is the third lowest in the world, 27% only (female literacy rate being 16%, and male 40%).

Finnish Refugee Council is committed to supporting the realization of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in all its projects. Read more about the SDG’s that guide our work and activities.

Stories from Ethiopia

Escaping violence to self-reliance – Inclusive literacy training helped Yiswam build an independent life in an Ethiopian IDP camp

Ethiopia is one of Africa’s largest refugee-hosting countries, with over a million refugees and asylum ...

“People do their best to maintain hope” – Our work in Ethiopia aims for stability

In 2019, our work around the world expanded to Ethiopia. Ethiopia is a multifaceted East ...

Functional adult literacy training gives hope of a better future in Ethiopia

Riek yat Wich Duel, 57, recalls the moment his village was caught in the middle ...

Functional literacy trainings in Ethiopia reinforce FRC’s targeted support to vulnerable groups

Finnish Refugee Council’s Adult Education project began in Ethiopia in April 2021, when it was ...

Functional Literacy training for more than 1,200 adults – Study Groups in Ethiopia began in April

Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) study groups in Ethiopia began operating in April 2021. The study ...

Sudden, but predictable conflict in Ethiopia 

A conflict between the federal government of Ethiopia and forces in its northern Tigray region ...