Dorcas Ethiopia
Building resilience, creating change
We see communities facing poverty, displacement and climate pressures across the Southern Corridor, Addis Ababa and other regions. Our programmes therefore focus on Crisis Response, Livelihoods and Food Security, Climate Adaptation, and Community Development. The result is stronger, more self-reliant communities where people live with dignity, resilience and opportunity.
Context in Ethiopia
About Ethiopia
Ethiopia faces overlapping and compounding crises. High inflation, unemployment and economic instability undermine household resilience across the country. Drought, erratic rainfall and climate-induced disasters – which have become regular occurrences rather than occasional events – threaten food security and livelihoods. Ethnic violence and insecurity cause widespread displacement and disrupt communities, particularly in border regions. Marginalised groups including children, older people, women and displaced households face significant barriers to services, protection and opportunity.
Dorcas in Ethiopia
Dorcas Ethiopia has been active since 1994, working across the South Corridor – Sidama, South Ethiopia, Somali, Amhara and Oromia regions – and the Addis Ababa city administration. Over three decades, we have evolved into a partner-driven organisation that prioritises local leadership, long-term presence and evidence-based programming. We collaborate with government, civil society, research institutions and local partners to build resilience, restore livelihoods and support groups in vulnerable situations. Our commitment to localisation ensures that communities and partners lead their own development.
By 2030, we envision an Ethiopia where:
What we do
Programmatic themes
Dorcas Ethiopia works through four programmatic themes. All programmes integrate inclusion, protection, climate sensitivity and community ownership.
We respond to acute and protracted crises through anticipatory action, life-saving assistance and recovery support. Ethnic clashes forced Dase Olika to flee her home. With multi-purpose cash assistance, she bought food, started a small business and secured housing. She now raises chickens and sells coffee, transforming her family's situation. Across our programmes, more than 139,000 crisis-affected households received life-saving emergency support between 2020 and 2025.
We support people in finding sustainable livelihoods and strengthening food security. In Bede Kebele, dairy farmers facing drought diversified into animal feed supply after Dorcas training. Improved business skills enabled them to stabilise income and plan market expansion. Across our programmes, over 2,700 households improved their food security and more than 9,600 young people increased their income through skills development between 2020 and 2025.
We enable farmers and citizens to adapt, protect themselves and build resilience to climate impacts. Erratic weather threatened Yonas's crops. With support from Dorcas, he acquired new skills and began growing vegetables, increasing his income and securing his family's future. Across our programmes, over 277,000 people benefited from climate-smart practices and resilience-building interventions between 2020 and 2025.
We partner with communities through collaborative, asset-based and conflict-sensitive approaches. In Moyale, hydroponic fodder production ensured year-round forage for livestock, increasing milk production and strengthening pastoral livelihoods. Across our programmes, over 1,300 children and older people in vulnerable situations received support through community-based protection and safety net mechanisms between 2020 and 2025.
‘We train young people for the jobs that actually exist’
Youth unemployment in Ethiopia is high. Despite economic growth, many young people are unable to find work or establish a stable livelihood. Through its vocational training programmes, Dorcas aims to equip young people with technical and social skills. We spoke to Lenard Hofland, Programme Adviser at Dorcas, about this.
Our impact in 2023-2025
Crisis Response
- During this period, 139,157 crisis-affected households received life-saving emergency support across highly vulnerable regions.
Livelihoods and Economic Development
- We strengthen sustainable and inclusive livelihoods for smallholder farmers, drought-affected households, and unemployed urban youth. A total of 2,710 households improved their food security, while 9,648 young people increased their income through skills development, employability, and market‑oriented economic opportunities.
Protection
- 1,320 children and older people in vulnerable situations received regular, long-term support through community-based protection systems.
Climate Adaptation
- Dorcas Ethiopia integrates climate adaptation across its programmes to reduce vulnerability related to drought and rainfall variability. In total, 277,298 people benefited from climate‑smart practices and resilience-building interventions that strengthen long-term community stability.
How we work
Local leadership and partnerships
Dorcas Ethiopia works with local, national and international partners, including government institutions, civil society organisations, research institutes, private-sector actors and faith-based networks. Our partnerships are built on trust, shared values and long-term commitment. Together, we create opportunities for communities to flourish. Dorcas Ethiopia is part of international and national networks that strengthen coordination, quality standards, advocacy and locally led responses across humanitarian assistance, recovery and sustainable development.
- Addids Hiwot Integrated Sustainable Development Organisation (AHISDO)
- Bole Kifle Ketema Ideroch Council
- Ethiopian Guenet Church Development and Welfare Organisations
- Ethiopian Mulu Wongel Amagnoch Church Development Organisation
- Selam Awassa Business Group
- START Network
- Save the Children
- Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Woord & Daad
- Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)
- IOM
- ZOA
- Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER)
- Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA)
- EU-CORD
- INGO Forum (Ethiopia)
- START Network
- UN-led coordination structures
- Shared values and mutual respect
- Complementary strengths
- Transparent communication
- Long-term commitment
- Local leadership
- Joint learning and adaptation
Partnership and investment opportunities
We seek partners who share our commitment to climate resilience, local leadership and long-term impact. We welcome programme partnerships, institutional funding, research collaborations and private-sector engagement.
'Through our collaboration, including with IGAD, we have been impressed by Dorcas Ethiopia's ability to bridge the gap between international expertise and local needs. Your deep understanding of the communities you serve, combined with a strong commitment to building lasting partnerships, has been instrumental in driving positive change in a highly cost-effective manner.'
Meet our Country Director
Fikru Tarekegn (PhD)
'At Dorcas Ethiopia, we work in close partnership with communities to promote sustainable livelihoods and strengthen resilience. Across urban and rural Ethiopia, our programmes support children, young people, women, men and older people to overcome poverty, unemployment, climate shocks, displacement and social exclusion. Households are strengthening their resilience to drought and economic shocks. Young people are gaining skills and access to income opportunities. Communities are shaping their own development pathways. Lasting change is achieved when communities are empowered, systems are strengthened, and partnerships are built on trust. I invite you to walk alongside us – as a partner, supporter or ally – as we work together towards an Ethiopia where people live with dignity, resilience and opportunity.'
Contact
Dorcas Ethiopia office
P.O. Box 8989, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Office location: Woreda 02, house number 393, Bole Sub city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
