Policy development for children in Ethiopia: progress and next steps

ABSTRACT

Ethiopia has made important progress on several measures of child well-being, yet children are still faced with numerous economic and social challenges. In 2017, Ethiopia passed the first national policy in regard to children. Based on our review of this policy we offer thoughts about the next steps for policy development to enhance the well-being of children in Ethiopia. In particular, cultural themes reflect the geographic context of children’s lives and are also relevant to the development and implementation of social welfare policies. Increased attention to the needs of children is of the highest importance given the current circumstance of ongoing violent conflict within Ethiopian society and its devastating effects on young people.

KEYWORDS:

• Child well-being
• policy analysis
• Ethiopia
• children’s rights in Africa

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).