Who we are. What we do. Why we do it.
Vision
For an Ethiopia free from poverty in which
every person has access to quality
education, healthcare and a life of dignity.
Mission
To break the cycle of poverty in Ethiopia by
enabling the poorest, the most vulnerable
and their communities to live with dignity,
build resilience and achieve true and lasting
solutions to the challenges they face.
We’re there for the most vulnerable and the most marginalised, regardless of age, gender or
location. That means you’ll always be able to help those who need it the most.
Why Ethiopiaid?
We raise funds for local Ethiopian charities to transform lives and achieve lasting change.
Our partners know the context and solutions; we listen and provide appropriate support. Growth and development are tracked in local communities using robust monitoring and evaluation. Partnerships continue as long as there’s a clear need and opportunities to make a lasting impact.
Our approach
Our primary focus is on investing in partnerships that achieve lasting and sustainable change for some of our most vulnerable and marginalized.
Partnerships
We work through sustainable relationships with trusted Ethiopian partners. Our partners know the context and solutions; we listen and provide appropriate support. Growth and development are tracked in local communities using robust monitoring and evaluation. Partnerships continue as long as there’s a clear need and opportunities to make a lasting impact.
A global network
Our offices in Canada, Ireland, UK and Australia are run by small teams of specialised fundraising and grant making development professionals. We share expertise in communications, project data and impact reporting. Pooling resources across the organizations helps us increase our effectiveness at the local level. Together we strive to provide excellent service, both to our partners and our supports and donors.
Stewardship
Our work would not be possible without our donors – they are central to everything we do. We continue investing in opportunities to provide donors with tailored experiences. Ethiopiaid is committed to meeting the needs and preferences of individuals, groups, grant makers or institutional funders. We connect donors with causes they care about, and maximise the impact of their giving in a way that’s transparent, responsive and accountable.
Project partners
Healing Hands of Joy (HHOJ) works to end obstetric fistula in Ethiopia in two ways: first to identify, refer and rehabilitate women living with obstetric fistula, and second to break down the social stigma behind fistula and show how communities can support sufferers. HHOJ trains ex-fistula patients as Safe Motherhood Ambassadors who return to their communities to identify new cases of fistula and educate expectant mothers on safe delivery. HHOJ also works on a wider community level, hosting community workshops, religious leader training, film screenings and male sensitivity training to raise awareness and change attitudes for this socially-isolating condition.
Hope of Light provide obstetric fistula treatment at 3 fistula health centres in Gondar, Jima and Assella. They were founded by Dr Ambaye, a fistula surgeon with over 27 years’ experience, who was trained by the awe-inspiring Dr Catherine Hamlin. As well as providing medical supplies for fistula care, Dr Ambaye trains doctors in fistula surgery, raises awareness with health professionals and her team provide post-operative counselling for patients.
Simien Mountain Mobile Medical Service (SMMMS) works to provide essential medical and healthcare services to communities who have little to no access. Working in the remote, rural, and challenging landscape of the Simien Mountains they have a series of health centres and teams of outreach health workers, who together provide reproductive, maternal, natal and child healthcare along with emergency care and transport to health centres and hospitals. SMMMS have carried out essential emergency medical care throughout the recent Pandemic and on-going conflict.
Cheshire Services is working towards a future where all children living with a disability in Ethiopia can access healthcare, education and live with dignity. They create community awareness to remove the stigma associated with disability and create inclusive and accessible communities. Their Menagesha Rehabilitation Centre in Oromia region is their flagship site, providing both resident children and outpatients with corrective surgery, physiotherapy and custom-fitted prosthetic limbs and mobility aids. For children living in more remote areas, Cheshire Services run a mobile outreach service, and through their Sustainable Livelihoods Project, they support families with a parent or child living with a disability with agricultural and basic business training, so they are able to support themselves bringing about better social inclusion, especially for mothers of children with disabilities.
Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA) was created alongside local Afar leaders who felt their needs were not being met by formal government services. APDA is dedicated to ending harmful practices, including female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage and the lack of rights for women in marriage. They also run life-changing projects in water harvesting, mobile health and education, and have been providing life-saving emergency support, in response to the recent locust plagues and conflict in the region.
Our History
In the autumn of 1987, Sir Alec Reed returned from his first visit to Ethiopia. He saw what many people might expect – widespread hardship, suffering and poverty – but he also saw passion, knowledge, and ambition.
Sir Alec knew that it would take something simple to make a huge difference to the lives of many people. Starting in October 1989 with an investment of £1m, he created a platform for years of change.
Ethiopiaid has grown without losing sight of its relatively humble beginnings. Sir Alec’s initial investment has since grown into more than £37m in partner grants over 30 successful years.
Our approach is simple and continues to be effective. We raise funds for and make grants to local Ethiopian partners to achieve lasting change and improve the lives of some of the country’s poorest and most vulnerable communities. We know our strengths and our limitations. We do not promise to change the world, or even all of Ethiopia. What we do know – from firsthand experience – is that our partners make the biggest difference in their local communities.
Sir Alec continues to be closely involved in Ethiopiaid and two members of the Reed family currently serve on the board of trustees.
In 2011, Sir Alec received a knighthood for his services to charity.
Meet our team
Sharon Elliott
CEO Ethiopiaid Canada
Sharon brings almost ten years of strategic oversight, fundraising innovation and leadership in her role as CEO of Ethiopiaid Canada. She works with staff, supporters and stakeholders in Canada and Ethiopia to champion the voice of the vulnerable and advance locally-sourced education and healthcare in Ethiopia.
As CEO of Ethiopiaid Canada, Sharon leads a passionate team focused on sustainable change and transparent results. As a mother, she is particularly concerned for the welfare of children and women around the world, and is driven to use her fundraising experience to advance Ethiopiaid’s core vision of health and hope for all.
Leorah Granholm
Donor Relationship Officer
Leorah joined the Ethiopiaid staff as a part-time Fund Development Officer in September of 2021. Leorah likes to stay busy with continuously learning and growing in her hobbies and career goals. As a graduate of International Development and Globalization, and a student of an MBA program, Leorah focus’ on business strategic growth, promoting equality and supporting marginalized communities.
Narayan
Grant Manager
Narayan is a part-time grants manager that supports Ethiopiaid with institutional fundraising. His role entails scanning and researching funding opportunities, applying to grants, and stewarding funder relationships. He also actively supports our local partners in applying for regional-level grants.
Sara Awad
Project Manager
Sara is a part-time Project Manager for the ‘Empowering women and girls in Ethiopia’ project funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). Sara graduated from McGill University with a BA in International Development Studies and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Management of International Organizations at SDA Bocconi (Italy). Sara focuses on managing the project and overseeing Ethiopiaid’s donor reporting and relationship management with local partners.
Nunya Mensah
Finance Officer
Nunya joined the team as a part-time Operations and Finance Officer in July 2023. Nunya’s core belief centers around living for the benefit of others and striving to create
positive change in the lives of the less privileged.