Promoting the resumption of essential service provision for conflict-affected communities in Ethiopia

Two years of conflict in northern Ethiopia (2020–2022) resulted in severe humanitarian needs, many of which remain despite the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) in November 2022.

In response, Expertise France has been implementing a project to restore conflict-affected communities' access to health and protection services in the catchment areas of Abala (Afar region) and Adwa (Tigray region) hospitals.

Through rehabilitation works, re-equipment, capacity strengthening, and support to One Stop Centres, the programme is strengthening target communities' resilience while laying the foundations for longer-term recovery.

Launched in 2023, the first phase of the programme focused on the rehabilitation and re-equipment of the Abala and Adwa hospitals, with the objective of restoring access to essential healthcare services for conflict-affected communities and supporting the resumption of basic public service delivery in the immediate aftermath of the crisis. 

Building on the achievements of this initial intervention and in response to evolving recovery and stabilisation needs, the programme was subsequently scaled up through a European Union contribution, marking a second phase of support centred on the same target hospitals and surrounding communities.

It further consolidates the restoration of resilient and quality essential health services by continuing investments in: 

• health infrastructure; 
• medical equipment; 
• water supply systems;
• healthcare waste management; 
• healthcare workers training. 

Building on the rehabilitation of health infrastructure, the second phase of the programme broadened its scope to integrate protection services within the target hospitals and surrounding communities. The aim is to meet communities’ health, safety, and justice needs, with a specific focus on GBV communities.

This includes the establishment and operationalisation of One Stop Centres for survivors of gender-based violence, the strengthening of survivor-centred referral pathways, enhanced coordination with protection and justice actors, and community-based awareness and outreach activities to improve access to integrated protection services.

By combining health and protection interventions, the programme addresses the immediate and longer-term needs of vulnerable populations while reinforcing institutional capacities and fostering a coordinated, survivor-centred response to gender-based violence.

Together, these two phases form a coherent stabilisation strategy that goes beyond the rehabilitation of physical infrastructure.

By restoring access to quality health and protection services, strengthening public institutions, and promoting community-based approaches to resilience, social cohesion and recovery, the programme contributes to improving the well-being, resilience and access to essential health and protection services for conflict-affected communities in the Afar and Tigray regions, while creating the conditions for lasting peace, security and sustainable development in northern Ethiopia.

The first part of the project was implemented between May 2023 and December 2025 thanks to a €3m funding from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

The second part started in January 2025 and benefits from a €16m funding from the European Union.