Partners In The Horn of Africa was formed in 2002 by Canadians and Ethiopians living in Western Canada. Some of our Canadian directors had worked as volunteer in Africa and all were committed to the plight of people living in sub-Saharan Africa. After returning to Canada, they remained interested in Africa and became active in international aid programs. Partners In The Horn of Africa represents an attempt by Canadians to find a cost-effective and meaningful way to respond directly to the needs of people in the Horn of Africa, the region in the northeast part of the continent which includes Ethiopia. The catalyst for Partners arose from discussions with Ethiopians who urged us to form a new organization that would work on aid projects in partnership with local African groups avoiding the expensive administrative structure common to many aid organizations and focusing on the task of “empowering” local Ethiopian community groups to take a more major role in the development of Ethiopian civil society.

The first project Partners undertook involved an Ethiopian group called the Agarfa Self-Help Organization (ASHO). Located in the high-mountain region of Bale, ASHO entered into a formal partnership with Partners in the Horn of Africa to build a bridge across a river that became impassable during the rainy season. If someone was sick, they would have to be carried for nine hours to another bridge to reach the nearest medical facility. Farmers couldn't get to market. The community was cut in two. The completed bridge was a "big success" and helped set the Partners model "people helping themselves," with the community members contributing building materials and 1,000 person days of labour!

Partners was formally incorporated as a Canadian federally registered charity in 2002. As of 2006, Partners has completed about 40 projects, all within the range of $5,000 to $30,000. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, our annual budget is approximately in 2007 will be approximately $750,000.