Partners in the Horn of Africa works in Ethiopia, the largest country in the “Horn of Africa”, focusing on the areas of greatest need --- infrastructure improvement, health & welfare and women’s anti-poverty projects. We are a non-denominational, registered Canadian charity, and believe we are unique because:100% of all donations go directly to aid projects in Ethiopia. The Canadian directors of Partners and others volunteer their time in running the organization and fundraising, and along with some private benefactors, pay for all administrative and travel expenses.

Our African Partner… usually an indigenous charity or a village… is required to contribute 15 to 20% of project costs (usually in the form of labour) and participates as a true Partner in all decisions relating to the project. Once a project has been selected and a partnership agreement entered into, then Partners in the Horn of Africa and its African counterpart share in the responsibility for getting the project 'up and running'. This model gives the local community a sense of ownership, and ensures that the project is responsive to local needs. We’ve been fortunate to discover some very capable indigenous Ethiopian aid organizations, which have helped us prove that Africans can manage their own aid projects in a true “partnership”.

We focus our work in the more remote areas of the country that are ignored by most other NGO’s (NGO is Non-Governmental Organization). Ethiopia has one of the most challenging landscapes in Africa, much of it more than 6000 ft above sea level or higher, with few roads. It also has one of the lowest average annual incomes per person in the world (just over US$100 per person in 2004), and this is even lower in the remote areas. And with 71 million people, Ethiopia is the third largest country by population in Africa, thus the need is great and we can focus our efforts in one country.

We invite you to learn more about Partners and Ethiopia. The problems are immense, but the support from Canadians does make a difference in the lives of many Ethiopians. We are helping empower Ethiopians to take charge of their own future…to give them hope. We are having an impact in the Horn of Africa.