Nyabhan’s mission to empower her community
Nyabhan empowers other young people in crisis settings to lead and create change.
Economic empowerment, food and livelihood security
We support with girls and young people so they can learn, earn a living, and take the lead in shaping their own futures and their communities.
Across Ethiopia, conflict, drought, displacement, and lack of jobs are closing off opportunities for young people. Girls and young women face the greatest barriers: unsafe work, harmful gender norms, limited education, and fewer chances to build skills or earn a decent income.
But young people are determined to create change and we are standing with them.
Why this work matters now
Young people in Ethiopia are dealing with several crises at once:
- Conflict and displacement have disrupted livelihoods.
- Drought has reduced farming income and left families struggling to put food on the table.
- COVID‑19 reduced job opportunities, especially for young women.
Girls and young women are often the last to be hired, the lowest paid, and the most at risk of unsafe or exploitative work. Without targeted support, their hopes of economic independence and leadership are put at risk.
That’s why we focus on opening up safe and fair job opportunities for young people, especially girls including jobs linked to the environment and digital work that can support the future.
Our approach: Supporting young people at every step as they build a way to earn a living
Economic empowerment
At Plan International Ethiopia, we focus on helping girls and young people find real work, earn money, and build a better future. We make sure girls, young women, and young people who are often left out have access to safe and fair opportunities.
We do this by:
- Building confidence and life skills for girls, including negotiation, money management, and leadership.
- Providing practical, market-driven skills development so girls and young women can learn digital skills, green jobs, farming businesses, and trades that are actually in demand.
- Supporting young women to save and manage money through savings groups and financial services such as village saving and loan association (VSLA).
- Helping young people start and grow their own businesses through coaching, start-up support, and connections to markets.
- Creating safe ways to earn an income for young people affected by crisis, including refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and host communities.
Food & livelihood security
We work with communities to make sure families can grow enough food, earn a living, and cope with challenges like drought and conflict.
We do this by:
- Supporting farmers to use climate-smart farming methods like drought-resistant crops, better water use, and soil restoration.
- Strengthening women-led farming groups so they can grow more, work together, and sell their products.
- Helping families grow and eat healthier food to improve nutrition for children and mothers.
- Providing fast support during crises like drought, floods, or conflict so families can recover and rebuild.
- Engaging young people in green and sustainable jobs like beekeeping, poultry, animal feed production, and food processing.
What makes our work different
- We put girls first. Every activity is designed to break down the barriers that stop girls from accessing skills, jobs, and money.
- We go beyond training. We combine skills, financial support, safety, and mentorship so young people can truly succeed.
- We work closely with businesses to help young people move into real jobs, not just finish training.
- We use approaches that are proven to work, and we scale them through government and training institutions like Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
- We focus on children. We make sure that when families have food, children are healthier and better nourished.
- We work in some of the hardest-to-reach areas including Afar, Somali, Oromia, Gambella, and Benishangul Gumuz where support is often limited.
- We connect emergency support with long-term solutions, helping families recover now and stay strong in the future.
- We introduce simple, practical climate solutions that women and young people can actually use not just large-scale farmers.
What this looks like in real life
- 65,000 girls saving their futures: Girls are saving money, starting businesses, and becoming financially independent through savings groups.
- From training to employment: Young people are not just trained, they are getting real jobs and income.
- Women feeding communities: Women-led cooperatives are producing and supplying food to local markets.
- Climate heroes: Communities are restoring land and protecting their environment for future generations.
- Refugee youth rising: Young people forced to flee their homes are rebuilding their lives through skills and business.
Investing in Ethiopia’s youth for a sustainable future
We believe in the power of young people especially girls to shape a more equal, resilient, and sustainable Ethiopia. Through inclusive, gender‑responsive, and green economic opportunities, we help young people gain the skills, confidence, and resources they need to lead change in their own lives and communities.
Related pages
