Ethiopia
is one of the oldest civilizations in the world that dates back to at least 8th
Century B.C. in a proto-Aksumite state kingdom known as D’mt.[1] Ethiopia, during the
period of 3rd Century B.C until 980 A.D, was then known as the
Kingdom of Axum (Aksum).[2] This kingdom was one of the most influential
during its apex; it had vast trade networks, its own coinage, and its own
written language. The empire was
situated on the Red Sea and had access to the Silk Road via its trade networks.[3] The kingdom of Aksum has since evolved into
the nation of Ethiopia and its prominence of wealth has been lost; today
Ethiopia is the most populous landlocked nation in the world and is also one of
its poorest.[4] The nation has many problems to endure but is
not without hope.
Ethiopia is one of the
poorest nations in the world; over 39% of the population lives below the
poverty line.[5] This nation is landlocked and over 85% of the
workforce is engaged in agriculture.[6] Most of the population lives in the Upland
Grassland areas and use sustenance farming to feed their families. Ethiopia has an extremely high dependency
rate of 81.6% which means that less than 20% of the population is working to
support 81.6% of the population. This is
an incredible burden on the workforce. The
use of child labor helps to alleviate this burden. It is estimated that over 10 million children
between the ages of 5-14 are engaged in child labor.[7] Furthermore, Ethiopia is a
socialist economy. The state owns all of
the land and it leases the land to the people who then work the land for a
fee.
Ethiopia is taking steps
towards improving its economy and is in talks to join the World Trade
Organization. Currently Ethiopia has the
fifth fastest growing economy among the 188 member nations of the International
Monetary Fund (IMF).[8] The government is also
working to reduce child labor and increase literacy through its “Growth and
Transformation Plan” developed alongside the United Nation’s Education,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) program.[9] By reducing illiteracy and
child labor, Ethiopia hopes to achieve a “middle income economy.”[10]
Another problem
Ethiopia faces in order to regain its wealth as a nation and rise out of
poverty is its need to eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs.) It is estimated that the eradication of NTDS
could add $3.8 Billion USD back into their economy.[11] Tropical diseases not only kill they also
disable which removes healthy people from the workforce; which reduced
productivity and thus creates a dependency burden on others. The top causes of
death in Ethiopia that are caused by these diseases include
lower respiratory infections (viral and bacterial), diarrheal
diseases, tuberculosis, and malaria.[12] These diseases are transmitted
through contact with, or ingestion of, contaminated water, food, and soil
or are transmitted by insects, animals, and other people. Ethiopia is addressing NTDs and better access
to clean water through government programs and through partnerships with
several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as the Gates Foundation and
the World Health Organization.[13]
One last
area that Ethiopia needs to focus on in order to strengthen its county involves
security of its borders and safety of its peoples. Ethiopia is currently involved in two border
disputes: with Eritrea since 1993 and Somalia since 1960. Eritrea and parts of Ethiopia, including Ogaden,
which is mostly Muslim, were grated to Ethiopia after the end of World War
II. Eritrea gained independence in 1993
which cost Ethiopia its coastal access to the Red Sea. Ethiopia has been accused of human rights
violations against Eritreans in Ethiopia and the two countries do not engage in
trade with each other.[14] Ethiopia uses other countries to move exports
even though Eritrea is more convenient. The
conflict with Somalia is based on a shared religion, Islam, with the people of
Ogaden as well as resources in this area.
The use of military and diplomatic means has not been successful and
there is a movement to focus on building cooperational economic projects in
order to strengthen ties between these two countries.[15]
Ethiopia
has a way to go before reclaiming its wealth and stature within the global
economy but is taking steps to do so. It
is addressing poverty, literacy, child labor, disease, access to clean water,
and border security through several governmental programs and cooperation with
other entities.
Bibliography:
“Country
Cooperation Strategy: Ethiopia.” World
Health Organization. 2014. http://www.who.int/countryfocus/cooperation_strategy/ccsbrief_eth_en.pdf
(accessed July 2, 2016).
“Dependency Ratios.” CIA World Fact Book. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2261.html#et
(accessed July 6, 2016).
“Ethiopia.” CIA
World Fact Book.
“Ethiopia Country Profile.” Open
Doors United Kingdom. http://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/worldwatch/ethiopia.php (accessed July 6, 2016).
“Ethiopian Empire.” 2016. The
History Files. http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsAfrica/AfricaEthiopia.htm (accessed July 2, 2016).
“Ethiopia Overview.” World Bank. http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/ethiopia/overview (accessed July 6, 2016).
“Global Health
- Ethiopia." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/countries/ethiopia/default.htm (accessed May 19, 2016).
“Integrated Functional Adult Education:
Ethiopia.” United Nations Educational.
Scientific, and Cultural Organization. http://www.unesco.org/uil/litbase/?menu=8&programme=195 (accessed July 2, 2016).
Kendie, Daniel. “Towards Resolving the
Ethiopia-Somalia Disputes.” Western
Michigan University Center for African Development Policy Research. August
2007. http://scholarworks.wmich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1123&context=africancenter_icad_archive
(accessed July 8, 2016).
Ofcansky, Thomas P, Laverle Bennette Berry. Library of Congress. Federal Research
Division. "Ethiopia: A Country Study." Online
Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/92000507. (Accessed July 6, 2016).
“Oromo Continue to Flee Violence.” Cultural Survival Quarterly. https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/somalia/oromo-continue-flee-violence
(accessed July 6, 2016).
Reader, John. "Africa: A Biography of
the Continent." New York: Vintage Books. 1999. 210.
Robel, Johannes. "Eliminating NTDs Enables
Ethiopia to Save $3.8Bln USD." Ethiopia Online. http://onlineethiopia.net/2016/05/eliminating-ntds-enables-ethiopia-save-3-8bln-usd/ (accessed July 6, 2016).
Shah, Anup. “Conflict Between Ethiopia and Eritrea.” Global Issues. December 2000. http://www.globalissues.org/article/89/conflict-between-ethiopia-and-eritrea
(accessed July 2, 2016).
[1]
“Ethiopian Empire.” History Files.
[2]
“Ethiopian Empire.” History Files.
[3]
Reader, John. 204.
[4]
“Ethiopia.” CIA World Fact Book.
[5]
“Ethiopia.” CIA World Fact Book.
[6]
“Ethiopia.” CIA World Fact Book.
[7]
“Ethiopia.” CIA World Fact Book.
[8]
“Ethiopia.” CIA World Fact Book.
[9]
“Integrated Functional Adult Education: Ethiopia.” UNESCO.
[10]
“Integrated Functional Adult Education: Ethiopia.” UNESCO.
[11]
Robel, Johannes.
[12]
“Global Health: Ethiopia.” Centers for
Disease Control.
[13] “Country
Cooperation Strategy: Ethiopia.” World
Health Organization.
[14]
Shah, Anup.
[15]
Kendie, Daniel.
