Recent evaluations have shown that the services provided to orphans in childcare facilities across Ethiopia fall short of necessary standards, highlighting significant gaps in care. In response, a new minimum standard for care-leaving has been drafted to address the lack of support for young individuals transitioning out of orphanages at age 18, who are often unprepared for self-sufficiency and vulnerable to various challenges.
The 2023 Directive on Alternative Child Care and Support mandates that residential care should only be a temporary solution and the last resort for children without parental care. However, studies continue to reveal that the quality of care in these institutions is inadequate.
To combat these issues, the Children’s Rights and Protection Desk at the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs is developing a national low-care discharge standard alongside a de-institutionalization strategy. This initiative aims to support youth in securing necessary personal documents such as IDs and birth certificates, which are essential for securing housing and integrating into society post-care.
The lack of a coherent care-leaving policy has been a persistent problem in Ethiopia since the inception of programs like those by SOS Children’s Villages in 1974. These programs have evolved significantly to meet the complex needs of Ethiopian children and youth without parental care.
In their 2023 policy brief, “Situational Analysis and Policy Gap Assessment on Young Care Leavers in Ethiopia,” SOS Children’s Villages outlined critical findings and recommendations for addressing these gaps. The brief highlights the substantial challenges care leavers face, including inadequate education, lack of employment opportunities, poor community integration, and minimal life skills, which exacerbate their risk of poverty, homelessness, and social exclusion.
Despite the existence of the National Social Protection Policy, the National Youth Policy, and the National Children’s Policy, their implementation has been notably weak, leaving many young individuals unsupported as they transition to independent living.
