SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia has secured a landmark ETB 50 million matching contribution from the Amhara Regional State Government Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Fund Office (ARRFO) in support of the implementation of the Children in Street Situations (CiSS) project in Dessie and Kombolcha. The contribution was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during a ceremony held at Aya Addis Hotel in Addis Ababa on 4 June 2026. ARRFO’s contribution complements the ETB 194,781,513.63 secured by SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia through its partnership with SOS Barnebyer for the implementation of the CiSS project, bringing the total project budget to ETB 244,781,513.63.
The Children in Street Situations project in Dessie and Kombolcha builds on the ongoing intervention implemented in Addis Ababa, Adama, and Dire Dawa between 2022 and 2026, with support from SOS Barnebyer and Heimstaden Bostad. The Dessie and Kombolcha expansion reflects the continued scaling of this proven approach, with ARRFO’s contribution adding an important layer of local investment. This involvement strengthens government engagement and fosters shared ownership in addressing the challenges faced by children and youth in street situations. Beyond its financial value, the agreement signals a growing commitment to locally led solutions for addressing the challenges facing underserved children and young people across Ethiopia. It also reflects a broader shift toward strengthening domestic resource mobilization and shared responsibility for social development at a time when development actors are grappling with declining and increasingly uncertain external funding.
Expanding a proven model
Drawing on experience from implementation in Addis Ababa, Adama, and Dire Dawa, the project uses a comprehensive package of interventions, including family strengthening, reintegration, education support, livelihoods, and child protection, to address the root causes of street involvement and support children’s return to safe family and community environments. Implemented from 2026 to 2028, the newly expanded project aims to directly reach 1,530 street connected children, 333 young people in street situations, support 840 families, and indirectly benefit more than 6,000 community members. Through a comprehensive package of interventions, the initiative addresses the underlying causes that push children onto the streets, including family breakdown, poverty, exclusion from education, unemployment, and limited access to social support systems.
The implementation in Dessie and Kombolcha comes at a critical time. Communities across the Amhara Region continue to face the social and economic impacts of conflict, displacement, and disrupted livelihoods, leaving many children and young people particularly vulnerable to family separation, school dropout, and street involvement.
A shared commitment to children and young people
In his opening remarks, Mr. Abate Getahun (PhD), Head of ARRFO, noted that the Office was established by the Amhara Regional State Council to address the far-reaching impacts of conflict across the region. He highlighted that many children and young people have been left vulnerable, including those living on the streets, out of school, or separated from their families. Recognizing the demonstrated impact of SOS Children's Villages in Ethiopia's work with children and families, ARRFO committed the support as an investment in sustainable and long-term change.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Mr. Sahlemariam Abebe, Multi-Country Director of SOS Children's Villages in Ethiopia and South Sudan, welcomed the contribution as a powerful demonstration of shared responsibility for the wellbeing of children and young people.
"This partnership reflects our collective commitment to the next generation," he said. "It demonstrates what is possible when government institutions and civil society organizations come together around a common goal of ensuring that every child grows up with the support, protection, and opportunities they need to thrive."
In his closing remarks, Mr. Abubeker Wubet, International Operations and Transition Manager for SOS Children’s Villages Eastern Africa Region, commended both the depth of SOS Children's Villages in Ethiopia's work and the dedication of its staff. Drawing from his visits to several projects and years of engagement with the organization, he highlighted the strong value-driven approach that underpins its programmes and partnerships. He also praised ARRFO for investing in locally led solutions and emphasized the importance of partnerships that strengthen national ownership of social development efforts. Such collaborations, he noted, contribute to building more resilient support systems for children and families while encouraging greater local ownership and reducing long-term dependence on external assistance.
Local resource mobilization as a strategic priority
The partnership represents more than a programme contribution. It is a tangible example of a strategic direction that SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia has placed at the center of its refreshed 2023–2027 National Strategy. Recognizing the changing global funding landscape and the need for greater sustainability, the organization has significantly scaled up local resource mobilization as a strategic priority. The objective is clear: to build stronger, more resilient funding mechanisms that reduce dependence on traditional external aid while increasing local ownership of solutions that affect children, young people, and families.
Across Ethiopia, civil society organizations continue to play a critical role in responding to social challenges, from child protection and family strengthening to humanitarian response and community development. Yet many organizations remain heavily reliant on international funding sources that are becoming increasingly competitive, unpredictable, and short-term. For organizations working with underserved children, funding sustainability is not merely a financial issue. It is directly linked to children's safety, wellbeing, education, and long-term development. Interruptions in programming can have lasting consequences for children and families who depend on consistent support. Against this backdrop, SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia is actively diversifying its funding base through stronger corporate partnerships, engagement with philanthropic foundations, outreach to high-net-worth individuals, digital fundraising initiatives, and community-driven giving mechanisms.
While the Children in Street Situations project in Dessie and Kombolcha continues to benefit from the support of SOS Barnebyer, the ARRFO contribution represents an important milestone in SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia’s efforts to diversify funding sources and strengthen domestic investment in child-focused development programmes. The partnership demonstrates how local institutions can complement existing investments to create greater impact and build stronger national ownership of solutions for underserved children and families. The ARRFO contribution stands as one of the strongest examples yet of this strategic approach in action.
For SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia, the agreement represents not only a significant investment in the future of children and young people in Dessie and Kombolcha, but also a milestone in the organization's journey toward building a more sustainable, locally supported, and nationally owned child protection ecosystem.