According to the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey, one in ten children under the age of 18 in Ethiopia do not live with their biological parents, and seven percent are children without parental care, having lost one or both parents. The primary causes include poverty, loss, family breakdown, violence, conflict, and natural disasters. As a result, many of these children end up in inadequate alternative care, living on the streets, becoming victims of trafficking, or managing households on their own at a young age.

At the national level, the absence of comprehensive laws and policies, insufficient resources, and a lack of reliable data further exacerbate the challenges faced by children without parental care or those at risk of losing it.

SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia actively advocates for the adoption, effective implementation, and resourcing of child protection policies and strategies. Our goal is to ensure a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment that promotes the holistic development of all children — particularly those without parental care, at risk of losing it, and young people transitioning out of care.