Restoring Essential Health Services in Conflict-Affected Regions of Ethiopia (CARE4Health)

Overview

Conflicts, drought and public health emergencies have severely disrupted access to essential health services across Ethiopia. In Afar, Amhara and Tigray, conflict damaged health infrastructure, halted services, displaced communities and exposed women and girls to heightened risks, including gender-based violence.

In response, the European Union is investing €31.5 million (ETB 5.7 billion) through the CARE4Health project, implemented in partnership with the Government of Ethiopia and UNICEF.

The project strengthens the health system with a focus on primary care - restoring damaged facilities, rebuilding service delivery, and addressing inequalities in conflict-affected and underserved areas.

Beyond rebuilding infrastructure, CARE4Health supports system recovery, workforce capacity, medical supplies and community-level access to ensure that essential services reach the most vulnerable populations.

Objectives

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to improved health and well-being of women, children and adolescents in Ethiopia through the provision of equitable and quality health services.

More specifically, the project:

• Restores health services in conflict-affected areas
• Reduces inequalities in health service delivery and utilisation
• Strengthens the quality and resilience of healthcare systems
• Improves access to maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services
• Enhances protection and support services for survivors of gender-based violence

Project Activities

• Rehabilitation of health facilities at primary care level
• Construction and upgrading of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) blocks, including the newly inaugurated MNCH facility at Kutaber Health Centre in Amhara Region
• Procurement of medical equipment and essential supplies
• Capacity building and training of health care workers
• Immunization campaigns in pastoralist and low-performing zones
• Technical support to the Health Management Information System (HMIS)
• Support to restoration of community-based health insurance schemes
• Provision of adolescent and youth-friendly services
• Clinical management and psychosocial support services for survivors of gender-based violence

Expected Results

• Renovation of 97 damaged health facilities (including 5 hospitals) across Afar, Amhara and Tigray
• In Amhara Region alone, 35 facilities (2 hospitals and 33 health centres) have been renovated and equipped
• Procurement and distribution of maternal and newborn child health supplies to 160 targeted health facilities serving over four million people
• 160 health facilities with functional Health Management Information Systems
• Support to 4 One-Stop Centres providing comprehensive services to survivors of Gender-Based Violence
• 72 health facilities delivering GBV and mental health and psychosocial support services
• Financial support enabling 62,000 vulnerable Ethiopians to access health insurance
• Over 230,000 children in pastoralist and low-performing zones fully immunised