Ethiopia’s Food Sovereignty Efforts Key to Ending Aid Dependency, Says EDRMC Commissioner

Addis Ababa, August 8, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s ongoing drive to secure food sovereignty is proving critical to breaking the cycle of aid dependency and meeting humanitarian needs from within, according to Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commissioner Shiferaw Teklemariam.

Speaking at the opening of a capacity-building program at the African Leadership Excellence Academy, Shiferaw said the training targets professionals from federal and regional disaster risk management institutions. The initiative aims to strengthen institutional capacity and promote strategies that put Ethiopia on a path toward agricultural self-reliance.

Highlighting the country’s natural advantages, he noted that Ethiopia is endowed with abundant resources and favorable environmental conditions. Yet, he stressed, these assets have historically been underutilized, contributing to long-standing reliance on external aid.

“Since the reform, we have introduced bold agricultural development measures designed to end dependency and realize food sovereignty,” Shiferaw said. “Our ‘humanitarian aid through self-reliance’ approach is changing the mindset and practices that have sustained dependency for decades.”

He called on all stakeholders to fully embrace and implement the approach, emphasizing that collective action is essential for lasting success.

The Commissioner added that the two-day training program will serve as a platform to explore ways of maximizing local resource use and developing robust institutions capable of sustaining national food security without external support.