Addis Ababa, March 27, 2026 (FMC) — Addis Ababa City has successfully graduated 15,492 residents from aid dependency to productive livelihoods under the Food Security and Competency Youth Internship Program, Mayor Adanech Abiebie announced.
In a statement shared on her social media page, Mayor Adanech highlighted that the capital is making tangible progress in transitioning vulnerable residents toward self-reliance, describing the milestone as a critical step in realizing the city’s broader economic empowerment goals.
She emphasized that the achievement reflects the implementation of the “zero dependency and begging” target—one of the five “Zero Goals” introduced by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed—underscoring the capital’s commitment to reducing reliance on external support.
Over the past five years, more than 695,000 residents enrolled in the safety net program have become self-sufficient, now supporting their families independently. Since the inception of the city’s work experience program in 2014 E.C., a total of 49,000 citizens, including the 8,852 youth who graduated today, have transitioned from poverty and unemployment to productive engagement.
According to the Mayor, many graduates have leveraged the program’s networks and experience to establish businesses and contribute actively to the local economy.
Addressing the new graduates, Mayor Adanech called on them to seize the opportunities presented, stating: “Our city needs hardworking youth who will make the most of the opportunities they have received, change their lives for the better, and become role models for others.”
She further expressed confidence that the graduates would not only improve their own livelihoods but also create employment for others, harnessing the experience and skills gained through the program to become business owners and drivers of economic growth.
This milestone represents a significant stride in Addis Ababa’s ongoing people-focused efforts to promote self-reliance, youth empowerment, and sustainable economic participation among its most vulnerable residents, it has been learned.