UNESCO Office in Addis Ababa

19/08/2026

Celebrating Youth, Innovation & Partnerships in Ethiopia
UNESCO LO Addis is proud to partner with UN Ethiopia and other UN agencies to celebrate International Youth Day 2026 in Addis Ababa under the theme “Young People Shaping Ethiopia’s Future through Innovation and Partnerships.”
The celebration brought together young people, Government representatives, UN agencies, development partners, civil society and private-sector actors to exchange ideas on digital innovation, digital skills, youth entrepreneurship and meaningful partnerships.
Discussions also highlighted the importance of responsible digital citizenship, information integrity, and the role young people can play in creating inclusive, positive and safer digital spaces.
The vibrant youth-led and youth-enabling exhibition showcased initiatives on digital innovation, entrepreneurship, skills development and partnerships, creating opportunities for young people and partners to connect and exchange ideas.

14/08/2026

Preparing Ethiopia’s TVET system for the future of work!
UNESCO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Skills (MoLS) and the Federal TVET Institute (FTVI), successfully concluded a two-day validation workshop in Addis Ababa on the revised Digital Learning Curriculum and Teaching & Learning Materials.
The workshop brought together TVET leaders, curriculum specialists, instructors and other stakeholders to review, validate and strengthen the revised curriculum and digital learning materials, ensuring they are responsive to Ethiopia’s rapidly changing world of work and digital transformation agenda.
With digital technologies including AI, automation and simulation tools rapidly reshaping industries and skills requirements, the discussions focused on strengthening Ethiopia’s TVET system to be more digital, inclusive, practical and industry-relevant, while ensuring that learners develop the competencies needed for jobs of today and tomorrow.
The validation represents an important step towards strengthening digital skills development and supporting a more future-ready TVET system in Ethiopia.
The initiative is supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea through the Better Education for Africa’s Rise (BEAR II) project, reflecting the strong partnership between Ethiopia, Korea and UNESCO in advancing skills development and preparing young people for the future of work.

07/08/2026

📢 Call for Expression of Interest (EOI)
Community Radio Partnership for Adolescent Health and Well-being
UNESCO invites legally registered community radio stations operating in Ethiopia to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to partner in developing, organizing, and broadcasting Community Live Events on adolescent health and well-being under the Education for Health and Well-being (EHW) Strategy and the O3 Programme (Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future).
This initiative aims to strengthen community engagement and dialogue on key adolescent health and well-being issues by supporting community radio stations to reach adolescents, young people, parents, caregivers, and underserved communities with reliable and locally relevant information.
Eligible community radio stations with relevant experience, community reach, and the capacity to implement the activities are invited to apply.
The Expression of Interest is available here: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/expressions-interest-eoi-community-radio-partnership
The application form is available here: https://forms.gle/Y2cauWVyxNNcU1rVA
📅 Deadline for submission: 16 August 2026

Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI)

04/08/2026

The UNESCO Ethiopia Annual Report (2022–2025 Strategic Period) is now available!
This report reflects on UNESCO's work and achievements throughout the 2022–2025 strategic cycle, showcasing the Office's contribution to advancing UNESCO's mandate in Ethiopia and strengthening collaboration with the African Union (AU), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Member States, and development partners across the continent.
It highlights key milestones, strategic partnerships, and collective efforts in education, science, culture, communication and information, and the social and human sciences, demonstrating how these initiatives have contributed to Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
We invite you to explore the report and learn more about UNESCO's role in fostering regional cooperation, knowledge sharing, sustainable development, and peace across Africa during the 2022–2025 strategic period.
📖 Read the full report here: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000398954

28/07/2026

Advancing climate-smart education for pastoralist communities in Ethiopia
UNESCO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, IIEP-UNESCO, and partners, is convening a two-day workshop in Addis Ababa to co-develop strategic guidance for inclusive, gender-responsive, and climate-smart education for pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities.
As climate change continues to affect livelihoods and access to education, the workshop is bringing together government institutions, development partners, UN agencies, civil society, and pastoralist representatives to review evidence, identify promising practices, and strengthen collaboration to build more resilient and inclusive education systems.
Implemented under the Climate Smart Education Systems Initiative (CSESI) and funded by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), the initiative supports Ethiopia's efforts to ensure that every learner has access to quality education that responds to the realities of a changing climate.

21/07/2026

Strengthening digital skills for the future of work in Ethiopia's TVET system.
A two-day validation workshop is underway in Addis Ababa to review the findings of the Training Needs Assessments on the digital skills of TVET teachers and students in Ethiopia under the Better Education for Africa’s Rise (BEAR III) project.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Abdoulaye Salifou emphasizes that "investing in digital skills is ultimately an investment in people—Ethiopia's youth, its teachers, its institutions and its future prosperity." He highlights the importance of ensuring that digital transformation is inclusive, equitable and human-centred, leaving no one behind.
The workshop brings together government institutions, regional TVET bureaus, development partners and technical experts to validate assessment findings, identify capacity gaps and strengthen recommendations that will guide policy, curriculum development, teacher professional development and digital transformation across Ethiopia’s TVET sector.

15/07/2026

Strengthening teachers' capacity to advance Education for Health and Well-being
UNESCO, in partnership with Ethiopia's Ministry of Education, has launched a two-day training workshop in Bishoftu to strengthen the capacity of secondary school teachers and educators to deliver Education for Health and Well-being (EHW) using the Biology Supplementary Material on Reproductive Health.
The workshop equips participants with practical, learner-centred approaches to teach reproductive health, HIV and STIs, gender equality, gender-based violence, digital safety, and other key health and well-being topics. It also provides a platform for teachers to exchange experiences and strengthen classroom practice.
By supporting teachers with the knowledge and skills to deliver accurate, age-appropriate, and scientifically grounded health education, UNESCO and the Ministry of Education are helping create healthier, safer, and more inclusive learning environments for adolescents across Ethiopia.

08/07/2026

Strengthening Climate-Smart Education in Ethiopia

UNESCO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education of Ethiopia and partners, successfully concluded the Climate Smart Education System Strengthening: Curriculum, Pedagogy and Teacher Training Workshop held in Addis Ababa on 6–7 July 2026.
The workshop brought together key education and environmental stakeholders to identify opportunities for integrating climate change and environmental sustainability into curricula and teacher training, while defining priority learning outcomes and areas for further action.
Implemented under the Climate Smart Education Systems Initiative (CSESI), the workshop marks an important step toward strengthening Ethiopia’s education system to prepare learners with the knowledge and skills needed for climate resilience and sustainable development.

07/07/2026

Lalibela at the Heart of Cultural Diplomacy and World Heritage Conservation
"Out of this world." That was how many ambassadors described their experience after visiting the Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela on 3–4 July 2026.
Organised by UNESCO, in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Heritage Authority, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Amhara Regional Government, the Lalibela City Administration, and the Sustainable Lalibela Project (supported by the Government of France), the visit brought together representatives of more than 40 embassies, UN organisations, and development partners to experience one of Africa's most remarkable cultural and spiritual treasures.
The visit offered participants the opportunity to discover the Outstanding Universal Value of the Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, engage with local communities and religious custodians, and gain first-hand insight into the ongoing efforts to conserve this exceptional living heritage.
UNESCO has been partnering with the Government of Ethiopia and international partners to safeguard Lalibela’s rock-hewn churches and promote their sustainable stewardship.
This visit reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation in safeguarding World Heritage and promoting culture as a driver of sustainable development, dialogue, and peace.
UNESCO extends its sincere appreciation to His Grace Abuna Ermias, Archbishop of the North South Wollo and Kemisse Dioceses, the Church Administration and community for their warm hospitality. We also thank the Government of France, the Lalibela City Administration, the Guides Association and the security forces, and all partners whose dedication made this diplomatic mission a memorable success.
Together, we reaffirm our shared commitment to safeguarding Lalibela's exceptional heritage for future generations while ensuring that its conservation continues to benefit local communities.

06/07/2026