Africa Humanitarian Action Ethiopia started operation in 1997 focusing on family planning/reproductive health and institutional capacity development in Oromia and SNNPR . In early 2007, AHA- Ethiopia expanded its activities to include provision of various humanitarian services/assistance in Afar, Tigray, and Somali regional states.
AHA has extended experience implementing its programmes together with concerned offices of the local government, refugee communities, Administration for Refugee & Returnee Affairs (ARRA), United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
From 2013 – 2016, AHA provided services in SNNPR covering 6 Zones and 28 Woredas with a focus on Family Planning (FP) and Reproductive Health (RH) issues. AHA has coordinated with line-ministries, local government offices, Health Extension Workers (HEWs), and Health Offices for effective implementation of its programmes.
AHA’s programme in SNNPR increased the availability and accessibility of quality integrated family planning; comprehensive abortion care information and counseling; and strengthened the capacity of HEWs on counseling, referral and follow up. It is estimated that more than 1.2 million people benefited directly or indirectly from the services given by AHA.
In collaboration with UNHCR and ARRA, AHA also provided humanitarian services in refugee camps in the Afar and Somali Regional States. AHA's services consisted of the following core programmes: WASH; community services (HIV/AIDS prevention and control); pre-school and adult education; gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response; construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of emergency and transitional shelters to Eritrean and Somali refugees.
AHA actively engages its populations of concern in identifying, planning and implementing project activities. In addition, the approaches and strategies AHA deploys follow the Government of Ethiopia’s priorities and capitalize on already established government structures to increase sustainability. Currently AHA provides WASH (water supply and sanitation/hygiene); Child Protection; SGBV prevention and response; HIV/AIDS Prevention and control; Pre-school and adult education programs/services both in Aysaita and Barahle refugee camps in Afar region, and construction and rehabilitation of transitional Shelters in Barahle (Afar) refugee camp. Whilst entirely complimentary, the breadth of AHA’s work in 2019 is divided into the following programmes areas:
