Integrated Volunteer Initiatives Deliver Tangible Community Gains in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, April 3, 2026 (ENA) —Integrated volunteer services and people centered initiatives carried out in Addis Ababa during the reform period have generated meaningful and measurable benefits for the community, the Community Participation Coordination Commission said.

The Commission stated that volunteer programs and community driven projects implemented across the capital over the past years have significantly improved livelihoods and strengthened social cohesion.

Volunteerism and humanitarian engagement have emerged as defining features of the reform era, widely seen as concrete expressions of change that nurture solidarity and reinforce long held values of mutual support among citizens.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has played a central role in driving these efforts. Since the early days of his administration, his direct involvement in renovating homes for vulnerable residents, organizing food assistance, and leading urban sanitation campaigns has set a strong example and inspired nationwide participation, particularly in Addis Ababa.

Over the past eight years, these efforts have grown into a large scale movement in the capital, reaching extensive segments of the population by mobilizing the private sector and harnessing the energy of young people.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, Deputy Commissioner Asrat Nigussie said Addis Ababa has recorded notable achievements in volunteerism, especially in humanitarian and social support activities.

She noted that annual winter and summer volunteer programs, implemented across fifteen key areas during the reform period, have consistently delivered practical support to residents.

These initiatives include housing renovation for elderly and vulnerable citizens, food sharing programs, blood donation campaigns, traffic accident prevention, education and skills training, environmental protection, urban beautification, and active participation in the Green Legacy initiative.

The Deputy Commissioner highlighted that significant progress has been made in replacing unsafe and dilapidated shelters with modern housing, bringing lasting improvements to the lives of many residents.

According to her, over 45,000 houses have been constructed and handed over to beneficiaries during the reform period alone.

She added that the newly built homes meet modern urban living standards and provide safer and more dignified conditions for residents.

The food sharing program has supported more than 6.5 million residents through repeated cycles of assistance, she further noted.

Asrat also emphasized the critical contribution of the business community, noting that entrepreneurs have played a vital role both through direct support and by mobilizing wider participation.

She concluded that the growing culture of volunteerism and social solidarity in Addis Ababa will continue to expand and deepen in the years ahead.