Pact has been working in Ethiopia since 1995 to improve the capacity of local organizations and communities in the areas of education, health and HIV/AIDS, women's empowerment, livelihoods, democracy and governance, and peace-building. Programs focus on cross-sectoral initiatives that build on our strong relationships with local partners and government entities to form extensive networks throughout the country.

Pact' began working in Ethiopia in 1995 under a grant from USAID to strengthen the NGO sector. At that time a few notable national NGOs existed but the NGO sector as a whole was small, disorganized and marginal to the country's vast developmental challenges. The sector enjoyed scant recognition from the new government and was viewed as an object of suspicion by the nation's media and the public at large. International donors had virtually no engagement with local NGOs doing development work.

Since, working with over 85 NGOs, Pact has seen the sector grow in maturity and begin to play a significant role as a partner with the national government in helping to develop the country's social and economic resources. NGOs now spearhead efforts in food security, conflict resolution, HIV/AIDS prevention, community schools, orphans and vulnerable children, and election monitoring, among others. The sector's leadership was recognized by the World Bank, which invited NGOs for the first time ever to participate in the design of the bank's poverty reduction strategy process.

In 1999 Pact received funding from The Packard Foundation to address reproductive health challenges facing youth in the rural areas of the Amhara and Oromia regions of central Ethiopia. Under this project Pact provided 15 NGOs with capacity building, mentoring and grants to increase their effectiveness and expand the reach of their services.

Pact's program again expanded in September 2001 when Pact, in partnership with Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF) began implementing the Ethiopia Physical Rehabilitation and Support Services Program a model technical program based in Ethiopia that draws upon VVAF's service delivery skills in physical rehabilitation and Pact's experience in developing the capacity of local leadership to enable the creation of more sustainable solutions for and with the disabled.

Current projects address reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention, women's empowerment interventions, democracy and governance, conflict transformation, and alternative basic education for children and adults.

These projects are supported by a variety of public and private donors and implemented with local partner organizations. The underlying objective in all of Pact's work continues to be focused on building the capacity of public and private organizations and institutions that give people an opportunity for a better life.