Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — April 14, 2026 Ethiopia’s Protection Cluster has unveiled a landmark National Strategy for the period of 2026 to 2028, a comprehensive blueprint designed to bolster protection services for the country’s most vulnerable populations amidst ongoing conflicts, disasters, and the challenges posed by climate change.
The strategy, a collaborative endeavor between the National Protection Cluster and its Technical Working Groups (TWGs), is grounded in the principle of ensuring that every Ethiopian, particularly those affected by the aforementioned factors, is shielded, resilient, and supported through the provision of timely and accessible protection services. This National Strategy 2026–2028 is underpinned by a four-pronged approach that prioritizes harm mitigation and prevention, specialized protection services, community resilience, and integrated areas of responsibility, including Child Protection, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Housing, Land and Property (HLP), and Mine Action.
The document aligns with the Global Protection Cluster Strategic Framework 2020-2024, the 2013 IASC Statement on the Centrality of Protection in Humanitarian Action, and the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, reflecting a commitment to international standards and principles.
The strategy is set to strengthen coordinated protection responses in high — risk areas, reinforce national and community-based protection systems, enhance evidence-based advocacy, and promote safe, voluntary, and sustainable durable solutions. It also aims to balance immediate response with prevention and longer-term systems strengthening.
As of April 2026, the strategy identifies significant challenges such as access constraints, monitoring and evidence collection, and promoting durable solutions for displaced populations. Despite these challenges, the strategy emphasizes the need for specialized services for vulnerable groups, including women, children, and persons with disabilities, addressing the unique protection needs within the broader humanitarian context.
The Ethiopia Protection Cluster is poised to transition the strategy from design to implementation, aiming to create a more sustainable, integrated protection framework to meet the evolving needs of displaced and vulnerable populations across the nation.
The success of this strategy hinges on overcoming the identified challenges and ensuring adequate resources and support for its implementation.
As Ethiopia faces the dual threats of conflict, natural disasters, and climate change, the National Strategy 2026–2028 represents a crucial step towards safeguarding the rights and well-being of the most vulnerable citizens.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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By This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: reliefweb
Source: Protection Cluster
