The Impact of Global Conflicts on International Assistance to the Horn of Africa Since 2022: A Focus on Ethiopia
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Date
2025-12-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This research thesis examines how the global conflicts, particularly the Russia–Ukraine war and the Israel–Palestine conflict, impact the geopolitics surrounding humanitarian aid, with a specific focus on Ethiopia. The objective of the study is to understand how these crises influence the distribution of international aid, donor policies, and the effectiveness of humanitarian efforts in a country facing various internal and regional challenges. By using a qualitative case study approach, the research combines insights from 30 key individuals, including community leaders, aid workers, government officials, and donor representatives, with secondary data from reports, policy documents, and humanitarian databases such as OCHA FTS, UNHCR, and WFP. The primary instrument of data collection consisted of semi-structured interviews and open-ended interview guides/checklists, while the secondary instruments of data collection included document analysis, discourse analysis, and comparative analysis. The findings reveal that global conflicts have notably altered the availability, nature, and regularity of aid reaching Ethiopia. Humanitarian assistance has increasingly shifted toward Europe and the Middle East, resulting in delays, funding shortages, and service gaps, particularly in food, health, and protection sectors. Donor decision-making is heavily influenced by geopolitical factors, often placing strategic and political interests ahead of humanitarian needs. Primary data further reveal community-level challenges such as exclusion errors, uneven aid distribution, and limited participation in decision-making processes. Comparative analysis shows that Ethiopia consistently receives a smaller share of requested humanitarian funds compared to Ukraine and the Israel–Gaza conflict, reflecting the effects of media visibility and donor prioritization. The study concludes that Ethiopia’s humanitarian response remains constrained by shifting global priorities and limited national funding systems.
Keywords: Donor priorities, Aid effectiveness, Ethiopia, Geopolitics, Humanitarian aid, Israel–Gaza conflict, Russia–Ukraine conflict
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Keywords
Donor priorities, Aid effectiveness, Ethiopia, Geopolitics, Humanitarian aid, Israel–Gaza conflict, Russia–Ukraine conflict.