Rethinking Aid: How Innovation is Changing Lives in Ethiopia

World Vision Ethiopia is taking a fresh approach to humanitarian and resilience programmes, using technology and creativity to ensure help reaches those who need it most. 

Innovation at the Core: Bridging Humanitarian Action and Resilience  

By expanding Last Mile Mobile Solutions (LMMS) and the Item Tracking System (ITS) beyond emergencies, World Vision Ethiopia is making aid faster, smarter, and more effective. Now, participants can use e-vouchers to buy energy-efficient cookstoves for environmental projects, a solution that used to be limited to crises. 

Smart Technology, Real Results 

With biometric verification, GPS tracking, and LMMS/ITS integration, the programme keeps track of every commodity and ensures transparency. Tools like You-Track’s toll-free hotline and Standardised Monitoring and Accountability Platform (SMAP) let participants share feedback, while integration with financial institutions and the Joint Emergency Operation Programme (JEOP) portal makes operations smooth and reduces duplication. 

All cash assistance goes through banks, helping participants learn financial skills, gain access to services, and increase independence. The programme also includes nutrition support, inclusion principles, and disaster preparedness, building long-term resilience in communities. 

Real Impact You Can See 

The results speak for themselves: In 2025  

• 1.9 million people reached across Ethiopia with food and cash support. 

• 100,692 metric tons of food distributed and USD 18 million in cash delivered. 

• 21,069 pregnant women and young children received nutrition support. 

• 84,000+ mothers and children benefited from targeted programs, reducing illness and mortality. 

• 50,387 school children got meals, helping them learn and grow stronger. 

Ethiopia faces serious food insecurity due to drought, flooding, conflict, and economic challenges. According to the WFP Ethiopia October 2025 Brief, around 10 million people need humanitarian assistance, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) and over one million refugees from neighbouring countries. Refugee arrivals from South Sudan and Sudan continue to add urgency to these efforts. 

The Food & Cash programme provides flexible, timely aid to tackle food insecurity and economic vulnerability. In 2025, with $213 million in funding, it supports over 1.9 million people in Tigray, Oromia, Amhara, Afar, the Contested Areas, and Gambella, providing food, cash, and nutrition assistance that makes a real difference. 

By Samuel Zerihun, Storytelling Specialist (Food and Cash), World Vision Ethiopia