ETHIOPIA

Nutrition services at risk (funding cuts): WFP and UNICEF warned in 2024–2025 that funding shortfalls forced suspension or scaling-back of malnutrition treatments, leaving hundreds of thousands at risk. Reuters reported WFP halted treatment for ~650,000 women and children (April 22, 2025).

Poverty reversing hard-won gains: The World Bank’s recent country analysis and related reporting (2024–2025 monitoring) show poverty rising again due to conflict, climate shocks and economic pressure — assessments in 2024–2025 project substantial increases in poverty and multidimensional deprivation among children and households. (World Bank Ethiopia Poverty & Equity Assessment 2024 / brief updates 2025).
World Bank

Education under strain — budgets & learning losses: National education allocations fell between 2023/24 and 2024/25 (reported declines from ~16.7% to ~12% of national budget share in 2024/25), while learning-poverty and out-of-school figures rose in crisis-affected regions. World Bank learning reports document severe disruption to schooling in conflict-affected areas.

Indicator Latest figure / status (2024–2025) Notes
Children (U5) treated for acute malnutrition (2024) ~665,970 children treated for SAM; ~1.34 million with MAM also reached (2024 totals). Nutrition cluster/partners treated ~2.7 million severely & moderately malnourished children & pregnant/lactating women in 2024. Nutrition cluster (2024).

Children at immediate risk from program cuts (2025) ~650,000 women & children had malnutrition treatment halted (WFP suspension alert, Apr 22, 2025). WFP warned suspension of treatment for ~650k due to severe funding shortfalls; broader caseload at risk if funding not restored. Reuters (WFP) — Apr 22, 2025.

UNICEF 2025 humanitarian ask (how many children targeted) US$493 million requested to reach ~8 million children among 10.5M people in need (2025 HAC). Funding gap threatens continuity of nutrition, health, WASH, education response. UNICEF — 2025 HAC (Ethiopia).

National education budget share (2024/25) Decline from 16.7% → 12% (share of national budget allocated to education, 2023/24 → 2024/25). Decline driven by rising debt servicing, subsidies and emergency costs — reduces fiscal space for schools/remedial programs. UNITED— National / Education Budget Brief 2024–25.

Poverty & recent trend (macro) Poverty reduction reversed; living standards deteriorating (World Bank briefs, Oct 2024 / Jan 2025 update). After decades of decline, conflict, drought, inflation and economic shocks pushed more households back into poverty in 2024; children disproportionately affected. World Bank — Ethiopia Poverty & Equity / country briefs (2024/25).
World Bank

Hunger severity (Global Hunger Index) GHI score 24.4 (2025) — category: serious. GHI aggregates undernourishment, child wasting/stunting and mortality to track hunger severity. Global Hunger Index (2025 country page).
Global Hunger Index

Food security / global context Hunger & food insecurity rose in 2024 globally; Africa heavily affected (SOFI 2025). Elevated food-price inflation and climate shocks reduced access to healthy diets; worsened malnutrition risk in Ethiopia. SOFI 2025 (FAO/UNICEF/WFP/WHO/IFAD).
UNICEF DATA

Displacement & protection impacts Large internally displaced populations; protection risks for children increased (2024–25). Conflict + drought cause displacement that interrupts schooling, health and nutrition access and raises child protection risks (child labour, early marriage). UNICEF HAC / SitReps and World Bank contextual briefs.

Top operational risk right now Funding shortfalls → suspension/scale-back of lifesaving services (nutrition kits, mobile clinics). Donor delays and major funding gaps in 2025 are the immediate operational reason caseloads aren’t fully covered.