This past week was a meaningful moment for the Ethiopia-Bavaria partnership. A series of visits and discussions offered a chance to reflect on progress, connect implementing partners, and look ahead to future areas of collaboration.
At the heart of the week’s engagements was the Ethio–Bavaria Development Cooperation Roundtable, held on May 9, 2025, in Addis Ababa. The event brought together organizations in Ethiopia that have received support from the Bavarian State Chancellery, either directly or through Bavarian partners. It also coincided with a historic milestone—120 years of diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Germany.
Participants represented a wide range of sectors—from vocational training and healthcare to agriculture, education, and culture. Attending institutions included Selam Polytechnic College (with BBW International), Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church Development and Inter Church Aid Commission (EOTC-DICAC), Daughters of Charity (working with Missio International), Bread for the World, The German Church School, Goethe-Institut, Jimma University, MI4People, Armauer Hansen Research, and others. Also present were representatives from the German Embassy in Addis Ababa and GIZ International Services.
The session opened with a presentation by Mrs. Mareen Hohberg of the Bavarian State Chancellery, who introduced Bavaria’s Africa Strategy. She outlined key priority areas for cooperation—vocational training, economic development, agriculture, education, science, and health—and emphasized Bavaria’s long-term engagement on the continent. Since 2019, Bavaria has committed over €12 million to projects in Ethiopia, which shows a strong and growing relationship.
Vocational training emerged as a central theme of the day. Bavaria’s ongoing support in this area builds on the strengths of its own dual education model and is being adapted through projects like those at Selam Children’s Village TVET College. Mrs. Hohberg highlighted the importance of expanding access to hands-on, market-relevant skills that can support Ethiopia’s youth and broader economic development.
The roundtable was not only a chance to present outcomes, it also served as a space for partners to meet, share insights, and learn from each other. Organizations spoke about the work they are doing on the ground: from improving access to clean water and supporting internally displaced families, to advancing inclusive education and climate-smart agriculture.
Many participants appreciated the opportunity to see where their efforts align and to explore how they could collaborate more closely. The conversation also touched on how projects can become more sustainable, better rooted in local systems, and connected with each other to increase their overall impact.
Mrs. Hohberg’s visit to Ethiopia also included site visits to several Bavarian-supported projects. These included the Menschen für Menschen Automotive Technical Training College in Harar and the Selam Polytechnic–BBW project in Addis Ababa. These visits provided a chance to see firsthand the outcomes of Bavarian-Ethiopian cooperation in action.
As the Bavarian Office for Africa continues to support this cooperation, the roundtable reaffirmed the value of open dialogue, long-term partnerships, and shared purpose. It showed that beyond the funding and implementation, relationships and coordination remain key to making development efforts more effective and lasting.
