UNDP first signed its agreement of cooperation with Ethiopia, the Standard Basic Assistance Agreement (SBAA) back in February 1981. Since then, UNDP has remained engaged, providing Ethiopia with strategic support, and strengthening the capacity of national institutions to deliver the much-needed development results. 

UNDP’s interventions have prioritized long-term, supporting structural change that would unlock transformational benefits of technical assistance at all levels. It has done so robustly, impartially and patiently, paying attention to the sustainability of the support provided, and driven by the belief that an effective development partnership with Ethiopia requires strategic patience and, with it, the deployment of patient capital.

Over the last five years, UNDP Ethiopia has mobilized over a USD 100 million investment through its regular resources and partners to enhance the delivery of nationally defined and country-owned priorities. 

UNDP takes advantage of its presence in over 170 countries to help Ethiopia access best practices and strengthen its south-south cooperation. The organisation has played a role in supporting Ethiopia to develop and implement key strategies such as the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE), through which the country seeks to achieve an ambitious target of 64% emission reduction by 2030 while building the country's adaptive capacity and resilience.

UNDP’s strategic approach has helped Ethiopia to set up key national institutions such as the Ethiopian Commodities Exchange (ECX), the Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA), the Ethiopian Tourism Organisation (ETO) and the Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC).