Ethiopia’s social work profession has traveled a remarkable path, from imperial beginnings to revolutionary closure and eventual rebirth. Understanding this journey reveals not just the history of an academic discipline, but the story of a nation grappling with political transformation, ideological shifts, and the enduring need to serve vulnerable populations.
Table of Contents
The founding years: 1959 and the imperial era
The seeds of formal social work education in Ethiopia were planted in 1959, when the first school of social work was established at what was then University College of Addis Ababa. This pioneering effort was initiated by the Ministry of Public Health and brought together international expertise with local vision. A Swedish social worker named Anna Mathol played a key role in establishing the program, working alongside two Ethiopian professors who would become legends in the field: Seyoum Gebreselassie and Andargachew Tesfaye.
When the university was restructured and renamed Haile Selassie I University in 1962, the social work program moved with it. By 1967, the training had been upgraded to a Bachelor of Social Work degree. During the 1960s, the School of Social Work at Haile Selassie I University was considered a center of excellence not only in Ethiopia but across Africa. The program’s curriculum evolved to reflect the unique needs of developing nations, with a 1971 revision emphasizing institutional change, economic development, and rural-urban planning alongside traditional social work methods.
Despite these achievements, the program trained relatively few social workers, and most social services in the country continued to be provided by untrained staff. The imperial government had established the Haile Selassie I Welfare Foundation in 1955 and the Ministry of National Community Development and Social Affairs in 1957, but social welfare consistently received minimal funding and was often the first to face budget cuts.
The Derg era: three decades of hibernation
Everything changed in 1974 when Emperor Haile Selassie was overthrown and the Derg, a socialist military junta led by Mengistu Haile Mariam, seized power. The new regime viewed social work through an ideological lens that proved fatal to the profession. Social work was considered a bourgeois profession that could deny the active participation of the proletariat in defending the revolution. The socialist government believed it alone should be responsible for addressing all human needs, including social welfare services.
In this climate, the school of social work was closed, and all references and methodological approaches related to social work were actively discouraged. The two pioneering professors, Seyoum Gebreselassie and Andargachew Tesfaye, managed to preserve six macro social work course materials during this period, essentially keeping the flame of social work alive in secret. Social work education was replaced by a Department of Applied Sociology, which later became Sociology and Social Administration.
The 30-year hibernation period from 1974 to 2004 coincided with some of Ethiopia’s most turbulent years. The country experienced the Red Terror, devastating famines, civil wars, and eventually the fall of the Derg regime in 1991. Throughout this period, traditional community support systems continued to function, with religious institutions, extended families, and community organizations like iddirs providing informal social services.
The rebirth: 2004 and modern expansion
The revival of social work education in Ethiopia began with a conversation. In 2001, Professor Alice Butterfield from the University of Illinois at Chicago visited Addis Ababa and met with Professor Seyoum Gebreselassie. That initial meeting sparked a process that would lead to the reestablishment of social work education in 2004. As Professor Gebreselassie put it, the ball started rolling again after three decades of dormancy.
The School of Social Work reopened at Addis Ababa University in 2004 with an innovative approach born of necessity. Without a sufficient number of qualified social work educators, the program began with a master’s degree that enrolled 40 students. International professors, including Alice Butterfield, Abye Tasse, and Nathan Linsk, partnered with local educators to launch the program. A PhD program in Social Work and Social Development followed in 2006, and the bachelor’s degree was introduced in 2008.
This “inside-out education strategy” proved remarkably effective. Master’s students took on teaching and administrative roles while pursuing their studies. Seven students were selected for doctoral studies and, upon completion, replaced the expatriate faculty. The University of Gondar launched its social work program in 2010, becoming the second institution to offer social work education in the country.
Rapid expansion across Ethiopia
The growth since 2004 has been impressive. In less than two decades, social work education expanded to 13 universities across Ethiopia, including Jimma University, Wollega University, Ambo University, Mizan Tepi University, Bahir-Dar University, Jigjiga University, and Arsi University. Addis Ababa and Gondar universities remain the only institutions offering doctoral programs in social work.
Between 2006 and 2019, 752 students graduated from the program at Addis Ababa University, with the majority conducting research on children, women and gender issues, health and healthcare services, community development, and family matters. However, research has remained largely urban-focused, with 84% of projects carried out in cities rather than rural areas where the majority of Ethiopians live.
Challenges and the path forward
Despite remarkable progress, Ethiopian social work continues to face significant challenges. The profession struggles with limited societal recognition, competition from other professions, and the absence of a strong regulatory body. Many organizations remain unclear about the specific roles social workers should play. The curriculum is heavily influenced by Western models, and there’s an ongoing need to develop more indigenous approaches that reflect Ethiopian values, traditions, and social structures.
The Ethiopian Social Worker Professional Association was established recently to address some of these concerns, focusing on professional standards, continuous education, and advocacy for the field. The profession stands at a crossroads between embracing international standards and developing uniquely Ethiopian approaches to social work that honor the country’s rich traditions of community support, religious charity, and extended family care.
What do you think? How can social work education balance international standards with local cultural values and traditions? What role should traditional Ethiopian support systems like iddirs and religious organizations play in shaping modern social work practice?
References
- https://africasocialwork.net/ethiopia/
- https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/391/edited_volume/chapter/1391767
- https://unisapressjournals.co.za/index.php/SWPR/article/view/14745
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330169936_Social_Work_Education_in_Ethiopia_Past_Present_and_Future
- https://journals.indianapolis.iu.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/27656
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