Plan International in EthiopiaPlan International in Ethiopia

Plan International Deutschland e.V.

Partner

Ethiopia

Location

February 2026 - January 2029

Project timeline

Children play basketball on an outdoor court surrounded by trees and a wire fence, while an adult walks nearby. The court has blue and red markings, and a brick building is visible in the background.

Community details

The effects of the Northern Ethiopia conflict continue to cast a long shadow over Eastern Tigray, where communities in Zalanbesa, Gulomekeda, and Erop are struggling to rebuild their lives after widespread destruction. Many adolescents and youth have experienced displacement, violence, and prolonged separation from education and social support networks. Social cohesion remains fragile, and untreated trauma is prevalent, leaving young people without safe spaces or structured opportunities to reconnect, heal, and grow. In Benishangul‑Gumuz, more than 111,250 refugees (UNHCR, 02/2026) from South Sudan and Sudan, along with overstretched host communities, face the daily realities of protracted and acute displacement. Families who once lived in stability now navigate uncertainty, limited services, and fractured community structures. Young people particularly girls, young women, and children with disabilities shoulder the greatest burden. They face heightened risks of exclusion, violence, and isolation, made worse by the absence of inclusive recreational or empowerment opportunities.

On these crises affected areas, adolescents and youth urgently need safe, inclusive environments to rebuild trust, form positive relationships, and regain a sense of belonging. Accordingly, the S4D initiative is started to offer sport as a powerful entry point for this transformation, where healing, resilience, leadership, and unity can take a root.

About the project

In partnership with the adidas Foundation, Plan International Deutschland and its local office Plan International Ethiopia have initiated a three‑year project that positions sport as a powerful tool for healing and social transformation in communities deeply affected by conflict and displacement. The project is rooted in strong, locally led systems and is delivered in close collaboration with key partners, including UNHCR, the Government’s Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS), sport federations, community leaders, and youth and women‑led associations. The initiative establishes inclusive community sports leagues, girl‑focused and disability‑friendly safe spaces, structured life skill and youth‑led initiatives that promote leadership, peacebuilding, and positive gender norms. By combining sport with protection, youth development, and peacebuilding approaches, this partnership creates safe, supportive environments where young people can heal from trauma, strengthen relationships, and actively contribute to rebuilding their communities.

Two girls playing football basketball on an outdoor court surrounded by trees and a wire fence. The court has blue and red markings, and a brick building is visible in the background.

Moving for Change

This project reflects the shared belief of Plan International and the adidas Foundation that sport can open doors to healing, inclusion, and opportunities for young people affected by conflict and displacement. By creating safe, inclusive spaces where girls, boys, young women, refugees, and children with disabilities can participate equally, the project promotes gender equality, reduces social barriers, and strengthens trust across communities. Through mixed teams, youth‑led activities, and peace‑focused dialogues, sport becomes a practical tool for rebuilding relationships and fostering resilience. At the same time, the initiative builds long‑term capacity so that Sport for Development can become a sustained approach within local systems, helping ensure that more young people can benefit from its positive impact far beyond the life of the project.