Djibouti, one of Africa’s smallest countries with potential for growth

Located in the Horn of Africa amongst a group of countries - Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia- which for decades have been at the scourge of socio-political unrest, Djibouti is a country characterized by political stability in a turbulent region.  

The small country has not been immune to the surrounding conflict of its neighbours over the years or the compounded drought and devastating climate-related crises. With more than 30,000 refugees and more than 150,000 migrants crossing its land each year on their way to or from the Arabian Peninsula, the droughts have caused mass internal and cross-border population displacement, as well as measles and polio epidemics. 

Despite all of this, as well as being severely affected by the COVID-19  Pandemic, and the security situation in neighbouring Ethiopia, Djibouti’s economy experienced a rebound in growth in 2021. Shortly after, the drought and the war in Ukraine slowed this welcomed economic surge. 

Yet, the potential for economic diversification and growth in Djibouti is huge, thanks to its geographical position, its port and its telecommunications infrastructure. This was one of the many reasons that this group of UNICEF National Committee CEOs travelled to Djibouti, to see the impact of our existing programmes there as well as to assess how UNICEF could effectively facilitate collaboration for maximum impact in the future.

Michelle Sharp, UNICEF Aotearoa’s CEO, shares some reflections and insights from the trip. 

“On the border of Djibouti and Ethiopia, near the Dikhil region, we visited a village and were able to see healthcare and education programmes in action. In the village school, a young girl with a sparkle in her eyes called me over to sit with her and her friend. 

We couldn’t speak the same language – due to the remoteness of the village they have their own dialect - but we found a way to communicate through laughter and hand gestures. They told me their names, which I couldn’t pronounce, and I told them mine, which they couldn’t pronounce either, causing fits of giggles! I spent half an hour with them as they proudly showed me their work,” says Michelle. 

"UNICEF provides materials and equipment for this very remote school to help educate the children and break the unemployment cycle. We also provide solar-powered water bores so the villagers in this very arid desert can access water, enabling the girls to remain in school rather than having to travel to fetch water. 

The village has a mixture of permanent residents living in very simple huts made of twigs and twine as well as several displaced people who have crossed the border into Djibouti from neighbouring Ethiopia," she says. 

"The aim of the visit was to see UNICEF’s work in the field and give those on the trip a first-hand view of where the funds raised go. To see the impact UNICEF has both at the community level, but also at the system level, namely Government influence. 

We saw some of the most challenging environments in which our UNICEF colleagues operate, as well as how effective and efficient our fund utilisation is. We saw great examples of collaboration for maximum impact and we left committed to support the communities,” says Michelle Sharp.