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Join us as we welcome Darren Welch, His Majesty's Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia on Monday 12th June from 14:40-15:40 BST.
The Ethiopian government has used its own resources and international aid to boost economic development and lift millions out of poverty over the past two decades, through significant investment in public services. Since the early 1990s, primary school net enrollment has risen from 20% to 93%, and access to clean water from 14% to 65%.
However, political instability will remain high in 2023 owing to high levels of insecurity nationwide. A peace deal that was signed between the government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) in early November represents a major breakthrough after two years of conflict, although the deal is extremely fragile and there is a high risk of renewed conflict. Scarce foreign-exchange reserves, high inflation and instability will weigh on growth in the medium term as the country also faces a looming financial crisis due to falling foreign reserves. Recovering foreign investment and the government's reform agenda will, however, stimulate economic growth in 2024-27.
Darren Welch took up his role as His Majesty’s Ambassador to Ethiopia in January 2023.
Prior to this appointment, he was the FCDO’s Director of Global Health towards the end of the Covid 19 Pandemic – a time of unprecedented global concern and collaboration. His career has seen him cover a variety of roles across Cabinet Office, FCO and DFID, together with a spell at DAI. He has covered briefs that span a broad range of issues including policy, strategy and trade.
