About

  • Our Mission

    Lead. Serve. Create.

    The Ethiopian Diaspora Fellowship (EDF) program is designed to promote leadership development, public service and creative storytelling. Through training, service in an organization in Ethiopia, peer-to-peer mentorship, and storytelling, fellows will have an opportunity to increase their own cultural identity and be a catalyst for growth and change in Ethiopia.

The Need for Human Capital

Ethiopia’s development has been greatly hindered by the human capacity to absorb it. Management, development, education, and skilled labor are necessary to support a proper growing economy. The extent to which the educational institutions and the government can meet the needs for human capital will determine the future in Ethiopia. Educated and skilled professionals are needed.

  • World Development Report 2019:

    “Human capital consists of the knowledge, skills and health that people accumulate over their lives, enabling them to realize their potential as productive members of society. Human capital has large payoffs for economic growth - between ten and 30 percent of per capita income differences is attributable to cross-country differences in human capital.”

Our Approach

Ethiopian Diaspora Fellowship (EDF) will offer exceptional applicants the opportunity to participate in educational programs and trainings, work in different organizations in Ethiopia, and network with local professionals. Fellows will be trained in key areas such as leadership, service, and creative storytelling. Once in Ethiopia, fellows will participate in peer-to-peer mentorship to increase cultural identity and promote a knowledge sharing opportunity. Lastly, fellows will be encouraged to document their experience thoroughly through different mediums, in order to define and redefine what it means for them to be an Ethiopian.