Assessing Child Rights in Ethiopia’s Garment Industry During Turbulent Times

The Centre is conducting an assessment of the child rights situation in Ethiopia’s garment manufacturing industry commissioned by Save the Children in Ethiopia. The research is being carried out in collaboration with Organization for Social Development (OSD) and with support from Ripple Research, an AI-for-Good advisory firm. The assessment will identify risks related to the rights of children, youth and women in the garment manufacturing supply chain in Ethiopia. The assessment results will inform recommendations for businesses, government and civil society leading to future interventions. 

This assessment comes at a crucial time in Ethiopia. The textile and garment industry has been growing rapidly in the last few years and an increasing number of major multinational apparel brands are sourcing from the country. At the same time, international buyers are increasingly focussing on possible social and environmental risks in the textile supply chain in Ethiopia. These concerns are further magnified by the dual challenges of civil unrest and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some 2 million people have been displaced by conflict and thousands have lost their lives, while many others have suffered from job losses, reduced family income and reduced access to education due to pandemic-induced closures. For those connected to the garment industry, the situation in Ethiopia is therefore a source of concern.

The research process has included the development of adapted tools, successful on-site assessment in Ethiopia within six garment manufacturing units, desk research, data analysis and comprehensive report development. Special acknowledgement must be given to the team that carried out the on-site data collection and site visits. Despite doing so in a time of great confusion and unpredictability, they prevailed and managed to collect the data in extenuating circumstances.

As a next step, The Centre will develop recommendations on promoting, protecting and supporting the rights of children, youth and women in the garment manufacturing sector in Ethiopia, based on the findings from this assessment, which will be published in early 2022.