Ethiopia

Hague status: Not a Hague Convention member

Residency requirements:
There are no residency requirements for prospective adoptive parents.

Age requirements:
If single, the prospective adoptive parent must be at least 25 years of age. If married, there is no minimum age. There also is no maximum age limit for adoptive parents. However, Ethiopian Government practice is to limit the age difference between the prospective adoptive parent and the adopted child to no more than 40 years.

Marriage requirement:
The Ethiopian Government has shown a preference for placing children with married couples who have been married for at least five years. Ethiopian government policy regarding adoptions by unmarried women is one of the issues being studied as part of the government's overall review of adoption regulations and practices. It is unclear whether Ethiopian government's policy about single adoptive mothers will change, and if so, when it might change. Thus, adoption service providers in Ethiopia may have different policies regarding whether or not they make referrals of adoptable children to unmarried women and under what circumstances. The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa urges adoptive parents to contact their agency to clarify what their current policies are.

Income requirement:
Prospective parent(s) must prove financial ability as determined by the Ethiopian courts, although there is no set minimum income requirement.

Other requirement:
Ethiopian law prohibits adoption by gay and/or lesbian parents.

Organization	Link	Country	From	To
Charities and Societies Agency (Ethiopia)	Licensing organization of	Ethiopia
Congressional trip to United Kingdom and Ethiopia	had as destination	Ethiopia
Embassy of Ethiopia in the United States of America	Embassy of	Ethiopia
Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA)	Central authority of	Ethiopia
U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia	Embassy in	Ethiopia

Organization	From	To
A Love Beyond Borders
AC International Child Support (AC Børnehjælp)
Accueil et Partage
Addis Galicia
Adopsjonsforum
Adoption Advocates International (AAI) WA	1997-01-01
Adoption Associates, Inc.
Adoption Avenues Agency
Adoptionscentrum
Africachild e.V.
All God's Children International
America World Adoption Association
Americans for African Adoptions, Inc. (AFAA)
Amici Missioni Indiane (AMI) - onlus
Asociación de Ayuda a los Niños del Mundo (AAIM)
Asociación Motivación, Familia y Recursos Matrimoniales (AMOFREM)
Associació Iniciativa Pro Infància (IPI)
Associazione in Aiuti Umanitari onlus (AIAU)
Attorney-General's Department, International Family Law Branch, Australia		2009-11-01
BEHBEY Asociación
Bethany Christian Services
Better Future Adoption Services
Canadian Advocates for the Adoption of Children (CAFAC)
Celebrate Children International	2007-06-00
Centro Aiuti per l'Etiopia
Centro Internazionale per l'Infanzia e la Famiglia (CIFA)
Centro Italiani Aiuti all'Infanzia
Children of African Enterprises
Children of the sun
Children's Home Society & Family Services, Minnesota (CHSFS)
Children's House International
Christian World Adoption (CWA)
Cielo 133
Commonwealth Adoptions International Inc.
Danadopt (Danish Society for International child care)
Dove Adoptions International Inc.
Ecai Balbalika
Eltern für Afrika e.V.
Enfance Avenir
EuroAsian Adoption Consultants of Illinois Inc.
Evangelischer Verein für Adoptions- und Pflegekindervermittlung Rheinland e. V. (EVAP)
Fe y Vida (Ecai Feyda)
Flanders Intercountry Adoption Care vzw (Interlandelijk Adoptiecentrum Vlaanderen)
Gladney Center for Adoption
Great Wall China Adoption (GWCA)	2009-04-07
Hands Across the Water
Holt International Children's Services
Hope Adoption Agency
Hope International		2011-01-01
Illien Adoptions International, Inc.
In Cammino per la Famiglia
International Adoption Guides (IAG of SC)
International Adoption Net
Interpedia
Jayne Gallagher
Les Amis des Enfants du Monde
Les Enfants avant Tout
Les Enfants Reine de la Misericorde
Lifeline Children’s Services
Love Basket
Mission of T.E.A.R.S.
Mundi Adopta
Nuovi Orizzonti per Vivere l’Adozione (NOVA)
Païdia
Passerelle
Piao Ecai
Pro Kind
Ray of Hope
Sourires d'Enfants
Stichting Afrika
Sunny Ridge Family Center
Wasatch International Adoption
Wereldkinderen (N.I.C.W.O.)
West Sands Adoptions
Wide Horizons for Children (WHFC)	2003-01-01
World Association for Children and Parents (WACAP)

Organization	From	To
Adoption Alliance (CO)
Adoption by Shepherd Care
Bal Jagat, Children's World inc.
Bay Area Adoption Services
Building Arizona Families
Carolina Adoption Services
Catholic Charities of Baltimore
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago
Children of All Nations (CAN)
Choices adoption and counseling
Dillon Southwest
Heartsent Adoptions, Inc.
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois	2007-07-01	2008-06-30
Nightlight Christian Adoption
Partners for Adoption
The Adoption Center
The Barker Foundation
Villa Hope International Adoption

Organization	From	To
Angelina Jolie
Cheryl Carter-Shotts

Organization	State/Province	City
CHSFS - Ethiopia	Addis Abeba	Addis Ababa

Organization	State/Province	City
U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia	Addis Abeba	Addis Ababa

Organization	State/Province	City
Grace Center for Children and Families, Ethiopia	Amhara	Bahir Dar
Shalom Children’s Hope, Ethiopia	Southern Nations - Nationalities and Peoples Region	Hawassa
The African Child Policy Forum		Addis Abeba

Organization	State/Province	City
Charities and Societies Agency (Ethiopia)	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA)	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba

Organization	State/Province	City
Abebech Gobena Yehsanat Kebkabena Limat Dirijit	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
AHOPE, Ethiopia	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
America World Home, Ethiopia	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
Attetegeb Worku Memorial Orphans Support Association	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
Das Kinderhaus in Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
Enat Alem	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
Faith Children's Home, Ethiopia	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
Finot Lewegon Orphanage, Ethiopia	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
Gelgela, Ethiopia	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
Hannah's Hope, Ethiopia	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
Hope for Abandoned Children, Ethiopia	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
Horizon Houses I + II	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
Kebebe Tsehaye	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
Kidane Mehret Children’s Home	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
Kidane Mihret Orphanage [duplicate]	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
Kids Care, Ethiopia	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
Kingdom Vision International - Ethiopia	Oromia	Adama (Nazret)
Koala House	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
Mussie orphanage (Ethiopia)	Southern Nations - Nationalities and Peoples Region	Hosaena
Numan Orphanage Center, Ethiopia	Oromia	Assela
Seeds of Hope, Ethiopia	Southern Nations - Nationalities and Peoples Region	Soddo
Sele Enat Mahiber, Ethiopia	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
Tenesh Ababa	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
Toukoul Orphanage, Ethiopia	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
Yezelalem Minch Children's Home	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba

Organization	State/Province	City
Child Care Centre (CCC), Ethiopia	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba
House of Hope, Ethiopia	Addis Abeba	Addis Abeba

Organization	Province	City
Boys in care of David Christie	Amhara	Ambasel Awraja

Report	Date
Ethiopia - misc child trafficking cases	2009-01-01
Ethiopia - Better Future Adoption Services case	2010-08-18
Ethiopia - Eskedar Tsegaye	2004-04-30
Ethiopia - Eyob Mesfin Gebremichael	2004-04-30
Ethiopia - Haregwain Berhane case	2009-03-18
Ethiopia - Johnson siblings	2009-05-01
Ethiopia - Joshua Dawit case	2006-12-01
Ethiopia - Journee, Meya, and Maree Bradshaw	2010-02-15

Document	Date
Hana's Story: An adoptee's tragic fate, and how it could happen again.	2013-11-10
Notice: Health Concerns in Ethiopia	2013-04-02
Notice: Notes from Ambassador Jacobs' Meeting with Adoption Service Providers on December 11, 2012 in Addis Ababa	2013-01-25
Notice: Suspension of Services to U.S. Adoption Service Providers	2012-11-09
A Crackdown on International Adoptions	2012-02-07
Briefing on Briefing on Joint USCIS/State Adoption Site Visit to Ethiopia	2011-04-06
Letter from MOWA regarding number of cases to process	2011-02-23
Ethiopia: U.S. Adoption Agency Involved in Child Trafficking	2011-02-10
Emails related to revocation of license in Ethiopia	2011-02-08
Dispute to Charities and Societies Agency regarding Better Future Adoption Services	2011-01-04
Revocation of adoption license	2010-12-09
Typical Costs	2010-11-01
Supply and Demand: The Landscape	2010-11-01
Adoptions from Ethiopia rise, bucking global trend	2010-10-12
The Controversial Issue of Giving Children in International Adoption	2010-08-18
News stuns Chesapeake couple adopting Ethiopian kids	2010-04-19
Ethiopian adoption went awry	2010-03-22
Child: U.S. Adoption Agency Bought Me	2010-02-15
Boe v Christian World Adoption - Petition and order	2010-01-26
Boe v Christian World Adoption - Order	2010-01-22
Boe v Christian World Adoption - Complaint	2010-01-20
Boe v Christian World Adoption - GAL request	2010-01-14
Australia suspends adoptions from Ethiopia	2009-12-28
Dutch agency stops adoption from Ethiopia pending investigation	2009-09-23
Ethiopian children exploited by US adoption agencies	2009-09-15
Fly Away Children	2009-09-15
Thomas, Special needs boy placed with Shane and Michelle Frazier by AGCI	2009-08-01
Stoll v Christian World Adoption - Transcript	2009-06-07
Canadian parents raise concerns	2009-03-19
Stopp für Adoption	2009-01-24
Adoptionsskandal um äthiopische Kinder: Zwei äthiopische Kinder Mütter klagen an	2009-01-19
Äthiopien: ein Land verkauft seine Kinder	2009-01-18
CWA - STOLL Anwers Jury	2008-09-10
Stoll v Christian World Adoption - Complaint and Jury demand	2008-07-25
Presentation: Joint Council & The Network	2008-07-12
UK teacher 'delighted' to be free	2008-07-03
Out of Africa, a trickle of orphans	2008-05-21
US Embassy Meeting on Intercountry Adoption	2008-04-29
Baby steps	2008-04-15
Teacher exposed pedophilia at orphanage in Ethiopia, could face jail for defamation	2008-03-05
Briton faces jail after whistle-blowing	2008-03-05
Children's Home Society & Family Services Announces Another Year of Growth in International Adoption	2008-02-22
Die verlorene Tochter	2008-02-01
US Adoption Agencies Registered in Ethiopia	2008-02-01
Surge in Adoptions Raises Concern in Ethiopia	2007-06-04
Lifeline to Ethiopia	2006-12-07
Interim Report on Ethiopian-Australian Bilateral Intercountry Adoption Program	2005-11-01
Ethiopia's adoption dilemma	2005-10-06
Ethiopia's Latest Export: Adoptable Children	2004-12-26
Americans are bringing home baby - increasingly from Africa	2003-12-04
Ethiopian orphans to sue charity	2001-09-13
Ethiopia arrests deported British paedophile	2001-08-18
Court case - Finot Lewegen Children Orphanage Association	2000-05-12
Adopting Africa's Aids orphans	2000-01-30
Swiss Group Admits Abuse of Orphans	1999-07-22
Charity's haven for famine children destroyed by paedophile scourge	1999-07-22