Chancery

The Chancery is the section of the Embassy that deals with the bilateral political relationship between the United Kingdom and Ethiopia. It also deals with bilateral relations with Djibouti and contact with Somaliland. Chancery officers also follow the work of multilateral institutions in Addis Ababa such as the African Union, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.   The Embassy also has access to a number of project funds to support its overall objectives in Ethiopia.

Defence Section

The Defence Section is an integral part of the British Embassy in Addis Ababa.  Its aim is to foster and promote a strong and long lasting relationship between the United Kingdom’s Armed Forces and the Ethiopian Ministry of National Defence and its Armed Forces.

Regional Conflict Adviser

The Regional Conflict Adviser works in support of the cross-Whitehall Africa Conflict Prevention Pool and of HMG's policy on conflict generally, reporting and advising on conflict management, resolution and prevention affairs that affect the Greater Horn of Africa region (Sudan; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Djibouti; Somalia; Uganda; Kenya; Tanzania).  He also reports on the role, activities and attitudes of individual countries and regional and sub-regional organisations in the region to conflict and conflict issues.  He provides advice and support on conflict management and prevention to FCO, DFID and MoD country teams covering the region, and is a source of advice on cross-cutting issues such as: Disarmament, Demobilisation and Return (DDR); Security Sector Reform (SSR); the dynamics of conflict; etc.

Information Section

Information Section is responsible for promoting the UK and the Embassy within Ethiopia.  This includes running public diplomacy events, working with the media and building links with civic, educational and Government institutions across Ethiopia.  We respond to a wide range of enquiries about the UK and the Embassy, and seek to improve mutual understanding by running a programme of inward and outward visits. We also generate publicity, through News, for events and projects that have Embassy support or funding, and are involved, together with the British Council, in the selection of Chevening scholars.

Commercial Section

The here of the British Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia works to promote trading relations between Ethiopia and the UK. We provide information and assistance to UK companies, as well as details of UK suppliers to Ethiopian companies.  We organise inward trade missions to Ethiopia, and facilitate visits to the UK for key commercial contacts in Ethiopia.  We provide a showcase for UK exports every year at the annual Addis Ababa International Trade Fair.

Consular and Visa Section

The primary role of here is to offer consular protection and assistance to British nationals in Ethiopia. This includes prison and hospital visiting and giving advice and practical assistance to British nationals in time of need.

In addition to our protection work we also provide a wide variety of other services to British nationals in Ethiopia. These include passport issuing, registering births and deaths, compiling and disseminating FCO travel advice, authenticating official documents and issuing Certificates of no Impediment for Britons marrying in Ethiopia. As well as our British nationals, we also look after the consular interests of the nationals of a number of Commonwealth countries not represented in Ethiopia.  

The here aims to offer a fast, efficient and fair service to visa nationals wishing to travel to the United Kingdom. We deal with all types of applications from visitor and settlement to work permit and student applications. We aim to process straightforward visit applications on the same day as they are lodged but other/more complicated applications will take longer and applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Management Section

Management Section provides comprehensive resource and administrative support to all other sections of the Embassy.

We manage the finances of the Embassy and ensure that we have a sufficient budget to pay all our bills.  We manage the recruitment and personnel policy of the Embassy to ensure that we have the right numbers and right calibre of staff working in a motivated environment.

We maintain both the residential and office accommodation of the Embassy to ensure that all our staff have a safe and secure place both to work and live. Most staff from the UK live on the Embassy compound and a number of our LE staff also have houses on the compound in a separate village.

We provide an administrative support service to our UK based staff ensuring that all their documents are in order for a trouble free stay in Ethiopia.  We liase with local government authorities to ensure that entitled staff and the Mission have diplomatic rights in accordance with international law and that the Embassy’s operations are compliant with local law.

Technical Works Section

The Technical Works Section is responsible for the maintenance and development of the 90 acre Embassy compound.  The Section is headed by a UK-based Works Supervisor, assisted by a locally engaged foreman, who together oversee a team of permanently employed tradesmen, gardeners and labourers.

DFID

DFID is the UK Government department responsible for promoting sustainable development and reducing poverty abroad.  DFID Ethiopia works in partnership with donor agencies and the Government of Ethiopia to help Ethiopia achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

British Council

The British Council is working with those in Ethiopia who are tackling key issues in education, English language learning, governance and the digital information revolution.  Our role as an enabling agent interested in promoting British Ethiopian partnerships makes a positive contribution both to Ethiopia's agenda, particularly for young professionals seeking career development, professional updating, and regional or global networking. Our work with civic society groups, government bodies and professional associations reflects our role as a networked partner where joint objectives, sharing experience and joint funding is the norm.