Students play games outside at a partially reconstructed school in Frewehni, Tigray Region, Ethiopia. The school was destroyed during the conflict and has been partially rebuilt with funding from the Ethiopian Humanitarian Fund. Photo: OCHA/Nitsebiho Asrat
By Beniam Daniel Darge
In the modern era, a nation’s prosperity is defined by the strength of its human capital, not its natural resources, but its minds. Yet in Ethiopia, a combination of wars, political instability, and systemic neglect is devastating the country’s brain capital, threatening to undermine decades of hard-won progress and casting a shadow over future generations.
Brain capital includes the mental resources and capabilities that enable individuals to thrive in complex, modern societies. Investing in education, mental health, nutrition, and safe, stimulating environments is crucial for building this capital. When effectively nurtured, brain capital boosts productivity, fortifies economies, fosters innovation, and alleviates poverty. However, when disregarded or undermined, the repercussions can last across generations. Read more…