Geography of Ethiopia and The Horn 360'0"E
480'0
Eritrea
I20'0N
Sudan
Djibouti
Somalia
Ethiopia
N.0.0.9 Somalia
South Sudan
105 210
Kenya
420
630
840 kms
36'0'0"E
Compiled By:
1. Dr. Teferi Mekonnen, Addis Ababa University
2. Mr. Nigatu Gebremedhin, Wolkite University
3. Dr. Alem-meta Assefa, Wollo University
4. Dr. Binyam Moreda, Hawassa University
September, 2019
PREFACE
The course Geography of Ethiopia had been offered to all freshman students of Ethiopian
Universities until 2005. However, it was interrupted with the curricula revision that ended up making the duration of study for a University degree for most disciplines to be three years. This
trend continued for more than a decade and a half. In response to the changing national and
global dynamism, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE) had conducted
assessment for a curriculum revision. The assessment included gathering evidence from
international experiences and domestic practices in proposing courses for the freshman
program. The results of the assessment revealed that the Ethiopian education curriculum had not
properly addressed national unity among graduates, critical thinking, important non-cognitive
skills, employability skills, communication skills, global outlook, and digital literacy to cite few.
One of the recommendations of the curriculum revision team was that the curriculum/program
need to have components that highlight the necessities of Ethiopian Geography, society, cultures
as well as the dynamic interrelationship of people and natural environments over time. As a
result, to fill the existing gaps, common courses such as the Geography of Ethiopia and the Horn
and others were identified to be offered for all first year students of higher education institutions
The Geography of Ethiopia and the Horn is, therefore, intended to familiarize students with the
basic geographic concepts particularly in relation to Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. It is also
meant to provide students a sense of place and time (geographic literacy) that are pivotal in
producing knowledgeable and competent citizens who are able to comprehend and analyze
spatial problems and contribute to their solutions. To be geographically illiterate is to deny
oneself not only the ability to comprehend spatial problems but also the opportunity to contribute
meaningfully to the development of policies for dealing with them. As such, the course provides
an opportunity for the reader to understand the implications of the location, shape and size of
Ethiopia, as well as the country's physical and human resources diversity and abundance on its
socioeconomic development.
The course consists of four parts. The first part provides a brief description on the location.
shape and size of Ethiopia as well as basic skills of reading maps. Part two introduces the
physical background and natural resource endowment of Ethiopia and the Horn which includes
its geology and mineral resources, topography, climate, drainage and water resources, soil,
fauna and flora. The third part of the course focuses on the demographic characteristics of the
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country and its implications on economic development. The fourth component of the course
offers treatment of the various economic activities of Ethiopia and the Horn which