A project to define and create best practice guidelines for institutional and community-based care in Ethiopia was initiated in 1998. This project involved an assessment of available services in the country as well as a critical analysis of the findings in workshops and appraisal group meetings including governmental and non- governmental organizations. The resulting guideline is based on the ethical principles given in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and The Ethiopian Laws. Its purpose is to upgrade the existing services of childcare institutions; set regulations for service provision as well as requirements for establishment of childcare institution; define optimal level of performance or practice on institutional childcare to achieve standards of excellence; and create favorable conditions for efficient monitoring and evaluation of the services in childcare institutions.
