Old Harari Woman, Harar, Ethiopia. Photo: Rod Waddington/FlickR Getting older is a natural process, and one that I would like to go through. However, in the community where I am living, getting older is the most challenging part of life. This is because people have no formal care and support and families have to bear it. Likewise, older people are among the most vulnerable to be hit by different shocks and they may not have the necessary resources to withstand them. But are older Ethiopians benefitting from safety nets? Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a population of about 112 million, of which 80.5% live in rural areas. Despite achieving impressive economic growth of the past decade, Ethiopia remains one of the lowest-income countries in the world.