Sir Alec will be greatly missed by all of us at Ethiopiaid and we will continue to be inspired by his values and approach. His amazing legacy will live on through all the people he has helped and through the future work of our partners in Ethiopia.
Sir Alec’s interest in Ethiopia began in 1987 when he was invited to visit the country by an Ethiopian development worker. From this point onwards Sir Alec was committed to helping improve the lives of people in Ethiopia and went on to found Ethiopiaid in the autumn of 1989. He recognised that local Ethiopian NGOs are best placed to understand the challenges and deliver the most effective solutions.
Sir Alec was involved in philanthropy throughout his working life. He liked to visit and personally keep in touch with the partners to better understand the challenges they were facing.
Sir Alec was knighted for his service to business and charity in 2011. His last visit to Ethiopia was aged 80 years old with a group of supporters to mark Ethiopiaid’s 25th anniversary in 2012.
In January 2024 Sir Alec was awarded a certificate of appreciation from the government of Ethiopia, in recognition of a lifetime’s dedicated commitment to improve the lives of people in Ethiopia.
You can read his full obituary here:
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Remembering our founder Sir Alec Reed CBE, 1934 – 2025
We raise funds for local Ethiopian charities to transform lives and achieve lasting change.
Our partners know the context and solutions; we listen and provide appropriate support. Growth and development are tracked in local communities using robust monitoring and evaluation. Partnerships continue as long as there’s a clear need and opportunities to make a lasting impact.
Our vision – an Ethiopia in which every person has access to quality education, healthcare and a life of dignity.
Our mission – breaking the cycle of poverty by enabling the poorest and most vulnerable and their communities to live with dignity, to build resilience and achieve real and sustainable solutions to the challenges they face.
