The Ethiopian National Rural Job Opportunity Creation Strategy targets rural job seekers, primarily the unemployed and underemployed, literate and illiterate, and those without regular and sufficient income, both women and men, who are above 15 years of age. Furthermore, landless and school drop outs, technical and vocational trainees, and university graduates, farmers evicted from their land due to the expansion of urbanization and industrialization and those who need special support because of disability will be potential beneficiaries of the strategy.

The objectives of the Strategy are:

1. Expanding job opportunity alternatives to ensure equitable benefit of all citizens;
2. Enhancing production and productivity through improved working culture and use of appropriate technology,
3. Strengthening the rural-urban linkage and expand market opportunities;
4. Facilitating migration in such a way that migrants are provided with decent jobs and reducing unsafe, unproductive and distressed migration.
5. Enhancing rural-socio-economic transformation through promoting and scaling up rural entrepreneurships.
6. Enhancing productive, decent, quality and sustainable jobs.
7. Benefiting rural women and youth from created job opportunities.
8. Ultimately, reduce rural unemployment and underemployment; and contribute to the overall socio-economic development of the country.