📖 About Dila

Dila (also spelled Dilla) is the administrative center of the Gedeo Zone in southern Ethiopia, historically part of SNNPR and now in the South Ethiopia Regional State. The town sits on the main road from Addis Ababa to Nairobi and has been a major coffee marketing center since the early 1970s when the tarmac road reached its current extent.

In September 2025, Ethiopia's Coffee and Tea Authority launched the Dilla Coffee Quality Inspection and Certification Center as part of a strategic plan to enhance global competitiveness. Dila is the gateway to the much-prized Yirgacheffe coffee varietal, one of the world's most sought-after specialty coffees known for its floral and citrus notes.

Dilla University, established in 2006, serves over 31,000 students across three campuses with 47 undergraduate and 24 postgraduate programs. The Ethiopia coffee market was valued at USD 130 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 177 million by 2034. In July 2025, Ethiopia launched the National Coffee Platform supporting over 5 million smallholder farmers.

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💼 Economy & Culture

Dila's economy centers on coffee production, trade, and processing. The city's position as the transfer point for Yirgacheffe and other premium southern Ethiopian coffees drives its commercial importance. The 2025 Coffee Quality Inspection Center enhances export capabilities. Ethiopia's coffee sector supports over 5 million smallholder farmers nationwide.

Gedeo culture emphasizes coffee tradition and hospitality. The traditional coffee ceremony remains central to social life. The Gedeo people are known for their sustainable agroforestry practices, growing coffee under forest shade. Dilla University contributes to local education in agriculture, healthcare, and technology. The city serves as a crossroads connecting highland and lowland Ethiopia.

📜 History

Dila developed as a market town serving the coffee-growing highlands. Before the 1970s tarmac road, it marked the southern end of all-weather access from Addis Ababa. This strategic position made it the natural collection and marketing point for coffees from the Yirgacheffe region and areas further south.

Dilla College of Teachers' Education and Health Sciences was established in 1996, gaining university status in 2006. The 2020s brought regional reorganization—Sidama seceded from SNNPR in 2020, and further dissolution created the South Ethiopia Regional State in 2023. Dila continues as the Gedeo Zone capital and coffee trade center.