Food security in the aftermath of drought

Situation: Droughts and widespread flooding are regular occurrences in Eastern Ethiopia. Such extreme weather events are also on the rise. These lead to failed harvests and the loss of livestock. Those who live from agriculture and cattle farming are no longer able to stockpile supplies to survive the next drought like they once could.

In the West Hararghe Zone, there are typically two rainy seasons per year. Farmers in this region have only small plots of land and rely on rain-fed agriculture. Acute famine has prevailed for years.
The situation was exacerbated by the closure of schools due to Covid-19 and has led to an increase in sexual violence and gender-based abuse. Particularly girls are forced to drop out of school and are married off at a much younger age so that their families no longer have to provide for them. Women and girls must now also walk far further to fetch water, putting them at greater risk of sexual assault.

Goals: The project aims to improve the food security and living conditions of 11,500 severely affected farming families. Each household comprises an average of six people, meaning that a total of 69,000 individuals stand to benefit. The planned measures focus on diversifying income sources and improving agricultural productivity. They include constructing water retention basins and laying pipelines for drinking water, developing an agricultural irrigation system, supplying seeds, providing training in fruit and vegetable cultivation and supporting the establishment of small savings and credit cooperatives. Training and awareness-raising campaigns for local politicians, teachers and social workers are also planned to better protect women and girls.

The Redel Foundation is supporting the project with €80,000.

Impressions