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Building Self-Sufficiency Among Drought-Affected Communities
CHF International began working in Ethiopia in 2004 to help mitigate the impact of extreme drought and flood on rural, agricultural communities and decrease their dependence on food aid. Activities have focused on improving food security by increasing household assets such as livestock, supporting livelihoods through access to economic opportunities and improving health and hygiene through access to clean water and sanitation.
Sustainable Humanitarian Assistance Program for Ethiopia (SHAPE)
CHF is implementing SHAPE in the Gode zone of the Somali Regional State to help drought-affected communities meet their emergency needs for water, food and income while assisting them to build their resources and capacities to respond to future crisis.To accomplish these goals, SHAPE is using a three-pronged approach:
- Increasing income-earning opportunities and improving market linkages
- Increasing agricultural and livestock production
- Improving access to safe water and hygiene practices
At the heart of SHAPE, is the development of Asset Building Groups (ABGs). Each group consists of 10 to 70 members of a community that engage together in a business venture that benefits from increased collective productive capacity and bargaining power. Once formed, ABGs collectively receive assets to support the selected business venture, and group members receive intensive training and capacity building to effectively manage the activities of the group. This training includes business or vocational skills, savings and credit management, and technical assistance in linking to markets and independent vendors or buyers.SHAPE builds upon the activities of the Livelihood Support for Somali Agro-Pastoralists (L-SAP) program. Success of the L-SAP program include development of 30 ABGs which trained farmers in the cultivation of crops and other income-generating activities; the construction of two slaughtering houses and 20 meat vending stalls to promote market activities and improved food hygiene; and the establishment of nearly 100 new water points (wells and rainwater catchment reservoirs).
Income Generating Activities for At-Risk Populations
CHF is assisting most at-risk groups, including adults and young people engaged in transactional sex, through the promotion of income generating activities. CHF is providing research, technical support, capacity building and training to organizations already offering HIV/AIDS services to most at-risk populations. By helping organizations establish income generating activities, CHF hopes to address the lack of economic options that increase women’s and girls’ vulnerability for involvement in sex work.
Click for Clean Water
Through funding from Disney, CHF’s Click for Clean Water project helps provide for immediate water needs, improve hygiene practices, and also mitigate future drought impacts by providing more reliable and localized water sources for the future. CHF is targeting 15 drought-affected communities to construct wells and water catchments at local schools to improve access to water. The project also educates children about proper sanitation, hygiene and basic health topics to help curb preventable disease and illness.As part of the initiative, CHF is working with PlayPumps International to build merry-go-round water pumps. As children spin the merry-go-round, clean water is pumped from underground and stored in an above ground tank. In addition to the merry-go-round water pumps, the project helps to repair wells and install rainwater catchment systems. Community members are involved through participatory process with outreach to community leaders, local authorities, and established Water Management Committees. Children of all ages and their families will benefit from having more clean and safe water and improved health and households will benefit by reducing time and effort spent by women and children on the collection of water.
