Overview
Poverty in Ethiopia is widespread.
The majority of people depend on farming for their livelihood, yet Ethiopia’s agriculture is plagued by recurring drought, deforestation, poor infrastructure, and an increasing population which cause severe food shortages.
Quick Facts
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Ethiopia ranks 173rd out of 189 countries on the 2019 UN Development Index
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farmers trained in sustainable and higher-yield agricultural techniques
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individuals enrolled in savings groups
Our Projects
Through Tearfund, your donations are helping to solve the hunger challenge by providing training in agriculture and savings to thousands of families. This means that they can increase their crop output while growing their small incomes in order to start new businesses, purchase seeds and tools, and pay school fees.
You’re contributing to church-based community transformation, empowering churches to spread the gospel in a holistic way, lifting people out of physical and spiritual poverty and transforming their communities.
Project 1
North Wello Emergency Food Aid
Problem
Northern Ethiopia is an area rife with conflict, and when the Ethiopian government withdrew defense forces from the Tigray region, millions of vulnerable people were displaced and fled as refugees. Rape is used as a weapon of war and homes have been destroyed, increasing the desperate need for food, shelter, and healing.
Challenges
The conflict has worsened, and those trapped in the area have been unable to harvest their crops for four seasons. Local markets are struggling to function and supply the increasing needs, and accessing food is a challenge. Many people are suffering from trauma and need to find hope.
Activities
Food distribution is of highest priority, and 15kg grain flour, 1.5kg beans, 0.5l of edible oil, and 4.5kg of famix for malnourished people will be distributed per person per month as emergency support.
Project Details
- Location: North Wello, Amhara
- Timeframe: August 2022 – December 2022
- Total Budget: $641,500
Outcome
The people in northern Ethiopia are suffering, but through this project, there is hope. The food distribution will help support vulnerable families so they can begin the process of rebuilding and healing from the trauma they’ve experienced.
Project 2
Scaling conservation agriculture-based sustainable intensification
Problem
In the Wolita districts, the main livelihood source is rain-fed subsistent agriculture. Few of the farmers can afford to use irrigation, and crop and livestock production are highly constrained due to socioeconomic and environmental challenges. The poorest of the poor are usually forced to work on investor’s farms to make ends meet, but for the most vulnerable (the old-aged, orphans, and people with disabilities), their livelihood is mainly depending on coping strategies like aids from government and NGOs, trapping them in an unending cycle of poverty.
Challenges
Women are given secondary roles in the community, and their opportunities to aid in major decision-making processes or access education are severely limited. Food insecurity and poverty are major problems, and women, orphans, the disabled, old-aged, and other marginalized groups are the most vulnerable and have very limited access to food.
Activities
Church leaders will work with the community to train farmers in conservation agriculture practices while equipping them with the knowledge and skills to increase production, thereby helping lift them out of poverty. This project will also focus on gender equality, creating access for women to participate in the training and exercise leadership roles.
Project Details
- Location: Makueni County
- Timeframe: January 2022 – December 2024
- Total Budget: $438,132 USD
Outcome
Communities have a long-term vision to change the situation through better management of the land and environment, building social and economic infrastructure. This project will increase crop productivity in a sustainable, accessible manner while restoring soil health and increasing support for healthy production.
Project 3
Zala food security and women’s empowerment
Problem
Ethiopian churches are eager to respond to the immense physical and spiritual needs around them. Hunger is a perpetual problem, with many families struggling to eat more than one meal a day 5-6 months out of the year.
Challenges
High population, environmental degradation, deforestation, recurring drought, and soil erosion cause food insecurity. In addition, lack of access to good seeds and other farming inputs have significantly reduced crop output. Pests and mould also lead to post-harvest losses.
Activities
Pastors and church leaders will engage Tearfund’s church-based community transformation approach, participating in Bible studies and workshops to learn more about holistic mission and God’s mandate for them. They will be trained in conservation agriculture techniques, savings groups, and natural resource management to help them ensure sustainable development of their communities.
Project Details
- Location: Zala Woreda Region
- Timeframe: December 2019 – November 2022
- Total Budget: $600,000
Outcome
Approximately 9,065 individuals will be more food secure and placed on a sustainable path out of poverty.
Project 4
Food security and livelihoods
Problem
Ethiopian churches are eager to respond to the immense physical and spiritual needs around them. Hunger is a perpetual problem, with many families struggling to eat more than one meal a day 5-6 months out of the year.
Challenges
High population, environmental degradation, deforestation, recurring drought, and soil erosion cause food insecurity. Much of the crop is lost due to inefficient market practices. Population pressures, coupled with limited employment opportunities, make it difficult for farmers to find alternative work.
Activities
Pastors and church leaders will engage Tearfund’s church-based community transformation approach, participating in Bible studies and workshops to learn more about holistic mission and God’s mandate for them. They will be trained in conservation agriculture techniques, savings groups, and women's empowerment to help them ensure sustainable development of their communities.
Project Details
- Location: Hobicha
- Timeframe: March 2021 – February 2024
- Total Budget: $600,000
Outcome
27 local churches will be mobilized and equipped to meet the needs around them, helping their communities escape physical and spiritual poverty. Farmers will be able to grow more crops to feed their families and increase their income. Communities will become more climate resilient and women will be empowered.
Project 5
Mekele emergency food aid
Problem
Civil war in Tigray has caused millions of families to flee for their lives. Two million refugees have already fled to neighbouring Sudan or to other places within Ethiopia.
Challenges
The conflict is particularly brutal. Starvation and rape are used as weapons of war. In a place where there was already food insecurity, an estimated 90% of families are now on the brink of starvation. Families left everything behind, and now they lack health care, water, sanitation, and food.
Activities
Tearfund is on the frontlines, helping the most vulnerable families, including child-led households, widows, young mothers, the elderly, and those living with disabilities. This project aims at providing emergency food packages to those who are critically hungry. Each basket contains rice, flour, beans and cooking oil, which will last a family of five for two months. Nutritional supplements will be provided for pregnant women, lactating women, and children under five.
Project Details
- Location: Mekele City
- Timeframe: May 2021 – September 2021
- Total Budget: $575, 122
Outcome
9,000 vulnerable families will have enough food to eat at least three meals a day for two months.
Stories of Transformation
Beautiful things from dust
Looking over his dusty field, Wolde remembered a time when his family’s 30-acre farm was lush and vibrant. But inheriting land split between his siblings meant that his farm was both limited and overworked. Six months a year were marked with hunger, with only one meal per day to sustain his family.
The trailblazer
For years her neighbours didn’t think Felekesh could amount to anything. As a widow and mother of six, she had toiled on her farm day and night to feed her children. But then everything changed.
God's every blessing
Amarech clung to hope and determiningation, knowing there had to be a way to improve her crops in the hilly village of Chifisa. Despite poor soil due to over-tillage and nine months of drought, she believed that her farm could be a success. Hearing about conservation agriculture changed everything.
Partners
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