Project Notice |
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| PNR | 436 |
| Project Name | Measures to Combat Drought in the Lowlands of Ethiopia |
| Project Detail | The Afar region is one of the least developed regions in the Ethiopian lowlands. With a population of just under 1.5 million, more than half of the people in the region, known as Afar, live below the absolute poverty line. Due to extreme conditions, the hottest temperatures in the world, low rainfall, little arable land and limited access to water, the majority of the population depends on semi-nomadic livestock farming (pastoralism) to make a living. This economic system, which had been adapted to the local conditions, is coming under increasing pressure. The effects of climate change, with increasing droughts and exceptional rainfall events, and population growth are giving rise to a shortage of natural resources. Weak institutions and current development strategies take little account of the specific characteristics of the semi-nomadic lifestyle and ecological conditions in the region. Objective The semi-nomadic population (pastoralists) in the Afar region has reliable access to, and can make more intensive use of, natural resources such as water, land and pastures. The drought resilience of the affected communities is strengthened. Approach The programme is currently working in five districts in the western Afar region with a population of approximately 300,000: around 265,000 live in rural areas, including 120,000 women. The majority of the population depends on pasture farming and, to a lesser extent, arable farming for their living. The main sources of livelihood are herds of camels, cows, sheep and goats, whose feed is increasingly at risk. GIZ experts advise Ethiopian partners whose aim is to improve the work of the responsible institutions at a national, regional, district and village level. Initial measures are concentrating on planning land use with all users and authorities, ensuring access to soil and water, improving pastures, safeguarding migration corridors for herds and promoting income-generating measures such as the fattening of sheep. Initial measures are focusing on improving watersheds through soil and water storage activities and building small-scale irrigation systems for the cultivation of food and animal feed. This should increase the availability of food and animal feed and generate additional income through its sale. Around 11,000 Afar will benefit from these measures. Preparations are under way for further measures such as improving pastures, combating harmful, fast-spreading, non-native, plants and safeguarding migration corridors for herds. All activities are planned by the communities in conjunction with the traditional representatives of the pastoralists, civil society organisations and the authorities. At a regional and federal level, the programme helps the Ethiopian government to work with international development partners to better coordinate development measures. The programme is conducted jointly by GIZ and KfW Development Bank. |
| Funded By | Other Funding Agencies |
| Sector | Other Industries |
| Country | Ghana , Western Africa |
| Project Value | Plz Refer Document |
Contact Information |
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| Company Name | German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) |
| Address | Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche, Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung, Postfach 12 03 22, 53045 Bonn, Germany, Tel: +49/228/99535-0. |
| Web Site | www.bmz.de/en |
