Project profile — Improving the Livelihoods of Farmers in Ethiopia - Canadian Feed the Children 2015-2017

The project aims to increase food production and provide higher incomes by increasing agricultural productivity, income sources and increasing the capacity of local farmers to support agricultural production and income generating activities. Project activities include: (1) increasing food production through small scale irrigation activities, the introduction of higher value, drought resistant crops and increased small livestock productivity; (2) stimulating and increasing economic growth through income-generating activities and improved access to markets; (3) improving the ability of cooperatives to serve the interests of their members (and particularly, the poorest) by increasing their capacity to develop and manage projects; (4) fostering a more equitable participation of women in decision-making and greater access to resources and benefits for women; and (5) building the capacity of the local partner and local governments focusing on their improved access to development resources. The project is expected to benefits 36,000 poor farmers composed of male and female producers and small entrepreneurs and their families. This project is being implemented by Canadian Feed the Children in 14 kebeles of the Artuma Fursi and Dewa Chefa woredas in Ethiopia’s Eastern Amhara Region. The local partner in Ethiopia is the Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA). A kebele is a government administrative unit similar to a district with an approximate population of 30,000 people. A kebele is a sub-unit of a woreda with 15-20 kebeles in one woreda.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved gender equitable and sustainable agricultural production and productivity for male and female poor and vulnerable farmers and their households, in an environment prone to shocks and stressors; (2) diversified and sustained incomes for male and female poor and vulnerable farmers and their households; and (3) enhanced capacity of the local partner, the Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA), local government, and farmers' cooperatives to facilitate gender-responsive sustainable development.

Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2018) include: (1) yield increases as high as 518% for key crops, and 134% increase in season income from selling crops; (2) 197 successful small enterprises with operational business plans and access to markets were formed. Of the successful income generating activities, 91% of participating women had decision making control over the resulting funds; and (3) overall, the project exceeded the 20% target of 'graduated' (according to the Livelihood Graduation Index) households, achieving 33% graduated out of the 8,028 participating households. These results contribute toward the ultimate outcome of improved livelihoods for men, women, youth and children in the Artuma Fursi and Dewa Cheffa woredas in the Eastern Amhara Region through market-led diversification and development.