Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

To contribute to the mitigation of the devastating effects of locust upsurge on food security and livelihoods and to sustain and safeguard the lives of most affected and vulnerable Households (HH) in SNNP Region, Ethiopia (SDG 1, 2, 5, 10).

Specific Objectives: SO1: Vulnerable HH, especially female headed HH & HHs with children and pregnant and lactating women (PLW), in SNNP Region affected by the locust upsurge are able to sustain their lives and have increased food security and access to nutritious food (relief); SO2: Vulnerable HH, with emphasis on female headed HH, affected by the locust crisis have restored and diversified their livelihoods (recovery); SO3: Affected vulnerable communities have enhanced their preparedness and mitigation practices and increased their resilience to future locust invasion and similar crises through the establishment of a sustainable, durable and coordinated early action/warning mechanism.

Expected results

R 1.1: 4100 food-insecure HH (1510 female-headed) have improved access to food through

cash-for-work cash payments and unconditional emergency cash transfer to cover their basic needs and mitigate locust upsurge related shocks;

R 1.2: At least 1500 children and 500 pregnant and lactating women screened as (severe) acute malnourished (SAM) are provided with supplementary feeding and monitored by professional health workers;

R 2.1: 250 agro-pastoralist HHs (75 female headed) are enabled to restart crop production, improve productivity and sustainability by engaging in conservation agriculture;

R 2.2: 390 women are engaged in income generating activities and gain additional production and/or HH income;

R 2.3: 700 HH (210 FHH) have access to improved livestock health services and livestock markets;

R 3.1: 420 Community members and partner organisations’ staff have access to early warning information and tools as well as technical skills and practice on mitigation measures for potential future crises;

R 3.2: Coordination, participation, exchange meetings and trainings of stakeholders in response to invasion and effects of locusts improved.

Target group / Beneficiaries

The total number of direct beneficiaries is 21.845 individuals in 4.100 HHs. Of these, around 8.160 individuals will benefit from more than one project activity. Through radio broadcasting programs on locust infestation & mitigation and nutrition; improved communication and alert mechanisms for locust control; and improved livestock marketing options, it is assumed that the project reaches at least 50.000 individuals (indirect beneficiaries) beyond the targeted villages’ population.

Local implementing partners of the applicant is the Spiritan Community Outreach Ethiopia (SCORE). The activities will be implemented in Southern Nations, Nationalities and People`s Region (SNNPR) - Omo Zone - Benatsemay and Hamer districts of Ethiopia.

Activities

Act. R1.1: Emergency cash transfers for most vulnerable HH to cover immediate basic needs. Cash-for-work activities in the community for affected vulnerable HH to increase income utilizing a gender-sensitive approach. Act. R1.2: Provision of supplementary food to malnourished children and PLW; Training of health workers; Broadcasting of radio shows on nutrition; Act. R2.1: Trainings on conservation agriculture and provision of seeds; Act. 2.2: Capacity building training on alternative agricultural livelihood for women and provision of vegetable seeds and poultry; Act. R2.3: Maintenance of veterinary Health posts; Trainings for veterinary health workers; Organize livestock suppliers' cooperatives and forum for improved market system; Establish animal marketing center; Act. R3.1: Trainings on scientific desert locust mitigation and digital data collection tools (COMM care, eLocust3m); Provision of data collection tablets and basic mobile devices; Production and dissemination of early warning messages in local languages via radio and text messages; Act. R3.2: Participate in online coordination meetings for CSOs, FAO, NGOs, and government officials.

Context

The current massive desert locust outbreak in the Greater Horn of Africa and Ethiopia region poses a real threat to food security and rural livelihoods, especially in populated areas already made vulnerable by repeated weather extremes like droughts, floods as well as health crises like COVID-19. This is especially the case in the SNNP region, Benatsemay and Hamer districts, targeted by this emergency and rehabilitation project. The locusts have destroyed thousands of hectares of food crops as well as the pastures for livestock in these areas. It is the worst infestation in over 30 years. The people living in these districts are usually agro-pastoralists, dependent on their crops and livestock. Due to the locust crisis, they have lost their whole livelihoods and the most vulnerable people, especially children and women, are facing food insecurity and malnutrition. The IRePeaL project therefore aims at supporting these communities to sustain their lives and to support the restoration of their livelihoods as well as building their resilience to future crisis.