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Emergency assistance to drought affected food insecure vulnerable pastoralist households in Somali region of Ethiopia

Tags
Country Ethiopia
Start date 31/07/2016
End date 05/07/2018
Status Completed
Recipient / Target Areas Ethiopia
Budget 580 270 USD
Project Code OSRO/ETH/605/SPA
Objective / Goal To improve the food security and the economic status of the drought-affected vulnerable pastoralist households in Somali region.
Beneficiaries 50 522
Activities

The overall objective of the project was to safeguard pastoral and agropastoral livelihoods and to enhance the food security and nutrition of households in drought-affected woredas by helping to protect their livestock assets. This was to be achieved through two main areas of intervention: provision of animal feed and animal health support. 

Output 1: Increased availability of emergency livestock supplementary feed for core breeding animals. Activities:

  • Activity 1.1: Sensitization of livestock bureaus in targeted woredas about the project;
  • Activity 1.2: Woreda awareness creation and target kebele identification;
  • Activity 1.3: Signing Letters of Agreement with implementing partners;
  • Activity 1.4: Beneficiary selection and sensitization of communities;
  • Activity 1.5: Procurement plan for feed supply and technical specifications;
  • Activity 1.6: Distribution and provision of animal feed intervention;
  • Activity 1.7: Monitoring and evaluation.

Output 2: Increased access to animal health services for livestock through provision of veterinary inputs:

  • Activity 2.1: Sensitization of livestock bureaus in targeted woredas about the project;
  • Activity 2.2: Awareness creation and sensitization of communities;
  • Activity 2.3: Signing Letters of Agreement with project implementing partners;
  • Activity 2.4: Prepare procurement plan and technical specifications;
  • Activity 2.5: Identification of households;
  • Activity 2.6: Provide animal health services and treatment to livestock;
  • Activity 2.7: Monitoring of project activities.
Impact

Outcome Up to 15 000 vulnerable drought-affected households in underserved woredas of Fafan and Siti zone have approximately 860 000 sheep and goats provided with parasite control treatments to protect and initiate rapid recovery of their herds and livelihoods.
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Several elements contributed to the project’s success, including:

  • Frequent, close dialogue and collaboration between FAO and the Government of Somali Region, specifically with the Ethiopian Somali Region Livestock and Pastoralist Development Bureau. This contributed to enhancing acceptance and ownership of the project and its outcomes at all levels. This collaboration started from project inception and continued until its closure.
  • The beneficiary selection, which targeted the pastoralist households most vulnerable to drought, led to assisting those who needed support the most, including beneficiary households who did not have the means to recover independently of external assistance.
  • Access to animal treatment and feed contributed to households maintaining their livelihoods. During times of drought, lack of access to pasture creates pastoralist drop out and abnormal migrations. Creating access to feed reduces the likelihood of pastoralists migrating in search of pasture and the need for other types of emergency assistance.