Help Rural Ethiopians Improve Access to Water

CHF International’s water security program in Ethiopia assists rural farmers in achieving sustainable food security and access to clean water. We apply solutions that address immediate emergency needs while enabling communities to mitigate the effects of recurrent drought conditions. Since the last update, 60 motorized water pumps were installed in various communities and 45 concrete-lined outlet channels were constructed. To increase availability and quality of feed for livestock, we have been encouraging farmers to grow their own feed for their animals. This reduces reliance on outside markets. We continue to foster the creation of Asset Building Groups, groups who support each others’ economic security through savings and loans. Even with these successes, lack of water access continues to be an issue in Ethiopia, and is a major constraint to food security due to prevalence of water-borne diseases. Please donate to this important program and ensure these farmers can survive another season.

Through funding from Disney, CHF’s Click for Clean Water project helps provide for immediate water needs, improve hygiene practices, and also mitigate future drought impacts by providing more reliable and localized water sources for the future. CHF is targeting 15 drought-affected communities to construct wells and water catchments at local schools to improve access to water. The project also educates children about proper sanitation, hygiene and basic health topics to help curb preventable disease and illness.As part of the initiative, CHF is working with PlayPumps International to build merry-go-round water pumps. As children spin the merry-go-round, clean water is pumped from underground and stored in an above ground tank. In addition to the merry-go-round water pumps, the project helps to repair wells and install rainwater catchment systems. Community members are involved through participatory process with outreach to community leaders, local authorities, and established Water Management Committees. Children of all ages and their families will benefit from having more clean and safe water and improved health and households will benefit by reducing time and effort spent by women and children on the collection of water.

Building Resilience Against Drought

Alongside our water work in Ethiopia, CHF forms community groups and associations to help build resilience against conditions that cause drought to be so dangerous.

In February, CHF visited an Asset Building Group (ABG) that we formed three years ago. The purpose of the ABG was to provide rotational lending and savings capacity to community members within a localized, manageable setting. This particular ABG is composed of 14 women whom CHF organized three years ago and provided each with 30 chicks and an incubator. The group is now thriving, saving and lending among its members and meeting monthly.

Some members continue to raise chicks and sell the eggs; others have borrowed from their profits to start small shops. All members have used their profits to buy or trade up to sheep and goats and now have a considerable asset base. The initial activity (provision of the baby chicks) allowed for group savings that were then used to increase assets and provide individual opportunities for these women. Since begin set up the group has flourished on its own and has attained the kind of food security intended by the program, and provides an excellent example of the sustainable development that CHF aims to undertake, helping reduce the vulnerability of agrilcutural communities to drought and famine.

There’s also a whole lot of chickens running around…

Links:

• http://www.chfinternational.org