Livelihoods for Resilience (L4R) - Food Insecurity in Ethiopia

Background

Livelihoods for Resilience (L4R) builds on the best practices and successes of its predecessor program, GRAD, reaching 97,900 households in Ethiopia who are part of the Productive Safety Net Program with the generous support of USAID’s Feed the Future. L4R is strengthening the capacities of women, men, and youth to build resilient livelihoods by empowering them with improved agricultural and financial skills, access to loans and startup capital, market information, and high-quality inputs (such as fertilizer, veterinarian products, and tools).

A man rests against a stone wall and holds up a black boot.

The project will also help households make forward-looking and informed decisions about their livelihoods, adapt to changes and opportunities, and effectively manage risk. Targeted communities are also strengthened through the establishment of Village Economic and Social Associations (VESAs), and trainings in financial literacy, gender equity, nutrition, and climate-change resilience strategies.

Livelihoods for Resilience also helps households enroll in the government’s Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) to access microfinance, improve on- and off-farm productivity, and improve links to markets. The program promotes women’s empowerment, improved nutritional practices, and climate change adaptation strategies. CARE leads the L4R consortium that includes REST, ORDA, CRS/MCS, Agri Service Ethiopia, and SNV. The project is implemented in 16 districts in Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, and SNNPR. In 2015, USAID’s Feed the Future office released a report saying that GRAD is the most cost-effective investment they have in Ethiopia.

Highlighted Resources

Voucher-based Approach to Soap Distribution

In the chronically food insecure areas in which Livelihoods 4 Resilience operates, COVID-19 has had severe economic impacts. This evaluation by SCALE reviews how L4R adapted to a voucher-based approach to distribute soap and encourage handwashing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Livelihoods for Resilience Innovation Brief #1 – Poultry Voucher

This innovation brief explores Livelihoods for Resilience's experience with piloting poultry vouchers, including what worked and what didn't work, unexpected challenges, and how L4R adapted its approach as it scaled up the poultry voucher.

Perma-gardening – Livelihoods for Resilence 2020

This learning brief explores Livelihoods for Resilience's experience promoting perma-gardening including, changes, successes and...

Cash Transfers – Livelihoods for Resilience 2020

This learning brief explores Livelihoods for Resilience's experience with cash transfers for households affected by conflict in Ethiopia...

Livelihoods for Resilience Activity Resilience Strategy

This 28 page report describes the Livelihoods for Resilience strategy for building resilience of its 97,900 targeted households. It...

Inspiring Stories – Livelihoods for Resilience

These inspiring stories come from CARE Ethiopia's Livelihoods for Resilience program.

Victory Over Poverty

A Village Economic and Savings Association discusses finance, borrowing and saving in Ethiopia.

Poultry Made me Rethink My Plans to Migrate (Livelihoods for Resilience) CARE Ethiopia

Engaging in improved poultry production as a value chain activity in rural Ethiopia is an activity that pays off. Komah is one of the successful PSNP clients who has earned impressive incomes from poultry production. Her story, narrated in this report, tells how poultry can change the livelihood of the poor if it is properly adopted.

Potatoes Brighten Futures (Livelihoods for Resilience) CARE Ethiopia

Alemayehu Lemma, 52, and Abebech Debebe, 40, started to see a bright future when they discovered how to significantly increase their potato yield. They were astounded when they increased their production six-fold and harvested 40 quintals of potatoes in a single season.

Sheep fattening accelerates food security (Livelihoods for Resilience) CARE Ethiopia

Engaging in sheep and goat fattening can bring fast returns on investment and help put rural households on the path towards food security. This story of Worku and Sendnesh is just one example of how fattening can transform rural households’ livelihoods for the better.

Spicing up rural livelihoods through pepper production

Smallholder farmers in Sidama and Gedio zones of South Ethiopia who participate in the Feed the Future Ethiopia – Livelihoods for Resilience Activity have discovered that improved pepper seed and agronomic practices help them to have better production, and earn good income. Tefera Yohannes is one of these farmers.

Beekeeping sweetens family food security: Livelihoods for Resilience

Teshale and Medena’s leafy backyard is buzzing with bees, as they are engaged in improved beekeeping following a short-term training facilitated by the Feed the Future Ethiopia – Livelihoods for Resilience Activity. Even if you are afraid of bees, it is worth facing your fear to hear Teshale and Medena’s story and see their exemplary beekeeping success!

Livelihoods for Resilience Brief

Three page summary of Ethiopia's Livelihoods for Resilience Activity with USAID Feed the Future funding.

Livelihoods for Resilience

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