EWNRA is implementing a project known as ‘’Response to COVID-19- Access to Inputs and Capital to Sustain Livelihoods in Time of COVID-19 Pandemic’’ in partnership with the CDF Canada. The project is aimed to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on smallholder farmers in Hager Mariam-Kesem Woreda (district) in Semien Shewa Zone of Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. It is being undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC) to the CDF Canada.

Currently, this project is supporting more than 5000 vulnerable households (estimated 30,000 people) selected in gender sensitive and participatory manner.  Line offices of the local government, Cooperative Societies and other stakeholders are actively participating in the implementation process.  All project resources are transferred to the beneficiaries in the form of revolving loan through their respective cooperatives; the cooperatives have agreed with the project to collect the repayments from beneficiaries and redistribute to other members so as to sustain the revolving capital within the community for longer term.

Pullets (Chicks) for women beneficiaries: The project has distributed 2,500 pullets for 100 female headed households in five Kebeles (communities) through their rural cooperatives.

FARM INPUTS (FERTILIZERS)The project has started procurement and distribution of fertilizer and seed through rural multipurpose cooperative in collaboration with key stakeholders especially the woreda (district) offices of Agriculture and Cooperative Promotion

Some of the beneficiary farmers received fertilizer loan from their Multipurpose Cooperative

Women taking seed money loan for business

The project has created access to revolving loans (seed money) to selected beneficiaries through their Rural Saving and Credit Cooperatives (RuSACCOs) as for commencing business of their interest. Access to the seed money created an opportunity to poor women to involve in business and reduce their economic problem

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Ethio Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA) and the donor Co-operative Development Foundation (CDF) of Canada have launched implementation of the project: ‘’Response to COVID-19 – Access to Inputs and Capital to Sustain Livelihoods in Time of COVID-19 Pandemic’’ on October 7/2020 in Hagare mariam Woreda, Semien Shewa Zone, Amhara National Regional State.

During the launching event, the Zone administrator (Ato Tadesse Gebre Tsadik) expressed the demand in the zone for similar projects to curb the impact of COVID-19 on farmers and halt its expansion. The educative significance of the project is also vital not only for the selected Kebeles, but also for the Semien Shewa zone as a whole, which is now serving as one of the important destinations of tourists and investors in the country. Moreover, the administrator and other participants of the launching event have expressed their appreciation to the project with respect to greater opportunities given to women beneficiaries (67% of beneficiaries are women).

During the event, Ato Afework Hailu CEO of EWNRA and Ato Brehanu Ambaw Country Manager of CDF-Canada briefed the background and working interest their respective organization and the project objective of the project, and requested strong support and collaboration from sector offices at zone, woreda and kebele levels.

The project coordinator Ato Solomon Manaye elaborated in his detailed presentation the project objectives, beneficiary selection criteria, number and composition of beneficiaries (4000 female and 2000 male), role and responsibilities of pertinent stakeholders at all level, the type and amount of services that the project will provide like increasing access for inputs , alternative livelihood options as well as the identified seven cooperatives and five SACCOs for the purpose of input distribution and loan facilities.  In addition to that, he clearly indicated the allocated budget, and the integration of the project with 4R Nutrient Stewardship project being implemented in adjacent Minjar Shenkora Woreda of the zone.

Following an in-depth discussion on the project, the Zone administrator and the administrator of Hagere Mariam-Kesem Woreda (Ato Berehan Mekonnen) ascertained their commitment to support implementation of the project according to its plan. They have already shown this commitment from the very beginning by providing office free of charge as governmental contribution and helped to realign the budget allocated for office rent to the beneficiaries.