The Sustainable Livelihood Program tackles poverty by design, requiring diverse approaches to address various situations. This inherent need compels program management (National Program Management Office) and implementers (Regional, Zonal, and District levels) to constantly innovate and develop new methods. This ensures they deliver the most suitable and impactful interventions, achieving the program’s intended goals for participants. The GTF Livelihood Program is working to ensure the philosophy of the Rev. Gudina Tumsa:
- ” Assist people to see themselves as capable human beings rather than as victims of circumstances.
- “Man is not only the suffering creature who needs help, but he is the most important development agent”
- “Allow for the participation of the community from inception to realization”.
The GTF’s Livelihood Development Program, designed to empower marginalized and excluded communities, continuously innovates methods and strategies to deliver the most effective interventions and achieve lasting improvements in participants’ lives. The Goal of the GTF livelihood program is to Empower the targeted communities to achieve food security and build resilience against climate change by boosting agricultural productivity, diversifying income sources, and strengthening their capacity to adapt.
GTF’s Livelihood development program is designed to help and improve the quality of life of the marginalized and excluded people in the project intervention areas. It has been serving the Marginalized community since 1992 in various intervention areas and implemented the Various projects.
The Gudina Tumsa Foundation (GTF) implemented a project entitled “Enhancing the Livelihood Diversification and Adaptation Capacity” in the Fantalle district. This project aimed to improve the lives of the people in the community. One-way GTF achieved this was by empowering women. Hundreds of women were organized into savings and credit groups, and income-generating activities were created for them. Shops, grinding mills, and grain stores were also set up for the women in these groups. The project also focused on livestock development. Veterinary clinics were built, and people were trained as Community-Based Animal Health Workers (CBAHWs) to care for the animals. Vaccination campaigns were conducted to protect the livestock from major diseases. Additionally, GTF worked to improve the breed of livestock by crossbreeding them with more resilient varieties. Since the Karayu people in the area traditionally do not practice farming, GTF introduced irrigation agriculture as a way to diversifytheir livelihood. The Karayu community was given intensive training on improved farming practices and how to use farm implements suited to the local soil. Although GTF’s main focus is on development, it has also had to provide relief and rehabilitation due to frequent droughts in Fantalle. It provided emergency food and water supplies, and even transported animal fodder to the area to help reduce livestock deaths during the droughts.
Furthermore, GTF implemented programs to empower women in both the Adama and Degem districts. In Adama, it focused on financial independence and income generation by organizing women into savings and credit groups and promoting alternative business opportunities. Additionally, GTF facilitated access to grinding mills and grain stores to support these women. The Degem district (Bisan Dimo) adage a similar initiative with the creation of a savings and credit group for women. GTF further bolstered this group by providing various training programs, an initial revolving fund, and facilitating the acquisition of a grinding mill that the women co-own. Finally, GTF promoted sheep fattening as a way for these women to generate income.
In the Berek district, GTF championed initiatives to improve livelihoods. It promoted modern bee-keeping technologies, introduced improved dairy breeds, and encouraged vegetable production, all of which likely boosted agricultural productivity and income in the area. Additionally, GTF invested in the district’s youth by providing them with construction skills training, potentially enhancing their employability in the construction sector. These programs likely transformed the lives of many marginalized young people in Berek by equipping them with valuable skills and economic opportunities.
GTF empowered deprived women in Addis Ababa by providing them with income-generating skills. It recruited highly disadvantaged women from the Gulalle area who were firewood collectors from the outskirts of the city. These women received training in sewing and embroidery, which was then expanded to include even more marketable skills like silk screening, tie-dyeing, carpet making, card making, and fabric printing. GTF provided the women with multiple avenues to sell their products: their own shop in Gulalle, the prestigious Hilton Hotel Addis Ababa, and the monthly NGO bazaar held at the International Evangelical Church. This comprehensive approach equipped the women with valuable skills and access to markets, transforming their economic opportunities.
GTF ran project entitled ‘Beekeeping for Improving Rural Livelihood and Economic Empowerment (BIRLEE)’ in Sululta District, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. The project aimed to reduce poverty, improve social and economic conditions, and promote sustainable development for vulnerable groups. GTF provided beehives and trained people (majority women) on improved beehive management and new production technologies.
While the projects mentioned above were among the major initiatives implemented by GTF, there were also other projects that significantly impacted and transformed the lives of many overlooked communities across various intervention areas.
Ongoing Livelihood Programs
GTF empowers marginalized communities by equipping families with the tools they need to achieve food security and a better standard of living. To address the specific needs of smallholder farmers and youth, GTF conducts in-depth assessments of targeted areas. This allows to design and implement effective programs that directly address the social and economic challenges these groups face.
1. Dodola and Nansabo Youth Social and Economic Empowerment (DoNa Youth SEE)
The Dodola and Nansabo Youth Social and Economic Empowerment (DoNa Youth SEE) Project was a three-year initiative designed to improve the lives of young people in Ethiopia. The project aimed to empower 11,838 youths by the end of 2023 by promoting self-employment, entrepreneurship, and employability.
DoNa Youth SEE offered various training programs to participants. Youths received vocational and life skills training, entrepreneurship and enterprise management training, and business plan preparation guidance. The project also linked youth groups with a Cooperative Bank of Oromia to access interest-free loans.
The project went beyond training, creating a supportive environment for youth empowerment. DoNa Youth SEE collaborated with local stakeholders and schools to integrate youth development into their activities. The project specifically targeted youths aged 15-19 in 20 schools, aiming to equip them with practical skills and prepare them for their future. The success of this project opens the door for further advancements. Building on its achievements, the next phase will see the addition of new components to amplify the initiative’s impact.
In June 2024, a new initiative was launched as Phase II of the Dodola and Nansabo Youth Social and Economic Empowerment (DoNa Youth SEE) project i.e. the Dodola and Nansabo Integrated Community Development Program (DoNa ICDP). This ambitious five-year program is designed to improve well-being and food security in the Dodola and Nansabo districts of Oromia’s West Arsi Zone. Building on the success of the previous DoNa Youth SEE project, it aims to modernize agriculture, enhance educational opportunities, and strengthen healthcare services. With a budget of ETB 89 million, the program is set to directly benefit 14,630 people and indirectly impact approximately 58,520 others.
2. Enhancing the Livelihood of Smallholder Dairy Farmers Project in the Wachale District
The Gudina Tumsa Foundation (GTF) has been undertaking a three-year project to improve the lives of small dairy farmers in the Wachale district of Oromia region. The project aimed to directly benefit 4,800 households. GTF works with five dairy cooperatives to strengthen their capacity. It provides training on operating and maintaining new milk handling equipment to improve milk quality and safety.
The project also established a dairy farm to serve as a training center for farmers on better animal husbandry practices. Trainings on milk quality regulations, sanitation, hygiene, and forage preparation were conducted. To improve the overall milk production system, GTF facilitated the development of milk production and marketing guidelines for the Oromia region. It also established a district-level task force to oversee milk quality control.
The project introduced biogas technology to create organic fertilizer from livestock manure and promoted improved breeding bulls to increase milk production and disease resistance in the herds. GTF held various awareness creation campaigns and discussions to educate farmers and leaders on best practices and new regulations.
3. Legetafo-Legedadhi Youth Social and Economic Empowerment (LLYSEE)
A study in Laga Tafo Laga Dadhi identified a critical problem: high youth unemployment was causing a ripple effect of social and economic issues. The root of the problem seemed to be two-fold: young people lacked the necessary skills to be self-employed, and the education system wasn’t equipping them for entrepreneurship.
To address this challenge, a project was launched to empower young people. The project took a two-pronged approach: building skills and fostering business development. Youths were grouped into small businesses based on existing resources and their own strengths. Then, the project provided targeted training to fill the skill gaps. This training wasn’t just limited to vocational skills like garment manufacturing, pottery production, textile weaving, and basketry weaving. It also included crucial business knowledge like group leadership, financial management, and even occupational health and safety.
The impact of the project was significant. In total, it trained 290 youths in business development and entrepreneurship, along with separate trainings on occupational health and safety for those in garment manufacturing (140) and handicrafts (150). On top of the training, the project provided basic equipment and finanacial support to get the new businesses off the ground. By equipping youth with the skills and resources to become entrepreneurs, this project aimed to break the cycle of youth unemployment and its negative consequences in Laga Tafo Laga Dadhi.
4. Bodji Youth and Women Empowerment Project (BYWEP)
The Bodji Youth and Women Empowerment Project (BYWEP), launched in July 2023 by the Gudina Tumsa Foundation (GTF), is tackling a pressing issue in Ethiopia’s Bodji Dirmaji District. Declining agricultural productivity and land scarcity, caused by land degradation and termite infestation, threaten the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, especially young people and women. Bodji Youth and Women Empowerment Project (BYWEP), aims to empower these groups and transform their lives by creating diversified income opportunities and improving food security.
The project strategically addresses the challenges faced by unemployed youth and women in the district. Here’s a closer look at its key actions and achievements:
Building a Support System: BYWEP doesn’t simply provide training in isolation. It prioritizes organization and mobilization. By bringing previously unemployed youth and women together into cohesive groups, the project fosters collaboration and shared learning. This creates a support system where participants can learn from each other’s experiences and challenges.- Equipping with Skills: Recognizing the importance of technical knowledge, BYWEP provides comprehensive training in vegetable production and management. This equips participants with the practical skills they need to succeed in cultivating vegetables.
- Empowering with Resources: Understanding the need for resources to get started, BYWEP goes beyond just training. The project provides participants with various types of vegetable seeds, including onion, tomato, and potato. This ensures they have the necessary materials to initiate and maintain their vegetable production activities, putting their newfound skills into action.
By combining these elements, BYWEP aims to empower youths and women in the Bodji Dirmaji District, equipping them with the tools and knowledge they need to overcome challenges, diversify their livelihoods, and achieve food security.