Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Plowing Her Father's Land

Kassa Mulualem plow her father's land. Kassa is a project participant and role model. She was one of the first women in her area to take up plowing, an activity that is traditionally reserved for men. By sharing her experience with the village economic and social associations in her area, she is helping to raise awareness about gender equality and encouraging other USAID beneficiaries to change their lives by changing their understanding of the division of labor between men and women. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Kassa Plows

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Getachew on His Porch

Getachew Tadesse on the porch of his new house. Like many USAID beneficiaries, Misaye Akele (not pictured) and her husband Getachew Tadesse (pictured) feel that the greatest changes to their lives and livelihood have come about as a result of the USAID's training on gender. By stepping out of traditional gender roles and working together, they are not only happier, but also better off. This year they put much of their extra income into building the family a new house. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Misaye and Getachew

Misaye Akele and her husband Getachew Tadesse on the porch of their house. One of their sons, below, minds the sheep. Like many USAID beneficiaries, Misaye and Getachew feel that the greatest changes to their lives and livelihood have come about as a result of USAID's training on gender. By stepping out of traditional gender roles and working together, they are not only happier, but also better off. This year they put much of their extra income into building the family a new house. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Equality Brings Prosperity

Equality brings prosperity. Like many USAID participants, Misaye Akele and her husband Getachew Tadesse feel that the greatest changes to their lives and livelihood have come about as a result of the Graduation with Resilience to Achieve Sustainable Development activity's training on gender. By stepping out of traditional gender roles and working together, they are not only happier, but also better off. This year they put much of their extra income into building the family a new house. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Tsehaynesh and her Wares

Launching an entrepreneur. Three years ago, USAID beneficiary Tsehaynesh Dukamo was selected from among the female members of her village economic and social association to own and operate a micro-franchise business selling a range of consumer goods (soap, hair oil and other cosmetics, salt, shiro flour, and others) door-to-door. She currently sells to more than 200 households in her own and neighboring communities. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Door-to-Door Sales

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Tsehaynesh Dukamo

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Aster and Her Son

USAID beneficiary Aster Kasem and her son in their garden. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Going to the Red Pepper Garden

Creating a bright future. Of the 27 million people in Ethiopia living in chronic poverty and food insecurity, the majority are women. USAID has provided many rural women, including Danchile Kayamo (shown here with her husband Negussie Edao on their way to work in their garden of red peppers), with the tools and skills they need to support themselves and their families. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Danchile and Nugussie

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Cooperative Members

Leveraging the power of small farmers. Members of the Rohobot Shoat Fattening and Marketing Cooperative. Started in 2013, the coop's 50 members are working together to take advantage of the ever-increasing demand for sheep and goats (shoats) in the local and export markets. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Creating a Bright Future

Creating a bright future. Of the 27 million people in Ethiopia living in chronic poverty and food insecurity, the majority are women. USAID has provided many rural women, including Danchile Kayamo (shown here in the hair shop she built for her daughter Melesu Negussie (in blue)), with the tools and skills they need to support themselves and their families. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Helping Farmers Improve their Methods

Tamene Lemma is a government development agent who helps farmers improve their methods of crop and livestock production. Over the past five years he has also worked closely with USAID-supported households to help them develop the business plans they need to access micro-finance loans. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Government Development Agent

Tamene Lemma is a government development agent who helps farmers improve their methods of crop and livestock production. Over the past five years he has also worked closely with USAID-supported households, like Bessa Geletoo's, to help them develop the business plans they need to access micro-finance loans. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Shoat Fattening Cooperative

Leveraging the power of small farmers. The Rohobot Shoat Fattening and Marketing Cooperative started in 2013. The coop's 50 members are working together to take advantage of the ever-increasing demand for sheep and goats (shoats) in the local and export markets. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Leveraging the Power of Small Farmers

Leveraging the power of small farmers. Members of the Luge Godana Livestock Collection and Marketing Cooperative. The coop's members are working together to take advantage of the ever-increasing demand for sheep and goats (shoats) in the local and export markets. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Building Resilience

Building climate resilience. For households like Nasir Mohammed's, increasingly erratic weather patterns are having a negative impact on agricultural production and income. USAID shares information about climate risks with communities and introduces them to tools such as water harvesting and fast-maturing or drought-resistant crops that can help them adapt. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Sharing Child Care

The children of USAID beneficiaries Yubo Kereyu and Barude Keweti. Discussions about gender and social norms within the village economic and social association have encouraged their parents to share household chores and childcare. When they do, everyone benefits. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Sharing Household Chores

Two of the children of USAID beneficiaries Yubo Kereyu and Barude Keweti. Discussions about gender and social norms within the village economic and social association have encouraged their parents to share household chores and childcare. When they do, everyone benefits. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Shared Burden

Shared burden and benefits. Discussions about gender and social norms within the village economic and social associations have encouraged USAID beneficiaries like Yubo Kereyu and (pictured here) her husband Barude Keweti, to share household chores and childcare. They have learned that when they do, everyone benefits. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Speaking at a Meeting

A culture of saving. A member of Nigat Chora (Sunrise) Village Economic and Social Association (VESA) stands up to speak during a meeting. Comprised of groups of neighbors and peers, VESAs are the foundation of all GRAD-supported activities. VESAs also provide savings and credit facilities to members. When Nigat Chora was established five years ago, its 23 member households were some of the poorest in the community. Today a 'culture of saving' has helped transform members' lives. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Selling Agricultural Supplies

Chemera Sisay studied animal science and then worked in the government agricultural office. After spending three years as a community facilitator, he left to open a shop selling a range of agricultural supplies including animal feeds, vegetable seeds, veterinary products, farm tools, and equipment. The shop is so successful that he has rented a warehouse to store his supplies and opened a second branch in the next town. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Association Members Sit Under a Tree

Members of Nigat Chora (Sunrise) Village Economic and Social Association (VESA) sit under a tree during a VESA meeting. Comprised of groups of neighbors and peers, VESAs are the foundation of all USAID-supported activities. VESAs also provide savings and credit facilities to members. When Nigat Chora was established five years ago, its 23 member households were some of the poorest in the community. Today a 'culture of saving' has helped transform members' lives. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Doboto Beresa Kebele

A member of Nigat Chora (Sunrise) Village Economic and Social Association (VESA) raises her hand to speak and is called on by Community Facilitator Zemsem Kefir during a VESA meeting. Comprised of groups of neighbors and peers, VESAs are the foundation of all USAID-supported activities. VESAs also provide savings and credit facilities to members. When Nigat Chora was established five years ago, its 23 member households were some of the poorest in the community. Today a 'culture of saving' has helped transf Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Association Meeting

A culture of saving. A member of Nigat Chora (Sunrise) Village Economic and Social Association (VESA) raises her hand to speak during a VESA meeting. Comprised of groups of neighbors and peers, VESAs are the foundation of all GRAD-supported activities. VESAs also provide savings and credit facilities to members. When Nigat Chora was established five years ago, its 23 member households were some of the poorest in the community. Today a 'culture of saving' has helped transform members' lives. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Front Line Staff

It is through the efforts of frontline staff, like Zemzem Kefir, that real change happens in communities and households. As one of nearly 200 community facilitators employed by the USAID activity, Zemzem works with 20 village economic and social associations (comprising 350 households), facilitating meetings and leading training sessions. She also works closely with model farmers and other community-level volunteers and provides individual support to USAID households. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Tsehaynesh with her Husband

Launching an entrepreneur. Three years ago, USAID beneficiary Tsehaynesh Dukamo was selected from among the female members of her village economic and social association) to own and operate a micro-franchise business selling a range of consumer goods (soap, hair oil and other cosmetics, salt, shiro flour, and others) door-to-door. She currently sells to more than 200 households in her own and neighboring communities. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Launching an Entrepreneur

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Hemile Lubelo

A culture of saving. Hemile Lubelo is chairperson of the Nigat Chora (Sunrise) Village Economic and Social Association (VESA). Comprised of groups of neighbors and peers, VESAs are the foundation of all USAID-supported activities. VESAs also provide savings and credit facilities to members. When Nigat Chora was established five years ago, its 23 member households were some of the poorest in the community. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: A Culture of Saving

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Collection Plates

Collection plates for Nigat Chora (Sunrise) Village Economic and Social Association (VESA). Each plate bears money for a different function--regular savings, social fund, penalties and late payments. Comprised of groups of neighbors and peers, VESAs are the foundation of all USAID-supported activities. VESAs also provide savings and credit facilities to members. When Nigat Chora was established five years ago, its 23 member households were some of the poorest in the community. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Man with a Plow

A man carries a plow to the field. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Plowing the Field Together

USAID beneficiaries Hebisu Kabeto and his wife Adanech Abziger plow their field together. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Hebisu and His Wife Adanech Plow Their Field

USAID beneficiaries Hebisu Kabeto and his wife Adanech Abziger plow their field together. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Feeding the Sheep

Diversified income. Thanks to USAID, Tumay Ashebir and his wife Alem Tekle and their family are engaged in everything from sheep rearing and fattening to producing vegetables, grains, and honey. They even run a small transportation business with their mule cart. Their assets, which now include 21 sheep, 10 cattle, a cart, beehives, and a year's worth of food in storage, continue to grow. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Alem Tekle

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Two of Tumay's Daughters

Diversified income. Thanks to USAID, Tumay Ashebir and his wife Alem Tekle and their family (two of his daughters are shown here) are engaged in everything from sheep rearing and fattening to producing vegetables, grains, and honey. They even run a small transportation business with their mule cart. Their assets, which now include 21 sheep, 10 cattle, a cart, beehives, and a year's worth of food in storage, continue to grow. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Three of Tumay's Children

Diversified income. Thanks to USAID, Tumay Asebir and his wife Alem Tekle and their family (three of his children are shown here) are engaged in everything from sheep rearing and fattening to producing vegetables, grains, and honey. They even run a small transportation business with their mule cart. Their assets, which now include 21 sheep, 10 cattle, a cart, beehives, and a year's worth of food in storage, continue to grow. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Tsigea Kebele

Diversified income. Thanks to USAID, Tumay Ashebir (center) and his wife Alem Tekle and their family are engaged in everything from sheep rearing and fattening to producing vegetables, grains, and honey. They even run a small transportation business with their mule cart. Their assets, which now include 21 sheep, 10 cattle, a cart, beehives, and a year's worth of food in storage, continue to grow. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Looking Toward the Sunset

A man climbs a hill and looks out toward the sunset. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Tumay Ashebir

Diversified income. Thanks to USAID, Tumay Ashebir and his wife Alem Tekle and their family are engaged in everything from sheep rearing and fattening to producing vegetables, grains, and honey. They also have a garden and run a small transportation business with their mule cart. Their assets, which now include 21 sheep, 10 cattle, a cart, beehives, and a year's worth of food in storage, continue to grow. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Preparing the Mule

Diversified income. Thanks to USAID, Tumay Ashebir and his wife Alem Tekle and their family (his second oldest son is shown here preparing the mule to pull the cart) are engaged in everything from sheep rearing and fattening to producing vegetables, grains, and honey. They also have a garden and run a small transportation business with their mule cart. Their assets, which now include 21 sheep, 10 cattle, a cart, beehives, and a year's worth of food in storage, continue to grow. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Father and Son Prepare the Mule Cart

Diversified income. Thanks to USAID, Tumay Ashebir and his wife Alem Tekle and their family are engaged in everything from sheep rearing and fattening to producing vegetables, grains, and honey. They also have a garden and run a small transportation business with their mule cart. Here, their son takes the cart on a water run. Their assets, which now include 21 sheep, 10 cattle, a cart, beehives, and a year's worth of food in storage, continue to grow. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Diversified Income

Diversified income. Thanks to USAID, Tumay Ashebir and his wife Alem Tekle and their family are engaged in everything from sheep rearing and fattening to producing vegetables, grains, and honey. They also have a garden and run a small transportation business with their mule cart. Here, their son takes the cart on a water run. Their assets, which now include 21 sheep, 10 cattle, a cart, beehives, and a year's worth of food in storage, continue to grow. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Sheep Rearing

Diversified income. Thanks to USAID, Tumay Ashebir and his wife Alem Tekle and their family are engaged in everything from sheep rearing and fattening to producing vegetables, grains, and honey. They also have a garden and run a small transportation business with their mule cart. Here, Tumay works with his son and their mule cart. Their assets, which now include 21 sheep, 10 cattle, a cart, beehives, and a year's worth of food in storage, continue to grow. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Berhanu

USAID beneficiary Sindayo Belay's son Berhanu, age four. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: The Loan Pays Off

Borrowing with confidence. Thanks to her USAID-supported village economic and social association and its chairperson Etsay Wayu, single mother Sindayo Belay gained the knowledge, skills, and confidence she needed to take a loan and turn her life around. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Sindayo Belay

Borrowing with confidence. Thanks to her USAID-supported VESA (village economic and social association) and its chairperson Etsay Wayu, single mother Sindayo Belay gained the knowledge, skills, and confidence she needed to take a loan and turn her life around. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Animal Fattening

As a model farmer and VESA (village economic and social association) chairperson, Etsay Wayu helps his fellow VESA members gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to turn their lives around.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Gaining Knowledge, Skills, and Confidence

Borrowing with confidence. Thanks to her USAID-supported village economic and social association and its chairperson, Etsay Wayu (right), Sindayo Belay (left) gained the knowledge, skills, and confidence she needed to take a loan and turn her life around. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Borrowing with Confidence

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Etsay Wayu

As a model farmer and VESA (village economic and social association) chairperson, Etsay Wayu (left) helps his fellow VESA members gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to turn their lives around. Here Etsay and his wife, Mulu Girmay, are pictured in their store room. Thanks to USAID, they have learned new ways to manage their farm and earn and manage their income. As a result of all they learned, the family now has their own safety net: more than a year's worth of food in storage. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Village Economic and Social Association

As a model farmer and VESA (village economic and social association) chairperson, Etsay Wayu (left) helps his fellow VESA members gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to turn their lives around. Here Etsay is pictured at home with his family. Thanks to USAID, he and his wife, Mulu Girmay, have learned new ways to manage their farm and their income. As a result, they have more than a year's worth of food in storage. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Piggyback

Baby carried on his mother's back. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Hilifti Abraha

Just four years ago, Hilifti Abraha was working day and night but still couldn't earn enough to support herself and her five children. Today, thanks to USAID's Graduation with Resilience to Achieve Sustainable Development activity, she is a thriving shop owner who knows what it takes to succeed. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: A Thriving Shop Owner

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Serving Tella

Berhe Desta serves a customer at his tella bet (an informal bar that sells local alcohol). Berhe and his wife Zenebu Shomoy work together in oxen fattening. They used some of the profit from their business to construct a new house for their family. Then they decided to generate additional income by using the front room of that house as a tella bet. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: The Tella Bet

Berhe Desta and his wife Zenebu Shomoy serve customers at their tella bet (an informal bar that sells local alcohol). Berhe and his wife Zenebu work together in oxen fattening. They used some of the profit from their business to construct a new house for their family. Then they decided to generate additional income by using the front room of that house as a tella bet. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Moving from Subsistence to Security

For Mulu Aberra, a life of severe hardship meant living day to day. Through USAID's Graduation with Resilience to Achieve Sustainable Development activity, Mulu has moved from subsistence to security and is able to plan for tomorrow. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Lezebu Derbew

Project beneficiary Lezebu Derbew was one of the first women to start plowing in her village. At the time she was ridiculed for it, but now many other women are following her example. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: The Value of a Loan

The value of a loan. Hailu Tekola is the manager of the Alamata branch of Dedebit Microfinance. His branch has loaned more money to households than any other branch in USAID's project woredas (districts) in Tigray. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Alternative Livelihoods for Youth

Alternative livelihoods for youth. Over the last three years, Mola has used the lessons he learned through USAID's Graduation with Resilience to Achieve Sustainable Development activity to build a better life for his family. Today he is using these same lessons to help the young people in his community find a brighter future at home. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Building a Better Life

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: A Better (Bees)ness

Practical training proves transformational. Abebaw Melesew used the training he received from USAID to turn around his beekeeping business. He is now a model farmer, training others to succeed in honey production. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Succeeding in Honey Production

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Model Farmer Trains Others

Abebaw Melesew used the training he received from USAiD to turn around his beekeeping business. He is now a model farmer, training others to succeed in honey production. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Working on their Hives

Abebaw Melesew and his wife Abay Desalegn work on their hives. Abebaw used the training he received from USAID to turn around his beekeeping business. He is now a model farmer, training others to succeed in honey production. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Gebiyanesh Ambaw

Better nutrition, healthier children. Since joining USAID's Graduation with Resilience to Achieve Sustainable Development activity, Gebiyanesh Ambaw and her husband have received nutrition training that helps them support the health and well-being of their family, especially its youngest members. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Haytam Adane

Havtam Adane, daughter of USAID beneficiary Gebiyanesh Ambaw. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Mother and Baby

Mother and baby. (Neighbor of Gebiyanesh Ambaw). Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Belaysew Adane

Belaysew Adane, daughter of USAID beneficiary Gebiyanesh Ambaw. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Better Nutrition, Healthier Children

Better nutrition, healthier children. Since joining USAID's Graduation with Resilience to Achieve Sustainable Development activity, Gebiyanesh Ambaw and her husband received nutrition training that helps them support the health and well-being of their family, especially its youngest members. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Plowing Land in Meshelemia Kebele

Kassa Mulualem plows her father's land (a young boy helps her to guide the animals in a straight line). Kassa, a project participant and role model, was one of the first women in her area to take up plowing, an activity that is traditionally reserved for men. By sharing her experience with the village savings associations in her area, she is helping to raise awareness about gender equality and encouraging other USAID beneficiaries to change their lives by changing their understanding of the division of labo Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Better Inputs

Better inputs, stronger returns. By providing farmers like Mengist Melese and his wife with access to high-quality agricultural inputs and links to sustainable markets, USAID has helped them improve their incomes and aspire to greater possibilities. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Improving Their Income

Building Resilience in the Ethiopian Highlands: Plowing her Father's Land

Kassa Mulualem plows her father's land. Kassa is a project participant and role model. She was one of the first women in her area to take up plowing, an activity that is traditionally reserved for men. By sharing her experience with the village savings associations in her area, she is helping to raise awareness about gender equality and encouraging other GRAD beneficiaries to change their lives by changing their understanding of the division of labor between men and women.

Kassa Mulualem plows her father's land. Kassa, a project participant and role model, was one of the first women in her area to take up plowing, an activity that is traditionally reserved for men. By sharing her experience with the village savings associations in her area, she is helping to raise awareness about gender equality and encouraging other USAID beneficiaries to change their lives by changing their understanding of the division of labor between men and women. Photo credit: Kelley Lynch.

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