 The Food Security Project for Ethiopia intends to increase food access for poor, rural households and communities. The project, co-financed by the World Bank,Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and the Italian Cooperation, focuses on building the livelihoods of food insecure rural households and, specifically, on improving nutrition levels for children less than two years of age.
The Food Security Project takes a multi-pronged approach that includes public works activities, agricultural research and extension, increased productive assets for poorer households, and nutrition programs for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. There are four components. The largest, “grants to communities,” offers resources to increase household and community assets, so that households become self-sufficient enough to cope with shocks. Most communities have decided to put these grants into revolving funds that give small loans to their poorest members. Many households have used these assets to replenish livestock—a key element of farming systems in Ethiopia. Some have diversified into livestock fattening or trade. The second component, “capacity building grants”— aimed at the kebele and woreda local and regional institutions, and the Federal Food Security Coordination Bureau—supports the development of local institutions to manage community grants and local innovations. The component also finances the building of woreda and federal capacities to implement community-driven approaches to fighting food insecurity. . The third component, “child growth promotion,” carries out monthly weighing of children to monitor their growth. This component then provides consultations to care- givers and initiates community discussions on what actions are needed as a result of the weighing process. The goal is to improve child nutrition through monitoring, counseling, and small community-level investments. The final component includes investments in communications, impact evaluation, and administration of funds. Its purpose is to promote the community aspect of the project through improved communications, and capacities, especially at the woreda level. This component also provides for investments in training and development, and equipment. |
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