Tearfund Canada and the Ethiopia Kale Heywet Church Development Commission are partnering on an agriculture and livelihoods project in the Zala Woreda, Gofa Zone, of the Southern Ethiopian Regional State (SERs), in Ethiopia.
The local food system in Zala Woreda is highly vulnerable due to intertwined climatic, socioeconomic, and structural challenges. Despite strong agricultural potential, recurrent droughts, highly variable rainfall, and environmental degradation—including soil erosion, declining fertility, and pest and disease pressures— undermine crop and livestock production. Agriculture is predominantly rain-fed and dominated by maize mono-cropping, with limited diversification into other crops. Although perennial rivers such as the Zenti and Maze exist, small-scale irrigation remains largely underused. Food security is weak across all four pillars: availability, access, utilization, and stability.
Post-harvest losses exceed 30% because of poor handling, storage, and weak market linkages, while households often sell produce immediately after harvest, leading to shortages during lean seasons. Gender inequality further exacerbates food insecurity, as men control most productive resources and decisions, while women face heavy domestic workloads, limiting their ability to influence food use, diversify diets, and strengthen household resilience.
The project aims to improve food and nutrition security, strengthen household resilience, and enhance sustainable livelihoods for 2,400 households comprising 14,400 members, with a strong emphasis on women’s participation and gender equality.