Heifer International started work in Ethiopia in 2004, supporting Send a Cow (SAC) and local partners. Heifer Ethiopia partners with a range of organizations including the government, the private sector and public and non-governmental organizations to develop projects that strengthen the economic security of farmers. It coordinates implementation of projects focused on capacity building and agricultural development, engaging with communities, the Ministry of Agriculture and local partners.
To address food insecurity in a degraded and drought-prone part of the Rift Valley in Southeastern Ethiopia, Heifer Ethiopia implemented the Integrated Dairy and Horticulture Project through its partnership with Send a Cow UK.
Since 2021, Heifer Ethiopia has been providing technical assistance to a flagship government livelihoods project, the Lowlands Livelihoods Resilience Project (LLRP), implemented in the regions of Afar, Benshangul Gumuz, Gambella, Oromia, SNNPR and Somali. The total cost of the project is $451 million for 2019 to 2026, with 2.5 million people expected to benefit (about 500,000 households). Funding is provided by the World Bank and IFAD.
The Lowlands Livelihoods Resilience Project aims to improve the livelihood resilience of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Ethiopia and is aligned with the Government of Ethiopia’s Livestock Master Plan, the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II) and the Climate Resilience Green Economy (CRGE). Heifer Ethiopia supports the development of viable commercial production systems for small-scale pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in the project area focusing on the beef, dairy, fish, hides and skin, honey, live animals and poultry value chains. With support from Heifer Ethiopia and its partners, farmers can connect to new markets and capital, expanding their businesses.
Heifer works with farmers to secure a living income so they can lead dignified and prosperous lives. Learn more about what achieving a living income entails.