Emergency Response

In the face of rising temperatures and unpredictable weather, women in the East Shewa Zone of the Oromia Region, are leading efforts to restore degraded land, proving that small actions can lead to big environmental and economic changes.

Through a community-led Livelihood initiative supported by ChildFund, 60 Women’s Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) with over 1,200 women, have established 15 community-run tree nurseries, raising 321,034 seedlings of a variety of trees (shade, fruits, medicinal) within 3 years.

“We see these trees as a way of protecting our land, our water, and also making money because we sell the seedlings,” says Yetunde, a mother of four.

Women involved in the tree nurseries earn income by selling seedlings, increasing household incomes. Looking ahead, the groups plan to expand nurseries to produce 500,000 seedlings annually and integrate tree planting into school programs on communal land

consumption among participating households.
“My family never ate lettuce before. We only had it during festivities, cooked by other families. But after training, we started cultivating it and now eat it regularly. Recently, I prepared it for guests from Addis Ababa, and they asked me to make more. It was delicious!” says Guye.

Additionally, women have embraced small livestock management, including sheep, goats, and poultry.

“Before, we didn’t know much about livestock diseases. Now, we can identify them and take our animals to the vet when needed,” says Nehima.

Training in natural medicine has also had an impact. Some households now plant the moringa tree which is known for its health benefits. Research shows that regular moringa consumption can reduce blood pressure by up to 10% in hypertensive patients.

“My mother-in-law suffers from high blood pressure. After learning about moringa’s benefits, I planted it in our compound. She has been consuming it and her condition has greatly improved,” says Robe, one of the women farmers.

Transformative Outcomes

With visible changes in household income, food security, and land restoration, the project’s impact is undeniable:

• School compounds: Shade and fruits reduced classroom temperatures, improving learning conditions.
• Degraded communal lands: Shade, medicinal and fruit trees covered the once degraded communal lands, and the women sold fruits for additional income and contributed to an increase of 80% in tree cover in the areas allocated for tree-planting by the government helping prevent soil erosion and flooding.
• Tree Nurseries: The women groups established nursery sites, ensuring a continuous supply of a variety of high-quality fruit, medicinal, and shade tree seedlings and these were sold and/or used to improve their plots of land in their homesteads increasing local biodiversity.

“This initiative aligns with ChildFund’s priority to build resilient communities by equipping women with the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to restore ecosystems and strengthen livelihoods. It is inspiring to see women leading sustainable change. This initiative is proof that women can successfully drive environmental conservation, boost economic resilience, and create lasting impact in their communities,” says Lilly Omondi, Country Director at ChildFund.