Implementing Agency:
Department For International Development (PAND)

Managing Institute:
Farm Africa

Contractor:
Farm Africa

Project Code: 020-680-036	Start Date: 01/04/1995	End Date: 31/03/1999
Commitment: £500,000	Status: Current	Type of Funding: Bilateral - JFS

Project Background:
FARM Africa has been involved in development work in Ethiopia since 1988. By 1991, it was running three long-term development projects in the southern half of the country. With the fall of the Mengistu govenment in May of that year, and the consequent cessation of fighting in the north, it was decided to see what contribution FARM Africa could make to the Tigray region in which little agricultural development work had been done by government for the last 17 years due to the war.

A small FARM Africa team paid an exploratory visit in September 1991. A process of restructuring from a wartime to a peacetime footing was ongoing at the time. Plans were being made for a symposium to be held in April of the folowing year at which the status of Tigray's natural resources would be discussed, and appropriate agricultural and environmental policies would be agreed.

FARM Africa staff attended this symposium and, shortly afterwards, were invited to visit the Adwa area and to submit proposals for involvement.

Project Objectives:
To bring about increases in income and welfare of poor peasants in central Tigray through an approach to rural development that is community-oriented, self-reliant, and sustainable. Such an approach would also be relevant to other parts of Tigray and Ethiopia which can learn from central Tigray's experience.

Intended Outputs:
The baitos and other rural institutions in 10 tabias in 1 wereda in the project area will be trained and given practical experience in managing and planning communal resources, investments and services.

Sufficient water supplies will be constructed in 10 tabias to ensure that even at the height of the dry season the round-trip, to collect water, on foot from home to water point, does not exceed 1 hour.

Positive results for improving agricultural technology will be otained from a programme of farmers' participatory research.

The supply of tree and forage planting material will be increased in 1 wereda.

Para-professional services in the fields of veterinary medicine ("paravets") and crop-pest control ("para-pest controllers) will be operational in 10 tabias in 1 wereda.

Income support will be provided to needy families in 10 tabias in 1 wereda.

Access roads constructed in 10 tabias.

The most appropriate technical and organisational options (particularly in rural water supplies, land-use planning and the provision of para-professional services) for community-oriented, self-reliant and sustainable rural development in the different situations found in the project area will be identified.

The capacity of government and non-government organisations in the project area to render appropriate assistance to tabia-level communities will be enhanced.