Climate Smart Integrated Rural Development Project

Agricultural production in Ethiopia is dominated by small-scale subsistence farmers (about 8 million households) who practice traditional farming methods, accounting for 95% of the total area under production. The high proportion of rain-fed crop production makes the sector very sensitive to rainfall variability. Productivity has historically been constrained by rainfall variability and extremes, low soil fertility and land/soil degradation. Erosion of topsoil and failure to return organic matter contributes further to soil deterioration. Ethiopia also has a large livestock population (the largest in Africa); livestock is a source of local income in the highlands (where mixed farming systems are often used) and in lowlands/pastoral farming systems, where livestock are a critical part of livelihoods and the principal capital of farmers. Over 80% of agricultural holders practice mixed systems.

Critically, both agriculture and livestock sectors are heavily impacted by the frequent major droughts and floods. Drought is a critical climate related hazard in Ethiopia, frequently occurring in many parts of the country. A large part of Ethiopia  is dryland, where annual rainfall is low and seasonal and inter-annual variability is high. These areas are highly vulnerable; desertification and drought have been a persistent problem throughout history, with associated food shortages and famine. Floods are the other major climate related hazard in the country. Major floods – leading to loss of life and property – have occurred in different parts of the country although there are much more common smaller events.

The overall objective of the project is to increase resilience to recurrent droughts in seven agro-ecological landscapes in Ethiopia. An integrated water, agriculture and natural resource management approach will be adopted to achieve the following outcomes:

• Increased capacity to manage current and future drought risks through improved adaptation planning and sustainable management of agro-ecological landscapes
• Enhanced and secure access to potable water supply, and small-scale irrigation in drought affected areas
• Strengthened institutional capacity to reduce risks associated with climate-induced socioeconomic and environmental losses
• Strengthened awareness and ownership of adaptation and climate risk reduction processes at local level
• Increased ecosystem resilience in response to climate change and variability-induced stress

Project Documents