Facilitators for Change in Ethiopia (FCE)
FCE is an NGO created in 1997. It strives to ensure food security in the Oromia region where it operates. FCE cooperates with and works for village groups. The support of SOS Faim is twofold:
a) Creation of cereal banks. This project aims at creating cereal banks in the Tiro Afeta district in the Oromia region situated about 300 km South-West from Addis-Ababa. Tiro Afeta is one of the poorest areas, without electricity or drinking water facilities. Access to the villages is very difficult due to a deplorable state of roads.
With the help of cereal banks, people living in Tiro Afeta (110 000 inhabitants) will have access to cereals at affordable prices throughout the whole year. Profits made by cereal banks will ensure their functioning when the programme is over. 2 700 heads of families will directly benefit from the scheme and 13 000 people will be concerned in an indirect way.
b) Implementation of a small scale irrigation system. SOS Faim supports FCE’s initiative in Labu Nedhi (a village in Tiro Afeta district): constructing an irrigation scheme which will help to diversify farm productions and secure food sovereignty for the local community.128 families (750 people) who belong to farmers’ organizations will benefit directly from the advantages of the irrigation system which will cover a surface of 32 ha. However, the system will benefit to the majority of the local population. The families concerned will participate actively in the construction: financially, by providing materials, or by working as volunteers for the farmers’ organization.
