Ethiopia is the second largest country in Africa in terms of population, the vast majority of whom live in rural areas. 31% of the population lives on less than $1.25 a day and there are recurrent problems of undernourishment.

Although the government is beginning to focus on the development of the agricultural sector, its growth is very slow and the problems of poverty and food insecurity remain a major challenge for the country, especially for small producers. Family farming, in order to develop, faces many obstacles such as recurrent droughts, lack of irrigation infrastructure, dysfunctional markets and difficulties in accessing financial services.

Since the mid-1990s, SOS Faim has been supporting family farming in Ethiopia in order to fight poverty and food insecurity in rural areas.

It collaborates with microfinance institutions as well as two local NGOs specialised in strengthening farmers’ cooperatives. SOS Faim encourages the bringing together of microfinance institutions and small producers in order to best meet the needs of the most vulnerable people.