Oxfam's work in Eritrea in depth

In Eritrea, Oxfam helps people cope with regular drought and to make a secure living from the land. We also focus on water and sanitation, gender equality and HIV and AIDS.

The context

Severe drought has been a common recurrence in Eri­trea’s recent history, and it was the 1983 drought that first brought Oxfam to the region, distributing food aid and providing clean water. Eritrea only became inde­pendent from Ethiopia in 1993 and since then the gov­ernment has promoted the concept of “self reliance.”

Today some 80% of Eritreans depend on the land to make a living – yet the frequent droughts make it hard for people to grow enough food. One in three Eritreans struggle to feed their families. Oxfam’s work aims to provide long-term support to help communities prepare for and cope with the difficult environment.

How Oxfam is helping

Through our livelihood and food security programme Oxfam is assisting the Government of Eritrea to work with poor farmers to improve the quality of farmland and maximise farmers' outputs.

The livelihood programme provides poor farmers with new types of drought resistant seeds, seedlings, assistance in diversifying  their crop production and access to vaccinated animals. This programme helps farmers diversify their sources of income – so that in times of poor harvest they can still afford to feed their families.

Our livelihoods programme emphasises food security by promoting agricultural development. Our focus is primarily on ensuring the availability and accessibility of food supplies to vulnerable families. This work includes providing agricultural inputs and services, constructing small-scale irrigation facilities, protecting the environment, assisting farmers to diversify their income sources, providing veterinary support and training farmers while strengthening extension services.

Supplying clean water helps agricultural productivity and keeps communities healthy. Oxfam’s public health programme has provided assistance to more than 50 villages focusing on constructing and repairing  water systems – by digging boreholes, installing hand pumps and utilising one of Eritrea’s biggest natural resources, the sun, through solar powered water pumps. The water is used for drinking, washing and to irrigate farmland.

Oxfam has supported the construction of improved local water facilities such as micro dams and ponds to capture rainwater and help communities get through the long dry seasons.
Thousands of latrines have been constructed in homes, villages, schools and health centres across the country. In many communities we have set up Water, Sanitation and Health (WASH) committees to promote good hygiene practices, particularly among children, and to ensure that water facilities are well maintained.

Oxfam’s work in Eritrea always seeks to empower communities and local partner organisations, and we support  Non-Government Organisations in a number of ways, including promoting and strengthening their involvement in drought preparedness interventions.

Advocating for the rights of women is also a key issue, particularly among rural communities. Over a third of the people involved in our WASH committees are now women and women make up 60% of people directly benefiting from Oxfam’s work in the country.

 

Last updated: February 2011