Empowering women in the face of changing climates in Uganda and Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s South Omo Zone and Uganda’s Karamoja sub-region are home to thousands of pastoralists who migrate with their livestock in search of pasture. However, climate changes have brought disease, drought and degraded grasslands. This has cut the size of herds of livestock, increasing already high levels of poverty and malnutrition.

This is having a significant impact on the livelihoods of women in these regions. UN figures indicate that 80% of people displaced by climate emergencies are women, who are bearing the brunt of environmental shocks.

Farm Africa’s Livestock for Livelihoods programme, funded by UK aid from the UK government, supports pastoralist women in South Omo and Karamoja to set up sustainable, small goat rearing enterprises to generate income and provide them and their families with a more nutritious diet.

Wartie Korayo, from the BenaTseMay Woreda of South Omo, is one of the incredible women benefitting from the project. She works hard to provide for her family, juggling farm work, her role as the primary care-giver to her eight children, and taking care of the family’s livestock.

The harsh climate in South Omo has meant that her yield and livestock have suffered, decreasing her income significantly. To help Wartie address these challenges and increase her income, Farm Africa provided her with three goats and training in goat husbandry and livestock business. She now has a heard of six.

“I am able to get relatively sufficient amount of milk for my children. I am considering fattening and trading male goats to make money,” Wartie said.

An entrepreneur, she also spotted an unmet demand in her local community and has used the income generated from her herd to start a business making and selling a local drink. This has increased her income further and has allowed her family to prosper.

“I am excited this project helped me to make my long-term business idea practical…The money I am earning is easing my burden. I can feed my family and give my children an education.”

To find out more about Farm Africa’s Livestock for Livelihoods programme visit www.farmafrica.org/where-we-work/livestock-for-livelihoods

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