Responding to the escalating malnutrition crisis in Ethiopia through an emergency appeal

Introduction

When Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, it sent the (already unsteady) global food system into chaos. Global food (as well as fertiliser and fuel) prices escalated, having a huge impact on some of the world’s poorest communities. In Ethiopia, a region already struggling with malnutrition and food insecurity, heightened by local conflict, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and failed harvests due to drought, the situation was dire. The UN estimated that more than 20 million people are affected and in need of food assistance.

In response to the growing malnutrition crisis, The Power of Nutrition ran its first emergency appeal – a call to its partners (and the general public) to pool funds to support areas with the greatest need.

Our programme

This programme in Ethiopia is the first investment using appeal funds. Together with International Medical Corps, our first dedicated humanitarian aid partner, we designed a project that would support communities in the highly affected region of East Hararghe.

The project works closely with community health workers to improve and diversify diets in 340 targeted households by providing goats and poultry, along with supporting infant and young child feeding activities. This important work aims to sustainably prevent malnutrition, prioritising households with pregnant women and with young children. It is complemented by International Medical Corps’ wider work supporting local health facilities to provide malnutrition treatment.

Magno's story

Magno is a 34-year-old woman who lives in the Biyo Worab kebele of Midega Tola woreda. She is married with nine children – two are under the age of five. The family lost all their livestock due to the drought - goats, donkeys and cattle.

Magno was one of the women to receive goats through the programme. Her family is categorised as one of the low-income families, known in the community as the poorest of the poor. Prior to the launching of the project, Magno battled to survive, failing to provide for her needs in terms of clothing, food and nutrition.

After receiving training on looking after goats, including feeding and prevention of common diseases, Magno received five goats. Two weeks later, the International Medical Corps team went to Magno’s house for the first round of post-distribution monitoring and discussed the status of the goats with her. She was very happy, and her children played with the goats.

Previously, we all were depressed as we lost our livestock due to the drought. Thanks to our supporters, our life changed from dark to light. I am feeling a sense of brightness as I can earn income through the production of these goats to feed my family. Thanks for saving my family’s life and preventing us from migration.

Magno is one of over 1,000 women to receive support through this programme. It has also supported over 7,000 children through growth monitoring, 1,000 of which have been identified as malnourished and are now receiving treatment.

We continue to engage with partners to respond to the urgent global malnutrition crisis. Our programmes have always aimed to provide a balance between providing urgent treatment and creating sustainable solutions that help communities break the cycle of malnutrition and poverty. The current global malnutrition crisis however, is unprecedented, and as such we’re pleased to continue the partnership with International Medical Corps to allow us to reach more in urgent need.

To support this work, please consider donating at Donate | Foundation Core (subism.co.uk).

Read more about our Ethiopia phase one programme here and phase two here.