Weite Sicht auf gründe Landschaft mit Ackerfeldern

Asagirt Integrated Rural Development Area

Asagirt – Rural Project

Project goal

The overall objective of this project is to reduce poverty, improve the socio-economic situation and empower the people of Asgirt.

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Interventions

In order to initiate lasting and sustainable changes in rural areas, Menschen für Menschen relied on the principle of "integrated rural development projects". Together with the population, who contributed a high level of commitment and hard work, measures from various areas that are necessary for sustainable development were implemented and interlinked.

  • Water & hygiene: Together with the local population, Menschen für Menschen built wells, spring catchments and rainwater collection basins. In training courses, the farmers learned how to keep the water clean and how to care for and maintain the system. The local population was also informed about important aspects of improved hygiene.
  • Health: By building health stations, training medical staff, vaccinating people and carrying out simple operations, Menschen für Menschen improved basic medical care. The foundation also carried out HIV/AIDS awareness programs and advised people on health care issues.
  • Agriculture: To combat erosion, Menschen für Menschen helped farmers build terraces and reforest the land. Training gave farmers new techniques to increase crop yields and improve livestock productivity.
  • Education: When the project began, almost half of all people in Ethiopia could neither read nor write. By building schools, training teachers and running literacy campaigns for adults, Menschen für Menschen helped to improve this situation.
  • Promoting women: To improve the living conditions of women and strengthen their social status, Menschen für Menschen implemented various measures. These include: vocational training courses, training in housekeeping and hygiene, and credit programs that enable women to become self-employed.
  • Infrastructure: In the remote, rural areas, many small villages are difficult to access. By building roads and bridges, Menschen für Menschen enabled the residents to connect to the world.

Project info

  • Focus:
    • Water
    • Health
    • Agriculture
    • Education
    • Social
    • Women
    • Infrastructure
  • Target group: farmers, families, rural residents
  • Region: Asagirt, Amhara
  • Population: 53,845 inhabitants (2014)
  • Project area: 437 km²
  • Duration: 2007 to 2014

The problem

The Asagirt district is located on the eastern edge of the central Ethiopian highlands. The highly variable rainfall made growing grain very difficult. Due to deforestation and intensive farming, the already low rainfall washed away the soil, resulting in erosion. Due to traditional farming methods, agricultural productivity was low. The same was true of livestock farming, which was carried out with low yields. Contaminated drinking water often caused diseases.

In Asagirt, there were initially only four outpatient health centers and one polyclinic, but these did not have the necessary facilities and medicines. Scattered throughout the district, there were initially only a few primary schools, most of which were in very poor condition. In some cases, children had to walk up to five hours to the nearest school. As a result, only a few children in the district attended school. Most communities were not connected by road, and social facilities such as schools and health centers were difficult to reach, often via steep mountain paths.

Bauern stehen mit ihrer Ernte am Rande eines Wasserspeichers

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

With the 2030 Agenda, the United Nations has formulated 17 goals for sustainable development. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a roadmap for the future that enables a dignified life while preserving the natural foundations of life. With this project, we have contributed to achieving the following goals:

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