LIVELIHOODS & RESILIENCE
“We empower communities to lead their own change”
Overview of our Livelihoods & Resilience Program
The Association of Pastoralist Community for Change (APCfC) is committed to addressing the growing food insecurity affecting pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities in Ethiopia’s lowland regions. These communities rely heavily on livestock production for both sustenance and economic stability. However, their livelihoods are increasingly threatened by climate change-induced droughts and ongoing conflict, which have severely impacted access to pasture, water, animal health services, and markets.
In response, APCfC has launched the Livelihoods Resilience Program, a community-centered initiative aimed at revitalizing pastoralist livelihoods and promoting resilient rangeland ecosystems. The program focuses on building sustainable living conditions through diverse food sources, improved economic opportunities, and strengthened climate resilience.
The following are our key objecitves: :
▶ Community-led resource management: Supporting the development and sustainable management of rangelands and water resources to enhance both livelihoods and ecosystem health.
▶ Empowerment of pastoralists, especially women and girls: Improving access to information, inputs, services (including finance and credit), and markets to enable inclusive and sustainable livelihood options.
▶ Capacity building for climate resilience: Equipping communities with skills in climate adaptation, conservation, production, product management, and advocacy to strengthen food security and long-term resilience.
Over the past decade, droughts have become more frequent and prolonged across southern, southeastern, and eastern Ethiopia. This has led to a sharp decline in the availability and quality of water and forage, disrupting livestock production and the pastoralist way of life.
Women in these communities are disproportionately affected. They bear the responsibility of securing water and providing nutrition for their families, yet face deep poverty, limited participation in economic activities, and minimal decision-making power. Many also experience restricted access to essential services and are vulnerable to gender-based violence, exacerbated by harmful traditional practices and entrenched patriarchal systems.
APCfC’s Livelihoods Resilience Program prioritizes community-based interventions that promote:
▶ Sustainable and inclusive economic development,
▶ Improved access to food and essential services,
▶ Gender equity and empowerment,
▶ Long-term resilience to climate and conflict-related shocks.
Through collaborative efforts with local communities and stakeholders, APCfC is working to ensure that pastoralist and agro-pastoralist families can build secure, dignified, and sustainable lives.
Purpose and Objectives
The overarching goal of our Livelihoods Resilience Program is to empower pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities with sustainable livelihood opportunities. This is achieved by promoting climate-smart natural resource management and supporting alternative livelihood options that ensure diverse food sources and improved economic well-being. To achieve this goal, our program focuses on three key objectives:
▶ Strengthening community-led development and management of rangeland and water resources to enhance both livelihoods and the resilience of rangeland ecosystems.
▶ Supporting pastoralists—especially women and girls—by improving their access to information, inputs, services (including finance and credit), and markets, enabling them to pursue viable, inclusive, and sustainable livelihood options that contribute to long-term economic stability.
▶ Building the skills and capacities of pastoralist communities in climate adaptation, conservation, production, product management, and advocacy, equipping them to better navigate environmental challenges and advocate for their needs.
Together, these efforts aim to build resilient communities capable of sustaining their livelihoods in the face of climate and socio-economic challenges.
Our Strategies and key Approach
Our Livelihoods Resilience local initiative focuses on empowering pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities through a comprehensive approach to sustainable natural resource management, climate resilience, and economic empowerment. By promoting community ownership, enhancing local advocacy, building capacity, and fostering strategic linkages, the program aims to strengthen livelihoods, especially for women and marginalized groups, while ensuring environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change. Specifically, we apply the following approaches:
Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM):
We promote a community-led development and recovery approach that ensures local communities are actively engaged and take full ownership in protecting and enhancing their natural resources and environment.
Enhancing Decision-Making abilities
Awareness raising and capacity building: We deliver training programs for community members, traditional institutions, and target groups on Climate adaptation strategies, Livelihood diversification, Agroecological techniques, Fodder management, and Basic business skills.
Provision of Inputs:
We supply need-based agricultural tools and seedlings—including grasses and plants—to support community efforts in Soil conservation, Natural resource protection, Rehabilitation of water points, and Bush clearing on grazing lands.
Local Advocacy:
Local Advocacy: Through raising awareness and building their capacities to participate in and influence local policy and strategy decisions, especially those affecting the value chain systems, climate change, and local market constraints we closely work with customary institutions and our target community to influence change at local level.
Linkages and Networking:
We facilitate critical connections between:
▶ Pastoralists and livestock insurance providers to access Index-Based Livestock Insurance (IBLI).
▶ Community groups, especially women’s self-help groups—and input suppliers, service providers, and buyers, enabling access to quality inputs and services for local economic engagement.
▶ Women’s self-help groups and financial service providers, improving access to credit for enhanced production and economic empowerment.
Our Key Interventions
Since 2014, APCfC has been engaged in various interventions that have contributed to the improvement of livelihood and resilience of pastoralists across its geographic target areas. Some of our interventions include:
▶“Nexus-“Resilience, Empowerment and Sustainable Economic Wellbeing for Vulnerable Communities in Borena zone, Ethiopia”, a five-year initiative under implementation since 2023 funded by Trõcaire/CST-Ethiopia in Gololcha, Degaga Bede, Laga sure, and Dire and Moyale Woredas, Borena zone. The project’s livelihoods component is supporting the local community to have sustainable lives including diverse food sources and economic well-being.
▶ “Developing Inclusive and Profitable Dairy Value Chains for Pastoralist Communities in Borena Zone, Moyale Woreda”, project implemented form 2020-2023, in Tuka, Mudhi Ambo, Bokola, Argane and Mado localities in Moyale district funded by Jersy Overseas Aid (JOA) through CST Ethiopia.
▶ “Resilient Community Program”, implemented in Dire Woreda in Borena zone with the overall aim for Women and men pastoralists and agro-pastoralists practice improved livestock techniques and using collective action to pursue their interests and sustainably using and managing natural resources. The project was funded by Trocaire/CST Ethiopia in 2022.
▶ Livelihood Enhancement Program (2014–2015): Implemented in Fentalle Woreda and funded by the British Council–Civil Society Support Program (CSSP), this project promoted livelihood adaptation to agro-pastoral systems. It also empowered women through access to Alternative Basic Education, enabling them to participate more fully in economic and social life.
Key Results and Impacts
APCfC’s livelihoods initiatives have significantly improved the food security, economic resilience, and empowerment of over 10,500 pastoralists and agro-pastoralists—mostly, women and girls—in Ethiopia’s Oromia region. Through integrated interventions in natural resource management, women’s empowerment, value chain development, and education, the program has fostered sustainable livelihoods and community transformation.
To mention some specific Achievements of Our Livelihoods Initiatives:
▶ Over 2,500 pastoralists in Dire, Moyale, and Dilo districts (Borena zone) have gained enhanced skills and knowledge in sustainable communal natural resource management, including water scheme development, watershed management, and rangeland restoration.
▶ More than 6,500 women and girls have been trained in basic saving and credit practices, enabling them to successfully engage in petty trade and small-scale businesses.
▶ Over 450 hectares of grazing land have been cleared of invasive bush species, and enclosures have been established to support seasonal grazing and environmental conservation.
▶ Over 1,500 women and girls in Moyale Woreda from Dairy Value Chain.
In nutshell, across all project areas, APCfC’s livelihoods interventions have enabled thousands of pastoralists and agro-pastoralists—especially women and girls—to improve their food security and economic status. This has been achieved through sustainable natural resource use and conservation, Co-investment partnerships with financial service providers, Support for entrepreneurship and petty trade, particularly in goat production and marketing, and access to education and skills that foster long-term resilience and empowerment.
LIVELIHOODS
Case Stories
Protecting the environment, revitalizing livelihoods:
“...Both Dima and Lula are very certain that the rangeland rehabilitation activity
initiated by APCfC and kick-started by the full participation of their community will have a long-term impact and is only the beginning as the interest and willingness of the community is behind this initiative. Dima and Lula expect that after full recovery of the delineated and fenced land and proactive protection and management by their community-based natural resource management committee, fodder production will be the next plan of action to ensure that their livestock production system will be sustained even during drought situations.
Empowerment in action:
“...I have personally come to realize that, if women’s situations at households and in communities are to change, their economic realities as individuals should also change…” — Loko Liben Galgalo, Program Participant. Loko Liben’s story is a powerful testament to how economic empowerment, community support, and inclusive development can transform lives. From hardship to hope, she is not just surviving, she is thriving and lighting the way for others to follow.
“Empowering Women, transforming families”
“…As members, they began holding weekly meetings and saving 15 Birr each. With the project’s support, they received training in self-help group management and savings.
Soon, the project encouraged members to explore small business opportunities. Galmo chose the shoat (sheep and goat) trade. “The training provided by the project was invaluable,” she says. “I learned so much about the production and marketing of shoat trading and petty trade…”
Future Plan
APCfC will continue its local community-based efforts to improve the livelihoods and economic wellbeing of pastoralists, particularly Women and Girls, through:
▶ strengthening community-Led rangeland and water resources development and sustainable management practices through strengthening the community customary natural resource management structures.
▶ enhancing skills and capacities of pastoralists on climate adaptation methodologies, conservation, production and product management practices.
▶ advocating for the domestication of the local policy for communal land ownership and certification; and
▶ providing support for improved access to information, input, services including finance and credits to engage in alternative income generation schemes.
APCfC will continue to seek funding both from local and international sources to expand its current livelihoods interventions to other geographic areas in the east and southeast parts in the country.
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Find our contact details and get in touch with our team for any information you would like to know about us.
Kirkos Sub city, Woreda 07, AN Business Center, 4th floor, P. O. Box: 18500; Addis Ababa-Ethiopia
+251 115 318141
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