Across the drought-prone rangelands of the Afar and Oromia regions of Ethiopia, a fundamental transformation is taking place. In pastoralist communities long defined by climate vulnerability, women and young people are moving from the margins of crisis response to the center of community leadership, climate-smart agriculture, and landscape restoration.
In the past, recurrent droughts across the Gelcha, Sidahafage, Kusra, and Ilala kebeles consistently claimed pasture, weakened livestock, and deepened economic insecurity. Today, these same communities are welcoming partners and visitors not with accounts of loss, but with thriving, women-led enterprises, restored rangelands, and renewed optimism for the future.
"Life was very difficult. We relied on farming and livestock, but climate change brought drought, reduced pasture, and more animal diseases. When I joined the women's cooperative, everything started to change. We received training and 22 goats, and we learned how to care for them and build a business. Working together, we increased our herd from 22 to 25 goats. That gave us confidence that we could succeed," said Chaltu Kelili.
The African Development Bank Group, through grant support from the Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF), launched the Gender Transformation and Climate Resilience in Afar and Oromia Regional States Project to address the systemic vulnerabilities brought by climate change.
Implemented by Farm Africa in consortium with the Population, Health and Environment Ethiopia (PHE) and UEWCA$ (PHE EC), this initiative treats social inclusion as a core engine of environmental adaptation.
In the lowlands of Afar and Oromia, the project equips pastoralist communities with climate-smart agriculture techniques, solar-powered irrigation system, livestock diversification techniques, and access to financial tools through Village Savings and Loans Associations.
Communities at the Heart of the Transition
At the heart of this transformation are local pastoralist communities, particularly women and youth. By taking on an increasing role in enterprise management and decision-making, women are strengthening household resilience and promoting economic inclusion.
"Before this project was introduced, I was unemployed and a full-time stay at home mother. Being in that situation restricted my life. Now, all of that is in the past, and I am taking care of myself and my children. Since we received training, we are using various machines to process and produce milk. We have big plan for the future," says Kemisa Roba.
For local farmers, converting climate-vulnerable land into productive fields requires specialized techniques, modern inputs, and persistent dedication.
"By the mercy of God, we were holding on and preparing the fields. Even when it rains repeatedly, we prepare the land by plowing it again and again, even before the rain stops, to get it ready for planting. We spent a long time doing this repeatedly on that land--we plow the same land and prepare it. However, we are grateful for the yields we have started to get from it" said Chali Ahmado.
For young entrepreneurs, acquiring practical technical skills has created viable local economic alternatives, stemming rural-to-urban youth migration during severe dry seasons.
"Before the project intervention, many young people felt forced to leave our villages because there were no local economic opportunities during dry seasons. Learning to manage solar irrigation systems and process agricultural goods gave us a reason to stay and build our future right here in our community," said Shewit Emmanuel, Country Director of Farm Africa, Ethiopia.
Shifting Cultural Norms and Household Governance
As women's economic contributions become visible across the community, local perceptions surrounding gender roles are evolving rapidly. Male community members and traditional leaders are increasingly championing shared household decision-making and equal access to education for young girls.
"Because of this project, I have become a stronger believer in gender equality. As a father of three daughters, knowing that when my children grow up, our culture respects and cares for them makes me proud to be a father of daughters. Because of this, I believe in gender equality," said Hussen.
To embed long-term climate resilience within local communities, the initiative integrates environmental education into local school systems by establishing Gender and Climate Clubs in primary schools. By addressing taboo topics such as menstrual hygiene, providing sanitary products, and teaching environmental stewardship, the project reduces school absenteeism among young girls.
"The Gender and Climate Club taught us about our rights, menstrual health, and protecting the environment. Many girls used to stay home during their periods because we didn't have sanitary pads. Now, we plant trees together, girls and boys side by side. It has shown our community that girls are just as capable as boys. Now I know that my future is my choice--I want to become a scientist so I can help solve problems in my community" said Fatuma.
Mobilising Climate Finance for Adaptation
Unlike traditional mechanisms that focus primarily on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, this approach recognizes and values social adaptation efforts--actions that have historically been difficult to measure and support through conventional climate finance.
"Efforts like these can be scaled in other countries where similar arid and semi-arid environments exist, where social norms and barriers limit women. Integrating women into decision-making and climate action yields measurable impacts. Where women are resourced everywhere, we know that they are able to ensure positive impacts on their households and the community in general" said Rita Effah, Coordinator, Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF)
Scaling Up Climate Finance and Replicating Impacts at Scale
For the African Development Bank Group, this initiative goes far beyond a single community project; it represents a scalable approach to financing and structuring adaptation actions across Africa's drylands. The initial results demonstrate that farming practices are improving, community capacity is being strengthened, and resilience is increasing at the household level. What is being piloted in Afar and Oromia could become a model for other arid and semi-arid regions across Africa, where pastoral communities remain particularly vulnerable to climate change.
Building a Future for Climate-Resilient Agriculture
In Afar and Oromia, the project's results demonstrate that it is not only possible to build climate-resilient pastoral communities, but that this transformation is already underway. By combining climate-smart farming practices, community empowerment, and targeted financing mechanisms, the project is laying the foundations for a more resilient future.
Beyond Ethiopia, this initiative offers a proven, replicable model for transforming pastoral agriculture, linking local actions to global climate commitments and opening up new avenues for adaptation funding.
