Tessema, Ato Tsegahun; Tadess, Beyen; Getahun, Zewditu; Buta, Ato Mengistu, 2008, Meket Livelihood Development Project MLDP (Ethiopia) phase II Evaluation Report

2.1 ENABLING ENVIRONMENT

2.1.9 Value Chains and adding value to value chain components

Recommendation: 12. Note in planning and designing programming that road construction and cash for work can both contribute to improved livelihoods for people dependent on the IE.  These initiatives contribute to effective demand for products while roads facilitate the work of traders. (Informal economy related programming often ignores this type of support).

Reference: Tessema, Ato Tsegahun; Tadess, Beyen; Getahun, Zewditu; Buta, Ato Mengistu, 2008, Meket Livelihood Development Project MLDP (Ethiopia) phase II Evaluation Report, Final evaluation, Save the Children UK, Addis Ababa.

Evidence sample: the evaluation concluded that roads constructed by the Cash for Work programme have improved access to markets for beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries; shortened time spent getting to markets; improved inter-locality networking and enhanced social capital such as labour and market information sharing. Through its direct impact on the income of beneficiaries, the cash injected considerably increased the effective demand for major food crops and livestock (for asset building). This provided a good opportunity for traders to enter and/or expand their operations.

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2.4 APPROACHES TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

2.4.4. Improving food security through enhancing livelihoods of people dependent on IE

Recommendation: 4. Note that work to sustainably improve the food security of project participants requires long-term engagement, linking with Government strategies, and strategically complementing other local development initiatives in the target area in a holistic manner.

Reference: Tessema, Ato Tsegahun; Tadess, Beyen; Getahun, Zewditu; Buta, Ato Mengistu, 2008, Meket Livelihood Development Project MLDP (Ethiopia) phase II Evaluation Report, Final evaluation, Save the Children UK, Addis Ababa.

Evidence sample: the evaluation noted that work to sustainably improve the food security of the project participants requires long-term engagement, linked with Government strategies, and strategically complementing other initiatives in the target area in a holistic manner. This approach should include: preventing depletion of assets from recurrent droughts; improving agricultural productivity (both crop and animal production) through improved technologies; improvement in health conditions of the community; provision of alternative livelihood options (both on-farm and off-farm); and improvement in markets through urban-rural linkages.

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2.4 APPROACHES TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

2.4.4. Improving food security through enhancing livelihoods of people dependent on IE

Recommendation: 7. Note that Cash for Work can have a significant impact on stimulating the local market and thus contribute to improving the food security situation of the target communities.

Reference: Tessema, Ato Tsegahun; Tadess, Beyen; Getahun, Zewditu; Buta, Ato Mengistu, 2008, Meket Livelihood Development Project MLDP (Ethiopia) phase II Evaluation Report, Final evaluation, Save the Children UK, Addis Ababa.

Evidence sample: the evaluation concluded that Cash for Work had a significant impact in stimulating the market and thereby contributing to improving the food security situation of the target communities. The impact would be more sustainable if Cash for Work is regulated based on local food production levels to control inflation and high grain food prices.