The Climate Smart Initiative (CSI) was launched in July 2013, as an adjunct to the existing Government of Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) and Household Asset Building Programme (HABP); two of the key mechanisms of the Government to tackle food security issues and related rural livelihoods strengthening.
CSI was designed to pilot approaches that consider climate change within this larger, established context, working within existing Government approaches and cycles. This Story of Change provides an example of how CSI has affected Sileshi, a 30 years old, heading a household of four (him, his wife and their two girls).
Even though Sileshi has been undertaking share-cropping, small-scale trading and PSNP-Public Works, he was still struggling to support his family in the face of climate change and local market food price increases. Sileshi was determined to be able to feed his family through diversifying his livelihood. The opportunity came when CSI came to his watershed – during the CSI-HABP business development training he saw the potential of poultry production for him as a small landholder farmer. While it is too early to see the impacts of this poultry production on his household’s resilience in the face of climate shocks, he is confident and has great plans for expanding his business in the future and inspiring others in his kebele.
Read the other stories of change:
Climate Smart Initiative Story of Change One: Hassna
Climate Smart Initiative Story of Change Two: Mesaye
Climate Smart Initiative Story of Change Three: Ayale and Berlie
Climate Smart Initiative Story of Change Four: Babeye Bantider, HABP Agribusiness Expert
Climate Smart Initiative Story of Change Five: Biruk Legesse, Daru Labu Woreda HABP Expert
Climate Smart Initiative Story of Change Six: Jamal
Climate Smart Initiative Story of Change Eight: Sadik Shabure, PSNP-PW Foreman
Climate Smart Initiative Story of Change Nine: Gulilat Melaku, Development Agent
Climate Smart Initiative Story of Change Ten: Alulla Tekelay, PSNP Public Works Focal Person
