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Merhabete – Rural project

The integrated rural development area of Merhabete

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Project Information

  • Focus:
    – Water
    – Health
    – Agriculture
    – Education
    – Social projects
    – Women
    – Infrastructure
  • Target groups: Farmers, families, the rural population
  • Region: Merhabete, Amhara
  • Population: 126,500 residents
  • Project area: 1,210 km²
  • Duration: 1992 – 2009

Project Goal

Project Description

ACTIVITIES

To stimulate lasting and sustainable change in rural areas, Menschen für Menschen works on the principle of “integrated rural development projects”. Together with the local people, who contribute high levels of commitment and effort, activities from various areas that are necessary for sustained development are implemented and linked together:

  • WATER
    Together with the local people Menschen für Menschen built wells, well tappings and reservoir tanks for rain water. The farmers were trained on how to keep the water clean and how to look after and maintain the facilities. The local people were also educated on important aspects on improving hygiene.
  • HEALTH
    Menschen für Menschen built health centers, trained medical staff, initiated vaccination programs and introduced simple operations, improving the basic medical care available. The foundation also carried out education programs on HIV / AIDS and advised people on preventative healthcare.
  • AGRICULTURE
    To fight against erosion, Menschen für Menschen helped the farmers build terraces and reforest the land. Training programs taught the farmers new techniques that helped them increase their crop yields and increase the productivity of their livestock.
  • EDUCATION
    Almost half of the entire population of Ethiopia cannot read or write. By building schools, training teachers and running literacy campaigns for adults, Menschen für Menschen helped to improve the situation.
  • PROMOTING WOMEN’S RIGHTS
    Menschen für Menschen was involved in various activities focused on improving living conditions for women and strengthening their position in society. These included: vocational training courses, training in housekeeping and hygiene and credit programs that help women find a way to live independently.
  • INFRASTRUCTURE
    In the remote, rural areas, many small villages are very hard to reach. By building roads and bridges, Menschen für Menschen helped the people living there to connect with the rest of the world.

The Problem

The former project area of Merhabete is situated 180 km north of Addis Ababa. At its highest point, it is 2,650 above sea level. After almost two decades of integrated rural development work, Menschen für Menschen has been withdrawing from the project phase by phase since 2007 and handing responsibility for individual areas back to the local people and the authorities. The project transfer was completed in spring 2010.

According to the final evaluation published in 2010, the foundation was successful in halting and reversing the ecological degradation of the land. Erosion protection measures, terracing and irrigation created new farm land and there were numerous indications of an astonishing improvement in the living conditions of the rural population. One of the strongest indicators of the increase in agricultural productivity was the fact that the district of Merhabete, notorious for being hit by drought, had not required any emergency aid since 1995 – despite a population growth of over 25 percent between 1992 and 2007, bringing the population to 125,000. The increase in productivity brought market-driven forces into play. By the end of the project, 75 percent of children in Merhabete were being taught in schools built by Menschen für Menschen. 91 percent of people now have access to clean water and sanitation facilities; they have also been educated about hygiene issues. And it has also changed the people themselves: 75 percent of those questioned said they felt more optimistic and could look to the future with more self-confidence.

Project Information

  • Focus:
    – Water
    – Health
    – Agriculture
    – Education
    – Social projects
    – Women
    – Infrastructure
  • Target groups: Farmers, families, the rural population
  • Region: Merhabete, Amhara
  • Population: 126,500 residents
  • Project area: 1,210 km²
  • Duration: 1992 – 2009

Project Goal

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