Ethiopia: drought response plan and priorities in 2017

Despite widespread emergency response in Ethiopia’s agriculture sector last year to the El Niño-induced drought, humanitarian needs remain high in 2017. New threats to food security are emerging – including severe drought in southern and southeastern pastoral areas and a growing refugee crisis in Gambella Region. Livelihood recovery will remain slow for El Niño-affected farmers, especially those in areas where harvests were below average. Building on the success of FAO’s interventions and scaled up response last year, in 2017 FAO Ethiopia aims to support the livelihoods of 1 million farming, agropastoral and pastoral households. To reach this goal, FAO will require USD 20 million to save livestock-based livelihoods, diversify livelihood opportunities for refugees and host community members, support crop production, and strengthen coordination, information and analysis in the agriculture sector.