World Vision celebrating the remarkable achievements of the Flood Mitigation and Community Resilience Project

For Immediate release

WVE Press Release No. 05/2016

World Vision celebrating the remarkable achievements of the

Flood Mitigation and Community Resilience Project

(Addis Ababa, December 16, 2016): World Vision will be celebrating the remarkable achievements of the Flood Mitigation and Community Resilience (FMCR) Project funded by the Helmsley Charitable Trust Fund and implemented by World Vision Ethiopia (WVE) in Bahir Dar in the presence of the regional government officials, partners and community members, on December 17, 2016. The project with an aggregated budget of birr 76.5 million (US$3.4 million) has benefited 49,000 people through integrated intervention that minimized disaster risks and maximizes development gains.

Flooding presented severe challenges for Libo Kemkem District of Amhara Regional States of Ethiopia. It used to inundate eight kebele residents affecting more than 45,000 people. It was washing away the sprouting seeds over 10,000 hectare of farmland, damaging 1,800 hectare of communal land, displaced people and their livestock. The river took 2-3 months to subside and so did the water on the farm and on the field. Children had to wait at least two months to go to school as it was impossible for them to cross the river.

World Vision funded by the Helmsley Charitable Trust carried out various flood mitigation activities. It has constructed dike, silt excavation, flood outlet, animal entrance, gully treatment and suspension bridge which has significantly minimized flooding and related risks while ultimately contributing to community livelihoods.  Moreover, the project provide the community with clean water, improved their farming techniques through training and provision of agricultural equipment, formed and organized savings groups to enhance the culture of saving, and trained them solve their development challenges themselves.

World Vision’s presence in Amhara dates back to 1984/85 with massive relief programs to save lives. From 1986 and 1989 WVE undertook rehabilitation programs, which were followed by long-term community development in 1991 in Antsokia, Kemissie. Since then, WVE has been spreading its program in the Eastern as well as Western Part of the Amhara Region.  From 2010-2015, World Vision invested over US$62million (1.6 Billion Birr) in Amhara benefiting more than 9.1 million people, prioritizing the most vulnerable children. It has also committed one billion ETB ($50m) agreement with Amhara for fiscal years 2015-2019 to benefit more than 5.8 community members out of which 3.9 are children with multi-integrated development efforts in 20districts of the region.   

“The FMCR project is dedicated to provide appropriate response to ensure life changing measures and basic services for communities.” said National Director Mr. Edward Brown. “The project is engaged in the empowerment of communities through institutional building and job creation. The strong partnerships with communities, government and other agencies have been a key factor in the success of WVE. Through these partnerships, WVE has been part of building sustainable future for children and families.”

For more information, please contact meron_aberra@wvi.org, +251-966270109.

Additional Resource

AVERTING FLOOD THREATS

http://wvi.org/ethiopia/publication/averting-flood-threats

End Note: 

World Vision began its first intervention in Ethiopia in 1971 with relief and opened the Ethiopia office in 1975. During the 1984/85 drought, WVE participated in a massive relief operation that saved the lives of millions of people. After an intensive relief and rehabilitation program, the organization developed a new integrated development approach the objective of which was to ensure empowerment and transformational change. This approach led to the establishment of Area Programs (APs) in the 1990s that is still being implemented and continuously strengthened today in many parts of the country.  Registered and licensed by Ethiopia’s Charities and Societies Agency, WVE operates in more than 80 Districts of the country, coordinated by 14 Program Cluster Offices in Amhara, Oromiya, Tigray, SNNPR, Benshangul Gumuz, and Addis Ababa City Administration.