General

Low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) require solutions that adapt livestock systems to climate change while improving nutritional security, reducing poverty, increasing social equity and socio-political security, without accelerating greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) or degrading land, water, and biodiversity. Rangeland systems, home to 46% of ruminant production systems, face additional challenges to their long-term climate resilience, including land fragmentation and degradation, and long-term neglect (Herrero et al., 2016i; Ayal et al., 2018ii; FAO, 2018iii; Cervigni and Morris, 2016iv). Strategic, well-targeted action research can provide answers to the tough choices and tradeoffs as well as ‘investable’ solutions that attract policy attention and climate finance.

Facing a climate emergency, research must provide proven adaptive measures that safeguard and capitalize on livestock benefitsv. Livestock are essential to the income and livelihoods of almost 930 million poor Africans and South Asiansvi, especially in drylands, where livestock production is the most ecologically rational farming choicevii. Consuming animal-source foods (ASF) has positive impacts on our cognitive developmentviii and growthix, and animals are a critical safety net and source of income for women.

Livestock production is highly vulnerable to rising temperatures, erratic precipitation and increasing extreme eventsx. About US$311 billion in livestock production value (~40% of total) are exposed to various climate hazards, especially drought (88 billion US$), climate variability (84 billion US$) and heat stress (US$61 billion)xi. Dryland pastoral systems experience intensifying impacts from climate change and other forces (Herrero et al., 2016xii; Cervigni and Morris, 2016xiii). Climate is a threat multiplier, exacerbating existing risks and insecurities that may lead to further tensionsxiv and conflictsxv. This is important for livestock agrifood systems (LAFS), where conflicts on natural resources access, use and management (land, pasture and water) are a widespread concernxvi. Innovations such as improved and widely disseminated climate information services show promisexvii, but there is little experience using them in LAFS.

Research must also provide innovations that mitigate livestock climate impacts. Livestock cause ~15% of human-induced GHG emissionsxviii largely due to low feed efficienciesxix land use changexx, land degradationxxi and deforestationxxii. Land degradation in rangelands is a particular concern; while restoration offers opportunities for carbon sequestration, rangelands receive little attention compared with forests (CDKN, 2021xxiii; IISD, 2016xxiv; Andrieu et al., 2017xxv ; Haddad et al., 2021xxvi; Cervigni and Morris, 2016xxvii). Nearly 50% of LMICs prioritize livestock-actions in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – national blueprints for climate actionxxviii, and some are developing livestock-based Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actionsxxix (NAMAs), but implementation lags. Governments need technical support to access finance, implement programs and report mitigation achievementsxxx. These challenges apply equally to the private sector where large-scale production changes landscapes, and supply and demand shifts can provide major benefits and influence consumer behavior, yet evidence for the livestock sector is scarce, meaning that investment in resilient, low emissions (RLE) practices by private actors along livestock value chains is lowxxxi.

General

Women smallholder Farmers in Zombo District face climate change challenges that have affected their food production and income capacities. These challenges range from prolonged dry spells affecting crop germination, too much and erratic rains which causeflooding and damage root tuber crops such as cassava, yam, and potatoes. Dry spells and waterlogging result in crop diseases which can affectother crops, especially since women producers lack the capacity to control such infestations. These, coupled withineffective agronomic practices and accelerating climate change impacts and damages, affect the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and their households. The project aims at enhancing the food and income security of 200 women smallholder farmers using the CRAEM model. Oxfam has piloted this model with smallholder women and men food producers, and the model has proven to enhance the resilience of smallholder farmers to climate change impacts and improve productivity. The model emphasizes working with andstrengthening community leadership structures and emphasizes practices and technologies within the means of beneficiaries which can be scaled without further external support Land degradation, poor soil health, and high dependence on rain-fed agriculture has increased the vulnerability of rural households to food insecurity and poverty, eroding productive assets and weakening their coping strategies and resilience. Onset, duration,and intensity of rains vary considerably from year to year, and the increased frequency of erratic weather patterns, including drought and flooding, have negatively impacted the national economy and the livelihoods of the people. New measures are needed to help farmers and consumers cope with the changes in emerging and projected weather patterns. Oxfam would like to support 200 women smallholder farmers to practice climate-smart agriculture to maximise their productivity and increase nutrition and income using the Climate Resilient Agro Ecological Model (CRAEM)

Objectives

In line with the the strategic objectives of EHF 2nd Reserve Allocation, the project will provide Emergency shelter and Non Food Items ( incl. emergency shelter kit, bedding, kitchen set and hygiene set) to Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Assosa and Jijiga region, in line with UNHCR mandate. The protection sector will focus on two sub-clusters namely GBV and HLP in Oromia. The project will provide legal assistance and community-based protection to IDPs and returnees in 09 legal clinics, aimed at supporting sustainable reintegration of IDPs and IDP returnees. The services provided in the centers will involve free legal assistance to resolve land disputes, identify alternative solutions and remedials action to restore land, houses and properties while providing cash assistance to cover the basic needs of PWSNs.