HECA vOICE
Horn, East and Central africa region, january 2019, Issue 03
An interesting snapshot on how we work with partners to transform communities.
Help people claim their right to a better life Oxfam in Tanzania is currently working on a project on enhancing improved governance and accountability through digital technology for community development in the country. Our partners, PALISEP (Pastoral Livelihood Support & Empowerment Program) has implemented this project in Arusha region, northeastern Tanzania. To ensure greater project results, the community animators are provided with technical support on using digital tools for community mobilization and influencing. Key improvements are observed as some animators have started using Twitter and Facebook while the majority are able to engage on issues through WhatsApp. We remain committed to work with the Government of Tanzania, to attain the vision for empowered citizens. Help people claim their right to a better life
In partnership with national women and youth networks NAGAAD and SONYO, Oxfam in Somalia is implementing the EU funded Talo Wadaag programme that lobbies for fair representation of women and youth in various decision making processes. Through the project, women and youth are equipped with effective influencing skills that will enable them to lobby for decisions for positive change in people’s lives.
Increase money for basic services As Ethiopia's youth population grows, the urban job market remains extremely limited for young people. Rural youth are particularly disadvantaged due to inadequate capacities and skills for the professional job market. HAVOYOCO and Rift Valley Children and Women Development Organization – national organizations in Ethiopia – have partnered with Oxfam to implement the ‘Empower Youth for Work’ project that equips youth in the Somali and Oromia regions with skills to help them start and run their own businesses. The partners have also linked these youth with local authorities and financial institutions, improving their access to loans and start-up capital. To date, 114 new youth groups have gone through enterprise training and another 1,603 individuals (half of them being women) have been helped to access start-up loans.
PHOTO CREDIT: BURUNDI - SOMALIA - SUDAN
Lisa Murray/Oxfam - Dustin Barter/Oxfam, Peter Wiggers/Oxfam - Mutaz Mustafa/Oxfam
HECA vOICE
Horn, East and Central africa region, january 2019, Issue 03
Save lives, now and in the future In 2018, the Sudan team partnered with the Ministry of Health and Sustainable Action Group (SAG) to deliver WASH programme in Dar El Salam locality North Darfur, Umm Ajaja village. Previously, the community of Umm Ajaja practiced open defecation, which polluted the environment and caused serious health problems especially among children. With SAG, the team has supported communities to construct their own individual and community latrines, totalling to 275 across the village. The community has also received health promotion training that has improved their knowledge on good use of latrines as well as good hygiene practises such as hand washing at critical times.
Help people claim their right to a better life In the northern part of Uganda, where more than a million South Sudanese have crossed the border to escape the armed conflict in their country, it is hard to overestimate the power of community radio. In partnership with a local organization, CEFORD, we are using a local radio station, Radio Pacis, to specifically air programs that focus on refugee issues. Ayikobua Noel a presenter with Radio Pacis hosts two such weekly shows: “Voice of the Voiceless.” The show is recorded in the settlements and gives refugees a chance to speak about a host of issues concerning the refugees. For now, they can’t be reunited with their friends and families, but some hold out a special hope: “With the radio show,” says a community leader, “our voices might reach back home.” Champion equal rights for women Women in South Sudan are rocking the country’s airwaves through a gender advocacy radio program dubbed ‘Peace of Her Mind’. The show is delivered in partnership with one of the country’s top radio stations Eye Radio, and is hosted by veteran journalist Hellen Mangindo. The show talks about different issues concerning women such as domestic violence, unequal share of care work, and engages all listeners through call-ins. “The show is breaking gender barriers in South Sudan,” said Oxfam’s social mobilization team leader Loice Kiden (pictured), who has previously been a guest in the show. “It is encouraging to hear listeners, both men and women, calling in and talking about gender equality.”
PHOTO CREDIT:
ETHIOPIA - UGANDA - RWANDA Fekadu Ethiopia/Oxfam - Elizabeth Stevens/Oxfam - S. Kayinamura/Oxfam
HECA vOICE
Horn, East and Central africa region, january 2019, Issue 03
Save lives, now and in the future In 2018, the UN estimated 4.5 million people were internally displaced in DR Congo due to conflict. Basic infrastructure has been weakened and people continually face threats of violence and insecurity in the country. Oxfam’s Protection and Livelihoods Program in partnership with local organization SOPROP supports communities to better identify, analyse and respond to threats and protection risks in their environment. They are now able to hold their local authorities accountable on their role in protecting civilians. The program also helps families to increase their crop production for both subsistence and income-earning purposes. 772,000 people within seven communities in North Kivu, Masisi territory have so far been reached by the program.
Help people claim their right to a better life Oxfam in Rwanda partners with Duterimbere, a local women economic empowerment organization in Rwanda that empowers women towards eradication of poverty. The Oxfam Germany funded project was implemented in 2016, with the aim of strengthening famers’ resilience to the impact of climate change such as reduced rainfall, that have significantly reduced crop production and increased food insecurity. We have so far supported 720 people in three communities to build individual and community water tanks for harvesting rainwater, acquire small-scale irrigation equipment and maintain kitchen gardens to grow their food.
Safeguard global food supplies
Our innovative Integrated Farm Planning (PIP) approach, is part of a four-year project that aims to provide agricultural support to small scale farmers across six provinces in rural Burundi. The project uses a farmer-to-farmer approach that gets farmers to work in groups. These groups then share knowledge on how to increase productivity and ultimately better manage village natural resources. The project was developed to help farmers address decreasing soil fertility as a result of poor farming practices.
PHOTO CREDIT:
DRC - SOUTH SUDAN - TANZANIA Charly Kasereka/Oxfam - Rhea Catada/Oxfam - Bill Marwa/Oxfam
HECA vOICE
Horn, East and Central africa region, january 2019, Issue 03
Champion equal rights for women Launched in 2015, the just concluded Wezesha Jamii project in Kenya aimed to reach 30,000 women in the informal economy. We partnered with SITE Enterprise Promotion, a national organisation working with women in small scale trade from urban informal settlements in Nairobi. Our work aimed at improving women’s access to livelihood opportunities and social support. This was achieved by coordinating vocational training, linking the women with financial and training institutions, and setting up information sharing systems. 10,088 small scale women traders have received business training, improving their capacity to manage and grow their businesses. They are also more confident in influencing policies and practises that are responsive to their needs and are implemented with their input.
PHOTO CREDIT: KENYA
Katie G. Nelson/Oxfam
PARTNERS:
CONTACT DETAILS: Oxfam International
Faith Kasina Regional Media and Communications Adviser Faith.Kasina@oxfam.org
Georgette Adrianne Regional Comunications Assistant Georgette.Adrianne@oxfam.org