The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is reporting that women in Eritrea not only are taking the lead in helping to promote sustainable agriculture in the country but also those women are involved in addressing the challenges of climate change. In the Habero Tsaeda subregion alone, 30 women — including single mother Hawa Idris Ismael — are engaged in soil and water conservation efforts to save ecosystems, establish sustainable land practices, and safeguard water supplies.
The initiative has been running in Eritrea’s Anseba, Northern Red Sea, and Southern Red Sea regions for the last two years. It will work to restore degraded lands and improve the lives of smallholder climate change-affected farmers. The project is consistent with the Eritrean national development priorities as well as contributes to existential Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN, specifically in the areas of poverty eradication, gender equality, and climate change mitigation.
Major Achievements:
- Soil & water conservation work carried out in 90 subzone sites
- Restoration of 6,100 hectares of land
- Direct benefits to 16,065 active conservation-based households
The project’s success is contingent upon community collaboration and resilience, and it was built here for the purposes of long-term positive change. In the village of Habero Tselim, residents have a never-ending supply of water and are able to access clean water from their nearby springs all year round. Villagers were able to do agriculture and get the fruits of their fertile land only because of this development.
Despite challenges such as severe water shortages and drought, the unwavering spirit of the women is contributing to this positive transformation. UNDP stands ready to continue to work with the Government of the State of Eritrea to build the resilience and adaptive capacity of vulnerable groups, with a strong focus on mainstreaming gender equality including women’s empowerment.
With an ambitious vision, remarkable action, and strong partnerships, this drive not only changes the face of land and livelihood in Eritrea, it lays the cornerstone for a more sustainable future — one which ensures that we reap as we sow in the years to come.