ORDA Ethiopia Showcases Achievements at 'Food Security in Action' Event
Addis Ababa, December 13, 2024 - The U.S. Government, through USAID, hosted the "Food Security in Action: Advancing Resilience" event at the Skylight Hotel on December 12-13, 2024. This event gathered important stakeholders, including Ethiopian government ministers, donor country representatives, agencies, and USAID partners to celebrate USAID's contributions to Ethiopia's Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) and highlight various achievements and lessons learned.
During a panel discussion, Dr. Alemayehu Wassie, Executive Director of ORDA Ethiopia, emphasized the organization's significant accomplishments within the Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA). He detailed the progress made in the Strengthening PSNP Institutions and Resilience II (SPIR II) project, which positively impacted many rural households across nine woredas in the Amhara Region.
Dr. Alemayehu highlighted several key achievements and strategies. ORDA Ethiopia has a strong presence at the grassroots level, ensuring the active involvement of target communities in identifying their priorities and participating in project planning, implementation, and monitoring. The organization introduced comprehensive Land Husbandry (CLH) and overall natural resource management, contributing to effective watershed management. Gender equality is a priority, addressing the unique needs of women, men, and marginalized groups, while activities are designed to accommodate youth and people with disabilities.
He added that ORDA Ethiopia also maintains strong collaboration with local governments and other partners, ensuring cost-effectiveness by keeping administration costs low. Operating in conflict environments, the organization adapts by decentralizing purchases, maintaining political neutrality, using public transportation for program implementation during conflicts, recruiting staff locally from operational areas, and working in remote and inaccessible areas. This panel discussion showcased ORDA Ethiopia's adaptive strategies and community-centric approach to advancing food security and resilience.