ACF, IRC, DRC: Sustained climate resilience-nutrition/food security 2024-2027

The project goal is to contribute to the food security and climate resiliency of households and communities affected by conflicts, displacements, natural disasters and climate change-induced vulnerabilities. ACF and partners have defined a set of revised outcomes and outputs, as quoted below, on the basis of Sida's and Norway's comments and questions: Outcome 1: Enhanced food and nutrition security for vulnerable households in targeted areas Output 1.1: Farmers and agricultural extension workers (AEWs) supported on climate smart agriculture (CSA) and nutrition sensitive agriculture (NSA) practices and networks Output 1.2: Farmers supported to access improved crop production technologies and climate smart agriculture technologies and inputs Output: 1.3 Farmers/pastoralists/agro-pastoralists supported to increase livestock production and productivity through climate smart animal husbandry practice Output 1.4 Awareness campaigns on nutritious food production and consumption in targeted households Output 1.5 Improved Natural Resource Management (sustainable land management) for sustainable crop and livestock production Outcome 2 Enhanced community-based, gender-sensitive disaster risk management (DRR) and resilience Output 2.1 Local institutions and governance structures supported to early detect and implement early action (EWEA) (as per criteria) Output 2.2 Disaster preparedness fund established, including the committee structure and the conditions on the use of the fund and formalities Outcome 3 Increased income and diversified livelihoods of vulnerable members of the communities particularly women and youth Output 3.1 Targeted households supported to join VSLAs and provided with technical and financial assistance to engage in non-farming/alternative livelihoods Output 3.2 Women, Youth owned businesses are supported through tailored business and life skill training (Learn to Earn (L2E), coaching, mentoring, business startup support, and VSLA methodology Output 3.3: VSLA groups capacitated in digital technologies and services. Outcome 4 Enhanced social cohesion through participatory peacebuilding plans and reduce conflict-related risks Output 4.1 Capacity building support provided to communities to prevent and resolve conflict constructively Output 4.2 Clients (women, men, girls, and boys) are safe in their communities and receive support when they experience harm Outcome 5 Increased Collaborative learning and coordination among HDP actors humanitarian, development, and peace actors in the realms of HDPN and MEAL Output: 5.1 Robust evidence base for the Nutrition-Centric Nexus Approach established Output: 5.2 Learning and knowledge sharing on HDP- Nexus Output: 5.3 Inclusive and harmonized HDP Nexus MEAL framework Sida and Norway had a battery of questions that guided the revision of application: Partners decided to include market system approach for selected outputs under outcome 1 and outcome 3 as follows: Market system assessment for critical crops and livestock systems included (output 1110) Private sector engagement in agriculture input supply to avoid direct delivery of inputs (Output 1111) Provide capacity building training for stakeholders (project staffs, other partner staffs, government staffs, private sectors actors, community representatives, local community organizations) included to facilitate smooth implementation of the market system approach (output 1110) Micro-enterprise market assessment included, market system approach described, private sector training service providers will be engaged (for output 1311). In the agreement, Sida has added the Special Condition to provide market system assesments for all woredas by 31 May 2025. On questions regarding VSLAs, ACF answered that both DRC and IRC innovative financing solutions are included in the revised proposal. Revolving loan fund included for VSLAs based on the experience from DRC (output 1111; output 1311) Loan guarantee fund is included to support farmers to access loan without collateral requirement based on the IRC experience (output 1111 page 14; output 1311). On questions regarding opportunities of expanding digitalisation, partners answered that the consortium members found digitalization is important to gain equitable financial inclusion, early warning communication, and access to agriculture services and market information. Digitalization is included in the revised proposal under the following outputs: New output added under outcome 3 (Output 1313: VSLA groups capacitated in digital technologies and services.) Early warning system digitalization included to support data collection, analysis, early warning communication) (output 1210) Support digital agriculture extension service (output 1111) Support digitalization of local conflict alert systems such as Dagu in Afar (output 1410) - "Dagu" is a traditional information sharing custom associated with exchanges of greetings when two persons meet, including the obligation to report on current conflicts, tensions, remarkable events and potential risks. On questions, regarding the incidence of post harvest losses, estimated at 40% in Ethiopia, partners answered that post-harvest loss management, preharvest agronomic practices, value addition and market linkage activities are given emphasis in the revised proposal under the following sections included under the context description Capacity building training on post-harvest loss and management planned (output 1111) Post harvest technology market development planned (output 1111), Value addition and market linkage activity planned (output 1111), Pre-harvest (best agronomic practice training) (output 1110). Regarding questions on irrigation and access to water, partners propose to include Solar powered pumps, small scale drip irrigation and other micro-irrigation technologies that will be introduced, and market linkages that will be created to ensure sustainable access to these technologies (output 1111). The project will work with private businesses, work with government sectors such as Bureau of Agriculture, ATA, research centers, and regulatory bodies to create alliance with existing programmes, including those supplying water (output 1111).