Community Needs Assessment

Atsbi-Womberta WoredaMarch 2012

Katheryn HoersterPeace Corps Ethiopia

I. IntroductionAtsbi-Womberta woreda is located in the Eastern zone of Tigray. Atsbi Town, the capital of the woreda is situated near the center of the woreda and serves as the primary location for government offices, transportation and business activities. Makelle, the regional capital lies sixty kilometers to the southwest and Addis Ababa is 800 kilometers further south. For a location map see Map 1 in the appendix.

The basic purpose of this community needs assessment report is to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of Atsbi-Womberta woreda in an effort to better meet the needs of the people living in the area. Information presented can be helpful to anyone from government officials to business owners to interested citizens hoping to make a change in their community. It should be used as a supporting aide and not as the primary source of information for any project.

II. Information Collection Methods The information collection techniques used were designed to include a wide range of sources to provide a comprehensive picture of Atsbi-Womberta woreda. Originally, secondary information was collected through Internet searches, research at local government offices and using documents created by the NGO WorldVision, which until recently had a vast presence in the woreda. Population statistics, location and geographic characteristics were all obtained using this method of information collection.

Next, primary information collection techniques were used to narrow the focus of the data. Most importantly, numerous interviews with government officials gave detailed information on existing issues and ideas for correcting them. Interviews with community stakeholders provided a better understanding of issues at the grass roots level, issues of which government officials may not be aware. Finally, a community youth needs meeting was held at the high school. This meeting provided an opportunity to understand the specific concerns of the young people in the woreda; Citizens who will soon be the generation working and making decisions in the area.

III. Community Profilea. Geographic Characteristics

The town of Atsbi covers just over one square kilometer while the entire woreda covers about 1138 square kilometers. The altitudinal range of the woreda is from 1000 to 3000 meters. The majority of the land is above 2300 meters and Atsbi town sits at 2700 meters. Most of the woreda, as well as Atsbi Town, is categorized as “warm to cool semi-humid.” Years of deforestation and overuse of the land has caused significant soil erosion problems and left mostly brush and scrub as ground cover.

Although the woreda receives an average of 600 millimeters of rainfall per year, the area suffers from sporadic and unpredictable rainy seasons that cause sometimes-severe drought. This is one of the main challenges for the people of Atsbi, especially those involved in agriculture. Drought affects water availability for human and animal consumption as well as limits crop productivity.

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b. Population StatisticsThe vast majority of the population (>90%) lives in rural areas of the woreda where farming practices serve as the primary means of income generation. Most of these households exercise mixed crop-livestock systems, focusing on sheep, goats and cereals such as barley and wheat. Apiculture is also an important means of income for many households in the area.

The group with the most serious unemployment problems is the youth. According to the Youth Affairs office, almost 46% of young people who need or want work cannot find suitable opportunities, which is leading to a migration out of Atsbi-Womberta. There is also a 7% unemployment rate for women in the woreda. Some community members feel the government should promote industry growth (and therefore factories) in the woreda to provide more jobs.

For population breakdowns and statistics see Chart 1 in the appendix.

c. CommunicationsAtsbi Town as well as much of Atsbi-Womberta woreda is blessed with good mobile network coverage. Landlines are available in many offices and businesses. Public transportation between Atsbi Town and Wukero is reliable and available daily. Roads throughout the woreda are in good conditions and maintained by the Tigray Road Authority (TRRA), but some kebelles are isolated compared to Atsbi Town.

d. Education There are twenty-four complete primary (1-8) schools and twenty-one partial primary (1-4) schools in Atsbi-Womberta woreda. There are also three secondary schools. The largest (and only complete) is in Atsbi Town where there are 1587 student enrolled. Only 403 of these students actually reside in the town of Atsbi, while the others walk from other kebelles as many as twelve kilometers away. There are slightly more females than males enrolled in the secondary school in Atsbi Town. There is a teacher to student ratio of roughly 1:26, but class sizes exceed that ratio at an average of 52 students per class. The construction of the school was funded by WorldVision and completed in 2001. The facilities are modern and up-to-date.

At the secondary school in Atsbi Town there is a semi-functioning environmental club with a number of interested students. One of the main activities of the club is to plant trees around the schoolyard each spring before rainy season. Currently there are fifty-three members. There are several other clubs in existence, including HIV/AIDS awareness, science and technology, information, sports, and anti-cheating. There is an impressive peer tutoring network in place and for underachieving females there are extra classes offered on Sundays.

e. Conservation & Natural Resource Management (CNRM)Although there are obvious serious environmental problems in Atsbi-Womberta woreda, there is also some understanding of why these problems exist and the effects they may have on the next generation. The main issues in the woreda include:

Soil erosion

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Land degradation Deforestation Lack of environmental awareness/poor farming practices

Continuous land cultivation, overgrazing, and unbalanced pressure on natural resources due to an absolute increase in population characterize the farming systems in the woreda. Each acre of land is stressed to produce more, sometimes with fewer resources, to feed the growing number of inhabitants in the area. Farmers lack knowledge on how best to prevent degradation while still cultivating a productive crop. Added to the extreme rainfall variability and the fact that poor practices have continued for decades, these problems have formed a CNRM “perfect storm.”

The next generation of agriculturists in Atsbi-Womberta will have their work cut out for them unless conditions change drastically. With the population still growing the impact of such land degradation will only increase. “At risk” groups of people such as the disabled, elderly and orphans all also have an increased risk of detrimental effects caused by improper management of resources. In combination with other factors such as severe poverty, these environmental problems lead to chronic food insecurity among much of the population.

As serious as the CNRM issues in Atsbi-Womberta woreda are, the local government is just as serious about solving the problems. In collaboration with World Bank’s “Productive Safety Net Program,” development agents throughout the woreda are overseeing reforestation and afforestation efforts, improved irrigation techniques, rehabilitation of eroded gullies, and trainings to prevent further degradation. The movement is quite impressive, and Atsbi-Womberta has been noted as a “model” woreda in conservation practices.

Much of the public is also interested in putting a stop to poor practices that lead to a damaged environment. Besides participating in trainings, many farmers take part in “community mobilization” by offering forty days per year of free labor to rehabilitate land in the woreda. These projects include planting trees and elephant grass, constructing small dams and helping to recover land damaged by erosion. These efforts prove the community is committed and willing to help solve the issues they face.

f. Social IssuesThe main social issue present in Atsbi Town and Atsbi-Womberta woreda is the migration of young people out of the area. Because there are so few jobs, countless youth leave to find work opportunities in Arab countries. This leaves the woreda without a sufficient population of the younger generation in the present, and in the future it may cause problems when they return with no schooling and no relevant work experience. The adults in the community recognize this issue as a serious one and point to dissatisfaction and lack of opportunities as main causes of the problem.

Support of “at risk” individuals is also a significant concern in the woreda. Although the elderly and disabled can receive direct support from the PSNP, some of the community feels it is not sufficient or consistent. Care of orphans is another (though less voiced) social issue in the community. Similar to the elderly and disabled, they

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can receive funds for food and clothing, but the amount may not be enough to cover things like school supplies.

g. Resources i. Natural Resources

Atsbi-Womberta woreda is naturally gifted with rivers and streams. Most of the rivers in the woreda have potential for irrigation, and they also provide a reliable source of drinking water for humans and animals alike. The woreda has fertile lithsosol and cambisol soils that promote productive crop yields.

ii. Organized Community GroupsThe Women’s and Youth Affairs office oversees select groups in the community and is well organized. The staff in charge of women’s affairs is committed to reducing gender issues and providing programs and training to promote awareness. The youth association supports “landless” youth in obtaining business loans and communal land.

The woreda has an impressive network of cooperatives in every sector from irrigation to finance and credit. Notably, the three honey cooperatives are working to become the first certified organic honey producers in Ethiopia.

iii. Government Institutions and ProgramsIn every sector of government there are numerous trainings for community members. The most relevant are programs in the areas of farming, agriculture, livestock production, beekeeping, cooperative organization, gender issues, and HIV/AIDS prevention. In most cases the development agents organize and lead these trainings, which seem well received and beneficial to the community members who participate.

The Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) funded by World Bank assists a vast number of people in Atsbi-Womberta woreda. Through the program, households deemed “chronically food insecure” receive food and direct wages for participating in public works projects like land rehabilitation and road construction. Over time the beneficiaries are encouraged to build household assets and eventually “graduate” from the program.

IV. Strengths The people of Atsbi Town and Atsbi-Womberta woreda are its greatest asset. They are proud, hard working and committed to the changes they envision for their community. The ideas they have in respect to the future of the area are impressive and relevant. Environmental awarness is growing, and those who do understand the concept are willing to help spread the word. In the end, the citizens of Atsbi-Womberta woreda are the only hope for change.

Behind the community is an impressive network of dedicated government officials in a range of sectors that seem committed to change almost as much as the citizens. They are knowledgeable and intelligent. The support they provide to the community is well received and appreciated. As discussed earlier, they organize trainings, run the PSNP, encourage change by setting positive examples and even offer individual consulting on a case-by-case basis.

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The woreda has good infrastructure, including roads, schools, health centers and government offices that the community does not take for granted. In collaboration with the microfinance office, the government is helping to grow credit access. Women’s equality is improving and support for those in need is available. Overall, Atsbi Town and Atsbi-Womberta woreda has a multitude of strengths that can be leveraged to promote positive change for the future.

V. Challenges and RecommendationsThe challenges that Atsbi-Womberta woreda faces are significant, but it is important to realize most are solvable. Perhaps the only challenge that is not solvable is insufficient and sporadic rainfall that leads to difficulty in agriculture. This issue is the greatest factor in the chronic food security problems the woreda faces. But inadequate rainfall can be addressed through mitigation of the risks it presents, like improved farming and irrigation practices.

Loss of the young generation due to migration towards work opportunities is also a serious problem in the area. It is no wonder the youth population is dwindling because they have very few options to make a living and support their families. An increase in business activities could provide the needed jobs, but the local government would have to support more trainings, loans and individual consulting. Techniques like growing more marketable crops would improve the amount of income generated per hectare for youth that do have access to land.

Land degradation, soil erosion, deforestation and numerous other environmental concerns present huge challenges for Atsbi-Womberta woreda. They lead to unproductivity and will eventually cause even greater problems for future generations. The local government is already addressing many of these issues, but it is necessary to increase awareness if they will ever truly be resolved. The community must know how to correct the problems, not just that they exist. They must be committed to teaching their children and grandchildren a different way of doing things or the cycle will repeat indefinitely.

For a SWOT analysis see Chart 2 in the appendix.

VI. Potential Future Projects The number of potential projects is vast, but narrowing them down has proved difficult. For more possible project ideas see Chart 3 in the appendix. The most needed and feasible projects include:

Assisting the organic honey cooperatives with business and marketing activities – The cooperative is interested in eventually selling their product internationally. There is also a potential market in visitors to Tigray who enjoy the honey, but may find it difficult to actually purchase the products and take them home. The cooperative will need help identifying marketing channels, designing and pricing products for their customer’s needs, and designing and obtaining the correct packaging. This project is in the beginning stages and would be in collaboration with the woreda agriculture office.

IGA to provide jobs for landless youth – A project that would address the lack of work opportunities would be supported by much of the community. More collaboration with the Youth Affairs office would be necessary to decide on an

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actual business. An alternative solution would be to provide individual consulting for young people interested in entrepreneurship or who need help finding work.

Home garden contest – Very few compounds in the town of Atsbi have small gardens but an increase in home gardens would promote self-sufficiency and food security. Guidelines would provide structure for the actual contest, but creativity could be encouraged by prizes. Overall winners would also receive recognition and prizes. Because of the timing of the rainy season, this project would need to be rushed or postponed until next spring.

Environmental Club – There is already an existing environmental club at the secondary school in Atsbi, but support is needed. The students are very interested in a school garden. Again, because of the timing of the rainy season they may be forced to wait until next year.

Town Beautification – A project implementing garbage bins throughout Atsbi would improve sanitation, reduce waste and encourage a social change. There is already a town trash collection, so arranging for them to empty garbage bins might prove to be simple. The challenge would be to change the behavior of citizens and get them to actually use the bins. This project would be done in collaboration with the administration office or the environmental club and could be implemented at any time.

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Appendix

Chart 1Males Females Total

Atsbi Town 4,292 5,365 9,657Atsbi-Womberta Woreda 60,951 62,934 123,885

> 15 years old (Woreda) 26,635 27,503 54,13815-59 years old (Woreda) 27,634 31,533 59,167< 59 years old (Woreda) 5,205 5,375 10580

Chart 2Strengths

Community committed to making changes

Good infrastructure Dedicated staff at government

offices (agriculture, women’s affairs, youth affairs)

Growing credit access

Weaknesses Lack of job opportunities for

young people Land degradation and

environmental damage Lack of awareness about

environmental issues Chronic food insecurity

problemsOpportunities

Use of “model” practices to promote change

Crop diversification to open marketing channels

Rock churches/Tourism Encouraging savings and

planning for the future among food insecure groups

Threats Insufficient rainfall to produce

crop yields Loss of young generation due

to migration Cuts in funding of PSNP or

other government programs Continued mistreatment of

land and resources

Atsbi Needs Priority Matrix – Completed by YouthLack of Leadership

Lack of Ag Inputs

No Internet

Lack of educated people

Lack of meds in HCs

Lack of Leadership

Lack of Ag Inputs

No Internet

Lack of educated people

Lack of meds in HCs

Lack of Ag Inputs

Lack of ag inputs

Lack of ag inputs

Lack of ag inputs

No Internet No internet No internet

Lack of educated people

Lack of educated people

Lack of medications in HCs

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Map 1

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Bibliography

Improved Productivity and Market Success Program at Makelle University. Atsbi Womberta Pilot Learning Site Diagnosis and Program Design. 2004.

Livelihood Profile, Atsbi-Womberta Highland Liveliehood Zone. 2006.

Woldewahid, Gebremedhin, Berhe and Hoekstra. 2010. Improving Livelihood of Small-scale Farmers through Market Led Irrigated Crops Development: Case Study from Tigray, Northern Ethiopia.

World Vision Ethiopia – GIS Unit. Atlas of Atsbi-Womberta Woreda. 2009.

List of Officials Interviewed No. Name of Person Institution Responsibility1 Atkilte Agriculture Office Head of office2 Goitom Agriculture Office PSNP focal person3 Ayana Land Administration Office4 Mulugetta Women’s Affairs Office Head of office5 Balinesh Agriculture Office Cooperatives6 Kidana Atsbi Secondary School Director7 Brahana Atsbi Secondary School 11th grade English teacher8 Zemichael Atsbi Secondary School Head of environmental club9 Hereg Youth Affairs Office Youth coordinator10 Aragawi Atsbi Dedebit Microfinance Director

List of Community Members InterviewedNo. Name M/F Occupation Tabia1 Brahan Halie Salasie F Produces modern enjera stoves Gebre Kidan2 Asafu F Chair of women’s organization Habus3 Lemlem F Housewife/Farmer Hike Masal4 Demis Dawat M Farmer Hike Masal5 Kasi M Farmer Hike Masal6 Brahan F Chair of women’s organization Kelisha7 Tsagey M Priest Hadinet8 Gide M Priest Gogonala9 Haraya F Housewife Kelisha10 Kasa F Health worker Hariso11 Reda Gide M Farmer Hiyelem

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