Self Help Groups in Ethiopia 

The Cause:

Ethiopia has a population over 101 million people and 77.6% of these survive on less than $2 per day.  The country suffers from frequent droughts and floods which result in significant loss of harvest and livestock; causing malnutrition through lack of food.  

In an attempt to alleviate their plight, many people have moved to larger cities. But in the capital city 55% of the population live in overcrowded conditions with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water.  In addition:

• 42% of children under 5 are stunted
• 82% of women over 15 are illiterate
• More than 10.6 million children are used in child labour

The Programme: Self Help Groups 

In 2002 Tearfund helped introduce the Self Help Group approach to Ethiopia.  Since then more than 1.5 million people have participated in this unique, community led approach and their lives have been transformed.  While this is encouraging, there are still millions of people living in poverty. 

Self Help Group Description

A cross between an entrepreneur incubator and a credit union, Self Help Groups are mostly made up of women because they are the most marginalised.  The members learn to recognise their own capability to save money and, using the assets they have, grow a business to lift themselves out of poverty.    

Fundraising for Self Help Groups in Ethiopia 

Tearfund Ireland work with our partners in Ethiopia to establish Self Help Group projects in the southern part of the country.  This 3-year project will directly impact more than 106,625 people.

This project is co-funded by Irish Aid and Tearfund Australia*, but we need to raise €15,000 each year for three years to continue the project.

*along with CedarFund and other sector peers and institutional donors