Building Resilience in Ethiopia’s Drylands: IFAD and Partners Reach Five Million Rural People

In a significant push to help rural communities withstand the mounting pressures of climate change, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Ethiopia have launched the second phase of the Lowlands Livelihood Resilience Project (LLRP II). With total financing of US$424 million, the project will directly benefit three million livestock herders in Ethiopia’s drought-prone lowlands, while indirectly supporting an additional two million people.

Signed at the UN Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktake in Addis Ababa, the agreement reflects a shared commitment to invest in long-term resilience rather than short-term relief. The financing includes a US$69 million grant from IFAD and US$340 million from the World Bank, building on the success of the project’s first phase which surpassed its target by 27 per cent, reaching nearly two million people.

“Investing in the long-term resilience of Ethiopia’s pastoralists and agro pastoralists enables communities not only to withstand climate shocks, but to build a more sustainable and secure future,” said Alvaro Lario, President of IFAD.

Ethiopia has made substantial progress over the past two decades, cutting extreme poverty by more than half between 2000 and 2016. Yet food insecurity remains a serious concern, compounded by climate shocks and economic pressures. In 2022, Ethiopia’s GDP per capita was US$1,028, and recurring droughts have slowed development gains. Over the last 15 years, eight major droughts have forced the government to divert scarce resources from development efforts towards emergency relief for the estimated 18 million pastoral and agro pastoralists in the lowlands.

LLRP II aims to break this cycle by investing in long-term solutions that strengthen local economies and reduce vulnerability. The project will enhance risk management with better early warning and response systems, improve disaster preparedness, and help communities manage conflicts over scarce natural resources. In addition, it will promote climate-smart agriculture and livestock practices, including improved animal husbandry, better animal health services, and the use of nutrition-sensitive and gender-responsive technologies.

This initiative is closely aligned with Ethiopia’s 2030 Development Plan, which prioritises inclusive growth and environmental sustainability. By addressing both immediate risks and underlying vulnerabilities, LLRP II represents a strategic step towards a more resilient and food-secure future for Ethiopia’s lowlands.

As climate shocks continue to threaten livelihoods, projects like LLRP II demonstrate the critical importance of partnership-driven investment in resilience, helping communities adapt, recover, and thrive.

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