Our work in Ethiopia aims to strengthen agroecology, inclusive finance and advocacy. Humundi (formerly SOS Faim) is an international NGO that supports Ethiopian farming families in achieving greater food self-sufficiency.
Our work in
The situation in Ethiopia
With a population of around 136 million, Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa. Around 80 per cent of the population lives in rural areas and depends directly on agriculture, which accounts for two-thirds of employment in the country. Women make up more than 40 per cent of the agricultural workforce and run around 25 per cent of family farms in the country. These figures reflect the country’s high vulnerability to food insecurity.
Every year, this East African nation faces recurrent droughts which undermine the rural economy and exacerbate food insecurity in several regions, such as the prolonged drought between 2020 and 2023, which affected more than 30 million people. A lack of infrastructure, limited and unequal access to financial services, and the effects of climate change are hindering the development of sustainable agriculture. These challenges particularly affect women and the most vulnerable groups.
The Ethiopian government is gradually placing greater emphasis on the development of the agricultural sector. In this context, improving Ethiopian farmers’ access to appropriate financial services and sustainable agricultural practices is a key lever for building a more resilient agricultural sector and enabling rural communities to take full control of their own futures.
Humundi’s work in Ethiopia
Humundi’s work in Ethiopia aims to strengthen agroecology, support inclusive finance and step up advocacy. Since the mid-1990s, we have been supporting family farming that regenerates soils, preserves health and strengthens the autonomy of Ethiopia’s rural communities.
Strengthening agroecology and territorial development
We work alongside local partners (NGOs and microfinance institutions) to guide farming families towards more sustainable practices, whilst strengthening their capacity to cope with climate crises.
In particular, we support peasant seed conservation co-operatives and strengthen smallholders’ access to markets. Derived from varieties that have been cultivated, selected and propagated over generations, farmers’ seeds are freely shared and replanted by producers, thereby perpetuating ancestral know-how. Adapted to local conditions, they preserve biodiversity and enable more self-reliant, sustainable and resilient agriculture.
Supporting inclusive finance
We encourage closer ties between microfinance institutions and the farming community, so that every rural family has the resources needed to develop their farming activities.
Ethiopian farmers, particularly women, possess considerable expertise and entrepreneurial drive, which are still held back by limited access to financial services. This is why Humundi supports several savings and credit cooperatives, owned and co-managed by farmers. These cooperatives design accessible financial solutions, tailored to the country’s rural realities, and help reduce gender disparities. In 2025, 3,003 women accessed finance totalling EUR 170,000, helping to increase their income. Almost all beneficiaries repay their loans on time; only 0.2 per cent are more than 90 days in arrears. This figure illustrates the tangible impact of our support for inclusive finance.
Thanks to this support, rural communities are becoming more self-reliant: they are investing in their livelihoods to generate a fair and sustainable income, and are strengthening their households’ resilience to climate-related risks.
Stepping up national advocacy
In terms of policy advocacy, Humundi supports a network that provides data on the successes of agroecological projects, gathered in the field, and raises awareness amongst national authorities through awareness-raising campaigns and knowledge management.
For the empowerment
of rural women
Key figures
7
Partners
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Microfinance institutions
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Local NGOs
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Beneficiaries
280 K€
Invested
Our partners in Ethiopia
Humundi runs projects alongside 7 partners: Ethiopian microfinance institutions and NGOs that improve access to financial resources and promote the economic empowerment of rural communities, particularly women, who face greater obstacles.
| Our partners in Ethiopia | What we do together |
|---|---|
| ERSHA (Enhanced Rural Self-Help Association) | Supporting the agroecological transition, local governance and the strengthening of farmers’ cooperatives. |
| ESFSAC (Ethiopian Sustainable Food Systems and Agroecology Consortium) | Leading national advocacy for agroecology. |
| MELCA (Movement for Ecological Learning and Community Action) | Building the resilience of smallholder farmers by promoting agroecological practices, local seed-saving cooperatives and improved access to markets. |
| PELUM-Ethiopia (Participatory Ecological Land Use Management) | To promote agroecology across Africa by providing evidence of its success and raising awareness amongst national authorities. |
| WASASA MFI (Microfinance) | To provide rural communities with access to financial services for agroecological activities. |
| WISE (Organization for Women in Self Employment) | Empowering women through women’s savings and credit co-operatives. |
Your donations and support make a difference
Every day in Ethiopia, thousands of farmers – both men and women – are committed to more sustainable farming that can feed their region whilst preserving natural resources. With your support, they can go even further: adopt agroecological practices, access suitable financing solutions and better cope with the droughts that regularly affect their livelihoods.
Your donations and support in Ethiopia fund training in agroecology, management and entrepreneurship. Your support also helps to sustain member-run savings and credit co-operatives, as well as strengthen local microfinance institutions, which provide tailored loans and support the economic development of farming families. Your donations and support are prioritised for the communities most vulnerable to climate-related risks, empowering rural households to increase their income and develop their livelihoods, whilst giving women a more prominent role in the local economy.
Every contribution, whether one-off or regular, helps to reduce rural poverty, improve access to essential services (drinking water, healthcare, training) and build a more sustainable future for farmers. By making a donation, you are contributing to more resilient agriculture, a more inclusive rural economy and a more sustainable future for Ethiopia.
FAQ – Donations and aid in Ethiopia
Read more: EthiopiaWhy does Humundi work specifically in Ethiopia?
Ethiopia is the most populous country in East Africa, and its rural population has significant agricultural potential, which is still held back by recurring droughts, a lack of infrastructure and limited access to financial services. Since the mid-1990s, Humundi has been supporting farming families to unlock this potential and build a more drought-resilient agricultural sector, in a context marked by persistent food insecurity in certain regions.
What are Humundi’s main activities in Ethiopia?
Humundi works alongside microfinance institutions and local partners who are supporting the transition to agroecological practices. We support member-managed savings and credit cooperatives, and back partners such as WISE to empower women through training in management and entrepreneurship.
How is my donation used in practice?
Your donation funds training in agroecology and management, supports savings and credit co-operatives, and strengthens microfinance institutions — thereby reducing gender disparities in access to economic resources and enhancing the resilience of farmers in the face of climate crises.
Who does Humundi work with in Ethiopia?
We collaborate with seven partners — microfinance institutions and local organisations — to implement projects tailored to the realities on the ground.
Can I get involved in ways other than making a donation?
Yes! Humundi offers several ways to get involved: you can become a volunteer, spread the word about our projects within your network, take part in our awareness-raising events, or become an ambassador for our cause.
In which other countries is Humundi active?
As well as Ethiopia, Humundi carries out projects in eight other countries across Europe, Africa and Latin America, promoting agriculture that feeds, regenerates and empowers rural communities.
- In Latin America: Peru, Bolivia
- In Africa: Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, Uganda, DRC
- In Europe: Belgium
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Nos pays
D’action
Nous agissons dans neuf pays en Europe, Afrique et Amérique latin pour promouvoir des systèmes alimentaires durables. En étroite collaboration avec des partenaires locaux, nous apportons un appui adapté à chaque contexte pour générer un impact positif.
