In March 2010, DRC initiated five Livelihoods activity projects in 3 eastern refugee camps and two hosting districts. Proposed livelihood activities are based on the ‘Livelihoods Assessment’ carried out by DRC in 2009 and communications with ARRA, UNHCR and other organisations working in Jijiga.
The five projects of newly implemented livelihoods strategies by DRC are Micro-Loan revolving Fund (MLRF), Pasta Making, Soap Making, Sewing Machine and Push Cart distribution for those trained refugees who have startup capital and agreed to contribute 30% cost share of the project cost.
Proposed DRC livelihoods project for 2011 is an extension of activity done in 2010 under refugee projects and introduction of few new livelihood activities under both refugee and CDRD program. Eight livelihood projects would be implemented including DRC’s ongoing activities - MLRF, soap making and pasta making, as well as newly introduced livelihoods activities such as solar electrician training for local solar engineers, a market centre for the refugee camp in Sheder, business development training, crop production, livestock and grinding mill for local CDRD projects.
Previously, a range of livelihoods projects had been carried out by various Implementing and operational Partners to UNHCR in the camp but the need to fill the gap not yet address the livelihoods and market access needs. DRC plans to contribute filling this gap and build a strong livelihoods program that would support the refugees in the camp as well as hosting communities and boost in-camp market economy. DRC would collaborate with other partners working in the area and would develop a comprehensive program improving the livelihoods of the refugees in the camps and those in the hosting areas.
DRC would use its existing presence and knowledge of the area to build upon existing skills, assets and livelihoods in the region. In its longer-term work to achieve community development, DRC will focus on developing the social and economic capacity of refugees.
DRC Livelihoods projects maintain refugee and local beneficiaries in implementation of setting up of small businesses, providing business start up inputs coupled with business training programs.
Livelihoods projects are implemented in close collaboration with ARRA, UNHCR and other stakeholders in the area, to ensure the projects are being developed as a part of a comprehensive package of activities, connected to the presence of refugees. Promoting women entrepreneurs will be a priority focus given the changing nature of women’s roles during displacement and influence in the household.
Soap Making
DRC introduced soap making business, as a new option for refugees. The objective of this project is to increase the supply of soap in the refugee camps and thereby minimise the current gap between demand and supply of household soap that meets the demand of UNHCR and ARRA, and increase market access for the beneficiaries.
Six training sessions were held, two in each of the three refugee camps. The training consisted of 70% practical and 30% theoretical teaching, and were given to 120 people. The participants were also given materials, and granted a startup capital, to give them a good start.
In the 2011 program, the now trained beneficiaries from the 2010 soap making project, will receive additional training before they start producing soap on a larger scale. The proposed plan is to produce 15,000 bars of soap over a period of six months by two organised soap making groups in Sheder Refugee Camp.
DRC has made an arrangement to link trained refugees in soap making with EUCOPIA PLC (Ecological products of Ethiopia) for mass production of laundry soap as well as herbal soap. EUCOPIA PLC is a social company engaged in processing organic food both for local and export market. EUCOPIA has been trained during the past 12 months around 15,000 farmers in different part of Ethiopia on how to bring a product from its conception processing to its end use consisting of the input suppliers, producers, processors and buyers.
Pasta Making
A training session for making home made pasta, was held in each of the three camps. The 45 women who received training are now able to produce pasta for household consumption. These women are organised in groups, with the aim to open small restaurants in the camps, selling pasta and other cultural food.
Micro-Loan Revolving Fund (MLRF)
DRC intended to use the experience gathered over the years in the Horn of Africa to support and build up livelihoods for the Somali refugees in the Jijiga zone. By increasing small scale business opportunities at the household level, DRC hope to improve their livelihood situations through MLRF project.
300 refugees and local beneficiaries, organised in 15 focus group, have benefited from this project. Each focus group received a ETB 10,000.00 loan to be distributed among its members. The groups were also given business training in marketing, financial management, production processes in small household businesses and learning how to prepare a business plan.
Push Cart
DRC distributed 45 carts to refugees and local beneficiaries. These carts helped increase the income at a household level, since it provided the recipients with the possibility to open a mobile shop.
Sewing Machine
45 sewing machines were distributed to refugees and locals residing near the refugee camps. Each of the three camps received 10 machines, and 15 were given to the locals. The beneficiaries had all undergone a sewing training conducted in embroidery by IRC and MCDO.
