Aisha is a 55-year-old woman who is living with her granddaughter Haifa, aged one year and a half. She lives in south Wollo zone, Tehuledere district in Ethiopia. Before the conflict between the Afar and the Issa tribes erupted, she used to support her family, that also includes three children, with her income from a small hotel business in Afar region. They were displaced from their home in Afar and fled to Tehuledere district with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
Her children are currently struggling for their survival by working as day laborers in various parts of the country. Aisha is struggling to meet her granddaughter’s basic needs, including food and shelter. Aisha stated that she is worried about Hanifa’s safety and wellbeing. As a child from a displaced family, Hanifa faces many risks, including exploitation and abuse.
In March 2023, as part of the Joining Forces for Child Protection in Emergency (JF-CPIE) project, being implemented in South Wollo Zone starting from July 2022, ChildFund Ethiopia and its local partner Tesfa Berhan Child and Family Development Organization launched a need assessment initiative to identify the most vulnerable households. This was done in collaboration with the Tehuledere district Community Care Coalition Committee including representatives from the district and sub-district disaster risk management office and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).
Aisha and Hanifa were subsequently identified as members of one of the most disadvantaged households and enrolled in a cash transfer intervention program that provided them of two rounds of cash transfer vouchers as they were struggling to meet their basic needs. Cash transfer intervention is found out to be a proven way to meet the needs of vulnerable households and reduce the drivers of child protection risks.
The two rounds cash transfer vouchers helped Aisha to purchase food, clothing and other essential items from local markets. The program also helped her to meet her granddaughter’s basic needs and reduce her financial stress. Aisha expressed her gratitude by saying, “I am so thankful for the opportunity to participate in the cash transfer program. It has helped me to cover the food expenses of my family and to happily celebrate the Id al-Fetir holiday.”
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This publication was produced with the financial support of the German Humanitarian Assistance
Its contents are the sole responsibility of Joining Forces and do not necessarily reflect the views of the German Humanitarian Assistance.