South Omo

South Omo is one of the most remote parts of Ethiopia. It is an area of tremendous diversity, with 17 different ethnic groups. Over 70% live below the basic poverty line. Fifty percent of the population is nomadic pastoralists, who depend on livestock for their livelihoods and migrate in search of water and grazing land for their animals. As a result, they are among the poorest people in Ethiopia.


The projects overall goal is to deliver essential social services, including health, education and water that are appropriate to the way of life in South Omo.

This will be achieved through three integrated project components:


Health

Need: In South Omo infant mortality is amongst the highest in the world at 192 deaths per 1000. Health services are scarce, inaccessible, and inappropriate to the local way of life.  The few health centres that do exist are not adequately supplied with basic drugs or equipment. South Omo also faces a critical shortage of health workers, from the community to the hospital level. Most women give birth at home, often aided by unskilled birth attendants.



Pregnancies with complications are not detected early, risking both the mother and child’s life. Maternal mortality is unacceptably high (with one pregnancy per 100 resulting in the mother’s, and often the infant’s, death - this is one the highest, globally). High levels of child mortality are due to preventable childhood illnesses such as malaria, diarrhoea, and pneumonia. 

Objective: Poor pastoralists have access to essential healthcare, appropriate to their mobility and cultural practices and delivered at the level closest to the community

Education

Need: In these areas, infrastructure is minimal. 90% of school-age children are not in school. Lives revolve around herds of cattle, sheep, goats and camels. Children play a critical role in this - boys as young as eight start to herd their family’s sheep and goats while girls help with household chores. Many children are deprived of a chance of education.

The Alternative Basic Education System (ABE) suits the special needs and constraints of pastoral life, providing flexible school hours, allowing these children to fulfil their household responsibilities while still finding time for school.

Objective: Improve access to basic education for children who have not had any primary school education.

Water

Need: Less than 6% of the population have access to clean water. The scarcity of water outside South Omo’s market towns is a major cause of ill health, particularly among children, and a major barrier to economic and social development. Women undertake long and arduous trips to collect water, often carrying the collected water on their backs, returning from water sources found up to 20 km away.

Daily collection of water for household use is a significant physical hardship, and limits educational opportunities for girls. Knowledge of safe hygiene and sanitation practices is low, and combined with the lack of access to water, results in high levels of water related diseases such as diarrhoea, the leading cause of death of children under 5.

Objective: To assist pastorlist communities to develop sustainable sources of water and improve hygiene practices.