Oda Bultum Area Program

Eastern Ethiopia is home to Oda Bultum, a densely populated community of 216,747. The majority of residents live in rural areas where they grow a variety of crops and raise livestock using traditional tools and practices. These include maize, sorghum, soya bean, poultry, cattle and sheep.

Two ethnic groups, the majority Oromo, followed by the Amhara, make up most of the population. Islam is the dominant religion, followed by Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. All groups co-exist peacefully.

A rapidly growing population has put pressure on available resources, which has led to some environmental degradation, food insecurity and poverty. Erratic rainfall, crop pests and diseases have further reduced agricultural output. These factors have helped drive some rural-to-urban migration among youth looking for non-farm work.

Access to water and opportunities for improved livelihood are key challenges for the people of Oda Bultum. However, there is hope for economic development because there is strong integration and harmony between national policy and strategies at the regional and city levels. The government has also expressed strong support for working with non-governmental organizations.

A combination of social, cultural, climatic, religious and natural factors are at the root of Oda Bultum’s challenges. These challenges include low agricultural productivity, limited access to water and hygiene facilities, and various types of harm to children such as early marriage and child labour. The community has identified its development priorities to include water, sanitation and hygiene, food security through improved livelihoods, and child protection.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

The water situation is severe. The percentage of the population with regular access to clean drinking water is zero. Less than 5 per cent of education and health facilities have access to drinking water. Without water, integrating hygiene education into the daily life of students is difficult; health workers struggle to deliver hygienic services to patients as even basic handwashing is nearly impossible. Lack of clean water drives a rate of diarrhea among children under 5 that has reached 30 per cent.

Child Protection and Participation
Poor economic conditions leave families unable to provide for children’s health and education needs. Birth registration rates are very low at 2.1 per cent. This is an issue because birth certificates are crucial in helping to protect against child labour, protect against being treated as an adult by the justice system, and in the prevention of child marriage and trafficking. Child labour rates are high and some harmful cultural practices, including female genital mutilation, persist. Sexual and physical abuse is prevalent. Abuse of a drug called “khat,” which is used by some parents as a meal replacement (by suppressing appetite), has also been observed to lead to misbehaviour among children. Participation by children on issues that affect them is low and there are no means for reporting violence against children.

Livelihoods
Erratic rainfall attributed to climate change, along with poor management of environmental resources, has resulted in an inadequate level of crop production. Food shortages are estimated to affect 33 per cent of the population annually. This ultimately results in malnutrition among children. Levels of underweight in children under 5 stand at 35 per cent—far above the national average of 21 per cent. Reduced productivity has also been partially attributed to the use and abuse of the drug khat.

Local leaders, organizations, children and families in Oda Bultum have collaborated with World Vision and together, we have created a plan to move forward in addressing the community’s challenges within the following areas.

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

To help children and families improve their health via access to clean water and hygiene, World Vision will assist communities with:

• Improving access to potable water through water testing and treatment, and the construction of potable water sources.
• Building community awareness of sanitation and hygiene practices.
• Improving existing sanitation facilities in partnership with local stakeholders and government.

Child Protection and Participation

To protect the community’s children from emotional and physical harm, World Vision and community leaders will help:

• Strengthen the child protection system at the local level, including mechanisms for reporting abuse.
• Support and strengthen the childbirth registration mechanism.
• Promote positive and loving relationships among parents toward children.
• Religious leaders build awareness of peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and child protection.

Livelihoods

To assist families with improving their food security and ability to care for their children, World Vision will help:

• Promote climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive agriculture practices.
• Form local savings groups that can then make credit available to members.
• Promote improved feeding practices for infants and young children.
• Work with the district agricultural office to build its capacity and implement environmental rehabilitation efforts.