Eritrea: Gash Barka livestock and agricultural development project

Eritrea struggles with prolonged periods of drought and a continued situation of instability. Its economy is largely based on subsistence agriculture, but the harsh climate and limited and unreliable rainfall constantly undermine productivity. The ongoing instability has further disrupted agriculture. About half the population depends on food aid.

The project covered over a quarter of the country’s total land area, and invested in livestock and crop production enterprises. It helped improve farming technologies and water harvesting and irrigation schemes, and the organization of communal rangeland management.

The BFFS grant helped achieve better access to safe drinking water in the project area. It has also built and equipped community health centres, maternity homes, health facilities and one hospital, and set up training programmes for health workers to help combat malaria and tuberculosis and improve health care for mothers and children.