The Context

Despite recent economic growth from the mining sector, Eritrea remains one of the least developed countries in the world. The economy has yet to fully recover from the effects of 30 years of war, leading to high unemployment, few income-generating opportunities and high levels of poverty. Eritrea and Ethiopia signed a peace agreement on 9 July 2018, which has put an end to a longstanding conflict. In addition, the United Nations Security Council lifted sanctions in November 2018, widening the space for international cooperation. The peace dividend offers Eritrea new opportunities to reallocate public resources, create opportunities for youth and demobilized soldiers, and update its development strategies.

The country is highly dependent on rainfed agriculture, making it vulnerable to food and nutrition insecurity. Periodic droughts have worsened the situation.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for about 24 per cent of GDP and almost all rural employment. Mining (copper, gold, iron ore, nickel, silica, sulphur, marble, granite and potash) is becoming increasingly important and a major attraction for foreign investors. Over the medium term, further prospects exist in improved trade with Middle-Eastern and Asian countries, growth of the food sector and the development of the tourist industry.

Eritrea has 26 per cent arable land, but only four per cent is under cultivation. Farming, animal herding and fishing are the mainstay of livelihoods for more than 75 per cent of the population. These sectors also account for about 20 to 30 per cent of commodity exports.

About 65 per cent of Eritrea’s rural population is poor, and 37 per cent faces high food insecurity. In good rainfall years, the country is only 60 per cent food-secure, and this figure falls to 25 per cent when rainfall is low.

There are development opportunities in rangeland management, small-scale irrigation for higher-value crops and animal husbandry, veterinary services, conservation farming, and fisheries.

The primary constraints on agricultural development include erratic rainfall, rainfed and inefficient farming systems, insufficient access to, and use of modern inputs, inadequate technical skills, weak institutional capacity and limited soil fertility.

Overcoming these constraints will require adoption of proven and affordable technologies; production and distribution of improved seeds; expanded and improved irrigation; innovative approaches to soil and water management; and promotion of sustainable natural resource management.

The Strategy

In Eritrea, recurrent droughts and climate shocks have made the management of natural resources a priority.

IFAD loans build the resilience of rural people and the ecosystems from which they secure their livelihoods. Activities target areas of the country where rural poverty is most severe and where social and economic infrastructure has been seriously disrupted by conflict.

Our programmes and projects integrate climate change adaptation and climate-resilient conservation to improve crop and livestock production, and thus nutrition. Our strategy is aimed at supporting rural communities to transition from reconstruction and rehabilitation to structured development.

Key activities include:

• expanding production, processing and marketing of higher-value crops;
• building skills and raising awareness among women and youth on fishing, fish processing and marketing;
• increasing fish production and incomes for small-scale fishers, fish processors and traders;
• supporting rangeland management, crop and animal husbandry, veterinary services and conservation farming; and
• using climate-smart technologies and services to enhance productivity, profitability and sustainability of smallholder agricultural and fisheries systems.