Telling the ECSA Story

Lilongwe, September 27, 2023 – CARE International in Malawi in collaboration with the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) and ten national non-governmental organizations launches the Humanitarian Partnership Platform (HPP) which is set to champion the locally-led drive for a responsive response to humanitarian crises. The shared goal of HPP partners is to be among the first responders when help is needed the most while enabling women’s leadership in emergencies. The primary objective of this initiative is to streamline and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the locally led and gendered humanitarian response, with a strong emphasis on well-coordinated planning and execution for both response and recovery operations in line with the Grand Bargain commitments. This collaborative endeavour aims to extend its national footprint and deepen preparedness, response, and recovery operations, thereby making a substantial impact at the national, district and community level...

Participants now have stable running water they are using to irrigate their gardens. © Titukulane RFSA 2023/Samuel Chibaya Although Cyclone Freddy severely battered much of Zomba, lives and property were saved, thanks to the adoption of watershed protection practices. Led by Lifa Village Natural Resource Management Committee (VNMRC), over 3,000 households protected their watershed with water and soil conservation structures such as swales, check dams, eyebrows, deep trenches, and stone bunds before the devastating rainy season. Evelyn Mwada, secretary for Lifa Watershed in Zomba, recounted the effectiveness of the protection measures: "When the stormy winds and torrential rains came, many of the structures stood strong. Out of 3,000 check dams, only 168 were damaged; out of 1,050 swales, 700 were damaged; out of 500 cubic meters of stone bunds, 100 were damaged, and there was no damage on the 1,000 cubic meters of deep trenches. Titukulane has trained us on how to protect our area...

  Currently, Africa is warming up faster than the rest of the world, on average, and is impacted the most due to Climate Change. From cataclysmic cyclones to increased pest infestations; devastating droughts to disastrous floods, the climate crisis is decimating communities and destroying lives across the continent. Yet, Africa contributes less than 4% of the world’s total emissions. According to current projections, climate change will be responsible for an additional 100 million people living in poverty by 2030. Although the impacts of climate change are being felt across the globe, the consequences for poor and marginalized communities especially in Africa are by far the most severe. African governments are bearing the brunt of the enormous costs of climate change impacts .   The Africa Union in partnership with the Kenyan government will host the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya from Monday 4 th   September 2023. The Summit provides a unique opportunity for...

Asha,43, cooking food in Somalia. CARE International UMMY DUBOW - CARE SOMALIA DEPUTY COUNTRY DIRECTOR PROGRAMS: “The announcement by Russia to pull out of the UN-brokered Black Sea Grain deal with Ukraine is alarming. The news is devastating for communities in Somalia as 90% of Somalia’s imported grain comes from Ukraine and Russia. After years of drought in Somalia, the increase in world prices for grain had a significant impact on the poorest families in Somalia.  Persistent conflict and the drought coupled with the protracted crises in Somalia has left millions in need of humanitarian assistance. Due to the collapse of this deal, we are anticipating a rise in global prices which will lead to local food prices beyond the reach of many families already faced with acute food insecurity, putting thousands of lives at risk, and worsening the crisis they face. We call upon international leaders to ensure an uninterrupted supply of grain to avoid worsening the hunger situation in...

  Mogadishu, July 12, 2023 Increasing access to quality education opportunities for those who missed the chance to attend school as children is a key priority for the Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education of Somalia (MOECHE). Over the past six months, with support from the USAID/UK-funded Adolescent Girls’ Education in Somalia (AGES) project, the MOECHE and Federal Member States’ Ministries of Education (FMS MOEs) have developed an Adult Education Policy and Adult Education Curriculum Framework. These documents will guide how Somalia – and its committed partners – can provide age-appropriate learning opportunities for young adults. The development of the Adult Education Policy and Curriculum Framework was informed by the research conducted by the AGES project, which piloted the use of an 11-month non-formal education course with 41,502 female youth in Banadir, Hirshabelle, Jubaland, and Southwest in 2019-2023.   The Adult Education Policy ...

Agnes points to a part of the Zomba district's house affected by Cyclone Freddy. CARE/Samuel Chibaya Agnes Tambala,31 & mother of six, faced economic trials after her house partly collapsed under the relentless force of Cyclone Freddy. The climate-induced natural disaster struck after the mother of six exhausted her savings through farming investments. Agnes said, "I couldn’t think of anyone to lend me money. Moreover, Agnes lost her livestock kraal and her chickens. Agnes' resilience shone through as she quickly responded to reduce the economic impact she was facing. As a Tikondane Village Savings and Loans Association member, Alice approached the group to borrow cash. Agnes is cleaning pots at home with the ducks loitering around. CARE/Samuel Chibaya "I received a K50,000 loan in April," said Agnes. She financed careful investments to revive her source of income. "I used part of the money to buy five ducks to replace the lost chickens. Then, ...

A refugee who recently arrived in Adre, Ouaddai province, interviews conducted by CARE staff and meetings with community leaders. CARE N'Djamena, Chad 25 May 2023 - With the conflict in Sudan in its fifth week, CARE is deeply concerned about the impact the violence has had on hundreds of thousands of Sudanese people, especially women, and children, forced to flee their homes amid the violence. This includes over 90,000 refugees , who according to UNHCR and the Government of Chad, have fled to Chad to save their lives. Dr. Amadou Bocoum, CARE Chad Country Director said: “Alongside our partners, we have noted that 90% of the refugees crossing over daily are women and children. By the time they arrive, they have endured extreme hardship not only from their journey but also from the situation they left at home. Many arrive hungry, thirsty, and in need of immediate medical attention and other basic necessities. We are working alongside other humanitarian actors to support those c...