Support to the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund (EHF)

Project completed

The Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund (EHF) managed by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) provides flexible funding for life-saving interventions in Ethiopia. The consecutive underperformance of the past rainy seasons, compounded by a severe AWD/cholera outbreak, has led to a deep humanitarian crisis affecting Ethiopia’s southern pastoral areas. Switzerland’s contribution to the EHF will allow for a rapid and needs-based response.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Ethiopia
Humanitarian Assistance & DRR
Material relief assistance
Humanitarian efficiency
Protection, access & security
15.05.2017 - 31.12.2017
CHF  2’020’000
Background Ethiopia remains one of the poorest countries in the world. It’s susceptibility to climate shocks makes it particularly vulnerable. Around 10% of the population remains chronically food insecure and dependent on national, government-led or donor-funded safety net programmes. This despite the country’s macroeconomic successes. The country is experiencing back-to-back humanitarian crises. While still responding to residual humanitarian needs resulting from the 2015-2016 drought crisis, the southern and eastern pastoral areas are now affected by severe drought. Water and pasture shortages worsen the humanitarian situation, especially in the Somali National Regional State (SNRS), where the needs are the highest. According to the 2017 Humanitarian Requirements Document (HRD), 5.6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across the country. The number of people in need and the resources required are bound to increase as the spring rains (March-May 2017) are currently underperforming meaning that a humanitarian response will most probably be required well into 2018, with the first improvements to be observed in the drought-affected areas after the autumn rains. In this context and in line with the needs identified by the HRD, the EHF aims to provide prioritized support and fill the gaps in the response.
Objectives Vulnerable women, men and children have access to emergency life-saving assistance, based on their needs and in a coordinated and timely manner.
Target groups

Disaster-affected communities in need of immediate humanitarian assistance, with a focus on children, women and the elderly. 

Project-specific target groups will be defined by each agency submitting a funding request to the EHF.

Medium-term outcomes
  • Humanitarian financing is more adequate, timely, flexible and effective.
  • Needs-based assistance is promoted.
  • Coordination and leadership is strengthened through the HC and the cluster system.
  • The use of resources is coherent, relevant, and well prioritized, in support of the needs outlined in the HRD.
  • Partnerships between the UN and non-UN actors are improved.
Results

Expected results:  

In line with the prioritization exercize undertaken by each sector/cluster in December 2016 which has resulted in the 2017 HRD, the following key outputs are expected for the next EHF allocations:

 

Agriculture: “seeds of choice” distributed and livestock herds protected; Education: emergency-affected children, including IDPs, supported to continue their education; ES/NFIs: newly displaced provided with immediate humanitarian support; Food: food consumption of the drought-affected improved; Health: response to epidemic disease outbreaks given; Nutrition: MAM and SAM cases identified and treated; Protection: vulnerable groups are protected from life-threatening risks; WaSH: WaSH promotion assistance delivered to the affected populations.

Project-specific outputs will be formulated by each agency submitting a funding request to the EHF.


Results from previous phases:  

Since its establishment in 2006, the EHF has mobilized more than USD 360 million and allocated funds to more than 600 projects. In 2016, the EHF funded 80 multi-sectoral projects worth USD 74 million in Ethiopia. 

Nutrition was the highest funded sector followed by WaSH and agriculture.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Humanitarian aid
Project partners Contract partner
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs


Coordination with other projects and actors

This contribution to the EHF is part of the overall resilience portfolio and emergency response of the SDC in the Horn of Africa, complementing the other components such as: contributions to VSF-CH and GIZ in the SNRS, NRM Borana, contributions to the WFP and OCHA amongst others.

It allows the SDC to participate in the overall discussions around the emergency response.

Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    2’020’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    2’020’000
Project phases

Phase 11 15.05.2017 - 31.12.2017   (Completed)

Phase 10 01.03.2016 - 31.12.2016   (Completed) Phase 9 01.07.2015 - 31.12.2015   (Completed) Phase 8 01.07.2014 - 30.06.2015   (Completed) Phase 6 01.01.2012 - 31.12.2012   (Completed)