The Gujii Zone
A profile of the local population
Agriculture and Animal husbandry 80%.
Industry and Construction 8%.
Government services 12%
50% of the population of the Gujii Zone is living below the poverty line....
Agricultural Products:
Cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, sugarcane, potatoes, qat, hides, cattle, sheep, goats.
Industries:
Food processing, beverages, textiles, metal processing, chemicals, cement.
Background on Ethiopia
Ethiopia's poverty-stricken economy is based on agriculture, accounting for half of GDP, 60% of exports, and 80% of total employment. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent drought and poor cultivation practices.
Coffee is critical to the Ethiopian economy with exports of some $156 million in 2002, but historically low prices have seen many farmers switching to qat to supplement income.
In November 2001, Ethiopia qualified for debt relief from the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Drought struck again late in 2002, leading to a 2% decline in GDP in 2003. Normal weather patterns late in 2003 helped agricultural and GDP growth recover in 2004.
Gujii Zone
The people of the Gujii Zone lead a nomadic, pastoral existence with cattle and crops, but with no long term planning there have been issues with over-grazing the land, and herds have been wiped out by droughts.
Drought has seriously affected even districts which traditionally were known for their good agricultural produce. Bush fires, which are exacerbated by prolonged droughts, have destroyed the remnants of forests that had survived farming, building and charcoal making.
The majority of inhabitants have been experiencing famine for a long time. The Ethiopian Government's efforts alone cannot tackle these enormous healthcare, educational and development needs...
Why does Ahead focus on Gujii Zone?
Ahead decided to operate in Gujii Zone because health, education and development needs are very acute in this area. In an acknowledgement of the marginalisation of over 2 million Gujii Oromo people from healthcare, education and development initiatives, the Gujii Zone was formed in 2003.
It has some of the lowest educational enrolment rates for both boys and girls, poor access to healthcare, and few development initiatives.
The newly formed Zone severely lacks the necessary infrastructure, resources and expertise to promote healthcare, education and development.
Your support is crucial to promote healthy communities, widen access to learning and combat poverty in Ethiopia.
How you can help
What is Ahead doing to help the people of the Gujii Zone?
Ahead seeks to contribute to combating pressing problems by raising funds, transferring expertise from overseas and mobilising local resources, indigenous knowledge and skills through partnership with international and local communities and organisations.
Ahead is supporting local communities to improve their standard of living.
Where is the Gujii Zone?
Ethiopia is sub-sectioned into Regional States and Zones, of which Gujji Zone is one located in the central southern part of Ethiopia. This is further divided into 10 districts, some of which are very remote..
A Gadaa leader
Working with the local social infrastructure.
Gada is the local society structure of the Oromo people which the government are now beginning to acknowledge. We are working with the Gadaa leaders through consultation on identifying needs and initiating appropriate projects.
The current Abbaa Gadaa, with his colleagues, was pivotal in publicising Ahead's work and rallying public support for the charity.