WHO WE ARE
Overview of SOS SAHEL ETHIOPIA
SOS Sahel Ethiopia has nearly 36 years of experience working alongside rural communities and government partners to combat poverty and promote sustainable development across Ethiopia. Originally established as the country program of SOS Sahel (UK), the organization transitioned into an independent national NGO in November 2007, marking the beginning of its locally led journey. In compliance with Ethiopia’s evolving legal frameworks, SOS Sahel Ethiopia was re-registered as an Ethiopian Resident Charity in October 2009 under the Charities and Societies Proclamation. Following the repeal of this restrictive law (Proclamation No. 621/2009) and the introduction of a more enabling civil society environment, the organization was reregistered as an independent local NGO in 2019.
This transformation represents a pivotal milestone in SOS Sahel Ethiopia’s history—symbolizing a shift toward African-led development rooted in local ownership, accountability, and innovation. It also strengthened the organization’s ability to build a national constituency, diversify its partnerships and funding sources, and enhance long-term institutional sustainability.
Our people.
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SOS SAHEL ETHIOPIA
has been operating in four regional states,
The project location is in 14 woredas found in 4 zones of Oromia.
SOS SAHEL has extensive experience in Food Security, Natural Resources Management, Agriculture, Market Development Actions over 24 years. The organization aims to lift smallholder farmers and herders out of poverty through better management of their environment and secured access to rewarding agricultural and natural products markets.
Recent and highly relevant experiences for the Pastoralist Areas Resilience Improvement and Market Expansion (PRIME), based on our field works in Ethiopia are:
The promotion of value chain development and trading of high value agricultural and natural commodities such as honey, pepper, small ruminants, vegetables, gum and resins, and aloe Vera, essential oils and forest
Enhancing rural household food security and incomes by increasing crop and livestock productivity, value addition and product diversification
Linking relief with development through Employment based safety net programs that involves cash and food for work.
Diversify livelihoods outside crop production and livestock husbandry through on-farm and non-farm income generating opportunities.
Sustaining the environment through participatory Frost Management Project and integrated watershed management.
Strengthening farmers/herders access to financial services and rewarding markets.
Institutionalizing sustainable land management, joint forest management, usufruct procedures into the government working system.
Improving the economic and social status of particularly pastoral women by linking them with new and rewarding natural products markets.
Building a resilient Pastoral community through community based Disaster Risk Reduction.
Social inclusion of minorities (such as Menja and Menna in Kaffa) into the mainstream economic and social development.
Influencing policy and practice through action research.
Establishing the Meket Micro Finance Institution in Amhara Region.
The projects/programs implemented by SOS Sahel come under S-pentagons. These are sustaining the environment, security livelihoods, strengthening markets, saving lives and sharing knowledge and dissemination.
Enabling local communities to fight poverty through better management of their environment.
Improving on-farm and off-farm incomes; expanding livelihood opportunities outside farming; build/protect public and HHs assets.
Enabling farmers/herders to sell value added and diversified products at rewarding national and overseas markets.
Providing relief food assistance for disaster victims.
In order to influence policy and action.