Fundraiser for Boran of Olla Ilman Jarso Dimma

Do you want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money in aid of LIVELIHOODS SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL ( LS I ) to reach a small community of Boran herders of southern Ethiopia suffering severe drought. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

Borana Appeal 2021.

This appeal is to raise USD 15.000 to support a community of Boran Livestock keepers in Southern Ethiopia who are currently being affected by a major drought spreading throughout the Horn of Africa. LSI is a new organisation that started recently and its initial launch was hampered by the COVID 19 pandemic. As we start to

operate we gave priority to fundraise to support solve livelihood challenges small Boran communities of Southern Ethiopia are faced with. As conflict continues to rage in northern Ethiopia resulting in thousands displaced, another crisis caused by drought and the failure of rains is threatening many other parts of the country. The public attention to the north of the country is obscuring the fact that many other regions are impacted by a range of natural and man- made disasters. The ability of the government and its international partners to respond to these other crises is also being hampered by various other factors.

The impacts of this drought on food security are already evident and being reported by United Nations and regional based Famine Early Warning Systems (FEWSnet). Assessments of the July/August 2021 harvests indicate that cereal and pulse production ranged from 30 to 50 percent below average in southern Somalia and southeastern Kenya and the national belg harvest in Ethiopia were also below normal. In many pastoral and agropastoral areas, pasture availability is 20-40 percent below normal and water sources are drying up, leading to atypical livestock migration, high water prices, and declines in livestock health, value, and milk production. Reports of hunger-related livestock deaths affecting people and herds have already been reported from different parts of southern Somalia and parts of Ethiopia’s Oromia Region.

This appeal is to raise funds to support a community of Boran pastoralists called Olla Ilman Jarso Dimma located in Karssa Haro Guchi (Kebele) in Madhacho district of Southern Oromia whose nearest urban center is Mega. The funds will go through Livelihood Solutions International, a London based newly established charity that works in assisting sustainable livelihood systems. US15,000 will be targeted to support the community to restock each family with a basic herd of goats, sheep, heifers and donkeys for joint ownership by the Olla initially. When the rains begin to fall in they will acquire these animals from bond-friends or allies in the highlands to sustain life and begin the process of rebuilding their lost herds and livelihoods. Once our fundraising goal is met the funds will be delivered to the head of the Olla (Boran basic settlement unit) by LSI upon signing a simple grant agreement confirming the use of funds. Livelihood Solutions International will also assist other nine Ollas connected to this one when secure more funds from other sources we hope to fundraise. We will notify contributors with regular updates and a final report six months after the funds are handed to the Olla. LSI staff are not paid and will deliver to the Olla what we receive from this effort fully. The funds are needed vey urgently.

I am the current chair of trustees of LSI and the fundraising means much to us.