Transformative pathways for inclusive and climate-resilient futures in Ethiopia’s South Omo pastoral communities

This inside story examines how the Village Economic and Social Association (VESA) approach contributed to gender-equitable and socially inclusive climate resilience in the Dasenech woreda, South Omo Zone, Ethiopia. Implemented by Agri Service Ethiopia through the project “Building climate-resilient food systems for women and groups facing exclusion in Dasenech Woreda, South Omo Zone, Ethiopia”, the approach combined savings groups, livelihood diversification, climate information, disaster risk reduction (DRR), leadership training and community dialogue on gender norms. The publication draws on a field visit, interviews with VESA group participants and a review of project documentation.

The findings suggest that the approach contributed to practical shifts in livelihoods and adaptive capacity; relational shifts in agency, confidence and household decision-making; and structural shifts in access to institutions, information and local planning. Women gained greater access to savings, loans, livelihood support, training and leadership positions, while VESA groups strengthened climate preparedness through early warning dissemination, local DRR committees and locally accessible climate information. The publication concludes that VESAs can contribute to more equitable and inclusive climate resilience when designed as broader social and institutional platforms rather than functioning solely as savings and lending groups.