Self Help Africa

Access to safe water is a human right - something that's being denied to 2.2 billion people around the world. On #WorldWaterWeek, we must continue to push for progress to advance SDG6: Clean water and sanitation for all. At Self Help Africa, we believe everyone should be able to access resilient water, sanitation and hygiene services that help support sustainable livelihoods and healthy lives in a changing climate. Read more about our water and sanitation work here: https://lnkd.in/d5F_ivQs

Another fantastic success story from our European Union-funded ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund ⬇

We had a great time being back at Global Green at Electric Picnic last weekend! We shared more on our work with farmers growing mangoes, cassava, and bananas, and also welcomed artist Mica Warren, who spoke to picnic-ers and transformed their thoughts on global challenges into a beautiful art piece. It was a weekend full of discussion, fun, crafting, and chatting more with stand visitors on our work in Africa. Thanks for an amazing time—see you next year!  Irish Aid

This week is #WorldWaterWeek - and Smorden Tomoka our Deputy Country Director - Programmes, is there representing Self Help Africa. The focus of World Water Week this year is on cooperation, with the theme of 'Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future'. Read Smorden's summary on systems strengthening programming below:

In Napak, Uganda, livestock is life. For the Karamojong people, cattle represent wealth, tradition, and survival. But a shortage of veterinary health workers has left these communities vulnerable - until now. The BUILD project, led by Self Help Africa and funded by Community Foundation Ireland, has trained 24 new Community Animal Health Workers to provide essential care. In July 2024, they vaccinated over 7,000 animals against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and rabies, protecting both livestock and the livelihoods of farming families.    Thanks to the support from this programme, Napak's communities are stronger and more resilient with a brighter future ahead. Read more on our website: https://lnkd.in/dES_ea85

Impressed, honoured and humbled. A few words to sum up my recent visit to Malawi, which I’ve really enjoyed sharing an insight into, through my posts here over the last few weeks. First of all, I want to pay tribute to the fantastic Self Help Africa Malawi team, delivering impactful programmes to directly reach more than 1.6 million people in across districts in 2023 alone. None of this happens without our Malawi team, and exceptional leadership from our Country Director Kate Hartley-Louis and Deputy Country Director, Programmes, Smorden Tomoka to name just two amongst a team of exceptional leaders. As a former country director myself, I know that the results and impact achieved above, doesn’t happen by accident. Strong leadership and an exceptional team is the bedrock upon which we can build and deliver truly life-changing programmes. Malawi holds so much opportunity and I was blown away by what I saw during my time there. There’s an incredibly vibrant civil society. Engaged district governments, that want to serve their communities, and a national government open to constructive and pragmatic dialogue with civil society in order to co-create the solutions to the challenges we're trying to overcome. There’s so many opportunities for partnerships in Malawi, especially in WASH in relation to agriculture, nutrition and health. At the same time, the impact of the climate crisis here is heartbreaking. There’s a lot to be done. Malawi will continue to be a country of amazing importance to Self Help Africa, particularly given our legacy and history as an organisation. We stand ready with our Malawi team, led by Kate, to continue to work together in effective and efficient partnerships to do everything we can here, given the enormous challenges that face this country and the region. I’m pictured here with SHA Board Member Hadi Husani and members of our fantastic Malawi team: Smorden Tomoka, Agatha Chitawo, Wezi Gibson, Baxter Givens, Joseph Kiyambuti and Kate Hartley-Louis.

An innovative new e-voucher system, implemented through strategic partnerships with the private sector, is making a positive impact on the self-reliance and food security of refugee farmers in Uganda's Adjumani district. 👩🌾 The Sustainable Food for All project, led by Self Help Africa, thanks to funding from Irish Aid, is improving refugee smallholders' access to improved seeds and agricultural inputs. 🌱 Out of 952 participants in Adjumani, 44% are refugees, demonstrating the project's strong commitment to including displaced populations, with a focus on women and young people. Read more: https://bit.ly/3AsM4ts

A big thanks to our super supporter Mike Last who's undertaking an incredible cycling challenge in aid of Self Help Africa. 💚 🙏 Mike has just completed cycling the length of Ireland from Mizen Head to Malin Head and in September he will cycle the length of the UK from Land's End to John O' Groats over 9 days. 🚴♂️ ⬆️ He has already raised over £1,100 so far - you can support Mike's amazing efforts by donating here:

Our world is facing an unprecedented number of global crises. As we commemorate World Humanitarian Day today, it is estimated that close to 300 million people will require humanitarian assistance in 2024. Amhara, Ethiopia, is one place where millions of people have been left requiring life-saving humanitarian assistance since the declaration of a State of Emergency around one year ago, owing to a deadly combination of conflict, drought and crop failure. With support from the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Self Help Africa has been delivering a multi-sector emergency response in East Gojjam, Amhara, including multi-purpose cash transfers and non-food items distribution, and other support to people living here. The climate crisis is hitting hardest, those who are least responsible. Malawi and Zambia are amongst those countries that have also declared a State of Emergency in recent times, in this instance due to the effects of El Niño. The impact of an ongoing drought has ruined crops, crippling long-term food supply for millions here. In response, Self Help Africa have adapted our programmes here to respond to rising humanitarian need. In Malawi, we’re scaling up our irrigation efforts, as well as providing cash transfers and continuing to promote drought-resistant and off-season seed. In Zambia, with the support of Irish Aid, we’re setting up irrigation in Gwembe, on the banks of the Zambezi River, to allow people to grow food, as well as seed to grow food during what’s usually the off-season. As a short-term emergency measure, we’re also providing cash transfers for people to buy food at the market. All of these efforts have been made possible thanks to the dedication of our Self Help Africa teams, actively working in sometimes fragile, and often demanding conditions. We also want to take this opportunity on #WorldHumanitarianDay, to join the call to #ActForHumanity, and to pay tribute to humanitarian workers all over the world, and call for their protection in conflict zones.

Sheikh Tijan Jallow is a member of our Self Help Africa Gambia team, and a passionate young farmer! He had the chance to leave his home in The Gambia and emigrate, but he stayed. "I have three gardens. I see a lot of opportunities in agriculture... In this country we have to grow what we eat, and eat what we grow." Watch as Sheikh Tijan speaks about how our Transforming Access to Markets project has worked with young people to form their own agro-business schemes. Today, on International Youth Day and every day, we're working with young farmers to grow more and earn more from their farms.