Mursi community meet to select FAL facilitators.
Transforming Communities
Through Leadership and
Innovation in Ethiopia
The Impact of Zerihun Lemma Damenu, Class of 2017
Imagine transforming an entire sector and revolutionizing community livelihoods through visionary leadership and unwavering dedication. Zerihun Lemma Damenu, a 2017 graduate of Future Generations University, is doing just that.
“This is a huge U-Turn in understanding, as experts we think we can lead and change the community, this education teaches that the community can change itself.”
“This is a huge U-Turn in understanding, as experts we think we can lead and change the community, this education teaches that the community can change itself.”
Zerihun at a discussion session.
For Zerihun, Future Generations’ Master’s program upended his understanding of how communities can sustainably change – for the better. He has since dedicated his career to community development and empowerment in Ethiopia. Using this knowledge, Zerihun disconnects ‘dependency syndrome’ and discovers community-driven solutions that have taken very different shapes. As the Country Director of the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) Ethiopia, Zerihun has been instrumental in spearheading initiatives that promote sustainable development and resilience among rural communities. He believes that true change comes from within the community, by empowering communities to become agents of their own transformation, and fosters a foundation of self-reliance.
Bodi community women groups during a FAL meeting.
Disrupting the Apiculture Sector: The MaYEA Program
Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture (MaYEA) Program, is an ambitious initiative being implemented in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, ORDA Ethiopia, ICIPE, and the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR). IIRR leads the Central, South, and Southwest (CSSW) Sub-National Hub of the MaYEA Program. Launched with the vision of revolutionizing Ethiopia’s apiculture sector, MaYEA aims to triple the country’s annual honey production by 2028. The program sets out to recruit 300,000 new beekeepers, enhance the productivity of 350,000 existing young beekeepers, and engage another 350,000 young people in integrated value-chain activities. Remarkably, 80% of these participants are women, emphasizing the program’s commitment to gender inclusivity and empowerment.
The induction workshop for MaYEA, held in May 2024, was a pivotal moment in aligning new staff with the program’s goals. Zerihun’s presentation on IIRR’s mission with the MaYEA program, emphasizing the importance of community engagement, effective project management, and the program’s objectives was met with enthusiasm and a renewed commitment from participants to drive the apiculture sector forward.
Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture (MaYEA) Program, is an ambitious initiative being implemented in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, ORDA Ethiopia, ICIPE, and the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR). IIRR leads the Central, South, and Southwest (CSSW) Sub-National Hub of the MaYEA Program. Launched with the vision of revolutionizing Ethiopia’s apiculture sector, MaYEA aims to triple the country’s annual honey production by 2028. The program sets out to recruit 300,000 new beekeepers, enhance the productivity of 350,000 existing young beekeepers, and engage another 350,000 young people in integrated value-chain activities. Remarkably, 80% of these participants are women, emphasizing the program’s commitment to gender inclusivity and empowerment.
The induction workshop for MaYEA, held in May 2024, was a pivotal moment in aligning new staff with the program’s goals. Zerihun’s presentation on IIRR’s mission with the MaYEA program, emphasizing the importance of community engagement, effective project management, and the program’s objectives was met with enthusiasm and a renewed commitment from participants to drive the apiculture sector forward.
Discussion with Bodi community to select plot and a facilitator for the new center.
Enhancing Biodiversity and Community Resilience: The BIOM Project
Another cornerstone of Zerihun’s work is the Biodiversity and Community Resilience in the Omo Valley (BIOM) project. Funded by USAID, this initiative seeks to improve biodiversity, livelihood security, and human rights in the Lower Omo Valley. The BIOM project employs community-based conservation strategies, ecotourism, livestock production, and peace-building activities to achieve its goals.
The Tama Community Conservation Area (TCCA) is a highlight of the BIOM project. Spanning 197,000 hectares, TCCA provides a crucial wildlife corridor between the Omo and Mago National Parks. The community’s active participation in formulating and managing the conservation plan underscores the project’s emphasis on sustainable development and local empowerment. By creating livelihood opportunities it will help foster the opportunity to build peace.
A notable story from the BIOM project involves Simon Chenek, a member of the Ari Peace Committee. He explained that it is impossible to implement development activities in his community without first addressing peace. The Omo Valley project area has been plagued with revenge killings between ethnic groups stemming from tensions over multiple factors including resource competition.
Another cornerstone of Zerihun’s work is the Biodiversity and Community Resilience in the Omo Valley (BIOM) project. Funded by USAID, this initiative seeks to improve biodiversity, livelihood security, and human rights in the Lower Omo Valley. The BIOM project employs community-based conservation strategies, ecotourism, livestock production, and peace-building activities to achieve its goals.
The Tama Community Conservation Area (TCCA) is a highlight of the BIOM project. Spanning 197,000 hectares, TCCA provides a crucial wildlife corridor between the Omo and Mago National Parks. The community’s active participation in formulating and managing the conservation plan underscores the project’s emphasis on sustainable development and local empowerment. By creating livelihood opportunities it will help foster the opportunity to build peace.
A notable story from the BIOM project involves Simon Chenek, a member of the Ari Peace Committee. He explained that it is impossible to implement development activities in his community without first addressing peace. The Omo Valley project area has been plagued with revenge killings between ethnic groups stemming from tensions over multiple factors including resource competition.
Bodi community members clearing land to build a new FAL center.
Through the BIOM project focusing on peace as an agent of change, participants are encouraged to strengthen their determination for peace and build peace themselves committing to not creating conflicts or engaging in revenge acts. This commitment was proven when Simon was on a bus carrying a Mursi youth by Ari territory, due to a flat tire the bus had to stop. An Ari man who had lost his brother went to kill the Mursi boy for revenge. Simon intervened and convinced the man not to and then explained to the boy he was now safe and that he needed to work for peace himself to encourage his community to engage in actively building peace.
Simon’s dedication to promoting peace and avoiding conflict highlights one of the behavior changes sought by the BIOM project with local communities. This story underscores the project’s success in fostering a culture of peace and resilience through community engagement.
Forging Strong Partnerships
Under Zerihun’s leadership, IIRR Ethiopia has forged robust partnerships with various stakeholders, including governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations, and private sector actors. These collaborations are pivotal in ensuring the successful implementation and sustainability of projects like MaYEA and BIOM.
A Vision for the Future
This work is crucial for Ethiopia and Africa due to the significant socio-economic and environmental challenges the continent faces. Ethiopia, like many African countries, grapples with high unemployment rates, particularly among youth, and widespread poverty. Sustainable development projects, such as those led by Zerihun with IIRR, address these issues by creating employment opportunities, enhancing local economies, and promoting social stability. Furthermore, initiatives like the MaYEA program and the BIOM project contribute to environmental conservation, crucial for combating climate change and preserving biodiversity. These projects not only improve livelihoods but also foster a culture of resilience and self-reliance, essential for the long-term prosperity of communities across Ethiopia and Africa.
Zerihun’s vision for the future is deeply rooted in the principles of sustainable development and community resilience. His leadership at IIRR Ethiopia continues to inspire and drive positive change, demonstrating that with the right support and dedication, communities can achieve remarkable progress. His efforts in leading the MaYEA and BIOM projects, along with strategic planning and collaboration, have significantly contributed to empowering rural communities in Ethiopia. Zerihun’s commitment to promoting gender inclusivity, environmental conservation, and community resilience continues to make a profound impact, reflecting the values and principles of Future Generations University.
Simon’s dedication to promoting peace and avoiding conflict highlights one of the behavior changes sought by the BIOM project with local communities. This story underscores the project’s success in fostering a culture of peace and resilience through community engagement.
Forging Strong Partnerships
Under Zerihun’s leadership, IIRR Ethiopia has forged robust partnerships with various stakeholders, including governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations, and private sector actors. These collaborations are pivotal in ensuring the successful implementation and sustainability of projects like MaYEA and BIOM.
A Vision for the Future
This work is crucial for Ethiopia and Africa due to the significant socio-economic and environmental challenges the continent faces. Ethiopia, like many African countries, grapples with high unemployment rates, particularly among youth, and widespread poverty. Sustainable development projects, such as those led by Zerihun with IIRR, address these issues by creating employment opportunities, enhancing local economies, and promoting social stability. Furthermore, initiatives like the MaYEA program and the BIOM project contribute to environmental conservation, crucial for combating climate change and preserving biodiversity. These projects not only improve livelihoods but also foster a culture of resilience and self-reliance, essential for the long-term prosperity of communities across Ethiopia and Africa.
Zerihun’s vision for the future is deeply rooted in the principles of sustainable development and community resilience. His leadership at IIRR Ethiopia continues to inspire and drive positive change, demonstrating that with the right support and dedication, communities can achieve remarkable progress. His efforts in leading the MaYEA and BIOM projects, along with strategic planning and collaboration, have significantly contributed to empowering rural communities in Ethiopia. Zerihun’s commitment to promoting gender inclusivity, environmental conservation, and community resilience continues to make a profound impact, reflecting the values and principles of Future Generations University.
*All photos have been provided by IIRR-Ethiopia
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