Context

North Wollo is one of the 11 zones in the Amhara National Regional State. Amhara is the second largest regional state in Ethiopia with a population of 15-16 million people and an area of more than 159,000 square kilometres (almost 4 times the size of Denmark).

Based on the 1994 population and housing census the 2000 projected population size of the zone is estimated to be app. 1.5 million people out of which 715,000 are female. The rural population is 92% of the total population.

Amhara is the most densely populated regional state in Ethiopia with a crude density of 96.8 persons pr square kilometre. North Wollo is especially known for its lack of moisture. The annual rainfall ranges from 600-1200 mm with 1000-1280 mm in Habru woreda and 640-900 mm in Kobo woreda.

The Joint Ethio-Danish programme in North Wollo is focussing on 23 kebeles (the smallest unit of the local government in rural and urban communities) in the two woredas Kobo and Habru in North Wollo. The population of these two woredas is estimated at app 375.000.

Shortage of farmland has become still more serious and many households cultivate less than 0.5 ha. The development has resulted in ever increasing poverty. The area has also been greatly affected by civil war especially during the many years of resistance to the Derg-regime during which North Wollo was a major battle zone. Recently the area has seen an influx of families displaced by the border conflict with Eritrea.

The chronic food insecurity has lead to a situation of serious malnutrition. According to a survey done in 1998, 72% of all children in rural North Wollo was stunted - more than the national average.