Mercy Corps Ethiopia organised a workshop on 30th April 2025 in Wukro town to validate draft guidelines and Terms of Reference (ToR) for Emergency Seed Aid Distribution in the Tigray region. This initiative aims to enhance governance and resilience in seed systems, promoting sustainable practices for both humanitarian and development contexts.
The workshop was inaugurated by Abera Kedenew, Deputy Head of the Tigray Region Bureau of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Abera underscored the significance of the guidelines in expanding farmers’ access to quality seeds and establishing a robust governance framework.
Zerihun Abebe, ESP-Seed Insecurity Response Project Manager at Mercy Corps, highlighted the importance of integrating the “10 Guiding Principles for Good Seed Aid” into the guidelines. He emphasised aligning humanitarian efforts with market system development (MSD) approaches to ensure sustainable seed system responses.
Key presentations by experts such as Tadesse Teweldebirhan from ATI and Birhanu Arbissie from TARI provided structural insights into the guidelines and ToR. Participants reviewed the documents, proposing changes to broaden their applicability beyond emergency contexts. Suggestions included renaming the guidelines to “Seed and Seed Systems Response Guidelines/ToR”, engaging universities like Raya, Mekelle, and Adigrat in seed supply, and encouraging private sector involvement through initiatives like forming a “Tigray Seed Producers Association”. Additional recommendations included strengthening implementation strategies under monitoring and evaluation.
Fissah Bezabih, Seed System and Mechanisation Advisor at the Tigray Region Bureau of Agriculture and Natural Resources, outlined next steps, including incorporating feedback from the workshop into the draft documents, convening a Regional Agriculture Task Force (ATF) meeting for further input, and finalising the guidelines for endorsement by the Regional Bureau of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Once validated, these guidelines will be shared with all humanitarian and development organisations operating in Tigray.
The event was attended by 29 participants from humanitarian organisations, development practitioners, research institutions, private businesses, Mercy Corps, and representatives of the Ethiopian Seed Partnership.
Mercy Corps plans to expand this initiative to Afar and Somali regions after endorsement in Tigray, adapting the guidelines to regional contexts for broader adoption of sustainable seed system practices across Ethiopia. This workshop represents a significant milestone in advancing governance frameworks and fostering resilient seed systems that benefit both humanitarian and development efforts.
You must be logged in to post a comment.