Interview with CIFA Ethiopia Coordinator

Hussein is the Coordinator, and one of the founders, of CIFA Ethiopia. He was born into a poor pastoralist family in southern Ethiopia. He has a diploma in human resource management and is currently doing a degree course in the same subject. He has 4 sons and 2 daughters.

"My home place is the border of Kenya and Ethiopia. The nomadic pastoralists of this area were in great problems with no peace and development. All the non-governmental organisations feared to work in the area due to the security problems between Ethiopia government and Oromo Liberation Front, and cross-border tribal conflict among Borana, Gari and Gabra tribes. The existence of CIFA Kenya was not sufficient to solve the problems of the community [here in Ethiopia], and so CIFA Ethiopia was founded in September 2005."

Over the past year, Hussein has been our contact person in Ethiopia. The main telephone lines there are often not working but, thanks to mobile phone technology, we are able to communicate through text messages. Hussein has led the planning of the schools project, mobilising local communities, preparing bills of quantity and budgets, and liaising with the government authorities. He has done this despite the security risks, and at a time when the area has also been hit by a severe drought. Under often very difficult operational conditions, he has demonstrated fortitude and ability, and is a great role model for the young people in his home area.