Poverty alleviation and environmental restoration using the clean development mechanism: A case study from Humbo, Ethiopia.

Poverty, hunger and demand for agricultural land have driven local communities to overexploit forest resources throughout Ethiopia. Forests surrounding the township of Humbo were largely destroyed by the late 1960s. In 2004, World Vision Australia and World Vision Ethiopia identified forestry-based carbon sequestration as a potential means to stimulate community development while engaging in environmental restoration.

Reducing harmful traditional practices in Adjibar, Ethiopia: lessons learned from the Adjibar Safe Motherhood Project.

This paper assesses the impact of the Adjibar Safe Motherhood Project and derives lessons of value to future interventions. Amongst the participatory qualitative methods used were 15 group discussions, eight semi-structured interviews, a number of opportunistic informal discussions and observation. The information gathering was complemented by a detailed review of project documents.

Traditional and Acacia colei seed-incorporated diets in Maradi, Niger Republic.

A survey of dietary habits of 83 male and 35 female volunteers from rural villages around Maradi, southern Niger, revealed that fura and tuwo were basic staples, the former being consumed up to 21 times weekly and the latter about once daily. Local recipes were modified to incorporate a prospective new food, Acacia colei seed flour, at 0, 15 and 25% (w/w) and the resulting diets fed ad libitum to volunteers for three weeks under controlled conditions. Acacia incorporation at 25% increased the crude protein content of most meals and the per capita crude protein intake to 136 g/day, 56% above the control.