PELUM Ethiopia is envisioned to see communities in Ethiopia make their own choices towards an improved quality of life through socially, economically and ecologically sustainable means. African agriculture is highly affected by land degradation and frequent drought aggravated with the negative effect of climate change.

Agroecologically based food and nutrition security, and food sovereignty is an identity reflected by the decision making process not only on what inputs to use and what to produce but also the decision when to plant.

The core values of PELUM Ethiopia in pursuit its vision and mission it will implement based on: People-centered development, Empowerment of land users, Respect for indigenous knowledge, Creativity and innovation, Commitment to action and impact, Gender sensitive development, Participation, Sustainability, and Transparency and accountability.

A project supported by the Bread for the World/ PADD entitled by “Scaling up of Agroecology in Ethiopia through networking” is under implementation in seven weredas of Five Regional States and one City Administration. These are:

According to PELUM Ethiopia our natural resource management is based on people centered development and respect for indigenous knowledge by the empowerment of land users. So as to this PELUM operates under the principles of Participatory Ecological Land Use Management. Our work goes for sustainable development through adaptation and mitigation to the negative effect of climate change under smallholder management.

PELUM Ethiopia in collaboration with universities; respective regional sector offices and Federal Sector office is conducting intensive study for the UNESCO registration of Dess’a Forest as Man and Biosphere Reserve. At the same time PELUM Ethiopia is conducting gully rehabilitation at Ruh-Alhena village of Kuneba wereda as part of the Dess’a Forest.

PELUM Association in general and PELUM Ethiopia in particular recognize the importance of indigenous knowledge and practices. Some of the core values of PELUM Association are people-centered development, respect for indigenous knowledge and participation. Moreover, it goes to contribute to the on-going development of knowledge, skills and methods which spread the practice of PELUM and food security; training and to share information, innovations and experiences; and, enhance the capacity of network members and partners. It gives priority to true participation of local people for community-led research, development and documentation.

PELUM Ethiopia stands for the need for partnership and networking. This is due to: to contribute to the on-going development of knowledge, skills and methods which spread the practice of PELUM and food security; knowledge sharing and capacity building; to access to publications and materials related to training and information; to be linked to like-minded in-country and regional organizations for training and to share information, innovations and experiences; and, promoting international work-net of civil society organizations which is involved in information sharing, advocacy and lobbying and training for the benefit of countries in the South. As part of this regional network members of the Ethiopian chapter will gain such benefits and beyond in which we can exercise.

In the face of climate change environment and agriculture are highly suffered due to international corporate companies by influencing internal policies. This is one way of shadowing the sovereign right of the grass-root communities. For example, the push for Genetically Modified Organism (GMOs) globally can be challenged through promoting agro-biodiversity; lobbying and advocacy to safeguard rural communities in the areas of sustainable agriculture. Therefore, we need to achieve effective and stronger voices together. There are many more agendas to confront policy gaps together with land users.