Shemsi Adem faced numerous challenges following the death of her husband over 15 years ago. Living in Hulahulul kebele, a rural area 25 kilometers from Dire Dawa in southeastern Ethiopia, Shemsi struggled to provide for her children due to limited livelihood opportunities. Her daily routine involved gathering brush and selling firewood in the nearest town, a journey that posed significant risks.
Nine years ago, Shemsi's circumstances improved when she was selected as a beneficiary of the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP). This government-implemented initiative, supported by the World Bank and other partners, offers cash and food transfers in exchange for participation in public works projects. These projects aim to rehabilitate degraded watersheds across ten regions in Ethiopia.
The PSNP has been designed with gender-related provisions to support vulnerable women like Shemsi. It prioritizes female-headed households and ensures women are represented on community task forces responsible for identifying beneficiaries. The program recently introduced measures to reduce the workload of female participants.
Retta Berhanu, Public Works Coordinator for Dire Dawa’s regional office, explained some changes: “Women who head their households...are entitled to a 50% reduction of public works hours compared to their male counterparts...This is a new provision about which we are raising awareness.”
Through her involvement in the PSNP, Shemsi has engaged in small-scale activities such as goat fattening and invested her earnings into her children's education. Over time, she has witnessed positive changes in her community's environment due to the program's efforts.
Reflecting on her journey, Shemsi expressed pride in her children's achievements: “My children are now almost ready to start taking care of themselves...If there had been no safety net, I would not have been able to achieve any of this.”