Nuru Ethiopia Marks Project Completion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 30, 2026

Contact: Abiy Meshesha | info@nuruinternational.org

ARBA MINCH–Nuru Ethiopia, in compliance with the Ethiopian government regulations for NGOs, wrapped up its 3-year project with a presentation of project results, and visits to Nuru Ethiopia-supported agribusinesses and farmers from December 17-19, 2025. This three-day event was attended by evaluation teams from various government agencies, union leaders, and zonal government officials. 

Evaluation Committee members and Nuru Ethiopia staff meet with agribusiness leaders during project close-out event, December 2025

The project completion event marks the conclusion of Nuru Ethiopia’s Building Resilience in Vulnerable Rural Communities (BRVRC) Initiative. At project cycle completion, NGO projects are required to undergo evaluations in Ethiopia, at which point the Ethiopian government reviews the organization’s project performance, the results gained, and determines if continued efforts are needed. During the event, the evaluative committee heard from both union leaders who received support from Nuru Ethiopia in the last three years, as well as community members who benefited from Nuru Ethiopia’s work. 

“Three years of partnership with regional signatories have led to a significant milestone for Nuru Ethiopia. Through the BRVRC project, we have worked alongside 200,000 households across Gamo, Gofa, Konso, Ari, Gardula, and South Omo Zones to prove that rural transformation is possible through steady, localized growth.

This project has built a foundation for long-term change, with seven multipurpose unions now operating profitably by managing input and output markets, ensuring farmers have reliable access to the supplies they need. We have promoted climate-resilient farming and introduced Nature-based Solutions to restore affected environments. We have also opened doors for women to build financial security through saving practices and revolving funds. Nuru Ethiopia hasn’t just delivered inputs; we have worked together to build a self-sustaining ecosystem that strengthens the future for Ethiopian farmers and their communities.”  -Abiy Meshesha, Managing Director of Nuru Ethiopia

After hearing from union leaders and gathering testimonials from community members, the evaluative committee provided a review of Nuru Ethiopia’s work. Nuru Ethiopia was found to be in good standing with the local government, having provided a positive impact in the communities it serves over the last three years. Government officials have determined that there is continued value in Nuru Ethiopia continuing to engage with cooperative unions over the course of the next three years, noting specifically that Nuru Ethiopia has positively impacted two new unions during these last three years, but those unions still need additional support in increasing their professionalism and achieving profitability. 

“This project has helped our agribusiness cooperative Union in so many ways. The technical and financial supports we received through this project has enabled the union to reach to our farmers more effectively for the provision of agricultural inputs and create better market linkages for their produces. We believe that we can build on the legacies of this project to be able to sustain the work and to develop new services to our community” –Elkaye Esayas, Board Chairperson of Esipe Dicha Cooperative Union

Based on the positive findings from the evaluative committee and pending a final report from government officials, Nuru Ethiopia looks forward to continuing its work in rural communities of South Ethiopia Regional State. During these next three years, Nuru Ethiopia will focus on increasing its engagement with the newer unions, maintaining lower engagement with established unions like Esipe Dicha and Hidota, which are now professional, profitable, and driving economic growth in the communities they serve. 

Evaluation Committee members visit Nuru Ethiopia-supported tree nursery as part of project close-out event, December 2025

As part of Nuru Ethiopia’s plans for the next three years, it will focus on establishing a federation to bring together cooperative unions. Similarly to the ways in which unions support cooperatives by equipping them with better access to inputs and bigger markets, a federation of unions will ultimately ensure that marginalized farmers in remote locations can participate in business at the national and international levels.

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Nuru Ethiopia is a local nonprofit organization that works to build resilience in vulnerable communities in rural Ethiopia by developing farmer-owned agribusiness enterprises to lift families out of extreme poverty by 2030. Since 2012, Nuru Ethiopia has impacted by 229,000 people by supporting 273 farmer-owned agribusinesses.