Vita
Organization Details
Vita is an Irish development organization that has been working in the Horn of Africa for over 30 years now. We collaborate with communities to foster sustainable livelihoods, ensuring that families have resources needed to thrive. We currently work in Ethiopia and in Eritrea. Our goals are poverty reduction and climate justice through community-led innovation. Vita projects typically provide a core service to the community with multiple layers of benefits, particularly for women and children.
The Women’s Climate Entrepreneur Cooperatives in Ethiopia project creates decent, secure jobs for women by supporting women’s cooperatives to make and sell fuel-efficient stoves. We support them to meet their full potential as businesses. Stove adoption reduces carbon emissions by reducing the need for fuel, reducing deforestation while enhancing the livelihoods of the communities. Benefits include income, pulmonary health (by reducing household smoke) and environmental protection.
Impact Story
Vita’s Vision is Climate Smart Communities with access to services and sustainable livelihoods for all. Rural communities in Eritrea and Ethiopia continue to suffer the effects of an accelerating climate breakdown not of their making. A fragile natural resource base and limited access to services, climate-smart technologies and economic opportunities results in livelihoods highly vulnerable to shocks and stresses. Our Mission is to deliver innovative, scalable models of community-led rural development in Africa. The organization focuses on clean energy, water access, and climate resilience, with a strong emphasis on empowering women and building local capacity.
Key positive impacts of Vita’s programs include:
- Clean Energy Access: Introduction of fuel-efficient cookstoves, reducing deforestation, household air pollution, and reliance on harmful fuels.
- Water and Sanitation: Enhanced access to clean water and improved irrigation systems that boost agricultural productivity and promote better hygiene.
- Environmental Conservation: Reforestation, tree planting, and climate resilience programs that combat deforestation, restore ecosystems, and help communities adapt to climate change.
- Women’s Empowerment: Programs that promote economic empowerment and leadership for women, fostering gender equality and improved household incomes.
- Carbon Reduction: Reforestation and clean cookstove programs that contribute to carbon emissions reduction and generate income through carbon credits.
Through these initiatives, Vita creates lasting, sustainable change in rural communities, improving livelihoods, reducing poverty, and promoting environmental conservation.