Gebre: The devastation in Tigray and the ripple effects across the country are tremendous, even as we work to heal and recover. Compounding the effects of the war, Ethiopia is experiencing the worst drought in 40 years, food shortages from the war in Ukraine, and the continued impacts of the Covid pandemic, all of which put the most intense pressure on rural families. Despite all of this, 2022 also gave us reason to hope as the doors to Tigray reopened.

Gebre: Over half a million people have lost their lives since the war began in November 2020. I recently visited Tigray and witnessed the devastation firsthand. In Tigray, the millions left behind are still suffering, with 1.8 million people internally displaced, 2.3 million children out of school—many of whom have been out of school for three years due to Covid and the war—and over 5 million people in need of food assistance. The trauma, especially for women and girls, will require deep, meaningful healing to truly move forward.

Gebre: Glimmer’s work in Tigray spans more than 20 years. Communities where Glimmer worked—home to families we shared coffee with, the children we laughed with—became battlegrounds during the war. Staff members from our long-time local partner organizations lost their lives and several were taken as political prisoners. Communications outside the region were halted, and I was unable to speak with my family members throughout the war. Now, communication lines are open and we are working to rebuild and recover.

Gebre: The peace process is extremely important to the Tigrayan people and the entire country. People no longer worry about bombardments. They are relieved as there is no direct fighting and there is more access to critical aid. During the war, inflation soared, supplies were hard to come by and job opportunities dried up. The peace process is expected to bring back investment in the country and improve economic conditions. In Tigray, the peace process allows for the rebuilding of social and physical infrastructure and healing for thousands of families, including the women and girls impacted by sexual- and gender-based violence. Now, hope brings us together.

Gebre: We’re seeing that the core of Glimmer’s work—job opportunities paired with essential services—is supporting the stability of communities across Ethiopia. With holistic solutions in place, families can make good choices when crises hit. For communities where we were working prior to 2020, families saw improvements in food security and the ability to deal with crises even through the height of the pandemic.

Alicyn: In 2022 we saw signs of progress in the face of war and soaring inflation—from growth in women’s local leadership to farmers adopting organic composting to girls leading efforts to curb high dropout rates. The ability to pivot in the face of adversity is showing up across our communities thanks to investment in opportunities, especially for women and girls.

Gebre: The lack of global attention on Ethiopia remains a huge challenge. Although the International Rescue Committee named Ethiopia as one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world as we headed into 2023, more than 20 million people are still facing extreme hunger and in need of food assistance across the country. Millions of displaced people want to return home, but their villages are destroyed. Children are eager to return to schools that no longer exist. At this moment, Ethiopia needs critical, lifesaving support to ensure an entire generation of growth and progress is not lost.

Alicyn: We’re working toward a long-term vision where Ethiopia no longer needs Glimmer or any other international aid. To get there, we are supporting the recovery of Tigray, and continuing our work in the rest of Ethiopia to provide more opportunities for women and girls to thrive. To support this important work, we are raising $15 million by 2025.