Green Job Initiatives: A New Paradigm to Create Environmentally Friendly Jobs
Published: Jul 22, 2022 Reading time: 4 minutes
Modjo is a small town, just 56 km east of the country's capital, Addis Ababa. The town is located in the East African Rift valley and is usually dry, windy and hot. Three-wheeled truck taxis commonly known as “bajaj” roam the main roads of the town. There are a number of medium and small industries found in Modjo, among them tanneries comprise the lion’s share. There are around 11 tanneries in Modjo town, which create a significant number of employment opportunities though employee salaries are meager.
The tanneries are also sources of controversy and anger among city residents and the surrounding kebeles as they are major source of pollution and significantly affect the environment of the town and surrounding kebeles.
Worku Buli, a father of two, is a resident of Korma Fatule kebele in the suburbs of Modjo town. He barely managed to hide his rage and anguish while talking about how he and his family suffered from the solid wastes that come from the tanneries. The dumping site is right behind his house, just100 metres away. “I often took my two children to health center once a month because of breathing problems they already encountered. My wife is also suffering from a heart case due to the industrial waste dumped behind my house. Everything in the areas is polluted; the river, the air and even my farm land which is the only means of my survival,” he insisted.
Like Worku, a significant number of residents of Modjo town and the surrounding kebeles share this resentment as they too suffer from the pollution that not only came from the tanneries but also other industries and businesses such as animal fattening and slaughter houses. While walking across the nearby kebeles, anyone can experience a piercing awful smell emanating from the dry waste of tanneries dumped in different corners of the town. The pollution not only creates discomfort but kills cattle, sheep and goats and pose serious health problems to local residents.
It is with this context that the LISEC project came into effect. The project was funded by European Union and supported by the Czech Development Agency. The three implementing agencies: People in Need, International Rescue Committee and Solidaridad have a shared vision and responsibility to fulfil the set objectives. The project aims to strengthen social cohesion by supporting local economies and social development initiatives, especially for women and youth living in Modjo areas, and enhance industrial and labour relations in Modjo's Leather City.
As part of our support for the sustainable leather business, we also help local businesses that employ hundreds of people in the Modjo region. Together with our partners, we are helping to create better working conditions and focusing on the treatment of waste generated by the leather industry. For example, some of the offcuts are delivered to local apprentices who then have the opportunity to learn and improve their skills, while other parts can be used as fertiliser.
Getting a Big Dream and Aspiring a Bright Future
Famu Melka, a single mother, lives in Muda Senkele Kebele. She is now working as village agent under LISEC project which is a part of creating social cohesion between the community and tanneries. She is now a member of Jitu Village Saving and Loan Association (VSLA) that formed as one of the project initiatives.
She used to work for one of the leather tanneries for four years and left her job when she became seriously ill. She recalled the darkest days of her life. “The moment when I divorced and came back to my mother’s house, my mother could barely provide enough food to me and my only child. Hence, we usually sleep on an empty stomach. A year before, women affair representatives from our kebele provided a training for women in my localities. She told us to be a member of VSLA group. I refused as I have nothing to eat let alone to save money,” Famu said.
Things changed a few weeks ago when she took a loan from the VSLA. “I took a loan 2100 birr from the association. I bought a corn and teff from the village market and sold it in the town and got 550-birr net profit within 3 days. I returned my loan immediately. The profit was encouraging and apart from the financial benefit, this project gave me a dream. I started a new chapter of my life,” Famu concluded. Now she can provide enough food for her daughter and her mother. Over a hundred women like Famu formed VSLA group under the LISEC project are working hard, and dreaming a better future.
LISEC is a three year project expected to benefit more than 50,000 inhabitants of the town including 4000 unemployed youth, of whom 1500 of them are women and girls, including many of the most vulnerable, as well as 10 Medium, Small and Micro Entreprises (MSMEs) in the leather sector providers including Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), job centers, around 4 tanneries in Modjo and 8 other companies outside of city.
This project is funded by European Union and supported by the Czech Development Agency.
