

Feeding Those Most in Need in Ethiopia
In Hewane, a town in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, a sense of security and stability once prevailed. Mothers once welcomed new life without worry and grandparents eagerly anticipated the arrival of grandchildren. Then conflict and drought struck the region with devastating force.
Sesen, a young woman born and raised in Hewane, grew up in a family of subsistence farmers. Her dream was to lead a life similar to that of her childhood. But the harsh realities of war and drought threatened her aspirations, and she was forced to quickly change course.

Sesen Kiros Woldetekle stands at the door of her home near Mekelle city in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.
Photo by Carlos Barrio/CRS
For Sesen, who lives on her own, change came in the form of a washboard and a bucket of water. Sesen laundered clothes of passing truck drivers, desperate to earn even the lease it would take to keep herself alive. Each day, she would stand by the side of the road, watching as the vehicles rumbled past, wondering if this would be the day she could earn enough to buy food.
As the years passed, the conflict and drought took their toll, forcing truck drivers to alter their routes, drastically reducing the number of vehicles passing through. Aware that this situation would not sustain her for long, Sesen relocated to Ashegoda, a town about 25 miles from Hewane.
"I have been living here for three years. During this time, I have been able to earn an income by washing the clothes of truck drivers. This has allowed me to cover my rent payments. However, I am now six months pregnant, which means I can no longer continue this work. As a result, I have been relying on my family back in Hewane to send me food. But I am finding it increasingly difficult to depend on them, as their ability to provide support is low,” says Sesen.

Sesen Kiros Woldetekle, at home near Mekelle city in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, eats food provided through a CRS-implemented project.
Photo by Carlos Barrio/CRS
The Joint Emergency Operation Program, or JEOP, is a large-scale food assistance program in Ethiopia funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and implemented by Catholic Relief Services. The program provides emergency food aid, both in-kind and through cash transfers, to millions of vulnerable people facing food insecurity due to drought, conflict and other crises. Since December 2023, JEOP has been assisting an average of 1.8 million individuals across Ethiopia each month, making it one of the largest food assistance programs in the country.
CRS’ vulnerability-based targeting approach, which identifies the most vulnerable households to receive food assistance, has been a key component of the program. The approach involves developing tools, providing training and facilitating learning exchanges with government officials.
“I was involved in the targeting process, and I attended meetings where we discussed the needs of our community. The data collectors even came to my home, asking me several questions about my resources, capacity and constraints. They recorded every detail, and I was assured that this information would be used to identify those who require the most assistance,” says Sesen.

Workers at a distribution point where communities in Tigray receive food assistance as part of a CRS-implemented project.
Photo by Furtuna Kahsay/CRS
During the targeting process, Sesen was identified as one of many individuals most in need of aid. As a result, Sesen receives wheat, split peas and vegetable oil to help meet her basic food needs.
“Before, I used to eat up to twice a day, now I eat three times a day with the food I have received. I feel good and healthy. And although this assistance does not reach everyone, those of us who have received aid share with our neighbors, especially families with women and children. It is the culture here, and we must help our neighbors," says Sesen.
JEOP and CRS remain committed to assisting the most at-risk populations by directing resources to those in greatest need through this targeted approach. This ensures that the most vulnerable members of society are identified and provided with support, preventing them from being left behind. The approach promotes openness, equity and confidence within the communities served by JEOP, as the process is transparent and prioritizes those facing the highest levels of food insecurity and other hardships.
The Joint Emergency Operation is a U.S. Agency for International Development-funded emergency food assistance initiative aimed at addressing transient food insecurity among households in designated USAID-approved districts in Ethiopia. It covers up to 33% of crisis-affected districts in five regions and one city administration. JEOP's purpose is to guarantee timely and secure access to suitable and ample nourishment for the most susceptible households in the specified communities. As one of Ethiopia's three primary food providers, JEOP promptly attends to the pressing food requirements of the most vulnerable populations.