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ENHANCING COMMUNITY COHESION THROUGH CONSTRUCTION OF MULTIPURPOSE CENTER
By Deegaan Bile Project in Bilcil village, Abudwaq district
The community of Bilcil village in Abudwaq district has agreed to co-fund the construction of a multipurpose community center following extensive and participatory community consultations. Once the borehole is completed, the center will be collectively owned and managed by women’s groups, who have been identified as beneficiaries for goat farming and fodder production.
Bilcil village is among the hardest hit by climate-induced and resource-based conflicts. Many community members lost their livestock and were displaced to Abudwak town, where some joined internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and others integrated with the host community. Women, children, and the elderly have been particularly affected by the loss of income sources.
Bilcil is located approximately 9 kilometers from Abudwaq town and is close to the Ethiopian border. Some residents collect firewood from rural areas and sell it in town for income, a practice that exacerbates climate change and fuels conflict. This practice has led to violence; notably, a young man from Bilcil was killed while collecting firewood. Additionally, this activity harms the environment. In response, the Deegaan Bile project is creating alternative livelihood opportunities for women. The community has also prioritized the construction of a multipurpose hall funded jointly by the community and Deegaan Bile.
The women’s goat business, fodder production, borehole construction, and multipurpose center are interconnected. The success of the goat business depends on proper fodder storage, and the center will host conflict resolution and other important social events. Refrigerated rooms in the center will store milk before it is transported to Abudwak.
Bilcil community has expressed strong commitment to the Deegaan Bile matching grant project, which supplements community-raised funds at a predetermined ratio. Although the community has no prior experience initiating or co-financing projects, they have embraced the concept. The community proposed constructing a meeting hall, three rooms for storing animal products (such as milk), classrooms, and fodder storage as part of the project. The expected community contribution is $5,000, with the project matching $30,000, making the total initial project cost $35,000. Due to the severe and recurring drought cycles, the matching grant ratio exceeds the usual ceiling.
Map data ©2019 AfriGIS (Pty) Ltd, Google, Inst. Geogr. Nacional, Mapa GISrael, ORION-ME
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