East Action Organization - EAO

13/03/2026

08/03/2026

8 March 2026

Every year, the world comes together to celebrate International Women's Day, a global moment to recognize the achievements, resilience, and leadership of women and girls. It is also a time to reaffirm our collective commitment to gender equality and to ensure that women and girls everywhere have the opportunity to lead, learn, and transform their communities.

At East Action Organization (EAO), International Women’s Day is more than a celebration—it is a reminder of our mission to support women and girls as powerful agents of change. Across Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State and beyond, women continue to play a critical role in building resilient communities, advancing peace, strengthening livelihoods, and protecting the environment.

Women in our communities are farmers, entrepreneurs, educators, peacebuilders, and community leaders. Yet many still face barriers to education, economic opportunities, healthcare, and participation in decision-making. Addressing these challenges requires sustained investment, inclusive policies, and strong community partnerships that place women and girls at the center of development.

EAO remains committed to empowering women through programs that promote leadership, economic resilience, education, and access to health services. Through initiatives that support climate-smart agriculture, youth leadership, community health, and sustainable livelihoods, women are gaining the tools and opportunities needed to shape a more equitable and sustainable future.

This year’s International Women’s Day reminds us that empowering women is not only a matter of justice—it is essential for sustainable development. When women are supported to lead and innovate, communities become stronger, economies grow, and societies become more inclusive and peaceful.

EAO calls on governments, civil society, development partners, and communities to continue investing in women and girls. By working together, we can create environments where every woman and girl has the opportunity to realize her full potential.

On this International Women’s Day, we celebrate the courage, leadership, and determination of women everywhere. Their voices, ideas, and contributions are shaping a better future for all.

Happy International Women’s Day 2026.

06/03/2026

Fourth National Migration Research Conference

On

Labor Migration, Development and Migration Governance in Ethiopia:
• Evidence • Policy • Collaborative Action

Organized by
Ministry of Education, Jigjiga University and Ministry of Justice

Abstract Booklet
March 5–6, 2026
Jigjiga City, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia

Conference Partners

IOM – UN Migration
European Union (Co-funded by the EU)
German Cooperation
Better Migration Management – Horn of Africa
Save the Children
Population Council – Ideas. Evidence. Impact.

Fourth National Migration Research Conference Held in Jigjiga

The Fourth National Migration Research Conference on Labor Migration, Development, and Migration Governance in Ethiopia was successfully held on March 5–6, 2026 in Jigjiga City, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia. The conference brought together policymakers, researchers, development partners, civil society organizations, and academic institutions to discuss evidence-based migration policies and strengthen collaborative action for sustainable migration governance.

The conference was organized by the Ministry of Education, Jigjiga University, and the Ministry of Justice, with the support of key development partners including IOM – UN Migration, the European Union, German Cooperation, Better Migration Management – Horn of Africa, Save the Children, and the Population Council.

East Action Organization (EAO) participated in the conference as an invited local civil society organization. EAO shared insights on community-level migration dynamics, youth engagement, and resilience-building initiatives in the Somali Regional State, emphasizing the importance of community-driven approaches to addressing migration challenges and opportunities.

EAO also attended the conference as part of the Jigjiga Innovation and Action Partnership (JIAP) consortium, a collaborative initiative between civil society organizations and academic institutions aimed at promoting research, policy dialogue, and practical solutions to migration and development issues.

The conference served as an important platform for knowledge sharing, partnership building, and advancing evidence-based policy discussions to improve migration governance and development outcomes in Ethiopia.

05/03/2026

Hello, my name is Natnael Tilahun, Youth-Led Innovation and Storyteller Officer affiliated with East Action Organization in Ethiopia.

Our solution addresses climate challenges affecting pastoral communities in the Somali Region, where recurring drought, land degradation, and declining agricultural productivity threaten food security and youth livelihoods.

We propose a youth-led climate-smart apiculture initiative that trains young people in sustainable beekeeping, provides modern beehives and equipment, and promotes pollinator-friendly vegetation to restore ecosystems and support biodiversity.

This initiative will create climate-resilient livelihoods for youth, improve crop pollination and food production, and strengthen community resilience to climate change.

By empowering young people to lead climate solutions, we aim to promote sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and long-term food security.

Thank you for listening.

27/02/2026

Call for Project Partners – German Embassy Small Scale Project Program

East Action Organization (EAO), a nationally registered nonprofit in Ethiopia, welcomes this opportunity from the German Embassy in Addis Ababa supporting projects on women and equality, children, and sustainability.

Before submitting our proposal, we have contacted the Embassy to request guidance on any required application format or template. We remain ready to share our legal registration documents and organizational profile if needed for eligibility verification.

🗓 Deadline: 6 March 2026
💶 Funding: Up to €25,000
📅 Implementation: Projects must be completed in 2026
📧 Contact: [email protected]

We encourage eligible NGOs and partners to apply and contribute to impactful community development aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

24/02/2026

1. Creative identity
Hello, my name is Natnael Tilahun, a youth storyteller and innovation practitioner working with East Action Organization in Ethiopia’s Somali Region.
My journey began while working with youth facing climate shocks and social inequalities, where I discovered storytelling and creativity as tools for healing, visibility, and empowerment.
Through digital media and youth-led innovation, I document lived experiences and amplify community-driven solutions that strengthen climate-resilient livelihoods and youth leadership.
What drives me is the belief that creativity helps communities reclaim narratives, challenge injustice, and imagine equitable futures. This proposal responds to the lack of sustainable creative spaces by promoting platforms where young people collaborate, share stories, and lead change.
For me, creativity transforms lived experiences into collective hope and possibility.
Thank you for considering my application.

24/02/2026

Advancing To***co Control in Ethiopia: The Advocacy Role of East Action Organization

To***co control remains a critical public health priority in Ethiopia. Over recent years, the country has made meaningful progress through smoke-free legislation, bans on to***co advertising, and the introduction of graphic health warnings aligned with the WHO Framework Convention on To***co Control. These efforts reflect strong national commitment to protecting communities from the harmful effects of to***co use.

Despite this progress, important gaps continue to limit the full impact of to***co control policies, particularly at regional and community levels. Monitoring of to***co use remains uneven, with limited localized data in underserved regions such as the Somali Regional State. This evidence gap constrains targeted policy responses and weakens the ability to protect vulnerable groups, especially youth.

Enforcement challenges also persist. While smoke-free regulations exist, compliance is inconsistent due to limited inspection capacity, low awareness among businesses, and weak community-level accountability mechanisms. As a result, exposure to secondhand smoke continues in public and informal spaces.

Access to to***co cessation services remains limited, with barriers including insufficient counseling services, low integration of cessation into primary healthcare, and inadequate public awareness. Strengthening cessation support is essential to ensure individuals who wish to quit receive effective assistance.

Although Ethiopia has adopted graphic health warnings, informal to***co markets and single-stick sales undermine packaging regulations and reduce the effectiveness of risk communication. Emerging forms of advertising, including digital and point-of-sale marketing, also challenge enforcement of promotion bans and expose communities to pro-to***co messaging.

Taxation measures have improved but still face implementation challenges related to affordability, illicit trade concerns, and limited public understanding of the role of to***co taxation in protecting health.

As a community-rooted and youth-led national organization, East Action Organization plays a vital advocacy role in strengthening to***co control efforts. EAO works to amplify community voices, support policy dialogue, and mobilize youth and civil society actors to advance stronger to***co control measures across underserved regions.

Through advocacy, partnerships, and community engagement, EAO promotes improved monitoring systems, stronger enforcement of smoke-free environments, expanded cessation services, and increased public awareness of to***co harms. The organization also champions youth-led advocacy and policy accountability as key pathways toward sustainable to***co control.

Protecting communities from to***co harm is both a health and development priority. With coordinated advocacy and community-driven action, East Action Organization remains committed to supporting policy implementation and contributing to a healthier, to***co-free future for Ethiopia.

Facebook caption (recommended)

Stronger policies, informed communities, and youth advocacy are essential to protect Ethiopia from to***co harm. East Action Organization continues to advocate for evidence-based to***co control and community-driven solutions toward a to***co-free future.

Suggested hashtags

***coControl ***coFreeFuture

23/02/2026

Seasonal Forecast: March–May 2026

Wetter-than-normal conditions expected across much of the Greater Horn of Africa

The latest seasonal forecast indicates a 45% probability of above-normal rainfall across large parts of the Greater Horn of Africa. Areas likely to experience wetter conditions include most of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, central to western Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, northern Somalia, and Djibouti.

A 40% probability of near-normal rainfall is expected over western and eastern South Sudan, north-eastern and south-western Kenya, most parts of Somalia, coastal Tanzania, and isolated areas of Uganda and Ethiopia.

These rainfall patterns may bring both opportunities and risks, influencing livelihoods, infrastructure, and humanitarian needs across the region.

A Seasonal Summary for Decision Makers is available, highlighting expected impacts and advisories across key sectors:

• Disaster Risk Management
• Agriculture and Food Security
• Water and Energy
• Health and Nutrition
• Livestock
• Conflict, Peace and Security

Stay informed and support early preparedness and resilience actions across communities.

20/02/2026

ONGOING FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ETHIOPIAN NGOs

East Action Organization (EAO) is pleased to share current open funding calls that are accessible to national and community-based organizations in Ethiopia working across climate action, livelihoods, health, youth empowerment, and community development.

Clean Energy & Climate Innovation
EEP Africa Call 2026 – Grants and repayable financing for clean energy projects (Eligible for Ethiopian NGOs)

Governance & Civil Society Strengthening
Commonwealth Foundation Grants – Up to £60,000 supporting civic engagement and advocacy (Eligible)

Environment & Conservation
Land Acquisition Fund – Up to €100,000 for biodiversity protection and conservation (Eligible)

NGO Capacity & Fundraising Innovation
Africa Impact Fundraising Grant – Supports African NGOs to strengthen fundraising systems (Eligible)

Migration & Financial Inclusion
IFAD Remittances and Development Call – Development and financial inclusion initiatives (Eligible)

Children & Youth Development
Firelight Fund – Rolling grants supporting community-based organizations (Eligible)

Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment
Noel Buxton Trust – Small grants prioritizing grassroots initiatives in Ethiopia (Eligible)

Climate Justice & Adaptation
Growing Roots and Climate Justice Grants – Youth and community-led climate initiatives (Eligible)

We encourage Ethiopian NGOs, youth-led organizations, women’s groups, and grassroots initiatives to explore these opportunities and share widely to strengthen locally led development.

🚨GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFRICAN NGOs🚨

Environment, Conservation & Biodiversity
🔹 Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund – Species conservation, up to USD 25,000
🔹 Anton Jurgens Fonds – Agricultural development

Health & Nutrition
🔹 WAM Foundation – Nutrition, health, USD 50,000–1.5 million
🔹 Fondation Mérieux Small Grants Programme – Infectious disease, up to €5,000

Education & Community Development
🔹 Mustardseed Arts and Educational Trust – Vulnerable communities
🔹 Margaret Hayman Charitable Trust – Social justice & climate
🔹 The Windfall Foundation – Sustainable income

Water, Education & Healthcare
🔹 AJA Foundation – Water, education, healthcare, up to USD 1 million

Grassroots & Social Innovation
🔹 The Pollination Project Daily Grants – Volunteer-led, USD 500
🔹 Matchbox Fund – Early-stage projects, ~USD 10,000

Faith-Based & Community Support
🔹 Blackfriars Overseas Aid Trust (BOAT) – Poverty relief, education, up to GBP 4,000

Corporate & Institutional Giving
🔹 Jabil Cares Foundation – Education, empowerment, environment

Poverty Alleviation & Scalable Impact
🔹 Dovetail Impact Foundation – Scalable poverty solutions

🔗 For more information and details about each grant & how to apply, visit: https://zurl.co/q7A7x

20/02/2026

19/02/2026

We Are Family Foundation is proud to introduce The Climate Cohort 2025 Frontliners, a new class of young leaders using creativity, cultural knowledge, and community-driven innovation to confront the realities of climate justice.

This year’s Frontliners represent a global cross-section of regenerative farming practitioners, environmental-justice storytellers, ethical-fashion organizers, and Indigenous media creators. Their work spans continents and disciplines, yet each shares a unifying mission: to challenge extractive systems and rebuild more just, resilient futures.

This cohort is redefining how climate justice is led, centering ancestral wisdom, local leadership, and creative organizing.

Youth To The Front Fund is helping these leaders scale community-rooted solutions while amplifying the voices too often pushed to the margins.

Meet the Frontliners rewriting the climate story: https://www.wearefamilyfoundation.org/yttf-the-climate-cohort-2025