Oxfam international Ethiopia has implemented a Project entitled BEE-LIEVE: Beekeepers Economic Empowerment through Long-term Investments in Entrepreneurship and Value Chain in Ethiopia. The project is a five-year initiative implemented by Relief Society of Tigray (REST) with financial support from European Union under the framework of development policy partnership with Ethiopian government and with coordination and 30% financial contribution from Oxfam in Ethiopia. The Action has been taking place in six Woredas (districts) of Tigray zone in Ethiopia, namely Ofla and Endamehoni in Southern Zone; and Kilteawlaelo, Gulo Mekeda, Ganta-Afeshum and Atsbi Wonberta in Eastern Zone since May 2017 where increasing numbers of young people and women have no access to farm land, finance and skills.

The project works with smallholder beekeepers particularly women and landless youths to boost honey production and productivity and expand market base through improving access to key inputs, finance and market. The project focuses on improving the technical, business and entrepreneurial skills of small producers and other value chain actors and supporters.  Beekeepers, Self Help Groups, primary cooperatives, unions input suppliers, extension service providers, Honey SMEs and buyers (collectors, retailers, wholesalers, processors, exporters), research and technology institutions, and government institutions at all levels are engaged along the value chain. The project emphases on initiating and establishing public-private partnership dialogue and improving the value chain’s governance ensuring a win-win relationship among key actors.

The overall objective of the Project is to contribute to reducing poverty among poor and vulnerable people in Ethiopia through an inclusive and sustainable honey value chain development. Increasing and diversifying income and reducing poverty of the rural community, mainly the women and landless youth is a priority need and is part of the government plan in Tigray as well as for the whole regions of Ethiopia.

The specific objective of the project is to enhance income and social benefits of honey value chain’s actors in Tigray Region of Ethiopia.

The main aims of the mid-term evaluation is to put midterm values along a range of indicators for the project. The study mainly intends to assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impacts and sustainability of our current strategies from the point of view of different stakeholders, in particular young people and women. It is also expected to uncover any intended as well as unexpected outcomes so far.