From Dependence To Dignity: Netsanet Business Group Rebuilds Lives In Tigray

Eastern Tigray, Ethiopia - In Kokob Tsibah ward (kebele), where the hills of Eastern Tigray rise quietly against the horizon, a small patch of grazing land has become the centre of an unexpected revival. Every morning, thirteen men and women gather there, some with herding sticks, others with notebooks, tending to a growing flock of goats and sheep that now represents far more than livestock. For the members of the Netsanet Business Group, this shared enterprise is a lifeline, a turning point, and a declaration that recovery is possible.

Among them is Yirga Teka, a soft‑spoken committee member whose life, not long ago, felt suspended between uncertainty and dependence. Before joining the group, he had no land, no income, and no way to support his wife and child. “I relied entirely on my parents,” he recalls. “I couldn’t even provide basic needs for my family, and it affected my confidence.”

The years of conflict had pushed eight members of the group from their homes, stripping away livelihoods and stability. But when Yirga was selected for livelihood support under the Individual Measure 3 (IM3) project, implemented by IOM with funding from the European Union and the German Government, something shifted. “When I heard about the opportunity, I felt hopeful. I believed that if I worked hard, I could finally support my family independently.”

That hope became structure. After receiving business skills training, the group drafted a business plan, elected committees, and opened a shared bank account to ensure transparency. With their first round of support, they purchased seventy‑eight goats and sheep. 

Soon, the grazing land filled with signs of renewal: thirty newborn animals, twenty more pregnant, and steady income from selling fattened livestock during peak market seasons.

Members rotate responsibilities, feeding, watering, monitoring, and guiding the animals across the land provided by local authorities. The work is communal, but the impact is deeply personal.

He once considered leaving his community in search of work, joining the many young people who migrate out of desperation. But today, he stands firmly rooted. “I received support from IOM that helped me start my own livelihood activity. I’m earning an income and supporting my family with dignity. This opportunity has given me hope and confidence for the future.”

With a second round of support, the group expanded into ox fattening, another step toward stability and resilience. Their weekly meetings have become spaces of planning, accountability, and encouragement. Women and men share decisions equally, strengthening cohesion and trust.

What began as a modest initiative has grown into a symbol of recovery. The Netsanet Business Group is not just raising livestock; they are rebuilding lives, restoring confidence, and proving that collective effort can turn hardship into possibility.

“We are no longer just surviving; we are building a better future for our families,” Yirga says, his voice steady with pride.

The group now dreams bigger - oxen trading, poultry production, milk businesses. Their plans stretch beyond today’s grazing fields, toward a future shaped by their own hands.

By Tsadkan Kahsay , Senior Project Associate (Livelihoods), IOM Ethiopia