YADAM Foundation Highlights Grassroots Success in Shebedino Woreda: A Blueprint for Reducing Stunting through Multi-Sectoral Coordination
HAWASSA, ETHIOPIA | March 31, 2026 — Following its high-level regional summit, the YADAM Foundation led a delegation of over 40 regional officials and partners to Shebedino Woreda for a transformative field visit. The mission provided empirical evidence of how integrated policy implementation directly correlates with improved nutritional outcomes at the household level.
Evidence of Impact: Stunting Reduction in Action
The visit to Shebedino Woreda showcased a remarkable shift in community health metrics. Through disciplined multi-sectoral coordination, the area has seen stunting prevalence drop from 35% to 31%, with zero cases of severe acute malnutrition reported in the intervention areas.
A centerpiece of the visit was the farm of Ato Ahmed Nuur, a model farmer who has transformed his 0.5-hectare plot into a 2.5-hectare diversified agricultural hub. By integrating fish ponds, poultry, apiculture, and orchards, Ahmed has not only secured his family’s dietary diversity but has become a primary supplier of fresh, animal-source foods and vegetables for the local community. His success exemplifies the “Yebeteseb Biltsigina” (Family Prosperity) initiative, proving that nutrition-sensitive agriculture is a cornerstone of economic resilience.
A Coalition for Change
The YADAM Foundation extends its deepest appreciation to the stakeholders who made this knowledge-sharing mission possible:
- The Sidama Regional State: Special thanks to H.E. Mr. Tessema Dima, Special Adviser to the President, for demonstrating exemplary political ownership and hospitality.
- Regional Delegations: Representatives from Gambella, Central Ethiopia, South Ethiopia, South West Ethiopia, Benishangul-Gumuz, and Dire Dawa for their candid exchange of challenges and solutions.
- Federal & International Partners: The Ministry of Health, Ministry of Industry, EFDA, and FANCO for technical leadership, alongside UNICEF, FHI 360 (Alive & Thrive), and the Seqota Declaration units for resource alignment.
From Commitments to Results
As the workshop concluded, the YADAM Foundation reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to bridging high-level policy with grassroots execution. With binding regional commitments now secured for Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF), Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS), and cascaded governance, the Foundation is poised to scale the Shebedino model across the nation.
“The field visit to Shebedino Woreda proved that when political will and community ownership align, change is sustainable,” stated the YADAM Foundation. “The baby is thriving—and together, we will help it run.”
About the YADAM Foundation:
The YADAM Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to social transformation and food security in Ethiopia. Under the leadership of Founder and Chairman H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, the Foundation works to ensure that evidence-based nutrition policies result in measurable improvements for every woman and child.
The YADAM Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to social transformation and food security in Ethiopia. Under the leadership of Founder and Chairman H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, the Foundation works to ensure that evidence-based nutrition policies result in measurable improvements for every woman and child.
