MELCA, revitalizing the missing links! MELCA-Ethiopia formerly known, as MELCA Mahiber is a non-governmental organization registered under the Charities and Societies Agency of Ethiopia with a certificate no. 3408 as an Ethiopian resident charity.

MELCA-Ethiopia, was born out of the African Biodiversity Network (ABN) (www.africanbiodiversity.org) in 2004.
MELCA’s founders are environmental practitioners, foresters and lawyers. They have extensive experience, both nationally and regionally, in working on issues related to environment and culture.

The name – its meaning and relevance

MELCA means ford in both Amharic, the national language, and Oromo the next most widely spoken language in Ethiopia.  A ford is a crossing point on a river and in this instance the name is used symbolically – our work being about connection.  In a world evermore fragmented by social unrest and destruction of natural resources, MELCA holds a holistic view.  It works to connect culture and environment, youth and elders, traditional ecological knowledge and indigenous lifestyles and modern western thought and ways of life.

In English MELCA is an acronym for Movement for Ecological Learning and Community Action.  In MELCA’s philosophy ecological learning is holistic being participatory and experiential while the outcomes it espouses are learner empowerment and democracy.

Vision:-

To see bio-cultural diversity conserved for healthy eco-system and sustainable life.

Mission:-

To work for healthy ecosystem, vibrant culture and improved lives of communities through developing and spreading innovative methods.

Core Purpose:-

To work for a healthy ecosystem, vibrant culture and improved lives of communities in Ethiopia through developing and spreading innovative methodologies.

Principal Objectives

• To start a proactive youth movement, which promotes bio-cultural diversity and rehabilitates degraded areas. (To create environmentally and socially responsible youth movement through SEGNI program

• To use participatory mapping for community mobilization, environmental education and planning for natural and cultural resource management.

• To conserve forest ecosystems and rehabilitate degraded areas. (To rehabilitate degraded areas of MELCA’s program/project areas, and conserve the natural resources through relevant methodologies.

• To facilitate the improvement of the quality of lives of people at MELCA’s project areas and reduce pressure on natural resource through endogenous development

• To revive traditional ecological governance systems through establishing and strengthening community based organizations

Program Areas:-

MELCA works on five program areas namely:

• Environmental Education (SEGNI)

• Environmental Advocacy

• Participatory mapping

• Income Generating Activities (IGAs)/Improving Livelihoods

• Soil and Water Conservation/ Rehabilitation of degraded areas

Working Areas:-
MELCA is currently undertaking its program areas at three project sites found in two regions:

• In Oromia

• The Bale Mountains Project Area

• The Sebeta Suba Forest Project Area

• In SNNPR

• The Sheka Forest Project Area