Discovering hope: Potato and sweetpotato technology transforming lives in drought and conflict-affected Ethiopia

In recent years, Ethiopia has faced formidable challenges, grappling with prolonged droughts and ongoing conflicts that have inflicted severe food insecurity, malnutrition, and economic disruptions on its communities. However, a beacon of hope has emerged through the efforts of the International Potato Center (CIP) and its local partners. Since 2015, we have been implementing emergency response projects to combat these crises, offering a lifeline to affected households by introducing resilient and nutrient-rich potato and sweetpotato varieties alongside innovative crop management technologies. The impact of these interventions has been nothing short of remarkable, benefiting over 107,300 households across 114 districts in four regional states. Here we discuss the strategies, achievements, and challenges that have shaped this transformative journey while drawing lessons for the future.