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Movement for Ecological Learning and Community Action (MELCA)

Movement for Ecological Learning and Community Action (MELCA)

We strongly believe that there are many positive experiences in Ethiopian culture which could be used to address the current ecological and social crisis.

Founded in:

2004

SAN Member since:

2023

Mission Statement

MELCA is a non-profit and non-governmental organization based in Ethiopia, with a programmatic framework based on the promotion and application of integrated community-based development approaches.

Geographic Scope

MELCA works in six project areas in various national regional states of Ethiopia: Bale and Adaba project areas in Oromia National Regional State, Sheka project area in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Majang project area in Majang zone of Gambella National Regional State, Wereilu project area in Amhara Regional State, and Welmera project area in Addis Ababa/Finfinne surrounding special zone of Oromia National Regional State.

Work Areas

MELCA has four programmatic areas of focus: agroecology and food systems, environmental governance, eco-friendly livelihoods, and empowerment of women, youth and children.


Through their agroecology and food systems program, MELCA works with smallholder farmers at grassroots level to promote the application of agroecological farming practices, while advocating for the incorporation of sustainable practices into the country’s agricultural policy.


Their environmental governance initiative is set with the conviction that the sustainable functioning of an ecosystem requires good environmental governance mechanisms in place. This is a program that works on registering and improving the governance of biosphere reserves and community-conserved areas.


Through its eco-friendly livelihoods program, MELCA aims to improve the life of disadvantaged local communities through sustainable livelihood schemes that minimize pressure on the limited forest coverage and diversify income, with a particular focus on women, youth and minority groups.


The youth and children empowerment area aims to create a means for linking the youth in schools with culture and nature through intergenerational learning, with the intention of creating in the youth a sense of responsibility for the conservation of their cultural and ecological resources.


MELCA’s mission is to work for healthy ecosystems and resilient communities through the development of innovative approaches, with the aim of preserving people’s bio-cultural diversity.

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