Before the conflict in northern Ethiopia, Halima owned a successful beauty salon that brought in between 3,000 and 4,000 birr per month. The income allowed her to care for her children and meet her family's needs.  

However, her livelihood was shattered with the outbreak of the northern Ethiopia conflict (Nov 2020-Nov 2022). Unable to flee like many of her neighbours due to her disability, Halima endured hardships, including hunger, sexual violence at the hands of armed groups, and the destruction of both her home and beauty salon, leaving her unable to feed her children. During this time, she relied on her close relatives for food and other essential support.  

Following the cessation of the conflict, Halima reported her experience to the Women and Children Affairs office and was selected to receive 30,000 ETB in cash assistance, and psychosocial support that focused on building relationships, understanding trauma, and coping strategies, which helped her heal emotionally and regain confidence. She also received business skill training that focused on financial management, marketing, and customer service.   

Halima used the cash grant to purchase essential equipment, such as hair dryers, curling irons, hair dryers, and other supplies to reopen her beauty salon. 

Each week, around 25 women visit her salon for treatments, with some returning bi-weekly. Halima’s newly relaunched salon has evolved into more than just a source of income; it has become a symbol of hope. “Reopening my beauty salon was not just about business; it was about reclaiming my life”, says Halima. Her business has restored her financial independence, allowing her to support her family and invest in her children's education.  

Women in the community gather there to exchange experiences, share personal stories, and discuss important topics like women’s health, entrepreneurship, and child-rearing.  

Halima is committed to supporting other women by sharing her own journey, demonstrating how setbacks have strengthened her mental resilience and emotional fortitude, with survival becoming her only path forward. 

Halima has become a role model for young women, inspiring them to start their own businesses. She mentors and supports women in her community, offering guidance as they pursue careers in beauty and entrepreneurship, while empowering them to gain both personal and financial independence. Her influence has sparked the creation of other small businesses.

Halima plans to expand her business by diversifying her offerings to include wellness treatments and traditional holistic therapies and establishing a stable income stream. 

In 2024, the UNDP-managed multi-partner peace support and stabilisation work implemented through local authorities in Afar, Amhara and Tigray regions in northern Ethiopia to support 2,219 women impacted by the conflict, including survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.  The Peace Support Facility is funded by the governments of Germany, Japan and the Netherlands, with resources also provided by UNDP Core Partners and Funding Windows.