There are 180 woredas in the Oromia Region. Oromia has an estimated total population of 26,553,000, consisting of 13,249,999 men and 13,303,001 women. 23,030,000 or 86.7% of the population are estimated to be rural inhabitants, while 3,523,000 or 13.3% are urban (CSA, 2005). With an estimated area of 353,632 km², this region has an estimated density of 75 people /Km2. Oromia is the largest state in terms of both population and land area. Farmers in the Region own an estimated total of 17,214,540 cattle (representing 44.4% of Ethiopia's cattle population), 6,905,370 sheep (39.6), 4,849,060 goats (37.4%), 959,710 horses (63.25%), 63,460 mules (43.1%), 278,440 asses (11.1%), 139,830 camels (30.6%), 11,637,070 poultry of all species (37.7%), and 2,513,790 beehives (57.73%).
The average rural household has 1.14 hectares of land compared to the country average of 1.01 hectares. Some 24% of the population is employed in non-farm related jobs compared to the national average of 25% (World Bank, 2003).

ESGPIP’s target woredas

The ESGPIP operated in five of the 180 woredas in the Oromia region namely Adami Tullu, Arsi Negelle, Fentale, Shashemene and Yabello.

Adami Tullu and Jido Kombolcha

Adami Tullu and Jido Kombolcha is part of the East Shewa Zone located in the Great Rift Valley. In the south, the woreda is bordered by the Arsi Negele woreda with which it shares the shores of Lakes Abijatta and Langano; on the west by the Southern region, on the north by Dugda Bora , on the northeast by Lake Zeway, and by the Arsi Zone in the east.

The woreda has an estimated area of 1,274.54 km² and ranges in altitude from 1500 to 2300 m.a.s.l. About 27.2% of the land in the woreda is arable, 21.6% pasture, 9.9% forest, 15.7% swampy and the remaining 25.6% is considered degraded or otherwise unusable.

The woreda has an estimated total population of 167,100 (82,960 male and 84,140 female); 57,068 or 34.16% of the population is urban. The woreda has an estimated population density of 131.1 people per km²

Arsi Negele

Arsi Negele is also part of the East Shewa Zone. Arsi Negele is bordered by Shashamene in the south, by Lake Shala in the southwest, by the Southern region in the west and the Adami Tullu and Jido Kombolcha woreda in north.

Except for the southeastern portion, the altitude of this woreda ranges from 1500 to 2300 m.a.s.l.; Gara Duro is the highest point. Out of the total land in the woreda, 29.9% is arable, 4.3% pasture, 5.2% forest, and the remaining 60.6% is considered swampy, degraded or otherwise unusable.

Arsi Negelle has an estimated total population of 198,300 (100,620 male and 97,680 female); 42,054 (21.21%) of the population is urban while the rest is rural. With an estimated area of 1,400.16 km², Arsi Negele has an estimated population density of 142 people per km² (less than the Zonal average of 182).

Shashemene

This woreda is also part of the East Shewa Zone located in the Great Rift Valley. Shashemene is bordered on the south by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the west by Seraro, on the north by Arsi Negele, and on the east by the Arsi Zone. Shashemene has an estimated area of 759.53 km².

According to figures published by the Central Statistical Agency (2005), the woreda has an estimated total population of 339,980 (171,160 male and 168,820 female); 105,929 or 31.16% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 32.1%. Shashemene has an estimated population density of 448 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 182. It is the most densely populated woreda in the Misraq Shewa Zone.

Fentale

Fentale is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region and part of the Misraq Shewa Zone. Fentale is bordered by the Arsi Zone in the south, the Boset woreda in the southwest, the Amhara Region in the northwest, and the Afar Region in the east.

Most parts of this woreda range from 900 to 1000 m.a.s.l. Regarding land use, 8.2% is arable or cultivable, 7.6% pasture, 28.8% forest, and the remaining 55.4% is considered degraded or otherwise unusable. Fruits and vegetables are important cash crops.

The woreda covers an estimated area of 1,169.85 km². There are 16 farmers’ associations with 5,318 members but no farmers' service cooperatives.
The Fentale woreda has an estimated total population of 87,424 of which 41,437 are male and 45,987 are female (CSA, 2005). 21,348 or 24.42% of the woreda's population is urban. Fentale has an estimated population density of 75 people per km².

Yabelo

Yabelo is part of the Borena Zone. Yabelo borders the Dire woreda in the south, the Teltele woreda in the west, the Hagere Mariam woreda in the north and the Arero woreda in the east.
Yabello woreda has an estimated area of 5,523 km². The altitude ranges from 350 to 1800 m.a.s.l. There are no rivers or streams in Yabelo. Out of the total land area, 10% is arable, 60% pasture, 10% forest (5.5% state forests), and the remaining 20% is considered swampy, degraded or otherwise unusable.

There were 15 farmers’ associations and 6 farmers’ service cooperatives; about 70% of the farmers are pastoralists. Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 82,443 (41,132 males and 41,311 females); 18,478 or 22.41% of the population are urban dwellers. Yabelo has an estimated population density of 15 people per km².