We Lead The  
  Jewish Response  
  To Global Crises  

Disaster Relief and International Development

Hundreds of millions of people in the developing world lack basic medical care. To help meet these overwhelming needs, ImpactWell — the pioneering initiative from JDC and the Ruderman Family Foundation (RFF) launched in Ghana in 2023 and now expanded to Malawi and Zambia— leverages cutting-edge Israeli medical technologies and expertise to reduce illness and improve life expectancy in low-income countries. ImpactWell is now working alongside commercial partners, NGOs and local Ministries of Health to introduce portable diagnostic technologies and bring Israeli medical missions to build local capacity in point-of-care ultrasound for maternal healthcare, neonatal resuscitation care, trauma care, eye surgery, and more.

A CNN Hero with five honorary doctorates, Dr. Rick Hodes has given thousands a second chance at life. Living in Ethiopia for more than 35 years, Dr. Rick ran a clinic in the basement of a crowded public hospital in Addis Ababa, treating impoverished patients with spinal deformities — a program JDC launched in 2006. We’ve recently opened a fully equipped Spine Center and a national training program that will build the skills of local doctors to perform spinal surgeries in Ethiopia, as well as developing other innovative public health initiatives across the continent.

Two-thirds of the population of Ethiopia are farmers. TOV (Tikkun Olam Ventures), JDC’s development assistance project in partnership with the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture, leverages Jewish philanthropy and mobilizes Israel’s innovative agricultural technology (AgTech) and expertise to transform the lives of smallholder farmers in developing societies. Today, more than 10,000 farmers have multiplied their output with cutting-edge Israeli drip irrigation, hybrid seeds and digital finance technology — boosting their livelihoods and their communities.

Though women and girls still lag behind in achieving equal levels of health, education, and earnings in many parts of the world, they are also powerful agents of social and economic change, as well as a source of hope for promoting resilience. Initiatives in urban agriculture, beekeeping, and weaving give vulnerable women in South Africa and Ethiopia access to finance, technology, and the know-how they need to develop sustainable livelihoods, boost their income, and enhance their food security. Alongside our local partners, we catalyze innovative economic opportunities so that women can thrive and “imagine more” for themselves, their families, and their communities.

JDC launched the five-year Tena program in 2024 to promote health and wellness among the local population, including the 10,000+ members of the community awaiting immigration to Israel. The program is strengthening the Gondar-based Maraki Health Center with the aim of improving its primary care, maternal health, and emergency services in the Ethiopian city, and bringing healthcare directly to the doorstep of community members through health outreach and education programs.