Improving drought response in pastoral regions of Ethiopia

This study provides an overview of the timing, appropriateness and efficacy of interventions in response to the drought that affected the pastoral lowlands of Ethiopia in 2005/2006. It identifies mechanisms to initiate more timely and appropriate interventions to protect and support pastoral livelihoods and explores donor interest in resourcing these changes.

It is argued that the problems pastoralists face are structural ones. The authors argue that protecting, building and rebuilding the livelihood assets of pastoralists requires an integrated approach to risk management that goes beyond cash or food transfers to address the underlying factors of pastoral livelihood vulnerability. Drought needs to be seen as a normal and often predictable event, and efforts must be focused on strengthening response capacity while at the same time continuing long-term development efforts.

The authors assert that there is an urgent need to promote ‘joined up’ humanitarian and development interventions based on a sound understanding of local livelihoods systems. Key foci identified for action include:

• investment in services in pastoral areas (including education as a key to future diversification)
• strengthening pastoralists’ access to markets and livestock trade through better linkages between pastoralists and traders, road construction, improved veterinary services; lobbying to ease taxation on livestock marketing during droughts; and changing policies which make it difficult for the private sector to operate in pastoralist areas
• facilitating pastoralists’ access to land and other key resources
• addressing conflict in pastoral areas through facilitation of local-level dialogue
• ensuring that systems are in place to facilitate early livelihoods interventions in the event of drought

Recommendations for action are made in relation to:

• strengthening policy engagement
• strengthening national capacity to effect appropriate and timely drought response
• improving practice