Minority Rights Group International (MRG)

MRG International has been working with pastoralist communities/NGOs in East and the Horn of Africa since 1997. Following a consultation workshop that took place in December 1998 in Nairobi, Kenya, MRG published a workshop report Promoting the Rights of Pastoralists in 1999 and distributed copies throughout the Horn and Eastern Africa. MRG and its partners, Pastoralist Concern Association Ethiopia, co-organized a follow-up meeting in September 1999 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which formally initiated the Horn of Africa Pastoralists Advocacy Network (HAPAN). Different members of the network have agreed to take responsibility for different geographical or thematic areas; MRG has agreed to take on responsibility for coordinating international advocacy activities and capacity building for the network. On the basis of this undertaking, MRG was able to launch a three-year programme, which aims to promote the rights of pastoralists through advocacy and capacity building training.

The programme is composed of the following activities: Report publication, translation, launch and dissemination: MRG and partners will publish a report in English examining the situation of pastoralists in the light of international obligations of the focus countries. The report will include specific policy recommendations, be translated into Swahili and be widely disseminated throughout the region in both English and Swahili.

Training: The programme will have three especially designed training events, on advocacy and capacity building, for pastoralist NGOs, community leaders and government officials. The programme will also prepare and disseminate a practical manual that will help pastoralists conduct advocacy work locally, regionally and internationally.

Roundtables: To encourage and cultivate a culture of dialogue the programme will organise three roundtable discussions between pastoralist leaders and government officials.