1. detailed description of the project area project baseline... · 1. detailed description of the...
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1. Detailed description of the project area:
The project area will cover three Pas of Dasanech Woreda (Lokoro, Ocholoch and
Nayikaya). In times of drought in Dasanech woreda, competition over very limited
natural resources (water and pasture) is high and constitutes a potential for conflict.
This risk has increased due to population growth and effects of climate change. The
communities of Dasanach, Gabbra and Hammar are very different in their cultures,
which isolates them from each other. Past civil wars in Ethiopia and Sudan have
brought in a large number of small fire arms, an automatic rifle can be acquired at a
price of a cow. So many pastoralists are armed to protect their herds, to force access to
the resources or even to raid livestock from their neighbors. Pastoralists cross borders
in search of pasture and water, but they can also escape from getting arrested after a
raid: for government officers the border constitutes a line not to cross without
permission from the other side. The poor road infrastructure and very limited financial
resources at government offices allow only irregular meetings of Ethiopian and Kenyan
counterparts. In cross-border projects, NGOs can play a bridging role in bringing
communities and government officers together. This has been practiced in our last
ECHO interventions.
PFS as such is still relatively new in Ethiopia and VSFG can bring in its expertise and
experience from Kenya and had already chances to adjust it to the Ethiopian context
through interventions financed by ECHO in Dasanech and Hamer Woreda. VSF G will
support actively government structures in place in Ethiopia mainly at local/woreda and
zonal/levels. The current government service structures in place are weak in terms of
geographical coverage in the very remote areas, early warning systems (thresholds,
harmonization), linking early warning and early response, coordination between various
stakeholders, community level involvement and community-district interface.
Strengthening of local mitigation capacities is more important than building capacities to
handle outside support or to rely excessively on food aid interventions.
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Training on DRR, initiated in the past, will need to be deepened and harmonized.
Drought will remain a natural phenomenon in these areas, and due to changing global
weather conditions (i.e. La Nina), the frequency of drought is likely to further increase,
and the intensity of drought to be more severe. There is increasing evidence that
preventive non-food aid interventions and social protection instruments can provide a
more cost-effective and developmental approach to reducing poverty, social risk and
build the resilience of the pastoralist communities.
VSF-G is registered in Ethiopia and Kenya as INGO and therefore will put emphasis on
activities in Dasanach to develop the cross border dimension to its full potential.
2. Brief description of “Regional Initiatives In Support of Vulnerable Pastoralists
and Agro-Pastoralists in the Horn of Africa project (FAO-PASTORAL FIELD
SCHOOL PROJECT)
This project is funded by FAO-UN
3. Background on community dynamics:
In the arid and semi-arid lands of the Greater Horn of Africa, drought is the most
important natural hazard in terms of impact on lives and livelihoods. Droughts cause a
decline in food production, they change migratory patterns of pastoralists, exacerbate
resource-based conflicts, result in large losses of livestock assets and acute food
insecurity among vulnerable households. Its impact is greater for pastoralists and
subsistence farmers.
The vast majority of people within the project area are pastoralists, their livelihoods
depend on livestock. In times of drought, pastoralist households have been used to
applying a number of coping strategies including changing their consumption pattern,
switching to lower quality cheaper cereals, seeking forms of social support etc. But, in
the past decade, pastoralists‟ own ability to respond to drought has become increasingly
limited, due not only to increasing frequency and intensity of droughts leaving less time
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for recovery, but also due to increasing demographic pressure, dwindling resource
base, conflict, changes in access to land and water and other shocks like floods and
disease outbreaks. This has in many instances decreased livestock assets to
unsustainable levels and eroded traditional support mechanisms, forcing thousands to
depend on food aid. The livelihoods of some of the targeted communities are further
complicated by international borders which divide ecosystems and cut across traditional
boundaries restricting their mobility. Mobility is further constrained by the conversion of
the better watered land to agriculture and escalating inter-clan conflict.
Participatory assessments of the key problems faced by communities throughout the
project area consistently identify drought as one of the most significant livelihood
challenges along with general insecurity and access to food, water and grazing. These
challenges are experienced differently by region, age, gender and other socio-economic
status. The wealthier pastoralists are generally able to cope with the first and possibly
second consecutive failure of the rainy season provided they have access to fodder for
livestock. By the third consecutive season of rain failure, even the wealthier pastoralists
experience growing food deficiency. Considering vulnerability by age and gender,
especially the young and the old community members as well as women from poorer
and female headed households are most vulnerable.
4. Description of the organization:
Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Germany (VSF-G) is an international non-governmental
organization whose mission is to improve the welfare of vulnerable populations in
developing countries, through improving animal health and production. VSF-G has 20
years experience implementing short/long-term projects with pastoralists as well as
responding to drought emergencies in the dry lands of Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia
and, more recently, Uganda and Ethiopia. Working together as a consortium for the past
ten years, members of the three VSFs have developed an effective and harmonized
approach. VSFs focus not only on animal health, production and marketing, but also
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tackle the broader issues of food security, livelihood diversification, income generation,
conflict mitigation, drought preparedness and advocacy.
Since early 2008, VSF-G has been involved in the Regional Drought Decision, as a
partner of both VSF-B and CORDAID in Northern Kenya (North Horn and Dukana
divisions, Chelbi district) and across the border in Southern Ethiopia. The cross border
aspect has been seen as a strong component of our past intervention ensuring
appropriate activities implementation and consolidation of previous community work.
While experience has shown the short term effectiveness of many livestock based
approaches, this project combines different approaches used with success in the past,
providing an innovative approach to drought preparedness. It offers a much longer term
sustainable approach to slow onset emergencies through investment in community level
capacities and clear exit strategies. This project adopts a holistic approach: it will
identify key areas of resource-based conflict, develop resource utilization maps as a
basis for reciprocal grazing agreements, maximize the use of dry season grazing
areas, facilitate the development of community drought contingency plans, link them
with the district plans and relevant stakeholders, enable access to veterinary services,
diversify livelihoods through Village Community Banks, empower communities through
Pastoral Field Schools, and disseminate lessons learnt to communities (through PFS
and interactive booklets) and development actors (through monitoring visits and
publications).
VSF-G‟s has over 10 year‟s presence in the area. This project fits completely with VSF-
G‟s regional strategy, which includes the improvement of delivery and access to
services by pastoralist communities, the promotion of preparedness rather than
response activities, the dissemination of the PFS approach, and a strong focus on
building on existing assets rather than responding to perceived needs.
5. Principal Objective
To contribute to reducing vulnerability of (agro) pastoral communities in Dasanech
Woreda
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5.1. Specific Objective
The specific objective of this project is to strengthen institutional and policy framework
affecting resilience of pastoralist and agro pastoral communities of Dasanach and the
diversification of their livelihoods.
5.2. Project Results:
Result 1: Target Communities are better prepared for disaster through community
planning and action
Result 2: Strengthened coordination of both development and humanitarian initiatives
in pastoral areas from community through national levels to regional institutions.
6. Objective and methodologies of the baseline Survey
6.1. Objective of the baseline survey
The main objective of this base line survey is to generate the current development
indicative variables (physical, social and economic) to be used as a measure or
standard for the changes brought in by the implementation of the project. The following
are the specific objectives:
To determine the relevance of the project goals, objectives, activities and outputs.
To obtain baseline information for the key project sectors prior to project
implementation.
To use the baseline findings as a bench mark information for project cycle
management and impact assessment.
The baseline survey covered five main sectors;
Section A: General Information of Households
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Section B: Social context, household livelihood and livelihood strategies
Section C; Livestock Production and Health
Section D: Water and Sanitation
Section E: Drought management, Natural resource and environmental
Conservation
Section F: Conflict management
Section G: Existing CBOs and other Agencies
6.2. Baseline Methodology
The survey adopted:
Selected sample frame as a representation of entire population.
Qualitative participatory interviews.
Observations
Focus group discussions with diverse community groups and individuals
consultation meetings with key stakeholders & agencies within the target frame
Participatory rural appraisal tools
Checklists
Use of primary and secondary data
7. Baseline findings
7.1. Section A: General Information & household Identification
7.1.1. General Information
Dasenech Woreda is geographically located at the southern corner of Ethiopia. Hammer
ethnic group at North East, Turkana of Kenya in the south and Salamago in the west
borders the pastoral communities of Dasenech Woredas. The total population of
Dasenech Woreda is estimated to 56,559 (29,282 male, 27,276 Female) in 2007
Administratively, Dasenech woreda has 30 kebeles. Almost all rural population of
Dasenech woreda belongs to Dasenech ethnic group. The Dasenech communities are
predominantly pastoralist and highly mobile in search of water and pasture, they
practice a complex system of livestock movements that provide a high degree of social
mixing. During the wet season, they move with their animals away from the banks of the
Omo River to interior places like Kibish, Fejej and Bubua areas. The Loriantom range is
a traditional dry season pasture area which is , crucial to the pastoral economy of the
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Dasenech. Ethnic conflict on water and grazing resource is one of the hot issues in the
area. According to different information sources heavy rains during July and August in
the highlands of Ethiopia and the increased flow in tributaries usually cause flash floods
in Omo River which burst in to rural villages located on the river delta. Dasenech
woreda is the most affected woreda by the flood from Omo River. This is mainly due to
its geographic location in which most kebeles are found in the middle of two divide
courses of Omo River which is the major source of livelihood for the communities. The
Omo River is naturally divided in to two courses, surrounding 9 kebeles of Dasenech
woreda, before reaching its final destination, the Turkana Lake.
7.1.2. Population Size of Nayikaya, Lokoro and Ocholoch kebeles of
Dasenech Woredas
Apart from secondary information which collected at Woreda level, household level
information and other lacking information were collected from selected kebeles and
households from each Woreda. A total of three sample kebeles of Dassanach woreda
were selected and studied deeply to collect primary information. From all three kebeles
a total of more than 176 households were approached and discussed through
community discussion sessions. The following table summarizes the total household
number and population distribution by sex and age across the three kebeles of the
Woredas: As the data obtained from the Dassanach Woreda Pastoralist Development
Office (PDO) indicated, the total population of the three Kebeles is estimated to be
10,280 people. The detail is shown below in the table
Table 1: Number of HH and population distribution by kebele
S/N Name of target
Kebeles from
Dassanach
Woreda
Number of
HH per
Kebele
Number of total
Population by sex and
age
Children
under 5
Total
Population
Number
M F
1 Ocholoch Kebele 445 1,150 1,053 257 2460
2 Lokoro Kebele 318 780 914 226 1920
3 Nayikaya Kebele 410 1,050 1,150 324 2524
Total HH 1173 3,480 3,817 1,007 6904
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8. Section B: Social context, household livelihood and livelihood strategies
8.1. Leadership, decision making and resource ownership
Dasenech community has its own traditional leadership structure which is selected by
elders drawn from the community. For Dasenech community, the criteria of electing a
leadership are: to be rich, to be old enough and had good human relation and respected
by most of the community member. Both men and women who can fulfill all the
criteria‟s will be elected as a leader of the community. Major decisions affecting
community are made by community elders. Females are given opportunity to contribute
on decision making processes at community level. The community is a bit liberal to
women‟s involvement which is evident in them selecting a woman as their area
Councilor.
At household level, all resources (farm land, livestock and other assets) are under the
control of the husband in Dasenech community. In Dassanach community, the head of
the household is the only decision maker over the control of resources; unless elected
as leader, women and children are not involved on any decision making on resource
control. This is because there is a prohibition which says women and children will
spiritually punish if they involved on the decision making.
In Dasenech community, all member of the household (husband, wife, and children) are
involved in livestock care and management, however, male youths are mostly the ones
in charge of livestock activities and most often migrate with livestock to the temporary
settlements (Foras) in search of pasture and water under the advice of elder‟s council.
In Dasenech culture women have a very limited role on animal health care activities
except some trained women CAHWs by VSF Germany. VSF Germany has provided
CAHWs training for two women together with men CAHWs.
The role of women on animal health care becomes very limited because according to
the custom and belief of Dassanach community a woman who is on her monthly
ministration period is not allowed to approach livestock hence few or none participate in
animal health system not even ethno-veterinary.
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However, this habit is changed from time to time since NGOs like VF Germany are
involved on providing training for Community Animal Health Workers both for men and
women CAHWs by considering gender equity. As a result the previous belief on women
to take part on animal health care is changed from time to time.
In Dasenech communities, grazing Land, pasture and water which are the main
resources, are communally owned by the community as a whole.
8.1.1. Livelihood
For Dassanach community, pastoralism is the dominant source of livelihood for the
majority of rural population in the Woreda. The main livestock species reared embraces
cattle, goats, and sheep and donkeys. Although the pastoral production system is the
major sources of livelihood of the people, crop production is also playing a significant
part in their daily survival where cereals such as maize and sorghum provide a portion
of the diet. In addition to these, the community living on these kebeles is engaged with
traditional fish production potential owing to the presence of different Omo River and
hence traditional fish production is important source of livelihood for many households
in the Woreda. The shares of these main livelihood sources are estimated as 55% of
the community is fully pastoralist and the rest 45% of the community is engaged on
pastoralism, very traditional crop farming as well as fishing activities and
handcraft/carpentry and other small scale business activities such as petty trading
activities such as bartering of cereal crops by shoats and cattle.
8.1.2. Natural resource and utilization
In Dasenech Woreda the major available natural resource are pasture land, farm land,
forest, water and wild life. The communities utilizes the forest for fire wood; shelter
construction; preparation of chair (Berkota) & stick, preparation of utensils including
traditional farm implements; for medicinal uses both for human and animal health care;
for edible wild fruit (Bedena and Kurkura) and plan roots; for gum and incense
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production and finally used for browsing/grazing by livestock. Water bodies such as
Omo River and other dry season and sandy rivers are used for traditional fishing,
irrigation and source of drinking water both for the human and livestock population.
Huge sand resource is also available on the dry season rivers and the sand is utilized
for construction of social infrastructures on all rural kebeles and towns.
8.1.3. House hold food and major livestock product
The main food for households in Dasenech Woreda is livestock and livestock products
such as milk, ghee, butter, meat and blood. In addition to livestock products cereal
crops such as Sorghum and maize are widely consumed in the form of porridge and
boiled grains.
Milk and ghee are mainly used for household consumption while butter is sold in local
markets found on the nearby town such as Omorate to generate cash incomes and
sometimes used as cosmetic cream for pastoralist women and other traditional
ceremonies.
Sorghum is the most important crop and maize is less important, mostly consumed at
green stage. Fish is also produced and widely consumed by Dasenech community. In
addition, various varieties of wild foods are also consumed, both in normal and dry
seasons throughout the year. Livestock and livestock product sales generate the bulk of
cash income.
Food aid through Productive Safety Net Program is the other source of household food
in Dassanach community. Food aid and cash is distributed for the community during
drought seasons relying on the monthly reports of the woreda early warning and
preparedness committee depending on the severity of the drought hazard.
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8.1.4. Crop Production
In Dasenech Woreda crop cultivation is done by the majority of the community following
the course of Omo River and seasonal rivers often by using very traditional irrigation
system. Sorghum, Maize and Soya been are the major crops produced by Dasenech
community. In this community crop production is mainly performed by women and youth
girls.
Women and youth girls of Dassanach community uses hand tools to dig the farm lands.
Since the land preparation is done by hand farm tools to prepare furrow at shallow
depth. Such farming system is time consuming and tiresome. Crops also do not develop
proper root system and most of the time crops face physical damage and remain
stunted which contributes a significant role for the reduction of crop production and
productivity.
This is in part contributed by poor seedbed preparation, weed infestation and as a result
sever competition among the crops and weed plants on soil nutrients.
The undeveloped working culture of the community to weed out harmful weeds on time
together with Wild animals, birds, stake borer, grasshopper, and sucking bugs also
damage crops significantly which significantly reduces production and productivity.
Generally, 25-30% of crop loss is estimated to appear annually at field level.
In addition to the above main problems of crop farming, the other problems related to
crop cultivation are lack of modern and efficient farm implements, inadequate rain for
sorghum and maize crops, pest infestation and crop disease. Over flooding of Omo
River has also a negative effect on the cultivated crop lands along the river course by
sweeping the grown crops from the farm lands. Over flooding of Omo River also affects
the traditional crop storages even after harvesting.
Generally the following serious challenges are observed widely on crop production in
the area.
- Even though rain fed crop production is not really new in Ethiopian context,
pastoralists and agro-pastoralists have probably less knowledge of crop
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farming/agriculture than highland farmers. These pastoralist and agro pastoralist
group of the community has been challenged by very minimum crop production
due to lack of sufficient knowledge on crop farming.
- Shortage of adequate rain fall which is unsuitable for crop production has been
always affecting crop farming/agriculture in pastoralist and agro pastoralist
settings.
- The introduction of modern agricultural technologies such as modern irrigation
system and modern farm implements including lack of farmers training has
contributed for the poor development of the sector in the area.
- The devotion of only few researches and extension approaches on arid and
semi-arid crop production system has also contributed its own impact for the poor
development of the sector in the area.
9. Mobility
Dasenech community practices seasonal movement with their livestock. Their
movement is towards the Turkana areas and Hammer areas during the rainy season
and towards the Omo River during the dry season. Dasenech Woreda is usually
affected by flood risks of Omo River. This is mainly due to its geographical location in
which most kebeles are found in the middle of two divide courses of Omo River which is
the major source of livelihood for the communities in the Woreda. The Omo River is
naturally divided in to two courses, surrounding 9 kebeles of Dasenech woreda, before
reaching its final destination, Lake Turkana. The prevalence of age old conflicts on
grazing and water resources with Turkana and Hammer ethnic group restricted the
traditional mobility of Dasenech community outside the river bank during rainy season/at
the time of over flooding of the Omo river.
10. Local markets
10.1. Dasenech community
The main local market place/area for Dasenech community is Omorate town which is
the head quarter of the woreda. Out of the total………households of the three kebeles
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(Nayikaya, Lokoro and Ocholoch), 75% of the household heads have sold a total of 756
heads of livestock in a year 2011/2012 by taking the animal to Omorate local market.
Livestock are sold mostly during drought and famine periods to earn income for several
reasons such as to buy foodstuffs to feed family members, to buy drugs/medicine both
for human and animal health care. Bartering system is practiced widely since local
traders have been delivered cereal crops such as sorghum and maize from Omorate to
the three survey kebeles of the woreda and as a result animals are used to be bartered
with cereals mainly during dry season.
Most livestock owners sell their livestock to traders in Omorate town. There is
undeveloped market structure in Omorate which is serving for livestock marketing.
Relative to the previous livestock market prices, the current price is fairly good,
Lack of transportation means to transport animals from the kebeles to Omorate have
contributed a lot to poor livestock prices exposing vulnerable pastoralist for price
exploitation brokers or middle men.
The price of various products for different seasons is shown in Table 7. A term of trade
between livestock and cereal is affected by seasons. During dry season when grains
are scarce, the price of animals decline radically and the pastoralists are forced to give
away many animals to get the grains.
Table 2: Types of Products and Prices under Different Conditions in Omorate Market
Type Unit average price
Livestock
Ox/ bull Birr 3,000
Cow Birr 2,800
Goat/Male Birr 1,000
Goat/Female Birr 500
Sheep Birr 540
Hen/cock Birr 80
2. Livestock Products
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Milk (all types) Birr/lit 10
Butter (cow) Birr/kg 90
Egg Birr/Pc 1.75
3. Crops
Sorghum Birr/qt. 460
Maize “ 380
Coffee husk “ 150
Source: Dassanach Woreda Cooperative Marketing Office (2012)
The main challenges of unfair marketing in the area are lack of adequate market
information and market infrastructure, lack of communities‟ awareness about marketing,
high expenditure on non-essential items during market days such as drinking more
alcoholic beverages by spending more money, the involvement of brokers and distance
of the market areas from the rural settlements, etc. The opportunities to develop the
market include development of grain banking system by organizing pastoral
cooperatives; development of marketing information, construction of well organized and
structured market infrastructures; limiting the role of brokers on price making process,
improving cross-border marketing; training of the community on marketing information
system and establishing community based communication media center for efficient and
effective marketing information dissemination.
11. Wealth ranking and wealth class
Wealth ranking was done for all HHs in the three kebeles such as Nayikaya, Lokoro and
Ocholoch of Dasenech Woreda. It was done by key informants from all villages in the
respective kebeles using the card-sorting method
11.1. Dasenech community
The criteria for wealth ranking were identified after the piling of cards was completed.
Households were grouped into four wealth groups based on the wealth scores. Key
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indicators for wealth are the number and type of animal owned (Cow, milking cow, oxen,
sheep, goat, and donkey). The criteria for differentiating wealth groups remain almost
similar across sample kebeles. The following table summarizes the criteria of identifying
various wealth groups across the sample kebeles in Dasenech Woreda.
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Table 6: Wealth ranking in Nayikaya, Lokoro and Dassanach Kebeles of Dasenech woreda
Wealth group by
Kebele
Livestock
Other
Percentage of
HH fall under
each wealth
group Cattle
No. of
goats and
sheep
Number of
donkeys
Number of milking
goats
Ocholoch kebele - HH - 345
Very rich 150 -300 140-200 70
30-35
able to feed his
family throughout
the year and owned
livestock kept by
other pastoralists 12%
Rich 70-150 70-100 35
15-20
able to feed his
family throughout
the year and owned
livestock kept by
other pastoralists 20%
Medium 35-75 70-100 15
5-10
28%
Poor 5-10 10-20 5
3-5 40%
Lokoro Kebele - HH : 245
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Wealth group by
Kebele
Livestock
Other
Percentage of
HH fall under
each wealth
group Cattle
No. of
goats and
sheep
Number of
donkeys
Number of milking
goats
Very rich 110 - 250 140-300 70 30-35 10$
Rich 70-150 70-100 20-30 20-25 25%
Medium 35-75 70-100 10-20 10-15 30%
Poor 10-15 20-30 5
5 35%
Nayikaya Kebele - HH : 310
Very rich 140 -300 140-200 20
20%
Rich 70-150 140-200 15 15%
Medium 10-20 20-30 5-10 25%
Poor 3-5
Keep others
livestock and
support from others 40%
Note: In Dasenech community the relative size of poor wealth group is --------% and significantly lowers than that of
Hammer Woreda.
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12. Problems Ranking
Table 10: Problem Ranking in Ocholoch Kebele (Dassanach woreda)
S. N Problems Score Rank Reason
1 Food shortage 18 1st Shortage of rainfall and
shortage of seed that
resist drought
2 Conflict 11 2nd Competition on pasture
and water
3 Animal disease 9 3rd Inadequate service
(shortage of medicines
and professionals),
disease outbreak during
flooding
4 Shortage of water 7 4th Far water source for
livestock and abscene of
clean water supply for
human
5 Pasture shortage 5 5th Drought
Table 11: Problem ranking in Lokoro Kebele (Dasenech woreda)
S. N Problems Score Rank Reason
1 Food shortage 16 1st Shortage of rainfall,
shortage of cultivable
land, shortage of farm
equipment
2 Shortage of water for
human and animal
14 2nd Lack of accessible water
supply
3 Animal disease 9 3rd Inadequate service
(shortage of medicines
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and professionals),
disease outbreak during
flooding
4 Shortage of pasture 7 4th Drought and inadequate
rain
5 Human disease 4 5th Lack of trained health
worker
Table 12: Problem ranking in Nayikaya Kebele (Dassanach woreda)
S. N Problems Score Rank Reason
1 Food shortage 25 1st Shortage of rainfall for
pasture and crop
production
2 Animal disease 13 2nd Inadequate service
(shortage of medicines
and professionals),
disease outbreak during
flooding
3 Shortage of water for
human and animal
8 3rd Water source dried
during dry season
4 Shortage of pasture 4 4th Drought and inadequate
rain
13. Seasonal Calendar
Dasenech Woreda has two rainy seasons with bi-modal rainfall pattern. The long rainy
season starts on February and ends June (belg) and the second/short rainy season
starts on mid September and ends on November. Cows give birth once every two years,
in February, and lactate for most parts of the year. Milking cows are generally kept close
to the homestead, while dry animals are kept in traditional grazing areas (forra).
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In a typical year, December to January ( hunger season) are the months of seasonal
migration, when cattle shift from homestead and joined with those in the forra/traditional
pasture land and all animals move to dry season grazing areas. Goats and sheep are
kept closer to home. Some households in the community get milk from goats; however;
the contribution of goat milk is not adequate to feed the entire family members with in
the household.
Crops are planted at the start of the belg rains. Major crops grown in the area in the
order of importance are intercropping of maize with haricot beans and sorghum. Though
inadequate for crop production, rain in September and October is essential for pasture
and browse re-growth for livestock as well as water for both human and animals.
During the dry season, prices of staple food increase until the start of the green maize
harvesting in May. In these months pastoralist will be forced to sell their livestock in
order to generate cash income for the purchase of grains for family food consumption.
Malaria peaks up following the belg rains (from April through June) in areas where there
are stagnant water points, which are conducive for breeding of mosquitoes.
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Table13: Seasonal calendar in Dasenech community
July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March Apr May Jun
Rainfall Seasons dry season Short rain Dry season Main rain dry
Milk Availability Medium Medium Low Good medium
Cattle BIRTH HEAT PERIOD
Livestock Sale Medium High Sale
Livestock Migration Migration for
Dassanach
Shoats BIRTH BIRTH HEAT PERIOD
Maize production Harvest Land
Prep
Plant harvest
Sorghum Production Green Harvest Land Prep Plant
Hunger / stress
periods
Food
shortage(Hunger)seson
Wild food Eating During hunger season
Food Purchase High purchase
Malaria/Diarrhoea High malaria Diarrhoea malaria
Conflict conflict Conflict conflict
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Most conflict are caused by cattle rustling during drought period when pastoralist move
to dry season grazing and watering areas which are shared by other neighboring
communities.
The community mostly sells their livestock during drought when there is acute food
shortage and loss of animals live in order to meet their needs at very low prices as
opposed to rainy season when they hardly sell their livestock due to secured conditions
and the livestock prices also shoot up. Most livestock diseases are experience at the
beginning of rains and at the end of rains due to flooding effects.
14. Sector C: Livestock Production and Health
14.1. Livestock type, size, problems, copying strategy
14.1.1. Dasenech community
Livestock is the major source of livelihoods and Asset for a majority of the households in
Dasenech Woreda. The livestock kept and owned by individual and kinship members of
the community. The main livestock species reared embraces cattle, goats, and sheep
and donkeys in their order of importance. However during drought time they prefer to
keep goats and donkeys for they are resisting drought.
.
The major benefits from livestock are that it‟s the main source of food (Milk, Meat,
blood) and also provide hides and skins. Livestock is also used as the main investment,
determinant of wealth and power, used for cultural cleansing, sold to meet other
household needs and the only recognized bride price. Shoats are easily sold due to
their faster re-generation and quick monitory exchange.
The main problems affecting livestock population include; Poor road infrastructure to
access market, water shortage, lack of adequate pasture, over flooding of Omo River,
theft, conflict at grazing & watering points and livestock diseases. Acute water shortage
results in competition between livestock‟s and humans for the scarce water resources.
The shortage of water and pasture is mainly caused by the recurrent drought. Among
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all problem drought, disease and conflict are the major one which affect livestock
population. In one year alone, out of the total 78 sample households 70 households
(90%) have lost on average 14 heads of livestock due to recent drought. Similarly out of
the total 78 sampled households, 69 households (88%) have lost on average 11 heads
of livestock due to disease. On the other hand, out of the total 78 sampled households,
32 households (41%) have lost on average 14 heads of livestock due to conflict with
Hammer community.
The measures strategies adopted by the community to address the above problems
include:
- Migration in search of pasture and water by livestock owners to cope up
problems associated with drought which often leads to conflict with other
communities
- Leaving the area where the livestock disease happened
- Separation of diseased animal from those healthy
- Selling of animal: Out of the 78 sampled households in Dasenech Woreda, 64
(82%) have sold a total of 392 head of animal with 90,906 ETB in one year time.
Livestock are sold mostly during drought and famine periods for several reasons.
- Medication and vaccination
- Giving piper and ginger as a medicine
- Slaughtering animals
- Social support among members of the community: out of the 78 sampled
household, 46 household (59%) have given on average 2-3 heads of livestock to
relatives, destitute, and for those who have lost their stock due to disease,
drought and theft. Similarly out of the total 78 households, 49 households (62%)
have received on average 2 heads of animal from other as a social support.
15. Livestock disease and health service
Livestock diseases are among the major challenges of livestock production in Hammer
and Dasenech Woreda. The type of diseases and their prevalence vary across the
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Woredas within South Omo zone. This is attributed to the ecological makeup and
species of animals reared along sides. However, C.C.P.P., Tripanosomiasis, C.B.P.P.,
external (tick and mange) and internal parasites are the most common livestock
diseases spread over the two Woreda.
Table 5: Top-Ten diseases and classes of livestock affected in Dasenech
No. Disease type Season of occurrence Livestock species
affected
1 C.C.P.P. Dry Goats
2 Tripanosomiasis Rainy Cattle, goats, equines
3 C.B.P.P Dry Cattle
4 External parasite (tick,
mangi and biting flies)
Rainy Cattle, goats
5 Internal parasite Rainy Cattle, goats, sheep,
equines
6 Black leg Beginning of rainy
season
Cattle
7 Lumpy Skin Disease
(LSD)
Rainy Cattle, goats, sheep
8 Anthrax Dry Cattle
9 New castle Rainy Poultry
10 Streptotricosis All season Cattle
Source: South Omo Zone Veterinary annual report, 2001
In Dasenech Woreda, there are no regular modern animal health services except that
vaccination campaigns which usually conducted once a year and sometimes once in
two – three years. According to the interviewed households during the survey, the
objectives of most the vaccination campaigns were to protect the expansion of
communicable diseases to other parts of the country rather than saving the life of
Dasenech livestock. The last vaccination campaign was conducted in September 2012
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against bloody diarrhea and Tuberculosis. Pastoralists depend mainly on indigenous
ethno veterinary which is not enough to meet their day to day veterinary service
demand. The pastoralist in the area depend much on indigenous ethno-veterinary
drugs/herbs and other traditional methods of treatment. However some pastoralists buy
modern medicine from Omorate and sometimes from Kenya to treat their animal.
Most of the sampled households were not happy on the effectiveness of the modern
animal health delivery services. They pointed that the past animal health delivery efforts
were not effective and didn‟t show improvements through time because of lack drug
and health professionals.
16. Section D: Water and Sanitation
16.1. Dasenech community
The main sources of water for Livestock and domestic usage in Dasenech Woreda are
few hand pumps, pond, shallow wells/Chirosh, and River. The hand pumps are few in
number and not accessible by the majorities of the communities. Most of the shallow
wells/Chirosh in Dasenech are dug by the community and are available only for five
months, after that dried up. The temporary shallow wells are often used during the wet
seasons due to their proximity to the wet grazing lands while river is used during dry
season. Most of the water source (except Omo river) will not serve throughout the year.
They serve only for 2 – 6 months of the year. By the time these water sources dried up‟,
the communities are forced to migrate to Omo River. Some are used to transport water
once in 10 days by donkeys from far distance.
16.1.1. Consumption per day, transportation and management
In both Dasenech and Hammer, watering frequency in the dry season for the whole
animals is ranging between 2-3 days. During dry season, animals compete with the
households for water sources.
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In Dasenech Woreda, during the wet season, travelling time to fetch water Is 30
minutes. During dry seasons it takes on average three hours, but there are some places
which took even a day. In Dasenech Woreda, out of the total 78 sampled households,
85 % of them responded that they transport water by human beings while 15 % of them
responded that they use donkey for transportation.
In Dasenech Woreda, Chirosh are very few and are purely done on individual decision
though once completed are used communally. Most of the wells are unprotected and
repairs are done on voluntary basis which is tricky in terms of sustainability. However
some households pointed that some water sources are fenced and protected. Out of the
78 interviewed households in Dasenech Woreda 13% of they responded that they had
participated in fencing and guarding activities of water source on voluntarily bases.
There is no a committee to manage the water sources.
17. Section E: Drought cycle management, Natural resource and environmental
conservation
17.1. Copying with food and pasture shortage
The Dasenech community has various ways of coping with drought which are done by
the community. The copping strategies are mainly geared towards increasing the food,
income, and exchange options. The followings are some of coping strategies that are
commonly carried out among the households in the Dasenech Woreda.
- Increase in the consumption of wild foods, meat and blood
- Storing sorghum production for many years
- Slaughter of weak animals;
- The community also sale livestock through cash or barter trade to buy food and
other household items. Out of the 78 sampled households in Dasenech Woreda,
64 (82%) have sold a total of 392 head of animal with 90,906 ETB in one year
time. Livestock are sold mostly during drought and famine periods for several
reasons.
- They also reduce the number of meals a day.
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- Migration in search of pasture and water by livestock owners to cope up
problems associated with drought which often lead to conflict with other
communities
- Social support among members of the community: out of the 78 sampled
household, 46 household (59%) have given on average 2-3 heads of livestock to
relatives, destitute, and for those who have lost their stock due to disease,
drought and theft. Similarly out of the total 78 households, 49 households (62%)
have received on average 2 heads of animal from other as a social support.
17.2. Protection and conservation practices
In Dasenech community there is No clear water and pasture management system in
place, although livestock herders meet in the evenings in their “Foras” to discuss about
the pasture areas and thereafter individual herders make own decisions on where and
when to migrate next. However in general terms there is a practice of having a separate
dry and wet season grazing system /patterns. This system contributes for protection and
conservation of pasture, woodland forest and water catchments areas.
17.3. Water and grazing management institution
For both community, a local council of elders exists in the area who closely discusses
issues in regard to drought with re-known community prophets and foreseers who
slaughter Sheep to look at their intestines tell the fate of the community. The
information from the foreseers are then given to the council of elders to inform their
community members on the current situation and what plans need to be put in place.
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18. Section F: Conflict Management
18.1. Conflict prevalence mapping
Conflicts in Dasenech Woredas occur between an array of different ethnic groups.
They typically manifest themselves as sporadic events such as raiding and violent
attacks between groups who consider themselves as enemies. Enemies and allies may
change over time depending on the need for cooperation, and events in recent history.
Groups who previously existed together in harmony may now find themselves in conflict
as contexts change or one-off attacks escalate into clan war. For this reason conflicts in
this area are often regarded as recurrent, rather than continuous, with conditions of
relative calm punctuated by intermittent raids and attacks, which may or may not
escalate. The mapping above indicates the groups who considered themselves in
conflict with one another at the time of the study. Conflicts and relationships are
dynamic and as such the mapping indicates the situation at one specific time..
For hammer community, conflict is the second commonly occurring hazard next to
drought in almost all the PAs and sometime bounce to affect the neighboring ethnic
groups as well. The conflict in the area has made the communities' life to be filled with
fear and insecurity. This problem sometimes reaches at a point where the communities
could not manage their daily walk of life. Their life is always under treat. crops and crop
fields, abandonment of economic activities (livestock rearing), and destruction of
community properties. The Hammer community has occasional conflict with Borana of
Ethiopia and Kenya, with Bume and with Dasenech.
Dasenech community has serious conflict with Turkana of Kenya and internally) with
Hammer, Bume, and with) with Borana. The Gheleb (Dasenech) ethnic group has links
in Kenya. Such ethnic links could be instrumental to help alleviate the current conflict if
researched well. During conflicts helpless children are affected the most. If we invest
on these children today, they will be our allies tomorrow in the fighting against SALW.
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18.2. Types of conflict
The types of conflict associated with these areas included:
Conflict over grazing area - caused by competition over limited Pasture and
boundaries
Conflict over water resources Caused by competition over limited water and
boundaries
Conflict over Cattle Rustling - (Restocking to replace animals that died due to
drought or diseases and revenge or replacement of livestock earlier looted /stolen
by neighboring warring communities)
Conflict for cultural reasons – Heroism or wealth acquisition by organized youths
(bandits)
The major types of conflict prevailing in the area are conflict over grazing and water
resources. In Dasenech Woreda, out of the total 78 households, 78% of them indicated
that the conflict is due to competition on grazing and water resources. Conflicts over
cattle rustling are carefully planned and coordinated to attack in order to secure
possession of cattle using small arms, ranging from the lowest to the highest types of
fire arms. During such operation, a severe battle rages for at least two to three days.
The cross border conflict between Turkana and Ghelbi (Dasenech) is mainly focused on
cattle rustling and killing of human beings. In the conflict those who are involved in
fighting and even those who are not party to the conflict (innocent lives), especially
children and women would be victims of the conflict of the cattle rustlers.
The cattle rustling operation may not necessarily be successful all the time. The
robbers get killed and lose the ambition of taking back cattle, which do not belong to
their community. However, when they are successful in securing the cattle from the
other side and manage to come home safely, the robbers are not the direct
beneficiaries of that outcome. The father would get the entire share. If the father of the
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robber were not alive, then the share would go to the elder brother. If the community
leaders happen to meet the robbers on the way before they handed over to the father or
elderly brother they would get some of the cattle as a gesture of respect and
appreciation for their blessing. In addition the girls and women of that community would
play a role of encouraging the rustlers. The girls and women also get some of the cattle
that would be slaughtered right after they arrive home for the celebration of safe return.
18.2.1. Causes and nature of conflict
Conflict manifests itself as raiding or violent attacks between heavily armed young men,
from different ethnic groups. The general feeling within the majority of communities is
that it is a few „bad‟ individuals in each group who are causing the problem, and
violence is not community-wide. Unfortunately given the cultural traditions and histories
of the different tribal groups and the numbers of weapons in the area one violent
incident can easily scale-up into full clan warfare.
Previously raiding and attacks were well-organized events, sanctioned by the elders,
and accepted by most as suitable strategies for the pastoral system. With the increase
in levels of vulnerability and the ease in availability of deadly weapons however, these
attacks are becoming more individualized and opportunistic. Many no longer regard
these incidents as raids but as theft. These forms of violence are much harder to
predict and control, and require responses, which acknowledge that there may be some
within the communities who do not wish the insecurity to end. Interventions must not
only create disincentives for conflict but therefore also incentives for peace.
These violent raids and attacks are the visible manifestation of much deeper conflicts
and vulnerabilities, which lie beneath the surface of these societies.
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Root causes Proximate Causes Triggers
Culture of Heroism Proliferation of weapons Drought
Culture of dowry payment Weak state security Initiation ceremonies
Poverty and vulnerability Weak justice system –
cycles of revenge
Raids/attacks
Increasing scarcity and
competition over resources
Weakening of traditional
authority.
Flooding of the Omo
river.
Poor governance systems Histories of fear and
hatred
Inappropriate delineation of
boundaries
Ethnicity and identity
Lack of development or
employment opportunities
18.2.2. Effect or consequences of conflict
The conflict causes widespread loss of people‟s lives, displacement of people from their
residences, serious psychological and physical injuries, loss and looting of livestock,
loss of livelihoods, loss of water points and loss of grazing resources.
Out of the total 78 sampled households in Dasenech Woreda, 32 households (41%)
have lost on average 14 heads of livestock due to conflict with Hammer community
mostly at the watering points and grazing areas which were never recovered. Similarly
out of the 78 households, 38% of them responded that they experienced death/injuries
of family members due to conflict in the past few years. Most people confirmed that they
sought assistance from local administration in cases of conflict for resolutions. At the
moment they have formed a peace committee of 12 members that work together with
local administration in resolving conflict issues.
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18.2.3. Cycle of conflict
Due to the sporadic nature of the conflicts in these areas and the frequent lapses into
cycles of revenge, they are very difficult to predict. As they often occur around key
natural resource sites however it is possible to determine some trends.
Violence can occur on a seasonal basis when climatic and environmental conditions
push conflicting groups together. For example, annual flooding of the Omo River forces
Dasenech on the east of the Omo to move further towards the border with Hammer.
Those on the west side move away towards Mount Kuraz where they meet with the
Nyangatom. During the dry season the Nyangatom and the Hammer find themselves
moving closer together on either bank of the Omo river, and clashes may occur if one
group crosses for hunting or other illicit activities. Similarly smaller conflicts between
the Nyangatom and Mursi and the Nyangatom and Karo occur sporadically at times of
the year when both parties wish to try to cultivate around the Omo River.
Raids and attacks conducted during the dry season are said to be more opportunistic in
nature, as they occur when herders from different groups find themselves in closer
proximity, competing over the same resources. Conversely raiding in the wet season is
often well organized, longer in distance, and more effective. During this time young
men are strengthened by milk and meat and affects such as the „Pre-Harvest
Syndrome‟ provide incentives for counter-attack and reprisals1. CEWARN reports from
2004 indicate that the largest and most effective raids took place in September, October
and November during the rainy season. In one such raid over 8000 heads of cattle
were raided over the border by the Turkana. These raids are typically highly organised
involving large groups of men and sanctioned by the elders
Understanding the seasonality of these raids plus other triggers such as initiation
ceremonies, can help work towards preventing conflicts from erupting. Monthly data
1 CEWARN note that during the rainy season there is enough water and wild fruits to sustain young men undertaking
long distance raiding. In addition pre-harvest festivities may provoke and incite them to undertake counter-attacks and reprisals during this period.
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collected and analyzed by CEWARN, details common aggravating and mitigating
factors. Much better co-ordination and use of this data could provide a useful source of
early warning information for use by NGOs, government and local communities.
18.2.4. Conflict management
18.2.4.1. Traditional methods of conflict management and peace
building
Conflicts management in pastoral areas is often closely tied to that of natural resource
management. With livelihoods that require mobility and migration into other groups‟
territories, negotiating access to land is a form of maintaining good relations as well as
accessing resources. This helps explain the volatility of relations amongst many of the
ethnic groups in this area, as alliances are formed and broken largely dependent on
varying resource pressures. The breakdown of many NRM systems due to increasing
insecurity, coupled with deteriorating livelihood and resource conditions is thus
impacting on the ability of different groups to manage their relations with others.
The formation of alliances is also heavily influenced by other cultural attributes. All
groups cited their allies were those connected through systems of intermarriage or the
sharing of similar cultural and language attributes. Sharing of common ancestry also
has significant impact on whether a group is considered an enemy or an ally.
Traditional institutions within each group still have elders who take responsibility for
various areas of governance, such as natural resources, conflict management and
justice. Within ethnic groups, these traditional institutions remain somewhat effective,
and in many remote areas continue to be the only form of governance. With the
increasing influences of education and other external factors however, these forms of
traditional authority are eroding. Young people are losing understanding and respect for
the system, and elders are finding themselves unable to compete with the pull of
external forces.
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At an inter-tribe level the weakening of traditional governance is even stronger. The
Dasenech described how they used to maintain peaceful relations with Turkana and
Nyangatom, through symbolic ceremonies, which would manage and bring peace.
Elders from one village would send messages to the other, to request discussion and
conciliation. This group would come with a girl wearing an ostrich feather, a sign of
peace. A bull would be selected and slaughtered and the elders would meet, discuss
and exchange the skins of the bull to signify agreement and restoration of peace.
Whilst this still functions between some groups it is rapidly dying out. Most attribute this
to the increasing levels of hatred, fear and mistrust between groups, brought about by
the intensifying of levels of violence.
Whilst this is an important factor in understanding the continuing occurrence of violence
in the two Woredas, it is only part of the problem. To a certain extent the elders, when
supported by the government, are still relatively strong in restoring peace, albeit for a
short time. What is severely limited however is their ability to prevent violent forms of
conflict from erupting in the first place. Here the erosion of power that the elders face in
managing the behavior of their people plays a role, but equally importantly is their
increasing inability to deal with the ever more complex root causes of these conflicts,
and diversity of actors involved.
18.2.4.2. Formal conflict management system
In the same vein literally all forms of formal conflict management in the zone are
reactionary. The police force, the militia offices, the Special Forces, the peace and
security committees and the local courts all play a „fire fighting role‟, dealing with rapid
response, investigation and follow-up of specific crimes and acts of violence.
At present the government response to violent conflict is one of security and justice.
Whilst this is very important in cooling down violence, and removing criminals from the
communities, it does little to address the underlying tensions and vulnerabilities, which
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continually add fuel to the conflicts. The poor governance systems within the zone
result in very few channels of communication through which people can peacefully air
their grievances to a responsive body. Similarly the sole focus on security as a conflict
management tool provides little opportunity to focus on the environmental, political,
economic and cultural forces, which create the conditions for conflict.
There is also a major disconnect between the formal and traditional systems. As was
described above the former systems of maintaining relations such as alliances and
resource sharing have weakened, as vulnerability and conflict increases. Customary
systems of justice and settlement, such as ‘burying the spear’ have also disintegrated
as the traditional institutions weaken and mistrust between groups increases. Yet, at
present the formal justice system is little recognized and rarely accepted by the local
communities. All ethnic groups claim that in the state system criminals are taken to the
prison where they are fed and released after a few years. When they come out they are
proud and fat, more likely to recommit a crime and very bad examples for other
members of the community. This discrediting of the formal justice system results in
people taking justice into their own hands and so begin the cycles of revenge and
counter-revenge that often escalates into embedded clan conflict.
In this vacuum communities are looking for ways of maintaining justice in a way that will
discourage others from committing similar acts. At present all groups look to the
example of the Arbore, in handing over their criminals to the victim‟s tribe. They all
advocate for a justice system with capital punishment that will serve as a lesson to
would-be criminals. Whilst this has been effective for the Arbore, it is not in-line with
government strategies, or assisting the promotion of a culture of peace. There is a
need for the local and regional administration to deal with this issue, and find more
compatible forms of justice that are accepted and understood by the communities and
in-keeping with government policy.
Typical ways in which the government and NGOs have attempted to resolve conflicts in
this area is through peace meetings. There have been a number of meetings held
36
between conflicting groups and at the time of the study one such meeting was between
the Hammar and the Borena was scheduled, although for reasons unknown it did not
materialize. Whilst peace meetings provide useful spaces to encourage debate and
analysis on conflicts, the history of the meetings held in South Omo have been
somewhat discouraging. Many feel that the meetings provide little more than temporary
solutions to the conflicts, which is evidenced by the continuation of violence between
the ethnic groups. Meetings are said to be too infrequent, with little follow-up and
excluding key stakeholders in the conflicts who may have capacities for conflict of
peace. This exclusion results in peace processes, which lack ownership and leaving
many members of the community who still wish to seek revenge.
The lack of focus on underlying causes of conflicts results in agreements for peace
based on very weak foundations. .The fragility of these agreements can have serious
impacts on the levels of violence and insecurity, which continue in the zone. Trust
between groups is further eroded as commitments are broken. Animosity and hatred
intensify and levels of violence escalate. These meetings do have value. They provide
useful spaces to enable communication and discussion between conflicting groups, but
they must be part of a process, which is owned by the communities and committed to by
external parties.
Peace committees established by local NGOs, such as EPaRDA, and the local
administration, are relatively new. At present they also function in a reactionary
capacity, and to a certain extent have replaced the functions of the elders, who are now
incorporated into the new structures. They are also only established in certain areas
and the support given to them until now has been limited and ad-hoc. This said with
support, they could play a very important role in helping to settle and to prevent future
conflicts. They have the ability to provide spaces for the discussion of wider issues, and
become effective channels of communication between different ethnic groups, and
between communities and the government
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19. Existing CBOs initiatives & Institutions
Development organizations in Dasenech Woredas
Name or title of institution/
organizations Major activities and responsibilities
Woreda government offices in Hammer and Dasenech Woreda
Woreda administration Governance, security, food aid, etc
Pastoral, Agricultural & Rural
Development
Livestock health, Cooperatives, crop protection,
fertilizer, etc
Health Vaccination, health care, malaria control
Education Secondary school, primary school, Alternative
Basic Education, etc
Finance and Economic
Development
Personnel recruitment, recurrent and fixed budget
allocation and disbursement etc
Capacity Building Trainings etc
Water Development Borehole, hand dug well, spring development,
maintenance of watering points etc
Women‟s Affairs Woman mobilization for development, woman
Cooperatives establishment etc
Information & Institutions Building Community mobilization et
Woreda Court Justice for criminal cases etc
Woreda Prosecutor
Woreda Police Security, etc
HIV office HIV/AIDS awareness, VCT, etc
Non Governmental and International Organizations
Ethiopian Pastoralist Research and
Development Association (
EPARDA)
Works and provides support in conflict
management, food security, human health and
knowledge development
FARM Africa Works and provides support in community
development, risk management, food security
Action For Development ( AFD) Cooperative development
38
Name or title of institution/
organizations Major activities and responsibilities
Pastoral Community development
Project (PCDP)
PCDP is a World Bank and IFAD funded project,
implemented through the government. The
project is a 15- year project and it started
implementation in 2003. Hammer Woreda is one
the target Woredas in
Community Based organizations
Women cooperative with 52
member
Under establishment
Women cooperative with 21
member
Petty trade
Women cooperative Revolving fund
Women grain mill cooperative with
24 member
Grain mill business
Peace committee Peace building
20. Recommendations
To improve the livelihood base of the pastoral population in the area there is a need
to consider appropriate development interventions. The focus should be on primarily
on improving access to basic services of water, health and education in gender
focused manner and improving livestock production and productivity using
appropriate livestock packages
There is need to strengthen the existing peace building initiatives in order to
enhance inter-community (tribe) mutual resource sharing in order to maximize utility
of existing resources.
There‟s need to integrate Ethno-veterinary services and modern medicine through
PFS and establish community based veterinary service providers through additional
training of Community health workers and community based pharmacies. It would
also be important to facilitate linkages with the nearby Government departments.
39
Decentralize the risk management system at local level (efficient Early Warning and
Flood Monitoring system, Contingency plan, Contingency Fund and resources)
Improve local capacity on risk management at woreda level (Put in place stand by
good capacity motor boats, Improve communication system between the community
and woreda, Monitoring and strengthening the omo river dike annually)
Improve the condition of access road and construct bridges to cross both seasonal
and perennial major river
Promote livelihood diversification of the pastoral community
The local Council of elders with a best target to be incorporated in the Natural
resource management in order the enhance water and grazing management in the
area. Even though, the system is in place, it requires some capacity building to
increase access to the avoided conflict prone areas. This will impact in reducing the
current environmental strain.
There is a Traditional post drought or conflict household livelihood support system
where those with more animals give those seriously affected some livestock to take
care of with incentives such as inheriting of the young stock and returning the parent
stock thereafter which would be best legitimized.