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An emerging theme of the conference wasthe politics of change which is impacting allpastoral communities. Land and resourcesare being expropriated to drive new develop-ment agendas. There is rapid urbanisationwith new infrastructure being planned; grow-ing populations; large scale land acquisitionsfor oil and mining exploration; an expansionof regional interaction and trade. And inaddition there is climate change. There arenew fears too – the spread of Islamic extrem-ism and the international response to it.

Advisory Group: Prof. Itaru Ohta (Japan) Saad Shire (Somaliland) Lars Udsholt (Denmark) Prof Yves Cabannes (UK) Dr. Mohamed Sulieman

ISSUE NUMBER 14 | MARCH | 2016

PENHA PASTORAL & ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK IN THE HORN OF AFRICA

PatronJoanna Lumley OBE

PENHA’s 25th anniversary was celebrated bya conference at the Overseas DevelopmentInstitute (ODI), London in October 2015,which brought together members of the pas-toral fraternity, many of whom had beenpresent at PENHA’s founding conference in1989. It reflected on the important role thatPENHA had played and continues to play;explored present and future challenges beingfaced by pastoral people; and identified newopportunities to ensure the sustainability andviability of pastoralism in a changing political,economic and environmental landscape.

Among the many organisations representedat the meeting were the following: OpenUniversity, Care International UK, OxfordBrookes University, Minority Rights Group,Somali Heritage and Academic Network,Overseas Development Institute, SeawaterGreenhouse Ltd., Brent Council, Ethiopian

Embassy, Centre for Agroecology, Waterand Resilience, University of Coventry,University College London, Natural Re-sources Institute, University of Greenwich,Institute of Social Anthropology, Universi-ty of Bern, Agroforestry Enterprises, Inter-national Gender Studies Centre, Oxford,Africa Division UN Development Fund forWomen, International Institute for Envi-ronment and Development.

PENHA’s journey was described in thekeynote address given by Dr TekesteGhebray, former Executive Secretary ofthe Inter-Governmental Authority onDevelopment (IGAD). Thanks to theefforts of PENHA and other like-mindedorganisations, pastoralism today is animportant global issue and is firmly onthe political map. The founding of PEN-HA came at a critical time in the historyof the Horn of Africa. It was a time ofemerging alliances and the opening upof political spaces. Now, 25 years on,there is a sense of renewal. Dr Zere-mariam Fre, PENHA’s Director, saidthat pastoral people are now takingcharge of their own destiny and can nolonger be marginalised. They are nego-tiating access to land with other localresource users. Communities are com-ing together across different livelihoodsystems, building alliances, strengthen-ing solidarity and preparing forchange.

Attendees at the 25th. Anniversary Conference, October

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The Ethiopian economy as a whole isgrowing at a little over 10% per an-num. But this is not so for all parts ofthe country. In the Afar region, thegrowth is slower - and PENHA is partof a research consortium which seeksto discover why this is so and to sug-gest how to develop economically.The other members of the consortiumare Adigrat University (in northernEthiopia) and University College Lon-don. They are working with other localorganisations such as Samara Univer-sity which is based in the Afar region.

Using participatory rural appraisalguidelines, the study has started in thekebelles of Daar-Berhale, Urkudi-Ab-ala and BekelidaarnaAbelidera-Mile.Focus groups have been held on arange of subjects including pastoral-ism, agro-pastoralism, education,

health, marketing, credit and coopera-tives, social protection and gender.The project also made a seasonal chartshowing the health and food consump-tion in relation to the seasonal trendsof humans and animals. It drew trendlines on rainfall (drought), poverty andvegetation cover for a 50 year period.In addition, participatory wealth rank-ing and community problem analysisranking were undertaken and an actionplan developed. Morethan 70 people participat-ed in these activities in thethree sub-districts (55%men and 45% women).The Afar is predominantlypatrilineal and womensometimes find it difficultto express their viewsopenly in front of men;hence, to ensure women’s

full participation separate groups wereorganized for men and women.

The research is going well despite theserious drought which the Afar com-munities, like so many others in Ethio-pia and Greater Horn Region, face.This is undermining their mainly live-stock-based livelihood system and so-cio-economic-cultural assets - of greatconcern to the research team.

The future looks positive, however. Pastoral commu-nities are seizing new opportunities; they are diversi-fying their incomes and livelihoods - high levels ofurbanisation mean a greater demand for milk andmeat, and for services such as health and education.New livelihood strategies supported by PENHA arecontributing to women’s economic empowerment.The digital revolution has given pastoralists access toinformation and trading, as well as banking servicesand the remote identification of grazing areas. Youngpeople have more choice over their future.

Despite this evolution of the pastoral economy, gov-ernments continue to pursue policies to control andrestrict pastoral practices by trying to sedentariseand “modernise” pastoralists. Mobile pastoralism is,however, compatible with modernity, and a newpastoralism that is both modern and mobile appearsto be emerging. The rules of engagement are chang-ing and PENHA now needs to see where to positionitself as a network. There are opportunities to engagewith new actors, such as emerging institutions in theSouth – some universities in the region are offeringacademic courses on pastoralism – as well as theprivate sector.

As highlighted by the Chair of the Board, JohnPlastow, PENHA, as a network, is able to bring arange of voices and expertise to the table – locally,regionally and internationally. The challenge now isto determine the role of PENHA and others in facili-tating these aspects of positive change for pastoralpeoples over the next 25 years.

This large pastoral plain in Togdheeris a vital resource for local as well asdistant pastoral communities. A pro-liferation of dirt-track roads criss-cross the plain, channeling water offit. Local people have identified thisas the major environmental issue,and this project addresses it direct-ly. With funds from the SomalilandDevelopment Fund (SDF), PENHA isimplementing a project that involvesthe construction of soil bunds andwater diversion channels and theestablishment of a community man-aged grazing reserve. Two years ofpoor rains and exceptionally severedry seasons have hit communitieshard. Many households have movedacross the border to Gashamo, Ethi-opia, where rains have been some-what better.

In this project, drought af-fected community membersreceive cash incomes tobuild environmental struc-tures that will deliver lastingbenefits. Training in environ-mental management buildslocal skills and knowledge.Workshops have highlightedthe close relationship be-

tween land ownership and environ-mental stewardship. Local peopleare concerned about threats to theirland rights. But they have alsostressed the erosion of traditionalcommon property systems – thepastoral plain used to be reservedfor seasonal grazing, but the oldsystems no longer work, with popu-lation pressure and the establish-ment of private enclosures aroundthe plain.

Establishing effective land govern-ance is key. The project hopes topromote this by bringing leaders ofthe numerous villages that surroundthe plain together in a project com-mittee, to manage a small grazingreserve and develop new ways ofcooperating.

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The Environmental and Natural ResourcesLaw Centre of the School of Law hosted apublic lecture with contributions fromthree PENHA staff members under theheading “Regional Approaches to PastoralDevelopment in the Greater Horn of Afri-ca: From the perspectives of Land Govern-ance, the Evolution of the PastoralEconomy and Women’s Economic Empow-erment”.

Professor Mitiku Haile chaired the sessionand provided his own valuable insights. DrZeremariam Fre, talked about PENHA’shistory and its evolution in a changingdevelopment context, highlighting majorpolicy issues and suggesting some futuredirections. John Livingstone addressedland governance issues and argued for amodern and mobile pastoralism that iscompatible with economic growth. AmsaleShibeshi presented PENHA's women’s eco-nomic empowerment work in pastoral com-

munities as well as recent work onparticipatory land governance in Somali-land. Dr. Mulubrhan Balehegn Gebremi-kael, Assistant Professor of RangelandEcology and Pastoralism, brought a groupof students with pastoralist backgrounds,including some from the Afar and Somaliregions. Lecturers and students contribut-ed to an inter-estingdiscussion. Theneed to buildawarenessaround the Afri-can Union’sPastoralism Pol-icy was identi-fied.

The discussionfocused both onthe substanceof the presenta-

tions and the possible collaboration withthe Environment and Natural ResourcesLaw Center, one of the centers establishedin the University's School of Law to workon awareness, advocacy, research, post-graduate programmes and outreach pro-grammes on environment and naturalresources policies and laws.

The pastoralist communities in the KassalaState of Eastern Sudan are very under devel-oped. Among the main origins of the pover-ty here is the traditional marginalization ofwomen within patriarchal pastoralist soci-ety. There is a basic need to strengthen theeconomic position and the household in-come of women pastoralists. This projectidea came from the women themselves whohad been involved in the precedingPENHA/PEAKS women empowerment proj-ect. They raised the question ‘What can wedo next with our new skills?' So they formeda women’s producers groups. It was as aresult of a consultation with PENHA/PEAKSin 2013, that this project evolved.

Handicrafts are expressions of the culture,tradition and heritage of communities aswell as having an economic value. Theprogramme combines both the constructionof women micro-business centres as well as

supporting the use of their indigenous skillsand knowledge. It was implemented byPENHA in partnership with the PastoralistEnvironment Association in Kassala State -PEAKS (a local community based organisa-tion (CBO)) with the support of the govern-mental authorities and the local chief andreligious leader. Women are the backboneof the project and together with PEAKS,they are committed to continue and sustainthe project goals in the future.

With financial support from the Zurich Com-munity Trust and the Rafael family, supportwas given to groups in the three communi-ties of Awadat, Tajuj and Awad, situatedbetween Kassala city and the Eritrean bor-der. A total of nine women's groups benefit-ed with 130 individual women between theages of 15 and 60 increasing their monthlyincome by 700 SDG (Sudanese Pounds) asthey developed increased quantities of newand good quality products.

Women’s confidence in running their micro-businesses and the culture of entrepreneur-ships was enhanced. Centres are also serv-ing as platforms for women to raise localissues that go beyond the handicraft works,such as local governance issues. The en-gagement of more young girls in handi-crafts will contribute to the sustainability ofthe project.

Supporting women in Eastern SudanPENHA Uganda is part of an internationalgroup of NGOs which are working to im-prove the health of cattle without the useof anti-bacterial drugs and to preserve in-digenous breeds - in the case of Uganda,the long horned Ankole cattle. With thesupport of the League for Pastoral Peoplesand Endogenous Development (LPP) andthe Erbacher Foundation, both from Germa-ny, and also with groups in the Nether-lands, India and Ethiopia, PENHA has beenworking in Uganda to bring local communi-ty based organisations into the project.

Ankole cattle are especially well suited tothe Ugandan environment. They are resist-ant to many local diseases and rarely fall ill.They are resistant to drought. Althoughthey do not produce the quantity of milkthat European breeds do, they produce amilk with a unique creamy and sweet tasteand good and tasty ghee. The meat is goodand tasty. The long horns are not onlyimportant for self protection but also todisperse excess body heat.

PENHA is sensitizing the community andcampaigning for the importance and valuesof the indigenous Ankole Long horn cattlebreed. In addition, it is arranging exchangevisits with NGOs in India, the Netherlandsand Ethiopia.

PENHA in Uganda

A lecture by PENHA at Mekelle University, Ethiopia

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It is with real sadness that we reportthe death of Dr. Abebayehu Assefa atthe age of 63. He was a great supporterof PENHA in Ethiopia and the husbandof Dr. Hirut Gemeda, one of PENHA'sBoard members. He studied Mechani-cal Engineering in Ethiopia and in Eu-rope, completing a PhD. He was aProfessor of Engineering at Addis Aba-ba University and was involved in thedevelopment of the wind and solarpower generation of electricity. He al-so contributed to the DevelopmentCommittee of his local woreda. He wasa hardworking and dedicated man, afather to his students and an exempla-ry model.

Charles Steynor

It is with great sorrow that we haveto announce the death of CharlesSteynor at the age of 96. Charles wasa former teacher and head master ofseveral primary schools in Essex be-fore he retired, and a lifelong Chris-tian and a man of great generosity.At his 90th. birthday he asked all hisfriends to contribute to PENHA as hisbirthday present. He will be greatlymissed by his friends and by PENHA.

PENHA is a network committed to linkingpastoralists together in the Horn of Africaand in Africa as a whole. It also aims tolink research to the reality of pastoralistslives.

Dr. Tafesse Mesfin, one of PENHA's Ethio-pian based board members visited Japan todiscuss the need to localise the provisionand the administration of humanitarian aidto pastoralists in East Africa. He is alsoassisting capacity building for the Somali-land Ministry of Environment and RuralDevelopment in the building up of bestpractice in the sustainable forest manage-ment in the dry lands of Somaliland.

Prof. Jeremy Swift, one of PENHA's advi-sors, attended a meeting in Kenya on theeducation of hard to reach young people(who are mostly pastoralists). He madesome useful contributions stressing theneed (i) to take account of ‘indigenous

knowledge’ in a pastoral child’s upbringingand (ii) to pay attention to new technolo-gies – mobile phones and tablets especially- coming online.

PENHA was represented by Sadia Ahmedfrom Somaliland and Elizabeth Katushabefrom Uganda at a meeting held in Lukenyain Kenya. The meeting ended with a decla-ration calling for the "recognition andrespect for pastoralists customary lawsand traditional ways of the governance oftenure".

Tesfaldet Okubayes from the London of-fice represented PENHA at a seminar heldin Bicton College, Devon on "Agrculturalchallenges in the Horn of Africa". He alsorepresented PENHA at a meeting in theHague, Netherlands, which aimed to helpdiaspora organisations to design and im-plement lobbying and advocacy strategiesand to formulate their effective promotion.

PENHA’s supporters are important to our work. Your contribution can make a realdifference to the lives of pastoralists in East Africa. Our aim is to help them, especiallythe women, to have the capacity to help themselves, set their own aims, and to representtheir needs to the powers that be (government, employers and other powerful organisa-tions).

You can contribute directly to PENHA by sending a donation to our office in London atthe address below. Or you can contribute electronically through the JustGiving websiteat the following address: www.justgiving.com/penha/donate.

We respect and value you:• We will never share or sell your name, address or other personal information tothird parties for the purpose of marketing or fundraising without your agreement.• We will be honest and transparent at all times. We acknowledge when we makemistakes and we put things right.• If you tell us that you don't want to be contacted in a certain way, we takenotice and honour the request.• We welcome and actively encourage feedback. We regularly use this feedbackboth to improve and enhance our fundraising campaigns.

PENHA’s new Trustees and volunteersWelcome to Nicole Kenton, our new Trus-tee. Nicole is an independent consultant inInternational Development and has hadmany years of experience in the Interna-tional Institute for Environment and De-velopment.

We are pleased to welcome AbdurazakSharif Mohamed and Mesghina Tedla as

PENHA Associates. They are developing apolicy for PENHA on education for pasto-ralists. Dr. Yusuf Dirie from the SocialPolicy Research Unit, has joined us as aResearch Associate.

Prof. Jeremy Swift is also helping us indeveloping our educational policy for pas-toralists.

PENHA networking

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PENHA - 1 Laney House, Portpool Lane, EC1N 7FP, LondonTelephone and fax: 0044 (0) 207 242 0202

info@penhanetwork.org and www.penhanetwork.org

Abebayehu Assefa