Impact of Cordaid’s support to pastoralists in Kenya & Ethiopia

Under the umbrella of Partos, a Dutch platform of civil society organisations (CSOs) engaged in international development, Cordaid, Hivos and ICCO designed a joint evaluation of their support to “indigenous peoples”, focusing on political and land rights, women’s rights, livelihoods and people’s organisation. Case studies were made of Cordaid-supported work in Ethiopia and Kenya, Hivos-supported work in Bolivia and Guatemala, and ICCO-supported work in India.

The “Case study on pastoralist development in Kenya” focused on the impact of Cordaid’s support to Samburu, Turkana and Boran pastoralists in northern Kenya. The “Case study on pastoralist development in Ethiopia” looked at the overall situation of pastoralists in the country, with field visits to Abore, Boran, Hamar and Tsamai groups in the south. Both studies also looked into cross-border issues. The 2-person review teams (Kenyan and Dutch in the first case, Ethiopian and Dutch in the second) elicited views on changes in the situation of pastoralists over the previous 10–15 years from (1) the “insider” perspective, i.e. practising pastoralists (men, women, youth) and people from pastoralist ethnic groups working in local CSOs; and (2) the “outsider” perspective, i.e. non-pastoralists working with intermediary NGO partners of Cordaid and other actors in government and civil society engaged in pastoralist research and development.

The 66-page report on Kenya and the 64-page report on Ethiopia (both completed in 2010) describe changes in the situation of pastoralists from these two perspectives and assess how Cordaid contributed to these changes through its approach, activities and funding support. It recommends how Cordaid could strengthen the position of pastoralists through policy dialogue, integrating disaster-risk management into local development planning, promoting culturally appropriate education, encouraging local CSO-led networking, and enhancing pastoralist women’s capacities, leadership and representation.

Posted on 19 November 2014 in Pastoralism, Gender & Youth, Pastoralist Livelihoods & Nutrition