People transitioning out of pastoralism in Ethiopia

Various environmental and institutional pressures are threatening pastoral ways of life. Increasing numbers of pastoralists are shifting to agropastoralism or seeking nonpastoral sources of livelihood. One component of the Pastoral Areas Resilience Improvement through Market Expansion (PRIME) project focuses on fostering livelihood options for people transitioning out of pastoralism to enhance resilience among pastoralist communities in Ethiopia. As part of the PRIME project, Haramaya University (HU) conducted a literature review (2014, 42pp) to gain insight into the situation of people transitioning out of pastoralism in parts of Ethiopia. It referred to best-practice reports by NGOs working on livelihood and diversification issues in pastoral communities and research reports from national and international organisations. In view of the paucity of data on this topic, HU also collected some primary data through key-informant interviews and field observations in selected Borana, Afar and Somali areas. The review disclosed that, while an increasing number of people are transitioning out pastoralism in recent years, the people were relatively rapidly rehabilitated through traditional coping mechanisms and/or support from NGOs and government organisations.

Posted on 12 January 2016 in Pastoralist Livelihoods & Nutrition