Pastoralism and Regional Policy East Africa Dawit Abebe Feinstein International Center Tufts University

Why are regional policies important for pastoralism?

The opportunities for creating regional policies The emergence of the “new AU” structure AU – RECs – Member States The focus of Regional Economic Communities (EAC, COMESA, IGAD) e.g. –Regional economic integration –“Free movement of goods, services and people” –Trade focus, especially intra-Africa

The challenges of regional policy development Within RECs, in-house organizational capacities around pastoralism The old debates –Pastoralism as wasteful, illogical etc etc Resources and processes Organizational knowledge e.g. COMESA strong capacities around cereal commodities, not livestock.

A capacity-building process COMESA Regional Policy Framework for Food Security in Pastoralist Areas CAADP Pillar 3 Process

Livestock and Pastoralism Specialist in COMESA

COMESA RLPF 1 st RLPF:  May 21 st 2008  Issues discussed and recommendations: Commodity-based trade in animal resources Mainstreaming pastoralism and livestock development into all CAADP pillars  Participants: CAADP focal persons from Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia; FAO/IGAD/LPI; ASERECA; AU/IBAR; FANRAPAN; UNZA; EAC; representatives of private sector and NGOs. 2 nd RLPF:  4 th – 5 th March 2009  Issues discussed and recommendations: Food security in Pastoralist areas: Market and mobility  Participants: CAADP focal persons from Ethiopia & Kenya; AU/IBAR/ EAC/ FANRAPN; FAO-IGAD-LPI; GART; UNOCHA; WISP; Representative of Pastoral Communities from Kenya and Ethiopia

COMESA Policy Briefs/Papers COMESA Regional Livestock and Pastoralism Forum – Overview of pastoralism in the COMESA region COMESA/CAADP Policy Brief 1 – Commodity-based Trade in Livestock Products COMESA/CAADP Policy Brief 2 – Cross Border Livestock Trade COMESA/CAADP Policy Brief 3 – Economic Diversification in Pastoralist Areas COMESA/CAADP Technical Briefing Paper 1 – Contingency Planning and Preparedness Auditing COMESA/CAADP Technical Briefing Paper 2 – Triggers for Early Response

Pastoralism and Policy Trainings Livestock, Economics and Trade –Garissa, Sept 08 Mobility, Land Tenure, Conflict and Civil Society –Adama and Awash, Nov 08 Drought, Livelihoods and Food Security –Nairobi, June 2009

Trainers and resource people Tufts University – Dawit, Yacob, Francis, Andy IIED – Peter, Ced, Roy Kesarine – Mike Save the Children US - Adrian Resource people: Equity Bank, Kenya – Raphael Ngera Garissa Market – Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Save the Children US, Ethiopia – Doyo Hargessa, Abdi Sheik Harun Elders – Liben Jilo, Ahmed Mohammed, Tafai Sakula DFID/GoK – Sammy Keter Oxfam GB Turkana – Eris Lothike MPIDO – Soikan Meitiaki Somali communities in Garissa, Kerayu and Afar communities in Awash, Maasai communities near Magadi.

Outcomes (after 2 years) The COMESA Policy Framework for Food Security in Pastoralist Areas Draft December Cross-border livestock trade and related policy and legislative options - Cross-border movements and pastoralist mobility - Livelihoods-based drought response But, draft still not endorsed by COMESA Council by March Change of senior staff or ‘internal champions’ - Higher management not on board - Persistence of negative attitudes

Where as we now? AU Policy Framework for Pastoralism in Africa endorsed (October 2010) - very pro-pastoral; a strong platform IGAD regional frameworks evolving e.g. animal health COMESA draft pastoral policy framework exists but not endorsed Pan-African and regional policy processes likely to continue

Challenges Organizational capacities and resources The trade focus of RECs vs. the need to address various issues – land, services etc. National security agendas wrt cross-border movements National tax revenue priorities e.g. export vs. domestic revenues ‘Countries lagging behind’ in terms of understanding of pastoralism and policy options