Synthesis of Existing Knowledge and Experience on the Provision of ...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYWater development has the potential to bring lasting change in the long term – both positive <strong>and</strong>negative. In Ethiopia’s arid areas, where pastoralism is the dominant livelihood, practical fieldexperience over the last forty years indicates that water point development divorced from an indepthunderst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> pastoral livelihoods can compromise sustainable development in the longterm despite stemming water shortages in the short term.To date, no broad overview exists <strong>of</strong> water development in Ethiopia’s pastoral regions. This reportaims to fill this gap <strong>and</strong> presents a synthesis <strong>of</strong> experience over the last forty years in the waterdevelopment sector in the country’s pastoral regions. The purpose <strong>of</strong> this report is to first <strong>and</strong>foremost inform <strong>and</strong> improve the quality <strong>of</strong> project partners’ 1 work. It is also hoped that thissynthesis usefully informs the water development sector more broadly.The report presents an overview <strong>of</strong> past <strong>and</strong> current approaches to water development, who isinvolved, where, how, <strong>and</strong> whether lessons have been learned <strong>and</strong> approaches changed over time –all within the framework <strong>of</strong> national <strong>and</strong> regional policies, plans, <strong>and</strong> strategies. It essentiallyexamines the work done by the partners <strong>and</strong> other actors, as well as takes a close look at policiesrelevant to water development in pastoral areas. The report also aims to identify opportunities onwhich to build which can enhance the positive effects <strong>of</strong> water development for lives <strong>and</strong> livelihoods.It is recognized that pastoralists are not simply recipients <strong>of</strong> development, but are drivers <strong>of</strong> changethemselves, as attested to by the complex Borana well systems in southern Ethiopia <strong>and</strong> thepastoralist-led introduction <strong>of</strong> birkado 2 to the Somali region in the 1960s. Pastoral water pointconstruction significantly predates the involvement <strong>of</strong> the state <strong>and</strong> other actors. Customary watermanagement practices were (<strong>and</strong> still are) tailored to a mobile livelihood system, which itself is aresponse to the requirements <strong>of</strong> dryl<strong>and</strong> environments where climate is highly variable in time <strong>and</strong>space. Pastoralists use water management as a means to manage the wider rangel<strong>and</strong>s, aware thataccess to <strong>and</strong> availability <strong>of</strong> water affects who <strong>and</strong> how many have access to surrounding pasture <strong>and</strong>grazing areas. At the same time, some pastoralist-led water developments have been shown tohinder pastoral livelihoods. The negative consequences <strong>of</strong> birkado for rangel<strong>and</strong> health <strong>and</strong> pastoralmobility were observed when people began to permanently settle in wet season grazing areas, usingthe rangel<strong>and</strong>s year-round in areas formerly allowed to rest <strong>and</strong> regenerate for parts <strong>of</strong> the year.The concentration <strong>of</strong> livestock in limited areas also made herds more vulnerable to disease. Theseimpacts have today been recognized in some areas by pastoralists <strong>and</strong> others (notably somedevelopment organizations), <strong>and</strong> pastoral communities have begun to take active first steps toaddress the problems by putting in place binding customary agreements. In other parts, birkadocontinue to be a popular feature on the water development options list.From the 1970s, especially after severe drought in 1973, pastoral regions became a focus <strong>of</strong>attention for government as well as national <strong>and</strong> international development <strong>and</strong> humanitarianagencies. Solutions to water shortages at the time were technocratically driven <strong>and</strong> top down, withlittle participation from the grassroots. Interventions aimed to settle pastoralists – to ‘bring order’ totheir way <strong>of</strong> life which was seen as backward <strong>and</strong> outmoded. There was little underst<strong>and</strong>ing thatmobility is a sophisticated response to the unique characteristics <strong>of</strong> dryl<strong>and</strong> environments, <strong>and</strong> is1 The partners are the RiPPLE Programme, funded by UKaid from the Department for InternationalDevelopment through ODI, SC-US working through the USAID funded Enhanced Livelihoods in SouthernEthiopia/Enhanced Livelihoods in the M<strong>and</strong>era Triangle (ELSE/ELMT) programme, <strong>and</strong> CARE Ethiopia, working through theHoward G. Buffet Foundation funded Global Water Initiative.2 Cement lined underground cisterns.10