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

vulnerable to conversion for other l<strong>and</strong> uses perceived as more suitable. Abdulahi <strong>and</strong> Adenew(2007) highlight some <strong>of</strong> the regional level policies related to l<strong>and</strong> tenure in pastoral regions.• SNNPR: The SNNPR Rural L<strong>and</strong> Administration <strong>and</strong> Utilization Proclamation No.110/2007recognizes the existence <strong>of</strong> communal l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> specifies how it should be registered (the 2007SNNPR Rural L<strong>and</strong> Law), with some provisions to protect pastoralists.• Oromia: The Oromia Rural L<strong>and</strong> Use <strong>and</strong> Administration Proclamation No.130/2007 largelyexcludes pastoralists <strong>and</strong> does not recognize communal ownership. The term ‘possession’ isused in such a way as to focus on individual ownership.• Afar: The Afar Regional State’s draft Rural L<strong>and</strong> Administration <strong>and</strong> Use Proclamation (No. ---/2009) recognizes, as per the constitution, that pastoralists have the right to the use <strong>of</strong> grazingl<strong>and</strong>. It further mentions that traditionally communal grazing l<strong>and</strong> cannot be privatized. Thisseems to extend exclusive rights to pastoralists over the use <strong>of</strong> communal rangel<strong>and</strong>s.However, the proclamation also mentions that l<strong>and</strong> is ultimately owned by the state <strong>and</strong> thatcommunal l<strong>and</strong>, provided the consensus <strong>of</strong> local communities, can be privatized <strong>and</strong>/or givento investors when considered appropriate.• Somali: The regional government is currently in the process <strong>of</strong> drafting the region’s new L<strong>and</strong>Use Proclamation.3.1.2.3. Major Government Programs <strong>and</strong> ProjectsA large number <strong>of</strong> projects <strong>and</strong> programs are in place across Ethiopia’s pastoral regions, someaddressing water specifically <strong>and</strong> others coupling water development with broader pastoraldevelopment (rangel<strong>and</strong> rehabilitation, improved veterinary services, etc.). Following is a selection <strong>of</strong>current approaches used by government (<strong>and</strong> in later sections by developmentorganizations/NGOs). Ins<strong>of</strong>ar as these examples do not capture the full range <strong>of</strong> experiences in thefield, they illustrate examples along a continuum from a technocratic approach with generic methods<strong>of</strong> promoting participation (which are <strong>of</strong>ten only symbolic) to highly participatory approaches whichare specific to particular localities <strong>and</strong> socio-political settings.St<strong>and</strong>ard practice in pastoral areas is for communities to express dem<strong>and</strong> for water from the localauthority. Local government (or NGOs) respond to this dem<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> the type <strong>of</strong> water point to beconstructed is then selected from a menu <strong>of</strong> options (shallow wells, deep wells, ponds, birkado,spring capping, etc.) based on the hydrogeological context <strong>of</strong> the area. Placement <strong>of</strong> the water pointis also primarily based on hydrogeological considerations. Sometimes, decisions on water pointconstruction are guided not by need but by local government’s ethnic <strong>and</strong> socio-political affiliations.More water points can be observed in areas which are home to the majority <strong>of</strong> local administrativestaff, as observed in Jijiga woreda in Somali region.Notable departures from this ‘generic’ approach have been observed in the last 10 years. Thefollowing projects provide a range <strong>of</strong> examples, some which follow the st<strong>and</strong>ard approach but whichattempt to better integrate participation <strong>and</strong> other key issues (addressing other development needs,context specific planning, etc.), <strong>and</strong> others which focus on grassroots participation as a centralfeature <strong>of</strong> their strategy. However, each <strong>of</strong> the following endeavours applies its own approach towhat constitutes appropriate water development in the rangel<strong>and</strong>s, which suggests that ministries aswell as regional <strong>of</strong>fices work independently <strong>of</strong> one another with little coordination around waterdevelopment issues <strong>and</strong> limited sharing <strong>of</strong> best practice. Incoherence in approach to waterdevelopment <strong>and</strong> weak linkages between stakeholders creates an environment where it is easy forinappropriate water development to go unchecked.The Pastoral Community Development Project (PCDP) (2001-2015)47