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

However, water development in Ethiopia is still largely worked on as a st<strong>and</strong>alone issue divorcedfrom broader natural resource management <strong>and</strong> from broader development. This suggests poorlinkages between water provision <strong>and</strong> improving livelihood resilience.Some actors have begun to address this disconnect. The government’s PSNP aims to underst<strong>and</strong>customary natural resource use, the type <strong>and</strong> extent <strong>of</strong> different natural resources in specific areasincluding degraded l<strong>and</strong>scapes, as well as existing customary resource management systems. It doesso through the use <strong>of</strong> participatory natural resource mapping, which allows practitioners to get a feelfor local needs <strong>and</strong> concerns. USAID’s PLI uses a similar approach, where Save the Children USleads on working with <strong>and</strong> strengthening customary institutions to properly underst<strong>and</strong> localphysical, social, <strong>and</strong> cultural contexts. Some NGOs are doing the same. LVIA, as part <strong>of</strong> theELSE/ELMT program, has put together a comprehensive GIS based atlas for parts <strong>of</strong> Borana inOromia region, which identifies existing water resources, water points <strong>and</strong> pasture, among otherfeatures, to help inform planning. In addition, Oromia region’s approach to development, through itsOromia Growth Corridors Plan, is to underst<strong>and</strong> existing natural resources <strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong> uses through acomprehensive l<strong>and</strong> use mapping <strong>and</strong> planning exercise.4.2.4 Development versus emergency reliefDevelopment projects have begun to put more effort into the s<strong>of</strong>tware aspect <strong>of</strong> developmentinterventions, including working closely with communities to appropriately plan interventions <strong>and</strong>building local capacity to operate <strong>and</strong> manage schemes. However, development projects <strong>and</strong>programs are dwarfed by much more widespread short-term emergency relief projects. The shortterm nature <strong>of</strong> emergency relief, where projects are typically up to 6 months in duration (notexceeding 12 months in rare cases), puts inordinate amounts <strong>of</strong> pressure on implementing agenciesto address water shortages <strong>and</strong> meet targets at the expense <strong>of</strong> appropriate planning <strong>and</strong> ensuringsustainability, which requires much more time 58 . It is not hard to see how these parallel modes <strong>of</strong>operation can undermine long-term development efforts in the rangel<strong>and</strong>s.A nascent trend observed is the introduction <strong>of</strong> a longer term livelihoods approach to humanitarianinterventions as seen under USAID’s PLI <strong>and</strong> ECHO’s RDD programs (see Section 3), which focuson rehabilitation <strong>and</strong> simple water infrastructure in areas outside settlements. To avoid contentiousissues related to establishing new water points, such projects increasingly promote rehabilitatingexisting water infrastructure (especially <strong>of</strong> more complex schemes).There are also a number <strong>of</strong> cases <strong>of</strong> NGOs using their experience with communities in ahumanitarian relief context as an entry point for longer term development. For example, OxfamUSA has managed to secure funds for a long-term development project in pastoral areas focused onsmall-scale irrigation, as a direct follow on project building on emergency relief activities. Givenincreased funding available for pastoral programs <strong>and</strong> projects, this has meant that there is morelikelihood for follow up projects to take place in pastoral areas, providing some continuity (FionaFlintan 59 , personal communication, 2009).Given the need for immediate response in an emergency context, it is unlikely that emergency reliefproject cycles will be extended to accommodate the time needed to incorporate effective planning<strong>and</strong> other s<strong>of</strong>tware interventions which would help improve water point sustainability. In light <strong>of</strong>this, synergies should be promoted between development <strong>and</strong> emergency relief practitioners to helpmitigate the potential for humanitarian interventions to undermine long term development.58 It is recommended that planning prior to any new physical interventions should take about 6 months if it isto be done properly (Warner <strong>and</strong> Abate, 2005).59 Regional NRM Technical Advisory, ELSE/ELMT Program <strong>and</strong> coordinator NRM Technical Working Group,Addis Ababa79