Regional Reports - the European External Action Service
Regional Reports - the European External Action Service
Regional Reports - the European External Action Service
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
5 Savings & credit 15 575 220,882<br />
6 Milk & milk by-products 5 129 5,350<br />
7 Salt mining & production 24 751 814,050<br />
8 O<strong>the</strong>rs 11 507 115,613<br />
Total 196 10,382 2,485,190<br />
4 The dynamics in <strong>the</strong> sector at regional level<br />
There is an increasing trend in <strong>the</strong> number of NSA especially NGOs and cooperative<br />
organizations operating in <strong>the</strong> region. Thus, as compared to <strong>the</strong> total NGOs in <strong>the</strong> region<br />
during 2003, <strong>the</strong>re are 10 more NGO that became operational in <strong>the</strong> region over <strong>the</strong> last four<br />
years. Moreover, now-a-days an increasing number of both national and international NGOs<br />
are focusing <strong>the</strong>ir activities in woredas of zones 2 and 4 which are often less served by NGOs<br />
in <strong>the</strong> past. Like NGOs, cooperatives have become important organizations that provide<br />
different services for <strong>the</strong> pastoral community.<br />
Particularly <strong>the</strong> salt producing and marketing cooperatives are important in generating large<br />
income since Afar is <strong>the</strong> main source of salt which is one of <strong>the</strong> essential ingredient of<br />
household food in <strong>the</strong> entire country. Moreover, cooperatives formed around activities such<br />
as irrigation water supply, vet service, milk and milk products and <strong>the</strong> marketing of livestock<br />
will have more relevancies for <strong>the</strong> development and transformation of <strong>the</strong> agro-pastoral<br />
economy in this region. Maybe, cooperatives are one of <strong>the</strong> potential areas for NGO<br />
intervention and capacity building support that help to streng<strong>the</strong>n collective activities.<br />
5 Networking<br />
NSA of <strong>the</strong> region did not establish network and forums until very recently. The Afar<br />
Pastoralist Forum (APF) is <strong>the</strong> only NSA forum which was established and launched in<br />
February 2008. Many NSA operating in <strong>the</strong> region particularly those which had <strong>the</strong> chance to<br />
participate in <strong>the</strong> launching workshop consider <strong>the</strong> forum as an arena for an enhanced<br />
interaction, cooperation and collective action. Prior to <strong>the</strong> launching of APF, <strong>the</strong> need for<br />
such a forum was not well understood and <strong>the</strong> purposes that forums and networks serve are<br />
not well known among NSA including NGOs in <strong>the</strong> region.<br />
6 Dialogue and cooperation between NSA and Local Government.<br />
There is a more enabling environment for NSA operational in <strong>the</strong> region. Particularly after<br />
<strong>the</strong> NGO guideline was prepared and circulated for review and comments by NGOs, <strong>the</strong>re is<br />
a growing willingness to cooperate and work toge<strong>the</strong>r. As a result, sectoral task forces have<br />
been established and NGOs working in each sector participate in quarterly regular meetings<br />
of <strong>the</strong>ir respective task forces. The task forces serve as a GO-NGO forum in which<br />
operational issues are discussed and debated. Apart from discussions and debates on<br />
operational issues, <strong>the</strong> formation of sectoral task forces has created a favourable condition for<br />
collaboration between sector offices and NGOs and also facilitates <strong>the</strong> coordination of NGO<br />
project activities.<br />
7 Engagement in Policy Dialogue.<br />
NSA in <strong>the</strong> region did not engage in any type of policy dialogue with <strong>the</strong> regional<br />
Government because <strong>the</strong>y do not consider policy dialogue as an activity in which NSA<br />
including NGOs would engage. Even <strong>the</strong>y do not know how NSA in o<strong>the</strong>r parts of <strong>the</strong><br />
country participated in PASDEP consultation process because <strong>the</strong>y did not have <strong>the</strong><br />
opportunity to take part in <strong>the</strong> discussion.<br />
12