R4D Somalia

Gender sensitive programme design and planning in conflict affected situations. Research Report.

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:19:00 GMT

Miscellaneous J. El-Bushra, A. El-Karib and A. Hadjipateras 2002 8 pp. This report outlines a project intended to contribute to the reduction of poverty and suffering through enhancing gender-awareness in the design and management of development projects in contexts affected directly or indirectly by conflict. It aimed to achieve this by increasing understanding of the gender dimension of conflict, both for the humanitarian community and for development practitioners. The project sought to address two particular questions, namely how do gender relations change as a result of conflict? and how might conflict itself be fuelled by aspects of gender identity? It also examined the strategic and research implications of these findings for project design. The project ran from April 2000 to December 2001: field research was carried out in Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, Mali and Angola, with complementary desk studies for Eritrea and Rwanda. These case studies, and reports on workshops conducted by the project, are published in separate Annexes [not available].

Research Summary 33, Re-Creating Political Order: the Somali Systems Today, IDS Working Paper 316.

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:32:00 GMT

Miscellaneous D. Leonard 2009 Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies, 2 pp. This paper explores the Somali experience over the last 17 years, focusing on the four political entities that occupied the territory of the former Republic of Somalia in 2006. It throws new light on the possibilities and limitations of order in stateless societies. Specifically, it examines the role of lineage institutions; the impact on them of a protracted conflict pursued by warlords and financed by big business; and the implications for establishing new state forms of social order.

This is a two-page summary of a paper which can be accessed in full on this page.

Recreating Political Order: The Somali Systems Today.

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:47:00 GMT

Miscellaneous D. K. Leonard 2009 IDS Working Paper No. 316, ISBN 978 1 85864 571 9, 25 pp. The Somali pastoral system of production covers at least six political entities. Three of the formal ones are within the borders of the former Republic of Somalia and do not meet the full definition of states. Despite the warfare that has often engulfed the former Somalia, it is a mistake to think of the three political entities that occupy it as necessarily or wholly anarchic. Lineage institutions have survived from the colonial era and been resurrected to provide venues for negotiation, consensus-building and the reduction of interpersonal violence, even if not the authoritative imposition of decisions upon groups of the unwilling. After 17 years of centrality to the continuity of Somali governance and the recreation of quasi-state political authorities, however, these lineage institutions are showing signs of stress. As their great influence came to be recognised they were penetrated by patronage and used by warlords to prosecute sub-clan warfare. They no longer are able to provide consensus representation even in the peaceful political systems of Somaliland and Puntland. Somalis therefore have experimented with new political institutions that could provide a greater basis for cross-clan action and authoritative decision-making regional nationalism and democracy in Somaliland and Islamic sheria in all the territories but especially by the nowdeposed (but far from dead) Union of Islamic Courts. Indeed sheria now is a central, unifying ideology throughout the Somalis, even if there is conflict over its interpretation and the instrumentalities through which it will be enforced. Somali governmental processes thus are present, but weak in their ability to impose decisions and to project their authority into the rural areas. There are public goods that Somalis need which only states can provide. But the transformation of traditional order in the warlord conflicts of the last 17 years will make such states difficult to create.

To access a two-page summary of this paper, click this link.

id21 education highlights 2. Post conflict.

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:12:00 GMT

Miscellaneous id21 2006 IDS, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK, 2 pp. This issue includes the following short articles: Education and health for adolescent girls in Chad's refugee camps; Coordinating local ownership; Flexible education in Somaliland; and Rebuilding Timor-Leste's education system.

id21 insights 60. Sending money home: Can remittances reduce poverty?

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:18:00 GMT

Miscellaneous id21 2006 id21 insights 60, IDS, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK, 8 pp. The lead article in this issue considers the potential of remittances from migrant workers to reduce poverty in their home countries. Topics covered in other brief articles include: Improving health and education, and the role of remittances; Boosting economic growth; New regulations restrict Somali remittances; Sending money home to Asia; and Remittances and gender.

Capital Cities in Civil Wars: The Locational Dimension of Sovereign Authority.

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:34:00 GMT

Miscellaneous M. Landau-Wells 2008 Occasional Paper No. 6, London, UK; Crisis States Research Centre, 26 pp. Civil wars are a feature of the modern political landscape and significant attention has been given to the increase in this type of conflict in recent years. This discussion centres on those civil wars that are primarily political in nature - conflicts that concern the supreme executive power in a given state. Although civil wars can have obvious winners and losers militarily, the judgment of international actors can often be decisive. The purpose of this paper is to examine the way in which international actors decide who holds the sovereign authority of a state during civil wars and what is needed to 'win' such wars in the eyes of the international community. Existing theories stress effective control over territory or the political interests of the recognising states. However, my hypothesis is that states observe a rule of recognition that equates control of the capital city with possession of a state's sovereign authority. I examine four civil wars (Chad, Somalia, Zaire/Democratic Republic of Congo, and Liberia) in order to test these three theories and in all four cases control of the capital city is shown to be necessary for recognition by other governments. Effective control and political expediency demonstrate less explanatory power. The second part of the paper investigates the possible reasons why capital cities should be so significant in civil wars and considers the arguments for the special circumstances of the African state and for the economic significance of capital cities. However, it is the symbolic value of capital cities and, more importantly, the long-standing perspective in military history that views capitals as political and territorial proxies for states, that explain the recognition pattern in civil wars. The conclusion argues that the merits of this practice of recognition should be debated, as should the 'de-certification' of capital cities as a way of changing the incentive structure of some civil wars.

Informal remittance systems in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Briefing Pieke, F. 2005 Informal remittance systems in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, Emerging Markets Group (EMG) Ltd, London, UK, 2 pp.

The background and objectives of the commissioned study, research findings, and main conclusions are outlined.

Synthesis study. A part of the report on Informal Remittance Systems in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Report Pieke, F.; van Hear, N.; Lindley, A. 2005 Synthesis study. A part of the report on Informal Remittance Systems in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, ESRC Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS), Oxford, UK, i + 44 pp.

It has become a commonplace observation that remittances - financial transfers by migrants to their country of origin - between the developed and developing world are larger than aid transfers. It is also often noted that the sums remitted through formal channels represent only a fraction of total remittances: a large though unknown amount of funds finds its way to families in migrants' areas of origin through informal changes. This study offers a synthesis of what is known about informal remittances to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, and their influence on development in those countries.

This synthesis report begins with a summary and introduction, and then chatpers as follows: African-Caribbean-Pacific migration and remittances, formal and informal remittance systems, principles of value transfer and hawala, a typology of informal remittance systems, regulations, informal remittance systems and development, and finally, conclusions and recommendations.

Somalia Country Study

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Case Study Lindley, A. 2005 Somalia Country Study, ESRC Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS), Oxford, UK, i + 28 pp.

This case study begins with an introduction and then contains chapters as follows: Somalia, migration and remittances; types of remittance systems in Somalia, remittance companies: growth and regulation; remittances, remittance systems, and development; and finally, ways forward - research and action.

Since the Somali civil war began in 1988, there have been large movements of people from Somalia to neighbouring countries, and unprecedented levels of migration to Europe and North America. Remittances have assumed great importance in this context. Drawing a clear line between formal and informal remittance systems is often difficult. Regulation, supervision and recording may be seen as different dimensions of formality. Legality is another dimension. In the case of Somalia, distinguishing between formal and informal is particularly complex, because the state collapsed in 1991. The current "national" government controls only part of the capital city: it certainly does not regulate, supervise or record remittance flows.

Terms of reference - outline

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Extension Leaflet/Booklet 2005

The terms of rerefence for the commissioned study are presented, and include: Introduction, background, objectives, required outputs, activities, qualifications and experience required, timing and budget.

Camel milk and diabetes

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Current According to the FAO yearbook the world camel population numbers about 17 millions. Eleven million camels (or 2/3 of the total world population) are found in the arid and semiarid regions of Northeast-Africa. The highest camel density and the largest production potential for camel milk are located in the semiarid savannahs of Southern Somalia, Eastern Ethiopia and Northeast Kenya.

Kenya has an estimated camel population of 900 000 animals. In the semiarid parts of the country, which comprise 80% of the total landmass, camels are the most important milk producers fulfilling the subsistence needs of pastoralist households. Twelve percent of the milk available for human consumption in Kenya is camel milk. The camel milk production surplus is increasingly being marketed to meet the demand of urban customers at the same time providing a regular source of cash income to pastoralists. The greater part of the production surplus cannot be commercialised due to lack of market access. A comparatively good infrastructure on the fringes of the semiarid regions allows for an estimated 3000 litres of raw camel milk to be supplied to Nairobi daily. The camel milk trade is operated and managed entirely by the informal sector, mostly by women groups. While most camels are being kept in traditional pastoral herds, there is also an increasing number of semi-stationary and ranch camel herds that engage in the commercialisation of camel milk.

There is an ongoing and increasing outmigration of pastoralists from semiarid regions into the urban centres. It is estimated that Nairobi has about 250 000 inhabitants originating from pastoral areas, in particular people of Somali origin. The often unbalanced carbohydrate rich diet coupled with a sedentary lifestyle has resulted in the regular occurence of diabetes in urban Somalis. It is especially such affluent urban Somalis with confirmed diabetes that value regular supply of camel milk to enrich their daily diet. When questioned, such diabetics confirm that their overall wellbeing deteriorates in the absence of regular daily camel milk consumption. - The fact that in Nairobi substandard unhygienic raw camel milk fetches almost twice the price of pasteurised quality cows milk further underlines these individual statements. Some Somali diabetics who recognise the value of camel milk are willing to spend up to a week at a time in camel camps away from town to receive camel milk therapy. Other non- pastoralist diabetics, such as the Kikuyu, have recently taken to drinking camel milk for its supposed therapeutic value.

Sixth Kenya Camel Forum

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed The Sixth Kenya Camel Forum to be held in Maralal, Samburu District is aimed at promoting and supporting the employment and management of camels by traditional cattle/goat/sheep herders. The severe droughts experienced in northern Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia and Sudan over recent years has identified the increasing value of camels and the overall inability of other stock to survive such extreme conditions. There is relative paucity of information available in these communities on the management, welfare and utilisation of camels and this workshop/forum is one of the regular events of the Kenya Camel Association to try and address this deficiency. Financial support for this initiative comes from donations from interested parties. To convene a meeting/workshop in North Kenya where 70-100 pastoralists and other interested parties can learn more about the management, welfare and production potential of camels. Components of animal health and production will be demonstrated and there will be ample opportunity for participants to part-take in hands-on work. Pastoralists who will be better informed on the potential employment of camels for production, security, social and draught/transport purposes. Components of animal welfare and health demonstrated at the forum will ensure that camel welfare is taken account of to complement production issues. REPORTS:

Pastoral and Environmental Network in the Horn of Africa

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed This project rose when Dr Morton was invited by the Executive Director of PENHA to join its Board of Directors. PENHA is a small NGO, founded in 1989 by researchers and development workers from the Horn of Africa resident in London, engaged in research and networking for pastoral development in the IGAD countries. After initial growth and achievements in research, networking and raining, it attempted to re-locate its headquarters to Addis Ababa. Following the Ethiopian-Eritrean war, this proved untenable as PENHA's Executive Director and the Chairman of its Board are Eritrean. Once more PENHA operated from its London office, but found its funding base severely weakened by the loss of a regional presence, general loss of confidence in the region, and certain personnel crises, now resolved. It was foreseen that Dr Morton would attend regular Directors' meetings and carry out the functions of a Director in PENHA's constitution, make his knowledge of pastoral development available to PENHA, and also play and active role in reviewing and defining PENHA's strategy. DFID agreed to fund Dr Morton's time in this role in order to communicate DFID concerns and priorities to PENHA and strengthen PENHA-DFID relations. During FY 99-00 Dr Morton was inducted into duties as a trustee/director, reviewed written outputs of PENHA's research activities, and participated in an intensive strategic planning process, during which the concept of livelihoods development was emphasised (and incorporated in PENHA's mission statement), as well as key features of the livelihood approach such as intersectorality and policy-product linkages. Partly as a result of the production of a strategic plan, NORAD, which had suspended core funding following the withdrawal of PENHA from Addis Ababa, agreed to unlock $30,000 core funding for 2000 (subject only to receipt of audited accounts) with a further $60,000 for 2001. To participate in the governance of PENHA as an effective channel for development in the Horn of Africa, and ensure its correct functioning under UK law.
To represent DFID interests and thinking, including thinking on livelihoods, to PENHA.
To advise PENHA on opportunities for DFID funding. It is envisaged that Dr Morton will spend approximately four days on 'routine' duties as trustee/director, and approximately eight days on strategic planning activities. Half-yearly and yearly reports will be submitted through the ASSC. Subject to the wishes of the Regional NR and SD Advisers, more detailed reports on activities can be prepared.

April to September 2001:

A fresh application for ASSC support to Dr Morton's duties as a trustee/director and strategic planner will be made as soon as possible in the new FY Progress against milestones 2000/01:

Participating in the governance of PENHA: Following participation in a strategic planning meeting last FY, Dr Morton had a heavy input in April into the drafting of a Strategic Plan. This document was finalised in mid-April and sent to PENHA's main donor NORAD. As a direct result, NORAD unlocked $90,000 worth of core funding that had been suspended following PENHA's enforced relocation of its headquarters from Addis Ababa to London.

Dr Morton also provided feedback on Dan Ticehurst's ASSC-funded review of PENHA's training activities.

Dr Morton participated in a meeting in July to debrief two PENHA staff members after an eight-month stay in Uganda, during which PENHA achieved registration as an NGO. On a visit to Uganda, jointly funded by LPP and NRI internal funds, Dr Morton discussed general aspects of the Uganda programme with the PENHA representatives.

While not specifically a result of ASSC funding, PENHA received during this period major grants from Comic Relief for Somaliland and from the Lottery for a partner NGO in Ethiopia, so that its position as an active NGO in the Horn of Africa has been greatly strengthened. Dr Morton has been involved in the discussion of appropriate management and monitoring arrangements for the Ethiopia grant. He also participated in discussions on funding applications to the Netherlands NGO CORD-AID, and he has twice discharged his legal responsibilities in approving PENHA's audited accounts.

Representing DFID interests and thinking: During the strategic planning process, a mission statement was adopted, with input from Dr Morton: ,to eliminate poverty among the pastoralists in the Horn of Africa through the empowerment of communities and the fostering of sustainable and dignified livestock-based and non-livestock-based livelihoods,. Dr Morton has also argued consistently for PENHA to recognise the diversity of pastoralist and ex-pastoralist livelihoods, to work at both at the pastoralist community and at the policy level, and to operationalise new understandings of pastoralism.

Dr Morton communicated PENHA's concerns on the impacts of a Saudi livestock import ban on Somaliland to DFID, and relayed information on multilateral initiatives on Rift Valley Fever back to PENHA.

Advising PENHA on opportunities for DFID funding: Dr Morton made advisory and editorial inputs to a major PENHA submission to the Civil Society Challenge Fund, and worked with PENHA on a joint NRI/PENHA proposal for the Livestock Production Programme.

Regional workshop on the potential of indigenous food plants

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed Data collected in southern Sudan have shown that indigenous food crops are crucial to people's survival during times of food shortage and hence is a critical component of their livelihood strategies. These plants have become a major ingredient in the daily diet and are of particular economic importance to the poor and to women. Similar experiences were gained from Somalia and Ethiopia. Workshop participants will discuss possibilities for domestication. It is expected that since these crops are found in the local environment, there will only be a minimal need for external inputs, if any. Establishment of an informal network of researchers and practitioners working on indigenous crops

Identification of information gaps

Plan of action for future activities

Report to be presented on 9 February 2001.

African Armyworm economic perception and smallholder livelihoods : Phase I

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed The manuscript of a socio-economic study of the effects of armyworm on small farmer livelihoods has come to light. The work was undertaken in Kenya as part of a DFID-funded input (APO), who produced part of the manuscript but failed to finalise it before leaving. Other important unpublished documents pertaining to this subject are available, which when assimilated will form useful material for publication as a DKCO-EA technical report. To disseminate information pertinent to DFID's development objectives of understanding pest economics in relation to poverty alleviation. An assessment report will: review available data, identify methodologies needed for its analysis and information preparation for appropriate dissemination. · Phase 1 assessment report to review the available data, identify methodologies needed for its analysis and prepare information for appropriate dissemination. This has been completed and a draft report has been prepared based on this review and outlining the methodology for concluding the study.

· Phase 2 final report of the analysis with conclusions will be published as a DLCO-EA technical report for dissemination to regional agriculture staff, and others as required.

Flexible approaches to education in Sub-Saharan Africa: improving access and retention - examining and developing flexible educational approaches and programmes

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed

Community Animal Health and Participatory Epidemiology (CAPE) Project

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Awaiting Confirmation of Completion Extreme and worsening levels of welfare and vulnerability are being faced by the estimated 20 million pastoralists in the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA). While specific quality of life indices are not available for many pastoral communities in the region, those figures that are available indicate that pastoralists exist on the margins of society, with far less access to basic services than non-pastoral ethnic groups. While GHA countries comprise 8 out of the 20 poorest countries in the world (according to the UNDP Human Development Index), within these countries the welfare of pastoralists falls far below that of the population as a whole. Pastoralists face increasing food insecurity, levels of violence and political marginalisation. If poverty is measured solely in terms of income, not all pastoralists are poor all the time. Livestock holdings vary in size, and for richer households can be significant. Moreover, where poverty is defined broadly as an absence of welfare, all pastoralists can be classified as poor. An ,absence of welfare, is reflected in the very poor social indicators that are characteristic of pastoral areas and of all pastoral groups, regardless of levels of income. In particular, low levels of health and of formal education inhibit pastoral households from capitalising on their assets. Thus, livelihood diversification tends more often to take the form of ,coping strategies, that respond to periodic or chronic shortages rather than being a form of ,adaptive change, that aims to develop pastoral livelihoods on a sustained basis.

The Community Animal Health and Participatory Epidemiology (CAPE) project is a formative component of Organisation of African Unity's Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (OAU/IBAR) planned Pastoral Livelihoods Unit. The project is designed to complement OAU/IBAR's programme for the Pan-African Control of Epizootics (PACE) and will fulfill crucial PACE objectives in pastoral areas of Africa.

OAU/IBAR has developed a reputation for effective work in pastoral areas during the last 10 years. The Bureau has worked with numerous partner organisations in pastoral development including Community Based Organisations (CBO), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), State Veterinary Services (SVS), and regional and global bodies such as (Inter-Government Agency for Development (IGAD), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). IBAR plans to consolidate this work through the formation of a Pastoral Livelihoods Unit (PLU) that will buld upon and further develop its experiences to date. The planned formation of the PLU reflects the growing vulnerability of pastoral peoples in Africa, and will act as a specialist centre that can co-ordinate, research and advise OAU member states and other partners on pastoral livestock sector policy and implementation.

The greatest challenge faced by the OAU/IBAR PACE programme is access to remote pastoral communities and the ability to involve these communities fully in development activities. A key development objective, from the persepective of pastoralists, veterinarians and PACE, is the eradication of rinderpest from Africa. This disease persists in remote pastoral ecosystems, and is well known as a major cause of impoverishment among pastoralists. Rinderpest eradication is currently in its final stage, and is at a critical point of vulnerability to resurgence of epidemics. Indeed, the future of epizootic disease control in Africa currently hinges on the successful conclusion and lessons learned from rinderpest eradication.

The Community Animal Health and Participatory Epidemiology project will establish sustainable community-based animal health delivery and surveillance systems in pastoral areas.

Community-based animal health (CAH) systems will be the starting point for the PLU, because they provide credible results and confidence at field level, whilst al Sustainable animal health services to control diseases that threaten the health and productivity of livestock reared by pastoralists established in the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA). Community-based animal health delivery systems capable of epizootic disease control and surveillance are established (or supported) in key ecosystems and elsewhere.

Capacity of Organisation of African Unity/Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (OAU/IBAR) to champion institutional reforms strengthened.

Policy and legislation to enable community-based animal health delivery systems in pastoral areas in place.

Relevant data and information to support policy change and scaling up of community-based animal health (CAH) services is collected and utilised by stakeholders.

Effective dissemination of information on animal health service delivery and best practice guidelines for pastoral areas to stakeholders within the region and internationally. Phase I:
In close collaboration with NGOs and CBOs involved in CAH delivery systems, CAPE has been succcessful in supporting the establishment of CAHWs in pilot areas in GHA, sharing these experiences with a wider audience, and using the credibility gained to assist IBAR in advancing CAHW-enabling policies and legislation. CAPE has supported national veterinary bodies to define roles of the CAHWs in the delivery of animal health services. Consequently, minimum standards and guidelines for the training of CAHWs in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia and Ethiopia are currently at different stages of preparation.

Although considerable success has been achieved in the establishment of CAHW systems in pilot areas, the long-term sustainability of such systems remains to be proven. Currently, CAHW systems are heavily subsidised both financially and technically by NGOs or supporting organisations. Therefore, the sustainability of CAHWs following withdrawal of external assistance remains a challenge. CAPE's strategy in addressing this is the inclusion of private veterinary professionals in the provision of services to the pastoral communities. Different models of CAH delivery systems are currently under test. It is still too early to ascertain the success of these models. In the last two years of the project, CAPE should focus its efforts on defining the sustainability mechanisms for the CAHW systems. However, it is unlikely that sustainability can be proven within the life of the project, particularly as this will depend not only on CAPE but the collaborating NGOs and supporting organisations.

The project beneficiaries who include national veterinary services and pastoral farmers all are highly appreciative of CAPE's efforts. The project continues to address a felt need and therefore is still of high relevance.

Satellite assessment of rainfall for agriculture in tropical Africa (TAMSAT)

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed The purpose of the project is to gain a better understanding of rainfall processes and rainfall information in seasonally dry Africa. Using Meteosat data for monitoring near surface changes in temperature and estimating area rainfall over the Sahel, it is hoped to consolidate the technique into practical tools for appropriate countries in Africa.
The immediate objectives for the final year are to validate 10-day satellite rainfall estimates in Sahel, and to extend assessment into remote hilly areas and to the south into more humid zones. It is also planned to shorten the period estimation (averaging over larger areas). Improved empirical methods of estimating rainfall over greater Sahel: 5 year data set comparison.

The definition of temporal and spatial limitations.

Stronger understanding of meteorological processes and the vegetation/rainfall relationships involved. This project has been highly successful. TAMSAT are now among the world leaders in satellite rainfall estimation. Validation of the cold cloud duration method of estimating area rainfall over 10 day or monthly periods has been demonstrated. In the past year efforts have concentrated on :

(1) development of a 5 year rainfall climatology from satellite images compared with conventional ground observations.

(2) validation, improvement and extension of the technique further south and for shorter time periods.

(3) identification of anomalous areas.

(4) comparison of the satellite rainfall estimates and vegetative response as shown by NOAA satellite 10 day vegetation indices, to determine the extent of time-lagged correspondence.

The success of TAMSAT has led to several TC-supported applications and much further interest in Africa. However, the project has also been hurt by it's own success and UK expertise so developed is being actively bought out by US interests.

Initiatives in local management of dryland forest areas in the Sudano-Sahelian zone.

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed Experimental institutional arrangements for forest management have been evolving at a variety of dry forest sites in the semi-arid areas of Africa for some years now, succeeding an era of centralised but increasingly nominal State control in many countries, which had failed to conserve and manage woodland resources. These new approaches - which involve management with local people - are being tried. Techniques for sustainable management of forest resources by local governance systems developed and promoted. Forest management planning and monitoring by local management structure is demonstrably happening, and is shown to be stimulated significantly under improved tenure regimes. However, management plans rarely exist in a codified form. The absence of codification hardly inhibits local resource management potential and performance, but affects recognition by non-local stakeholders such as the forest service. Ecological "disequilibrium", characteristic of Sahelian woodlands, renders forestry planning tools such as the quota system of little use. Economic opportunism of Sahelian villagers also affects the usefulness of the quota system. The transaction costs of forest management under a project environment are usually too high, in comparison with anticipated benefits of improved management. The predominant Sahelian model of the "Rural Firewood Markets" has the pitfalls of a single stakeholder monopoly (the firewood producer) in a multistakeholder situation. Increased social conflict is a likely outcome. Case studies of institutional dynamics of dryland forest user groups and their interaction documented and disseminated.

Conclusions drawn on appropriate local use/management structures, rule making, and enforcement processes.

Participatory resource assessment and monitoring methods developed/applied and tested.

Criteria for effective use and management plans and structures defined.

Criteria for identification of manageable semi-arid woodlands defined. * Case studies of local forest resource management.
* Conclusions drawn on appropriate local management structures.
* Participatory forest management tools developed.
* Criteria for effective management defined.
* Policy innovations initiated.
* Dissemination through books, journals, workshops and courses.

The project contributes to a better understanding of the efficiency of local forest management in comparison to that of the forest service. It compares local mechanisms with those of the forest service and provides support to ongoing decentralisation policies. It points out the key role of new institutional players such as elected local government, unions of local forest management committees, and national environmental agencies, as opposed to the historic monopoly of the forest service. At a project level, more realistic forest management tools have been developed.

An analysis of some key opportunities and constraints to the responsible involvement of communities and rural people in forest management in eastern and southern Africa

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed To identify and understand the key opportunities, problems and constraints to the responsible involvement of communities in forest management activities, in order to learn lessons from practice, and use such lessons to inform and influence the policy arena. This will lead to the identification of constraints which might be alleviated or eliminated through further research and thus provide a basis for future poverty elimination in community forestry interventions. These reviews have helped to highlight the current status of the knowledge with respect to community involvement in forest management in the two regions of Africa. This comes at a critical time when the countries are preparing for WSSD, and donors are increasingly focussing on poverty reduction. The reviews demonstrate the importance of forest options as a component for, in particular, rural livelihoods to help reduce poverty. Many practical case studies are highlighted which demonstrate that rural people are capable, and do manage trees and forests in a sustainable manner, provided the incentives are right (rights of access, responsibilities for management, economic). In eastern Africa, for example, these reviews have been used as a basis for discussion with heads of forest agencies to assist them in arguing more forcefully in budgetary allocations for forestry. Further, the two published reviews have helped demonstrate precedents from one country to influence policy in another. However, the real benefit of these reviews will be seen in the coming years, when they have all been published and distributed. Four reviews:

* Review on the importance of tenure of land and resources in community involvement in forest management.

* Review on economic and financial incentives for responsible involvement of communities in forest management.

* Analysis of policies and institutional arrangements for enhanced community involvement in forest management.

* Review on whose stake in forest management - the role of gender and other stakeholder groupings in community involvement in forest management. Four reviews of community involvement in forest management have been produced for Eastern and Southern Africa, one each focussing on Tenure, Economics, Policy, Stakeholder and Power Relations. Because of some savings, it was possible to print 1,000 copies of each of the reviews published to date. The printing of the remaining two reviews will be funded from this grant and from the Ford Foundation. The two published reviews (tenure and economics) have been widely distributed within the region, and the project has an address list of over 400 addresses, mainly from within the region but also more widely. They have both been well received and reviewed, and there have been many demands for the publications from outside the region. In addition, the CIFOR website POLEX has featured a summary of the Tenure review, and the other three reviews will also be featured in POLEX.

A regional training workshop was held in Uganda in 2000 for 55 participants from 14 countries of the eastern and southern African regions. A report has been produced and distributed to the participants, with additional copies being sent to key institutions in the region.

Helping Fragile States

Thu, 17 May 2007 01:00:00 GMT

The latest ID21 Insights feature on Fragile States asks the donor community to consider how interventions in fragile states can contribute to securing peace and development